Swan Magazine September 2018

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IN THIS ISSUE PAGE

FEATURES Books and Writing

Death in the Sea of Grass Just Out KSP - What’s On in September The Idler

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Business Card Board

Finance with Steve Networking

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Alicia Tmodel Federal Notes Notes From Parliament SAFE Standing Up for Swan Hills SVRN

Swan Hills Rivercare Groups Cheers to WA Entwined 2018 Swan Valley Gets Muddy The Compassionate Friends What’s On

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Business

Community

Front Page Photograph: Spring in the Valley.

Photograph courtesy of 123Rf

Corridors College

Thyme to Garden Food

Douglas Wineries & Dineries

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PAGE Help Save Slate Cafe Sweet Temptations Tour

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30 From 30 Footnote People in History Forgotten Treasures Film Reviews Silver Lining at Garrick Theatre Reviews Skylab Patience Theatre with Gordon TV with Chris

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Art and Artists House and Garden Rainbow Strawberries Inferno Set to Light The Fuse

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Entertainment

Leisure

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7 31 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 OCTOBER DEADLINES: Advertisements: 1st October Editorial: 1st October Copyright: Swan Magazine 2018 2

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

Mrs Bumbleberry and the Ark Kathleen Beining WestBow Press 978-1512 7855 62

day-to-day work tasks,” says Henderson.

“This includes learning from health and educational models where everyone wins.”

As a baby boomer, Henderson questions stereotypical images and expectations of people as they age, especially in the face of major illnesses.

The book provides a strong basis on which to proceed into the next phase of one’s life with health, fitness, confidence, enthusiasm and creativity.

An excerpt from Out of the Fog:

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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 of 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, please visit www.kathleenbeining. com.

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Westbow Press.

About the Author

Alana Henderson has worked for many years as an adult educator, public speaker and editor. She lives in New South Wales. More information is available at www.alanahenderson. com.au. ~oOo~ Title:

Author: Publisher: ISBN:

A

“O

A Sensitive Soul: A Practical Guide for Balancing Energy and Emotions Deborah Dowling Balboa Press AU 9781 5043 1291 2

s a highly sensitive person, Deborah Dowling understands the challenges that others like her face every day. Over time, she has learnt through personal and professional experience many strategies that have assisted her in managing her temperament.

As a result, Dowling felt compelled to help others who face similar challenges by sharing her knowledge so that they too can improve their general wellbeing on all levels and it prompted her to write A Sensitive Soul: A Practical Guide for Balancing Energy and Emotions.

The book provides solutions to life’s challenges, such as how to protect oneself from negative influences, recognizing what drains one’s energy, strategies for managing negative thoughts and emotions, understanding one’s limits to avoid becoming overwhelmed, the importance of self-care and insight into a range of beneficial therapies.

“This book will appeal to relevant readers as it provides information that will assist the highly sensitive person to develop a better understanding of their temperament which will help to improve their level of self-acceptance,” Dowling explains. “The strategies provided will also assist them in developing emotional resilience which will improve their ability to be able to manage the challenges that they face.”

A Sensitive Soul: A Practical Guide for Balancing Energy and Emotions aims to provide readers a better understanding 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:

Mrs. Bumbleberry’s Surprise

The Legend of Willie Lump Lump

Mrs. Bumbleberry’s Garden

Mrs. Bumbleberry and the Scary Noise

Mrs. B, Substitute Grandma

Mrs Bumbleberry and the Ark. ~oOo~ Title:

Author: Publisher: ISBN:

My determination to continually test the limits was the catalyst for me to feel the joy of success across the various challenges that I encountered. I took up the options that felt good for me, and ran headlong with them. I learned new ways to cope with the turbulent waters. I always focused my thoughts positively on finding alternatives, to achieve outcomes that were far higher than I could ever have imagined or planned.

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Out of the Fog: Adventures through Lifestyle Change Alana Henderson Balboa Press AU 9781 5043 0209 8

ut of the Fog: Adventures through Lifestyle Change challenges health professionals to apply best practice and creativity rather than limiting their knowledge in 3

BOOKS AND WRITING their temperament and an increased level of self-acceptance.

They will also arm themselves with the knowledge needed in order to manage the challenges that they face and to develop their emotional resilience.

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

your gifts, most especially the gift of love.”

Psyche counters the popular notion that we were all born into original sin, but instead, blessed at birth. Phillips highlights the Greek legend of Psyche and examines the nature of various Greek characters as well as the ancient Chaldean and Hebrew system of the Wisdom Paths. “Psyche,” the Greek word for “Soul,” and its symbol “butterfly,” is perfect for modern scientific interpretation of the isometric nature of Psyche – Dextro / Positive and Laevo / Sinister.

With his book, Phillips promotes the idea that we are greatly blessed at birth. He sheds light on the original blessings and the journey of the soul in this life as well as the journey of the soul in past lives.

In investigating the human psyche, the book focuses on our “higher powers” and a new scientific model for Psyche as it applies to AIDs and HIV research. Furthermore, “Psyche” features several healing exercises in personal transformation and transcendence and encourages audiences to refine their gifts, particularly the appreciation of beauty and love.

“This book travels afar in examining myth, religion, art, philosophy, science, math, astronomy, astrology, chemistry, physics, health, and karma. Likewise, the chapter on personal work is valuable for helping you find fascinating information for your own growth. Throughout, there is beauty in the art and the storytelling, as well as some exercises to help with your healing,” Carol Anderson, D.Min., ACSW, LMSW, said.

For more information, please visit www.ChrisPhillipsPsyche. com.

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Xlibris.

About the Author

Deborah Dowling is a qualified practitioner in a variety of therapies including massage, aromatherapy, flower essences, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and counselling. She is also a highly sensitive person. Through her personal and professional experience, she has come to believe, that by accepting their true self and caring for their emotional wellbeing, sensitive souls can improve their physical health dramatically. Dowling lives with her husband in country Victoria, Australia. ~oOo~ Title: Psyche Author: Chris Phillips Publisher: Xlibris ISBN: 9781 5245 6199 4

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ith nearly a half century of work in psychology, Chris Phillips has seen the desperation of individuals searching for meaning and purpose in their life.

Unfortunately, these people are often looking in the wrong place. Phillips looks to solve this problems with his new book Psyche.

“How do you find out who you truly are and what you were put on this Earth to do? You probably won’t find the answer in religion, politics or drugs,” Phillips said. “Psyche explores new regions of human essence to discover who you are in spirit and how higher powers work through you. It is also about how you can tune and refine

About the Author

Chris Phillips has worked as a registered psychologist for over forty years in Australia and overseas. He has seen many people and communities struggle with who they are and deal with their issues about purpose at home and at work. He is proud of the fact he has been taught not just at university but also by thousands of people he has worked with over his lifetime.

KSP - WHAT’S ON IN SEPTEMBER SHANNON COYLE

BLOOMING AUTHORS SOUGHT FOR SPRING

Citizenship Award for a Year Six student in the Shire of Mundaring who displays the ‘Anzac spirit’. The deadline to nominate someone for this honour is 26 October 2018.

KSP’s three-night catered Spring Story Retreat held in October offers three emerging authors the opportunity to stay in a private Jarrah cabin located on the beautiful historic grounds of the KSP Writers’ Centre, and develop a writing project with the assistance of a professional.

Dr Laurie Steed, a former member of the editorial board of Margaret River Press and Advanced Fiction tutor for Writers Victoria, will facilitate the retreat which includes private mentoring sessions and skills workshops. There is also the option for authors to submit finished work to local editors and publishers for feedback and potential publication.

The retreat is limited to three writers and the Centre is currently calling for applications.

“I'm looking to work with short story writers and novelists who are on their way to completing either a collection of stories or a contemporary novel,” says Laurie. “The work presented does not need to be perfect. Indeed, it's better if it's not. What's more important is a willingness to develop one's craft, and to be open to the many possibilities of fiction.”

For more details on these activities please visit the KSP website www.kspwriterscentre.com or phone the office on 9294 1872.

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he KSP Writers’ Centre invites authors who are ready to bloom to enter a competition or apply for a unique Story Retreat this spring.

KSP is running three competitions in the genres of short fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, with free entry for youth thanks to support from the Shire of Mundaring. Adult entry fees start at $10. The deadline for the short fiction competition is 7 September, deadline for the poetry competition is 21 September, and the deadline for the non-fiction competition is 5 October.

Prizes include certificates, cash awards, optional publication, and a residency at the KSP Writers’ Centre.

Also coming up is the deadline for KSP’s Hugo Throssell

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HOUSE AND GARDEN RAINBOW STRAWBERRIES - BUYER BEWARE

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actively collect the seeds of what I want to grow in my warmseason fruit and vegetable garden. Collecting those seeds often means going online multiple times each week to hunt for interesting seed varieties to try out - especially tomatoes.

Last winter for example, I purchased four varieties of tomato seeds and was very pleased with the resulting harvest.

There are so many varieties of fruit and vegetable seeds available online, sold by reliable merchants from around the world--options that may not be readily available at the local nursery or at the store down the road.

Buying seeds online can be enjoyable and rewarding, especially when you make a new (or new to you) discovery that ends up doing well in your garden. However, there are potential risk factors that are unique to online seed purchases.

For instance, you may be taking a chance on the quality, age or condition of the seeds--all of which can affect germination success rates.

You may be able to minimize a few of these risk factors by keeping some of these tips in mind while shopping online (most apply to websites like eBay or Amazon):

Read the product descriptions for that seed listing. You may learn if the seeds will grow in your geographic zone. You may discover that the seeds need to be prepared in a certain way before planting. Product descriptions can help you decide if you are getting the right seed for your particular garden needs.

Look for listings from merchants that have a very high--if not perfect--satisfaction rating.

Look for the experienced seller. Along with the condition of a high satisfaction rating, I am more comfortable and confident buying from merchants who specialize in selling seeds.

For us here in Australia we also need to be aware of the vulnerable nature of our ecosystem and before buying anything online need to ensure we’re not breeching any importation bans.

Now, as the title of this article would suggest, there are some questionably-strange “seeds” being offered for sale on sites like Facebook, eBay and Amazon--so buyer--please beware!

Here are some of the more bizarre listings I have seen some quite frequently:

Looking for a way to prolong the shelf life of strawberries, scientists added genes from a fish called Arctic Flounder Fish to strawberry plants.

The Arctic Flounder Fish produces an anti-freeze that provides protection from freezing waters. The result was a strawberry that did not degrade after being placed in a freezer.

However, there was an unintended visual side-affect--the fruit became electric blue in color.

While the blue strawberry is currently not in production and not available for human consumption, we often see listings on Facebook for Blue Strawberry Seeds. Many use the word “rare” in the descriptions. Well--at least that part is true. So rare in fact that you will not get anything to actually grow from these “seeds.”

Mystic Rainbow Rose Seeds - Roses seem to be one of the more prevalent offerings of the supposed rainbow-colored plants, maybe due to the ease of color adjusting the images in Photoshop. You could attempt to make a rainbow rose by following a process involving vegetable dyes. Just remember, you will not get seeds from that creation and you will not grow rainbow roses. Never.

Blue Banana Seeds - This one makes me laugh every time I see a listing for them. One should dismiss this fraudulent offering without much consideration, based solely on the fact that bananas do not grow from seed but from a bulb or rhizome.

Unfortunately, these listings must be convincing enough to entice some folks into making a purchase, as they keep appearing over and over again.

Buying seeds online can be a satisfying way to pass the winter months and can help you plan out your warm-season vegetable garden. Try new varieties in your garden this year.

Just take the time to shop and compare and be a savvy seed shopper.

Blue Strawberries Seeds - Technically, blue strawberries are real. However, they are a genetically modified lab creation.

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COMMUNITY ALICIA TMODEL

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y name is Alicia Tavani and I am representing Wanneroo for W.A at the nation finals for Miss Teen Continents Australia.

I am so grateful to have three sponsors on board this year to follow me throughout my Continents journey I have Ebony and Ivory Hair Salon, Kidzucate, Fashion Advocate (Catherine Birch).

I entered Miss Teen Continents Australia Pageant because unlike most pageants Continents has more of a stronger meaning behind is as it is promoting people to ‘Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful”.

In today’s society image is such a big issue face not just teens but also adults, by doing Continents I am able to bring awareness of social image and self-confidence.

Miss Teen Continents Australia doesn’t just involve getting up on stage walking in Fashion Wear, Swimwear, and Evening Gown rounds, but it’s about the impact you are able to make on your community.

You are able to leave your impact through appearances, volunteering your time and charity work for West Mead Kids, The Australian Heart Foundation, and Luke Priddis Foundation and any other foundations I wish to fundraise for.

I have been doing pageants now for four years and each year I grow in confidence and within myself. I have won Miss Teen Charity two years in a row, Media Queen, most Photogenic, Second Runner up and Miss Teen Fashion week Australia.

Last year I was lucky enough to have won The Youth Citizen of The Year Award for Wanneroo for all my efforts with in my local community.

I love doing pageants and if I was to become the next Miss Teen Continents Australia I would love to be able to spread my platform against teen bullying as it effects so many teens in today society. My Vision is to create a happier and healthier world for teens. My mission is to empower teens with the knowledgement and awareness to identify teen related issues and take appropriate actions towards their own safety and well being.

My objective is to promote the preventions of behaviours that are harmful to teens primarily any forms of abuse.

With the world at my feet you are sure to expect to see big things from me. If you would like to follow my journey you are able to do follow me on Instagram at Aliciatmodel.

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CORRIDORS COLLEGE THYME TO GARDEN SARAH HICKEY

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s a CARE School, Corridors College has to explore multiple avenues of engaging, building and maintaining relationships with the young people who attend the Midland campus.

Allowing the students to feel a level of ownership to the campus plays a vital role in the positive onboarding and settling of

committed suicide two years before.

The wider team of students wanted to work with his idea but also add a positive theme so they got to drawing flowers and plants to introduce the idea of life continuing.

One of the great things about doing hands-on activities such as these is it encourages discussion and team work, during the preparation many discussions were had about the duality of life and death and how they are linked.

Sometimes life comes from death (in a sense) and this is where the full mural idea blossomed to have new growth springing from the skull. Aside from discussion and team work it allowed students to learning about conceptualising, design development, researching and referencing images, colour as well as practical trade skills such as base-coating and masking off.

This mural is in the centre of the Corridors campus and conveys a sense of optimism – like Spring after Winter.

To see more about the on-campus projects you can simply follow the Corridors Group on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.

new students and assists with the continued sense of belonging for the longer term students.

In Term 1 it was decided a great way to give the (flower) power to the students was to allocate them the task of turning an unloved area into a work of art and a functional garden.

From here the Corridors Garden Committee was introduced and was made up of eight staff members and ten students. So far the students have collaborated to turn a once plain wall into a mural and are now onto planning a herb/vegetable garden plus worm farm for the space under the mural.

One particular student took the lead creative role with the mural and drew a skull which represented to him the painful memory of a friend who had 7

COMMUNITY SWAN VALLEY GETS MUDDY CHRIS MCRAE

join in the fun with a specifically designed course suitable for not only humans but dogs as well.

Man’s best friend will be able to join in the fun and will be in need of a good bath at the end of the course. Proceeds from this course registration will be raising funds for RSPCA WA and again is suitable for those dog owners nine years and older.

The Swan Valley Mudfest is a unique event and proves the sister event to the South West Mudfest. Event manager Jack Rogers promises a day of fun for the whole family.

“The best thing about the Swan Valley Mudfest is that it can be done by anyone” he said. “Parents can run with their kids for a family day out , grab a team of friends for a full day of laughs or give man’s best friend a muddy good time” he continued.

The event takes place at the Belvoir Estate on Sunday 7th October and registration information as well as all other information can be found by visiting www.mudfestwa.com.au or by searching swanvalleymudfest on Facebook.

Get ready to get down and dirty and head along for a muddy great time at the Swan Valley Mudfest this October!

Mudders Back and Muddier Than Ever In 2018 he Swan Valley is set to get dirty once again this Spring with the return of the family friendly, muddier than ever Swan Valley Mudfest, in the picturesque surroundings of the Belvoir Estate.

The mud run is fun for the whole family and event organisers encourage fun, dressing up and having a great time all whilst getting down and dirty.

The Swan Valley Mudfest in 2018 consists of two entry options. The five kilometre ‘Run A Muck’ course is designed for those who have not completed a Mudfest course before and consists of a series of obstacles and plenty of mud over a 5km course. It is recommended from those nine years and older and yes…adults are encouraged to come and join in the fun in the mud!

The second option is back by popular demand and is known as the Muddy Paws Challenge. Debuting in 2016, this one of a kind course allows our four legged friends to

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

CAMPAIGN FOR MRI LICENCE

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have continued to strongly lobby the Minster for Health to deliver a new MRI licence for the Midland Perth Radiological Clinic, in this term of Parliament.

I have been in extensive discussions with the Minister for Health to obtain a full licence for the Midland MRI machine. This will mean scans are fully covered under Medicare.

I continue to advocate strongly for my community given our area is one of critical need. My aim is to get an MRI licence delivered before the election.

Ensuring we all have access to affordable and quality health care, regardless of where we live, is incredibly important to me.

Currently, patients access private MRI services or have to travel to units located in Perth, Kelmscott to the south east and Joondalup Health Campus to the north.

This often means people have to travel longer distances and wait for long periods of time before they can access the service.

My Hasluck community is entitled to have access to the same MRI services that the rest of the metropolitan area enjoys and I will always fight for the residents of Hasluck to have the services they need and want.

The Coalition Government will soon provide a full response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the availability and accessibility of diagnostic imaging equipment around Australia.

In the last Budget the Coalition Government announced an additional $2 billion investment in diagnostic imaging over the next decade, which Labor have not matched.

By contrast, Labor has only committed $80 million and not made any commitment to the re-indexation of diagnostic imaging rebates.

Only last month the Coalition Government boosted Medicare support for a new MRI scan for prostate cancer checks helping 26,000 men each year, as well as a new Medicare listing for 3D breast cancer checks, helping around 240,000 women each year.

Medicare spending is guaranteed and increasing every year from $24 billion in 2017-18 to $28.8 billion in 2021-22 to support healthcare for every Australian.

STRONGER COMMUNITIES

Expressions of interest now open

Does your community organisation have a project which could benefit from funding?

If you are a local sporting, community or not-for-profit organisation within the electorate of Hasluck, grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 may now be available to you.

For more information or to apply please contact my office on 9359 0322.

Expressions of interest close Tuesday, 9 October 2018.

KEN WYATT MP 9359 0322

Your Federal Member for Hasluck

ken.wyatt.mp@aph.gov.au

Authorised by Ken Wyatt MP, Liberal Party of Australia, Hawaiian’s Forrestfield, 80 Hale Road, Forrestfield WA 6058.

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kenwyatt.com.au

STANDING UP FOR SWAN HILLS CRISIS CARE JESSICA SHAW MLA – MEMBER FOR SWAN HILLS

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ast week in Parliament, I voiced my community’s serious concerns about the lack of Mental Health crisis facilities in the East Metropolitan area, and called on the State government to take action.

While my community showed kindness, compassion and resilience in response to a recent terrible tragedy, we are also angry about the lack of local support for people experiencing severe behavioural and emotional disturbance.

It is simply unacceptable that we don’t have the same facilities as other parts of metropolitan Perth. We deserve better. Our community should be able to access the help and support we need, when we need it.

There were over 400 presentations at the SJOG Midland Public Hospital emergency department that related to mental health, or drug and alcohol issues in the period.

That’s around eleven to twelve people every single day who seek help with their mental health.

Various mental health crisis facilities have been provided at Royal Perth Hospital, Joondalup Health Campus, Fiona

Stanley Hospital, and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

However, there are no facilities available at SJOG Midland, nor at any other hospital in the East Metropolitan area, for people presenting to Emergency Departments during a severe behavioural and emotional disturbance.

I have launched a petition, demanding that the State government provide a Mental Health Observation Area at SJOG Midland Public Hospital.

Jessica Shaw MLA LOCAL MEMBER FOR SWAN HILLS

@JessicaShawMLA Jessica.Shaw@mp.wa.gov.au

It is available online at www.swanhills.walabor.org.au/mentalhealth and has had hundreds of responses so far.

Clearly many people in our community care deeply about this important issue. I am very grateful for your support!

Last week, I also met with the CEO of SJOG Midland to discuss this issue. They agree that appropriate, purpose built spaces are needed at the Public Hospital to ensure people can access the help they need in a crisis.

MHOAs provide an alternative and more clinically appropriate response to people presenting to Emergency Departments in methamphetamine-induced psychosis or with other severe mental illness. MHOAs provide specialised care, in a safe and secure environment.

The Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015-2025 indicates that by the end of 2025, four MHOAs will be required for the Swan and Hills district.

We currently do not have any operating in the Swan and Hills districts. This situation simply has to change!

If you or someone you know needs mental help support, please contact: Life Line: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Mental Health Emergency Response Line: 1300 555 788

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

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

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

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ver the years I have been a supporter of the Machinery Preservation Club of WA and last month I was delighted to introduce my parliamentary colleagues, Shadow Minister for Planning, Hon Liza Harvey MLA, and Shadow Minister for Heritage, Tony Krsticevic MLA, to club members at their workshop based at the former Midland Railway Workshops.

Established in 1982, this volunteerbased organisation meets every Tuesday and has a strong membership base.

The Club is passionate about preserving and restoring historical and rare plant, farm and other machinery to new or near new condition which it regularly showcases at various events throughout the year. These machinery items are of historical value to both the Workshops and the wider Western Australian community as many are obtained from across the State.

I am very supportive of the Club’s desire to have a permanent home and was keen to show my colleagues its value not only to Midland but the wider community. A big thank you to President, Ralph Thomas, and members of the Club for showing us around their fabulous workshop and some of the restored machinery. ~oOo~

August is also the month where many schools and libraries celebrate Children’s Book Week, Australia’s longest running children’s festival. In the East Metropolitan Region, there was plenty of fanfare and excitement at Helena College Junior School as students celebrated with a fun-filled parade showcasing characters from many wellloved books and stories.

I was delighted to join more than 180 students from kindergarten to Year 5, teachers and their families in the celebrations which included a special assembly and costume parade.

ADVERTISEMENT The excitement continued when I visited the awesome Year 1 students at Beechboro Primary School. There was lots of fun and laughter when I read the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Early Childhood Book of the Year, Rodney Loses It! and one of my family’s favourites, Julia Donaldson’s Room on the Broom. jp mlc Encouraging children from an early age to read, share and listen to stories is a great way to Member for East Metropolitan Region stimulate their imagination and helps develop Shadow Minister for Education; critical literacy, language and comprehension Training; Women’s Interests skills. To help recognise the importance of Book Week, I presented both schools with a selection of books including some personal favourites to add to their library collections.

Ground Floor, 108 Swan Street Guildford 6055 If you would like assistance on any State 9379 0840 | Faragher.eastmetro@mp.wa.gov.au related issue, please do not hesitate to contact my Authorised by D.Faragher, 108 Swan Street, Guildford WA 6055. office on 9379 0840.

Donna

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

FARAGHER Here to help!

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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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

12

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

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.

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, 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 This concert 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.

MUNDARING SHARING - CLASS NOTICES WEEK 8 - TERM 3 / 2018 3 Craigie Place (off Phillips Rd), Mundaring Phone: 9295 1688 Fax: 9295 0843 Email: mundaringsharing@iinet.net.au Website: www.mundaringsharing.com.au General Meeting Term 3 / 2018 Monday, 17th September from 3:00pm. Attendance at the meetings has been disappointing of late. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss what is going on at the centre, and a forum to hear opinions and requests from members so the Committee can ensure the centre is run in the best way we possibly can.

Please take this opportunity to contribute to the running of Mundaring Sharing.

Term 4 / 2018 Enrolments are now open for current members … please be quick as many popular classes fill up fast!

Enrolments for new members will be held on Friday, 21st September from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Creative Writing Class Friday mornings from 9:30am to 11:30am.

Our class gets involved in many strange antics … often, June is off with the fairies … Sue (No.1) jogged past New York’s Brooklyn Bridge … Lawrence was stamped on by an elephant’s foot …

Sue (No.2) was swept into the future … and Des hooked a Soviet Submarine – with his anchor!

Like to join them in their adventures? Come along to Creative Writing Class.

Holiday Cleaning Workgroup Wednesday, 3rd October starting at 9.30am. Please contact Marilyn on 0418 925 358 to confirm your participation. If you are registered on another workgroup and have not fulfilled your commitment, you can join the Holiday Cleaning group to contribute your hours. Remember, this is your last opportunity to complete your workgroup obligation and avoid being invoiced in lieu.

Botanical Art Class October 9th start date for five weeks Una Bell will be running a five week class teaching botanical art using black and white scientific illustration. It is simple line drawings which aim for accurate realistic representation, which will improve observation as well as drawing skills and can be applied to other art forms. The class can only take a maximum of ten students. There is a sign-up sheet on the Long Room notice board, along with more information about Una’s experience and qualifications. Una is also keen to establish a Botanical Art Group with a view to holding on-site exhibitions.

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DINING OUT

The Thoughts of an Ageing, Balding Foodie

SWAN SWEET TEMPTATIONS DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE

T

he next stop on our tour through the sweet Swan Valley was the well-loved Swan Valley Cafe.

As most of you know, the original meaning of ‘restaurant’ is ‘to restore’. Obviously in most cases this is physical restoration by tucking into a plate of rather nice comestibles. But Swan Valley Cafe are trying something a little bit different - they are also trying for spiritual restoration at the same time.

The inside of the cafe is cool and calm, with views over trees, grassland all the way to the Darling Scarp.

The Swan Valley Cafe (despite the name - Café means ‘Coffeehouse’) offers teas of all kinds - restorative, therapeutic and recreational.

But before I talk about tea, I’d like to tell you a little about the food. The restaurant is avowedly vegetarian, offering a range

and with a unique, delicate flavour.

As well as the herbal teas, Swan Valley Cafe offers black tea (Earl Grey, English Breakfast etc) green tea (Jasmine, Oolong etc) and white tea.

I had no idea what white tea was and Charlotte kindly explained - the three teas come from entirely separate plants. White tea is very expensive and previously was exclusively for the use of the Emperor of China.

White tea is made into ‘Blooming Flower’ tea. This is the dried tea leaves and selected flower petals dried and compressed in incredibly ingenious patterns into a round ball.

When dropped into boiling water they gradually unfold into a flower and a delicately flavoured tea.

It is entirely captivating to watch and enjoy.

Swan Valley Cafe is so much more than just a café. There is a excellent nursery attached, a community hall, and all that food and drink (breakfast, luncheon, dinner and even takeaway) at moderate, even low, prices.

Best thing I can suggest to you is go and try it all for yourself.

Highly recommended.

of foods for the discerning vegetarian.

As a confirmed consumer of the flesh of dead animals (as I have been called) I can also eat and enjoy the vegetarian option.

What I chiefly require from food is not its origin, but flavour, taste and enjoyment.

This the Swan Valley Cafe offers in abundance - open for luncheon and Friday night dinners - off a surprisingly varied menu.

To accompany this we ordered off the very large tea list (they also do have a coffee range of ethical coffee, I was just teasing, earlier).

I had Rooibos tea, which I had last drunk in South Africa, where I recall it was harsh and robust. This was very much more sophisticated 14

FOOD ANOTHER BLOW FOR SLATE CAFE DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE

A

s all of you know by now, portion of Marshall Road in Bennett Springs and Dayton Boulevard in Dayton was been temporarily closed from May 1, for a period of sixteen weeks.

This ‘temporary’ closure has had a devastating effect of this charming café’s business - hours have had to be reduced and staff laid off.

Naturally they have been longing for the 1st of September when the works were scheduled to finish.

The reason given for the full closure given by the contractor was:

‘• As the work is to be carried out in winter, as such the requested duration was for sixteen weeks with confidence that the works would be finished before the requested closure duration.

• The full road closure would enable the works to be completed in a shorter period of time.’

However, despite this assurance the contractor has now been given, without any public consultation at all, a further thirteen weeks to complete this project - and of course,

15

no assurance that even this extra time of more than three months will see the project completed.

This means that the already stricken Cafe will now not be given full access until shortly before Christmas and with absolutely no guarantee even then.

What can we do to help, firstly Slate need you to keep going with your family, kids and pets to this charming café - do yourself and them a favour and keep going.

Secondly, the Slate Cafe have begun a petition for compensation from the City of Swan, which seems only reasonable, since their business should not be penalised for CBP Contractor’s mis-management of its works. Their finances are limited, and the business cannot afford to continue operating at a loss.

If you agree, please go to www.change.org and sign the electronic petition and if you can, please share it with your friends.

professor ross baker presents

Another Bloody Breakfast

THROMBOSIS World Thrombosis Day is October 13 - 1 in 4 people die from causes related to thrombosis. It’s a leading cause of global death and disability. Thrombosis is the formation of potentially deadly blood clots in the artery or vein. Once formed, a clot can slow or block normal blood flow and even break loose and travel to an organ which could result in heart attack, stroke and venous thromboembolism - the top three cardiovascular killers.

Hosted by Channel 7’s Peter Vlahos

Blood clots form when a condition prevents blood from circulating or clotting normally. When this process occurs within the deep veins of the body, such as in the leg or pelvis, it’s called deep vein thrombosis or DVT. It can happen to anybody who lacks physical movement after surgery, an accident, injury or even prolonged bed rest.

Learn more and join us for ‘Another Bloody Breakfast’ hosted by Channel 7’s Peter Vlahos with special guest speakers.

Date

Thursday, 18th October 2018

Time

7:30am - 9:00am

Place Prof. Ross Baker

rsvp

Tickets

University Club of Western Australia Hackett Entrance No.1, Hackett Drive, Crawley $45 each ( Limited Seats )

For ticket sales and further info, please contact

Adriana Filippou: (08) 9200 4904 or adriana@pbi.org.au 16

www.pbi.org.au

FICTION DEATH IN THE SEA OF GRASS KAREN R W TREANOR

TSHANILAND, 1935

A

CHAPTER THREE

scream of pain and terror tore through Claire’s dreams of Boston, followed by the snarl of an animal. Leaping to her feet, Claire snatched a carving knife from the dresser and stood with her back against the pantry door, disoriented and frightened.

A strong smell of kerosene came into the kitchen on a brisk draft. Turning up the wick of the oil lamp while wondering if the kitchen was about to blow up, Claire called, “Who’s there?

What do you want?”

There was another scream, and the sound of something large crashing through bushes.

“Claire? What’s wrong? What’s that smell?”

Rivka, her hair all over the place, raced into the kitchen trying to pull on a bathrobe with one hand while holding a lamp in the other.

“I don’t know. Something’s out there! Oh, God, how I wish we had a telephone!” Claire edged over next to Rivka, holding her lamp in shaking hands.

“Should I go out on the porch and see what’s happening?”

“Are you crazy? Do you have a better weapon than that?”

Rivka asked, looking at the carving knife as if wishing would transform it into a Thomson gun.

“No, I mean yes, there’s the poker,” Claire said, edging toward the unlocked back door to see what had puddled on the floor.

Stooping, she said, “This is kerosene; we shouldn’t let it get any closer to the stove.”

“I can fix that,” Rivka said, darting into the pantry and coming back with a pile of newspapers. She stacked them around the puddle where they absorbed most of it.

“Well, we can’t stand here all night. I don’t want to go out there, but I don’t want to stay here and not know. Ready?” Claire got a better grip on the knife and threw open the back door, holding the lamp high in her left hand, ready to throw it at the intruder if she got the chance. Rivka took the poker in a two-handed grip, ready for—what?

On the porch Wellington sat, his tail fluffed out to twice its normal size. He looked very much larger than he did in the kitchen. He was methodically washing his front paws. On the porch floor was a gin bottle, still leaking kerosene, and on the second step lay a box of matches. Someone had pulled Koko’s rackety old rocking chair close to the open back window.

An armful of wood from the kindling box had been piled on the chair.

“It looks as if Wellington was on his way out the window when he landed on the intruder, who seems to have been making sure there was plenty of flammable stuff piled up,” Claire said.

“That must have been a surprise for both of them.

Wellington probably hung on for all he was worth when the man tried to dislodge him. I’ll bet he thought there was a leopard on his back! There was a lot of crashing around after the screaming.”

“I think I see what the crashing was about. Look at the hedge,” Rivka said, holding her lamp up to illuminate a sizeable crushed area in the box hedge that separated the kitchen yard from the vegetable garden. Whoever had gone through it had not bothered to find the gate.

“Good boy, Wellington, you’re a hero.” She scooped the cat up gently. “Noble cat!”

Claire doubted the big cat had purposely chased off the intruder, but was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“Bring him in and let’s lock the door.”

“Why would a prowler try to set fire to your house?” Rivka asked, poking the coals in the stove to life and putting in a few small logs. Wellington sat on a chair and calmly began washing his furry jabot, as if chasing off arsonists was all in a night’s work.

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out,” Claire said with a sudden shiver. “If I hadn’t fallen asleep here at the table, the fire would have well and truly taken hold before we were aware of it.”

“That sounds like the arsonist wasn’t concerned about whether we burned up with the house or not,” Rivka said, pulling the kettle over the hottest part of the stove and jabbing the firebox savagely with the poker. “What about a hot drink?”

“Tea, the English panacea for all the ills of mankind!” Claire laughed, just a bit hysterically.

“An Empire was launched and maintained on a tide of tea!”

She was suddenly aware that she still clutched the knife, and tried to put it down but her fingers were locked. It took a while to relax enough to release the knife, and when she did, the hand shook uncontrollably.

Take it easy. Maybe you should take one of Wellington’s sedatives,” cautioned Rivka, filling the teapot and adding an extra teaspoon of tea for strength.

“Lord, no—never touch them,” Claire said, holding the shaking hand with the other until it finally came to rest.

“Speaking of Wellington, where’s he got to?” They went in search of the hero cat and found him curled up on Claire’s bed.

17

“What, leave just as things are getting interesting? Anyway, now we have a bodyguard— two, if you count Wellington. I’m happy to stay if you’re still willing to have me.”

“I’m happy to have you if you’re willing to stay. Enough of the Box and Cox routine; I’ve got patients waiting. See you at lunch.”

Claire worked her way through a long list of patients and at twenty past one was more than ready for lunch. On the back porch she found Themba, Koko, Duchess and Rivka, with Wellington holding a watching brief from the windowsill. All except Wellington were eating curried vegetables and putu, boiled corn meal.

“Pull up a plate, Claire. This is really delicious,” said Rivka.

“Koko made it.”

Claire served herself a modest spoonful of putu and a larger one of vegetables, and accepted the chair Themba vacated for her.

“Thank you, Koko,” she said, tasting the colourful mixture.

Keen’s curry powder in the orange box for sure, she thought, exhaling slowly to cool down her throat.

“I had something called polenta in Italy. It’s yellow, not white, but I think it’s made from corn also,” Rivka said.

“We call it maize here,” Duchess explained, always happiest when instructing someone about something.

“You can do many things with it. You can roast the fresh maize, or you can dry it and crack it into pieces, or you can grind it for putu. It is a very useful plant, maize. The leaves can be used to wrap things you want to steam or bake. I have a recipe for steamed cane rat that—”

“Thank you, Duchess, remind me to write that recipe down one day,” Claire interrupted. She cleaned her plate and stood up, saying to Rivka, “Come into the house and tell me what you want me to get at the market when I go out.”

Once inside, she apologized. “I’m not going to the market until tomorrow, but I’ve found it’s best not to push into the staff’s personal time.”

“Oh, dear, I didn’t realize. I just smelled this wonderful aroma coming through the back door and followed my nose.

Koko insisted I take her rocking chair, and Duchess started filling a plate for me.”

“That’s the Batshani manners: they’d interrupt the most important conversation to take care of a visitor. But then they can’t resume the conversation while the visitor is present. It’s an odd sort of a thing, Batshani society—open and welcoming on the surface, deep and secret on the inside. Except when it comes to recipes for cooking cane rats, apparently.”

“Did you know your bodyguard Themba is Mrs. Masilani’s son?” Rivka asked. “Duchess says you have been deeply honoured. He’s a sort of special officer in the Queen’s own regiment.”

“No, I didn’t know. Themba is a common name here, so I didn’t make the connection. Perhaps I can use him to get her to come in for a check-up. She really doesn’t look well, and I’m sure he must be concerned. On the other hand, he may not have noticed. Young men can be remarkably self-centred.”

“Is it all right if I cook supper? I went to the market and found some interesting meat. I thought it would make a good stew.”

“Do you know what it is?” Claire asked, somewhat alarmed as she ran the possibilities through her imagination.

“It’s not cane rat. Why don’t you let me surprise you?” grinned Rivka.

“All right. I have to go out to the TB clinic this afternoon, so I’m more than happy to come home to a hot meal. It’s always very depressing at the clinic. There’s so little we can do besides feed people well and give them lots of fresh air. We’re lucky it’s not worse. Thanks to the way people live in Tshaniland, in little family farms, you don’t get the concentrations of TB you do in big cities.”

Claire glanced at her wristwatch. “Oops, back to work!”

Claire finished her patient list and went to change her clothes.

“I guess he’s appointed himself your guardian,” said Rivka.

“My advice is to let him do it. He’s obviously up to the job.”

They returned to the kitchen and drank the tea. Locking the window and back door, they finally felt calm enough to return to bed.

“I’ll leave my door open. You call if you hear so much as a beetle prowling around,” Rivka said. Claire gave a wan smile and went to her own room. Pushing Wellington to the foot of the bed, she prepared to lie there sleepless, but after another bout of shaking, she drifted off.

In the morning, Claire made light of the night’s events to Duchess and Koko, fooling neither of them.

“You must report this to the authorities,” said Duchess.

“They must find this evil man and punish him.” More to soothe her distressed assistant than because she expected anything to come of an investigation, Claire promised to see the Commissioner as soon as possible. She packed the matchbox and the empty kerosene bottle in a box, in case any clues might be gained from them.

At eleven o’clock, Rivka knocked on the surgery door and said, “You’ve got a break between patients and you’d better come and see what’s in the kitchen.”

“What now?” Claire sighed, following her lodger to the back of the house. There beside the stove stood a very tall, very dark, very fierce-looking young male, a bundle of belongings tied up in a blanket at his feet. Koko was trying unsuccessfully to shoo him out of her domain. Seeing Claire, the young man smiled and stepped forward with an envelope held in the inevitable split twig.

“From the Great She-leopard for you, Tshadola.”

Claire took the envelope and tore it open. “I have heard of the happenings of the night and fear I may have brought danger to you by my request for your assistance. Themba will be your watchman as long as it is necessary. He can stay in the old gardener’s hut.”

“Typical Malaila, arranging things again,” Claire said under her breath, looking at the tall young man and thinking he looked like he’d eat a lot. As if guessing her thoughts, Themba said, “There is food on the porch.”

Going outside, Claire saw three large woven grass baskets full of fruit, vegetables, and four live chickens tied up by the feet.

They did not appear to be enjoying the experience. An enormous sack of mealie meal leaned against the side of the house. Tied to the porch rail was a goat, which gave her an evil look from its yellow eyes before returning to its depredations of the honeysuckle bush.

“My goodness, Her Majesty must expect you will be staying here a long time,” Claire said weakly to Themba.

“Please put the goat somewhere else— tie her to the tree over there, away from the flowers and shrubs. I’ve got an old bucket you can use for water for her. Koko, why don’t you help Themba clear out the gardener’s hut. I’m sure it’s very dirty.”

Leaving them to get on with it, Claire went back inside and collapsed in a chair.

“Your life has certainly gotten interesting in a short time, hasn’t it?” Rivka asked, pouring a fresh cup of coffee and setting it before Claire.

“You get not one but two lodgers, and a wild cat and a wicked-looking goat, and an after-hours arsonist, all in one short week. What next?”

“What, indeed?” asked Claire. “I suppose the goat is for milk, the Batshani are very fond of milk on the turn. Well, how much trouble could a goat be?”

“I’m sure we will find out,” said Rivka, remembering her Aunt Tzeitel’s goats and deciding not to share the memories with Claire. “Why did the Queen send Themba to you? Or isn’t that something one should ask?”

“I’m looking in to something on her behalf. Apparently she thinks this may have attracted unwelcome attention. I really can’t say anything more about it. Look, if all this has put you off staying here, I’ll understand.”

18

them that they hadn’t been forgotten. In the old days, the treatment in Tshaniland for “the coughing sickness” had been to build a hut far from the family home and keep the sick person there until he died or got better. Supplies were brought half way and left on the ground, and the patients had to fend for themselves. Claire had heard sad stories of people who died long slow deaths when they became too weak to go out for the food and water left for them.

As she turned off the main road and passed the German Farm, Claire noticed Franz Felsbach in the farm truck turning onto the main road. He had a young Motshani woman in the passenger seat. She looked familiar, but the vehicle was only in view for a few seconds at a distance of fifty yards or more, and Claire couldn’t identify the woman.

The sharp turn into the clinic’s road demanded all her attention, and the fleeting glimpse quickly left her memory.

For the next hour or so Claire was busy with her patients.

Today one of them had been pronounced well enough to leave the clinic.

Whether it was due to the care received or a spontaneous cure, Dr. Patel, the superintendent, could not say, but when she left the clinic Claire was feeling hopeful.

Driving with more than her usual abandon, she took a turn just a bit faster than was wise. As she swung the wheel to correct for the speed she heard a noise and felt the car slew wildly to the left. It seemed to leap from the road.

In slow motion, Claire saw the ground fall away beneath her. Then in real time it came back underneath her with a thump and a crunch of undergrowth.

And then it was dark.

CHAPTER FOUR

She made a point of always wearing something colourful to the clinic; the patients seemed to appreciate it. She waved goodbye to Duchess and Rivka and with a bit of effort started the car and drove off.

On the way up Gladstone Street, Claire made a detour to Trevelyan’s office. After initially thinking her late-night visitor had been a casual thug, she’d begun to wonder if Malaila was right in her assumption that there was a connection with the finding of the diamond. It probably wouldn’t hurt to report the night’s events and hand the investigation to the experts.

Luck was against her today. Entering the Commissioner’s headquarters, she learned Trevelyan was upcountry and not expected back until evening.

“Perhaps I can help, Doctor,” offered Zadok Khaba.

“I’m probably making too much of this, but last night someone tried to burn down my house. He probably hoped to scare me out so he could steal things while I ran for help or something. But it is rather worrying, so I came to report it. Here’s the matchbox and kerosene bottle he left behind.”

Claire handed the box across the desk. “This is not good. These tsotsis, they learn bad things when they go to Johannesburg. Mr. Trevelyan will be very upset, and Her Majesty also.” Khaba looked personally affronted, as if this evidence of social disorder were somehow a reflection on him.

“Her Majesty has already learned of it, don’t ask me how, but she has sent a bodyguard to stay with me.”

“That is good. I will see that the Commissioner is informed of your unfortunate experience as soon as he returns.” Khaba pulled a pad of official looking forms toward him and began to write.

Claire left, oddly comforted by Khaba’s concern on her behalf. Pulling away from the office with a screech of wheels, she left town and headed for the TB clinic, feeling much better.

The clinic was run by the government health department and supervised by Dr. Patel.

Claire liked to stop in to see her own patients, to reassure

“Claire, Claire, wake up! Claire, how many fingers do you see?” a voice demanded.

“None, I’ve got my eyes shut,” she mumbled. She halfopened one eye and saw the anxious brown face of Dr. Patel in front of her.

“Oh, God, that hurts.”

“What hurts, Claire? Speak to me!” the little man demanded. “Can you move your legs? Can you feel your feet?”

Claire managed to get both eyes open. A tree sat in the front passenger side of her car, which was canted at a crazy angle.

“There’s a tree in my car.”

“Yes, it came up through the floor boards. Fortunately it slowed your fall somewhat. Come now, tell me, can you feel your feet?” Dr. Patel asked.

“Yes, I can feel my feet, and no, I don’t think my spine is damaged. I can move all my limbs. I have a shocking headache.

I think I’m going to— move, Ramesh!” Claire cried as she leaned out the open door of the car and lost her lunch violently.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, patting her pockets in search of something to mop up with.

“If that is the worst result of this accident, you are indeed a lucky lady,” said Dr. Patel, offering his own handkerchief. “I’m sure you are recognising the signs of concussion, so you will lie back and await the stretcher.”

“How did you get here so fast?” Claire asked, leaning back as best she could against the crooked seat.

“You can be thanking the birds for that. About this time each day I take my constitutional and observe our feathered friends for half an hour or so. I was in pursuit of a Secretary bird when I came to the crest of the hill just in time to see you taking off like a bird yourself. Do you know what caused the car to leave the road in such a manner?”

“No, I must have had a blow-out. I heard a bang and then there I was, flying. Ramesh, I think—” Dr. Patel hastily stepped back as Claire got rid of her breakfast on top of her lunch.

“Oh, God, please let that be the end of it; my stomach hurts,” Claire moaned. “My car, what about my car? Is it ruined?”

19

Dr. Patel smiled. “There are some who might say it was being a bit of a wreck before this happened. I’m sure it can be fixed, probably more easily than you can. Here is the wagon. I’m afraid you’ll have to stand up for a moment while we are getting you out of the car and onto the stretcher.”

“I could probably walk. In fact, why don’t you just ask them to take me home?” Claire suggested.

“You will come up to the clinic, get a thorough check-up, and tomorrow we will be seeing about your going anywhere.”

Gripping her under the arm, Dr. Patel levered her out of the battered Austin and handed her over to the two orderlies who put her on a stretcher and stowed it in the back of the clinic’s ambulance.

An hour later Claire was tucked up in a private room at the end of the porch, sipping tea and feeling as if two mountain goats were conducting a ritual battle in her head.

“You can have some codeine after I’m sure there is nothing wrong inside your head bar the concussion,” Dr. Patel said. He had allowed her an ice bag, which eased the pounding pain somewhat. Claire bore the attentions of the ward sister stoically, meekly counting fingers and having her pupils checked for the next two hours until she was finally allowed the codeine. Once she had that, she slipped easily into sleep, happy to escape the monumental headache.

She awoke at dusk to whispered conversation.

“I don’t think there’s a skull fracture, but we are keeping her here tonight.”

Claire struggled up, moaning as the pain returned in waves.

At the foot of her bed stood Rivka and District Commissioner Trevelyan, looking concerned as Dr. Patel explained her condition.

“Good heavens, what are you doing here?” she asked.

“Obeying the injunction of St. John and visiting the sick,” said Trevelyan. “I always knew you’d come to grief, the way you drive.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my driving. A tire blew, that’s all. It could happen to anyone,” Claire protested. Rivka and the Commissioner exchanged a look but forbore to argue.

Claire lay back. “The Anvil Chorus is being rehearsed by a second-rate orchestra inside my head.”

“You can hardly expect the Vienna Philharmonic out here,

can you?” Rivka asked, the light tone belying her concern.

“I’ll see to your car. I’m sure after what you did for Windowsill Shabalala’s wife he’ll fall over himself to be helpful,” the Commissioner said.

“There really is such a person?” Rivka asked.

“Yes, he runs the garage. He’s quite clever, and has got worse wrecks than Claire’s back on the road. She delivered his wife of twins at a difficult birth a few months ago and he thinks the world of her.” It was proof of the DC’s concern that he referred to Claire by her first name, the first such instance she could recall.

“Look, there’s no point in you two staying here. Go home and eat whatever marvellous dish Rivka has cooked up and pity me here on tea and broth. I’m sure Dr. Patel isn’t going to let me have any real food.”

“You know the routine for concussion, Claire,” said the doctor. “In case there’s anything more wrong than is appearing at present we don’t want you with a full stomach. If all goes well, you will be having a decent meal in the morning.”

With obvious reluctance, Trevelyan and Rivka left the unwilling patient. Dr. Patel poked and prodded a bit more and finally said, “Well, you’re very lucky. The concussion is severe, but I don’t think there’s a skull fracture. You have some scrapes and bruises and tomorrow will be feeling like your own grandmother, but you are basically sound. Is there anyone else I should contact for you?”

“No, thank you Dr. Patel. I’ll be fine in a few days, and I’ll be here as usual next week, Windowsill Shabalala and his magic wrenches willing.” Claire managed a small smile.

Later, after a bowl of thin broth, Claire was given more codeine and drifted off to sleep, still trying to sort out what had happened. Something niggled at her memory, but thinking made her head hurt. Perhaps whatever it was would come to her in her sleep.

In the morning Claire was awakened by a ruckus in the corridor outside her room.

“Who’s there? What’s going on?” she croaked. Ward Sister Mobiso appeared in the doorway, looking ruffled. “There is a man here who insists on staying at your door. He will not go away.”

“A man? Who?”

“It is I, Tshadola: Themba.” The big man stepped into the doorway. “I should have been with you. The Great She-leopard will be very angry.”

“For pity’s sake, Themba, it was an accident. If you had been with me you might have been killed.

There was nothing you could have done about a tire blow-out.”

“I will stay here while you are here,” Themba said, resuming his post outside the door. Sister Mobiso snorted, but stopped trying to remove him.

A trainee nurse brought a cup of tea for Claire and the promise of a meal once Dr. Patel had done his rounds.

Claire drank her tea and snuggled down to await inspection. About forty minutes later, Dr. Patel, trailing a medical student and three trainee nurses, came into her room. “I knew you’d want to help further these young people’s education, Dr. Winter, so I brought them along. They don’t see many car accident injuries.” With reasonable goodwill, Claire suffered the otoscopes and tongue depressors of the students, who seemed more impressed with the contrast between her tanned arms and pale chest than they were with the spectacular goose egg that had arisen on her forehead.

“You may be having some breakfast now, and if all is well at midday, we’ll see about releasing you to a responsible adult,” Dr. Patel said jovially as he swept out with his retinue. Claire stuck her tongue out behind his back and was caught in the act by the 20

trainee who brought in her breakfast tray.

After the first bite of scrambled egg, Claire found she was ravenous. By the time she had cleaned the plate, her headache was noticeably better and she began to feel the other injuries.

Lifting the covers, she saw bruises on both knees, a scrape on one ankle, and her right arm felt as if it had been wrenched from its socket.

By lunchtime, Claire was bored, despite having Dr. Patel’s latest copy of The Lancet to read. Her head still throbbed, but was much improved. After lunch, Dr. Patel returned to announce that her transport home had arrived and if she promised to take it easy for the rest of the week she would be allowed to leave.

Dressed by Sister Mobiso and ferried to the lobby in a wheelchair

by Themba, Claire discovered her transport was the Queen’s own car.

“Her Majesty has of course heard of your adventures, and the car arrived an hour ago with orders that I am to use it at my discretion,” Dr. Patel explained, helping her into the back seat.

“I will call in tonight just to check your progress, but I am not thinking there will be any complications.”

Claire thanked the doctor and the nurses who had gathered on the steps to see the grand vehicle. In twenty minutes she was home and being fussed over by Duchess, Koko, Rivka and, surprisingly, Wellington, who paced around meowing loudly.

Themba stationed himself at the front door and looked out at the roadway so fiercely Claire thought it would be a brave person who dared pass him. She’d have to shift him before her patients got frightened.

“I have told you how many times that you drive too fast!” exclaimed Duchess, tears in her eyes.

“It was not my fault, Duchess; it was a blown-out tire.

Please, could I have some coffee?” Claire asked.

Settled with a tray in the living room, having fought off attempts to put her to bed, Claire drank the coffee greedily.

“Oh, that’s nice! You made it?” she asked Rivka, who was hovering around plumping up cushions.

“Yes, I hope it’s strong enough. You do look as if you’ve been through the wars, Claire. Will it be all right?”

“The goose egg will go down and the scrapes will heal, and the head still hurts, but it’s better,” Claire said.

“I meant the eye. Will that be all right?”

“Eye?” Claire asked, alarmed. She went to her room where the mirror revealed what Rivka meant: a black eye worthy of Joe Louis. Already purple and blue, it would go through permutations of green and yellow before finally fading.

“Oh, Lord, look at me!” she exclaimed. “Whatever will my patients think? Powder won’t cover this.”

“Sunglasses, perhaps?” suggested Rivka. “At least for when you’re outside. Anyway, you aren’t going any place for a while— Dr. Patel’s orders. Time enough to worry about what people think once you’re well enough to go places. And the car will take some fixing, I am informed.”

“More than some,” said DC Trevelyan, tapping at the door and entering simultaneously.

“I’ve just come from the garage. Shabalala says it’s fixable, but he has to get some parts from Durban.”

“Have some coffee. Rivka made it and it’s excellent,” Claire said.

“Tell me about the accident.” Trevelyan accepted the coffee and took a chair next to Claire.

“Nothing to tell. I know I took the corner just a trifle fast, I overcorrected, there was a bang, and I was airborne. No, wait—there was a bang, the car wobbled, then it left the road.

Next thing I knew, I was sitting in the car with a tree next to me and Dr. Patel was insisting I count his fingers. Accidents like that happen every day of the week in Tshaniland. Why is a District Commissioner concerned?”

“Because it wasn’t an accident. Look.” The DC held out his hand. A small lump of shiny metal lay in his palm.

“Shabalala found it in the ruined tire.”

“What is it, one of those little things that keeps the air in?”

Claire asked.

“No, it’s one of those little things they shoot out of rifles.”

“A bullet? Someone shot at Claire?” Rivka exclaimed.

“It might be some unbelievable coincidence— someone after a gazelle and the bullet went wild— but coming on the heels of the arson attempt, it’s extremely worrying.”

“Oh, Claire, this is my fault! That man Franz must know I recognized him! I have brought this on you!” Rivka wailed.

“Don’t be silly, Rivka!” Claire said. “Why would he shoot at me if he thought you were a danger to him? Pull yourself together!”

“Since we don’t know what the cause of this animosity is, it’s best to be cautious. You have Themba for a bodyguard and I’m sure he knows his job, but he won’t be much protection against another attempt by the rifleman,” said the DC.

“Really, Redmond, aren’t you making a lot out of this?”

Claire said, deciding the first-name game went two ways.

“Are you sure that’s a bullet? And even if it is, are you sure it was aimed at me? You did mention gazelle hunters. I find it hard to take the theory of a gunman seriously. Nobody has any grudge against me that I’m aware of.”

“That’s what’s worrying me. If you’d got on the wrong side of someone, we’d have a suspect. As it is, all we have is an anonymous gunman.”

The DC got up and paced about the room, sidestepping Wellington who trotted across his path twice before settling himself on the back of Claire’s couch.

“I think it would be smart to keep our suspicions to ourselves. If there is a gunman there’s no point letting him know we’re aware of his activities. Let this accident remain an accident.”

“I’m not entirely happy with that, but at the moment there’s not much else we can do.” The Commissioner stood, passing his pipe from hand to hand, looking uncomfortable. He was a man who liked to have things under control, and the present situation had too many loose ends and unknown motives to suit him.

“I will not let her out of my sight for the next few days,” Rivka said. “She won’t feel well enough to be out and about anyway.”

“Perhaps it will be all right temporarily, but I don’t like to consider what might happen later. When are you due for Home Leave, Claire?”

“Not for another twenty-two months. I couldn’t afford it anyway, not unless P & O accept chickens and gourds as partpayment for tickets. The obvious solution is to find out who shot at me, if anyone did, and why.”

“It might have to do with the little matter the Queen wanted you to look into, have you thought of that? Oh, yes, she’s had me out to Enkalovu and filled me in and generally browbeaten me for letting someone take pot-shots at you. She is a formidable woman when she gets her Irish up.”

Rivka laughed at this mixed metaphor. Claire smiled a bit but stopped when her swollen eye twinged.

“I haven’t learned anything about the Queen’s little matter, as you put it, so why would anyone be seeking to silence me?”

“Perhaps they fear you will learn something, and are trying to scare you off; maybe they didn’t want to kill you,” Rivka suggested.

“Don’t comfort yourselves with fairy tales. We have to assume anyone shooting at a car means to hit the driver. Another couple of feet and they would have. If you hadn’t been driving too fast, the bullet would probably have fetched up just where they wanted it to, right in your throat, Claire,” said Trevelyan, thumping his pipe on his hand for emphasis.

“For heaven’s sake, Redmond, sit down, light the pipe, and let’s plan what we’re to do about all this,” Claire said, a small quaver in the middle of the sentence spoiling what she had hoped would be a no-nonsense statement. The conversation continued for another half-hour without coming to any better conclusion than for Claire to stay home while the DC tried to find out something.

“It’s quite maddening not to know whether or not someone is purposely out to harm me, or why he wants to do so,” Claire 21

said, running her hands through her hair in frustration. “This couldn’t have anything to do with the Khonzi autopsy, could it? That’s the only other unusual thing that’s happened to me recently.”

“I think it unlikely that the autopsy itself is connected.

However, what you found while doing it is likely to be of interest to someone. One thing is certain: you have an enemy out there.

Given time, we’ll find out who he is. Meanwhile, take care. You probably ought to be resting, and I have other work to attend to,” said the DC, getting up and giving her a hard look. “I mean it, Claire, stay close to home for a while and leave the investigating to the professionals.”

Claire decided Trevelyan was right: she should rest. Despite promising herself an extra chapter of the new book, she dropped off to sleep before finishing half a page. As she drifted away, a picture flashed across her mind’s eye: Franz Felsbach in the truck and his passenger, and this time she could identify the girl. It was Busi, the Queen’s sister. Two-thirds asleep, Claire wondered if Franz were trying to curry favor by chauffeuring the girl home after school. He had a lot to learn if he thought the Queen wouldn’t see through such a ploy, Claire thought as she slid over the edge into sleep.

She awoke feeling stiff and sore, but managed to eat a large omelette for supper. When Dr. Patel called in, he poked and peered and pronounced her as fit as she could be under the circumstances.

The next few days passed in boredom for Claire, who wasn’t used to being penned up. On Monday morning she overcame Duchess’s protests and ordered the surgery to be opened.

Probably half the patients came to see if she was all right rather than for any medical needs of their own, which was touching but rather a waste of time. The spectacular black eye began to fade, and with the aid of face powder Claire looked a bit less like something from a horror film. After supper on Monday night, she sat in her office trying to catch up on a backlog of New England Medical Journals.

The electricity had again failed, so Claire read by the warm light of the oil lamp. As she read, she felt overwhelmed by the amount of new information, and regretted being so far away from the major medical centres where so much of the information originated.

She paid particular attention to the report on Prontosil, which seemed to be the miracle cure for tuberculosis for which everyone had waited.

Gerhard Domagk’s intuitive leap had fuelled a new interest in chemical therapy for infections, and here she was, thousands of miles away from where everything was happening. Not that she’d be likely to be involved even if she was back in Boston.

She’d been lucky to be able to get her medical degree before the Great Depression had really taken hold, but there’d be no funds now for her further study. For a moment she rested her head in her hands, then with a sigh picked up the next magazine. If she couldn’t be where it was all happening, at least she could inform herself about it.

Outside on the porch, a shadowy figure stood looking in.

The woman at the desk looked so young and defenceless; it seemed a shame to break in on her. The figure stepped forward, then hesitated. Suddenly gathering purpose, it raised a heavy walking stick and tapped on the window.

Claire sat bolt upright at the noise, alarmed out of all proportion to the sound. Her heart galloped until she heard the soft words.

“It is I, Tshadola, may I speak with you?” said the voice from the darkness.

“Mrs. Masilani, of course. Come around to the door,” Claire quavered, half-laughing in relief as she went to draw the bolt.

“My son is doing well?” the older woman asked after the usual formalities had been spoken.

“Yes, we feel quite safe with Themba on guard. I think he frightened a few patients at first, but he’s learning to be more discreet. You must be very proud of such a brave and handsome son,” Claire answered, wondering how her visitor had come up on

the porch without Themba being aware of her presence.

“Yes. Yes, he is a good son,” Elspeth Masilani said.

“Is there something I can do for you?”

Claire finally asked, as the silence stretched to an uncomfortable length.

“You noticed that I am not well. I have tried the medicine the inyanga gave me but it is not helping. I am afraid that I have something... bad.”

“Well, why don’t we check you out and see if we can discover what it is?” Claire suggested.

“I think I know what it is. I think it is—”

“No, don’t say anything. Let me discover it for myself. Come, sit up on the examining table.”

Claire had a sinking feeling that she, too, knew what ailed Elspeth, but she needed to examine her before making a diagnosis. Ten minutes later, Claire had few doubts left, but wanted to do some tests. She took a sputum sample and said, “I need to prepare this slide properly and look at it under the microscope in daylight. Could you come back tomorrow and we can discuss the illness and its treatment?”

“Do not pretend you do not know. It is the coughing sickness,” Elspeth said, her long brown fingers squirming in her lap.

“It might be. The microscope will tell us.”

“I will have to go away.”

“Not necessarily. Come and see me tomorrow and we’ll talk. Please, don’t worry. We have medicines that have been very successful. Just a few days ago one of my patients at the Clinic was allowed to go home. He was cured, completely healthy.”

Claire willed the older woman to believe her, but her stomach clenched with concern. She had no idea why her patient had been cured, and he’d had the advantage of being young and fit before succumbing. What chance had this woman of fifty-odd against TB? If only there were a supply of Domagk’s new drug here in Tshaniland. Fat chance, Claire thought bitterly.

“Thank you for seeing me, Tshadola,” Elspeth said, standing up and wrapping her cape around her. Before Claire could think of any more comforting words, she was gone into the night.

As the new patient left, the old patient entered. Wellington stomped into the office and dropped another dead rat at Claire’s feet, giving her a look as if to say he had fulfilled his contractual obligations and was owed something. Taking the lamp, Claire followed him into the kitchen and found a chicken wing in the icebox for him.

“Life is very simple for you, isn’t it? You bring me a disgusting dead rat and I give you food and then you go to sleep on my bed. Don’t you ever worry about anything, Wellington?”

“He may not worry, but when I find you talking to a cat at eleven p.m., I become concerned,” said Rivka from the doorway.

“Show me the rat; I’ll take care of it.”

“Never mind, I’ll use the coal shovel,” said Claire, scooping up the unwanted gift. “What does one do with such things?”

“The ash bucket. Koko will empty it tomorrow,” Rivka suggested, lifting the galvanized lid on the bucket. Knowing this was an untidy thing to do, Claire suddenly didn’t care, and tipped in the rat.

“You look worn out. Time for bed. I’ll lock up.” Rivka took Claire by the shoulders and pointed her toward her room. Trailed by the big cat, the doctor did as she was told.

Tuesday had been the day set for the dinner in Sibuya, but Claire was unwilling to go out in public while she still looked so battered, and Rivka refused to leave her alone. When the Commissioner called in for a brief visit he suggested they try the following Tuesday instead.

“Any luck finding out who, if anyone, shot at me?” Claire asked.

“Negative information, for the most part. Sergeant Moliesa has interviewed a number of people in the area around the clinic and no one admits to having been out shooting on that day. On the bright side, Windowsill Shabalala tells me your car should be back on the road tomorrow. He will no doubt call around to display his handiwork. Don’t overpay him.”

22

“As if I could. I’ll be glad to have it back, I’m itching to get out of the house.”

“It would be a waste of breath for me to tell you not to go out, I suppose.”

“Completely. I will be careful, but I will not be kept in leading strings like a baby. If it makes you happy, I’ll take Themba with me on rural calls,” Claire said. With that, the Commissioner had to be content.

The following day the Baby Austin returned home, accompanied by an admiring retinue of local people, delighted with the results of Shabalala’s handiwork.

Claire had to admit the car looked a lot better now than it had before the accident.

“I don’t want to see what the bill comes to, but the result is marvellous,” Claire said to Rivka and Duchess as they admired the results of the panel beating and painting.

“All the rust is gone,” Rivka observed, walking around the vehicle.

“Windowsill, this is a wonderful job,” Claire said to the beaming mechanic, who stood surrounded by an envious covey of teenage boys.

“You are indeed a magician of machines.”

“Thank you, doctor. I hope you do not mind that the colour is a little different.” Shabalala, smiling broadly, headed back toward his workshop.

The audience slowly dispersed, leaving Claire with the rejuvenated car. She found an envelope tucked behind the sun visor. Opening it, she said, “This must just be a partial bill; it only has the cost of parts and paint listed.

Send him a note, Duchess, asking for the rest of it. There must have been hours of labour.”

“I do not think there is another bill, doctor. This will be his way of paying the debt for the babies.”

“But he paid us for that already, ten shillings, I remember you saying how prompt he was.”

“That was the money payment. This is the honour payment,” Duchess said. Claire opened her mouth to argue, then realised that Duchess was right.

“I’ll send a cheque today,” she said, hoping her bank balance would cover it. She didn’t like to be in debt to people, and she was sure the time she had spent delivering the Shabalala babies didn’t begin to match the hours their father had spent working on her car. At least she could be prompt in paying for the parts and paint.

The rest of the day was a normal busy round of minor illnesses, remarkable only for the arrival of a note from the Queen demanding the presence of Claire and Rivka for afternoon tea.

“We’ll take Themba—that will keep the DC happy. Themba can see his mother while we’re with the Queen,” Claire said. “I’ve got to see Elspeth myself, and then go to the German Farm after that, and you can visit with the Berghofs. Perhaps we could have supper at the Café. It’ll be late when we get back.”

“I’m not very keen to bump into Franz again, but I don’t want to miss a chance to see the Queen either. I’ll bring my sketchpad.

I’ve roughed out a few ideas for the portrait.”

In mid-afternoon they set off, Claire and Rivka in the front and Themba riding in solitary majesty in the back seat, his spear upright between his feet.

“Let’s not think of the consequences if I have to hit the brakes,” Claire said to Rivka, looking over her shoulder at her bodyguard.

“Let’s try not to have reason to hit the brakes,” Rivka suggested. Her opinion of Claire’s driving had not been improved by recent events. They arrived at Enkalovu without incident, no doubt due to Rivka’s running commentary on approaching vehicles and quadrupeds.

Claire led the way up the steps to the palace reception room, where a bodyguard escorted them into the sitting room.

“Here you are!” exclaimed Malaila, as if they had kept her waiting.

“We came as quickly as possible, Your Majesty,” Claire said.

“Yes, I suppose you did. Miss Lerner, you can sit here and scribble and pretend you’re deaf. Claire, Elspeth has vanished.

I’m very concerned. The possibility that she’s been kidnapped can’t be ignored.”

“I think that’s unlikely. Elspeth came to see me at the surgery after dark last night. She was convinced she had TB. I tried to reassure her, but I couldn’t give a definitive diagnosis until doing some tests. She was supposed to return today to see me, but she never arrived.”

“What are you saying?”

“I suggest she has taken herself off somewhere, out of concern for Your Majesty’s health. You know the old custom regarding people with the coughing sickness. I’ll bet Elspeth has decided to quarantine herself.”

“Stupid woman! Always she knows better than anyone else, and now look at the trouble she’s caused. I’ll have her beaten when I find her.” The Queen stood drumming her fingers on a bookcase, then darted to the end table and pulled out her cigarettes.

“Not a word, not a single word, Claire!” she ordered, smoke spiralling about her intricately braided hair. Rivka, fascinated, sketched as if she were being paid by the stroke.

“Well, what are we going to do about this?” demanded the Queen, throwing herself on the red plush sofa.

“First, we ask Themba where his mother might have gone.

Has she a farm somewhere? Other relatives? Failing that, is there some special place? I used to climb an old apple tree when I was 23

SWAN VALLEY

SWEET TEMPTATIONS

TRAIL

handcrafted artisan produce

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ley.COM.A

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upset,” Claire said.

The mental picture of the dignified Elspeth Masilani up an apple tree stuck all three women at the same time. The Queen roared with laughter, Claire chuckled, and Rivka smothered a smile, trying to pretend she had heard nothing. The air lightened for a moment. Claire said, “Themba seems the obvious person to send out to look for her. And you can put the word out through the… usual channels.”

Rivka raised an eyebrow at this, wondering what the usual channels were, but quickly put her head down again and carried on with her sketching.

“I suppose that would be sensible,” the Queen said, stubbing out the cigarette. “I can send someone else to your house to guard it.”

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary. Finding Elspeth is more important than my having a bodyguard.”

The Queen turned her attention to Rivka.

“What have you got to show me for the portrait?”

“I thought Your Majesty might want to consider something that will combine the past with the present. That suit is stunning, and with your leopard skin over one shoulder, would show both your modern and traditional roles. I thought a background of the Place of Stones, with perhaps a real leopard crouched above you on one side—” Rivka began.

“Yes, yes, I can see it. And the royal car parked below, perhaps, to balance the leopard!” the Queen interrupted. “Very good, you can go out to the Place of Stone and look for the best location.”

The Queen opened the end table drawer again, looked at the package of cigarettes, looked at Claire, and shut the drawer.

“Now, Claire, there’s something else important I wanted to see you about. You know how we’ve been pestered about doing an archaeological survey of the Place of Stone? I’ve decided to allow it. A very persuasive man from Commonwealth University is coming to do the work. I know you’ll take an interest in him,

being a fellow American.”

“This sounds interesting. ‘Very persuasive’, you say?” Claire smiled.

“Well, truth be told he’s one of Kumbula’s teachers and has done his best to pound some knowledge into my brother’s head, so I feel beholden. Kumbula has taken a fancy for anthropology and might just succeed in graduating well if he continues as he is going now. Perhaps you could show Dr. Harcourt some hospitality occasionally, invite him for dinner.”

Picturing a dull, grey-bearded old professor completely wrapped up in the past, Claire’s heart sank, but she said, “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Oh, and you’ll take care of any little mishaps that might come up, people falling off walls and so on? There’s bound to be something like that happening once you get a team of workers in a place like that,” the Queen threw in as an afterthought.

“Of course. Shall I send the bills to Mr. Molapo or Mr. Moleponi?” Claire asked, gathering her gloves and bag and preparing to leave.

“Send them to the District Commissioner; he’s been one of the main proponents of the survey idea. I’m sure he’ll find a fund to underwrite medical expenses. Well, off you go; leave Themba here and I’ll set him to the task of finding his mother.”

Back outside, Rivka said, “Doesn’t she ever slow down?”

“Not that I’ve noticed,” Claire replied. “Well, that’s just what I needed—more work, and an order to entertain some doddery old man who will probably bore the socks off us. Note I’m including you in the projected dinner party. Share the rent, share the guests.”

Rivka laughed and tucked her sketchpad under the front seat. With only one minor nearaccident with a hay cart they made their way out of Enkalovu and up to the German Farm.

“Can you drop me off at the Berghof’s house first? I really don’t want to meet Franz,” Rivka said.

“Of course. I’ll take the side road,” said Claire, making a sudden left-hand turn with a slight screech of wheels on gravel.

“There you go, I’ll pick you up in half an hour or so.” Waving at Mrs. Berghof, who came to the door to see what was happening, Claire clashed the Austin into reverse and barrelled back down the road to the parking area outside the assembly hall.

“Ah, Fraulein Doktor, I did not know if you would be here this week,” said Franz, appearing at her elbow as she got out of the car.

“I could hardly miss it; that would throw the results off.

Thank you, Franz, I can manage,” Claire insisted, pulling her elbow away. She disliked being piloted about by her extremities, as if incapable of independent locomotion.

What was it about some men, always taking elbows or putting palms in the small of one’s back?

Inside, the farm workers were lined up as usual. Claire took particular care to look at each face today, as if to make up for not having recognized the late Thabo Khonzi.

Greetings were exchanged and preparations made, and within thirty minutes the whole procedure was finished.

Today there was one difference. Claire made sure there was a bit of the vitamin preparation left in her syringe when she put it back in its case, turning away so Franz wouldn’t notice the residue of pale yellow fluid inside the glass.

“I am glad to see that you are recovered from your accident, Doktor,” Franz said as he escorted her back to the car.

“I come from tough stock. It takes a lot to slow us down,” Claire said. Trying to sound casual, she asked, “Tell me, Franz, don’t you get bored out here sometimes? There can’t be much of interest for you here. No pretty frauleins, no social life.”

“There is much work to do. I do not find time lies on my hands,” he said. “Always there are projects that must be overseen. You cannot leave these people without supervision.”

25

“But what do you do for fun?”

“I do much hill walking. Always I have enjoyed this. Here there is much to see, and such clean air—very good for the lungs.

And I find the local legends charming. They are like fairy stories.

Perhaps I will collect them and make a book.”

“That’s a lovely idea. Perhaps Pastor Berghof could use such a book for his school. Well, thank you for your help, Franz, everything was very well organized as always.”

Claire got into her car and backed it around, heading back up the road toward the Berghofs’ house. In her rear view mirror she saw Franz watching. She hoped he would be gone before she drove down with Rivka.

Perhaps it was just imagination, but she sensed something dark behind the blond good looks; an ice cave in the personality that did not encourage closer acquaintance.

“Ah, just in time!” exclaimed Marta Berghof as Claire tapped on the door. “We are having coffee and a few little pastries, just to keep us going until the evening meal. You will join us. Miss Lerner and the pastor will be back shortly; they are just over the hill seeing the new apple trees.”

Claire would have preferred to get back to town before dark, but she liked the Berghofs and appreciated that they had few visitors to talk to.

“That’s very kind,” she said, entering the cozy room. “Oh, I didn’t realise you had another guest.”

“Not a guest, just a fellow worker,” said Herr Albrecht, the farm manager, rising and giving a partial bow in Claire’s direction. “It is happy to see you well, Doktor, after your so unfortunate accident.”

“I’m quite recovered, other than a few bruises. How have you been, Herr Direktor? I was sorry not to see you on my last visit.”

“Ach, it is these trips to Durban, they require much time. If only the roads were good like the roads in Germany,” said the plump little man, smoothing his moustache. He reminded Claire of a Boston terrier, very neat and alert-looking in his starched and ironed shorts, bush jacket and long socks.

“What is it that you do in Durban?” Claire asked.

“Many things. Receiving shipments of equipment, visiting our Consulate to collect documents, buying supplies. There is much to do with a farm like this, it is important for everything to be smoothly operating. These people will never learn to take care of themselves if they are not the best methods shown, you agree?”

“Well, they’ve been taking care of themselves quite well for several thousand years, but if you mean do I agree that new procedures must be taught with the best equipment and by the best examples, then, yes.”

Pastor Berghof and Rivka came in, laughing.

“So, you find our trees amusing, Fraulein Lerner?” Albrecht asked.

“Not at all, it was the little gazelle helping herself to the young leaves that amused me. The pastor chased her away, but I fear for the trees when he is not there to protect them,” Rivka said, taking a seat beside Claire.

“I will send a man with a gun; that will solve the problem,” Albrecht said.

“I would prefer to see a man sent to repair the fence. The animal was only following her nature.” The pastor accepted a cup of coffee from Marta and sat in his big chair by the fireplace.

“The nature of an animal must not interfere with the work of this farm. There is no place for foolish sentiment here,” the farm manager stated.

I wouldn’t give a wooden nickel for the future health of that gazelle, Claire thought, no matter how sensible the Pastor’s suggestion.

“So, Fraulein, it is said you will paint a picture of the Queen.

Have you had much experience in portraits?” Albrecht turned his slightly crossed eyes to Rivka.

“Yes, I have done several, including the wife of the mayor of Vienna, but this is of course a great honour, for which I am very grateful,” Rivka said.

“If you do this well, no doubt many important people will wish to have you paint them.”

“I can’t think of anyone more important than the Queen in this country,” Rivka replied. Claire heard a touch of steel in the words and thought that Malaila had made another conquest.

Clearly Rivka had placed herself squarely in the Queen’s camp.

“Of course, of course, but I meant in civilized countries.

Perhaps you will come to the attention of our great leader. There have been several artists fortunate enough to be given the chance to paint him. He was an artist himself as a young man, you know.” Albrecht smoothed his moustache again.

What Rivka thought of this suggestion no one learned, because Claire stood up and said, “This has been a lovely break from work, but I am sure we all have things pressing for our attention. Thank you so much, Pastor, and you, too, Mrs. Berghof, but we must go now.”

In short order hands were shaken and Rivka found herself in the car and being driven away in a cloud of dust.

“What, you were afraid I would disgrace you and burst into laughter at the notion of painting the glorious leader?” she asked as Claire took the turn on to the main road a trifle fast.

“No, I was afraid I’d grab his nasty little moustache and twist it right off. How can he be so patronising? As if the Batshani weren’t feeding themselves and raising goats successfully before the Germans got here! Civilized countries indeed!”

“Calm yourself, at least until you aren’t at the wheel of a car,” Rivka pleaded, holding on to the door handle as if it were a talisman.

“Sorry.” Claire took her foot off the gas pedal for a moment, just in time to avoid a wandering woolly goat which stood on the side of the road staring after the car as it barrelled on through the twilight.

“Stupid goats, you’d think they’d know by now there’s nothing to eat on a paved road.”

“Perhaps he’s on his way to eat Herr Albrecht’s trees,” Rivka said, getting a laugh from Claire, who rarely stayed out of sorts for long.

“Come on, my treat at the Café tonight. Let’s throw diets to the wind.”

Driving down Wolesley Street, and finding a spot she’d be able to get out of easily, Claire parked the car. Locking her medical bag and slamming the car door, she joined Rivka on the wooden veranda of the old building that housed the Café.

Indoors a tall thin Coloured woman welcomed them.

“Doctor, it is good to see you are well; we heard such stories.”

“Highly exaggerated, Mrs. Kosi, I’m sure,” Claire laughed, introducing Rivka as “my houseguest and the official portrait painter of the Queen.” Looking impressed, Mrs. Kosi showed them to a table by the window where they could see the last of the sunset over the Misty Ranges.

“What do you recommend?” Claire asked, looking at the menu.

“Not the goat, it is very bony,” Mrs. Kosi said in a low tone.

“The pot roast is not bad. We do it with prunes and apples, very nice.”

“That sounds good. Rivka, what about you?” Claire asked.

“I’ll have pot roast also, and lemon tart for dessert.”

“And some Portuguese bread,” added Claire.

“Essential for mopping up gravy.”

“My mother used to scold us for that. She said it was rude,” Rivka said. “But my grandmother always said that wasting a bit of gravy now would bring hard times later. She said—let me see if I can put it into colloquial English—’Wilful waste makes woeful want.’ That doesn’t give the flavour of the Yiddish, but you get the idea.”

“My grandmother said almost exactly the same thing.

Do you suppose grandmothers are issued with a book of appropriate sayings with which to terrorize small children?”

26

Claire considered the idea of some Central Supply organisation for grandmothers with a smile.

“They probably get the book from the same place they get the incredibly strong fingers, the ugly shoes, and that peculiar slippery fabric their best dresses are made from. I notice you said ‘us’. Do you have siblings?”

Rivka’s face clouded over. “I don’t know anymore. I haven’t seen my brother for over a year. He’s a journalist, or he was.

People like that have been going missing and no one seems to know what happens to them. I used to think Vienna was the most civilized city in the world, but when people just disappear, you wonder if that’s true, or if maybe there’s a bright surface over something dark and nasty.”

“It’s hard to believe he just disappeared. Couldn’t he be on an assignment somewhere?”

“For over a year? He’d have to be in Antarctica to be out of touch that long. My parents have been trying to find him through the Red Cross, but so far, nothing. None of our old friends have seen him, and the police brushed us off with the comment that young men often choose to go off on their own.”

The arrival of the lemon tart and coffee moved the conversation to a less serious plane.

Rivka’s dark mood appeared to lessen as her sugar level increased, which pleased Claire because she wasn’t sure what to say. What would it be like to be in Rivka’s shoes? It was hard to imagine. It was one thing to be here in Africa as a temporary exile, but to be a refugee was not a comfortable thought. What would happen if Rivka couldn’t get permission to go to America?

Claire’s thoughts were interrupted by Mrs. Kosi, who appeared at the table with more coffee.

“There is a person outside to see you, Doctor, but I told him he must wait until you are finished eating.”

“Where’s he from?”

“He didn’t say exactly, but he works for one of the new foreigners. Harland? No, Harcourt.”

Rivka raised her eyebrows. “No doubt he’s expecting you to entertain him, the Queen having volunteered your services.”

Claire sighed. She had hoped to put off that particular task for a while longer. “I’d better see him. Where is he?”

“Outside, near your car.” Mrs. Kosi gathered up the dishes and left a discreet slip of paper in the middle of the table, being unsure of the etiquette when two women dined together. Rivka picked it up and said, “I’ll settle the bill, you see the visitor.”

Outside, Claire found a plump young man pacing in the dust.

“Oh, doctor, there has been an accident,” he said as soon as he saw her. Rummaging in her memory, Claire hooked out the name to go with the face.

“Mobo, isn’t it? Aren’t you a clerk in Mr. Molapo’s office?

Don’t tell me Mr. Molapo has had an accident.”

“No, he is well. I have been seconded to help the professor and it is he who is hurt.” Mopping his face with a handkerchief the size of a small tent, Jeziah Mobo explained, “You know that the Great She-leopard has allowed a survey to be made of the Place of Stone? I warned the Professor, I said to him that the stones are dangerous. Up he went and then down he came and I think his leg is broken. He is very angry.”

“Is he bleeding?”

“No, but he cannot stand, and there is a large purple mark.

And his language is…very strong.”

Claire smiled. “I’ll bet it is.” She went to open the car door and found it ajar. She was sure she had shut it. She remembered thinking that she had better do so because her medical bag was in the car.

“Didn’t I shut the car? I’m sure I did,” she said as Rivka joined her.

“Yes, you did. What good that does for a door that tends to fly open when you go around a sharp corner is questionable, but I’m sure you did shut it. Why?”

“It wasn’t shut just now. Nothing seems to be missing. Hold on, Mobo, I’ll just make a space for you in the back seat.” Claire chucked her hat on the floor and pushed her medical bag to one side. Pulling out into the street, Claire said, “Rivka, I can drop you at home if you like.”

“Oh, no, if you’re going to be out after dark I’m going with you.” Rivka clasped her hands firmly on her handbag and braced her feet on the floorboards.

“Your choice. You could have a long soak in the tub while I’m away.”

“You think I’d get into a bathtub in an empty house after all that’s happened? I’ll come with you. You might need an assistant.

Remember the cat?”

Claire laughed. “Let’s hope we don’t have to face that sort of surgery on the Professor!”

Beetling along down Dead Man’s Hill, the little Austin made good time to the turnoff for The Place of Stone. Thereafter, even Claire would admit reducing speed was the only safe course.

As she eased the car over the bumps in the gravel road, she hoped the man’s injury wouldn’t be complicated by anything like

27

a weak heart.

Elderly academics weren’t always in the best of health. If necessary, he could be taken to the hospital and an orthopaedic surgeon brought in from Johannesburg, but that wasn’t the work of a moment and would require all sorts of planning.

She could call out Dr. Shongway, but hoped that wouldn’t be necessary. He always treated her like a little girl playing medical games and she had never been able to convince him otherwise.

“If you turn off here, you will come to the place where the Professor is,” Mobo said from the back seat.

The Austin slewed wildly as Claire took the corner and hit the brakes in the middle of a clearing. Dimly seen in the gloaming, the great grey stones loomed like sleeping elephants above.

“There is Obed. I left him to take care of the professor. He was in the war. He knows about injured people,” Mobo said, getting out of the car quickly and passing Claire her medical bag.

Cursing her high-heeled shoes, which weren’t the footwear of choice for this area, Claire followed Mobo into the light of a small fire. On the ground wrapped in a bright Batshani blanket lay the patient, his face in shadow.

“God almighty, I ask for a doctor and they send me a debutante,” he snarled.

Claire knelt down to look at the left leg. “You aren’t in a position to be fussy. I doubt there’s any serious spinal injury, from the way you’re squirming, but you’ll have to keep still so I can look over the leg.”

Rivka came out of the shadows and said, “You want me to chloroform him like the cat?”

“What are you, a vet? Get me to a real doctor!” demanded the injured man.

“Professor Harcourt, if that’s who you are, unless you want to wait for us to fetch Dr. Shongway from Sibuya, which is two hour’s drive, you’d better let me look at this ankle. Or you can lie here and writhe in pain, it’s all the same to me,” snapped Claire, who had been spoiled by fourteen months of being

regarded as a ministering angel, and who resented having been dragged away from dessert to treat this bad-tempered foreigner.

“Oh, get on with it!” he snapped, lying back with a groan.

Claire said to Mobo, “This boot has to come off, and it’s going to hurt. You and Obed hold him down. Rivka, give me the scissors please.”

Slitting the elasticized side of the boot, Claire said, “Hold him!” and with one tug had the boot off, accompanied by a scream and a lot of swearing.

“The scream is forgivable; the language is not. Be quiet or I will chloroform you!” she said over her shoulder. As she knelt on the rough earth, she felt something zip up her leg. “Bugger, that’s my last pair of good stockings ruined!” she muttered.

The patient heard her and snorted with laughter, joined by Rivka, who had settled herself at his head to hold him down if required.

“You two are a good match!” Rivka chortled.

“Shall I bandage this abrasion on his forehead, Claire? Or would you rather inflict the pain?”

“You do it. I’m sure you’ll be kinder than your employer will,” said Harcourt between clenched teeth.

“She’s not my employer, she’s my landlady. But she’s a very good doctor, so try and relax and let her see what’s wrong,” Rivka said, pressing her own clean pocket hanky to Harcourt’s oozing forehead.

Claire was feeling her way up and down the leg and ankle as carefully as she could, and was pretty sure she knew what was wrong. “I’d like to bring you into my surgery and fix this—the open veldt is probably relatively clean, but I prefer my own examining table. Easier on the back, for one thing.”

She looked full at the patient for the first time. Well, well, well: so much for the frail old professor theory. Dirt and pain did not obscure what were very attractive masculine features whose owner couldn’t be much older than thirtyfive. However, handsome is as handsome does, according to Grandma Winter, and the man’s behaviour so far had done nothing to endear him to Claire.

“That could be a problem. I don’t see any ambulance around, do you?” Harcourt asked.

“We’ll improvise.” With a couple of pieces of the firewood and some lengths of gauze, she fashioned a splint around the injured ankle.

“Obed, Jeziah, can you carry him to my car? Put him crossways in the back seat once I get the top down, and try not to knock that ankle. I don’t think we want to hear any more of Professor Harcourt’s vocabulary tonight.”

Claire unlatched and folded down the convertible top, managing not to pinch her fingers for once, and with only a modest amount of cursing Harcourt was stowed in the car, his injured ankle wedged with Claire’s medical bag.

“It will be a bit windy with the top down but it’s not that long a trip,” Claire said. “Also, it will be bumpy. I’ll be as careful as I can, but you know what this road is like. Do you want a shot of morphine before we start?”

“No. I’d rather stay awake so I can criticise your driving,” he said with a smile—quite a nice smile, Claire thought, from what she could see of it in the dim light.

“I’d be careful about that if I were you,” Rivka, ever loyal,

Death in the Sea of Grass 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.

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28

put in. “But I’d also take the morphine, given the chance.”

Claire started the car and with many tiny manoeuvres managed to get out of the confined area and back to the gravel road, where she tried to straddle the ruts to reduce the bouncing the patient suffered. Groans from the back seat punctuated her efforts, and by the time they reached the tarred road, Claire found she was holding the steering wheel so hard her knucklebones showed green in the moonlight.

“That’s the worst over,” she said over her shoulder.

“Unless she meets a herd of goats,” Rivka added. “Tell us, Professor, how did you injure yourself?”

“I was peering into an interesting niche at the top of a wall and something reptilian peered back at me. That’s all I recall until Obed threw a pot of water in my face. I was fortunately unconscious during what must have been a harrowing trip from the place I fell to the blanket by the fire. If the leg wasn’t broken before, I’m sure it got that way during the first aid attempts.”

“There you’d be wrong, Professor—Obed was an orderly in the Great War, and you’d have found few others who’d have known what to do better than he. He got you to a place of safety, kept you warm, and prevented your moving the injured limb.

I don’t know what else you expected, the Mayo Brothers, perhaps?”

“More like the Marx Brothers if your comments are anything to go by. Are you this caring with all your patients? Is the hectoring lecture the newest treatment?”

“Professor, if you’d feel more comfortable, I can take you straight to the hospital, where you will lie on a canvas gurney with no padding in a noisy emergency room filled with people suffering TB, knife wounds, and all manner of nasty infections, not to mention women in the last stages of labour who finally decided to get help. There you can wait the two or three hours it will take before someone tends to you—or you can come to my surgery and keep a civil tongue in your head. Your choice.”

“Claire, he’s hurt. He might be concussed. I’m sure he doesn’t mean to be rude,” Rivka protested. She’d never seen the hard side of her landlady and was rather shocked by it.

“Au contraire, rude is what I do best, just ask any of my students. I’ve made it an art form,” protested Harcourt, then hissed as another bump took him by surprise.

“Will you be quiet? I’m trying to save you from what I promise was not an exaggeration, and you’re not helping your cause!” Rivka snapped, exasperated.

“Children, no squabbling,” Claire said, laughing in spite of herself. Harcourt wasn’t what she had expected, but he obviously had spirit, and might prove amusing once he was over his present bad temper. If he gets over it, she amended.

Pulling up as near the front gate of the house on Roberts Street as she could, Claire stopped the car and considered what to do next. Rivka got out of the car and went to open the front door and put on the outside light. She went up the three steps to the veranda and was about to put her key in the door when a warm musky-smelling arm encircled her throat and a sharp blade touched her chin.

“Aaah!” she gasped.

“What is it?” Claire called, standing by the passenger door of the car trying to figure out how to extract her patient with the least possible damage.

“Clai-rrre, someone’s here,” Rivka quavered, knees barely holding her upright. Abruptly she was released and a deep voice beside her said, “Sorry, sorry, madam. I thought it was an intruder. It is I, Sipo.”

“Sipo who?” Claire called. “Anyway, whoever you are, you can come and help. Rivka, get the surgery ready, would you?”

Rivka staggered to the light switch and flicked it on. On the veranda stood a big brown man who could be the absent Themba’s twin. He smiled apologetically at her and selfconsciously set his spear against the wall as he went to help Claire.

“What the hell is going on?” demanded Professor Harcourt from his cramped position in the back seat.

“Nothing, just the bodyguard,” Claire explained. “I take it

the Great She-leopard sent you, Sipo?”

“Yes, Tshadola. I am to guard you until Themba returns.”

“Well, this man is hurt, and he is working for Her Majesty.

She would not like him to be hurt any more. His leg is injured.”

With no further instruction, Sipo plucked Harcourt from the back seat and slung him over one shoulder. Striding up the walk into the house, he stood waiting to be shown what to do next.

“In here,” Claire said, going into the surgery and trying very hard not to giggle at the sight of an Associate Professor of Anthropology being slung about like a sack of corn meal.

“Gently, put him down on this table. That’s great. Perhaps you’d go and stir up the fire so we can have some tea later, Sipo.”

Rivka stood by the desk, ready to assist if wanted. “Shall I make the tea? Or do you need things passed to you?”

“Probably. First we need to wash this. Can you get some warm water while I check his blood pressure and reactions?”

As she spoke, Claire was scrubbing her hands in the basin of carbolic water behind the screen in the corner. She then took her pocket torch and shone the light in Harcourt’s eyes to check the reaction of the pupils. “Both reactive, both the same size,” she murmured.

“That’s good.”

“Both a soulful blue,” Harcourt said, blinking at the light.

“Really? I didn’t notice.” Claire reached for the blood pressure cuff and strapped it around his arm, pumping it up more vigorously than was really required. “Blood pressure normal, considering,” she said, listening intently for thirty seconds before removing the stethoscope.

Rivka came in with a basin of warm water. She passed swabs as Claire cleaned the injured ankle, which was beginning to break out in tones of red and purple even more impressive than Claire’s own recent bruises.

With great gentleness, Claire manipulated the injured joint, watching Harcourt for signs of pain. When she was satisfied the only damage was to the muscles and ligaments, she said, “I don’t think there’s anything broken, but I’d like to get X-rays to be sure. It seems to be a severe sprain, and I advise strapping it up well. I’ll do that, then I’ll take you up to the hospital for the X-rays. And I really recommend a painkiller of some sort, codeine if you don’t want morphine.”

“Carry on, Doctor,” Harcourt said. He bore the subsequent binding and strapping in silence, as well as the swabbing and disinfecting of the abrasion on his forehead.

“You’ve been very brave. You shall have a chocolate biscuit with your tea,” Claire said, impressed in spite of herself. With Sipo’s help, Claire got her patient into the kitchen and seated in a chair with a cup of tea and the promised treat.

“This isn’t a biscuit, it’s a cookie,” Harcourt said, brushing away the crumbs.

“Well, you pick up the British terms, living out here. Are you ready for another trip?”

“Does it have to be over his shoulder?” asked Harcourt, nodding toward Sipo, who sat on the floor with his own tea, observing Wellington, who was observing right back.

“I’ve got a cane, so I think we can get you there and back in an upright manner.”

“Do you really think an X-ray is necessary?”

“I wouldn’t want you to sue me for malpractice later.”

“Does that often happen to you?”

“No. But you strike me as a litigious type, so I thought, better safe than sorry.” Claire felt her irritation level rising again.

What was it about this man?

“Hello, remember me, the peacemaker?” Rivka broke in. “Why don’t you wait until morning and see how things look then?”

“So I sleep on the examining table until then?” Harcourt asked. “I think I’d rather go home.”

“Well you can’t. I’m not going up and down Dead Man’s Hill again tonight. We have a spare room; you can have that. I’ll go dig out a blanket or two.” Claire left the kitchen abruptly.

“Is she always this prickly?” Rivka smiled. “No, she’s the most sunnytempered person I know. You must bring out the 29

worst in her for some reason. She is noted for her soft heart, in fact. I can’t think why she’s like this, unless it’s that you’ve purposely been stirring her up.” Harcourt put on an air of false innocence.

“Me? Never. Anyway, she started it.”

“Rubbish. You were rude from the start.

However, you’re a person in need of medical help, so she’ll do whatever is required.”

“Where’d she get that shiner?” he asked, then, seeing the blank look, added, “The black eye.”

“Don’t mention it; it’s almost faded. She had a car accident.”

“I’m not surprised. How did she get a license, or don’t you need one in this country?”

“Ssh!” Rivka ordered. “You really are an aggravating man.”

Claire came back to the kitchen and announced, “The bed’s old but the linen is clean. Sipo will help you to the bathroom if you like. I’m going to lock up now. If you think you’re dying in the night, call out; otherwise don’t bother me. Here, you might need this.”

“Thank you for your gracious hospitality,” Harcourt said, struggling to one foot and taking the cane she thrust at him.

“Hmph,” Claire said. “Good night, Rivka. Sipo, you know where Themba’s room is? Thank you for coming. I’m sure we’ll feel much safer with you here.” Without another word she went to her room.

“Well, she’s tired. Long day,” Rivka apologized. “The toilet is in there, off the laundry room. The bathroom is up

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the hall, right and right again. If you need any help in the night, call me—quietly. Claire’s obviously in need of a decent night’s sleep. Oh, and if the power goes off, there are oil lamps all over the house. I’ll check there’s one in your room.” Rivka locked the back door after Sipo left and offered to help Harcourt to his room. He disdained the offered arm, but followed her up the hall.

“I hope you sleep well. Are you sure you don’t need something for the pain? I see Claire’s left some codeine tablets,” she said, investigating the contents of a small brown envelope on the night table. “It says to take two every six hours.”

“Well, if it isn’t too much trouble,” he said, sitting on the bed with a sigh.

Rivka got a glass of water and shook out two codeine tablets. “I’m sure they’ll help. Good night.”

Chapter Four continued next month ...

Enquiries and orders to quendabooks@iinet.net.au

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.

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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

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ENTERTAINMENT 30 FROM 30 CHRIS MCRAE

L

ast month, I began a journey in retrospect of my favourite films from the past 30 years, leading up to my 30th birthday next month. This month, I reflect on my favourites (all of which I highly recommend watching) from 1998-2007. As a 10 year old, I was really beginning to really understand the allure and excitement of film. This led to me taking my first uni job in a video store (sadly which are now a dying breed) in 2007. We pick up in 1998….

2000: MEMENTO Director: Christopher Nola Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano and Mark Boone Jr

The film that sparked my love affair with the work of Christopher Nolan. The premise is simple, “a man suffering short term memory loss attempts to track down his wife’s killer” (courtesy of IMDB). How it is handled both in scripting and execution is truly mindblowing. Told in reverse but with every loose end tied up and every detail intricately connected, Memento put Nolan on the map!

PART 2 (1998-2007) 1998: GOOD WILL HUNTING Director: Gus Van Sant Starring: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Robin Williams and Stellan Skarsgard

The epitome of good scriptwriting, this riveting drama about a young janitor with a gift for Mathematics and the psychologist who helps him find direction in life is a multi layered masterpiece. Driven by stunning performances,

2001: HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S

STONE Director: Chris Columbus Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Richard Harris

Those inbetween 25 and 35 really are the true Potter generation. For me, to see one of my most beloved and treasured

Robin Williams and Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting

including a career defining Oscar winning one from Robin Williams, this became an instant classic for screenwriters Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

book series’ from childhood brought to life on the big screen for the first time was truly special. Every magical detail about Hogwarts and Quidditch that had been created in my head was lovingly given the silver screen treatment in what was a magical start for a ten year film journey and a remarkable franchise for the British film industry.

1999: FIGHT CLUB Director: David Fincher Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf and Zach Grenier

Darkly hypnotic and totally unique, this film that no-one speaks of is a genre bending stunner. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt are mesmerising in this David Fincher directed science fiction, satire soaked thrill ride. With ultra violence, stunning aesthetics and visual effects and one of the most unique storylines of modern film, this was ahead of its time and remains one of the greats.

2002: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan and Sean Astin, Ian Holm, Cate Blanchett, Sean Bean

After proving the critics wrong (many who said the series was unfilmable) with the stunning achievement of 2001’s 32

Cash is given the royal treatment in this absolute treat of a biopic. Joaquin Phoenix shines as Cash and Reese Witherspoon earns every bit of her Oscar for her tender portrayal of June Carter.

Littered with the classic Cash and Carter tunes (all sung by the talented cast), perfectly scripted and cast, Walk The Line will leave your toes tapping and your heart pumping like a runaway train.

2006: THE PRESTIGE Director: Christopher Nolan Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson and Michael Caine

Christopher Nolan follows up 2005’s incredibly successful reinvention of the Batman franchise (Batman Begins) with an equally creative tale based on duelling magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale). The Prestige is layered with interweaving storylines, time jumps, hidden messages and tied together with deception and trickery.

Incredibly clever and given Nolan’s creative touch, this is a film which makes you think whilst entertaining and exciting!

Fellowship of the Ring, director Peter Jackson expanded and extended Middle Earth with the brilliantly epic The Two Towers.

The second instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was on a scale previously unseen on film and brought Tolkein’s characters to vivid life with New Zealand providing the breathtaking backdrop.

2007: BLOOD DIAMOND Director: Edward Zwick Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connolly and Arnold Vosloo

Incredibly underrated (not winning any of its five Academy Award nominations), this remains in my top films of all time.

Leonardo DiCaprio (complete with an incredibly convincing South African accent) spearheads this powerful tale of a father (Djimon Hounsou) who, after discovering a rare pink diamond, teams up with a diamond smuggler (DiCaprio) in an effort to save his son who has been captured by rebels.

Set against the backdrop of the horrifically vivid 90’s civil war in Sierra Leone, the acting, cinematography and powerful message in this politcally charged thriller really hit home and it remains one of the most moving films I have seen.

Catch the third and final part of my ’30 From 30’ (2008-2017) in the October edition of the Swan Magazine.

2003: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan and Sean Astin

A remarkable three year journey through Middle Earth is capped by a film for the ages. Eleven Academy Award wins (equalling Titanic) and one of the most sprawling, epic tales ever put to celluloid. The story at the heart of Frodo and Sam journeying to Modor to destroy the one ring never gets lost as all the paralell storylines merge into a stunning finale. Memorable and unforgettable!

2004: SHAUN OF THE DEAD Director: Edgar Wright Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield and Dylan Moran

The first of what became known as the ‘Cornetto Trilogy’ and has since garnered a cult following. Shaun of the Dead was not only an insanely clever combination of comedy and horror with a healthy dose of satire, but it spawned its own genre of ‘rom-zom-com or romantic zombie comedy’.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are brilliant as the loveable larrikins Shaun and Ed and a brilliant supporting cast and deft direction from Edgar Wright make this one of the funniest genre benders of all time!

2005: WALK THE LINE Director: James Mangold Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Patrick

The story of the man in black, rebel without a cause Johnny

Jennifen Connelly in Blood Diamond 33

ENTERTAINMENT SKYLAB Dreamtime meets Monkey Magic Reviewer: Douglas Sutherland-Bruce

“Sandy and Pigsy are like archetypical dreaming characters within a lot of our dreaming stories. It was the first time I could see on TV something that wasn’t white Anglo Saxon Christian culture and so, we gravitated to it like it was the only show that was for us… you know the cultural safety in this show is really crazy… it’s a Chinese dreaming story, reproduced by a Japanese studio then dubbed over with really bad Chinese accents!

“In hindsight, it’s lots of levels of awful! But what it actually did was give us access to some level of spirituality, consciousness and culture that we didn’t have anywhere else.

“In Skylab we’re going to be looking at that old 70’s studio style of magic realism seeing how we can honour that way of storytelling. I think there are so many synergies with Monkey Magic and contemporary Dreaming that people will get a sense of how as kids we saw Monkey Magic as a Dreaming story for us.

Skylab certainly has a dream-like quality to it - events happen for no discernable logic and no causative link to the events that follow.

But divorce yourself from that limited thinking and you’ll have agood time. The vast stage is utilised well, ther acting first rate and the direction imaginative and inspirational.

Black Swan and Yirra Yaakin have been associates in the past but this is really the first co-production and it has been so succsessful that it is to be hoped it’s not the last. ~oOo~

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kylab, a colaboration between Black Swan State and Yirra Yaakin Theatre Companies, is set in July 1979, when Western Australia was celebrating its sesquicentenary, and starting to actively worry about having a large lump of NASA’s Skylab drop on us.

The play was written Melodie Reynolds-Diarra, a Wongutha, Nadju woman from Western Australia. She made her acting debut at the age of sixteen in No Sugar at Belvoir St and went on to graduate from the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 1996.

Melodie has performed in several ABC radio plays and recorded the audio book of My Place. On stage she has worked extensively both at classical and modern theatre.

Skylab is ReynoldsDiarra’s first play, written with the support of Moogahlin Performing Arts through the Yellamundie National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Playwriting Festival 2015.

Skylab was directed by Kyle J Morrison: “As a director, I think it was the ability to really mess with form and to look at our contemporary theatre in a different way ....

Only at a contemporary arts organisation can you look at contemporary theatre and contemporary spirituality in a way that challenges ideas around how we see our spirituality and our contemporary paradigm.

The play focuses of the effects, cosmologically and materialy of the fall of Skylab of a local Esperance Aboriginal family - , Nan (Rayma McGrath Morrison) the mother of Uncle Harvey (Gary Cooper) and Jem (Laila Rind) who together with Nev (Alan Little) are the parents of Sonia, Nate and Amy.

The three children are below the age to take a role continuously and so each has two young actors - Amy (aged 8) is played

by Eva Barlett and Liani Dalgetty, Sonia (aged 12) is played by Donnathia Gentle and Juliette Laylan and Nate (aged 10) is played by Benjamin Narkle and Jacob Narkle.

The imaginatively directed play contains a lot of pop culture references that might be missed by a modern audience. In particular the eighties TV show Monkey, a Japanese television drama based on the 16th century Chinese novel, Journey to the West the adventures of Tripitaka,Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy and “Horse” (voiced by Andrew Sachs Manuel in Fawlty Towers).

Asked if he thought this added to the production, Director Morrison had this to say:

“When I was a kid, Monkey Magic was the only thing on TV that wasn’t Anglo culture.

It was the only thing that represented some other culture, some other spirituality, some Alan Little as Nev in Skylab at The Studio Underground. other dreaming.

(Photograph by Cameron Etchells 34

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ENTERTAINMENT

LONG LOST TREASURES

SILVER LINING AT GARRICK

TEN INCH HERO

andi Toksvig, the plump genial witty host of QI, who took over from Stephen Fry is a remarkable woman in mnay ways.

Born in Denmark she went to Girton College, Cambridge where she read law, archaeology and anthropology, taking a first class degree. While at Cambridge she performed at Footlights along with Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie and Tony Slattery. Writing and performing in Footlight’s first all-woman show.

Moving into the comedy circuit Sandi performed on the BBC, Radio 4, and on stage.

She has also written extensively, books for both children and adults, as well as a musical, Big Night Out at the Little Sands Picture Palace, and most recently an hilarious comedy - Silver Lining - Garrick Theatre’s next production:

On one dark and stormy night in the upper day room of the Silver Retirement Home, five elderly women are trading stories of their remarkable (or sometimes unremarkable) lives.

With the storm floods rising and no rescue team in sight, the ladies are faced with the sudden realisation that in order to survive they are going to have to do what they have done for their entire lives – do it themselves!

Directed by Garrick Theatre doyenne, Dale James, Silver Lining opens on the 27th September and runs until October the 13th, with two matinees at 16 Meadow Street, Guildford.

Tickets cost $25, ($22 concession) and may be booked by ringing Elaine on 9378 1990 or on-line at TryBooking on www. trybooking.com.

CHRIS MCRAE

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his little known gem from 2007 hits all the right notes as a heartwarming, laugh out loud, indie comedy.

Set in a small coastal town, it follows the journey of young artist Piper (Elisabeth Harnois) who is looking to find answers and the long lost daughter she gave up long ago.

As her search for comfort begins, she takes a job at a beachside sandwich shop and forms some unbreakable bonds with a crew of quirky and loveable workers.

Among them is the endearing Jen (Clea Devall) who is looking for love, Tish (Danneel Harris) who is searching for the next one night stand and Priestly (Jensen Ackles) a tattooed misfit with a heart of gold. As unlikely bonds form, they embrace Piper, showing her what a true sense of family is all about.

What makes this comedy work so well is its relatable characters and the heart at the centre of the film. It covers the fact that everyone is unique and has something inside them that makes them special.

It also proves that friends can become family and to never judge a book by its cover. These characters are real. They speak to everyone who has felt they don’t fit in or have been searching for comfort at some stage in their lives.

Ten Inch Hero is not only endearing, it is also very funny with some great one liners and much of the comedy coming from Jensen Ackles’ colourful Priestly.

Although not your typical Hollywood blockbuster, Ten Inch Hero is a small film with a big heart and will make you laugh, smile, cringe and even cry. Ten Inch Hero is available now on DVD. Editor’s Note: The ten inch hero of the title is not a short protagonist, but a ‘foot long’ hero sandwich.

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TV WITH CHRIS Ray Romano fits the bill perfectly as the washed up, slightly unkempt Hollywood producer who ends up out of his depth with the underhanded nature of Daley’s project and in-between the sheets with Daley’s boss and cartel matriarch Amara De Escalones (Lidia Porto).

As things begins to unravel and spin out of control for Miles and blackmail, deception and intrigue start to come into play, the series shifts into another gear with a sense of danger peppering every scene and O’Dowd’s dramatic chops really moving into the foreground.

Get Shorty is a rough, fun and comedic thrill ride which successfully combines sharp wit, comedy, action and drama in a very effective melting pot, driven by terrific performances and a riveting storyline.

TV REVIEWS - SEPTEMBER 2018 Chris McRae GET SHORTY Network: Stan rime thrillers set against the backdrop of glamorous and often corrupt Hollywood is a popular concept and can often be a match made in heaven.

For the modern revamp of the classic mob/hollywood

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DISENCHANTMENT Network: Stan From one of the most successful animation minds of all time comes the latest adult oriented animated romp. Matt Groening (creator of the Simpsons and Futurama) returns to the cartoon world, this time turning his gaze to the medieval town of Dreamland in Disenchanted. It follows the adventures, or rather misadventures of Princess Bean (Abbi Jacobsen), who is not your average princess and could drink the most noble of knights under the table.

After an arranged marriage goes awry, she forms an unlikely bond with the shadow-like demon Luci (Eric Andre) and Elfo (Nat Faxon), an elf who escapes his candy-filled, forever happy world in search of more adventure. Together, they find and make trouble, dealing with all kinds of mythical creatures and medieval misfits along the way.

What Groening’s comedies do so well is appeal to their target audience. For those who know and love the Simpsons and Futurama, this is a real treat. The comedy is adult enough to give some good laughs but not overly crude.

The script is very funny and the character of Elfo in particular has some excellent one liners which are perfectly timed. The series works off stereotypes which makes it tick so well. A clueless king, a wicked queen, a wizard with potential memory loss and burly knights with not much between the ears. The voice talent is excellent with the three leads bringing real style and charm to Bean, Luci and Elfo.

The great thing about Disenchantment is its ability to keep the comedy consistent throughout without seeming like a re-hash of other medieval comedies before it. The fact that they have chosen to focus the story around a Princess rather than the stereotypical Prince driven storylines give it a strong female focus which not many animations have done in recent years.

Disenchantment is a great success from Groening. Its quick wit, endearing characters and entertaining scenarios make it easy to watch and provide some good laughs along the way.

Ray Romano and Chris O’Dowd in Get Shorty

mash up Get Shorty, it is not so much the glamour but the seedy underbelly that gives the series its strength, although it produces both in spades.

Based on the 1990 Elmore Leonard novel and subsequent 1995 film of the same name Get Shorty follows Miles Daley (Chris O’Dowd), who works as muscle for hire in a Nevada crime ring.

As distance begins to form between Miles and his daughter Emma (Carolyn Dodd) and soon to be ex-wife Katie (Lucy Walters), he makes a move to ‘provide by approaching small budget film producer Rick Moreweather (Ray Romano) whilst on a job in Los Angeles.

Miles and his team attempt to produce a Hollywood smash whilst laundering money from the crime syndicate through the film. Daley does his best to leave the crime world in Nevada however it ends up following him to the bright lights of Hollywood as he lives by the ‘fake it until you make it’ mantra.

The pairing of Ray Romano and Chris O’Dowd is a stroke of genius as both have proven to have strong comedic chops. In Get Shorty, black humour shines through but there are also moments of shocking violence and tense action, all of which combine to create a witty and very cleverly executed series.

Chris O’Dowd is in the driver’s seat and brings warmth and charm to his role as Miles, but also provides moments of poignancy, tension and (in the later episodes of Season 1 and into Season 2) pure terror as his worlds collide.

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COMMUNITY THEATRE THEATRE WITH GORDON

The set: It is not often that the set brings a gasp of admiration, but this one designed by Maeli Cherel and constructed by Étain Boscato certainly did. The scene is the edge of the beach next to a poor fisherman’s shack built of flotsam. His fishing nets are drying on the fence. The sand is strewn with branches, pine wood pallets, debris and an old tin bath.

Phoebe Pilcher is developing a fine reputation for her thoughtful and sensitive lighting design. At first glance the lighting seems simple, but there are quite complex combinations of lamps and colours in each scene. Like Phoebe, the soundscape designer, Isaac Diamond has presented a superb mix of sound effects and subtle music. Clever work.

A lonely, poverty-stricken fisherman (Sam Hayes) is happily rod fishing on the beach, when one day he catches an amazingly beautiful fish. In good angling tradition, he kisses the fish, only to find that it speaks back to him, before slowly taking on a human persona. He had just caught much needed company – perhaps even a wife (Frieda Lee).

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

- Helen Keller

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THE INCONSEQUENTIAL LIVES OF LITTLE FISH

he Inconsequential Lives of Little Fish is a delightful new story, delivered in an adult, fairy-tale style – but with a strong message of human rights breeches, cruelty and slavery. This heartfelt, gripping two-hander was sensitively written by the

Soon the family budget became strained, and the fisherman had to take a deck job on a deep sea trawler.

The family’s life was about to dramatically change.

With Sam having to play several parts, it was essential that the audience not only knew when there was a different individual, but that the actual personality of the character should instantly come though. Maeli Cherel’s costumes clearly showed the nature and social status of the wearers.

Whilst going through Hell, Little Fish touchingly radiated love, with a desire to trust and help everyone. A moving performance with huge depth. Sam Hayes played multiple characters, from the most obnoxious and cruel, to an easy-going, happy beach fisherman. Two amazing performers bringing to life an atrocious tale.

With the collaborative and creative team composed of WAAPA graduates, the audience may expect quality, but this show will still surpass their expectations.

Is a product really cheap when human suffering is involved? ~oOo~

LOOKING

Looking is a comedy which was written in 2005 by Canada’s most produced playwright, Ontario born actor and popular morning radio show host, Norm Foster.

This was his twenty-seventh play, he has now written over fifty, with most of them being quirky themes about ordinary people in everyday life. In view of his being the most produced Canadian playwright ever, Foster has been awarded ‘The Playwrights Guild of Canada’s lifetime membership’, and then in 2016 he became an Officer of the Order of Canada.

This two hour, fun show by the Rockingham Theatre Company, takes the form of sixteen very funny snippets from the lives of two couples. The shows can be seen at 8.00 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings until 15th September, with one Sunday matinée at 2.00 pm on the 9th September. Performances are at the Castle Theatre, 8 Attwood Way, Rockingham. Incidentally this fine theatre’s name and address do not seem to appear on their web page or programme.

Malcolm Robertson Foundation award recipient, and star of the show, Frieda Lee. I called this a two hander, but there was a guest appearance that pulled a few heart strings.

Mitchell Whelan should have no trouble marketing such an ingenious show. This 65-minute Erin Lockyer production designates the desperate need for the Australian Government’s inquiry into modern slavery, and to make us think about the real story behind the cheap imported seafood.

The Inconsequential Lives of Little Fish is showing at The Blue Room Studio Theatre until Saturday 22nd September. On the first week, the shows begin at 8.30 pm, then until the 15th they have curtain up at 7.00 pm and for the last week the shows go back to 8.30 pm.

The scene: The beach on Crocodile Island is a beauty spot in the North West of the Indian Ocean.

The scene: Present day.

The sets: Various locations, tennis club, bar, sports centre, a radio station presentation studio, Andy’s home, and Val’s home.

These miniature sets appeared simple, yet most effective. The construction team of Pete Scarrott, Danny Joyce and Callon Leam had the wisdom to put each prop unit on castors. The set 37

NOT IF I DIE FIRST

manager was David Heckingbottom.

With fifteen scene changes, an inefficient stage crew with slow scene changes could have killed this show. However, stage manager Cherry Allen’s team of five were magnificent. Each knew their task and simply moved in cleared or set a prop and moved out.

Most of the changes were within five seconds, well done Summer Allen, Danny, Teagan Joyce and the young man.

The lighting (designer, Callon Leam) carefully picked out the ‘active’ venue if two scenes were on stage at the same time. The selection of music and sound effects was well operated by India Allen.

Not If I Die First is a comedy / drama written by WA playwright Jordan Baynes. The story line is very similar to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

This seventy minute presentation was performed in Studio 411 on the Murdoch South Street campus, opposite car park 4.

The ticket price was $10.

The scene: Modern day at a student birthday party. See the events of the Spalding murders in Lincolnshire.

The set: A wardrobe, a one by two metre pine wood crate, and a leather three-seater settee. Very few props, and the ones they had fell apart.

Evie MacPherson’s proficient lighting design picked out the action well. The opening announcement was at minimal volume – this has been a fault in this theatre for some time. Is there an amplifier or speaker problem?

Two middle-aged men are in the cricket club dressing rooms, doing their loosening up exercises. One is businessman Andy (Gordon Park), a man that looks and acts older than his age. He has a strong sexual appetite, but unfortunately his approach and chat up lines are outdated, and his success rate with women has been nil for years. On the other hand, his radio show host pal, Matt (Pete Scarrott) is a quiet ‘hot’ achiever.

A terrified girl is running from a chainsaw killer, and decides to hide in a wooden crate but finds that there is another person already hiding in there. It soon becomes obvious that the dozen or so guests have devised a game in which each one of the group will die – in a set order!

In the locker room of a nearby Sports Exercise Club, is Val (Cathy Cooper), a nurse who is so dedicated that she has little time to enjoy male company; however, her police officer friend, Nina (Jay Shaw), is determined to help Val get the best from life.

Who will be the last to survive?

Oh dear. Sorry but the huge cast are not going to like this – hence the lack of credits.

The direction instructions appeared to be almost nil.

Standing the cast of (unlucky) thirteen in two semicircles, motionless and facing the audience is not the way to handle a large cast.

The dialogue generally had no emotion, there was no chemistry.

One actor spent almost the whole play glancing around at the audience, even during a face to face chat this actor’s eyes were peeking at the audience, presumably to see if they were still there?

Most of the actors stood expressionless with their arms at their sides. One or two of the cast tried, but still looked mechanical.

With the exception of Hannah Anderson, Amber Jantjies (who died too early in the play) and Davis Anderson who were well ahead of the team, the acting was disappointing. Although there are cast members who are capable of fine performances, the acting quality ranged from competent to dire.

The final curtain call was greeted by the least enthusiastic audience that I have heard in years, and yet the cast milked the applause.

Normally after the curtain is lowered, or the cast left the stage, the lights then come on and everyone leaves; however, here there was a thirtysecond announcement thanking everyone for coming and wishing them a safe journey home, and advising the folk of the website for the next production.

Sorry, I just wanted to get out, I had already lost seventy minutes of my life. Cruel, but restrained.

With the help of an newspaper dating service, the two couples decide to meet in a local pub ‘The Private Dick’.

Director Kirstie Francis has shown a great deal of skill in ensuring that this segmented script did not stagnate. By selecting four very good, well matched actors, who were dedicated to the show, the funny script came to life perfectly.

With superb chemistry and interaction the show took off and kept flying. Well done.

The last Rockingham production was one of their most successful ever – packed.

Strangely, the night I went to this show there was possibly one of their smallest, but still an enthusiastic, audiences. Strangely, the previous night and the following weekend have good bookings houses. None of us seemed to know why.

A good fun script presented by experts in confusion and delivery. ~oOo~

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ENTERTAINMENT THEATRE REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2018 Douglas Sutherland-Bruce

PATIENCE, or BUNTHORNE’S BRIDE

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n one of The West Wing episodes Sam Seaborn boasts that he was in the G & S Society and when someone can’t recall the title of one their operas but remarks ‘it’s the one about duty’ replies ‘They’re all about duty’.

Even the lightly handled, but deeply satiric Patience is about duty - it’s Patience the milkmaid’s duty to love someone unworthy, because it would be too easy to love someone perfect. Which is a pity, as she’s met the perfect poet - Archibald Grovenor.

Satire, as is frequently remarked, is an easilydated, often two-handed sword. But with Patience Gilbert managed to write a libretto and lyrics that have lasted and stood the test of the passage of nearly a hundred and forty years - the audience at the 2018 G & S Society’s performance being as whole-hearted and raptuously appreciative as Lady Angela (Marli van der Bijl) and Patience (Grace Feltoe) that of the opening night in 1881.

This, despite the fact that the aesthetic And it is this gem that is the current production of WA’s movement (‘Art for Art’s sake’) of the 1870s and 80s is long Gilbert and Sullivan Society. It was directed by the experienced forgotten, except for Oscar Wilde’s green carnations and silk knee-breeches. Widely believed to be the model for Bunthorne, and knowledgable Alan Needham, no slouch as a performer himself. He has directed this particular production from an Wilde, in 1881 when Patience opened, had published nothing early version and with a light and delicate hand, emphasising the and was a late arrival to the Aesthetes, firmly established humour. ‘in stained-glass attitudes’, by Dante Rossetti, Burne-Jones, The plot concerns Reginald Bunthorne (Ross Bryant), a Swinburne and Walter Pater. ‘fleshly poet’ of aesthetic bent with a ‘morbid love of admiration’ But really, who cares? Certainly not anyone who enjoys who enjoys the admiration of twenty love-lorne maidens, but Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience, because the music is so lovely who’s eye is fixed upon the delectable Patience (Grace Feltoe) an and the dialogue so witty and delightful. Not as famous or unspoiled milkmaid. well-known as Mikado or Pirates of Penzance, Patience is The attitude of the maidens is puzzling to Colonel Calverley nevertheless a fruit of their middle period and show artists at (Steve Sherwood) and the Heavy Dragoons he leads who were the very height of their powers. previously engaged to the Bunthorne-bedazzled bevy of beauties.

The production runs at Dolphin Theatre in the UWA campus, a charming venue and very suitable. The musical directors, Georg Corall and Michael Brett, have put together a wonderful score and a talented orchestra.

The delectable Grace Feltoe plays Patience with great charm and a beautiful voice, easily explaining Bunthorn’s infatuation.

The large cast are well chosen, exceedingly well costumed, and deeply committed to their roles. Ross Bryant as Bunthorne has the look of a diasppointed spaniel in his wig, but makes the most out of Gilbert’s creation, which is not a mere spoof, but a real character. His devotee, Lady Jane (Belinda Cox) and he have a wonderful duet (So Go To Him) to which they do full justice.

Lady Jane is one of Gilbert’s ‘elderly ugly spinsters’ played with great relish and gusto by Belinda Cox. The lanky lovely Grovenor was taken by Wesley Williams who we saw last as Giuseppe in The Gondoliers earlier this year.

But the whole cast worked wonderfully well together, making a truly ensemble production, lovely to see with some really inspired touches of humour.

An excellent production which runs until the 15th September.

If you can get tickets, do so. It will be along time before you get another opportunity to see so good a production of Patience.

Very highly recommended.

Lady Angela (Marli van der Bijl) Bunthorn (Ross Bryant) and Lady Saphir (Emily Schinkel)

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SPORT AND LEISURE INFERNO SET TO LIGHT THE FUSE CHRIS MCRAE

Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League Expands to the West Coast growing game in Australia, the sport of Ice Hockey, although not the first thing people think of when it comes to the Australian sporting landscape, is increasing in popularity and numbers across the country.

With an eight team men’s league (The Australian Ice Hockey League, or AIHL) producing national level players, the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL), although not as established as yet, is doing the same, producing high calibre female players across the country.

Established in 2006, the four team competition provides

For Head Coach Paul Graham, it is the reward for a lot of hard work and a huge team effort. “We had to prove ourselves over the last two years and we feel we can be competitive and challenge the top teams in the league this season” he said. Upon announcement of the expansion, the Inferno held open tryouts for female players from across Perth. Graham was pleasantly surprised by the interest and support with over forty players attending each of the two tryouts.

The Inferno have several months to push hard to develop their skill base and fitness as the girls launch into an intensive training and conditioning schedule prior to the season opener on October 27th.

The team has developed a solid and experience core with

Australian female players the chance to compete at the highest level against players from across the country and now attracts import players.

With the growth of the game here in Perth thanks to both the Perth Thunder (AIHL) and coaching and development programs at Cockburn Ice Arena, the AWIHL is set to expand in 2018/19 with the exciting announcement of the Perth Inferno entering the league, an achievement two years in the making for the Western Australian club.

The road to the Inferno being allocated a place in the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League began as the squad worked its way through establishing themselves as a competitive force through qualification and exhibition games in the National Women’s Tier 2 Competition. Scoring the most goals of any team against the Sydney Sirens, the Inferno won the showcase on both occasions and have proven with a lot of time and energy from the squad and staff that the team deserved the expansion slot in the National Women’s League.

both national level players and staff involved in developing the squad. Five members of the team have played at the national level including some who have already played in the AWIHL for the Adelaide Rush, Brisbane Goannas and Sydney Sirens. These names include the likes of Keesha Atkins, Tonii Larpent, Marina Nottle, Madison Poole and Courtney Poole.

National level player Alivia Del Basso will act as the team’s Strength and Conditioning Coach and Assistant Coach. The team has also been allocated allowances for three international imports, announcing earlier this month that American forward Elizabeth Scala would be joining them as the club’s first import, direct from a season with ESC Planegg in Germany.

Being an amateur league, much like the Australian Ice Hockey League, the Women’s competition relies on a lot of support and sponsorship opportunities in order to stay competitive in Australia’s sporting culture.

Perth based scrap metal recycling company CD Dodd is on board as the Inferno’s major sponsor and the team has had a lot

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of support from the local and hockey communities to get up and running. Sponsorship has assisted the team in keeping playing fees down and Cockburn Ice Arena is working closely with team management in order to give imports job opportunities upon arrival in Perth.

Graham said that the Inferno is aiming to develop players in order to give them a pathway to progress. He pinpointed many cases of players in Australia picking up the game in their early 20’s and not having the opportunity to progress.

“We see the development of the Inferno, not just as a chance to establish a a top level team in Perth, but an opportunity to develop our female players” he said. “We have 8 and 9 years olds out there skating with our top players and imports at academy and development sessions” he continued.

For Graham, his vision is to mould the team culture into one of inclusivity.

“Inclusiveness extends beyond the team” he said. “It doesn’t matter about age, skating ability or skill level, we want to develop good hockey players and good people” he continued.

With the 2018/19 season set to kick off in October, the players, coaches and staff of the Perth Inferno are excited about what the opportunity will bring for the game and the state.

Although unsure of exactly what a Perth Inferno game day would look and feel like, Graham encouraged all those who love the game of hockey, or even those who don’t know anything about the game to come and experience the excitement of the Inferno come October.

“The women’s competition is a different game to watch compared to the men’s” Graham said. “Once you take out a lot of the aggression, you can see the skating, the systems and the skills and it’s awesome to watch” he continued. As for fan experience, the Inferno family will be one of inclusivity and a chance to interact with the game.

“New and old fans and anyone who loves the game of hockey will be welcome to come and be part of our family” Graham concluded.

The Perth Inferno will take to the ice for their first ever home game series on October 27-28 at Cockburn Ice Arena.

Team merchandise will be available at the games and more information regarding game day tickets and other exciting developments will be available as the season draws closer.

For now, get ready to feel the heat of the Inferno this Summer!! More information on the team can be found by searching for ‘Perth Inferno’ on Facebook or Instagram.

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FINANCE COULD LABOR LOSE? STEVE BLIZARD

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investors borrow and — as a result — the losses being claimed on tax.

PROPERTY SLIDE - Investment adviser Stuart Wemyss believes that the after-tax returns from property in the major cities could fall more than a quarter, in the event of an ALP election win.

Labor is proposing to scrap negative gearing on any investments in established property that are made after a yet-to-bedetermined date.

Existing property investments will be grandfathered and negative gearing on new-build properties will still be permitted.

If investors purchase an established property after the yet-to-be-determined date, they will be able to carry forward the income losses and offset them against future property income or capital gain.

The ALP is also proposing to increase the rate of capital gains tax. Currently, if you own an investment for more than twelve months and make a capital gain on sale, you only pay tax (at marginal rates) on 50 percent of the net gain.

The ALP is proposing to reduce the discount such that the CGT liability will be on 75 percent of the net capital gain, with existing investments grandfathered.

The impact of these taxation changes on the internal rate of return, which is an estimate of the profitability of the investment, could be substantial.

Real estate professionals work on an internal rate of return under the current tax laws on a $750,000 investment in property of 12.6 percent a year.

By adjusting those numbers to the proposed ALP changes, the internal rate of return falls to 9.3 percent per annum. In other words, the proposed tax changes may wipe out twenty-six percent of the after-tax investment return!

SOAK THE RICH - Restricting negative gearing to new dwellings in addition to halving the capital gains tax discount is designed to hit wealthy property investors, as well as, in the case of the negative gearing change, an attempt to encourage more housing supply.

It is possible that both major parties would consider cutting the capital gains tax discount.

This was originally designed to replace the indexation of capital gains for tax purposes, which was there to remove the taxation of normal inflation and tax only capital gains in excess of the CPI.

However, as Wemyss warns, disallowing negative gearing tax deductions for existing properties, the two tax changes combined could have a dramatic impact on an already soft property market. The market may not crash, as most real estate prices around the nation (except in Tasmania) are falling already, but the negative impact on resale values will ensure that the property downturn lasts much longer than necessary.

FRANKING CREDITS AND TRUSTS The removal of cash refunds of dividend franking will mostly affect low taxpayers, especially retirees.

It is discriminatory tax measure that will result in a loss of income for those who can least afford it. While the media claim that the Coalition is virtually unelectable, these proposals, and the plan to tax all discretionary trust distributions at a flat rate of thirty percent, are the things most likely to cost Labor the election.

Courtesy of Roxburgh Securities Pty Ltd

iven the leadership change of the Federal Liberal Party, many media commentators are predicting a change of Government.

Yet with a careful examination of their policies, Labor is set to introduce one of the biggest tax reforms this country has even seen. They include: • Restrict negative gearing to new dwellings; • Halve the capital gains tax discount from 50 percent to 25 percent; • Remove dividend franking cash refunds; • Tax all discretionary trust distributions at 30 percent; and • Repeal the company tax cut for businesses with revenue of up to $50 million.

Taken as a whole, Labor’s plans are so radical, only John Hewson’s failed Fightback! Plan would come close to the degree of change involved.

The Labor Party and its union paymasters have been running an inequality narrative so as to position themselves as the cham­pions of fairness. The line is that corporate greed, wage theft and the erosion of workers’ freedom must be cor­rected by government.

It is very concerning that envy has now raised its ugly head in Australian politics.

Fortunately, unlike Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison is not easily portrayed as rich or smug, equally at home in the boardroom as well as backyard barbecue.

Given that Hewson lost the unloseable election, it will be interesting to see how new Prime Minister Scott Morrison will take up the policy fight against Labor at the 2019 Federal election.

One reason Labor may struggle is that the Coalition can argue that Labor’s radical changes may actually hurt their base of low-to-middle-income earners, as well as hit the wealthy that they are claim to be targeting.

NEGATIVE GEARING - As Treasurer, Scott Morrison has focused on the cost of housing, pointing out in a headland speech last year that housing affordability is not a new problem and that it has never been easy to buy a home in Sydney. He warned that dealing with housing affordability should involve a scalpel, not a chainsaw, keeping in mind any unintended consequences of policy changes.

Morrison maintains that Labor policy, which will disrupt negative gearing, would come at a cost, not only for investors but also for households who rent. Some commentators argue the long run of low interest rates, along with reduced price growth, has lessened the need for the continuation of negative gearing benefits.

However lower interest rates have cut the cost of money

42

BUSINESS - NETWORKING GET YOUR NETWORKING WORKING SHARRON ATTWOOD

When good people post dumb things – can you help but judge them?

S

o I befriend a colleague – they’re out and about networking, building a business – they may have staff, and certainly have a modicum of my respect as I’ve accepted their connection request and I’m keen to get to know them better.

Then it happens – they post a post – copy and paste – a tale so incredulous I start to doubt my ability to read people at all!

You know that person that always used to forward chain mail emails? And before that – actual chain mail? Forward this message to ten people within five days or bad luck will befall you ... .... and so they send it off – just in case.

These folk still exist – only now they are forwarding and sharing posts on social media that have no basis in truth – and even when told they are untrue – cue the ‘Snopes’ links – or just a dose of realism - they still post them, ‘just in case’. They just can’t take the chance –in case everyone else is wrong.

What if Mark Zuckerberg is going to pay that little girl $1 for every like? What if Range Rover, Jet Star or even Carnival Cruise Lines is giving away a car, a holiday or free fights? Gotta be in it to win it right? Better save than sorry they say!

The benefit to me now is that rather than expending the energy rolling my eyes – there’s an emoji for that! If I used it as often as I wanted to the button would wear out!

So you may well ask –what’s the harm?

There are quite a few reasons as to why scammers maintain fake profiles or post fake posts – asking you to offer up an ‘Amen’ to the sick child or “Pick Me” for a free trip to the moon!

These images are usually used without permission and are part of a phishing type scam – allowing them to effortlessly identify an easy mark – leaving you open to them contacting you to ask for money and financial support. After all – you were quick to believe their post and contribute your heart felt best wishes – without research or hesitation.

They may then ask you to share the post – by copy and pasting – there’s a reason for that – further showing how keen you are to comply with their requests.

Back to those requests to ‘copy and paste’ especially if you want more than the same twenty-six friends to see your posts!

Trust them – it works!

Actually, it doesn’t – and eventually someone will post a Snopes link showing you it’s a sham post – but the majority of people roll with it – and as they are getting some interaction

from friends telling them it’s a sham post – well, they think it works as they had never heard much from these people before.

Curious!

They also hear from friends exclaiming – wow! They had never tried it – but since this friend says ‘It works’ – they’ll also copy and paste the status update –after all what have they got to lose? But they don’t know that ‘It works’ – it was just in the status update they dutifully copied and pasted – so on it goes. And on, and on and on…….

So why copy and paste? If they asked you to share the post – and the original account is closed or the original post deleted – it all falls over like a house of cards – and the posts disappear. But if you copy and paste – it’s a new line of lies every time. It ensures the furphy continues.

These are just a few examples and well might you ask again “What’s the harm”? Well when you are in business, reputation counts for everything.

When I see a mortgage broker, someone I need to trust with doing research and staying ahead of the trends, blindly share something so clearly not true – I mean, does Mercedes really have too many cars and need to give some away? I start to doubt how well they’d look after my money when they can’t even look after their online due diligence.

Regardless of profession – we want to know, like and trust the people in our networks – so when they post something that makes them look unaware, or gullible (you knew that word was coming) we just can’t shake the feeling they’d send our money off to some Nigerian Prince or get involved in a love scam!

So educate yourself - just Google it! Think before you post and if a friend lets you know that you have posted something that’s not true or connected to a fake profile, take steps to delete it lest it affect the perception others have of you – finally on this I can agree that it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Courtesy of Brand Etiquette Editor’s Note: There is another reason not to click and that’s “like-farming.” Facebook’s algorithms in particular emphasize popular content, and therefore gathering “likes” and “shares” receives a high premium. Sometimes, it’s just an annoyance — maybe that kid really does want a hundred thousand “likes” so that a Victoria’s Secret model will go to a school dance with him, so he’s inundating people with appeals (although that’s doubtful at best) — but more often, the intent is scammy.

Like-farmers will gather clicks, which denote popularity, then scrub the original content and replace it with something else (usually a scammy ad of some sort) to bypass Facebook constraints. Facebook has moved to quash this behavior by adjusting their algorithms, but of course, some scammers’ efforts always get by the online gatekeepers.

And then there’s clickbait. That tantalizing snippet of information where you have to click past the summary in order to read the rest of the story? That’s clickbait, and it’s nearly an art on Facebook and Twitter. It’s also called response-farming, and it’s also used by scammers to direct unsuspecting people to click on their ads — another, more complex form of that like-farming scam. Falling for clickbait can also lead you to malware, which can infest your computer, share things without your knowledge or consent on social media, or worse.

Don’t trust what you read unless it’s from a previously vetted site. Be wary of headlines that appear to be gunning for outrage — outraged clicks translate into web traffic for them.

Be skeptical, always question, and always spend a couple of minutes doing your research. Your computer, and your social media accounts, will thank you. (Extract from www.snopes.com/ death-hoaxes-like-farming/ on Snopes.com) 43

ART AND ARTISTS SEPTEMBER AT MAC

S

ENCOUNTERS WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS AND TAIWANESE CULTURE Running until Friday 28th September

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.

pring is nearly upon us, and with school holidays coming up at the end of September Mundaring Art Centre has a range of exciting workshops to keep the kids creative and entertained.

Midland Junction Arts Centre came alive earlier this month, with workshops, talks, music and more to celebrate the opening of Act-Belong-Commit Elevate Arts Antipodean Encounters: Western Australian Artists and Taiwanese Culture. We have a number of upcoming public program events, which make a great occasion to visit the exhibition, and make sure you check out the accompanying pop up shop Tea Ware, filled with locally made ceramics.

At Mundaring Arts Centre our current exhibitions Don’t Jettison Everything and the Act-Belong Commit Elevate Arts Mundaring Environmental Art Project are both on for a few more weeks before we gear up for What, a Tool, our upcoming crosscommunity project.

MIDLAND JUNCTION ARTS CENTRE - THE STORE TEA WARE Running until Friday 28th September

EXHIBITIONS

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 teaware and the art of ceramics.

PROJECTS

Our relationships with tools are obvious, subtle and complex. We love and fear them; they are the means by which we improve and change our lives.

What, a Tool is a cross-community project involving local arts and cultural organisations working together to engage new audiences to investigate and celebrate our relationships with tools - past, present and future.

The project, which kicks off from 21st September to the 16th November, includes exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations and events with a vast array of historical tools, heritage crafts, new inventions and performances to ignite a love for the creations we make to solve the task at hand.

GALLERY 1 DON'T JETTISON EVERYTHING MAC members show until Sunday 16th September Curated by Mikaela Castledine

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.

GALLERY 2 ACT-BELONG-COMMIT ELEVATE ARTS MUNDARING ENVIRONMENTAL ART PROJECT PLASTIC POLLUTION: REDUCING OUR FOOTPRINT AND CARING FOR OUR PLANET Running until Sunday 16th September

Hundreds of primary school children from across the eastern region have immersed themselves in this year’s theme to create designs for the 2018 Mundaring Environmental Art banners to be displayed in the heart of Mundaring.

MIDLAND JUNCTION ARTS CENTRE - EAST & WEST GALLERY ACT-BELONG-COMMIT ELEVATE ARTS ANTIPODEAN 44

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS ANTIPODEAN ENCOUNTERS IN-CONVERSATION Saturday 15th September. From 11:00am – 12:00pm This free event is suitable for attendees over sixteen.

Join the artists and their Taiwanese partners as they talk about the experience of their cultural exchange, and what they learned about one another’s culture, art and history through participating in A Portrait of Taiwan in Perth.

In this session meet Perdita Philips, Miranda He, Vanessa Wallace, Belle Hsiung, Carmela Corvaia and Eva Willicombe.

At Midland Junction Arts Centre KUNG-FU TEA CEREMONY with Carol Natalotto Saturday 15th September. From 1:00pm – 2:00pm This free event is suitable for attendees of all ages

Slow down and join Carol Natalotto as she shares her tea making skills. To celebrate the Antipodean Encounters and Tea Ware Exhibition opening, take part in a traditional Kung-Fu Tea Ceremony. Kung fu means ‘art’, ‘skill’ and ‘effort’. In the context of tea preparation, it literally means making tea with effort and dedication, to brew a perfect cup of tea in a more artistic way.

This also extends to the art of tasting tea, which also requires ‘skill’.

At Midland Junction Arts Centre WOWA ICONIC HEADDRESSES with Sarah Zel Chescoe Saturday 22nd September. From 10:00am – 3:00pm This event is suitable for attendees over the age of eleven.

Costs: $15 (Materials supplied)

Join Sarah Zel Chescoe and explore the beauty and complexity of ancient and modern day headdresses as inspiration for your own WOWA creation in this full day workshop. Using recycled and re-purposed materials Sarah will guide you through construction and adornment techniques to create a spectacular sculptural wearable head piece to showcase in WOWA 2018. Entries due Friday 26 October.

At Midland Junction Arts Centre

CERAMIC TEAPOTS with Alison Brown Saturday 22nd September. From 10:00am – 4:00pm Sunday 23rd September. From 10:00am – 4:00pm Saturday 13October. From 10:00am – 2:00pm This event is suitable for attendees over the age of sixteen.

Costs: $200 (Materials supplied)

To celebrate the Tea Ware Pop up shop at MJAC, join celebrated ceramicist Alison Brown and make your own functional teapot. Using both wheel throwing and hand building techniques, Alison will guide you through all the elements of the teapot – spout, handle and lid.

Exploring both functionality and aesthetic, this workshop is a wonderful opportunity to create a unique vessel to treasure.

At Midland Junction Arts Centre URBAN ART with Dan Duggan Tuesday 25th September. From 10:00am - 1:00pm or At Midland Junction Arts Centre Friday 5th October. From 12:30pm to 3:30pm At Swan View Youth Centre.

This event is suitable for attendees over twelve.

Costs: $5 (Materials supplied)

Be inspired by Urban Art in this dynamic workshop with educator and street artist Dan Duggan. With over 20 years’ experience in the street art sphere Dan will discuss urban art and graffiti, creative tools and media and his own artwork.

Working closely with the artist, participants will develop a design using spray-paints, paint markers and traditional acrylic paint to transfer designs onto large scale MDF circles. Dan will demonstrate the various techniques and application methods, using aerosols, brushes, rollers, stencils, palette knives, squirt bottles and recycled materials to create interesting textures and add extra dimension to the final pieces.

PAINTED PANELS For The Shire Of Mundaring Christmas Tree Wednesday 26th September. From 10:00am - 12:00pm or 1:00pm to 3:00pm. This free event is suitable for attendees over eight. (Materials supplied)

Join artist Mary Ann Dawson and be a part of this exciting annual project. Get creative and paint one, or many, of the hundreds of canvas leaves that come together to form the Shire of Mundaring Christmas Tree. Once painted the canvas strips are stapled to the large steel tree which stands proudly in front of the Shire Administration building to herald the start of the festival season.At Swan View Youth Centre.

Concluded on page 52 ...

45

SWAN VALLEY AND REGIONAL NETWORK SWAN HILLS RIVERCARE GROUPS 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.

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

More information can be found at www.pws.dbca.wa.gov.au/ rivercare Environment Minister Stephen Dawson: “The 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.”

Jessica Shaw MLA: “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.”

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

An invitation to the Rotary Club of Swan Valley’s annual

Pest and disease management

workshop

Days for Girls High Tea Raising funds to support a more dignified, free and educated world through access to lasting feminine hygiene solutions

Pest and disease management, sustainable viticulture and chemical resistance are high priorities for the WA wine industry.

International, national and local experts will present the latest research and sustainable practices for managing vineyard pests and diseases.

Key presenters Professor Wayne Wilcox and Dr Bob Emmett Headlining the workshop is internationally renowned grape pathologist and editor of the seminal text ‘Compendium of grape diseases, disorders and pests’, Professor Wayne Wilcox. Professor Wilcox, Cornell University (USA) grape pathology program leader, will present on the biology and sustainable management of powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot, downy mildew and sour rot.

Date – Saturday the 6th October, 2018

Mildura based grapevine pathologist, Dr Bob Emmitt, will provide expert insight into integrated pest management practices and delve into the management of botryosphaeria trunk rot, mealybug and light brown apple moth.

DPIRD pathologist Andrew Taylor will give a WA perspective on downy mildew and fungicide resistance.

Venue – Carilley Estate Winery 45 Hyem Road, Herne Hill WA Time – 2.30pm to 5pm

Swan Valley Tuesday 16 October 2018

(Gluten free available, please indicate when booking)

9.00am–1.00pm

Bookings – trybooking.com/421262

Cost - $40, cash bar available

Swan Athletic Sporting Club (McDonald St, Herne Hill)

RSVP – 30th September, 2018

Registration is free and lunch will be provided after the workshop

Grape Growers Association of W.A. (Inc.)

To ensure you don’t miss out RSVP to Jodie Whitfield Email: jodie.whitfield@dpird.wa.gov.au

46

Enquiries – Betty (08 9299 6623) or Donna (0419048477)

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SWAN VALLEY AND REGIONAL NETWORK ENTWINED 2018 CHEERS TO WA

estern Australians have a reason to celebrate as the McGowan Labor Government's new liquor licensing laws came into effect late August, ushering in significant changes to the State's hospitality landscape.

The McGowan Government's Liquor Control Amendment Bill 2018 builds upon the revolutionary legislation which saw the growth of the small bar scene in Perth in 2007.

The laws will support local businesses, create more jobs and drive a new wave of activity through the hospitality industry by reducing regulatory burden on licensees and liberalising laws to give greater choice to consumers and visitors to the State.

Among the suite of changes, patrons will be able to take home partially-consumed wine from a small bar or tavern if they choose to finish it later, which currently only applies to restaurants.

The Bill also includes an amendment to streamline licensing arrangements for existing, established, local licensees to cater at temporary and pop-up bars at short-term events such as micro-festivals.

Other amendments to the legislation coming into effect include:

· Restaurants with the capacity for 120 people or less will no longer need to apply for a separate permit to serve liquor without a meal - they will simply 'opt in' when they first apply for their licence;

· Ongoing hours Extended Trading Permits (ETPs) will be valid for up to 10 years - increased from five years, cutting burden and cost for licensees;

· Spirit producers will be able to trade in the same manner as wine and beer producers - authorising the sale of liquor for consumption on and off the licensed premises;

· Clubs in WA will be allowed to accept genuine tourists/ visitors - fees will apply to visitors; and

· Discretion by the licensing authority to consider lowrisk applications without having regard to the public interest assessment requirements.

Since January 1, 2018, 114 new licensed venues have opened around the State, creating jobs and adding to the vibrancy and variety of WA's hospitality industry - under the new changes this number will continue to grow.

Premier Mark McGowan: "The new changes coming into effect this weekend strike the right balance between community health and safety while encouraging a more tourism-friendly hospitality culture.

"My Government's support for the hospitality industry is evident with more than 100 new licensed venues opening this year alone.

"Tourism is a key economic driver for WA and plays a vital role in our plan to diversify the State's economy and create new jobs."

Tourism and Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia:

"The passing of this legislation represents the most significant liquor reforms for the State in over a decade, and delivers on our Government's plan for jobs by supporting opportunities for business growth and driving visitation to our wonderful State.

"A tremendous amount of work and consultation has gone into the development of this important legislation, and the result is a framework which all Western Australians can be proud of.

"It is time to modernise the hospitality and tourism industries, and these laws strike a good balance between the responsible consumption of liquor together with the tourism and employment benefits of a dynamic and prosperous hospitality industry."

E

ntwined in the Valley 2018 will showcase the region’s most beautiful products and the talented people that make them when it hosts more than fifty events over four days from Thursday, October 4 to Sunday, October 7.

From bespoke, private cellar tastings to big countrystyle fairs, this year’s festival has something to suit the foodie, the wine buff, families and those looking for a Masterclass experience.

Hallmark events include Sculptures in the Valley, which for the first time will see massive reclaimed iron sculptures pop up across fourteen locations, showing the enormous talent of Martin Jaine Sculptures and his team of artists.

Feast by Fervor is back, this time at Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery and again in collaboration with Dale Tilbrook and her wonderful bushtucker foods. Also returning is the designyour-own cider competition through FUNK Cider, which was a huge success in 2017 and resulted in a very popular maple and cinnamon flavoured cider made just for the Entwined weekend and rewarding the creator with a VIP launch event.

City of Swan Mayor David Lucas said Entwined had really created a buzz in 2017.

“There was a lot of talk about last year’s offerings and 2018 looks like the breadth and range of events is even more exciting. The festival affirms the City of Swan’s commitment to supporting the local producers that make up this wonderful region, including Winemakers, local businesses and producers.

“There’s so much good food and wine in the Swan Valley and we invite people to come and discover it. We’ll be showcasing wine, beer, cider, spirits, food, art, music and culture over four glorious fun filled days.”

Located just twenty-five minutes from the bustling Perth city centre, the Swan Valley is home to an ever growing list of talented chefs, winemakers, brewers, artists, chocolatiers and honey and nougat producers.

Entwined in the Valley 2018 will take place from Thursday October 4 – Sunday October 7. Full details of Entwined in the Valley events are available at www.entwinedinthevalley. com.au

HALLMARK EVENTS

Sculptures in the Valley – see Martin Jaine Sculptures massive reclaimed iron pieces across fourteen locations in the region.

From flocks of emus to larger than life boab trees, these sculptures will amaze and impress you!

Winemakers Weekend: Iconic Wine Styles – fourteen private wine tastings in secret cellars and featuring limited edition vintages –if you’re a wine lover, this is a unique opportunity.

Festival of the Grape: Faber Vineyards – this whole day event will offer muscat barrel tastings, vineyards and Masterclasses with owner and winemaker John Griffiths. Spend the day, hear some music, and indulge in local artisan food and wine.

Plus a cider competition, gin ‘world cup’ tasting, long table lunching, masterclasses in cheese, wine, photography, beekeeping, cooking and macarons, outdoor concerts, country fairs, markets and so much more.

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.

47

THE IDLER The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Mind

for storytelling Nolan may have made a few embellishments here and there, and cleverly leaves it up to the viewer to sift the fact from fiction.

One such example is the painting titled Steve Hart dressed as a girl. I was happily perusing each painting, taking in the sturdy brushstrokes and bold images, until I read the accompanying caption about Hart. It stated that many of the Kelly gang ‘may have taken to female attire to escape the police’, and that Hart had once taken it one step further thereby ‘winning at the Greta Races while dressed as a girl riding sidesaddle’.

Could this be true? I had a vague recollection of hearing this somewhere before, a recent television commercial perhaps.

One thing was certain, this was not your average dry, retelling of history, that could be admired with a quick walk through. No, this series of paintings demanded more from the viewer.

SIDNEY AND NED AT AGWA GLENNYS MARSDON

nless you’ve been living under USidney a rock you should recognise Nolan’s iconic image of

Ned Kelly. You should also know the famous ‘Such Is Life’ quote.

Some of you may have used it yourself on the odd occasion or two, while others may have made the ultimate commitment in ink, so strong is this story in the Australian psyche.

But how many of you know anything about the other twenty-five pictures in the Nolan series? Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Art Gallery of WA (AGWA) we’re the first state outside of Canberra to see the series.

I urge you to take advantage of this rare opportunity and reacquaint yourself with such a significant part of Australian history. If only all history lessons were as entertaining as Nolan’s humorous fact and fiction exploration.

Over the twelve months Sidney Nolan. Ned Kelly 1946 from the Ned Kelly series 1946 – 1947 enamel paint on between 1946 and 1947 Nolan composition board. 90.80 x 121.50 cm. hunkered down at the home of Gift of Sunday Reed 1977 National Gallery of Australia Sunday and John Reed. After reading through newspaper articles, police reports and the Royal Commission Report, Nolan The next painting to get me guessing was called Quilting set about painting the story of Ned Kelly using the kitchen table the armour, which showed Mrs Skillion, or Margaret Kelly as she as an easel, or so the story goes. In telling the Kelly story many was also known, sewing soft blue quilting into the inside of the painters would have stuck to the facts but not Nolan. With a flair famous helmet. Not being an art officiano, this stopped me in my tracks, truth or an artist’s poetic licence?

The thought ate away at me until I eventually turned and asked one of the nearby official guests to collaborate the story.

Much to my chagrin I later discovered that the person I’d asked was none other than Nolan expert, Dr Deborah Hart, who also just happens to be Head of Australian Art at the National Gallery.

Typical of me really.

What followed was a fascinating discussion about what the painting represented.

Continued on page 54 ...

48

FOOTNOTE PEOPLE IN HISTORY A POET OF TRAVEL KRISTINE GREENAWAY

D

ame Freya Stark is legendary for her daring and unorthodox travel throughout the Middle East. She was an observant and prolific writer who became an accomplished cartographer mapping previously uncharted territory in the deserts of Southern Arabia in the 1930’s.

During a career of travel and exploration that spanned much of the 20th century, Freya Stark produced an extensive bibliography of travelogues and philosophical reflections.There is no doubt that the proven facts of her life are as amazing as those of another romantic self-mythologizer, T.E. Lawrence.

Born in Paris in 1893 to an Italian mother and English father, Freya Stark died in Asolo, Italy just after her 100th birthday.

Early in life she showed an aptitude for languages. Her interest in the Middle East – possibly sparked by reading One Thousand and One Nights as a child – led to studies of Arabic and Persian at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies followed by exploratory travel through Lebanon, Iraq, Persia (modern-day Iran) and Egypt.

In 1931 Freya Stark located the Valley of the Assassins in what is now western Iran.By then she had taught herself to be a cartographer and on her return to Britain, the Royal Geographical Society made much of her work. In 1933 she received the society‘s Back Award.

The trip to the Valley of the Assassins was both risky and physically gruelling. She rode a donkey, slept in a camp cot and endured malaria, dengue fever and dysentery. Yet she managed to record her impressions along the way and brought back a remarkable story. Her account of the trip The Valley of the Assassins (1934) sold widely. For the rest of her life she traveled in the same simple style, writing constantly as she went.

Freya was single most of her life, with the exception of a brief marriage to a British diplomat when she was in her fifties.

She shocked British colonial society by traveling with local guides and Bedouins.

Her extravagant sense of style – bright colours and flowing materials – added to her reputation as a fascinating and unorthodox woman. The obituary in the Independent published in May 1993 quotes her godson Malise Ruthven’s description of her provocative fashion sense in his Traveller Through Time: A Photographic Journey with Freya Stark: “She wore Dior in the wilder reaches of Asia and Arabian dresses in London”.

Ruthven notes too that Freya took full advantage of her sex to overcome resistance from local colonial officials to her travel plans. He cites her dry comment after one of many trying encounters with a male official: “The great and almost only comfort of being a woman, is that one can always pretend to be more stupid than one is and no one is surprised.

Freya Stark was however very much a woman of her time and class. Despite what she thought of colonial authorities’ treatment of women, she agreed with prevailing opinion about local Arabic peoples, seeing them as needing the guidance of the British whom she believed to be superior.

During the Second World War she worked for the British Council in Egypt where she founded the Brotherhood of Freedom and produced radio programming to encourage Egyptians to be pro-British rather than nationalistic. There are mixed assessments about the results of her efforts.

Following the war, Freya spent time in

India where she met Gandhi and Nehru. In 1972 she was named Dame of the British Empire. At 86 she travelled to the Himalayas, her last major trip.

Dame Freya Stark published a total of twenty-four travel books and biographies as well as eight volumes of letters. Her work reflected not only the geography of her travels but also her encounters with the people of the countries she visited.

She was widely read: her books were reprinted repeatedly.

The Valleys of the Assassins (1934) and The Southern Gates of Arabia (1936) are said to be classics. Though recognized at the time as a scientific explorer, research since then has revealed factual errors and some self-mythologizing. Nonetheless, so much of her story is verifiable that she remains a remarkable figure.

Ruthven writes in his tribute to her: “Writing, like travel, she saw as the pursuit of truth.” Lawrence Durrell called her “a poet of travel” and “one of the most remarkable women of our age.”

If you want to learn more, I recommend reading Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark by Jane Fletcher Geniesse. Her story captures the free spirit and great sense of observation of this woman whose travels took her to places where few European men dared to go and whose skills as an observer and writer have left a rich legacy of accounts of the history and geography of an area that today is so much in the news.

Originally written for and published

by Sheroes of History 49

a sculptural amour-inspired wearable art piece and enter WOWA 2018!

At Midland Junction Arts Centre.

Concluded from page 49 ...

EARTH FRIENDLY CERAMIC CUPS with Annemieke Mulders Wednesday 26th September. From 6:00pm - 9:00pm and Wednesday 10th October. From 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

This event is suitable for attendees over sixteen.

Costs: $90 (Materials supplied)

Create your own re-usable and earth friendly cup with renowned ceramicist Annemieke Mulders.

Annemieke will demonstrate how to construct your cup using hand building techniques so the silicone lid fits perfectly. Then in the second session learn how to glaze your cup to make a beautiful and functional piece of art.

Annemieke’s distinctive ceramic works are stocked nationally in exclusive galleries and retail spaces including the MAC shop.

At Midland Junction Arts Centre WOWA CREATIVE CARDBOARD COSTUME WORKSHOP with Angela Ferolla Thursday 27th September 10:00am - 1:00pm plus Thursday 4th October 10:00am - 2:00pm This event is suitable for attendees between eight to fifteen years old.

Costs: $20 (Materials supplied)

Come and be inspired by artist, designer and educator Angela Ferolla and learn how to construct your own entry to this year’s Worn Out Worn Art (WOWA) Wearable Art Performance.

Discover the art of printmaking in Week 1 and print your own colourful design onto recycled cardboard and materials.

In Week 2 use your hand-printed card and paper to construct

Concluded from page 52 ... fire. Whether Steven Hart was there too, resplendent in a pink

Dr Hart spoke about the strong family connections born pinafore, I’ll leave up to you. out of Kelly’s Irish heritage, the tenderness and loving bonds

The Ned Kelly exhibition is on loan from the National shared within the gang. This considered, it’s not unimaginable Gallery of Australia. then that such love could foster a quilted cap to make Kelly’s life Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly Series runs from 11 August to 12 easier. However, I like to think that the painting might have been November 2018. Free a nod to the Reed family. Perhaps Sunday Reed quilted of a night, For more information and the exhibition and events please silently watching on while Nolan painted. Either way this was visit these links: www.artgallery.wa.gov.au/exhibitions/sidneymy favourite painting of the series, as again Nolan’s humour had nolans-ned-kelly.asp stopped my gait and left me deep in thought. www.artgallery.wa.gov.au/exhibitions/sidney-nolans-ned As I returned to admiring the painting with a fresh kelly.asp#events perspective, I was pleasantly surprised when Dr Hart broke away from a television interview to tell me, that she too considered the blurring of fact and fiction and the underlying importance of family, key elements of the exhibition.

Further on, I was intrigued to listen as Melissa Harpley, Curator Historical and Modern Art AGWA, explain how modern technology had enabled her team to send real time vision back to the National Gallery team as they hung the artworks, this ensured everyone was happy with the final layout.

As I finally made it to the end of the exhibition and stood back to witness the tale as a whole, I was enamoured with the fact that we get to see this important exhibition and for free. Make sure you read the captions positioned next to each painting.

They provide greater depth about the story and about why they were painted so. For example, the use of peacocks as colourful watchdogs.

The Kelly series is part of AGWA’s current focus on free-thinkers, and ground-breakers across three exhibitions – Rebels, Radicals and Pathfinders. Outlaw Kelly is a great choice for the rebels. Having seen the exhibition I’d like to think that Nolan was a bit of a rebel too at least in his Sidney Nolan. Ned Kelly 1946 from the Ned Kelly series 1946 – 1947 enamel paint on composition board. 90.80 x 121.50 cm. unconventional style, and one I’m sure Kelly would Gift of Sunday Reed 1977 National Gallery of Australia have enjoyed having a yarn with a round the camp 50

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

51

#AdoptLove

Adventure Spook Kitty Well, his name says it all. He is an action man.

The first of the litter to get to the door, climb the couch, fall in the toilet, climb the door, play on the adult cat gym which is almost 2 metres off the floor. There is no stopping him! He’s also super cuddly and likes to follow you round for a chat and to check out what you’re doing. But his first love is adventures and playing. He’s now almost 5 months old, a little more grown than in his photos.

Adventure Kitty was bottle raised from birth as he and his siblings were found freezing cold under a bush by a road. He has been raised in foster care as an inside kitten and if he wants to keep his 9 lives intact, he will need to stay that way. Access to an outdoor enclosure would be heaven for him.

He’d suit a home where someone is home a lot of the time, or with children old enough to play with him, but realise he’s not a toy.

His adoption fee is inclusive of vet check, microchip, first vaccination and a voucher for desexing.

He has awesome faint tabby markings through his coat. You can only see them in the sunlight. And that is exactly what this boy will bring his new home. Sunlight, love and laughter.

Adventure Spook Kitty’s carer is in the Caversham area. If you’ve fallen in love, and would like to meet this delightful boy, contact SAFE Metro on 0475 346 545.

PHOTOGRAPHS: DIANA ABELEDA, SHUTTER PAWS

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 52

ADOPT: https://safe.org.au/find-a-pet/

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