Melbourne Observer. December 2, 2015

Melbourne

Observer

TOP VALUE

$2

95

148 PAGES

46 YEARS OF PUBLICATION

NEW WBIZ ★ LIFES TYLE ★ TR AVEL ★ FEA TURES ★ BARGAINS ★ SPORT NEWSS ★ SHO SHOWBIZ LIFESTYLE TRA FEATURES

Melbourne

Observer

Ph 1800 231 311 Fx 1800 231 312 ISSN 1447 4611

S TATE EDITION Vol 47 No 1623 SERVING VICTORIA SINCE 1969

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

$2.95

10-PAGE GREATER GEELONG FEATURE

including GST

TOP OF THE POPS

Mattresses Galore

Cnr High St & Tooronga Rd, Malvern Phone: (03) 9822 9057.

Fax: (03) 9822 9821 www.mattressesgalore.com.au info@mattressesgalore.com.au 10% EXTRA DISCOUNT FOR MENTIONING MELB. OBSERVER Details: see ‘Observer Trader’

Grosvenor in Cairns Holiday Apartments

Fully Self Contained 1 and 2 bedroom apartments Looking to escape the cold this winter; then head on up to Cairns - always warm!

Visit www.grosvenorcairns.com.au or email info@grosvenorcairns.com.au

or ring 1800 629 179

● Denis Walter will be master of ceremonies at Hamer Hall for the ‘Aussie Pops’ on New Years Eve with a 65-piece orchestra to perform a selection of popular classical and operatic music. Led by conductor John Foreman, guests will be entertained by baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Australian soprano Greta Bradman, alongside special guest artists from the Victorian Opera. There are two concerts on December 31: 2pm and 8pm. Tickets: On sale now from $70. Available from www.apoconcerts.com.au or Box Office 1300 182 183 THE GREA T GREAT MUSIC OF THE O ‘60s ‘30s T TO Streaming through the Web PHONE: 6 9572 146 1466

goldenda ysr adio goldenday sradio adio..com

MERIMBULA, NSW DEC & JAN VACANCIES AVAILABLE

BEACH ST APARTMENTS 1 Beach St, Merimbula, NSW 2548 Phone: (02) 6495 2205 w w w.beachs tr eetapartments.net.au .beachstr treetapartments.net.au

TURN TO ‘OBSERVER TRADER’

TILCO

WHOLESALERS TO FARMERS AND CONTRACTORS

Manufacturers and distributors of an extensive range of tillage equipment and components Phone: (07) 4633 0624 Mobile: 0422 399 544 www.tilco.com.au barry@tilco.com. au

See ad in ‘Observer Trader’

See Observer Trader

Page 2 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 3

Page 4 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Country Weddings

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 5

Page 6 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 7

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Pets

Christmas Buying Guide

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 9

Geelong Fireworks not only provide amazing outdoor firework displays for all types of invents for weddings, NYE, Carols, Corporate Events and even wrestling shows.

We provide indoor pyrotechnics for weddings, product launches, theatre and more.

We also offer a range of products available at our website for online ordering geelongfireworks.com.au SPARKLERS … amazing 90 cm sparklers for weddings, NYE etc CONFETTI CANNONS … user friendly single shot cannons with your choice of confetti colors, streamers, money, hearts etc FOR MAGICIANS, THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, PHOTOGRAPHERS we have Australia's largest range of FLASH PAPER products, FLASH DEVICES, SMOKE PRODUCTS, &FIRE DEVICES … from flash guns to floating tables, all in stock ready to send Australia wide.

We stock a full range of COLOR POWDER for Holi Celebrations and Fun Runs …

Great for outdoor fun parties as well.

Check out our website today.

Geelong Fireworks Ph 4210 9113

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Victoria Pictorial

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Heidelberg Historic Photo Collection

● Heidelberg. Looking east. Circa 1890.

● Old Heidelberg Road. 1914.

● Studio of Walter Withers, Heidelberg. 1903. Daughters Gladys and Margery

● Heidelberg Post Office. 1920s.

● Socialists’ picnic at Heidelberg. 1906.

● Australian wounded arriving at Heidelberg. 1943.

● St John’s Church, Heidelberg. Circa 1950.

● Entertainment at Heidelberg Military Hospital. Circa 1944.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 11

Court Roundsman

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

Lawyer pleads guilty to Observer misconduct over estate In This 148-Page Edition

Victoria Pictorial: Heidelberg nostalgia .. Page 10 Long Shots: TV’s ol,d favourites .......... Page 12 The Barrel: Who remembers Fonda? ..... Page 13 Yvonne Lawrence: Life and Style .......... Page 14 Melb. Confidential: Queen of Queens .... Page 15 Readers’ Club: Fun, flashbacks ........... Page 17 West Hollywood: Gavin Wood reports .... Page 19 Outback Legend: with Nick Le Souef .... Page 20 Greater Geelong: Places To Go ....... Pages 28-37 Radio Confidential: Jo replaces Brig ..... Page 46 Observer Racing: with Ted Ryan .......... Page 55 Switch at Gold 104 Monique’s tragic death Local Theatre

The Listies Ruin Christmas

Observer Showbiz Showbiz

● Richard Higgins and Matthew Kelly in The Listies Ruin Christmas.

Photo: Pia Johnson ■ Clearly The Listies, also known as RichLike all great comic duos Matt and Rich ard Higgins and Matthew Kelly, have the work in tandem. The energetic Matt is aniMidas touch when it comes to entertaining mated, most likely crazy, excited and a little kids. bit naughty which is totally infectious.

Te eight-year-old next to me on the edge of Rich on the other hand is Mr Pragmatichis seat and pretty much laughing his head off ish, and brings a sense of control – but don’t the entire show is testament to that – but he think he can’t be silly - they are both gloriwasn’t the only one. ously silly.

There is plenty for the grown-ups. The adult The set, props, mistakes and malfunctions gags and innuendos pass comfortably over the add to the humour. They employ just the right heads of babes and will have you more than amount of audience participation, which proguffawing in the aisles – there were tears of vided some priceless adlib fodder for the duo. laughter rolling down my face.

With the exception of an audience trio reThese guys are seriously funny. Their com- quired to burp on cue, all the rest of us had to edy is part slapstick, pantomime, stand-up and do was throw things and yell at them – brilsketch. liant. Performance season: 6pm until 13 DeBut the test of any kids show is the quality cember. Duration: 55 minutes of the obligatory poo, vomit, burp and fart jokes.

Venue: Malthouse Theatre They were all there of course – phew! If you Tickets: $30-$45 thought you could never laugh at a gag about Bookings: www.malthousetheatre.com.au farting again you need to see this show.

- Review by Beth Klein

■ Pakenham lawyer Edwin Hume has been found guilty of professional misconduct, and has been reprimanded by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Senior Member Jonathan Smithers.

Hume pleaded guilty after he became embroiled into a dispute over the deceased estate of Lois Sadler, finding himself conflicted when acting in three capacities: as solicitor administering the estate, as solicitor acting for one of the beneficiaries Tracie Sadler, and also as an executor.

Lois Sadler’s final will was made at the St John of God Hospital, Berwick, one day before her death in 2011.

VCAT was told that there were two beneficiaries to the state: Tracie Sadler and Donna Sadler.

The Tribunal was told that he took actions which favoured the interests of his client, Tracie.

On two occasions he refused to hand over titles to land to Donna, which she was entitled to receive.

He refused to give the titles to Donna unless she agreed to ratify a $30,000payment he had made to Tracie.

The Victorian Legal Services Commissioner brought the charge of professional misconduct against Hume for failing to release the certificates of title.

Hume was admitted to legal practice in March 1975. Hume was a legal partner at the firm Duffy and Simon at John St, Pakenham.

Hume must pay a $4000 fine, and must undergo further education relating to legal ethics. Hume must also pay $11,000 costs incurred by the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner by March 31.

Radio man Rob celebrates

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

9 months jail

■ Craig Doherty, 43, a major player in Geelong’s ice trade laundered thousands of dollars from drug trafficking by putting it through poker machines at a local hotel, a court has heard. He pleaded guilty to charges including trafficking methamphetamine, possessing proceeds of crime and theft. He was sentenced to nine months jail, reports the GeelongAdvertiser.

Police escort for Cr

■ Apollo Bay police escorted councillor Chris Smith out of a Colac Otway Shire Council meeting last week after he refused to sit in his allocated seat, reports the Colac Herald.

Crop raid at Yarram

■ A Braybrook man, 21, has been arrested after Police raided a Yarram home and found 200 cannabis plants, says the Gippsland Times.

Haystack burns

■ Farmers have been warned to check their haystack management. Some 600 round bales of hay valued at about $70,000 was destroyed in a stack fire at Mepunga East, reports the Warrnambool Standard.

Weather Forecast ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Today (Wed.). Partly cloudy. 10°-19° Thurs. Sunny. 9°-24° Fri. Sunny. 15°-31° Sat. Partly cloudy. 17°-34° Sun. Mostly cloudy. 16°-29°

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5

THE T OP 5 SIGNS THA T TOP THAT ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’ IS 50 YEARS OLD OLD..

● WYN FM 88.9 Werribee presenter Rob Richardson celebrated a special birthday this past week. Rob presents the Life And Style program from 3pm-5pm Mondays.

He is the former on-air partner of Yvonne Lawrence on 3WBC 94.1FM, WhitehorseBoroondara. Rob (second left) is pictured with friends Michelle, Kelly and Matt.

5. Mother Superior left the order and became a Bikie.

4. Three of the children became Rap artists and the rest are in jail.

3. The Von Trapp villa is now an Aldi store.

2. Maria left the convent and auditioned unsuccessfully for ‘The Voice’.

1. Captain Von Trapp is currently working in quality control at the Volkswagen factory.

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne

Observer

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Ash On Wednesday

Ash

Fans remember TV times

inc orpor ating the Melbourne A d vvertiser ertiser incorpor orpora Ad ertiser,, ict orian Rur al Ne ws and Trr ader ader,, V Vict ictorian Rural New Melbourne T Melbourne Seniors News News..

Melbourne People

Rozzi Bazzani has ★ penned a quite incredible book about the

Victoria’s Independent Newspaper First Published September 14, 1969 Every W ednesda y Wednesda ednesday

Contact Us Office: 30 Glen Gully Rd, Eltham, Vic 3095 Postal: PO Box 1278, Research, Vic 3095 Phone: +61 3 9439 9927 Fax: +61 3 9431 6247 Web: ww w.MelbourneObserv e rr..com.au .MelbourneObserve or@MelbourneObserv e rr..c om.au E-Mail: Edit ditor@MelbourneObserv or@MelbourneObserve

Our Team Director: Fleur Long Production Editor: Ash Long Features Editor: Peter Mac Associate Editor: Lisa Hodgson Columnists: Len Baker (harness racing), Matt Bissett-Johnson (cartoonist), David Ellis (wine and travel), Rob Foenander (country music), K yle G alle y ((g g rre e yhounds ), Chris tina La Cr os Cros osss Galle alley yhounds), Christina (as t rrology), ology), Julie Hought on (arts ), Y vonne Houghton (arts), Yv Lawrence (life and style), Nick Le Souef (outback Australia), Mike McColl Jones (life), Gr eg Ne wman (r adio ), T erry Radf or d ((C C ourt Newman (radio adio), Terry Radfor r oundsman), Aar on R ourk e (mo vies ), T ed Ry an Aaron ourke vies), Ted Ryan (racing), Jim Sherlock (movies, DVDs), Cheryl T hr eadgold (local thea e ), K e vin T hreadgold theatt rre Ke Trrask ( sho wbiz), V eritas, G a vin W ood (Holly w ood). showbiz), Veritas, Ga Wood (Hollyw Honorary Reviewers: Geraldine Colson, Rita Crispin, Martin Curtis, Barbara Hughes, Kathryn Keeble, Beth Klein, Stephen Leeden, Deborah Marinar o , Ca therine McGr egor vid McL ean, Marinaro Catherine McGregor egor,, Da David McLean, Maggie Morrison, Jill Page, Elizabeth Semmel Distribution: Sam Fiorini, phone 9482 1145

Distribution S ta dition: A vailable w eekly a o x. 400 tatt e E Edition: weekly att appr appro newsagents across the Melbourne metropolitan area, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Surf coast, and Victorian regional centres.

Recommended retail price: $2.95.

If your local newsagent does not currently stock the Melbourne Observ e rr,, wh y not plac ea Observe why place weekly order with them, by using their ‘putaway’ service. Newsagents should contact All Day Distribution Pty Ltd, 169 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, Vic 3122. Phone: (03) 9482 1145.

● Samurai fans(from left) Michael Bauer, Lindsay Metcalfe, Jayden James, David Lovegrove, Greg Newman, Ross Parkinson, Nikki White, Greg Nishimura Parke and Garry Renshaw, ■ Samurai fans from around Australia gathered for a weekend of sharing memories and memorabilia.

The event was organised by Melbourne Observer columnist Greg Newman.

The memorabilia included Shintaro’s wig that he wore in the stage shows at Festival Hall in 1966, the Scanlen’s bubblegum cards and the original ‘Shintaro’ kimonos that toy shops sold in Melbourne in the mid ‘60s.

Samurai fans are invited to join ‘The Samurai’ Facebook fan page.

Long Shots

The Voice

Available Across The World Melbourne Observer Online 2.

2.11 million hits annually annually.. w w w.MelbourneObserv e rr..c om.au .MelbourneObserve You can rread ead our paper fr ee on the int ernet. internet.

Contact details for our advertisers are also available at our website.

Back Copies Back Copies - Archives w ww .MelbourneObserv e rr..com.au .MelbourneObserve Back copies for 1969-89, 2002-15 may be inspected by appointment at the State Library of Victoria. 328 Swanston St, Melbourne.

Independently Owned and Operated The Melbourne Observer is printed under contract by Streamline PressPty Ltd, 155 Johns ton S t, Fitzr o y, ffor or the publisher St, Fitzro publisher,, Local Media Pty Ltd. ABN 67 096 680 063, of the registered office, 30 Glen Gully Rd, Eltham, Vic 3095. Distributed by All Day Distribution.

Responsibilityfor election and referendum comment is accepted by Ash Long.

Copyright © 2015, Local Media Pty Ltd. ACN 096 680 063.

with Ash Long, Editor “For the cause that lacks assistance, ‘Gainst the wrongs that need resistance For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do”

Mail Subscriptions You can ha ve y our o wn c op y of the Melbourne hav your own cop Observer delivered to your letterbox by A u sstt rralia alia P os t. W e dispa opies of the Pos ost.

We dispattch c copies Melbourne Observer to mail subscribers every week.

Subscription prices are: 15 issues, $99; 30 erseas rra a te s is sues, $198; 45 is sues, #29 7. Ov issues, #297 Overseas available on application. Pay by Credit Card: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, without surcharge.

Organise your mail subscription:

By Phone: 1800 231 311

By Fax: 1800 231 312 E-Mail: edit or@MelbourneObserv e rr..com.au editor@MelbourneObserv or@MelbourneObserve

By Post: PO Boc 1278, Research, Vic 3095. Pay by cheque, Money Order or Credit Card.

editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Treasury ● Julie Houghton ■ Melbourne Observer arts columnist Julie Houghton has been selected to ‘voice’ the station identification messages for Melbourne’s fine music radio station, 3MBSFM, which is online, in digital radio and on 103.5.

The ‘IDs’ are being aired frequently and sound great. Beautiful music, indeed.

Thought For The Week

■ “I quote others only in order the better to express myself.”

- Michel de Montaigne

Observer Curmudgeon

■ “It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

-Voltaire

life of radio-TV producer Hector Crawford. Rozzi is known from the days of her 3AK Sunday afternoon program. We see the book is dedicated to ‘Gregory’ (Flood) who did his best to bring back life into the Melbourne radio station in the early 2000s. ● Rozzi Bazzani Plenty of Melbourne’s media lined up for photos with superstar Hugh Jackman after his concerts at Rod Laver Arena. 3AW’s Donna Demaio is a regular ‘selfie’participant with the Wolverine star.

Donna descriobed Hugh to her social media buddies as “gloriously sweet and talented” and “perfection”.

She gushed out a review at the 3AW website: “Ten reasons to love Hugh Jackman (even more).”

★

● Donna Demaio and Hugh Jackman Radio man Alan Pearsall has returned from overseas holidays, and has been entertaining his weekend listeners (also in New South Wales and Queensland) with tales of his international touring.

★

Thérèse McGregor, of Yea, has suffered a seri★ ous knee injury following a fall whilst hanging new curtains.

Rob Buckingham of Bayside Church had a ★ message for his congregants this week: “If you are the leading character in the story of your life, your life will never reach the potential God has intended for it.”

Dorothy Baker, Reg Gorman and Mick Peal★ ing were guest artists at the 96.5 Inner FM community radio station 25th anniversary special event held at the Banyule Theatre, Heidelberg, on Saturday.

Text For The Week

■ “Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." - John 6:35

■ It was raining hard and a big puddle had formed in front of the little Irish pub. An old man stood beside the puddle holding a stick with a string on the end and jiggled it up and down in the water.

A curious gentleman asked what he was doing.

"Fishing," replied the old man.

"Poor old chap" thought the gentleman, so he invited the old man to have a drink in the pub. Feeling he should start some conversation while they were sipping their whisky, the gentleman asked, "And how many have you caught today?"

"You're the eighth."

- With thanks to Pete Smith Contents of Court Lists are intended for information purposes only. The lists are extracted from Court Lists, as supplied to the public, by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, often one week prior to publication date; for current Court lists, please contact the Court. Further details of cases are available at www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au The Melbourne Observer shall in no event accept any liability for loss or damage suffered by any person or body due to information provided. The information is provided on the basis that persons accessing it undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content. No inference of a party’s guilt or innocence should be made by publication of their name as a defendant. Court schedules may be changed at any time for any reason, including withdrawal of the action by the Plaintiff/Applicant. E&OE.

● Dorothy Baker on stage on Saturday.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 13

Court Roundsman

Top cop’s decision overturned Briefs Nightride

■ The Latrobe Valley's late-night bus service that transports pub-goers from the Traralgon central business district to outlying towns, will for the first time drop passengers off in Traralgon as well. The service starts this Sunday morning (Dec. 6).

Arrest

■ A decision made in the name of Victoria Police Chief CommissionerGraham Asheton has been overturned by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Member Anna Dea. The Police had refused an application by Cameron Paul Sanderson for a security licence. The Chief Commissioner had refused the application.

VCAT ordered that Chief Commissioner Ashton is to grant a private security operator licence to Sanderson.

Sanderson had been working as a security guard at Crown Casino. he was involved in an incident involving a patron, MrA. Dunning, who subsequently died.

Dunning died after having a heart attack while he was being held restained by security guards in a prone position.

Judge Gray said it would not be appropriate for him to formally find that any of the security guards individually or collectively caused or contributed to Dunning’s death.

Sanderson and two other Crown guards were charged with manslaughter, but acquitted.

“Mr Sanderson has not, therefor, been found criminally or otherwise legally responsible for Mr (Dunning’s) death,” said Ms Day. The application was refused by a delegate of the Chief Commissioner, Sen. Sgt. D. TGocock, the Tribunal was advised.

■ A 32-year-old man has been charged with burglary and weapons offences after two residents performed a citizen’s arrest in Bell Post Hill.

The residents, aged 15 and 37, took the man into custody when the man allegedly fled from a garage.

Job cuts ■ The Rural City of Wangaratta may have to axe 23 packaged care related jobs, prompted by changes to government funding, reports The Chronicle.

Melbourne Observations

with Matt Bissett-Johnson

‘Never pick a fight with a man who buys ink by the barrel and paper by the ton.’

Jeremy Kewley pleads guilty

● Graham Ashton, Chief Commissioner of Police

Veteran wins special pension ■ Air Force veteran John Elliott will now receive a special pension after taking his case to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia.

Elliott was in receipt of a 100 per cent disability pension in respect of war-caused conditions: ■ bilateral tinnitus, ■ skin damage, ■ hearing loss, ■ tinea, and ■ malignant melanoma of the skin.

Elliott’s earlier application for an increased disability pension to the Department of Veteran Affairs was rejected by a delegate.

A Veterans’Review Board also rejected Elliott’s application.

The Tribunal heard evidence that Elliott had been employed by Esso Australia from 1982 to 2009, then after a one-week gap - until 2013 by DFP Recruitment Services working exclusively for Esso.

His roles included being an

THE BARREL

another person” to meet the legal provisions.

Mr Fice said Ellliott was not engaged in continuous work for his employer , but that was not a prerequisite for satisfying the legal requirements.

$80 million in refunds

auditor, metering support and measurement advisor.

Lawyers opposed to Elliott receiving an increased special pension said that the seven-day gap of working for Esso, then later for contractors for Esso, disuqlaified Elliott from receiving the increased pension payment.

Tribunal Senior Member Egon Fice said “an employee is not required to work on every single day that he or she is an employee of

■ Commonwealth Bank will refund approximately $80 million to around 216,000 Wealth Package customers as compensation for failing to apply fee waivers, interest concessions and other benefits since 2008.

The refund payments include an additional amount of interest to recognise the time elapsed since the relevant benefit was not applied.

The Bank reported this matter to ASIC.

News Notes

■ The $169 million redevelopment of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in East Melbourne may have to be scaled back after it was found to be riddled with asbestos, reports the Herald Sun. ■ The Victorian Artists' Society, founded in 1870, has announced a major sponsorship in conjunction with The Little Foundation in honour of arts supporter Mavis Little.

■ Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks attended a ‘meet and greet’ at Eltham Bookshop last Friday (Nov. 27).

■ Melbourne Observer columnist Julie Houghton is today (Wed.) attending the launch of Barbara Standish’s book, Haigh’s Chocolates Enjoyed For Generations.

● Jeremy Kewley ■ Melbourne actor Jeremy Leo Kewley, 55, of Cheltenham, is due to face the County Court in March after admitting he committed indecent acts with boys.

Kewley appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Thursday and pleaded guilty to offences including indecent acts with a child under 16, indecent assault, and making and possessing child pornography.

Kewley uis known for TV work including Neighbours, The Sullivans Underbelly and Stingers. He made his professional acting debut at the age of 14 in the feature film The Devil's Playground.

Kewley has been ‘warm-up man’ for the AFL version of The Footy Show for the Nine Network.

Until last year he was a regular guest on the Denis Walter afternoon radio show on 3AW. Most of the indecent acts he committed happened around Melbourne in June and July 2011, but some date back to 2002. It is reported that the indecent assaults happened in 1989 and 1991.

Who recalls Fonda?

■ Fonda Zenofon bwrote us a thank you e-mail last weekend, for an article in this column, 2½-years ago. The Melbourne Observer declined his offer for him to submit poetry.He did not take well to rejection.

Fonda thought he would reply in words that we guess were aimed at being threatening, harassing and insulting: “You know, let us tell you a fact. We have communicated together three times now. And every time you have been vulgar, rude and aggressive.

“I have reported your thrice rude and unprofessional actions to my team. They told me to be patient and to wait for your responce (sic) ... you have chosen the wrong person to throw your discrimination at. My sister is a lawyer. I seek an apology and for you to rectify the injustice you are dishing out on me.

“You have chosen the wrong person to challenge.

I have spoken to: AJA - and soon will be in contact with other - and they said they can list a report in a publication of theirs for all to see,” Fonda said.

“You have clearly broken the journalists' code of ethics. I seek compensation before I go to the AntiDiscrimination Board, social media, radio and TV. etc. You know mate, it is against the law to discriminate. I have also been the victim of your psychological, emotional torture and harassment. What are you trying to prove with your diminishing, small circulation paper?”

We still do not require his poems.

Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Gentle as a lamb, strong as a lion

Yvonne’s Column

■ Australian of the Year Rosie Batty is as gentle as a lamb, but with the strength of a lion.

She is on a mission to bring about the changes that will prevent family violence.

It takes enormous strength to work so tirelessly to bring changes to the law in respect to family violence, usually towards women, but sometimes towards men, when she is still grieving over the brutal death of her son Luke at the hands of his father.

On White Ribbon Day, I watched Sarah Henderson, MP for Corangamite, give an emotional speech about her friend who was murdered a few days ago in America as a result of domestic violence.

I know how Sarah was feeling, and my tears flowed as I listened to her.

I too lost my closest friend to a violent man who cowardly killed his partner, and then killed himself.

Loved life ■ Anna (not her real name) was an educated, talented and beautiful looking woman.

She wouldn’t hurt anyone. She loved life.

Then she met the man who eventually killed her.

He was diabolical in his ways of torture.

He was a hateful man who almost had a Svengali hold over her.

I disliked this man from the moment I met him, and my dislike grew stronger when she finally told me about the beatings. It was not only beatings, but also psychological torture.

He would cut up her clothes, pick up the food he was served and throw it on the floor and say “clean it up wog.”

He wouldn’t speak to her for days on end, then phone her and say he had been watching her and knew where she had been.

He stalked her.

He made sure he hit her so that the bruises didn’t show.

Showed courage ■ Peter and I begged her to leave him as soon as she got the chance. I asked her to come and live with us, but she said he would make me suffer too.

Finally, she plucked up the courage to tell him that she was leaving him, and wouldn’t be at their home when he returned from an overseas business trip.

He convinced her to stay to look after the dog until he came back, and then they would talk.

No amount of talking to her would get her to move away. She said she had promised to look

Name change ■ News from the North Pole is that the marketing gurus at Santa HQ have axed the over-used brand Kris Kringle . The Santa Board has approved Secret Santa.as the new moniker.

Power couple ■ Adele Ferguson has been chosen to replace Kerry O'Brien as anchor on the ever-popular ABC 4 Corners.

Adele previously worked on the current affairs show 2003 -2013 and during that period won a Gold Walkly'Award.

4 Corners returns to our screens in February.

Sarah Ferguson is married to Q & A anchor Tony Jones

with Yvonne Lawrence

yvonne.lawrence@bigpond.com after the dog and the house.

We said we would hire security guards to look after the house.

We’d take the dog, anything to get her to move away so that she would be gone when he returned.

But, she said she had promised. And she stayed.

Chilling ■ He came home, and that night after a brutal bashing, killed her and then killed himself.

As a witness I was required to attend the inquest.

It was a chilling and mind numbing experience, as the story of her torture unfolded.

A Requiem Mass was held for Anna. The Cathedral was full to capacity with friends and business associates.

Although I loathed this man so much I felt sorry for his parents and almost felt that I should be attending his funeral service being held not so far from the Cathedral.

Only two people attended his service: his parents.

It wasn’t until I touched on the subject of domestic violence on my radio show that the floodgates opened with women who rang in to talk about their humiliation, bashings and worse.

They wanted to tell me why they didn’t take their kids and leave.

I was invited to meet with them.

I wished I’d never opened the subject and asked questions that didn’t even touch the surface.

✔

OK

with John O’Keefe

Pope’s advice ■ Talk to the boys in the family about respecting not only women, but also themselves.

Pope Francis said during his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square in Rome that parents should eat with their children around the table every day to build a strong family life.

It was music to my ears.

He also said that they must turn off mobile

Price not right ■ ABC's Media Watch exposed Steve Price and Macquarie Radio as having done a complete flip flop over a commercial going to air.

In a on-air interview Price said 2UE would put a spot to air despite ARN , and Southern CrossAustereo refusing to run the spot urging VW and Audi owners to join a class action over the emissions scandal.

'No problem ' said Steve until Steve's bosses over ruled his decision leaving Steve with egg on his microphone.

The networks sidestepped the business as they were afraid of offending the German auto giant and losing big bucks that VW spend.

Money speaks all languages.

$1bn offer

Bacon, eggs ■ It was only a matter of time but Footloose star Kevin Bacon has signed with the American Egg Board to be a brand ambassador to push consumption of googy eggs on TV and in print ads.

Proves that having a marketable surname has advantages.

Hands tied ■ It was hard to comprehend that these women were living a life of hell, and were too traumatised to leave.

Some of the cruelty metered out to these women was almost breathtaking in the planned torture.

I came away from that meeting, and there were many more, thinking that alcohol was at the root of most of the violence, and that until the lawmakers realised that there had to be changes to the law, no action will be taken, women will continue to be bashed and killed because there was no way to get help.

In many cases the hands of the Police were tied. When I asked why some women withdrew charges after apologising to the man for calling the Police. Their answer was simple. “ If we hadn’t, the beatings would have been worse, and he would have taken it out on the children when he came home”.

I still grieve for Anna, my beautiful friend who had so much to give.

But the changes will come, and Rosie Batty is the dedicated woman to make them happen.

With our help.

● Steve Price

■ A few weeks ago we reported Bauer Media had a crack at buying Lachlan Murdoch's radio network.

Murdoch was'nt interested so now Bauer are flirting with Southern Cross Austereo and a figure of $1 billion is being mentioned in despatches.

Southern Cross Austereo operate MMM and Fox 101.9.

phones, computers and TV as children’s addiction to these gadgets was isolating them.

The practice of eating family meals together is starting to vanish in societies where technology was replacing human interaction he warned.

And a family that almost never eats together, or does not talk at the table but instead watches television is not a close family.

Help available

■ Sitting around the dinner table is a sure way, through conversation, to know what is on a child’s mind, and more importantly, if they are off kilter in their thinking.

The solution to domestic violence lies with us all.

We should not tolerate disrespect in any form.

If you know of any person who is experiencing abuse, or indeed, you are being abused, seek help.

Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24 hours) And there is also a Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491.

Under the carpet

■ Because sometimes men can also be the recipient of spousal abuse.

It is such a serious subject; I felt I had to speak out because before Rosie and her tragedy, domestic violence was a subject ignored or swept under the carpet.

Please keep talking to your sons about not disrespecting women, and talk to your daughters about being respected.

And at the risk of sounding a bit of a Grandma Grundy, it is vital that we all take responsibility for what’s happening to women and some men in today’s society.

And now for a change of pace.

Happy birthday

■ Let us talk about a happy family birthday get together for my ex radio colleague, and good friend Rob Richardson.

We were invited to his celebration and I was looking forward to chatting with his mum, who I might add, turns 100 years of age next year. She is as bright as a button and enjoys an active social life. She’s a marvel.

Rob sent me a photograph of his family (see Page 11).

Rob is very proud of his family.

And thrilled at becoming a grandfather since we used to chat on my Life and Style program on radio.

Happy birthday Rob. - Yvonne Lawrence

O’Keefe’s Extra Bit

■ It was heaven on a stick to be taken to the big smoke of Melbourne to visit that treasure trove of toys, Tim the Toyman (TtT).

After Tim it was onto Hilliers for an American style waffle, or another delight that added gazillions of calories onto a pre-pubescent waistline.

TtT was located in Regent Place, off Collins St. The store was a unique toy retailer selling all nature of toys trains to dolls- all designed to lighten up the eyes of boys and girls, particularly if it was a shopping expedition to celebrate a birthday, Christmas - or any excuse in between.

TtT opened for business in 1935 by the Atyso family who established the retailer when a family member got frustrated trying to buy a doll for his daughter.

TtT knew the value of visual merchandising with their windows full of trains going through tunnels, stopping

at signals and tiny stations.- not a Myki in sight.

There were regiments of toy metal soldiers. And for or the girls their fixation was rivetted on rows of dolls dancing around in pretty frilly dresses.

The flagship store in Regent Place was surrounded by equally quaint shops - Irresistable Frocks, Old London Tea and Coffee House, and Peter Piper Bookshop owned by the same family who founded TtT. All the stores were bulldozed to make way for the City Square.

As Melbourne's suburban sprawl spawned shopping centres so TtT followed opening new stores - all heavily advertised on 3UZ and 3DB. TtT is long gone and those toy metal soldiers are replaced with video games where kids shoot the crap out of the baddies. Life was uncomplicated before bulldozers wiped out yet another treasure - TtT.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 11, 2015 - Page 15

Melbourne

Confidential Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

Stiletto winner

● T.J. Hamilton ■ T.J. Hamilton, a cop-turned-crime writer, has won the first prize ($1500) in Sisters in Crime Australia’s 22nd Scarlet Stiletto Awardsfor her short story Hard Knox about a woman who has apparently jumped from a high-rise housing commission block..She also won the ($200) Best Investigative Award.

Hamilton told the 110 strong crowd at a gala dinner at Melbourne’s Thornbury Theatre on Saturday night (Nov. 28) that she had been fascinated with crime and crime writers for as long as she could remember, cutting her teeth on Inspector Gadget and Agatha Christie. She studied criminology and then joined the police force Danielle Cormack, star of Wentworth, presented the awards. Prior to the award presentations, Cormack discussed her ‘life in crime’ with author, performer and Sisters in Crime member Jane Clifton, who appeared for four years in Prisoner.

Kate Olivieri, a public servant , won second prize ($1000) and the Liz Navratil Award for Best Story with a disabled protagonist ($400) for Anna Parker: Here Comes the PI , a story about a wedding organiser and private investigator.

Another serial offender was Natalie Conyer who wonthird prize ($500 for New Start which also took out the inaugural romantic suspense award ($500).

The Body in the Library Prize ($1000) went to Jenny Spence for Caught on Camera” The Body in the Library Award ($500 runner-up prize) went to Katie Mills for To Drive Out Evil Spirits . Mills, an academic librarian, also won The Great Film Idea Award ($200) for the same story.

The Kerry Greenwood Malice Domestic Award ($750) was won by Kath Harper, a retired teacher from Port Fairy for Hitting the Roof.

Thirteen-year old Amanda Coleman of Glen Iris, won theYoung Writer’s Award ($500), open to writers 18 or under,for Mental Blank.

The Best Well-loaded Political Story ($500) was awarded went to Kylie Fox of Langwarrin for Guilt.

The Best Environmental Crime Story Award ($500) went Fin J Ross of Paynesville, Vic for Echo Wren.

Other winners included Ann Byrne, Ellen Vickerman, Kathy Blacker, Jude Bridge, Gabrielle Carmel, Marilyn Chalkley, Anne Chappel, Emilie Collyer, Bridgitte Cummings, Carolyn EldridgeAlfonzetti, Helen Goltz, Diane Hester, Maggie McTiernan, Richenda Rudman, Yvonne Sanders, Sue Williams and Amanda Wrangles.

National Co-convenor Michaela Lobb, said that the judges had been impressed by the quality of this year’s stories.

“Revenge was still a perennial theme but we did see for the first time several stories set in prisons and it was obvious our current political situation regarding detention centres had touched the heart of many writers,” she said.

Queen of Queens makes way back to Melbourne

■ Billing herself as the ‘Queen of Queens’, Bianca Del Rio, is returning to Melbourne with a new comedy show in 2016.

Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, Del Rio is returning with Not Today Satan.

“The hate continues with her hilarious view on everyday things that annoy her...and all of us. She says what we're all thinking,” says Melbourne publicist Michael D. Wilkie.

“Bianca Del Rio's impeccably quick-witted comedy has no boundaries with her unique ability to make audiences cry from laughter (or just plain cry) while she tatters their selfimage to shreds, leaving audiences begging for more.”

The New York Times called her “the Joan Rivers of the drag world".

- New York Times The Melbourne show will be at 7.15pm on May 16, 7.at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse Tickets: On sale from Thurs., Dec. 3. artscentremelbourne. com.au or 1300 182 183 or ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100 biancadelrio.com

Whispers

To sales

■ Is a Melbourne radio ‘voice’ about to be offered an advertising sales job ... or the door?

To court

■ Ambulance Victoria has asked for a Frankston Magistrates’ Court registrars’ hearing today (Wed.) when it is due to allege that a civil debt is owed

by Kurt Devries. ● Bianca Del Rio

Ratings

Jurassic bound Rumour Mill for Victoria

Hear It Here First

3AW, talking Karen

● Jurassic World will open in Melbourne ■ Melbourne Museum will host the world premiere of Jurassic World: The Exhibition, opening in March.

The exhibition is based on Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World, one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history.

Jurassic World: The Exhibition allows guests to get closer to dinosaurs than ever before.

The exhibition features encounters with realistic, life-size animatronic dinosaurs set in highly themed environments inspired by the film.

The dinosaurs are being developed by Creature Technology Company, renowned for producing the world’s most technologically sophisticated and realistic animatronics for arena spectaculars and stage shows, including those featured in the worldwide hit Walking with Dinosaurs.

“There is no other dinosaur brand in the world that comes close to Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World franchise,” said Tom Zaller, President and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. “This promises to be a touring exhibition unlike any before it, bringing together players who are the absolute best in their fields,” said Vince Klaseus, President, Brand Development, NBCUniversal.

■ The Observer’s TVradio critic is a dialtwiddler. At 4am Sunday, Veritas tuned in to 3AW weekend man Alan Pearsall chatting with talkback caller ‘Karen’.

“Deja vu,” thought Veritas, who had heardKaren in a radio competition the night be● Alan Pearsall fore with Mike Brady.

But it didn’t stop there. Karen had also been a talkback caller to ‘Grubby and Dee Dee’ on the Weekend Break program.

Onassas in Court ■ Metro Media Services Pty Ltd has requested a Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court hearing (in Melbourne) on December 10 when it is due to allege a civil debt is owed by Onassas Pty Ltd.

Countdown ■ There are only w more Melbourne Observers until Christmas.

E-Mail: Confidential@MelbourneObserver.com.au

■ The final radio ratings survey results will be released on Tuesday, December 15. Some careers will change because of them.

Limbo

■ Whispers hears that a MelbourneSorrento celebrity bus ride not to miss is on Thursday next week (Dec. 10) for the opening night of the Limbo Up Close at the Spiegel Zelt tent. The nurlseque cabaret circus-style entertainment is a mix of music, dance, stunts and illusion, on the Ocean Beach Rd.

Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

MELBOURNE OBSERVER HONOUR BOARD PUBLISHERS

1969-1971: Gordon Page Barton 1971-1977: Maxwell Newton 1977-1989: Peter Stuart Isaacson 1999, 2002-onwards: Ash and Fleur Long

PATRONS

ObserverTHON Pacakage - July 2015 $10,000 - 100 Full-page colour ads (in any 100 issues, starting immediately, space permitting)

HONORARY WRITERS

All Melbourne Observer editorial contributors do so on an honorary basis Len Baker (Harness Racing) Matt Bissett-Johnson (Cartoonist) David Ellis (Travel, Wine) Rob Foenander (Country Music) Kyle Galley (Greyhound Racing) Julie Houghton (Arts) Yvonne Lawrence (‘Life and Style’) Nick Le Souef (Outback Legend) Mike McColl Jones (Top 5) Greg Newman (Radio, On This Day) Aaron Rourke (Movies, DVDs) Ted Ryan (Thoroughbred Horses) James Sherlock (Movies, DVDs) Cheryl Threadgold (Local Theatre) Kevin Trask (Showbiz) Gary Wild, Slickpix (Photographer) Gavin Wood (West Hollywood)

HONORARY REVIEWERS

All Melbourne Observer theatre reviewers do so on an honorary basis Geraldine Colson Rita Crispin Martin Curtis Barbara Hughes Kathryn Keeble Beth Klein Stephen Leeden Deborah Marinaro Catherine McGregor David McLean Maggie Morrison Jill Page Elizabeth Semmel

GOLD FRIENDS

Substantial Supporters Gregory J. Long Ron Bourke (NRG Sunbury FM) Gabrielle Forman John Gilmour and Family Alex Hehr (Golden Days Radio) Gigi Hellmuth Alex Hutchinson Larry James (Golden Days Radio) Jim Lee Jessie Lynch Angela McGowan Judy and Bob Phillips (RPP FM) David Purcell Denis Scanlan (Pulse FM) Michael J Wilkie

OBSERVER FRIENDS

Contributions of $10, $20 or $50 Don Crawford Julie Houghton Craig Huggins Ben Quick Libby Ross Kevin White

STRATEGIC PARTNERS All Day Distribution Newsagencoes of Victoria Streamline Press

GOLD ADVERTISERS ‘ObserverTHON Pacakage - July 2015 Gold Advertiser’ spots available for $4500 45 Full-page colour ads (in any 45 issues of 2015 or 2016, space permitting) ‘Every Week’ Advertisers 84 The Spit Apartments Airlok Car Cave Ambler Adelaide Hills Animals On The Move Aradale Ghost Tours Art With Distinction Aussie Resort Australian By Design Australian Getaway Tours Autosol Bandicoot Brewing Beach Street Apartments Boyd Dance Academy Camberwell Sewing Centre City Golf Club The Clothes Barn Comfort Inn and Suites Mari Court The Convenient Kitchen Coolum Baywatch Resort Coolum Seaside Apartments Cupcakes Delivered Darwin's Barra Base Diamond Cove Resort DirecFresh / NicenFresh Echo 4x4 Campers Elysium Holiday Apartments Finders Keypers Fitzroy Island Resort Fitzroy Readers Formplex Gilmours Comfort Shoes Golden Days Radio Grosvenor In Cairns GutzBusta Health And Mobility Hygeia Ivanhoe Grammar School Ivanhoe Cycles JJ's Photography Logic eCigs Lone Pine Fencing Marrakesh Apartments Mattresses Galore Metro Cinemas Boronia Mike's Carpet Discounters New Age Caravans Ovenu Pacific Regis The Pavilions Port Douglas Pemberley Equestrian Penta Block Print Depot Professional Quilting Service Providence Lodge Reliable Hot Water Rich Glen Olive Oil Ritter Australia Rosenow Industries Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Royal Sleep Saffron Grove San Remo Ballroom Sandy Shores On Golden Beach Sapphire City Motor Inn SCWL (Subliminal CDs) Sedona Estate SGI Aged Care Shady Characters Sholley Trolley Shop Inside SLR Caravans St John of God (Frankston Rehab. Hospital) Start Fresh Finance Swaggers Motor Inn Tilco Engineering Tribute Funeral Services Tri State Safaris USA to Aus.com Vineyard Cottages The Waterford Prestige Apartments Wheels of America Windward Passage Apartments K & J Woolley Master Plumbers

CONTRIBUTING MAIL SUBSCRIBERS

‘ObserverTHON Package - July 2015 Melbourne Observer Mail Subscriptions (Copy, posted each issue, anywhere in Aust.) $99 - 15 issues $198 - 30 issues $297 - 45 issues Ron Alderton, Hazel Anderson, Ian Armstrong, Barry Atkinson, Flo and Alan Axford, Barrie Bartlett, Shirley Bartlett, B. Bernal, Brian Bowman, Jane Brzozek, Steven Burch, Pat Burke, Elsie Butterworth, Jan Carter, Julie Cavanagh, Rita Cervai, Leonie Charlesworth, Ron Cocks, Muriel Cooper, P. Anne County, H,A. Cowan, Margaret Cragg, E. Cusack, J. Cutler, Russell Dalton, F. Davin, Don Davy, Joan De Ross, Geraldine Delaharpe, Judith Dix, Gretas Donaldson, Anthony Drayton, Bill Duff, B.M. Dunn, Joyce Durrant, Robert Eagles, Betty Edwards, Doris Eggleton, P. Fitzgibbon, Sylvia Gouldthorp, M. Grant, Maureen Gregan, J. Hardiman, Anthony Healey, Kenneth Henderson, Biran Hickey, Nancy Hill, Rene Hinton, Peter Hitchener, Shirley Holt, Julie Houghton, Craig Huggins, Alex Hutchinson, Larry James, Norma James, M.H. Johnson, Bobby Johnson, Ann Jones, Beryl Jones, Chris Keating, Olga Kenny, Brian Kirby, R.W. Kirtley, Wendy Langridge, Steve Lawrence, Jackie Lewis, Keith Livingston, Sid Mann, Bruce McLean, Angela McGowan, Media Monitors, D. Neubecker, Eileen Norton, Howard Purcell, Graeme Rodda, Brian Rule, Kath Rutledge, Pat Shelton-Astley, Raymond Smith, Allan Spencer, E. Spilsbury, Michelle Stamper, Natahsa Stipanov, Kate Swifte, David Syme, Diana Szaley, F.L. Taylor, Gary Turner, Frank Van Straten, Andrew Wailes, Dayle Walker, Cecily Waters, Fay Waugh, Dan Webb, Steve Weston, Patricia Wheller, J. Whitehouse, Beryl Whitton.

SOCIAL MEDIA FAMILY

Join our daily conversations on Facebook: Ash Long’. Free.

Harry Adlerstein, Nicholas Aitken, Roy Alderton, Merryn Aldous, Steve Ahern, Annette Allison, Kathleen Amarant, David Anderson, Matthew Anderson, Tom Andronas, Heidi Arena, David Argue, Bill Armnstrong, Ash Arthur, Robert Ashworth, José Auditore, Don Baker, Tony Barber, Heather Barry, Gary Bartholomew, Alan Baskin, Prue Bassett, Liza Bateman, Andrew Baudinette, Glenn Bear, Steve Bedwell, Brad Beitzel, Ian Bell, Hillel Benedykt, Craig Bennett, Jayne Bennett, Ray Belcher, Phillip Bennett, Rachel Berger, Wayne Binfield, Tara Bishop, Jason Blackman, Robert Boileau, Michael Bonaddio, Jeffrey Bounds, Latika Bourke, Rod Boyd, Bruce Bradfield, Lucy Bright, Cheryl Brown, Geoff Brown, Jenchurai Brown, Ashley Browne, Kristi Bryant, Paul Bryant, Rob Buckingham, Adam Burrage, Jeff Buzza, Fiona Byrne, Peter Byrne, John Cantrill, Megan Castran, Julie Cavanagh, Angela Ceberano, Chrsitina Chia, Marylyn Christie, Stacey Christopoulos-Fakhry, Gerry Connolly, Michael Conway, Lynne Cook, Debra Cooper, Muriel Cooper, Matthew Corbett, Shawn Cosgrove, Pete Coulon, Don Crawford, Barry Creyton, Wes Crook, Steve Curtis, Gerard Daffy, Donna De La Rue, Matthew Deller, Donna Demaio, Luke Dennehy, Victoria Dinic, Judith Dix, Greta Donaldson, George Donikian, Chez Donoghue, Virginia Dowser, Coral Drouyn, Leigh Drew, Dee Dee Dunleavy, Issi Dye, Merv Dyer, Helen Eastwood, Les Egglestone, Rob Elliott, Tom Elliott, Lisa Engelander, Jackie Epstein, Nick Erby, Jenny Evans, Peter Fearn, Tony Featherstone, Dean Felton, Caroline Ferguson, Gene Bradley Fisk, Ridha Fkih, Alan Fletcher, Rob Foenander, David Font, Des Ford, John Foreman, Virginia Megan Freeman-Sumarac, Steve Frew, Simon Gallagher, Toni Giannarelli, Mark Gillies, Mark Gogoll, Doug Golden, Maurice Golden, Peter zGordon, Libbi Gorr, Lachlan Gould, Bruce Gow, Deborah Jane Gray, Mya G. Grayly, Emily Greenaway, Peter Greenaway, Sal Grimshaw, Haydn Gregson, Natalie Grosby, Anthony Hadj,

SOCIAL MEDIA FAMILY Continued from previous column André Haermeyer, Claire Halliday, Kate Halliday, Fiona Hamilton, Jennifer Hansen, Rod Hardy, Wendy Hargreaves, Barbara Harper, Carolyn Hartmann, John Hay-Mackenzie, Brett Hayhoe, Anthony Healey, Tanya Healey, Jacqueline Healy, Lissi Heffernan, Alex Hehr, Gigi Hellmuth, Meg Heres, Chris Herrod, Matt Hetherington, Melissa Hetherington, Colleen Hewett, Victor Hiah, Glenn Hodges, Shannon Holloway, JaneHolmes, Julie Houghton, Gavin Howard, Andrew Howarth, Frank Howson, John-Michael Howson, Craig Huggins,Alex Hutchinson, Chris Ilsley, Judith Ann Jacques, Neil James, Ross James, Harry Jenkins, Mark Jenkins, Loretta Johns, Cheryle Johnson, Bob Jones, Marcie Jones, Jeff Joseph, Cris Jubb, Helen Kapalos, Warren Kay, Sandy Kaye, Frank Kendall, Jane Kennedy, Chris Keating, Julie Kiriacoudis, Robert Kirwan, Peter Klages, Mark Knight, Imren Kuyucu, Michael Lallo, Yvonne Lawrence, Nathan Lay, Nick Le Souef, Jim Lee, Alison Lee-Tet, Julie Leeming, Sam Lewin, Adam Long, Anne Long, Daniel Long, Dominique Long, Greg Long, Jaide Long, James Long, Kieran Long, Linda Long, Pat Long, Sarah Long, Neil Longdon, Lucy Loprete, Diane Luxmore, Gary Mac, Joan Mac, Wayne Mac, Helen Macdonald, Lachlan Macdonald, Fiona Mackenzie, Trent Mackenzie, Jan Maher-Martin, Jacki MarconGreen, Benjamin Marks, Jeanette Martin, Chrissy Massingham, David Masson, Ian Maurice, Dana McCauley, Sandra McCurdy, Angela McGowan, Shane McInnes, Jane McLaren, Margaret Mclelland, Sue McPhee, Gary McQuade, Marney McQueen, Ross McSwain, Ric Melbourne, Mike Menner, Maria Mercedes, Peter Mery, Rosie Moffat, Jamie Mollard, Wayne Motton, Kenneth Mulholland, Craig Murchie. Kate Murphy, Mary Murphy, Laura Musial, Kate Neilson, Rick Newbery, Greg Newman, Gary Newton, Spencer Nicholls, Paul Nicholson, Georgina Nickell, Rick Num, Libby Nutbean, Kerry O’Brien, Eddie Olek, Maris O’Sullivan, Simon Owens, Mick Pacholli, Silvie Paladino, David Palmer, Andrew Pante, John Parker, Simon Parris. John Pasquarelli, Bill Passick, Dawn Patterson, Marcus Paul, Allan Pennant, Penni Perrin, Ali Perris, Libby Petrella, Elise Petty, Judy Phillips, Felix Pindato, Angela Pippos, Greta Polonsky, Tony Porter, Gene Price, John Price, Cindy Pritchard, Robert Pullin, Howard Purcell, Joan Purcell, Ben Quick, Jamie Redfern, Helen Relph, Dean Reynolds, Don Reynolds, Mark Richardson. Rob Richardson, Kim Richter.

Christine Ridd, Glenn Ridge, Annie Roberts, Wendy Roberts, Clive Rodda. Di Rolle, Libby Ross, Rena Ross, David Rouch, Norman Rowe, Maria Rowland, Lisa Rudd, Pete Rudder, Lisa Millar Ruggerio. Sally Russell, Chris Ryan, Denis Scanlan, Tom Schouten, Brendan Scott, James Scott, Mark Scott, Adam Shand, Janet Shaw, Jim Shomos, Glenys Sigley, Matthew Sigley, John Silvester, Phil Skeggs, Ruta Skoba, Damian Sleep, Frank Slevin, Deborah May Small, Judy Small, Dennis Smith, Justin Smith, Deb Sorrell, Susan Spagnolo, Ken Sparkes, Maddy Sparks, Jim Spreadborough, Garry Spry, Victoria St John, Michelle Stamper, Artie Stevens, Ian Stewart, Natasha Stipanov, Bruce Stockdale, Richard Stockman, Deb Sukarna, Liz Sullivan, Anne Swinstead, John Tamb, Jason Taylor, Rachel D. Taylor, Nui Te Koha, Phil Teese, Lyndall Tennant, Serge Thomann, Gaylene Thompson, Jenny Thompson. Alan Thorley, Greg Tingle, Ellice Tobin, Kevin Trask, Penny Tregonning, Sue ThrethownJones, James Tulk, Judy Turnbull, Robin Turner, Les Twentyman, Hans Van Bloemendaal, Peter van Hauen, Michelle van Raay, Michael Vaughan, John Vertigan, Heidi Victoria, Steve Vizard, Christian Wagstaff, Mal Walden, Paul Walsh, Zoe Walsh, Geoff Ward, Cecily Waters, Rob Watts, Linda Weber, Nicki Wendt, Paul Weston, Kelvin Weston-Green Christie Whelan-Browne, Marilyn Whitelaw, Michael J Wilkie, Eric Williams, Helen Williams, Lisa Williams, Gavin Wood, Ian Wright, Roni Wildboer, Michelle Zydower.

More names to be added in next issue

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 17

Page 18 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Pontiacs, pistons, ploughs and pumps Re-fit for Alma Doepel

● From left: President of the Alma Doepel Supporters Club Tim Horton, Bob Thornton and Freemasons Foundation Director Ted Finch.

■ The Alma Doepel was launched in October 1903 on the Bellingen River, New South Wales. After working a number of years around the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, and serving the Army in World War II, it was refitted in 1976-78 as a training and maritime education vessel for Australian youth.

In 1999 the schooner was laid up and transferred to Port Macquarie as a museum ship. Under the ownership of Sale and Adventure the vessel was returned to Melbourne in 2009 for a complete refit.

In excess of 1.5 million dollars is required to complete the restoration of the vessel, which is the last three-masted top sail schooners remaining in Australia.

The Freemasons Victoria's Masters Group agreed to support one of the fundraising activities associated with the refit project, the 'Buy a Plank Appeal'.

This appeal enables a donor to sponsor a plank of Australian spotted gum 6 metres long which will be used in the restoration of the hull of the vessel.

Cost of each plank is $500. The Freemasons Victoria's Masters Group was most appreciative that the Freemasons Foundation agreed to match the donation. All plank donors are acknowledged by a plaque on an honour board located at the vessel's home port.

It is the goal of Sail and Adventure to have the restoration completed in 2016 enabling the schooner to resume its life as a youth sail training and maritime education vessel.

Chorus of approval

● From left: Kaithlin Mayer, Program Director of Creativity Australia; Christina Chia, Executive Officer; and staff - Anna Dageforde, Charmaine Reece, Facility Manager - Centennial Lodge, residents - Frederick Bottrell, Josephine Christenson, Joan Ennis, Rob Seeds, Christine Young, Graeme Ennis, Leonisa Pascua, Jackie Maksic, Thomas Wilkinson. Cooky Wong (not in photo) participated in the Choir.

■ The Royal Freemasons community choir has continued to raise its voice with performances throughout the year since commencing in May 2015.

Generous community contributions, through a 2014-15 appeal, helped launch the Royal Freemasons With One Voice Eastern Choir at Centennial Lodge, in partnership with Creativity Australia.

Residents, volunteers and families from Centennial Lodge, Darvall Lodge, Elizabeth Gardens, Monash Gardens and Monash Gardens Village enjoyed their first choir rehearsal in May, under the direction of Musical Director, Michelle Morgan, and supported by members of the 'With One Voice Greater Dandenong' Choir.

The choir has since been a dedicated weekly activity and the program has proved a resounding success in helping staff and customers build new friendships and foster a sense of belonging to the local community.

Recently, the choir performed at an evening soiree, called Sing For Good, to raise funds for a range of charitable causes. It also has plans to perform at different events in the coming year.

Research has shown that singing in a group has the ability to improve mental and physical well-being, and further roll-out of the choir to other sites is being evaluated.

● The Gippsland Freemasons Social Network crew, from left: Craig Moon, Simon Reynolds, Robert Billing, Russ Anthony and Andrew Geary.

■ The make-shift car park of 170 the charity effort, coordinating comHuntingfords Rd, Boorool. was petitions for children, and making sure packed on Sunday, November 22, for barbecue and kitchen facilities were the Commonwealth Lodge's Annual available for all to use.

Charity Day. Later in the day, Jim Geary joined Held at the property of Norm Geary the party; making up the three genand his wife Sandra, the Charity Day erations of Gearys, all members of was a great opportunity to showcase Commonwealth Lodge No. 186.

Norm's incredible museum of past era Jim (88) had just come from a memorabilia as well as raise funds. wood turning workshop and said that Norm's museum, located two hours he is still very active in Lodge. from Melbourne in the South The Charity Day raised $1400 and Gippsland, boasts four large sheds jam-packed full of farming and me- ing saws, pumps and a huge coll- saw 120 people walk through the gate, chanical equipment dating back as ection of glass bottles and electrical Andrew Geary saying that he was early as the late 1800s. generators and switchboards. impressed with the turn out.

One of the most interesting items Visitors wandered the sheds in ore "This is a great example of how is the 1928 Regent Theatre crude oil of just how many items have been Freemasonry can bring together lubricated engine which Norm had saved or restored over the years. members of more than one Lodge, much pleasure in cranking up for all Just one of the many Pontiac rel- members of the wider community as to witness. ics at the Geary property museum. well as support local charities".

"When the engine was in use, it Norm, who has been collecting For more information on how you would've only done about 100 hours since the late 60s, said that his interbecause it was rarely needed, and est in such things comes from a pas- can get involved in the Gippsland Freemasons Social Network contact when it was required, there was no sion for all things mechanical. one there to start it! So it's basically "I just look at an engine or any- Andrew Geary on 0400 527 689, new," Norm said. thing mechanical, and it just makes email Gippsland.Freemasons Network @gmail.com or visit the Among the collection, a number of sense to me.” he said.

1920s Pontiacs in varying conditions The Gippsland Freemasons So- GFSN Facebook page at were on display as well as tractors, cial Network, headed by Norm's son m.facebook.com/Gippsland harvesters, generators, diesel oscillat- Andrew Geary was there to support FreemasonsNetwork/

Mark Masters say 'We Care' ■ At the Grand Communication of the United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Victoria held on November 18, the President of the Mark MastersAssociation of Victoria was pleased to present a cheque for $500 to the Grand Master for the "We Care" Charitable Trust.

The money was the result of the raffle held at the Annual Dinner Dance of the Association.

The Mark Masters Association of Victoria now in its 88th year was established in 1927 and is the oldest and largest Past Masters group in Victoria and possibly Australia.

The prime aim of the MMAV is to encourage Masters and Past Masters to visit their sister Lodges, to form friendships and support Grand Mark charities and more particularly the "We Care Appeal".

The Annual General Meeting in October 1930 saw Edward Coulson, Grand Master honour the Association by becoming a member, and in 1976

● Grand Master Doug Mount receives the cheque from Les Cooper, President MMAV. As it approaches its eighty-ninth the policy of having a Patron of the Association was introduced in the year, the MMAV will continue its supof Grand Mark and encourage presence of Glen Johnston, Grand port participation by all members to conMaster - a tradition that continues to- tinue to be part of this wonderful and day. friendly Degree.

To find out more about Freemasonry, how to become a member, or attend upcoming public events, please visit www.freemasonsvic.net.au Or ‘like’ our FaceBook page www.facebook.com/freemasonsvic for the most up to date information.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 19

West Hollywood

It's not every day you pick up an award ■ Hi everyone, from my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites comes this week's news.

Proclamation from the City of West Hollywood

Mayor’s surprise ■ So there I was, sitting on the Ramada Plaza table with Alan Johnson, the Managing Director, and the 2015 annual West Hollywood Mayoral Awards, were about to begin.

We love our Mayor in West Hollywood. She is pro-active, smart, engaging, and her future looks spectacular in a higher form of government.

Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath began to read a special proclamation and I started to realise she was talking about me.

I wasn't that confident until she read out my name. What an honour from a City that is not my hometown across the Pacific so far away and to be recognised for my work, it is indeed an honour and privilege.

I was speechless but I soon made up for it, as it was a great platform to tell all of West Hollywood how wonderful the world's most liveable city is. It is so humbling to have success in both cities, Melbourne, and now the City of West Hollywood.

Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 3, 2015. She previously served as a Council member for two years from 2009-2011.

Mayor Horvath represented the City of West Hollywood on the Los Angeles County Library Commission and on the Executive Board of California Contract Cities.

Mayor Horvath also served on the Los Angeles Unified School District Redistricting Commission in 2011.

Mayor Horvath has a long history of civic and social justice advocacy. She has spearheaded policies to make West Hollywood an ‘Age-Friendly Community’ to better serve residents of all ages.

In addition to her service as an elected official, Mayor Horvath works as an entertainment-advertising executive, and has created award-winning campaigns for movies and television.

Mayor Horvath graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Political Science and Gender Studies from the University of Notre Dame.

■ Whereas, Gavin Wood is an entertainment industry professional who, through his work at Countdown Motion Pictures and management, has devoted his career to serving as an enthusiastic booster of the City of West Hollywood, helping to connect the communities of West Hollywood and Australia; and Whereas, throughout the years he has promoted inbound tourism to the City of West Hollywood, organising promotions with Qantas, Virgin Australia, Tourism Australia and the Australian State Tourist Office, making Australia the number one international feeder market into West Hollywood; and Whereas, he has further promoted the international visibility of West Hollywood by hosting journalists, writers and media professionals around West Hollywood and partnering with Film West Hollywood and AusFilm to develop filming opportunities in West Hollywood; and Whereas, he has further connected Australia to West Hollywood through his participation in the opening ceremonies of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX and as a host of the inaugural launch of Qantas Airways A380 aircraft, which provides service from Los Angeles to Australia's international airports; and Whereas, Gavin continues to host Ausfilm productions, including cast and crewmembers while filming in West Hollywood.

Now, Therefore, Be it resolved, that the City Council of the City of West Hollywood hereby honours Gavin Wood for his commitment throughout the years of bridging the entertainment communities of West Hollywood and Australia and wishes him continued success in his future endeavours. ● Gavin Wood, West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath and Alan Johnson

Amy gets her star

■ The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Amy Poehler will be honored with the 2,566th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, December 3 at 12:30 p.m. PST. The star in the category of television will be dedicated at 6767 Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Hollywood Wax Museum.

Helping Emcee and Hollywood Chamber President/CEO Leron Gubler to unveil the star will be speakers Rashida Jones and Mike Schur.

"We are thrilled to add Amy Poehler to our Walk of Fame.

She has kept us in stitches for so many years with her career as one of Hollywood's top comedic actresses," stated Ana Martinez, producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies.

"Fans should be ready for a ceremony full of laughter," she added.

Bindi Irwin wins DWTS

Meet Chris Isaak

GavinWood

● Bindi Irwin ■ Bindi Irwin took home the Mirrorball Trophy on Dancing With The Stars, handing the ABC reality competition its highest ratings since last November in the process.

The Season 21 finale was up 4 per cent from last year's season-ending episode in the key 18-49 demographic.

Finishing in first place outright rewarded ABC, edging CBS on the total viewer side.

ABC was first in ratings with a 2.3 rating in the advertisercoveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 11.5 million, according to preliminary numbers.

Following a movie rerun, DWTS at 9pm scored with 13.4 million viewers.

NBC was second in ratings with a 1.9 and third in viewers with 8.3 million.

The Voice at 8 had 9.9 million viewers. Chicago Med at 9 got 7.6 million viewers. Chicago Fire at 10 received the same rating/share, but with 300,000 fewer viewers.

CBS was third in ratings and second in viewers with 11.4 million. At 8, NCIS had16 million viewers.

At 9, NCIS: New Orleans had 11.7 million viewers. Limitless at 10 got 6.5 million viewers.

Fox was fourth in total viewers with 2.3 million; Univision was fifth with 2.1 million.

From my Suite at the Ramada Plaza Complex on Santa Monica Blvd

Heart of Los Angeles ■ West Hollywood is at the cultural and geographical heart of the Los Angeles region, surrounded by must-see hotspots in every direction.

If you want to experience Los Angeles, booking a hotel in walkable West Hollywood will give you convenient access to everything-and situate you in one of the metropolis' hottest neighborhoods.

Go west to the beaches, north to the Hollywood Bowl and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, south to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the La Brea Tar Pits on Museum Row, or east to Downtown's Disney Concert Hall and LA Live.

In the mood for a hike? Travel a few miles east to Runyon Canyon, nestled into the famous Hollywood Hills.

No matter if you walk, bike, drive or take public transit, WeHo is the perfect jumping-off point to see LA's hottest attractions.

After a day of adventures, come back to West Hollywood's thriving restaurant and nightlife scene-and go wherever the night takes you.

www.gavinwood.us

■ This week Chris Isaak, 59, released his 13th studio album, First Comes The Night with its rockabilly first single, Please Don't Call.

Here are five things the Wicked Game singer songwriter shared before beginning his stint as a judge on Australia's X Factor.

1. Chris spent a year in Japan on a boxing scholarship. He is a better singer than a boxer. Just check his nose.

2. He is a huge Fred Astaire fan and he took dance lessons when he was a kid.

3. Chris has never written a cheque.

4. He has a metal plate in his head. He can't get through a metal detector at an airport without being searched.

5. Chris Isaak loves to draw goofy, sexy, weird and sweet cartoons.

Mention the Observer

■ If you are considering a move to Los Angeles or just coming over for a holiday then I have got a special deal for you.

If you are coming for the shows or attractions, we would love to see you at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood.

I have secured a terrific holiday deal for readers of the Melbourne Observer.

Please mention 'Melbourne Observer' when you book and you will receive the 'Special Rate of the Day'.

Please contact: Joanna at info@ramadaweho.com Happy Holidays, Gavin Wood.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 20 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

■ It is hard to believe that an actor could make his screen debut at the age of 62 and go on to appear in a series of classic Hollywood films.

Sydney Greenstreet had a career that lasted only eight years but he became famous throughout the world and is still seen by generation after generation.

I always thought he was American and came from the deep South - boy was I wrong - read on.

Sydney Hughes Greenstreet was born in Sandwich, Kent, England, in 1879 and he came from a family of seven children.

Sydney left home at age 18 to make his fortune as a Ceylon tea planter but drought forced him out of business and he returned to England where eventually he entered the acting profession.

His first role was as a murderer called ‘Craigen’ in Sherlock Holmes in 1902 at the Marina Theatre in Ramsgate, Kent.

Sydney toured England with Ben Greet's Shakespearian Company and in 1907 he made his Broadway debut. In 1912 he married Dorothy Ogden and they had a son.

Sydney Greenstreet's career onstage was quite amazing, he played roles in plays, musicals such as Roberta and many great characters in Shakespearian plays which included The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth and As You Like It. He was offered countless roles in films but

Whatever Happened To ...

Sydney Greenstreet

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

refused as he preferred to be a stage actor. Then in 1940 whilst in Los Angeles appearing in a touring play he met John Huston who discussed with him his forthcoming film adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon.

Sydney made his screen debut in the movie achieving instant screen immortality as ‘Kasper Gutman’, he was nown as ‘The Fat Man’ and it was the first of many ruthless rogues he was to play during his film career.

Warner Brothers Studios immediately signed Sydney to a long-term contract.

His next role was in They Died With Their Boots On and he starred opposite Errol Flynn.

In 1942 Sydney played ‘Ferrari’ the proprietor of The Blue Parrot in Casablanca and al-

● Sydney Greenstreet

though this was a small role he wore a fez and it is another character that he is remembered for.

He played a very interesting character in a film called Between Two Worlds - Sydney was the ‘Reverend Tim Thompson’ aboard a ship with a group of people who had just died and were somewhere between heaven and hell.

Of the 23 films he appeared in, nine were with co-star Peter Lorre.

His other films included Across The Pacific, Passage To Marseille, The Hucksters, The Mask Of Dimitrios and The Woman in White.

When he retired from films Sydney played Nero Wolfe on the NBC radio program, The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe.

The story goes that he was partially the inspiration for the 'Jabba the Hutt' character in the George Lucas film Return Of The Jedi.

Sydney Greenstreet died in 1954 due to complications from diabetes and Bright's Disease at the age of 74.

He was survived by his wife and his only son.

Kevin Trask The Time Tunnel - with Bruce and Phil Sundays at 9.20pm on 3AW That's Entertainment - 96.5FM Sundays at 12Noon 96.5FM is streaming on the internet.

To listen, go to www.innerfm.org.au and follow the prompts.

Christmas-time in the Aussie outback

■ Because of its importance in the very heartland of Australian tourism, while I was there, Alice Springs would host many related events.

Even though there were many venues for such events, such as the Casino, the Araluen Centre, and various hotels, some of organisers would strive to give their attendees an Outback experience under the stars.

A favourite spot for such events, many of which I attended, was the Ooraminna Homestead.

It was located on a working cattle property, Deep Well Station. It was a fair dinkum homestead, interestingly originally created as a movie set.

Happily the weather in the Centre is usually accommodating, and people just love to gather out amongst the

stars, amidst campfires and sizzling barbecues, and an Outback bar. There was plenty of room for up to 500 people, with ample space for entertainment and meetings.

In 2011 the owner of the station, Bill Hayes, was killed in a motorbike accident while he was mustering cattle on the property.

His wife Jan, an old friend, said: "I just couldn't cope with the continuing running of the business", so closed the homestead down.

Now, happily, four years later, she's summoned up the stamina and courage to start all over again.

So a welcoming Christmas party is coming up, to everyone's delight.

■ I've mentioned a Land Rover Experience Tour a few weeks back, beginning in Arnhem Land and travelling 3600 kms down through the Territory to the Rock.

It's happened, and now everyone's very excited about it.

The boss cocky, Dag Rogge, said that arriving at the Rock "was an incredible feeling - some of the participants got a bit emotional".

There were 19 vehicles, including 12 new model Discos, 7 Disco IV's, and a 20 tonne supply truck, with 100 road crew, including 50 international media.

Of course this received plenty of coverage throughout Europe, being closely followed by hundreds of thousands of fans.

And that's millions of dollars worth of free publicity, according to my mate Tourism Chief Tony Mayell.

To top it off there will be an hourlong documentary on the full journey broadcast throughout Germany later in the year.

Won't do Land Rover much harm either - might stir Toyota up a bit.

■ The Ngaanyatjarra Camel Company, formed in 2012 to muster and sell feral camels, is holding a conference in Darwin this week.

They have sold about 18,000 camels in their first three years - not a bad effort They're selling the creatures off to Africa and North America and the Middle East.

The operation employs some aboriginal workers who wouldn't otherwise have any jobs in the area, and some of the profits are poured back into making sure that there are good

The Outback Legend

licences required. I once saw a couple of white cockies in a pet shop in LA, at $6000 each. The same week I could have bought similar specimens in the Vic Market for $10.00 each, and whilst I have never personally seen them, I know Australian lizards bring thousands of dollars each.

Just recently a smuggler was sprung at Perth Airport with 15 native lizards in a fake book, bound overseas.

Rex reckons that it's time we Aussies looked a bit more closely at our wildlife laws to help prevent these illegal exports.

If our laws were loosened up a bit so it was easier to obtain our precious lizards and snakes overseas, then maybe there wouldn't be so much illegal activity

■ Over the years I have witnessed the harm and mayhem which alcohol has caused in the NT aboriginal community. with Nick Le Souef It just debilitates individuals, from Lightning Ridge Opals adults to children, male and female, and causes a total breakdown in re175 Flinders Lane, mote communities. A retired policeMelbourne man from Santa Teresa recently Phone 9654 4444 commented on the huge amounts of www.opals.net.au grog being smuggled into his home town. water points in the area for the benefit And now, since I have left the area, of the camels. there is an added and insidious scourge Once they're mustered, they're - drugs. And particularly injecting transferred to abattoirs at Peter-bor- drugs, mainly ice. ough in South Australia, and There is a conference in Perth at Wamboden, north of Alice Springs, the moment, run by the Australasian where they are sold on for export.

Professional Society on Alcohol and About 250 people from Australia Other Drugs. Associate Professor and Indonesia will be attending the James Ward has told of the changing conference, which hopefully will de- way in which aboriginal people are velop the industry even further. now using illicit drugs.

From a personal perspective, since Needle or syringe programmes inmy first camel burger in the Todd Mall volved 5 per centof aboriginals in about 30 years ago, I've been hooked 1995, and it's now up to 14 per cent. on their culinary delights ever since.

The rate of Hepatitis C is about A decent camel fillet will beat any three times that of non-aboriginal Ausof the finest steaks any day for flavour tralians. and tenderness - they just melt in the And ice use is just exploding. I mouth! have seen many aboriginal people adversely affected by alcohol over the ■ Ever since I was about 5, I've al- years in many Outback areas, from ways had lizards as pets. They have Coober Pedy to Alice, and Tennant mainly been stumpies and bluies, Creek to Katherine, often amongst my which are always easy to keep. Early own aboriginal friends. on there were no regulations, and you Whilst I have personally never seen just went out into the bush and caught an ice-affected person in full flight, a few, built a cage, then grabbed some I've seen them on TV, and I shudder snails to feed them. at the thought of any increase in this Now it's a little different, with ev- stuff in remote communities. erything regulated with permits, and It would be a nightmare.

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 21

Observer Classic Books

‘The Uncommercial Traveller’ by Charles Dickens

Chpater XXII BOUND FOR THE GREAT SALT LAKE Continued From Last Week Down by the Docks, you may buy polonies, saveloys, and sausage preparations various, if you are not particular what they are made of besides seasoning. Down by the Docks, the children of Israel creep into any gloomy cribs and entries they can hire, and hang slops there — pewter watches, sou’-wester hats, waterproof overalls — ‘firtht rate articleth, Thjack.’ Down by the Docks, such dealers exhibiting on a frame a complete nautical suit without the refinement of a waxen visage in the hat, present the imaginary wearer as drooping at the yard-arm, with his seafaring and earthfaring troubles over.

Down by the Docks, the placards in the shops apostrophise the customer, knowing him familiarly beforehand, as, ‘Look here, Jack!’ ‘Here’s your sort, my lad!’ ‘Try our sea-going mixed, at two and nine!’ ‘The right kit for the British tar!’

‘Ship ahoy!’ ‘Splice the main-brace, brother!’

‘Come, cheer up, my lads. We’ve the best liquors here, And you’ll find something new In our wonderful Beer!’ Down by the Docks, the pawnbroker lends money on Union-Jack pockethandkerchiefs, on watches with little ships pitching fore and aft on the dial, on telescopes, nautical instruments in cases, and such-like. Down by the Docks, the apothecary sets up in business on the wretchedest scale — chiefly on lint and plaster for the strapping of wounds — and with no bright bottles, and with no little drawers.

Down by the Docks, the shabby undertaker’s shop will bury you for next to nothing, after the Malay or Chinaman has stabbed you for nothing at all: so you can hardly hope to make a cheaper end. Down by the Docks, anybody drunk will quarrel with anybody drunk or sober, and everybody else will have a hand in it, and on the shortest notice you may revolve in a whirlpool of red shirts, shaggy beards, wild heads of hair, bare tattooed arms, Britannia’s daughters, malice, mud, maundering, and madness. Down by the Docks, scraping fiddles go in the public-houses all day long, and, shrill above their din and all the din, rises the screeching of innumerable parrots brought from foreign parts, who appear to be very much astonished by what they find on these native shores of ours. Possibly the parrots don’t know, possibly they do, that Down by the Docks is the road to the Pacific Ocean, with its lovely islands, where the savage girls plait flowers, and the savage boys carve cocoa-nut shells, and the grim blind idols muse in their shady groves to exactly the same purpose as the priests and chiefs. And possibly the parrots don’t know, possibly they do, that the noble savage is a wearisome impostor wherever he is, and has five hundred thousand volumes of indifferent rhyme, and no reason, to answer for.

Shadwell church! Pleasant whispers of there being a fresher air down the river than down by the Docks, go pursuing one another, playfully, in and out of the openings in its spire. Gigantic in the basin just beyond the church, looms my Emigrant Ship: her name, the Amazon. Her figure-head is not disfigured as those beauteous founders of the race of strong-minded women are fabled to have been, for the convenience of drawing the bow; but I sympathise with the carver: A flattering carver who made it his care To carve busts as they ought to be — not as they were.

My Emigrant Ship lies broadside-on to the wharf.

Two great gangways made of spars and planks connect her with the wharf; and up and down these gangways, perpetually crowding to and fro and in and out, like ants, are the Emigrants who are going to sail in my Emigrant Ship. Some with cabbages, some with loaves of bread, some with cheese and butter, some with milk and beer, some with boxes, beds, and bundles, some with babies — nearly all with children — nearly all with bran-new tin cans for their daily allowance of water, uncomfortably suggestive of a tin flavour in the drink. To and fro, up and down, aboard and ashore, swarming here and there and everywhere, my Emigrants. And still as the Dock-Gate swings upon its hinges, cabs appear, and carts appear, and vans appear, bringing more of my Emigrants, with more cabbages, more loaves, more cheese and butter, more milk

Charles Dickens and beer, more boxes, beds, and bundles, more tin cans, and on those shipping investments accumulated compound interest of children.

I go aboard my Emigrant Ship. I go first to the great cabin, and find it in the usual condition of a Cabin at that pass. Perspiring landsmen, with loose papers, and with pens and inkstands, pervade it; and the general appearance of things is as if the late Mr. Amazon’s funeral had just come home from the cemetery, and the disconsolate Mrs. Amazon’s trustees found the affairs in great disorder, and were looking high and low for the will. I go out on the poop-deck, for air, and surveying the emigrants on the deck below (indeed they are crowded all about me, up there too), find more pens and inkstands in action, and more papers, and interminable complication respecting accounts with individuals for tin cans and what not. But nobody is in an ill-temper, nobody is the worse for drink, nobody swears an oath or uses a coarse word, nobody appears depressed, nobody is weeping, and down upon the deck in every corner where it is possible to find a few square feet to kneel, crouch, or lie in, people, in every unsuitable attitude for writing, are writing letters.

Now, I have seen emigrant ships before this day in June. And these people are so strikingly different from all other people in like circumstances whom I have ever seen, that I wonder aloud, ‘What WOULD a stranger suppose these emigrants to be!’

The vigilant, bright face of the weather-browned captain of the Amazon is at my shoulder, and he says, ‘What, indeed! The most of these came aboard yesterday evening. They came from various parts of England in small parties that had never seen one another before. Yet they

had not been a couple of hours on board, when they established their own police, made their own regulations, and set their own watches at all the hatchways. Before nine o’clock, the ship was as orderly and as quiet as a man-of-war.’

I looked about me again, and saw the letterwriting going on with the most curious composure. Perfectly abstracted in the midst of the crowd; while great casks were swinging aloft, and being lowered into the hold; while hot agents were hurrying up and down, adjusting the interminable accounts; while two hundred strangers were searching everywhere for two hundred other strangers, and were asking questions about them of two hundred more; while the children played up and down all the steps, and in and out among all the people’s legs, and were beheld, to the general dismay, toppling over all the dangerous places; the letter-writers wrote on calmly.

On the starboard side of the ship, a grizzled man dictated a long letter to another grizzled man in an immense fur cap: which letter was of so profound a quality, that it became necessary for the amanuensis at intervals to take off his fur cap in both his hands, for the ventilation of his brain, and stare at him who dictated, as a man of many mysteries who was worth looking at. On the larboard side, a woman had covered a belayingpin with a white cloth to make a neat desk of it, and was sitting on a little box, writing with the deliberation of a bookkeeper. Down, upon her breast on the planks of the deck at this woman’s feet, with her head diving in under a beam of the bulwarks on that side, as an eligible place of refuge for her sheet of paper, a neat and pretty girl wrote for a good hour (she fainted at last), only rising to the surface occasionally for a dip of ink. Alongside the boat, close to me on the

r

e rv se US N Ob N IO BO CT SE

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

poop-deck, another girl, a fresh, well-grown country girl, was writing another letter on the bare deck. Later in the day, when this self-same boat was filled with a choir who sang glees and catches for a long time, one of the singers, a girl, sang her part mechanically all the while, and wrote a letter in the bottom of the boat while doing so.

‘A stranger would be puzzled to guess the right name for these people, Mr. Uncommercial,’ says the captain.

‘Indeed he would.’

‘If you hadn’t known, could you ever have supposed —?’

‘How could I! I should have said they were in their degree, the pick and flower of England.’

‘So should I,’ says the captain.

‘How many are they?’

‘Eight hundred in round numbers.’

I went between-decks, where the families with children swarmed in the dark, where unavoidable confusion had been caused by the last arrivals, and where the confusion was increased by the little preparations for dinner that were going on in each group. A few women here and there, had got lost, and were laughing at it, and asking their way to their own people, or out on deck again. A few of the poor children were crying; but otherwise the universal cheerfulness was amazing. ‘We shall shake down by to-morrow.’ ‘We shall come all right in a day or so.’

‘We shall have more light at sea.’ Such phrases I heard everywhere, as I groped my way among chests and barrels and beams and unstowed cargo and ring-bolts and Emigrants, down to the lower-deck, and thence up to the light of day again, and to my former station.

Surely, an extraordinary people in their power of self-abstraction! All the former letter-writers were still writing calmly, and many more letterwriters had broken out in my absence. A boy with a bag of books in his hand and a slate under his arm, emerged from below, concentrated himself in my neighbourhood (espying a convenient skylight for his purpose), and went to work at a sum as if he were stone deaf. A father and mother and several young children, on the main deck below me, had formed a family circle close to the foot of the crowded restless gangway, where the children made a nest for themselves in a coil of rope, and the father and mother, she suckling the youngest, discussed family affairs as peaceably as if they were in perfect retirement. I think the most noticeable characteristic in the eight hundred as a mass, was their exemption from hurry.

Eight hundred what? ‘Geese, villain?’ EIGHT HUNDRED MORMONS. I, Uncommercial Traveller for the firm of Human Interest Brothers, had come aboard this Emigrant Ship to see what Eight hundred Latter-day Saints were like, and I found them (to the rout and overthrow of all my expectations) like what I now describe with scrupulous exactness.

The Mormon Agent who had been active in getting them together, and in making the contract with my friends the owners of the ship to take them as far as New York on their way to the Great Salt Lake, was pointed out to me. A compactly-made handsome man in black, rather short, with rich brown hair and beard, and clear bright eyes. From his speech, I should set him down as American. Probably, a man who had ‘knocked about the world’ pretty much. A man with a frank open manner, and unshrinking look; withal a man of great quickness. I believe he was wholly ignorant of my Uncommercial individuality, and consequently of my immense Uncommercial importance.

UNCOMMERCIAL. These are a very fine set of people you have brought together here.

MORMON AGENT. Yes, sir, they are a VERY fine set of people.

UNCOMMERCIAL (looking about). Indeed, I think it would be difficult to find Eight hundred people together anywhere else, and find so much beauty and so much strength and capacity for work among them.

MORMON AGENT (not looking about, but looking steadily at Uncommercial). I think so. — We sent out about a thousand more, yes’day, from Liverpool.

Continued on Page 22

Page 22 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

From Page 21 UNCOMMERCIAL. You are not going with these emigrants?

MORMON AGENT. No, sir. I remain.

UNCOMMERCIAL. But you have been in the Mormon Territory?

MORMON AGENT. Yes; I left Utah about three years ago.

UNCOMMERCIAL. It is surprising to me that these people are all so cheery, and make so little of the immense distance before them.

MORMON AGENT. Well, you see; many of ’em have friends out at Utah, and many of ’em look forward to meeting friends on the way.

UNCOMMERCIAL. On the way?

MORMON AGENT. This way ’tis. This ship lands ’em in New York City. Then they go on by rail right away beyond St. Louis, to that part of the Banks of the Missouri where they strike the Plains. There, waggons from the settlement meet ’em to bear ’em company on their journey ‘cross-twelve hundred miles about. Industrious people who come out to the settlement soon get waggons of their own, and so the friends of some of these will come down in their own waggons to meet ’em. They look forward to that, greatly.

UNCOMMERCIAL. On their long journey across the Desert, do you arm them?

MORMON AGENT. Mostly you would find they have arms of some kind or another already with them. Such as had not arms we should arm across the Plains, for the general protection and defence.

UNCOMMERCIAL. Will these waggons bring down any produce to the Missouri?

MORMON AGENT. Well, since the war broke out, we’ve taken to growing cotton, and they’ll likely bring down cotton to be exchanged for machinery. We want machinery. Also we have taken to growing indigo, which is a fine commodity for profit. It has been found that the climate on the further side of the Great Salt Lake suits well for raising indigo.

UNCOMMERCIAL. I am told that these people now on board are principally from the South of England?

MORMON AGENT. And from Wales. That’s true.

UNCOMMERCIAL. Do you get many Scotch?

MORMON AGENT. Not many.

UNCOMMERCIAL. Highlanders, for instance?

MORMON AGENT. No, not Highlanders. They ain’t interested enough in universal brotherhood and peace and good will.

UNCOMMERCIAL. The old fighting blood is strong in them?

MORMON AGENT. Well, yes. And besides; they’ve no faith.

UNCOMMERCIAL (who has been burning to get at the Prophet Joe Smith, and seems to discover an opening). Faith in —!

MORMON AGENT (far too many for Uncommercial). Well. — In anything!

Similarly on this same head, the Uncommercial underwent discomfiture from a Wiltshire labourer: a simple, fresh-coloured farmlabourer, of eight-and-thirty, who at one time stood beside him looking on at new arrivals, and with whom he held this dialogue: UNCOMMERCIAL. Would you mind my asking you what part of the country you come from?

WILTSHIRE. Not a bit. Theer! (exultingly) I’ve worked all my life o’ Salisbury Plain, right under the shadder o’ Stonehenge. You mightn’t think it, but I haive.

UNCOMMERCIAL. And a pleasant country too.

WILTSHIRE. Ah! ’Tis a pleasant country.

UNCOMMERCIAL. Have you any family on board?

WILTSHIRE. Two children, boy and gal. I am a widderer, I am, and I’m going out alonger my boy and gal. That’s my gal, and she’s a fine gal o’ sixteen (pointing out the girl who is writing by the boat). I’ll go and fetch my boy. I’d like to show you my boy. (Here Wiltshire disappears, and presently comes back with a big, shy boy of twelve, in a superabundance of boots, who is not at all glad to be presented.) He is a fine boy too, and a boy fur to work! (Boy having undutifully bolted, Wiltshire drops him.)

UNCOMMERCIAL. It must cost you a great deal of money to go so far, three strong.

WILTSHIRE. A power of money. Theer! Eight shillen a week, eight shillen a week, eight shillen a week, put by out of the week’s wages for ever so long.

UNCOMMERCIAL. I wonder how you did it.

WILTSHIRE (recognising in this a kindred spirit). See theer now! I wonder how I done it!

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Classic Books But what with a bit o’ subscription heer, and what with a bit o’ help theer, it were done at last, though I don’t hardly know how. Then it were unfort’net for us, you see, as we got kep’ in Bristol so long — nigh a fortnight, it were — on accounts of a mistake wi’ Brother Halliday.

Swaller’d up money, it did, when we might have come straight on.

UNCOMMERCIAL (delicately approaching Joe Smith). You are of the Mormon religion, of course?

WILTSHIRE (confidently). O yes, I’m a Mormon. (Then reflectively.) I’m a Mormon. (Then, looking round the ship, feigns to descry a particular friend in an empty spot, and evades the Uncommercial for evermore.)

After a noontide pause for dinner, during which my Emigrants were nearly all between-decks, and the Amazon looked deserted, a general muster took place. The muster was for the ceremony of passing the Government Inspector and the Doctor. Those authorities held their temporary state amidships, by a cask or two; and, knowing that the whole Eight hundred emigrants must come face to face with them, I took my station behind the two. They knew nothing whatever of me, I believe, and my testimony to the unpretending gentleness and good nature with which they discharged their duty, may be of the greater worth. There was not the slightest flavour of the Circumlocution Office about their proceedings.

The emigrants were now all on deck. They were densely crowded aft, and swarmed upon the poop-deck like bees. Two or three Mormon agents stood ready to hand them on to the Inspector, and to hand them forward when they had passed. By what successful means, a special aptitude for organisation had been infused into these people, I am, of course, unable to report. But I know that, even now, there was no disorder, hurry, or difficulty.

All being ready, the first group are handed on.

That member of the party who is entrusted with the passenger-ticket for the whole, has been warned by one of the agents to have it ready, and here it is in his hand. In every instance through the whole eight hundred, without an exception, this paper is always ready.

INSPECTOR (reading the ticket). Jessie Jobson, Sophronia Jobson, Jessie Jobson again, Matilda Jobson, William Jobson, Jane Jobson, Matilda Jobson again, Brigham Jobson, Leonardo Jobson, and Orson Jobson. Are you all here? (glancing at the party, over his spectacles).

JESSIE JOBSON NUMBER TWO. All here, sir.

This group is composed of an old grandfather and grandmother, their married son and his wife, and THEIR family of children. Orson Jobson is a little child asleep in his mother’s arms. The Doctor, with a kind word or so, lifts up the corner of the mother’s shawl, looks at the child’s face, and touches the little clenched hand. If we were all as well as Orson Jobson, doctoring would be a poor profession.

INSPECTOR. Quite right, Jessie Jobson. Take your ticket, Jessie, and pass on.

And away they go. Mormon agent, skilful and quiet, hands them on. Mormon agent, skilful and quiet, hands next party up.

INSPECTOR (reading ticket again). Susannah Cleverly and William Cleverly. Brother and sister, eh?

SISTER (young woman of business, hustling slow brother). Yes, sir.

INSPECTOR. Very good, Susannah Cleverly.

Take your ticket, Susannah, and take care of it.

And away they go.

INSPECTOR (taking ticket again). Sampson Dibble and Dorothy Dibble (surveying a very old couple over his spectacles, with some surprise). Your husband quite blind, Mrs. Dibble?

MRS. DIBBLE. Yes, sir, he be stone-blind.

MR. DIBBLE (addressing the mast). Yes, sir, I be stone-blind.

INSPECTOR. That’s a bad job. Take your ticket, Mrs. Dibble, and don’t lose it, and pass on.

Doctor taps Mr. Dibble on the eyebrow with his forefinger, and away they go.

INSPECTOR (taking ticket again). Anastatia Weedle.

ANASTATIA (a pretty girl, in a bright Garibaldi, this morning elected by universal suffrage the Beauty of the Ship). That is me, sir.

INSPECTOR. Going alone, Anastatia?

ANASTATIA (shaking her curls). I am with Mrs. Jobson, sir, but I’ve got separated for the moment.

INSPECTOR. Oh! You are with the Jobsons?

Quite right. That’ll do, Miss Weedle. Don’t lose

your ticket. Away she goes, and joins the Jobsons who are waiting for her, and stoops and kisses Brigham Jobson — who appears to be considered too young for the purpose, by several Mormons rising twenty, who are looking on. Before her extensive skirts have departed from the casks, a decent widow stands there with four children, and so the roll goes.

The faces of some of the Welsh people, among whom there were many old persons, were certainly the least intelligent. Some of these emigrants would have bungled sorely, but for the directing hand that was always ready. The intelligence here was unquestionably of a low order, and the heads were of a poor type. Generally the case was the reverse. There were many worn faces bearing traces of patient poverty and hard work, and there was great steadiness of purpose and much undemonstrative self-respect among this class. A few young men were going singly. Several girls were going, two or three together. These latter I found it very difficult to refer back, in my mind, to their relinquished homes and pursuits. Perhaps they were more like country milliners, and pupil teachers rather tawdrily dressed, than any other classes of young women. I noticed, among many little ornaments worn, more than one photograph-brooch of the Princess of Wales, and also of the late Prince Consort. Some single women of from thirty to forty, whom one might suppose to be embroiderers, or straw-bonnet-makers, were obviously going out in quest of husbands, as finer ladies go to India. That they had any distinct notions of a plurality of husbands or wives, I do not believe.

To suppose the family groups of whom the majority of emigrants were composed, polygamically possessed, would be to suppose an absurdity, manifest to any one who saw the fathers and mothers.

I should say (I had no means of ascertaining the fact) that most familiar kinds of handicraft trades were represented here. Farm-labourers, shepherds, and the like, had their full share of representation, but I doubt if they preponderated. It was interesting to see how the leading spirit in the family circle never failed to show itself, even in the simple process of answering to the names as they were called, and checking off the owners of the names. Sometimes it was the father, much oftener the mother, sometimes a quick little girl second or third in order of seniority. It seemed to occur for the first time to some heavy fathers, what large families they had; and their eyes rolled about, during the calling of the list, as if they half misdoubted some other family to have been smuggled into their own. Among all the fine handsome children, I observed but two with marks upon their necks that were probably scrofulous. Out of the whole number of emigrants, but one old woman was temporarily set aside by the doctor, on suspicion of fever; but even she afterwards obtained a clean bill of health.

When all had ‘passed,’ and the afternoon began to wear on, a black box became visible on deck, which box was in charge of certain personages also in black, of whom only one had the conventional air of an itinerant preacher. This box contained a supply of hymn-books, neatly printed and got up, published at Liverpool, and also in London at the ‘Latter-Day Saints’ Book Depot, 30, Florence-street.’ Some copies were handsomely bound; the plainer were the more in request, and many were bought. The title ran: ‘Sacred Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Church of Jesus Church of Latter-Day Saints.’ The Preface, dated Manchester, 1840, ran thus:— ‘The Saints in this country have been very desirous for a Hymn Book adapted to their faith and worship, that they might sing the truth with an understanding heart, and express their praise, joy, and gratitude in songs adapted to the New and Everlasting Covenant. In accordance with their wishes, we have selected the following volume, which we hope will prove acceptable until a greater variety can be added. With sentiments of high consideration and esteem, we subscribe ourselves your brethren in the New and Everlasting Covenant, BRIGHAM YOUNG, PARLEY P. PRATT, JOHN TAYLOR.’ From this book — by no means explanatory to myself of the New and Everlasting Covenant, and not at all making my heart an understanding one on the subject of that mystery — a hymn was sung, which did not attract any great amount of attention, and was supported by a rather select circle.

But the choir in the boat was very popular and pleasant; and there was to have been a Band, only the Cornet was late in coming on board. In

the course of the afternoon, a mother appeared from shore, in search of her daughter, ‘who had run away with the Mormons.’ She received every assistance from the Inspector, but her daughter was not found to be on board. The saints did not seem to me, particularly interested in finding her.

Towards five o’clock, the galley became full of tea-kettles, and an agreeable fragrance of tea pervaded the ship. There was no scrambling or jostling for the hot water, no ill humour, no quarrelling. As the Amazon was to sail with the next tide, and as it would not be high water before two o’clock in the morning, I left her with her tea in full action, and her idle Steam Tug lying by, deputing steam and smoke for the time being to the Tea-kettles.

I afterwards learned that a Despatch was sent home by the captain before he struck out into the wide Atlantic, highly extolling the behaviour of these Emigrants, and the perfect order and propriety of all their social arrangements. What is in store for the poor people on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, what happy delusions they are labouring under now, on what miserable blindness their eyes may be opened then, I do not pretend to say. But I went on board their ship to bear testimony against them if they deserved it, as I fully believed they would; to my great astonishment they did not deserve it; and my predispositions and tendencies must not affect me as an honest witness. I went over the Amazon’s side, feeling it impossible to deny that, so far, some remarkable influence had produced a remarkable result, which better known influences have often missed. * * After this Uncommercial Journey was printed, I happened to mention the experience it describes to Lord Houghton. That gentleman then showed me an article of his writing, in THE EDINBURGH REVIEW for January, 1862, which is highly remarkable for its philosophical and literary research concerning these LatterDay Saints. I find in it the following sentences:— ‘The Select Committee of the House of Commons on emigrant ships for 1854 summoned the Mormon agent and passenger-broker before it, and came to the conclusion that no ships under the provisions of the “Passengers Act” could be depended upon for comfort and security in the same degree as those under his administration.

The Mormon ship is a Family under strong and accepted discipline, with every provision for comfort, decorum and internal peace.’

CHAPTER XXIII— THE CITY OF THE ABSENT When I think I deserve particularly well of myself, and have earned the right to enjoy a little treat, I stroll from Covent-garden into the City of London, after business-hours there, on a Saturday, or — better yet — on a Sunday, and roam about its deserted nooks and corners. It is necessary to the full enjoyment of these journeys that they should be made in summer-time, for then the retired spots that I love to haunt, are at their idlest and dullest. A gentle fall of rain is not objectionable, and a warm mist sets off my favourite retreats to decided advantage.

Among these, City Churchyards hold a high place. Such strange churchyards hide in the City of London; churchyards sometimes so entirely detached from churches, always so pressed upon by houses; so small, so rank, so silent, so forgotten, except by the few people who ever look down into them from their smoky windows. As I stand peeping in through the iron gates and rails, I can peel the rusty metal off, like bark from an old tree. The illegible tombstones are all lopsided, the grave-mounds lost their shape in the rains of a hundred years ago, the Lombardy Poplar or Plane-Tree that was once a drysalter’s daughter and several common-councilmen, has withered like those worthies, and its departed leaves are dust beneath it. Contagion of slow ruin overhangs the place. The discoloured tiled roofs of the environing buildings stand so awry, that they can hardly be proof against any stress of weather. Old crazy stacks of chimneys seem to look down as they overhang, dubiously calculating how far they will have to fall. In an angle of the walls, what was once the tool-house of the grave-digger rots away, encrusted with toadstools. Pipes and spouts for carrying off the rain from the encompassing gables, broken or feloniously cut for old lead long ago, now let the rain drip and splash as it list, upon the weedy earth.

Sometimes there is a rusty pump somewhere near, and, as I look in at the rails and meditate, I hear it working under an unknown hand with a

Continued on Page 43

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 23

Travellers’Good Buys

with David Ellis

Majorca weds party central and Chopin ■ There is no escaping it: to the majority of the 12.25 million who invade the place every year, the tiny Mediterranean island of Majorca off Spain’s southern coast, is Party Central.

For here on this little blob that would fit into mainland Tasmania some 18 times over, and where all those visitors outnumber the locals by more than 12-to-1, the capital Palma de Majorca is crammed with 24 hour hip bars and cafés whose operators don’t believe in Happy Hours – to them their customers come here for Happy Days…

And this means carousing around the clock and, for some bizarre reason in a place where the local cuisine can be amongst the most-tempting in Europe, frequenting countless cafés that boast not wonderful Spanish temptations, but 24hr ‘English Breakfast’ – eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, hash browns, toast, and more, all fried-up in copious amounts of sizzling fat any time you want.

Crowding around tables and tucking into these grease bombs you’ll find Germans (3.4 million last year,) Brits (2.25m,) Scandinavians (340,000) and others in their equally hundreds of thousands from across Europe, and to a lesser-extent other parts of the world.

Yet there are thousands of others come to Majorca for a very different and certainly quieter reason.

● Chopin and his mistress Aurore Dupin painted by their friend, French artist Eugene Delacroix. Persons unknown ultimately cut the original in half and sold each “portrait” separately; this is a Photoshop of how the original would most likely have looked.

Melbourne

Observer Wines & Liqueurs

with David Ellis

Things you can learn by getting tipsy ■ We have had plenty of books come across our desk in the three decades or so we’ve been writing this column, but none quite like a 200-odd pager that came in this month, and simply titled Tipsy.

For while the majority of the others have been pretty-much deeply thought out single-subject works covering wine, or whisky, beer or aperitifs, and how they are made or how best they should be served, Tipsy is a wonderfully expansive look at all this, and at the one time is informative, amusing, and simply an enjoyable read.

It was penned by Clare Burder who has been in the wine business in one way or another since she was just 15, and who now runs appreciation courses covering wine, beer, whisky, gin and sake – while also heading-up her boutique, family-owned Eminence Wines in Victoria’s King Valley.

Tipsy takes readers through everything from how to master a daunting 40-page wine list, understand “trade talk,” this-goes-with-that cheeses and drinks, to how not only are wines made, but also beers, whiskies, gins and sakes. It also covers storage and cellaring, getting the most enjoyment from rums, tequilas, ciders and vermouths, understanding the difference between a single malt whisky and a blend… even selecting the best glasses for quaffing a good beer, and tips on how to pour like a pro.

We think it a real must-have, and great value at $24.99 from all good book stores.

One to note ■ 2013 was an excellent vintage in Coonawarra, and on Lindeman’s 12ha St George Vineyard the reds ripened slowly and fully to give winemaker Brett Sharpe wonderful fruit of excellent colour density, concentration of flavour and ripe tannin structure for the limited release 2013 St George Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

Already brimming with generous and rich blackcurrant flavour and savoury tannins, at $70 this is a great wine now but will simply get better over the coming five, ten or even more years. Put it on the table with a good steak, or simply enjoy it on its own.

Pictured ■ Fun and informative, a musthave for when you want to know all about that drink you’ve got in mind.

■ Classic Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon that’s rewardingly rich and generous in flavour.

And that’s to pay homage to one of the greatest classical composers of all time, the Polish-born Frédéric Chopin who spent less than a year on the island, but whose influence on local life in that short time remains indelibly etched 177 years later.

The 28-year-old Chopin, wracked with tuberculosis, arrived during the winter of 1838-39 with his mistress, the French, somewhat-Bohemian, cigar-smoking, male-dressing author Aurore Dupin, who published under the pseudonym George Sands.

They’d chosen Mallorca with its 300 days of sunshine a year to escape the freezing conditions of winter in Paris where they lived, and after finding lodgings in a suite of former monks’ cells in an old monasterycum-hotel at Valldemossa 20km outside Palma, Chopin wrote to friends back home: “A sky like turquoise, a sea like lapis lazuli, mountains like emerald, air like heaven…”

But one of Majorca’s most brutalever winter’s bore down upon them, and after seeing several doctors for his deteriorating condition, Chopin wrote again on December 3: “Three doctors have visited me. The first said I was going to die; the second said I was breathing my last; and the third said I was dead already.”

But he continued to produce some of his finest compositions, including Prelude in D-flat major that later was appropriately re-titled Raindrop (Chopin never named any of his works, giving just the genre and number of each composition, with devotees after his death giving suitable word-titles to his scores of pieces.)

Today, an annual Chopin Festival every August is centred on that old monastery-hotel in which he’d spent that short time in 1838-39 and which is now a Chopin/Sands Museum … visitors to the Festival, and any other time to the museum, able to see the rooms in which he stayed with Sands (and her two children,) some of his original furniture, rare photos, and his extensive and much-loved garden.

And while in Palma an also mustvisit is the Cathedral of Santa Maria (also known as Le Seu) that is one of the tallest churches in the world, its 45m high central nave just 1m lower than that of the Vatican’s St Peter’s.

Interestingly the cathedral, that was begun in 1229 but not completed until 1601, sits atop the site of a former mosque, and which in turn was developed over the remains of an even earlier Roman temple.

The cathedral overlooks Palma’s harbour that plays host to a drool-over collection of mega motor-yacht playthings of the super-rich and famous, and daily visiting cruise ships.

And also on your must-visit list should be Palma Old Town that’s the city’s historical centre, and where motor vehicles are forbidden so that pedestrians can safely amble it’s pretty squares and courtyards, the narrow yester-year laneways, and admire the Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic architecture…

And take a quieter coffee or meal away from the more frenetic waterfront area with its 24hr Majorca Party Central and fried-up English Breakfasts.

(Frédéric Chopin died at home in Paris in October 1849 during a tuberculosis coughing fit; he was just 39.)

- with Malcolm Andrews

Page 24 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Places To Go

Historic Boondooma Homestead The original ‘Spirit of the Bush’ Traditional Balladeers & Heritage Muster April 21-22-23-24, 2016 ANZAC Service: 9am Monday, April 25 Featuring some of Australia’s leading Balladeers and Poets (To be announced on confirmation) Plus Walkup Artists & Homestead Balladeers & Poetry Competition

For details of competitions, general information and bookings contact: Buddy Thomson and Lynne Bennett.

Ph/Fax (07) 4168 0168 www.boondoomahomestead.org.au E-Mail: buddythomson@bigpond.com Camp Oven by Boondooma’s Camp Oven Cooking Team

Licensed Bar - BBQ - Stalls - Chips/Drinks etc (Stalls Welcome, Insurance Required) Vintage Cars & Engines - Broad Axe, Adze, Photographic and Historic Displays Admission $95 per person full festival inc. camping from April 18-26.

Day rates available: Wed $15, Thu $20, Fri $25, Sat $25, Sun $15 Discounted camping rates of $5pp/pn apply up to and including Sun., April 17 and after April 26. Festival patrons only.

Pre bookings. Phone Lynne 07 4168 0168 for details.

Sorry no EFTPOS available.

Bring your own mug and get free tea and coffee.

Bush camping available General inquiries and bookings Phone caretakers 07 4168 0159

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

National

Observer Ph 1800 231 311 Fx 1800 231 312

DECEMBER 2015

www.NationalObserver.com.au

It’s electrifying

■ While Australians may not yet be taking as enthusiastically as some other nations to the concept of electric cars – Britain’s Aston Martin is even developing an electric version of James Bond’s favourite 4-door Rapide – there’s one popular NSW regional centre believes it has jumped the gun on many others with a justopened electric vehicle (EV) recharge facility at its local visitors’ centre.

The Southern Highlands, embracing Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Berrima, Bundanoon,

Details of LATEST packages on Page 27

www. darwinsbarrabase.com.au

The National Observer is printed by Streamline Press, 155 Johnston St, Fitzroy, Vic. for the publisher, Local Media Pty Ltd, ABN 67 096 680 063, of the registered office, 30 Glen Gully Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095. Responsibility for election and referendum comment is accepted by Ash Long. Copyright © 2015, Local Media Pty Ltd (ACN) 096 680 063).

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 25

● CHARGE it! The NSW Southern Highlands now have an electric vehicle recharge facility, giving an ‘electric highway’ from Sydney to Canberra for select model EVs. Exeter and surrounding villages, is already one of the State’s most-visited tourism regions with wineries, gardens, antique and boutique shopping, abundantly diverse dining, galleries, history and heritage, caves and bushwalking.

And at under 1½ hours south of Sydney it attracts 1.4m visitors a year. “Being just 113km south of Sydney’s CBD, and with most EVs having a driving range of up to 170kms, we’re easily accessible for a day, a weekend, or longer to enjoy all we have to offer here,” said Southern Highlands tourism chief, Steve Rosa.

“Plus with Goulburn having a recharger suitable for owners of the major Tesla brand electric vehicles, that can also recharge at our facility, we see ourselves as a-now focal attraction on a developing ‘electric highway’ from Sydney to Canberra.”

The Mittagong recharger can service two EVs simultaneously, and is compatible with 58 of the 60 known EV and plug-in hybrid vehicle models in Australia, with the other two able to access with an adapter.

For more information about the Southern Highlands’ EV recharger, check out www.southern-highlands.com.au

Free each month in the Sydney News, Brisbane Sun and Melbourne Observer

Melbourne

Observer FREE ($2.95 at Newsagents)

Page 26 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Places To Go

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 27

Page 28 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Places To Go In Greater Geelong

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 29

Places To Go In Greater Geelong

Page 30 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Places To Go In Greater Geelong

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 31

Places To Go In Greater Geelong

Page 32 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015- Page 33

Page 34 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Places To Go In Greater Geelong

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 35

Places To Go In Greater Geelong

Page 36 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Places To Go In Greater Geelong

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

MARKETING FEATURE

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 37

Places To Go In Greater Geelong

Malcolm and Czes Ralton invite you to enjoy fabulous fish and chips, fresh seafood, a glass of wine or coffee and cake from 10am everyday, on their 100 year old fully renovated barge on the water in beautiful Corio Bay. Fish and Chips: Dine in or takeaway. Sit at tables on the gangplank, go upstairs to the bridgedeck, or grab a rug and have a picnic on the grass. If it’s cold, wrap yourself in a blanket provided free by your hosts. Phone orders welcome. Open seven days from 10am.

Bistro: Their fish and chips are fabulous, now try the Bistro. The seafood is delivered direct from the Melnourne Fish Market six days a week and cooked simply and deliciously so that the fresh flavour of the seafood can be enjoyed. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and spectacular views from inside the bistro near the wood heater or outside on the deck.

Lunch from 12 noon, seven days a week.

Dinner from 5.30pm, six days a week.

Saturday dinner bookings are essential (Closed Sunday nights).

Functions: Geelong Boat House specialise in functions tailored to your needs. The Bistro can be transformed into a magical setting to host weddings, corporate events and birthday parties. It can be as formal or as casual as you would like - a cocktail buffet or a sit down dinner. All the food is prepared by the in-house chef in the bistro kitchen. They can accommodate up to 80 people seated or 130 guests standing.

Location: turn off the Esplanade at Cunningham Pier and turn hard left past the Skate Park. Look for the red staircase in the water.

P: 5222 3642 (takeaway orders and bokings) E: thegeelongboathouse@aussiebb.com.au www.geelongboathouse.com.au Western Foresshore Road, Western Beacj, Geelong

Page 38 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Places To Go

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Places To Go

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 39

Page 40 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Travel Planner

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 41

Showbiz

Page 42 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Victorian Sport Melbourne

Racing Briefs

WD prominent

■ Horsham was the venue for Monday trots last week and as usual, the Western District was prominent throughout the afternoon.

It was a great day for Mount Gambier'd Drury family, with father Bill taking the HRV Hero Program Pace for C0 class over 1700 metres with Mighty Regal and son David the Thank You Tom Burdett Volunteer Pace for C0 class over 2200 metres with Wotplanetrufrom.

Kiwi bred 4-Y-0 Stoneridge Regal/Kitty Cat Anvil gelding Mighty Regal a winner on his Australian debut at Mount Gambier on November 13, was given a sweet trip by Bill one/one from gate six and when eased three wide running into the final bend, finished best to register an easy 8.5 metre margin over a death-seating Blue Eyed Creation and Pride Of Flight which followed the winner everywhere. The mile rate 1-57.2.

Ultra consistent Our Sir Vancelot/Sorrento Star 4-Y-0 gelding Wotplanetrufrom has been bursting to win a race of late and finally cracked it at start number 22, leading all of the way after rushing forward from outside the front line. Always in control, Wotplanetrufrom coasted to a 16.2 metre victory in advance of Black Magic Mara (four wide home turn from last) and Echo Rising (one/one last lap - three wide home turn) in a mile rate of 2-00.3.

Concongella (Stawell) trainer Owen Martin would have been "over the moon" when his lovable 8-Y-0 Blissful Hall/Karamea Vedette gelding Farmersntradies snared the Thank You Tricia Deleeuw Volunteer Pace for C4 & C5 class over 1700 metres, breaking through for his first success since June 2012.

Having raced extremely well in recent outings, Farmersntradies with Chris Svanosio in the sulky, was sent forward from gate six to park outside the leader and favourite Jambiani for the entire trip.

Outstaying his rivals, Farmersntradies had 1.9 metres up his sleeve on the wire, defeating Mick Bellman's Witzend (three wide last lap from last), with Jambiani weakening to finish third a nose away.

Great Western's Grant Campbell scored a firstup victory with new stable addition Rogue Assassin, a 9-Y-0 gelded son of Pass The Mustard and Shemida Francis in the Thank You Lesley Lane Volunteer Pace for C1 class over 2200 metres.

Bred by HRV Board member Elizabeth Clarke, Rogue Assassin was taken back at the start from outside the front line to settle at the tail of the field, with Tobias James leading from gate three.

Setting off three wide solo at the bell, Rogue Assassin exploded to the front on the home turn to score by 3.4 metres from Tobias James which battled on well, with Sassy Man third after following the winner home. The mile rate 2-00.6.

Terang trainer Robert Arundell combined with Mattie Craven to land the Thank You Daryl Edwards Volunteer Pace for C1 class over 1700 metres with honest 5-Y-0 Presidential Ball/Hi Ho Fitz mare Ritzy Fitz in a mile rate of 1-57.1.

Pushing forward from gate five to cross Cryptic Chance inside him, Ritzy Fitz after being rated to perfection, left his rivals standing on the home turn, winning by an 8.7 metre margin over Babalaas Jack which raced in the open and Jax Navaro off a three wide double trail from last in the final circuit.

Kerryn Manning engaged Terang concessional reinsman Jason Lee to steer in-form Major In Art/ Crowd Pleaser 5-Y-0 gelding Art Pleaser to victory in the Horsham Cup Jan 10 Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2200 metres.

Starting from the extreme draw, Art Pleaser settled near last and was suited by the slick tempo in the early stages as Bungalally Boy, Little Lyn and Ark all vied for the front running, with Metroincharge going forward to lead at the bell.

Held up for one run only, Art Pleaser when set alight in the last lap, pounced on the lead on turning to register a runaway 14.5 metre victory in advance of the ever reliable Wheatsheaf Avaball from last, with Metroincharge a game third a half neck away.

The mile rate 1-58.4.

Other winners on the program were Django Mack (Geoff Webster) in the We Salute Arden Rooney 3Y-0 Pace and New Divide (Brian Kieisy - St Arnaud & Grant Campbell) in the Im Stately Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class.

Victorians dominate in Perth ■ Victoria scooped the pool at the opening night of the Inter Dominion Carnival at Gloucester Park Perth on Friday, with both Lennytheshark and Philadelphia Man winning both of their 2130 metre heats in comfortable style.

Heat Two saw six year old entire Lennytheshark (Four Starzzz Shark/ Botswana) trained at Avenel by David Aiken with regular reinsman Chris Alford in the sulky victorious.

Going forward from gate seven three wide as the start was effected to park outside another Victorian Flaming Flutter which held the lead from gate two, Lenny gained cover at the expense of Billies A Star (gate 5), before being given the cover he was looking for.

Easing three wide racing for the bell.Lenny was posted for the remainder of the journey, before exploding to the front on turning to register a 2.1 metre victory in 1-55.6 (last half 55.6 - quarter 27.6) over the roughie Our Blackbird which trailed the pacemaker, with Flaming Flutter weakening to finish third 1.3 metres away.

Seven year old Art Major/My Liberty Belle entire Philadelphia Man was backed from as much as $3.40 with on course bookies to start officially at $2.50 in Heat Three.

Taken off the gate from barrier six to settle midfield in the moving line as the leaders Lovers Delight, Bettors Fire and Mach Beauty went hell for leather at the start, Philadelphia Man was coasting racing for the bell with Gavin Lang smoking the cherry.

When Queenslander Avonnova which had worked to the breeze took care of the leader Mach Beauty approaching the final bend, Philadelphia Man which had been trailing him pounced as the pair drew away from their rivals on straightening, with Philadelphia Man drawing away to score by 3.3 metres, with Lovers Delight 13.7 metres away in third place after trailing the pacemaker.

Trained at Smythes Creek by Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin, Philadelphia Man rated a brilliant 1-53.8 for the journey (last half 28.8 - quarter 27.8).

Tasmanian Devendra snared the first heat for likable NSW based James Rattray, leading throughout from gate four to defeat the hot favourite Waylade from the local camp of Gary Hall which raced outside him by 6.7 metres in 1-55.1.(56.8 - 28.5). WA-

Baker’s Delight

Harness Racing

This Week’s Meetings

■ Wednesday - Maryborough/Ouyen @ Swan Hill, Thursday - Shepparton/Geelong, Friday - Melton/ Gloucester Park (Perth - 3rd heats Inter Dominion), Saturday - Cranbourne, Sunday - Stawell (Cup), Monday - Charlton, Tuesday - Ballarat.

Horses To Follow

Melbourne

Observer

len-baker@ bigpond.com

with Len Baker

hope Shannonsablast (one/one) finished third 2.5 metres away.

The third and final heats will be held on Friday, following round two heats at Bunbury on Tuesday.

Possied ■ Perennial placegetter The Gingerbreadman finally cracked it for another victory by taking the Devcon Properties Pace for C2 class over 2100 metres at Geelong on Tuesday in a mile rate of 1-59.8.

Part-owned and trained by Meltonian Ian Hunter, The Gingerbreadman driven as usual by John Justice possied four back in the moving line, as the polemarker Aloha Don Ho retained the front running.

When Aloha Don Ho surrendered the lead midrace to stablemate Bettor Than Best, The Gingerbreadman was off and running three wide racing for the bell.

Despite racing wide for the remainder of the trip, The Gingerbreadman raced away in the straight to score convincingly by 3 metres from Glenferrie Arch which followed him home. Aloha Don Ho used the sprint lane to finish third.

Dashing ■ Melton duo Adam Kelly and Gavin Lang snared the Northern Rivers Equine Claiming Pace over 2150 metres at Bendigo on Wednesday with 8-Y-0 Ifihadyourluck/ Cohesan gelding Princeofthieves.

Making his first appearance for the stable, Princeofthieves was driven with extreme confidence by racing in the open for the majority of the journey,dashing clear on the home turn to score by 9.1 metres in advance of Accountability which trailed the weakening leader and third

■ Blue Eyed Creation, Here For The Good Times, Make A Fuss, Rumbustious, Kotare Mahdi, Modern Kozak, Charlaval, Joelissa, Boundary Row, Glenferrie Arch, Tobias James, Jax Navaro, Metroincharge.

Honours at Geelong

placegetter Our Bold Lustre. The mile rate 1-59.1.

Smart run

■ At Geelong on Tuesday, Terang trainer Mattie Craven combined with stable assistant Chris Svanosio to land the Bendigo Bank Trotters Handicap for T2 or better class over 2570 metres with smart but sometimes unreliable 8-Y-0 Ganymeade/Smokey Robyn gelding Hinault who has been going great guns of late.

Raced by a large group of stable supporters including veteran Terang identity Ray Payne, Hinault began safely from 30 metres and was soon racing one/one after Sundons Comet went forward at a great rate from 10 metres to cross the poleline leader Shiraz Cabernet.

Not happy with the tempo through the middle stages, Hinault was set alight to assume control at the bell and from there on, the race became a procession, with Hinault coasting to the wire untouched to register a 1.8 metre victory over Sundons Comet along the sprint lane in a rate of 2-05.3. Maybelina first up since July, ran home nicely from four back the markers to finish third 4.1 metres away.

Margin

■ Terang trainer Marg Lee's very smart 5-Y-0 Art Major/Deltas Dream gelding Keayang Active resumed in the Charlton & District Community Bank Pace for C5 or better class over 2100 metres at Charlton on Thursday and was a very impressive winner in 1-57.8.

First up since July, Keayang Active (Glen Craven) was sent forward from gate five to arrest the lead away from Hall Of Famer, leaving the second elect Another Safari parked for most of the trip.

Challenged strongly on the home turn by Another Safari, Keayang Active gave plenty to register a 3.5 metre margin.

■ Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley took the honours at the Geelong trots on Tuesday, finishing the night with a stable double thanks to a pair of six year olds.

Art Major/Endeared mare Star Crossed first up for the stable having her first outing since February, greeted the judge in the Flying Brick Cider Co. Pace for C1 class over 2100 metres.

With stable reinsman Anthony Butt in the sulky, Star Crossed starting from the extreme draw wasn't pushed early, settling with most of the field ahead of her as Joelissa led from gate two after the hot favourite Captain Snoozzze galloped away from gate three.

Gaining a three wide trail home in the final circuit on the back of Jimmy The Editor, Star Crossed at Supertab odds of $17.40 finished best to score from Jimmy The Editor and Joelissa in a mile rate of 2-00.2.

Kiwi bred American Ideal/Jazz Tanner gelding Eric Clapton taking a concession for youthful Brad Chisholm who has been helping out at the camp, made a one act affair of the Relay For Life Dec 3rd Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2100 metres.

Beginning at 100 miles an hour from outside the front line, Eric Clapton ran his rivals ragged in accounting for Guggenheim (four back the markers) which death-seated for the last lap by a neck, with Bad Boy Brad (four wide last lap from near last) 5 metres away in third place. The mile rate 1-57.1.

Used sprint lane

■ The Lilley/Butt team chalked up another winner at Bendigo on Wednesday when the heavily supported 5-Y-0 Courage Under Fire/Quba Flame mare Flagbearer greeted the judge in the Santons Of Bendigo Pace for C2 & C3 class over 1650 metres.

Enjoying a lovely passage from inside the second line trailing the poleline leader Jialiner, Flagbearer used the sprint lane to a nicety, scoring by 1.4 metres in advance of Jialiner and a deathseating Nicky Maguire in a mile rate of 1-57.2.

Settled midfield

■ At Charlton on Thursday, Bolinda's Lisa Miles landed the North West AG Services Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2570 metres with inform gelding Jeter, a 6-Y-0 home bred gelded son of Great Success and Safe On First.

Settling mid-field in the moving line in a slowly run affair after starting from 20 metres, Jeter moved three wide in the last lap to gain a thrilling half head victory over Rumbustious (40 metres) which followed the winner home, with Tella Tall Tale a head away in third place after leading and going roughly in the shadows of the post. The mile rate a casual 210.8.

Led all the way ■ Euroa horseman David Jack produced a green by nice colt at Kilmore by the name of The Coquette to snare the Bush's Produce Store 3-Y-0 Pace over 2150 metres on debut, leading all of the way from the pole to record a fighting head margin over Nicks Idol which raced outside him from the bell, with Three Ways a distant 8.6 metres away in third place after racing wide throughout. The mile rate 159.1.

- Len Baker

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 43

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Classic Books From Page 22 creaking protest: as though the departed in the churchyard urged, ‘Let us lie here in peace; don’t suck us up and drink us!’

One of my best beloved churchyards, I call the churchyard of Saint Ghastly Grim; touching what men in general call it, I have no information. It lies at the heart of the City, and the Blackwall Railway shrieks at it daily. It is a small small churchyard, with a ferocious, strong, spiked iron gate, like a jail. This gate is ornamented with skulls and cross-bones, larger than the life, wrought in stone; but it likewise came into the mind of Saint Ghastly Grim, that to stick iron spikes a-top of the stone skulls, as though they were impaled, would be a pleasant device.

Therefore the skulls grin aloft horribly, thrust through and through with iron spears. Hence, there is attraction of repulsion for me in Saint Ghastly Grim, and, having often contemplated it in the daylight and the dark, I once felt drawn towards it in a thunderstorm at midnight. ‘Why not?’ I said, in self-excuse. ‘I have been to see the Colosseum by the light of the moon; is it worse to go to see Saint Ghastly Grim by the light of the lightning?’ I repaired to the Saint in a hackney cab, and found the skulls most effective, having the air of a public execution, and seeming, as the lightning flashed, to wink and grin with the pain of the spikes. Having no other person to whom to impart my satisfaction, I communicated it to the driver. So far from being responsive, he surveyed me — he was naturally a bottled-nosed, red-faced man — with a blanched countenance. And as he drove me back, he ever and again glanced in over his shoulder through the little front window of his carriage, as mistrusting that I was a fare originally from a grave in the churchyard of Saint Ghastly Grim, who might have flitted home again without paying.

Sometimes, the queer Hall of some queer Company gives upon a churchyard such as this, and, when the Livery dine, you may hear them (if you are looking in through the iron rails, which you never are when I am) toasting their own Worshipful prosperity. Sometimes, a wholesale house of business, requiring much room for stowage, will occupy one or two or even all three sides of the enclosing space, and the backs of bales of goods will lumber up the windows, as if they were holding some crowded trade-meeting of themselves within. Sometimes, the commanding windows are all blank, and show no more sign of life than the graves below — not so much, for THEY tell of what once upon a time was life undoubtedly. Such was the surrounding of one City churchyard that I saw last summer, on a Volunteering Saturday evening towards eight of the clock, when with astonishment I beheld an old old man and an old old woman in it, making hay. Yes, of all occupations in this world, making hay! It was a very confined patch of churchyard lying between Gracechurch-street and the Tower, capable of yielding, say an apronful of hay. By what means the old old man and woman had got into it, with an almost toothless hay-making rake, I could not fathom. No open window was within view; no window at all was within view, sufficiently near the ground to have enabled their old legs to descend from it; the rusty churchyard-gate was locked, the mouldy church was locked. Gravely among the graves, they made hay, all alone by themselves.

They looked like Time and his wife. There was but the one rake between them, and they both had hold of it in a pastorally-loving manner, and there was hay on the old woman’s black bonnet, as if the old man had recently been playful. The old man was quite an obsolete old man, in kneebreeches and coarse grey stockings, and the old woman wore mittens like unto his stockings in texture and in colour. They took no heed of me as I looked on, unable to account for them. The old woman was much too bright for a pewopener, the old man much too meek for a beadle.

On an old tombstone in the foreground between me and them, were two cherubim; but for those celestial embellishments being represented as having no possible use for knee-breeches, stockings, or mittens, I should have compared them with the hay-makers, and sought a likeness. I coughed and awoke the echoes, but the haymakers never looked at me. They used the rake with a measured action, drawing the scanty crop towards them; and so I was fain to leave them under three yards and a half of darkening sky, gravely making hay among the graves, all alone by themselves. Perhaps they were Spectres, and I wanted a Medium.

In another City churchyard of similar cramped dimensions, I saw, that selfsame summer, two comfortable charity children. They were making love — tremendous proof of the vigour of that immortal article, for they were in the graceful uniform under which English Charity delights to hide herself — and they were overgrown, and their legs (his legs at least, for I am modestly incompetent to speak of hers) were as much in the wrong as mere passive weakness of character can render legs. O it was a leaden churchyard, but no doubt a golden ground to those young persons! I first saw them on a Saturday evening, and, perceiving from their occupation that Saturday evening was their trysting-time, I returned that evening se’nnight, and renewed the contemplation of them. They came there to shake the bits of matting which were spread in the church aisles, and they afterwards rolled them up, he rolling his end, she rolling hers, until they met, and over the two once divided now united rolls — sweet emblem! — gave and received a chaste salute. It was so refreshing to find one of my faded churchyards blooming into flower thus, that I returned a second time, and a third, and ultimately this befell:— They had left the church door open, in their dusting and arranging. Walking in to look at the church, I became aware, by the dim light, of him in the pulpit, of her in the reading-desk, of him looking down, of her looking up, exchanging tender discourse. Immediately both dived, and became as it were nonexistent on this sphere. With an assumption of innocence I turned to leave the sacred edifice, when an obese form stood in the portal, puffily demanding Joseph, or in default of Joseph, Celia.

Taking this monster by the sleeve, and luring him forth on pretence of showing him whom he sought, I gave time for the emergence of Joseph and Celia, who presently came towards us in the churchyard, bending under dusty matting, a picture of thriving and unconscious industry. It would be superfluous to hint that I have ever since deemed this the proudest passage in my life.

But such instances, or any tokens of vitality, are rare indeed in my City churchyards. A few sparrows occasionally try to raise a lively chirrup in their solitary tree — perhaps, as taking a different view of worms from that entertained by humanity — but they are flat and hoarse of voice, like the clerk, the organ, the bell, the clergyman, and all the rest of the Church-works when they are wound up for Sunday. Caged larks, thrushes, or blackbirds, hanging in neighbouring courts, pour forth their strains passionately, as scenting the tree, trying to break out, and see leaves again before they die, but their song is Willow, Willow — of a churchyard cast. So little light lives inside the churches of my churchyards, when the two are co-existent, that it is often only by an accident and after long acquaintance that I discover their having stained glass in some odd window. The westering sun slants into the churchyard by some unwonted entry, a few prismatic tears drop on an old tombstone, and a window that I thought was only dirty, is for the moment all bejewelled. Then the light passes and the colours die. Though even then, if there be room enough for me to fall back so far as that I can gaze up to the top of the Church Tower, I see the rusty vane new burnished, and seeming to look out with a joyful flash over the sea of smoke at the distant shore of country.

Blinking old men who are let out of workhouses by the hour, have a tendency to sit on bits of coping stone in these churchyards, leaning with both hands on their sticks and asthmatically gasping. The more depressed class of beggars too, bring hither broken meats, and munch. I am on nodding terms with a meditative turncock who lingers in one of them, and whom I suspect of a turn for poetry; the rather, as he looks out of temper when he gives the fire-plug a disparaging wrench with that large tuning-fork of his which would wear out the shoulder of his coat, but for a precautionary piece of inlaid leather.

Fire-ladders, which I am satisfied nobody knows anything about, and the keys of which were lost in ancient times, moulder away in the larger churchyards, under eaves like wooden eyebrows; and so removed are those corners from the haunts of men and boys, that once on a fifth of November I found a ‘Guy’ trusted to take care of himself there, while his proprietors had gone to dinner. Of the expression of his face I cannot report, because it was turned to the wall; but his shrugged shoulders and his ten extended fingers, appeared to denote that he had moralised in his little straw chair on the mystery of mortl-

ity until he gave it up as a bad job.

You do not come upon these churchyards violently; there are shapes of transition in the neighbourhood. An antiquated news shop, or barber’s shop, apparently bereft of customers in the earlier days of George the Third, would warn me to look out for one, if any discoveries in this respect were left for me to make. A very quiet court, in combination with an unaccountable dyer’s and scourer’s, would prepare me for a churchyard. An exceedingly retiring publichouse, with a bagatelle-board shadily visible in a sawdusty parlour shaped like an omnibus, and with a shelf of punch-bowls in the bar, would apprise me that I stood near consecrated ground.

A ‘Dairy,’ exhibiting in its modest window one very little milk-can and three eggs, would suggest to me the certainty of finding the poultry hard by, pecking at my forefathers. I first inferred the vicinity of Saint Ghastly Grim, from a certain air of extra repose and gloom pervading a vast stack of warehouses.

From the hush of these places, it is congenial to pass into the hushed resorts of business. Down the lanes I like to see the carts and waggons huddled together in repose, the cranes idle, and the warehouses shut. Pausing in the alleys behind the closed Banks of mighty Lombard-street, it gives one as good as a rich feeling to think of the broad counters with a rim along the edge, made for telling money out on, the scales for weighing precious metals, the ponderous ledgers, and, above all, the bright copper shovels for shovelling gold. When I draw money, it never seems so much money as when it is shovelled at me out of a bright copper shovel. I like to say, ‘In gold,’ and to see seven pounds musically pouring out of the shovel, like seventy; the Bank appearing to remark to me — I italicise APPEARING— ‘if you want more of this yellow earth, we keep it in barrows at your service.’To think of the banker’s clerk with his deft finger turning the crisp edges of the Hundred-Pound Notes he has taken in a fat roll out of a drawer, is again to hear the rustling of that delicious south-cash wind. ‘How will you have it?’ I once heard this usual question asked at a Bank Counter of an elderly female, habited in mourning and steeped in simplicity, who answered, open-eyed, crook-fingered, laughing with expectation, ‘Anyhow!’ Calling these things to mind as I stroll among the Banks, I wonder whether the other solitary Sunday man I pass, has designs upon the Banks. For the interest and mystery of the matter, I almost hope he may have, and that his confederate may be at this moment taking impressions of the keys of the iron closets in wax, and that a delightful robbery may be in course of transaction. About College-hill, Mark-lane, and so on towards the Tower, and Dockward, the deserted wine-merchants’ cellars are fine subjects for consideration; but the deserted money-cellars of the Bankers, and their plate-cellars, and their jewel-cellars, what subterranean regions of the Wonderful Lamp are these! And again: possibly some shoeless boy in rags, passed through this street yesterday, for whom it is reserved to be a Banker in the fulness of time, and to be surpassing rich. Such reverses have been, since the days of Whittington; and were, long before. I want to know whether the boy has any foreglittering of that glittering fortune now, when he treads these stones, hungry.

Much as I also want to know whether the next man to be hanged at Newgate yonder, had any suspicion upon him that he was moving steadily towards that fate, when he talked so much about the last man who paid the same great debt at the same small Debtors’ Door.

Where are all the people who on busy workingdays pervade these scenes? The locomotive banker’s clerk, who carries a black portfolio chained to him by a chain of steel, where is he?

Does he go to bed with his chain on — to church with his chain on — or does he lay it by? And if he lays it by, what becomes of his portfolio when he is unchained for a holiday? The wastepaper baskets of these closed counting-houses would let me into many hints of business matters if I had the exploration of them; and what secrets of the heart should I discover on the ‘pads’ of the young clerks — the sheets of cartridge-paper and blotting-paper interposed between their writing and their desks! Pads are taken into confidence on the tenderest occasions, and oftentimes when I have made a business visit, and have sent in my name from the outer office, have I had it forced on my discursive notice that the officiating young gentleman has over and over

again inscribed AMELIA, in ink of various dates, on corners of his pad. Indeed, the pad may be regarded as the legitimate modern successor of the old forest-tree: whereon these young knights (having no attainable forest nearer than Epping) engrave the names of their mistresses. After all, it is a more satisfactory process than carving, and can be oftener repeated. So these courts in their Sunday rest are courts of Love Omnipotent (I rejoice to bethink myself), dry as they look. And here is Garraway’s, bolted and shuttered hard and fast! It is possible to imagine the man who cuts the sandwiches, on his back in a hayfield; it is possible to imagine his desk, like the desk of a clerk at church, without him; but imagination is unable to pursue the men who wait at Garraway’s all the week for the men who never come. When they are forcibly put out of Garraway’s on Saturday night — which they must be, for they never would go out of their own accord — where do they vanish until Monday morning? On the first Sunday that I ever strayed here, I expected to find them hovering about these lanes, like restless ghosts, and trying to peep into Garraway’s through chinks in the shutters, if not endeavouring to turn the lock of the door with false keys, picks, and screwdrivers. But the wonder is, that they go clean away! And now I think of it, the wonder is, that every working-day pervader of these scenes goes clean away. The man who sells the dogs’ collars and the little toy coal-scuttles, feels under as great an obligation to go afar off, as Glyn and Co., or Smith, Payne, and Smith. There is an old monastery-crypt under Garraway’s (I have been in it among the port wine), and perhaps Garraway’s, taking pity on the mouldy men who wait in its public-room all their lives, gives them cool house-room down there over Sundays; but the catacombs of Paris would not be large enough to hold the rest of the missing. This characteristic of London City greatly helps its being the quaint place it is in the weekly pause of business, and greatly helps my Sunday sensation in it of being the Last Man. In my solitude, the ticket-porters being all gone with the rest, I venture to breathe to the quiet bricks and stones my confidential wonderment why a ticketporter, who never does any work with his hands, is bound to wear a white apron, and why a great Ecclesiastical Dignitary, who never does any work with his hands either, is equally bound to wear a black one.

CHAPTER XXIV—AN OLD STAGECOACHINGHOUSE Before the waitress had shut the door, I had forgotten how many stage-coaches she said used to change horses in the town every day. But it was of little moment; any high number would do as well as another. It had been a great stagecoaching town in the great stage-coaching times, and the ruthless railways had killed and buried it.

The sign of the house was the Dolphin’s Head.

Why only head, I don’t know; for the Dolphin’s effigy at full length, and upside down — as a Dolphin is always bound to be when artistically treated, though I suppose he is sometimes right side upward in his natural condition — graced the sign-board. The sign-board chafed its rusty hooks outside the bow-window of my room, and was a shabby work. No visitor could have denied that the Dolphin was dying by inches, but he showed no bright colours. He had once served another master; there was a newer streak of paint below him, displaying with inconsistent freshness the legend, By J. MELLOWS. My door opened again, and J. Mellows’s representative came back. I had asked her what I could have for dinner, and she now returned with the counter question, what would I like? As the Dolphin stood possessed of nothing that I do like, I was fain to yield to the suggestion of a duck, which I don’t like. J. Mellows’s representative was a mournful young woman with eye susceptible of guidance, and one uncontrollable eye; which latter, seeming to wander in quest of stage-coaches, deepened the melancholy in which the Dolphin was steeped.

This young woman had but shut the door on retiring again when I bethought me of adding to my order, the words, ‘with nice vegetables.’

Looking out at the door to give them emphatic utterance, I found her already in a state of pensive catalepsy in the deserted gallery, picking her teeth with a pin.

At the Railway Station seven miles off, I had been the subject of wonder when I ordered a fly

Continued on Page 44

Page 44 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Observer Classic Books From Page 43 in which to come here. And when I gave the direction ‘To the Dolphin’s Head,’ I had observed an ominous stare on the countenance of the strong young man in velveteen, who was the platform servant of the Company. He had also called to my driver at parting, ‘All ri-ight! Don’t hang yourself when you get there, Geo-o-rge!’ in a sarcastic tone, for which I had entertained some transitory thoughts of reporting him to the General Manager.

I had no business in the town — I never have any business in any town — but I had been caught by the fancy that I would come and look at it in its degeneracy. My purpose was fitly inaugurated by the Dolphin’s Head, which everywhere expressed past coachfulness and present coachlessness. Coloured prints of coaches, starting, arriving, changing horses, coaches in the sunshine, coaches in the snow, coaches in the wind, coaches in the mist and rain, coaches on the King’s birthday, coaches in all circumstances compatible with their triumph and victory, but never in the act of breaking down or overturning, pervaded the house. Of these works of art, some, framed and not glazed, had holes in them; the varnish of others had become so brown and cracked, that they looked like overdone pie-crust; the designs of others were almost obliterated by the flies of many summers. Broken glasses, damaged frames, lop-sided hanging, and consignment of incurable cripples to places of refuge in dark corners, attested the desolation of the rest. The old room on the ground floor where the passengers of the Highflyer used to dine, had nothing in it but a wretched show of twigs and flower-pots in the broad window to hide the nakedness of the land, and in a corner little Mellows’s perambulator, with even its parasolhead turned despondently to the wall. The other room, where post-horse company used to wait while relays were getting ready down the yard, still held its ground, but was as airless as I conceive a hearse to be: insomuch that Mr. Pitt, hanging high against the partition (with spots on him like port wine, though it is mysterious how port wine ever got squirted up there), had good reason for perking his nose and sniffing. The stopperless cruets on the spindle-shanked sideboard were in a miserably dejected state: the anchovy sauce having turned blue some years

ago, and the cayenne pepper (with a scoop in it like a small model of a wooden leg) having turned solid. The old fraudulent candles which were always being paid for and never used, were burnt out at last; but their tall stilts of candlesticks still lingered, and still outraged the human intellect by pretending to be silver. The mouldy old unreformed Borough Member, with his right hand buttoned up in the breast of his coat, and his back characteristically turned on bales of petitions from his constituents, was there too; and the poker which never had been among the fire-irons, lest post-horse company should overstir the fire, was NOT there, as of old.

Pursuing my researches in the Dolphin’s Head, I found it sorely shrunken. When J. Mellows came into possession, he had walled off half the bar, which was now a tobacco-shop with its own entrance in the yard — the once glorious yard where the postboys, whip in hand and always buttoning their waistcoats at the last moment, used to come running forth to mount and away.

A ‘Scientific Shoeing — Smith and Veterinary Surgeon,’ had further encroached upon the yard; and a grimly satirical jobber, who announced himself as having to Let ‘A neat one-horse fly, and a one-horse cart,’ had established his business, himself, and his family, in a part of the extensive stables. Another part was lopped clean off from the Dolphin’s Head, and now comprised a chapel, a wheelwright’s, and a Young Men’s Mutual Improvement and Discussion Society (in a loft): the whole forming a back lane. No audacious hand had plucked down the vane from the central cupola of the stables, but it had grown rusty and stuck at N-Nil: while the score or two of pigeons that remained true to their ancestral traditions and the place, had collected in a row on the roof-ridge of the only outhouse retained by the Dolphin, where all the inside pigeons tried to push the outside pigeon off. This I accepted as emblematical of the struggle for post and place in railway times.

Sauntering forth into the town, by way of the covered and pillared entrance to the Dolphin’s Yard, once redolent of soup and stable-litter, now redolent of musty disuse, I paced the street. It was a hot day, and the little sun-blinds of the shops were all drawn down, and the more enterprising tradesmen had caused their ‘Prentices to trickle water on the pavement appertaining to

Melbourne

ObserverLooking for a

Professional to run the show? ★ Compere/Host ★ Auctioneer ★ Promotions ★ A-Grade Journalist ★ Voice-Over Commercials ★ Race Caller All Sports, Race Nights ★ TV, Radio, Press ★ Respected Member of the Media

Ted Ryan Phone 9876 1652 Mobile: 0412 682 927 E-Mail: tedryan@australiaonline.net.au ted.ryan@optusnet.com.au

their frontage. It looked as if they had been shedding tears for the stage-coaches, and drying their ineffectual pocket-handkerchiefs. Such weakness would have been excusable; for business was — as one dejected porkman who kept a shop which refused to reciprocate the compliment by keeping him, informed me — ‘bitter bad.’ Most of the harness-makers and corn-dealers were gone the way of the coaches, but it was a pleasant recognition of the eternal procession of Children down that old original steep Incline, the Valley of the Shadow, that those tradesmen were mostly succeeded by vendors of sweetmeats and cheap toys. The opposition house to the Dolphin, once famous as the New White Hart, had long collapsed. In a fit of abject depression, it had cast whitewash on its windows, and boarded up its front door, and reduced itself to a side entrance; but even that had proved a world too wide for the Literary Institution which had been its last phase; for the Institution had collapsed too, and of the ambitious letters of its inscription on the White Hart’s front, all had fallen off but these: L Y INS T — suggestive of Lamentably Insolvent. As to the neighbouring market-place, it seemed to have wholly relinquished marketing, to the dealer in crockery whose pots and pans straggled half across it, and to the Cheap Jack who sat with folded arms on the shafts of his cart, superciliously gazing around; his velveteen waistcoat, evidently harbouring grave doubts whether it was worth his while to stay a night in such a place.

The church bells began to ring as I left this spot, but they by no means improved the case, for they said, in a petulant way, and speaking with some difficulty in their irritation, WHAT’S-become-of-THE-coach-ES!’ Nor would they (I found on listening) ever vary their emphasis, save in respect of growing more sharp and vexed, but invariably went on, ‘WHAT’S-be-come-ofTHE-coach-ES!’ — always beginning the inquiry with an unpolite abruptness. Perhaps from their elevation they saw the railway, and it aggravated them.

Coming upon a coachmaker’s workshop, I began to look about me with a revived spirit, thinking that perchance I might behold there some remains of the old times of the town’s greatness. There was only one man at work — a dry

man, grizzled, and far advanced in years, but tall and upright, who, becoming aware of me looking on, straightened his back, pushed up his spectacles against his brown-paper cap, and appeared inclined to defy me. To whom I pacifically said: ‘Good day, sir!’

‘What?’ said he.

‘Good day, sir.’

He seemed to consider about that, and not to agree with me. — ‘Was you a looking for anything?’ he then asked, in a pointed manner.

‘I was wondering whether there happened to be any fragment of an old stage-coach here.’

‘Is that all?’

‘That’s all.’

‘No, there ain’t.’

It was now my turn to say ‘Oh!’ and I said it. Not another word did the dry and grizzled man say, but bent to his work again. In the coach-making days, the coach-painters had tried their brushes on a post beside him; and quite a Calendar of departed glories was to be read upon it, in blue and yellow and red and green, some inches thick. Presently he looked up again.

‘You seem to have a deal of time on your hands,’ was his querulous remark.

I admitted the fact.

‘I think it’s a pity you was not brought up to something,’ said he.

I said I thought so too.

Appearing to be informed with an idea, he laid down his plane (for it was a plane he was at work with), pushed up his spectacles again, and came to the door.

‘Would a po-shay do for you?’ he asked.

‘I am not sure that I understand what you mean.’

‘Would a po-shay,’ said the coachmaker, standing close before me, and folding his arms in the manner of a cross-examining counsel — ‘would a po-shay meet the views you have expressed?

Yes, or no?’

‘Yes.’ ‘Then you keep straight along down there till you see one. YOU’LL see one if you go fur enough.’

With that, he turned me by the shoulder in the direction I was to take, and went in and resumed his work against a background of leaves and grapes. For, although he was a soured man and a discontented, his workshop was that agreeable mixture of town and country, street and garden, which is often to be seen in a small English town.

To Be Continued Next Issue

Observer Crossword Solution No 18 S N OW S T N V A U E MA GONDO L P D AM P A P A S S L A Y S Y V MA C L I MA X H L R E E X I S T S D O E S N A R E S D E P L E A MMO N I E B R AMB L O R A B S AME O EMBO MOD E U V N R MA I D P N E V A I I M I L D I A N CO Y N E S P I S T UN M S OV A E N OME N S E B E ME A N E R S D A E R E S U L T I E S A L E E K S D A S H A R A S H P L A N T E R G OM E I I ME D I C A

ORM A R OUC GMA T A N E I N S YO HORN O I T UR E S T SO F I T F N MA OG L E I N F A T A A B BON A Z I F S L E A E I R O T H E B Y E S S Y E P L A R E R V E X D A S N A T T RO T S B Y C I MP A R T I L R E S A S A T R I S YO YO R N A NC E P H P E C A P E D R B D E B T E S L E R ME E EGA T C T H E R T E S

C A C I A O B A DD I E H H I MCCO Y O MA N Y A I CH I T PO L Y P S M L A D A A P E T ON K E D S A ND S H E L E N P A R T N E R S H I P R A S POS E O I A N EW P C M I D T E RM E MA D P H I A E S P E S T E R ROS E T T E W A NN E R M R A B B L E O MY S T I C I SM A L I O B I N O B R A F T NN E DWE L T I RON C E I D L E N A S T ON I S H C O E T A A M S I V E SOU T MA NH A T T A N R K HO I D N O E R M I D I A L A N A NGS OP E N COB L AMB U S M AGR A L A S T S I A I T O L D E R UN T I L N BOA OA R R TW T R A MA D AM A V A I L I L A S S GAO L C E C A L M P E A F L A T S K S S EM I I F F Y S U S A F N RON I F T N U L S I V E S E CR E T I NG A T DD T E M L A P R A Y S A GRUMP I E R I E S MAMBO T E A T O E I U S A U T Y PO R DOGCO L L A R I R S S S E R N UNHO L Y P H A S I NG I K R I S H S N ME AGR E D A R T I S T E B A DD S E E N H O N A I L W A S S I M I L A T E D MA L A S T N AME D R E F E R T U C P O A E ND S OMA T O U PO T E N T P N R ME R I T E COS A E T Y P E E S A DD E R M

A Y E E A R UN P H E I A V A A L Y H C T A R P A U L I N R N V E N D E T T A U A

S T A C K S A O M L S S U A T CH E T D E R L S OA K S TW I S T R A R U UNC L A D S T I I T R I F L E U T S EMB E R A R D MA T A A E S U P T O N N O D A Y T I ME L N V L A L T O E T I N A K O TWE E NG O S E N A P S E T S I N I H ODD S E E S CROS S L Y H P E A N R E A L R E L Y R T O M N A V E L P Z G N MA N AGE E E L P T N E P H EW ND A O O S A N E R A N E C K B BO T H A L B I NOS R E E O A N S D W S S E U S E S

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 45 e urn lbo Me

Every Week in the Melbourne Observer

ver N ser O Ob TI C SE 3

Observer Showbiz

Radio: Jo Stanley replaces Brigitte Duclos ....... Page 46 w s: Tragic death of Monqiue Denahy ..................... Page 4477 Ne New Country Music: Band o’ Gold’s new CD ........................ Page 46 Jim and Aar on: Top 10 lists, best movies, DVDs ............ Page 48 Aaron: Cheryl Threadgold: Meet reviewer Beth Klein ...................... Page 49 OVATT”S MEGA CRO PL US THE LLO PLUS CROSSSWORD

50 YEARS OF THE SEEKERS Media Flashes

■ Steve Price, whose Sydney 2GB evening program is relayed into 3AW Melbourne, Mondays-Thursdays, says his show will be relayed to 40 stations across Australia from February.

■ Luke Bona, whose 2UE Sydney-based overnight program is relayed into Melbourne, has announced that his show will be heard on more stations from early next year.

It is understood that the relay stations will include the ACE network across Victoria.

■ Dr Catherine Crock, founder of the Hush Foundation, is inviting poets, actors, artists and musicians to a Gatherin gof Kindness ‘un-conference’ on March 31-April 1 next year.

■ Nova radio men Fitzy and Wippa have uploaded a onceonly TV program to www.tenplay.com.au

Brandenburg at MRC ● Keith Potger, Judith Durham, Athol Guy and Bruce Woodley ■ With the musical Georgy Girl opening just before Christmas, the time is ripe for a retrospective look at the last five decades of The Seekers.

Music gurus Graham Simpson and Christopher Patrick have combined their expertise to produce a coffee table book called The Seekers - The 50 Year Recorded History of Australia's First Supergroup.

Often with these kinds of in-depth explorations, the subjects are less than enamoured with what is being exposed.

However, in this case The Seekers even write the foreword to the book, saying that they “have delighted in this smorgasbord of fascinating facts and anecdotal gems, indulging ourselves in these historic reminders of all the music we created together".

Described as the world's first Enseeklopedia, the book goes behind the scenes with insights into their recordings, stories, music analysis and rare memorabilia.

The Seekers' repertoire is examined from a musician's perspective, to show the creative process at work. And with five decades of songs, there's a lot to investigate.

I wonder how many people of a certain age saved their pocket money while still in single age figures, to buy the latest Seekers’ ● Lisa Dallinger and Scott Jackson single? in Semi-Monde.

As so many Seekers fans have come out of the woodwork, it ■ Seven Actors present Noel Coward’s Semi-Monde on seems fashionable again to be pne, and this book would certainly December 10, 11, 13 and 15 at the Trades Hall. solve some Christmas gift problems for Seekers devotees.

Semi-Monde was written by Coward in 1926, however - Julie Houghton was not produced until 1977. The play’s open treatment of adultery and homosexuality made for much controversy in the 1920s.

To the knowledge of Seven Actors, this is the Australian ■ In Britain, the BB3 television station is to be switched premiere of the work, which with Noel Coward’s tradeoff by February. The closure of the youth-oriented channel mark wit and keen observation of human nature, makes the play as relevant now as when he first wrote it. will produce savings of £30 million. On average, 11.2 million Seven actors, 30 characters and a scandalous amount people watch BBC3 every week. of affairs.

■ Cemetery of Splendour (Rak ti Khon Kaen, Thailand, Directed by Scott Jackson, this production of SemiMalaysia, France, Germany, United Kingdom) from Thai auteur Monde will be an immersive experience.

For five nights this month The Kelvin Club (dinner and Apichatpong Weerasethakul has won the ninth Asia Pacific show) and the Victorian Trades Hall (show) will be transScreen Award (APSA) for best feature film. formed into a glamorous 1920s Parisian hotel where audi■ The invitation-only Australian Marquee Entertainment ences can observe its guests and their intrigues.

Luncheon Club will hold its pre-Christmas event on Tuesday Performances at Trades Hall: December 10, 11, 13 at (Dec. 8) at the Marquee Bar, Toorak, says covenor Jeff Jo7.30pm and December 15 at 7pm Cost: $27 Full, $24 Conc (Group 8+) $22pp seph.

Performance at Kelvin Cub: December 12 (7pm) ■ Abbotsford Convent is the venue for the c3 Annual Cost: $70 includes two course meal and show Fundraiser Exhibition opening tonight (Wed., Dec. 2) at 6pm.

Tickets: trybooking.com/163113 An exhibition is open until December 13.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Semi-Monde

● Emma Birdsall ■ The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is embracing Christmas with a bit of a twist.

Apart from its usual fine period instrument sound, for its Noël Noël concerts in Melbourne this weekend, it is featuring young vocalist Emma Birdsall in a series described as “a star, plenty of song and a little sparkle”.

Emma came to prominence in the 2012 series of The Voice Australia, and has also been seen in the TV drama Love Child.

Brandenburg artistic director Paul Dyer is delighted to be featuring this young performer, after a random meeting at a hairdressing salon.

According to Emma: “Paul and I met by chance last December, whilst we were both having our hair done at our darling friend Keith Archer's salon - I use the term 'met by chance' loosely, as I'm sure Keith had whispered my name to Paul prior to that day, as he had done with Paul's name to me”.

So with the help of a hairdressing music matchmaker, the forces of baroque and 21st century contemporary music will join forces in what promise to be most enjoyable concerts.

Hear Emma Birdsall with the Brandenburg Orchestra at Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday (Dec. 5) at 5pm and 7pm and on Sunday (Dec. 6) at Robert Blackwood Hall at Monash University.

Book at melbournerecital.com.au or 9699 3333 and monash.edu/mapa or 9905 1111.

- Julie Houghton

Showbiz Briefs

Page 46 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Observer Showbiz

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria

Jo Stanley replaces Duclos

Country Crossroads info@country crossroads.com.au Rob Foenander

Band o’ Gold’s new CD ■ Melbourne's Band o' Gold have released their long awaited Christmas album.

It hass been years on the agenda but finally the CD is available.

The Voices of Christmas is a mix of favourites, traditional and spiritual songs that make up the 16-track recording. Featured for the first time are some original songs written by Brighton musician and teacher Jeffrey Leask.

More info at www.bandogold.com.au

This month at Noble Park

■ Jo Stanley, 43, is the new co-host of the Gold 104.3 breakfast program with Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann, replacing Brigitte Duclos, 50.

Former Fox FM breakfast host Troy Ellis will be anchorman for the show. He replaces Joe Bovalino.

Stanley has had a two-year break from breakfast radio. She worked with Matt Tilley at Fox FM. Tilley is now at KIIS 101.1, and will host the breakfast show in 2016 with Meschel Laurie, who replaces Jane Hall.

Both Gold and KIIS are operated by the Australian Radio Network (APN) from studios in suburban Richmond.

Grammy winner here

Arts Briefs ■ Melbourne Gospel Choir will perform at the James Tatoulis Auditorium, MLC, 207 Barkers Rd, Kew, at 3pm and 8pm on Saturday (Dec. 5).

■ Author Maeve O’Meara will appear at the Maroush Middle Eastern Restaurant at 7pm-9.30pm on Wednesday, Deember 9 to promote her book, Food Safari Fire. Couples: $140, includes the banquet.

■ The Victorian Artists' Society Artist of the Year Award was presented last week to Jennifer Fyfe.

r Obser vbeiz On This Day Show

Wednesday Thursday December 2 December 3

■ Operatic soprano Maria Callas was born in New York City in 1923. he died aged 53 in 1977.

Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was born in Italy in 1946. He died aged 50 in 1997.

Singer Britney Spears was born in LA in 1981 (34).

■ Radio man Bob Rogers was born in Donald in 1926 (89). He still works on Sydney radio The late Andy Williams was born in Iowa in 1930.

Former Black Sabbath lead singer Ozzy Osbourne was born in Birmingham in 1944 Folk singer Ralph McTell was born in 1944 (71).

■ 3AW’s Sydney sister station 2UE has had a nightly Sports Today program. It was hosted by John Gibbs who enjoyed a 30-year pedigree with the station.

He had co-hosted the show with Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander, who was not replaced last year.

Station management of Macquarie Media say they are taking the station in a “new direction”.

Unsocial media

Breakdown

■ A great line up of country music is on offer in December at the Noble Park RSL. Fri., Dec. 4. Country Connexion.

Sat., Dec. 5. Duo Gold.

Fri., Dec. 11. Lone Star Sat., Dec. 12.. Band of Gold.

Sat., Dec. 19. Tony Dee and Marcia Rae. New Years Eve. The Dalton Gang.

Bookings for all events at the club.

■ Grammy Award winner Lucinda Williams will perform two shows in Melbourne.

The American folk, blues and country artist will appear at the Forum Theatre on Monday (Dec. 7) and the Prince Bandroom on Tuesday (Dec. 8).

Lucinda was named ‘America's best songwriter’ by Time magazine in 2002.

- Rob Foenander

Fair go sport

● Tony Moclair ■ A breakdown in the 3AW satellite link to the Macquarie Media Sydney station 2GB meant that Friday’s networked edition of Money News with Ross Greenwood did not go to air.

Sports journalist Shane McInnes, producer Simon Owens and fill-in host Tony Moclair cobbled together a 60minute program with no notice.

They thought they were entertaining. What has happened to the once-great radio station 3AW?

All clear

■ Nightline and Remember When co-host Philip Brady

● Jo Stanley is joining Gold 104.3 says he has received a health aroo Island, with friend Gill all-clear from doctors late last Andrew. week, after medical tests.

Brady suffered a broken hip Brady, 76, saw specialists on a trip to Hong Kong last after losing 15-jg in 18 months. year. His on-air partner Bruce The doctors have advised the Mansfield is undergoing 50-cigarettes-a-day radio vet- chemothearpy for prostate eran that he needs to improve cancer. his diet.

Brady celebrated with a long weekend trip to Kang■ Macquarie Media, majority controlled by Fairfax Media, is expanding the Steve Price evening program in 2016.

Price announced his Small Businesws Barometer segment, will be heard on 40 stations around Australia.

Price’s first hour. MondayThursday, is with Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt. The second hour in Mel-bourne is mainly paid commercial ‘advertorials’.

A finance sponsor, Heidi Armstrong, comes on air to ● Philip Brady finish Price’s sentences.

On relay

■ John Blackman and Jane Holmes, Magic 1278 breakfast co-hosts, are struggling to find traction on social medias.

Questions on Facebook usually attract just two replies, and half-a-dozen ‘likes’.

Brisbane listeners have not warmed to Magic 1278 being replayed from Melbourne into the Queensland capital.

Listener Russell Oakes commented on the station’s photos of Brisbane on the station’s Facebook page: “Pics of Brisbane, radio waves from Melboure. The last decent AM radio station in Brisbane has gone to poo.”

Briefs

■ Nova 100’s morning announcer Dean ‘Deano’ Thomas will be anchor for the 2016 breakfast program to be helmed by Chrissie Swan.

■ Victorian radio and TV audio producer Simon Valentine has a new job at 2CC Canberra.

■ Hunter McLeod, former KRock Geelong breakfast cohost, is likely to be joining KIIS 101.1 Melbourne, according to her Instagram account, reports Greg Newman of Jocks Journal.

Melbourne

Observer

Friday December 4

Saturday December 5

■ Canadian actress Deanna Durbin was born in Manitoba in 1921.

Scottish comedian Ronnie Corbett was born in 1930 (85).

Movie host Bill Collins was born in Sydney in 1934 (81).

News presenter David Johnston was born in 1941 (74).

■ American cartoonist Walt Disney was born in 1901.

He died aged 65 in 1966.

US rock and roll singer Little Richard (Richard Penniman) is 83 (1932).

Australian TV star Denise Drysdale is 67.

She started at GTV-9 as a child.

Frankie Muniz is 30.

Sunday December 6 ■ American jazz pianist Dave Brubeck was born in California in 1920 (95).

US born Australian actress Chelsea Brown was born in Chicago in 1947 (68).

Australian actress Alexandra Fowler was norn n 1961 (54). She is with the Chantoozies.

Monday December 7

■ The original Marie Tussaud, founder of the wax museum, was born in France in 1760.

She died at age 89.

American actress Ellen Burstyn is 83.

We remember actor Ron Frazer who was born in 1938. He died aged 44 in 1983. He was a regular in the Mavis Bramston Show.

Tuesday December 8 ■ US singer, actor, dancer and mimic Sammy Davis Jnr was born in New York in 1925. He died aged 64 in 1990.

Jim Morrison, lead vocalist with The Doors, was born in 1943. He died aged 27 in 1971.

Australian promoter Paul Dainty is 68.

Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of Jocks Journal for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates.

Jocks Journal is Australia’s longest running radio industry publication.

Find out more at www.jocksjournal.com

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

ShowBiz!

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 47

Observer Showbiz

REVIEW Anything Can Happen: The Bardas Years ■ When David Bardas took over the ailing Sportsgirl business following the death of his father Morry, family friend Victor Smorgon had one piece of advice for the fledgling lawyer turned retailer: “Fix it!”

Bardas set about transforming an old piano warehouse rising five floors up at 240 Collins St. Over the next 30 years, it would grow into one of the most-loved, fashion empires in Australian retail history.

Relaunched in the 1960s just as the beat from swinging London reverberated, Sportsgirl was in the right place, at the right time and, more importantly, had the right people working to introduce a new form of retailing aimed at the new youth market and to make the brand an Australian icon.

Sportsgirl reached its zenith in the late 1970s.

The 1979 Big Top promotion was unlike anything ever seen in Australia.

In Adelaide, the parade featured a live camel on stage. Like a retail version of the iconic American disco, Studio 54, the party seemed like it would never end.

After the 1987 stock market crash, however, cracks began to appear in the empire. The grand opening of Melbourne’s revamped multi-million dollar Sportsgirl emporium coincided with a worldwide economic downturn.

Dwindling retail sales combined with tariff reforms during the ‘recession we had to have’ took their toll on the flagship Collins St store. The banks took over the business heralding the end of the Bardas family at the helm of Sportsgirl.

Vicki Steggall chronicles the Sportsgirl story with David Bardas at the helm in a new book, Anything can happen. It’s a fascinating history of the way Bardas’s vision changed the face of the retail landscape in Australia.

Anything Can Happen, Sportsgirl: the Bardas Yearsby Vicki Steggall is published by Hardie Grant.

Available in Sportsgirl, bookstores or email anythingcanhappen@dlbardas.com.au - Review by Kathryn Keeble

When I Grew Up

■ When I Grow Up is a new one-woman show performed at Melbourne’s cabaret venue, The Butterfly Club.

The show promises to be an insightful and funny look at the bewildering topic of transition to adulthood, but does not quite fulfil that aim.

Writer, actor and singer Anne Gasko combines stand-up comedy and original song to explore various conundrums of being a grown up; adult friendships, finding that pesky Prince Charming, dealing with insomnia and the ‘what to wear to a party’ pickle.

Unfortunately, the insights offered are not particularly profound and, at times, even clichéd.

To her credit, Gasko’s performance is brave and visceral. The highlight of the show is a rage-filled song about billboard underwear models - it is funny and clever, and Gasko owns the song as she belts it out, showing the audience what she can accomplish.

The play has moments of humour that truly work, but these are outweighed by moments that don’t.

A lengthy revelation of Gasko’s love affair with her ‘melons’ starts of promisingly but doesn’t go anywhere. Likewise, the soul-searching attempts at poignancy sometimes feel forced.

The Butterfly Club, is a fun and intimate venue to host this show. When I Grow Up has the ingredients for an enjoyable night out, but would benefit from further development and a clearer sense of direction.

- Review by Catherine McGregor

TV, Radio, Theatre Latest Melbourne show business news - without fear or favour

Radio Variety Hour ■ Three of Melbourne’s talented comedians and voice actors have teamed together to present Radio Variety Hour at The Butterfly Club, from December 16 -18.

Lauren Bok, Bert Goldsmith and Sam Marzden will bring to life the golden age of 1950s radio in their much-loved show, doing one more broadcast across the wireless before the gang starts work on their all-new hour of noir thrills for 2016.

It is the 1950s, or perhaps the modern day. It’s hard to tell.

Out of the dimly lit theatre we can just make out three vintage microphones and a table full of unlikely props.

The humble cabbage is transformed into the sickening sound of a dead body falling to the floor.

A hot water bottle becomes the screech of an escaping car.

This is Radio Variety Hour: three radio serial dramas brought to life on stage that must be seen (err… heard…) to be believed.

Punctuated by recreations of actual 1950’s radio ads, the show walks the tightrope of tightly scripted radio drama and off-the-cuff adlibbing, while maintaining form, character and storyline.

● Bert Goldsmith, Lauren Bok and Sam Marzden present Radio Variety Hour at The Butterfly Club, opening December 16.

Radio Variety Hourwill December 16 – 18 at 7pm be packed with action, adVenue: The Butterfly venture, comedy, ro- Club, 5 Carson Place, mance and cabbage.

Melbourne Bookings highly recB o o k i n g s : ommended. thebutterflyclub.com Performance Dates: - Cheryl Threadgold

The Yellow Wave

Tragic death

● Monique Denahy ■ Monique Denahy, 49, who had experience on air at radio stations 3GL and 3UZ, has died in the US. She was murdered by her partner Daniel Milner in a case of domestic violence in Florida. Milner then took his own life.

Politician Sarah Henderson paid tribute in Parliament to her Geelong-born friend.

Pulse 94.7 host Denis Scanlan also paid tribute to Ms Denahy, fondly remembering her time at 3GL.

Saturday Night Fever

● John Marc Desengano and Keith Brockett in The Yellow Wave. More details on Cheryl Threadgold’s page. Photo: Lachlan Woods

New Red Stitch season

■ Melbourne’s Red Stitch celebrates 15 years in 2016 with a season of eight plays never seen before in Australia, plus an exciting new relationship with Geelong Performing Arts Centre Red Stitch Actors Theatre started life in 2002 as an ensemble, artist driven organisation playing to a seating capacity of 30 people per night, and 15 years later has become a Melbourne institution, nationally renowned for exceptional new plays from Australia and overseas, touring and playing to sold out crowds, a home to artists and its loyal subscriber base.

Artistic Director, Ella Caldwell has announced the 2016 season and, as with seasons past, the Company will introduce brand new works to local audiences.

The selection of eight works includes six Australian premieres and two world premieres, plus two special events.

The two premiere productions are testament to the Ensemble’s increased collaboration with local playwrights.

A continuing relationship with playwright Tom Holloway sees the premiere of his new play, Sunshine, set in Melbourne.

And Caleb Lewis’s The Honey Bees was developed through the company’s successful INK program, following on from 2015’s acclaimed Jurassica by Dan Giovanonni.

The six Australian premieres include: The Village Bike by British playwright Penelope Skinner (directed by ensemble

member Ngaire Dawn Fair); Splendour

by British writer Abi Morgan, screenwriter of The Iron Lady (directed by Jenny Kemp); Trevor by American writer Nick Jones (writer and co-producer of Orange is the New Black); The River by British screenwriter and playwright Jez Butterworth (who co-wrote 2015 films Spectre and Black Mass); You Got Older by American playwright and actor Clare Barron (directed by ensemble member Brett Cousins) and Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov - a new version by Annie Baker, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning The Flick that enjoyed sold out seasons at Red Stitch in 2014 and 2015.

Nadia Tass joins the company again to direct Baker’s work.

Each production features a cast of core ensemble members in collaboration with directors, designers, playwrights and guest actors in a shared commitment to artistic integrity and brave performances, enhanced by the intimacy of the Red Stitch stage.

In a special event, Red Stitch is collaborating with Geelong Performing Arts Centre to co-present the Victorian premiere of Australian playwright Hannie Rayson’s Extinction, directed by Nadia Tass and featuring ensemble members Ngaire Dawn Fair and Brett Cousins.

Extinction will have a season at GPAC followed by seasons at Canberra Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne.

- Cheryl Threadgold

■ StageArt is announcing its cast for the lead and ensemble roles for their West End revival production of Saturday Night Fever.

Mike Snell (Strictly Ballroom, Wicked, Legally Blonde, The Boy From Oz, Winner of Channel 10's I Will Survive) will play Brooklyn heartthrob Tony Manero, Sheridan Anderson (West Side Story, Pippin, Our House) will play Stephanie his dance partner.

Elise Brennan (Jersey Boys, Guys and Dolls) will play Annette; Dean Shulz plays Bobby C; Paul Watson (Once, Jersey Boys, Fiddler On The Roof) plays the dual roles of Frank/Monty, Duane McGregor (Grease, Xanadu) plays Joey; Joseph Spanti is Double J; Jemma Townsend plays the roles of Flo/Maria; Geoffrey Winter plays Frank Jnr/Fosco; David Sirianni (West Side Story) will play the role of Cesar.

Luke Alleva starred in the West End production of Saturday Night Fever in 2005. He will direct and choreograph this Australian premiere revival.

Luke is a highly sought after choreographer and performer whose credits include: We Will Rock You, Hot Shoe Shuffle, Mamma Mia, Xanadu, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and A Chorus Line, just to name a few. Musical Direction by Tony Toppi.

The ensemble cast includes: Emma Russell (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang); Daniel Ham (King Of Pop Tour); Casey Davis; Xavier McGettigan; Madison Lee; Samuel Bennett (Out Of The Blue); Guada Bañez; Cassie Miller; Rachel Bronca; Alexia Brinsley; Kai Mann-Robertson and Benito Veneziano.

This spectacular new production of Saturday Night Fever, February 11-28 at Chapel off Chapel is one of the most loved dance stories of all time.

It is jam-packed with legendary hits from The Bee Gees including classics: Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever, Jive Talking, You Should Be Dancing, Immortality and How Deep Is Your Love.

Eleven of the cast members will also bring the music to the stage, playing saxophone, clarinet, violin, percussion, flute, bass, electric guitar and keyboard.

StageArt is a dynamic production company lead

by Katherine Armstrong and Robbie Carmellotti.

The creative team and cast are all available for interview.

StageArt presents Saturday Night Fever, February 11-28; Tuesday – Sunday, 7.30pm; Saturday and Sunday, 1.30pm matinee at Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St Prahran. Bookings: 8290 7000. www.chapeloffchapel.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold

Page 48 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Observer Showbiz What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs

● Mark Wahlberg and Ted, the world's most politically incorrect teddy bear, are back with more laughs and plenty to offend in Ted 2.

FILM: TED 2: Genre: Comedy.

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, Seth McFarlane, Morgan Freeman.

Details: 2015.

Rating: MA15+ Length: 115 Minutes.

Stars: *** Verdict: The world's most foul-mouthed bear, Ted, is back in this sequel to the 2012 hit, and this time newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn are having problems and they decide they want to have a baby, so options such as adoption and artificial insemination are put into play, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted has to prove he's a person in a court of law. Created, co-written and directed by Seth MacFarlane (TV's The Family Guy), again, little, if any, topic or word is sacred. Like its predecessor, 'Ted 2' may seem a predictable one joke affair, but for the most part, it is genuinely funny, even surprisingly poignant, even though at times it can be quite cringe-worthy. In a world of political correctness gone mad, and when it works, there's something refreshingly infectious in its moments of its insanely crazy formula, or just maybe that it draws us back to the days of our own childhood. Definitely NOT for the kiddies!

FILM: MADAME BOVARY: Genre: Drama.

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Ezra Miller, Paul Giamatti, Details: 2014.

Rating: M. Length: 118 Minutes.

Stars: **½ Verdict: Classic tale of Emma Bovery, the beautiful wife of a small-town doctor who engages in adulterous affairs in an attempt to advance her social status and escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life.

Filmed numerous times over the decades, most notably in 1949 by the Oscar nominated MGM film starring Jennifer Jones, James Mason and directed by Vincente Minnelli, this is a surprisingly emotionless and ineffective adaptation. Nonetheless, not all is lost, it is handsomely presented with outstanding production design and superb period detail, and with some good solid performances, most notably Australian born actress Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Stoker). However, director Sophie Barthes delivers a disappointingly uneven and disengaged effort with little to grasp, an empty and unfulfilled realization that would be better suited to the small screen than large.

FILM: Genre: Cast:

FOUL PLAY: Mystery/Comedy/Thriller.

Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Dudley Moore, Burgess Meredith, Rachel Roberts.

Details: 1978.

Rating: PG. Length: 116 Minutes.

Stars: **** Verdict: Delightful Hitchcockian mystery-comedy-romp of a shy San Francisco librarian and a bumbling cop who fall in love as they try to avoid being murdered and solve a crime involving albinos, dwarves, assassination and the Catholic Church. Sparkling and brisk screenplay and direction by Colin Higgins (W: Harold & Maude, Silver Streak/W-D: Nine to Five, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) with Hawn and Chase right at the top of their game, and the results are a riotous delight.

However, the real scene stealer here is comic great Dudley Moore in a slide-splitting laugh-out-loud performance as the sex crazed Stanley Tibbets, which introduced him to U.S. audiences and led him to his starring roles in "10" and "Arthur." Parodying a number of his films, the legendary Alfred Hitchcock was intending to sue the studio, until he saw the film, during which he was reportedly uncontrollable with laughter, and subsequently dropped his thoughts of suing. Great fun!

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Movies, DVDs With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke

Downhill Racer

● Robert Redford and Gene Hackman in the under-rated sports drama Downhill Racer.

■ (PG) (1969). 97 minutes. Now who we see grow from a newborn to available on DVD. the age of 11.

With an outlook on competitive Under the careful guidance of her sport that sadly remains contempo- parents (voiced by Kyle MacLachlan rary, Downhill Racer convincingly and Diane Lane), Riley has been portrays a world where being number blessed with a loving, stable environone is everything, and fame and for- ment, encouraged and supported in a tune over-rides the love for that par- way that has made her a likeable, conticular sporting arena. fident child.

The story centres on Dave Inside Riley's mind, we see how Chappellet (Robert Redford), a she has developed via five main charyoung hot-shot skiier who is obsessed acters - Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness about being the best-of-the-best, even (Phyllis Smith),Anger (Lewis Black), at the expense of family and friends. Fear (Bill Hader) and Disgust (Mindy Chappellet is a late inclusion in the Kaling).

USA team competing at the Austria These emotions do their best to World Skiing Championships, an help Riley react appropriately to varievent which is regarded by many as a ous situations, creating healthy, happy dress rehearsal for the Winter Olym- memories that in turn mould Riley into pics. a well-adjusted person.

The abrasive newcomer's unAll this begins to change when the doubted ability quickly attracts the at- family move, with Riley having to sudtention of head coach Claire (Gene denly deal with a new home home, Hackman), as well as the local me- school, and many unfamiliar faces, dia, and despite Chappellet's reckless and being torn from the world she behaviour and ruthless treatment of knew fractures her emotional state of those around him, Claire wants his mind. team to achieve the fastest time, no This will send Riley and her matter what the cost. empathetic overseers on a journey that James Salter's screenplay is eerily will affect everyone. prophetic, detailing a training environInside Out is both cleverly strucment that allows and even promotes tured and intelligently written. personal ego over teamwork, where Combining the set-up of Pixar's sporting identities can get away with original hit Toy Story, where a group murder if it means on-field and finan- of unseen characters help the wellcial success. being of a young child, and the shortThe growing involvement of prod- lived 1990's TV series Herman's uct placement and corporate funding Head, co-writer/director Pete Docter is also effectively handled.

(Monsters Inc. / Up) skilfully fashDirector Michael Ritchie (Prime ions a film that is involving for viewCut / The Candidate / Smile / Fletch) ers both young and old, treating each keeps the drama believable, but he age group with respect. also brilliantly stages the skiing seThere is a level of maturity here quences themselves, using multiple not normally seen in Hollywood ani16mm cameras to capture every ex- mation, and in fact this could be citing, exhausting moment on the favourably compared to the more slopes. complex creations from Japan, which Redford is excellent in an atypi- don't shy away from adult themes and cally anti-hero role, and is matched three-dimensional characterisations. by the ever-reliable Hackman, who The voice casting is perfect, with is superb as the pushy, hypocritical Poehler (Parks And Recreation TV coach. series / Baby Mama), Smith (The OfAlso in the cast is under-rated ac- fice USA TV series), Black (The Daily tor Dabney Coleman (Slender Thread Show), and Richard Kind (as Riley's / 9 to 5 / War Games). Downhill Racer imaginary friend Bing Bong) all eshas been somewhat ignored over the pecially standing out. years, but it deserves to be better Moving without falling into sentiknown and appreciated as a worthy ment, funny without becoming flipsports movie, one that uncovers the pant, Inside Out is an absolute treat. rather nasty and hollow side of modBeautifully designed and dramatiern athletics that has unfortunately cally satisfying, this is Pixar's best become commonplace. outing since the wonderful Up (2009).

RATING - ****.

This release contains the equally affecting Lava, a short animated film from Pixar that deals with loneliness, love, and the deep longing of wanting ■ (PG). 91 minutes. Now available to be needed. on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 3D Blu-Ray. This makes for a lovely, thematiAfter a series of stumbles that saw cally-linked precursor to the winning their reputation somewhat tainted main event.

(Cars, Cars 2, Monsters University, RATING - ****.

Brave), Pixar return to form with In- Aaron Rourke side Out, a heartwarming family film DVDs and Blu-Rays kindly that is filled with the kind of invensupplied by Video Vision, 177-179 tiveness and writing smarts that saw Carlisle Street, Balaclava. For the studio rise to the top in the late information or bookings on these 1990s. titles please call 9531 2544, or check The story revolves around Riley, online at videovisiondvd.com.au

Inside Out

Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2.

2. SPECTRE. 3. THE DRESSMAKER. 4. SECRET IN THEIR EYES. 5. THE MARTIAN. 6. BRIDGE OF SPIES. 7. OUR TIMES. 8. THE LAST WITCH HUNTER. 9. PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO. 10. A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME WITH ANTONY. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: NOVEMBER 26: BY THE SEA, CREED, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2, LOVE THE COOPERS, THE PROGRAM. DECEMBER 3: END OF THE TOUR, IN THE HEART OF THE SEA, PHOENIX, THE NIGHT BEFORE, TRUTH. THE DVD AND BLU-RAY TOP RENTALS & SALES: 1. TED 2 [Comedy/Mark Walhberg/Amanda Seyfried, Morgan Freeman, Seth MacFarlane].

2. TRAINWRECK [Comedy/Romance/Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson].

3. INSIDE OUT [Animated/Adventure/Diane Lane, Bill Hader].

4. JURASSIC WORLD [Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi/Chris Pratt, Bryce DallasHoward].

5. MADAME BOVARY [Drama/ Mia Wasikowska/Paul Giamatti/ Ezra Miller].

6. THE HOBBIT: TRILOGY Extended Edition.

7. SAN ANDREAS [Action/ Dwayne Johnson, Paul Giamatti].

8. LOVE & MERCY [Music/Drama/ John Cusack, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti].

9. SELF/LESS [Thriller/Matthew Goode, Ben Kingsley].

10. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD [2015/Carey Mulligan, Michael Sheen].

Also: MAGIC MIKE XXL, SPY, TERMINATOR GENISYS, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, POLTERGEIST, WOMAN IN GOLD, FAST & FURIOUS 7, DANNY COLLINS, TOMORROWLAND. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: RICKI AND THE FLASH [Comedy/ Drama/Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline].

ANT-MAN [Action/Fantasy/Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily].

MAX [Adventure/Drama/Josh Wiggins, Thomas Heden Church, Luke Kleintank].

PAPER TOWNS [Drama/Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams, Nat Wolff].

MOMENTUM [Action/Drama/Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko].

NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLURAY THIS WEEK: RICKI AND THE FLASH [Comedy/ Drama/Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline].

ANT-MAN [Action/Fantasy/Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily].

ANT-MAN 3D [Action/Fantasy/ Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily].

MAX [Adventure/Drama/Josh Wiggins, Thomas Heden Church, Luke Kleintank]. Turn To Page 55

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 49

Observer Showbiz

Local Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold

Melbourne

Observer ‘CHRIST ALMIGHTY’

Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story ● Vincent Hooper and Stephen Madsen in Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story.

■ Produced in 15 countries and 10 languages from Seoul and Toyko to Madrid and Athens, Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story takes to the Melbourne stage from January 20-31 at Chapel off Chapel, as part of the Midsumma Festival.

Meet reviewer Beth Klein

Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story is an award-winning musical with book, music and lyrics by playwright and composer, Stephen Dolginof f.

The show is based on the true story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, the so-called ‘thrill killers’ of the early 20th century, who committed murder in 1924 in order to commit ‘the perfect crime.’

Told in flashbacks beginning with a 1958 parole hearing, Thrill Me examines the relationship between Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb – both wealthy, ‘normal’ and intelligent Chicago students, about to commence training to become lawyers.

A journey of two young men, one who believed he was above the law – obsessed and fueled by the philosophy of Nietzsche to the point he believed he was Superman beyond good and evil.

The other – a loner – became a witting accomplice empowering Loeb in his crimes. Together they both believed they had perpetuated the perfect murder. Or was one more certain than the other?

Starring Melbourne’s Vincent Hooper as Nathan Leopold (Heathers, Rocky Horror Show, Neighbors) and Sydney’s Stephen Madsen as Richard Loeb (Heathers, Rent, ASCAP Bound for Broadway Scholarship).

Produced by Lisa Minett and directed by Terence O’Connell of Ghost Light in association with Moving Light Productions.

Performance Season:Wednesday, January 20 – Sunday, January 31 Times: Wed – Sat at 8pm, Sun at 5pm Venue: Chapel off Chapel, The Loft, 12 Little Chapel St., Prahran Tickets: $35 full, $30 Conc and Groups (6+) Bookings: www.midsumma.org.au or 9415 9819 Further information: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au

SHOWS

● Beth Klein ■ Beth Klein has been a theatre reviewer for the Melbourne Observer since 2013. She has a long-standing passion for theatre and has been involved in community theatre since leaving school.

She has performed in independent productions, the Melbourne Fringe Festival and several community theatres including Williamstown Little Theatre, Peridot, Brighton and Eltham Little Theatre (ELT).

Beth currently coordinates ELT’s publicity, has been on the management committee since 2012, and was Vice-President in 2014.

Beth has a penchant for studying, and since completing her Bachelor of Arts has obtained post graduate qualifications in librarianship, public relations and is currently completing studies in Arts and Cultural Management at the University of Melbourne.

Her career highlights include working for the BBC in London, and at The Age newspaper as a librarian, and as a public relations and events advisor to two Victorian state parliamentary speakers.

She also spent two years teaching English in Japan and two years in Israel.

Beth considers it a great honour to be given the opportunity to review shows, and is constantly amazed and delighted by the breadth and creativity of Melbourne’s eclectic and energetic theatre scene.

She says reviewing has changed the way she watches performances.

“I am now so much more aware of aspects of a production I once took for granted,” she says.

“It’s extraordinary to look carefully at the impact of directional choices, music and lighting.”

Beth says she hopes readers find her reviews enlightening, interesting and fair.

■ The Basin Theatre Group: Accomplice Until December 5 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Gregor McGibbon. Bookings: www.thebasintheatre.org.au 1300 784 668.

Bookings: htc.org.au ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: Don't Dress for Dinner Until December 5 (incl. 2pm matinee December 5) at 63 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna. Director: Chris McLean. Tickets: $27/$24.

9457 4117. www.htc.org.au ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Over the River and Through the Woods Until December 5 at 2-4 Albert St., Williamstown.

Director: Helen Ellis. Bookings wlt.org.au or 9885 9678 ■ Geelong Repertory Theatre Company: Daylight Savings (by Nick Enright) Until December 5 at 15 Coronation St., Geelong.

Tickets" $26/$24. Bookings: 5225 1200 www.geelongrep.com ■ Peridot Theatre: God of Carnage (by Yasmina Reza) December 2-5 at 8pm at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Rd., Mt Waverley. Director: Tim Long. Bookings: 9898 9090 (if using a mobile) or by email to peridotboxoffice@yahoo.com.au ■ Frankston Theatre Group: Tiptoe Through the Tombstones (by Norman Robbins) Until December 5 at 8pm, 2pm matinees November 29, December 5 at Mt Eliza Community Community Centre, Canadian Bay Rd., Mt Eliza. Tickets: $28/$26 Ch 10-15 $15, Under 10 $10. Cabaret style seating. BYO nibblies and drinks.

Bookings: 1300 665 377.

■ The 1812 Theatre: Moonlight and Magnolias (by Ron Hutchinson) Until December 12 at 3-5 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Loretta Bishop. Tickets: $27. Bookings: 9758 3864 www.1812theatre.com.au ■ Adelphi Players: Little Red Riding Hood Panto (by Fred Rome) December 6 - 13 (Matinees 1.30pm and 3.15pm) at Booran Road Hall, 264 Booran Rd., Ormond. All tickets $10. Bookings: 9690 1593.

AUDITIONS ■ MLOC Productions: Young Frankenstein December 3, 5, 6 in Parkdale and Mentone. Director: Matt Bearup. Audition bookings or enquiries: auditions@mloc.org.au ■ Frankston Theatre Group: The Odd Couple (Female) (by Neil Simon) December 13 at 1pm and December 14 at 7pm at The Shed, Cnr Somerset and Overport Rds., Frankston. Director: Ray Thompson. Audition bookings: 0419 304 650.

● The donkey role is rotated between 24 actors in each show of Christ Almighty. Photo: Philip Merry ■ Launch Housing in association with Bella Union presents the comedy nativity play Christ Almighty! playing at Bella Union, Carlton until December 10.

Direct from sell-out seasons in Auckland and Wellington, a rotating cast of 24 actors from television, film, cabaret, theatre and comedy give their all. Part of the proceeds go to Launch Housing in their work to end homelessness in Melbourne.

A promiscuous archangel, a wise man with multiple personality disorder, a psychotic King, a desperate donkey, a smitten shepherd, one dodgy innkeeper, a virgin and her baffled fella. Put them all together on one bill and you’ve got eight versions of the greatest story ever told, by those who were there, in monologue ... up close and personal.

Christ Almighty! brings some twisted Christmas cheer to Melbourne and raising much needed funds for Launch Housing and their work to end homelessness.

Written by Dan Musgrove and Natalie Medlock, the show is directed by Natalie Medlock.

Launch Housing is an independent Melbourne-based community organisation formed from the merger of HomeGround Services and Hanover.

Launch Housing is also one of Victoria’s largest providers of housing and homelessness support services, providing flexible, specialist services that assist thousands of men, women, young people, children and families every year.

Venue: Bella Union, Level 1 Trades Hall, corner Victoria and Lygon Sts, Carlton Dates: December 4, 5, 6 at 7pm, December 9, 10 at 8pm Tickets: Full Price $35, Concession $25, Groups (6+ people) $30 plus booking fee Doors open one hour prior to the performance for ticket sales and collections Bookings: www.bellaunion.com.au/program_guide/ show_1001/ or phone 9650 5699

THE YELLOW WAVE ■ In his recent Chaser Lecture, Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef said that satire was the one art guaranteed to cut through fear and prejudice.

Jane Miller’s The Yellow Wave proves Youssef’s point by presenting a masterclass on how it’s done.

Set in 1895, this fabulously funny play is a rollicking adventure from start to finish. Like Tarantino on steroids, complete with slow-mo fight scenes and a plot worthy of a Wes Craven movie, the production is a whirlwind tour of past exertions for Australia to be alert and alarmed.

Directed by Green Room Award winner Beng Oh, this theatrical deconstruction of an obscure, xenophobic nineteenth century novel, The Yellow Wave: A Romance of the Asiatic Invasion of Australia, tackles the fear of a dreaded incursion of boats heading to Australia carrying hordes intent on pillaging, plundering and who knows what else with wit.

Overlaying the action an equally ambitious love triangle is played out via the considerable talents of just two actors, Keith Brockett and John Marc Desengano.

The whole shebang is narrated with style by Andrea McCannon but it is Brockett and Desengano who really steal the show.

Playing a multitude of characters, in the style of The ThirtyNine Steps, both actors demonstrate considerable acting talent as well as impeccable timing and exhaustive physical comedy which never wanes.

Presented by 15 Minutes from Anywhere, Miller, recipient of an RE Ross Trust Award, credits both her director and actors as collaborators in turning the 400-page sweeping epic saga to the stage. If this production is anything to go by, let’s hope there are many more to come.

Performance Season: Until November 29 Venue: The Butterfly Club, Melbourne Bookings: www.poppyseed.net.au - Review by Kathryn Keeble

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 50 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Melbourne

Observer

Lovatts Crossword No 18 Across

1. Blizzard 6. Wattle tree 11. Villain 15. Dried grass piles 20. Exclamation of pain 21. Genuine thing, the real ...

22. Numerous 23. Underground molten rock 25. Relaxation art (1'2,3) 26. Coral organisms 27. Dinners or lunches 29. Venice canal boat 32. Singer, ... Diamond 34. Famous British school 36. Type of spanner 39. Condemns to hell 41. Harnessed (oxen) 43. Rubs with emery 46. ... of Troy 48. Beneath 49. Dad 51. Hooter 52. Co-venture 55. Coarse file 56. Acorn bearers 59. Kills 61. Sit for portrait 62. Once again 63. Screw 64. Ripens 67. Halfway through pregnancy 68. Fortified wine 70. Culmination 71. Actress, ... Loren 72. Nag 73. Naked 74. Renovate (ship) 75. Rose-shaped award 77. Stop! (nautical) 78. Survives 79. Style 82. Mob 86. Jelly/sponge dessert 87. Eye lustfully 89. Belief in the supernatural 92. Pond plant 94. Capture 96. News 98. Floating log platform 100. Live coal 101. Computer input 103. Princess Royal 105. Resided 106. Press 108. Burn 111. Commoner 112. Very lazy (4,4) 114. Amaze 116. Spy, ... Hari 119. Bullets 120. German WWII fascist 121. Anticipated touchdown (1,1,1) 123. Freezes, ... over 124. As far as (2,2) 125. Omits (6,3) 126. New York borough 127. Blackberry shrub 130. The masses, ... polloi 131. Dawn to dusk 135. Alternate, every ...

138. Calf-length skirt 139. US astronaut, ... Shepard 141. Acute remorse 144. Unchanged, the ...

146. Cheerio!

147. Unfasten 148. Male swan 149. Young sheep 150. Uncle Sam (1,1,1) 151. Type of saxophone 152. Print with raised design 153. Taj Mahal city 155. Closing 157. Part of eye 158. Method 160. Braid 161. More ancient 162. Up to the time of 163. Overly cute 165. Less frequent 166. Snake, ... constrictor 167. Rowing aid

Across 168. Guitar sound 169. Servant 171. Accessory 172. Female title 175. In vain, to no ...

176. Light sleeps 179. Arid US state 180. Schoolgirl 182. Prison 184. Opens door to (4,2) 185. Balmy 186. Crooner, ... King Cole 188. Quiet 189. Pod vegetable 190. Dull 191. Snow-runner 193. Betting chances 194. Jogs 196. Match before final 197. Unreliable 198. Revolving tray, lazy ...

200. Modesty 205. AFL great, ... Barassi 207. Angrily 210. Impetuous 211. Concealing 212. Stupefy 213. Trading centre 214. Banned pesticide (1,1,1) 216. Irish sweater style 218. Actual 219. Ellipse 220. Repaints (vehicle) 224. Moodier 227. Depend 229. Space flight organisation 230. Tethers 231. Latin American dance 232. Nipple 233. Aware of 235. Prophetic signs 237. Go up 239. Printing error 241. Type of orange 244. Child's toy (2-2) 246. Pet's neck band (3,6) 249. Please reply (1,1,1,1) 252. Stingier 254. Former English cricket captain, ... Hussain 256. Outrageous 258. Arrange 259. Fuss, song & ...

260. Introducing in stages, ... in 263. Rest on knees 264. Outcome 265. Rot (of leather) 267. Paltry 270. Niece & ...

271. Avoided 272. Entertainer 273. Additional items 274. Welsh vegetables 277. Witnessed 279. Carpenter's spike 281. More rational 284. Hurry 286. Sum owed 288. Absorbed 292. Whisky ingredient 294. Kiss & cuddle 295. Fire remains 298. Smallest 300. Nominated 301. Mention, ... to 303. Monastery superior 306. Decorative shrub pot 308. Encounter 309. Concludes 311. Pink-eyed rabbits 314. Last Greek letter 315. Ketchup, ... sauce 316. Powerful 317. Fruit mash 318. After that 319. Deserve 320. Mafia, ... Nostra 321. Treats with drugs 322. Rewrite on keyboard 323. Unhappier 324. Muscle toning therapists

Down 1. Cosy 2. Furnace 3. Polynesian island group 4. Heart or lung 5. Complain 6. Movement 7. Blackboard marker 8. Drumming insects 9. Amongst 10. Fuel energy rating 11. Go around 12. Playful water mammal 13. Propel 14. Christian festival 15. Sacred song 16. Long (for) 17. Try out (food) 18. Cudgel 19. Obscene material 24. Charity offerings 28. Youths 30. Milky gem 31. June 6, 1944 (1-3) 33. Eagle nests 35. Equal (2,1,3) 37. Raven 38. Deer 40. Yelling 42. Geological division 44. Positive electrodes 45. Least moist 47. Fencing blades 48. Great disturbance 49. Prepared mentally, ... up 50. Sports ground buildings 53. Wed again 54. Impedes 57. Rescued by plane 58. Examines closely 60. Brighter 63. Temper fit 65. Hatchets 66. Settee 68. Cry weakly 69. Corrode 76. Outstanding 79. Fellows 80. Not anybody (2-3) 81. Lodge firmly 83. Boundary 84. Media tycoon, press ...

85. Pixie 88. Disadvantage 90. Team 91. Tiny amount 93. Skin irritation 95. Paradise garden 97. Flourish of trumpets 99. Friends star, Jennifer ...

100. Periods 102. Degrade 104. Kinder 107. From Italy's capital 109. Rectify 110. Arabian prince 111. Ode 113. Glancing 115. Summer footwear 117. Cousin's mother 118. Nuclear explosive, ... bomb 121. Morally sound 122. Friendly 127. Chest 128. Gave weapons to 129. Childbirth contractions (6,5) 132. In unison (3,8) 133. Relative by marriage (2-3) 134. Call up (feelings) 135. Vigilant 136. Magician's cry (3,6) 137. Idealists 138. Rissoles 140. Of course 141. Document summaries 142. Blameless

Down

143. Tent cover 145. Corrected (text) 151. Former IOC president, Juan ..

Samaranch 154. Wanders 156. Fragrance 159. Reproductive cells 164. Sixth sense (1,1,1) 169. Imitative performer 170. Wood surface design 173. Hoped (to) 174. Versus 177. South American mountains 178. Effeminate 181. Facility 183. Commissioned soldier 187. Random 192. Hopping marsupials 195. Office workers 199. Usefulness 201. Chooses 202. Weather feature, El ...

203. Milan opera house, La ...

204. Bright signal light 206. Seductress, ... fatale 207. Map 208. Nimble 209. Executive jet 213. Car race city, Le ...

215. Small plums 217. Advertising sign 221. Jetties 222. Incidental comment 223. Complacent 224. Soccer net 225. Policy reversal (1-4) 226. Courtyard 228. Ambassadors' residences 234. Loud-hailer 236. Hypodermic syringes 238. Charged particle 240. Enquire intrusively 242. Showy flowers 243. Poetic name for Ireland, ... Isle 245. Apple groves 247. Parentless kids 248. Boost 250. Blood feud 251. Mesh 253. Rodents 255. Copied 257. Former Italian money unit 258. Fix 261. Respiratory ailment 262. Shoe lining 265. Rounded stone 266. Brainwaves 268. Put up with 269. The Queen's third son 275. Sitcom, My Name Is ...

276. Ruler, Genghis ...

278. Tidal river mouth 280. Carbonated 282. Opposed to 283. Resound 285. Throat-clearing noise 287. Wobble 289. Wage 290. Polluted 291. Assumes (attitude) 292. Guru 293. Ready, willing & ...

296. Impassive person 297. Upright 299. Make reparation 302. Wooden barrier 304. Farm sheds 305. Overly fat 306. Prudish 307. Elderly 308. Rugs 310. Luncheon meat 312. Bobs head 313. Timber cutters

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 51

Solution on Page 44

MEGA

CROSSWORD No 18 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

20 23 29

30

32 40

50

34 42

43

52

60

44

45

53

66

94

110

111

114 121

128

136

137

146

155

172

179

180

185

186

187

173

182

214 221

229

252

222

254

306

307

286

287

297

298

225

208

209

233

234

240

241

249

242

250

251

257

258

262

263 267

268

269

270

273 279 289

290

280

281

291

300

292 301

315

316 319

293

302 309

322

218

227

248

261

217

226

232

278 288

299

318 321

224

308 314

178

193

216

266

277

296

192

207

272

285

177

199

215

247

260

276

295

191

256

271

284

164

184

198

255

265

275

176

239

259

274

163

238 246

264

151

183

231

245

253

143

206

223

230

244

134

211

220

243

133

168

205

213

237

132

157

197

204

236

118

124

150

190

196

203

219

117

175

189

195

142

156

174

210

235

109

162

181

188

194

141

167

171

228

108

116

140

161 166

170

212

100

107

149

154

160

202

99

123

148 153

159

201

93

115

139

147

165

200

86

131

138

152

169

85

130

145

58

126

129 135

144

84

122

125

57

69

92

106

113

120

127

83

91

105

112

119

56

77

90

104

38

73

98

103

19

63

97

102

37

55

76 82

89

96

36

68

81

88

95 101

80

18

28

72

79

17

48

67

75

87

16

35

47

54

71

78

15

62

74

158

46

61 65

14

27

33 41

70

13

26

51

64

12

22

25

31

59

11

21

24

39 49

10

303 310 317

320 323

324

304 311

282

283

294 305 312

313

Page 52 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Classifieds Melbourne Observer

Incorporating Melbourne Advertiser, Melbourne Trader, Melbourne Homemaker and Victorian Rural News

Phone: (03) 9439 9927. Fax: (03) 9431 6247. E-Mail: editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

POWERFUL ADVERTISING ACROSS VICTORIA - IN PRINT AND ONLINE Reach an established readership across Victoria with a Classified Ad in the Melbourne Observer ne w spaper his ne w spaper is on new spaper.. T This new sale at hundreds of newsagents, st a ve r y W ednesda y att e w i d e e,, e ev Wednesda ednesday morning. Y ou can also rread ead the You newspaper every week, free e rr.. online MelbourneObserve att MelbourneObserv online,, a com.au

BUSINESSES

BUSINESSES

BUSINESSES

BUSINESSES

BUSINESSES

BUSINESSES

AGED CARE

CUPCAKES

FUNERALS

KEY CLASPS

PLUMBERS

SGI AGED CARE. Be assisted through the complex decision to enter into aged care. Phone: 9432 1233.

Web: www.sgicare.com.au

CUPCAKES DELIVERED. The gift that keeps on coming. Phone: 1300 980 822 Web: www. cupcakesdelivered.com.au

TRIBUTE FUNERAL SERVICES. All areas 24/ 7. Phone: 9449 5236.

Web: www.tributefunerals. com.au E-Mail: enquiry@ tributefunerals.com.au

FINDERS KEYPERS. Decorative key clasps.

Web: www.finderskeypers. com.au E-Mail: info@ finderskeypers.com.au Phone: 5822 2742

K & J WOOLLEY MASTER PLUMBERS. Phone: 0432 380 886.

Head Office: 9499 8222.

TRAVEL: NSW MERIMBULA

HOME

MATTRESSES

SHOP INSIDE. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchem living, kids. Whs 3, 347-349 Old Geelong Rd, Hoppers Crossing. Phone: 9931 0160. Web: www.shop inside.com.au

MATTRESSES GALORE. Cnr High St & Tooronga Rd, Malvern. Phone: 9822 9047. Web: www. mattressesgalore.com.au E-Mail: info@mattresses galore.com.au

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

BEDDING ROYAL SLEEP. Shop 1/ 76 Dandenong Rd West, Frankston. Phone: 9781 5934. Web: www.royal sleep.com.au E-Mail: info @royalsleep.com.au -YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

CAMPERS ECHO 4x4. Tried, tested and trusted for more than 30 years. Phone: 1300 324 649. Web: www. echo4x4.com.au -YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

CARAVANS NEW AGE CARAVANS. 2A Blauer St, Seaford.

Phone: 9786 8833. Web: www.melbrvs.com.au -YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

-YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

E-CIGARETTES LOGIC ZERO. Visit our online store now. www. logicecigs.com.au -YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

ENGINEERING TILCO ENGINEERING. 20 Thackeray St, Toowoomba, Qld 4350.

Phone: (07) 4633 0671.

Web: www.tilco.com.au EMail: barry@tilco.com.au -YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

-YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

HORSES GUTZBUSTA. Slow Feed Haynets. Phone: Nikki, 0418 282 097. E-Mail: philnik@skymesh.com.au -YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

FENCING

HOSPITALS

LONE PINE FENCING. Add value to your property.

Phone: 0432 529 356.

Web: www.lonepine fencing.com.au

ST JOHN OF GOD Frankston Rehabilitation Hospital. 255-265 Cranbourne Rd, Franknston.

Phone: 978 3333. Web: www.sjog.org.au

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

-YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

OVEN CLEANING OVENU. Oven Cleaning and Detailing Service.

Phone: 1300 683 681.

Web: www.ovenu.com.au Email: enquiries@ ovenu.com.au -YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

FREE ADS Private/non-commercial parties can sell their items with a free 40word Classified Ad in the Melbourne Observer. We publish your ‘For Sale’ or ‘What’s On’ ad for up to four week, without any charge. Simply lodge your ad at our Free Ads section at our website. Or post the coupon to PO Box 1278, Research, Vic 3095.

No Free Ads will be accepted by phone.

-YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

RADIO GOLDEN DAYS RADIO. Listen 95.7 FM. Music from the good old days of radio - evergreens, dance bands, jazz, country, serials, comedy, light classics and more. Web: golden daysradio.com Phone: 9572 1466

PARTY BOAT HYGEIA PARTY BOAT GEELONG. Wine, dine, relax on board. Phone: 5254 111. Web: www. hygeia.com.au

RECEPTIONS

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

Melbourne

Observer

Free Ad Form DEADLINE: 5pm FRI.

You can advertise FREE. No fees, no commissions.

FREE ADS are available for private/non-commercial advertisements, published at the absolute discretion of the Editor. ☛ MAIL to: FREE ADS ADS, PO Box 1278, Research, 3095 ☛ F A X FREE AD ADSS to: (03) 9431 6247. Use plain paper ☛ E -MAIL: editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au ☛ USE the FREE ADS form at our website

NO PHONE-IN SERVICE FOR FREE ADS

FREE 40-WORD AD WORTH $40 Complete this coupon, one word per square, BLOCK LETTERS PLEASE

SAN REMO BALLROOM. 365 Nicholson St, Carlton North. Phone: 9347 4000. Web: www.sanremoballroom. com.au E-Mail: functions@ sanremoballroom.com.au

SCOOTERS HEALTH & MOBILITY. 1/ 10 Dunlop Rd, Hoppers Crossing. Phone: 8368 2266. Web: www.health andmobility.com.au EMail: info@healthand mobility.com.au -YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

SHEDS SHADY CHARACTERS. Shade and Shed solutions.

Phone: 1300 557 953.

Web: www.shady characters.com.au -YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

VINYL CLADDING ROSENOW INDUSTRIES. Give your house a facelift. Covering all suburbsPhone: 1800 806 134.

PAID ADS

PLEASE NOTE

PROFESSIONAL QUILTING SERVICE. 308 FE Walker St, Bundaberg, Qld 4670. Contact: Kym Colgrave. E-mail: pqs@ dodo.com.au

-YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

Paid ads are available for a minimum weekly charge of $20 for 20 words, then $1 per word thereafter. All paid ads are to be prepaid by Credit Card (V, M, AE).

Phone your paid ad by 5pm Mondays to (03) 9439 9927. Price includes 10 per cent GST. Display ads are available at $15 per single column centimetre.

Full-colour can be arranaged, where available.

Local Media Pty Ltd (publisher of the Melbourne Observer) reserves the right to alter or omit advertisements and whilst every care is exercised, is not responsible for errors, misclassification, non-insertion. No allowance will b e made for errors, unless attention is drawn to them by 5pm Thursday, on the day following publication. No responsibility is accepted for the correctness or otherwise of advertisements lodged by telephone.

QUILTING

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

ADVERTISE FREE Lodge your FREE ‘For Sale’ ad y time 4 / 7, a ee a t an any time,, 2 24 att the Fr Fre Ads section at our website: MelbourneObserv er MelbourneObserver er..c om.au No fees, no commissions Conditions apply.

-YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

WALLS PENTA BLOCK. Contact: Jopel. Phone: 0421 068 273. Web: www.penta block.com.au -YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

WEDDINGS REG No (FOR CARS) CONDITION:

PRICE:

SUBURB:

PHONE:

DET AILS BEL OW N O T F OR PUBLICA TION TAILS BELO OT FOR PUBLICAT Name: ......................................................................................................

Street Address: ............................................................................................. .............................................. Phone: ........................................................

ART WITH DISTINCTION. Bridal bouquets preserved and framed. Contact: Steve. Phone: 9736 3033. Shop 7B York Rd, Mount Evelyn. E-Mail: artwithdistinction@ bigpond.com -YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

JJ’S PHOTOGRAPHY. Specialising in wedding photography and album design. Contact: Judy.

Mobile: 0427 100 818.

Servicing all areas. E-Mail: www.jjsphotography.com. au -YY15★

BEACH STREET APARTMENTS. 2015 holiday vacancies available. Ask us 1 Beach St, Merimbula NSW 23548. Contact Elizabeth. Phone: (02) 6495 2205. Web: www beachstreetapartments net.au E-Mail: info@ beachstreetapartments com.au

-YY16★ --------------------------------------------------

TRAVEL: NSW PROVIDENCE PORTAL

PROVIDENCE LODGE. Cottages $190 per night Your hime in the the Snowy Mountains. 68 Providence Rd, Providence Portal Phone: (02) 6454 2200 E-Mail: providencelodge@ skymesh.com.au

-YY16★ --------------------------------------------------

TRAVEL: QLD CAIRNS

ELYSIUM HOLIDAY APARTMENTS. 26 Veivers Rd, Palm Cove.

Phone: (07) 4059 1144.

Web: www.elysiumpalm cove.com.au E-Mail: info@elysiumpalmcove. com.au

-YY15★ ---------------------------------------------------

GROSVENOR IN CAIRNS. 186-188 McLeod St, Cairns, Qld Phone: 1800 629 179 Web: www.grosveno cairns.com.au E-Mail reception@grosvenorcairns com

-YY16★ --------------------------------------------------

TRAVEL: QLD CALOUNDRA

WINDWARD PASSAGE APARTMENTS. 31-35 Landsborough Pde Caloundra. Phone: (07) 5492 3666. Contact Harley and Mary. Web www.windwardpassage com.au E-Mail: holiday@ windwardpassage.com.au

-YY16★ --------------------------------------------------

TRAVEL: QLD COOLUM

COOLUM BAYWATCH RESORT. PO Box 344, Coolum Beach, Qld 4573.

Phone: (07) 5446 5500.

Contact: Elaine and Peter.

Web: www.coolum baywaych.com

-YY16★ ---------------------------------------------------

COOLUM SEASIDE APARTMENTS. Soak in the sun and that holiday feeling. Phone: (07) 5455 7200. Web: www coolumseaside.com

-YY16★ --------------------------------------------------

TRAVEL: QLD MERMAID BEACH

DIAMOND COVE RESORT. 16 Crescent Ave Mermaid Beach, Qld Phone: (07) 5572 2277 Contact: Carol Haskett Web: www.diamondcove com.au E-Mail: info@ diamondcove.com.au

-YY16★ --------------------------------------------------

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 53

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer Classifieds Phone: (03) 9439 9927. Fax: (03) 9431 6247. E-Mail: editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au BUSINESSES TRAVEL: QLD MOOLOOLABA

84 THE SPIT HOLIDAY APARTMENTS. 84 Parkyn Pde, Mooloolaba. Phone: (07) 5444 1642. Contact: Graeme and Lucille.

Web: www.84thespit.com E-Mail: info@84thespit. com -YY16★ --------------------------------------------------

WHAT’S PUBLICON NOTICES

AUTOSOL is available at all Super Cheap auto stores. See the display ad n this edition. Free sample offer: send self-addressed envelope to PO Box 309, Freshwater, NSW 2096.

Shine and preserve metal forever. Power to treat dull, corroded metal -YY16★

--------------------------------------------------

SATURDAY COMMUNITY MARKET WHITTLESEA. Sat., November 21.

8am-1pm. (3rd Saturday each month). Whittlesea Secondary College, Laurel St. Melway 246, G10.

Single sites from $20. Enquiries: 0419 357 395.

Arts, crafts, plants, clothes, food and more.

-YY16★ --------------------------------------------------

TED RYAN. Looking for a professional to run teh show? Compere/host, auctioneer, promotions, Agrade journalist, voice-over commercials, race caller, all sports, race nights, TVradio-press, respected member of the media.

Phone: 9876 1652. Mobile: 0412 682 927. ted. ryan@optusnet.com.au -YY14★

To lodge a paid advert, phone our office on 9439 9927 by 5pm Monday

WHAT’S ON METRO CINEMAS BORONIA. Dorset Square, 216 Dorset Rd, Boronia. Five min. walk from Boronia Train Station. Phone: 9762 8744. www,metroboronia. com.au Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

-YY16★

Melbourne

Observer

CONVERT YOUR UNWANTED GOODS INTO CASH

Take a free Classified ad in the Melbourne Observer, and sell your unwanted goods.

Simply complete the form on thispage, and mail to PO Box 1278, Research, 3095.

LATEST ADVERTISERS ACHIEVE HOME LOANS. Level 1, 62 Little Malop St, Geelongt, Vic 3220. Phone: 0409 190 180. Contact: Will. E-Mail: will@achievehomeloans.com.au -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

ALTONA RSL. 31 Sargood St, Altona, Vic 3018. Phone: 9398 2817. Contact: David Hanson, Club Manager. EMail: manager@altonarsl.com -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

JUDY’S VINTAGE COLLECTION. Phone: 0402 457 974. Contact: Judy. E-Mail: jlcartier@hotmail.com -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

KINNEAR EQUIPMENT. 457 Hopkins Point Rd, Allansford, Vic 327. Phone: 0400 154 377. Contact: Peter. E-Mail: peterkinnear@outlook.com -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

KLEINBERG AND EAGLE. 16 Wharf St, Torquay, Qld 4655. Phone: 0418 871 838. Contact: Daniella. EMail: kleinbergeagle@gmail.com -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

LA VANETA RESTAURANT. 45 Mt Eliza Way, Mt Eliza.

Phone: 9787 6111. Contact: Annette. E-Mail: hwent@ optusnet.com.au -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

MIRINDA STUD. 15 Wheeler Rd, Nar Nar Goon, 3812.

Phone: 0418 179 555. Contact: Peter Barry. E-Mail: plbarry3@bigpond.com -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

NATURAL HEALTH HYPNOTHERAPY. Mernda. Phone: 0458 898 670. Contact: Lisa. E-Mail: nhhypnotherapy @gmail.com -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

OLD WOPERANA WORKING FARM. 227 Taylors Rd, Tocumwal, NSW 2714. Phone: (03) 5874 2336. Contact: Mary Anne. E-Mail: ,aryanne@oldwoperana.com.au -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

LA VANETA RESTAURANT. 45 Mt Eliza Way, Mt Eliza.

Phone: 9787 6111. Contact: Annette. E-Mail: hwent@ optusnet.com.au -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

RYANS - AT NEWCASTLE EQUSTRIAN CENTRE. 2273 Pacific Hwy, Heatherbrae, NSW 2324. Phone: 0417 656 636. Contact: Heath Ryan. E-Mail: info@ryanshorses. com.au -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

TRAVEL JOY. Phone: (07) 3198 3332. Contact: Susanne. E-Mail: media@traveljoy.com.au -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

VICTORIAN ALPINE SECURITY. PO Box 93, Bonnie Doon, Vic 3720. Phone: 0417 502 161. Contact: Jenny.

E-Mail: vic.alpine.sec@bigpond.com -PP15★ ---------------------------------------------------

03 9908 2227

Page 54 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Melbourne

Observer

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Sport Extra

Huge night at Ballarat this Friday ■ One of the most anticipated races in their history will take place at the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club's track this Friday night (Dec. 4).

The Ballarat Cup Final, from heats staged last week, has drawn together an outstanding field, including Australia's headline grabbing dog, Fernando Bale.

The field for the Cup Final, in box draw order, is: 1. Alpha Zeus (trainer Jeff Britton, Anakie), 2. Rivergum Drive (Kelvyn Greenough, Pearcedale), 3.Fernando Bale (Andrea Dailly, Anakie), 4.

Ballerino (Joe Borg, Maryborough), 5. Unlawful Entry (Brett Bravo, Lovely Banks), 6. Magic Spring (Kelvyn Greenough, Pearcedale), 7.

Amaro Bale (Andrea Dailly, Anakie), 8. Shared Equity (Angela Langton, Anakie). Reserves: 9. Over Limit (Glenn Rounds, Devon Meadows), 10. Shared Bonus (Jeff Britton, Anakie).

Fernando Bale took the spotlight again in last week's Heat, returning to the winners' list on a quick back-up from his Melbourne Cup defeat six nights earlier.

Despite less than ideal weather on the night, Fernando Bale was back to his brilliant best recording a winning time just .12 of a second outside the track record.

Shared Equity was another impressive heat winner, running times that would have seen him match stride with Fernando Bale.

He will be suited by box eight in the Final, as he has the speed early, and box manners to potentially lead the field.

Indeed, there are a number of

Greyhounds

Party time

Macnivek. Victorian trained dogs have a good record in the Brisbane ■ Shepparton will race this Satur- Cup Final, and we look to have a day evening (Dec. 5), in place of strong winning chance again this year.

Traralgon, as the course there has been taken over by the local gallops club in preparation for their Traralgon Cup meeting this weekend.

■ Young Queensland enthusiast Instead, Traralgon greyhounds are Ashley Sommerfield has had the ideal holding an additional meeting tonight start to his career as a trainer.

(Dec. 2).

Sommerfield took his first dog to The two clubs return to their usual the races at Ipswich last week, and racing dates from next week. came away a winner.

Meanwhile Sale Greyhound RacThe feat is all the more remarking Club is conducting its annual able considering the 21-year-old hadn't Members' and Patrons Christmas even attended a greyhound race meetParty this Saturday (Dec. 5). ing until six months ago.

A picnic race meeting will be “It’s something I’ve been interested staged, with events for raced and in but I never thought I’d get involved unraced dogs to gain experience in so quickly, it’s all snowballed relatively fields of up to six. quickly," Sommerfield said.

A barbecue, children's entertainSommerfield, who started his inment and a visit from Santa will be volvement in the sport as an owner, among the other highlights on the day, and his mother look after their dog, which kicks off from Noon.

Anti Amigo, at their one acre property at Landsborough.

While Anti Amigo is an athlete on the track, at home things are much ■ Melbourne Cup champion Dyna more relaxed, with the dog preferring Double One is looking for another fea- to relax inside by the air conditioner ture race success - this time in the rather than in it's kennel outside.

Brisbane Cup. Sommerfield has only had his The $100,000 Cup Final is being trainer's licence for about a month, run at the Albion Park circuit tomor- and Anti Amigo gained a start in the row night (Dec. 3), and the Andrea Ipswich race only after scratchings.

Dailly-trained star has come up with “Greyhound racing is a great sport box four, after winning his heat in the to be involved in, I’ve received so fastest time of the night. much help from other trainers, ownThe Cup field, in box draw order, ers and when Anti Amigo raced last is: 1. Chatsworthy, 2. Old Spice, 3. week they all knew it was my first Fantastic Spiral, 4. Dyna Double One, race and starter so they were all cheer5. Cervelo, 6. Flash Reality, 7. ing for her," Sommerfield said.

Simpatico, 8. Cyndie's Magic. Re"You don’t get that in many other serves: 9. Inspector Cloud, 10. sports or industries."

Ideal start

with Kyle Galley speedy beginners engaged and Fernando Bale could have to work hard if he is to lead, which was his undoing in the Melbourne Cup Final.

Supporting the Cup Final on Friday night will be the Vic Breeders Maiden Series Final.

From four Semi-Finals staged last week, another high quality field will assemble.

Fastest qualifier from the Semi's was Kilty Express, who railed hard and scored running away from his rivals.

Races last week were run in blustery conditions, so perhaps some dogs were a little unlucky in their races and could show improvement if the weather conditions are more favourable this week.

As well as a strong 12-race card on Friday night, there will be a roving magician and other kids entertainment provided on course.

Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club do a great job in promoting the sport, and are sure to be rewarded with a big crowd to their course, located behind the trotting track, on Friday night.

Up north

● Ashley Sommerfield

Upcoming race meetings

■ Wednesday: The Meadows (Day), Bendigo (Twilight), Cranbourne (Night), Traralgon (N); Thursday: Shepparton (T), Sandown Park (N), Warrnambool (N); Friday: Bendigo (T), Geelong (N), Ballarat (N); Saturday: Shepparton (T), The Meadows (N); Sunday: Sandown Park (D), Healesville (D), Sale (T); Monday: Ballarat (D), Traralgon (T), Shepparton (N); Tuesday: Geelong (T), Horsham (T).

- Kyle Galley

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 55

Observer Victorian Sport

Showbiz Extra

Melbourne

■ From Page 48

Top 10 Lists

Michelle takes award ■ BecomIng the first woman jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, Michelle Payne has become not only the Toast of the Town, but organisations are rushing to place her in their promotions.

So much so Saxton's Speaker's Bureau has signed here, so up go the big dollar signs if you're after Michelle.

On top of this at our Personality of the Year Dinner of the Victorian Racing Media at the Emerald Hotel, she was voted theVRMA Personality of the Year, defeating a classy field of nominations.

Although a mere formality with her breaking history, she beat the likes of Melbourne Cup winning trainer, Darren Weir, and Australia's premier trainer Chris Waller.

Other nominations included Caulfield Cup and Emirates Stakes winning trainer, New Zealander, Murray Baker, who won the Cup with Mongolian Khan and the Stakes with the highly promising, Turn Me Loose.

The final entrant is one of the bright young lights in racing, Ciaron Maher, who won his third Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool, his home town, with Regina Coeli, won Brisbane's premier sprint, The Stradbroke, with Srikandi, and then achieved back to back wins with Jameka in the Victorian Oaks, having won it with Set Square the previous year.

On the day there were other awards, with the William Inglis Award won by leading photographer, Sharon Chapman, a well- deserved victory.

The Carnival tipping contest won by the Herald Sun's Michael Manley and the Story Award went to The Age's Pat Bartley.

On the day he VRMA Committee backed by its members ran a raffle for Joey Lynch, who is battling cancer.

Joey is the son of popular Committeeman and Age racing writer, Michael Lynch.

A figure of around $800,000 is needed to

Ted Ryan

● Michelle Payne Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754

treat Joey overseas, and so far donations are around the $300,000 mark.

Sharon Chapman donated a superb shot of Michelle winning the Cup on Prince of Penzance, signed by both Michelle and trainer Darren Weir.

Sportsbet kindly donated a $ 1000 betting voucher won by Scotty fromAAP, who kindly donated it back.

Well over $ 1000 was made on the raffle for the winning Melbourne Cup victory.

I have donated a great shot of Black Caviar winning the Newmarket and signed by both her trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen.

The VRMA and all of us in racing are right behind Michael and Joey, as the young man in his early twenties, help get the best of treatment overseas.

If you would like to donate check the website.

Supportjoey.everyday hero.com/au/joey

Sale time ■ The William Inglis Company will run their popular December Thoroughbred Sale commencing on Friday December 11 at their Oaklands Junction home just off the Tullamarine Freeway.

Three big names will go under the hammer with the sales getting underway at 11am.

First up will be the Broodmares, Lots 1 to 35.

Well- bred yearlings take up Lots 36 to 41.

Unbroken stock will feature in Lots 42 to 48.

Race fillies and mares take over Lots 49 to 76.

Then finally the racehorses and geldings from 77 through to 140.

All supplementary entries close this Friday (Dec. 4).

Three particular entries in the racehorse area caught my attention.

One in particular, namely Chivalry, be-

● Prince of Penzance Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 ing a long-time admirer of his, but I had waned a lot of late.

Now he will go under the hammer as lot 103, to dissolve a partnership among the owners.

He has promised so much throughout his short career, but has failed to deliver.

Having, started 22 times for only two wins with three minor placings.

Beautifully bred by Irish sire Street Cry from World Peace, Chivalry, in my opinion ,is well worth having a look at the parade ring, as he is a top looker, but I am still wondering whether he can still make a class racehorse.

Another couple of well performed thor-

Observer Racing

oughbreds will also go under the hammer at the sales; they are Sydney performer, Countryman, and Ballarat Cup winner, Junoob.

Countryman, is a good galloper byRoyal Academy from Lady Peony, and has the very good record, 22 starts for five wins and eight placings.

Although rising six, the gelding could be a very good pick up.

Junoob, a rising eight-year old, was trained by leading mentor, Chris Waller, and from 44 starts won 11 with nine minor placings.

After an indifferent season, he struck form with a vengeance winning the recent Ballarat Cup in great fashion.

However he could be a good pick up for another year of racing.

Farewell

● Junoob Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754

■ The Melbourne Racing Club is losing

ambassadors with the departure of top public relations lady, Stephanie Jones.

The bright young lady lit up the Press Room with her looks and personality, and was always on hand to handle any problem be it big or small - for us.

Stephanie spent some 18 months with the Club and was always on hand with any queries the press may have had.

Unfortunately I couldn't make it for farewell drinks with Steph at the Emerald Hotel last Friday, but I am sure there would be many there to say farewell to the bright young lady.

The racing industry could do with a lot more like her to keep the ball rolling especially with the media side of things.

Bon Voyage Steph, hope to catch up, if hopefully you return to our shores in some racing capacity.

- Ted Ryan

PAPER TOWNS [Drama/Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams, Nat Wolff].

MOMENTUM [Action/Drama/Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko].

FILMED IN SUPERMARIONATION. PENNY DREADFUL: Season 2.

ROGER WATERS: The Wall.

PSYCHO: The Film Collection: Psycho (1960), Psycho II, Psycho III, Psycho IV: The Beginning (TV Movie), Psycho (1998 Remake), Bates Motel (TV Movie), Two-Disc Documentary: The Psycho Legacy.

NEW RELEASE AND RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD THIS WEEK: THE STANLEY KRAMER COLLECTION: The Defiant Ones, Inherit The Wind, Judgment at Nuremberg, The Secret of Santa Vittoria.

PSYCHO: The Film Collection: Psycho (1960), Psycho II, Psycho III, Psycho IV: The Beginning (TV Movie), Psycho (1998 Remake), Bates Motel (TV Movie), Two-Disc Documentary: The Psycho Legacy.

SLEUTH [Mystery/Drama/Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine].

NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Season 2.

BATES MOTEL: Season 2.

PENNY DREADFUL: Season 2.

ROGER WATERS: The Wall.

CRIMINAL MINDS: Season 10.

PICKET FENCES: Season 3.

SAILOR MOON: Season 1 - Part 1.

DEREK: The Christmas Special.

FASTASY ISLAND: Season 1.

FANTASY ISLAND: Season 2.

GIDGET: The Complete Series.

WOLFBLOOD: Season 1.

MAD ABOUT YOU: Season 1.

MAD ABOUT YOU: Season 2.

NED AND STACEY: Season 1.

THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Season 1.

THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Season 2.

NEWS-RADIO: Seasons 1 & 2.

JUST SHOOT ME: Seasons 1 & 2.

JUST SHOOT ME: Season 3.

SEAQUEST: THe Complete Season 1.

THE HISTORY OF WORLD CUP CRICKET. WALT DISNEY (Superb Documentary).

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES. FILMED IN SUPERMARIONATION. MURDER IN THE FIRST: Season 1.

Joanna Lumley's TRANS-SIBERIAN ADVENTURE. LEWIS: Season 4.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS: Seasons 1 13.

ALL THE RIVERS RUN: Part 2.

GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE: Season 1.

THE 100: Seasons 1 & 2.

- James Sherlock

Sulky Snippets

■ Junortoun trainer Scott Dyer was successful with 5-Y-0 Elsu.Seymourofyou mare Kodiemali at Lord's Raceway Bendigo on Wednesday, taking out the Bendigo Party Hire Pace for C1 class over 1650 metres.

Driven by Ellen Tormey, Kodiemali starting from inside the second line enjoyed a lovely trip trailing the poleline pacemaker Here For The Good Times first up in Oz from New Zealand, which was kept honest all through the race.

Using the sprint lane, Kodiemala scored by 2.3 metres from Peace Of My Heart off a three wide trail last lap, with the heavily supported Here For The Good Times 4.9 metres away in third place. The mile rate 1-56.8.

■ Bridgewater's Col Redwood combined with Chris Alford to land the Danny Bouchea @ Springvale Stud Trotters Mobile for T1 & T2 class over 2150 metres at Bendigo with 8-Y-0 Pegasus Spur/Miami Spice gelding Brynmor in a rate of 2-01.9.

Bred, raced and trained by Col, Brynmor settled three back in the moving line from gate two on the second line, with Donna Castles' Antilogy leading from gate three.

Trailing up Upandgone in the final circuit, Brynmor despite making the home turn very wide, finished at a great rate.

Page 56 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Price $999

Trades and Services Guide Find the bes adespeople in the Melbourne Observ es Guide bestt trtradespeople Observer Services Guide.. TToo plac placee an ad, phone 1800 231 311 311.. er Tr ades and Servic Our Classifieds Departmen 30pm Monda rida or @MelbourneObserv er 9am-5.30pm Mondayy -F -Frida ridayy . Or email: edit editor or@MelbourneObserv @MelbourneObserver er..c om.au Departmentt is open 9am-5.

Or mail your ad to: Melbourne Observer, PO Box 1278, Research, Vic 3095.

Booking and ccoo ppyy deadline: 5pm FFrida rida erms and CConditions onditions - see our wwebsit ebsit ridayy s. Subjec Subjectt ttoo our TTerms ebsitee .

CONSULTING

BLUEDASH CONSULTING Bookkeeping, Accounting, BAS & Training 10% Discount on off-site work

CURTAINS, BLINDS

PHONE: 1800 231 311 FAX: 1800 231 312 EMAIL: editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

PAVING

TAX TIME

BRICK PAVING SPECIALIST

☛ All aspects of paving including: Claym Brick, Sandstone Bluestone & Castlemaine Slate ☛ All aspects of landscape construction 25 years experience ☎ Glen

0412 516 936

PC /CC16

RELAXATION MASSAGE

Call Ben 0403 591 216 ben.hurree@ gmail.com BB /I I16

Promote your business statewide in the Melbourne Observer Trades and Services Guide

THE GREA T MUSIC OF THE ‘30s T O ‘60s GREAT TO Str eaming thr ough the W eb treaming through Web PHONE: 9572 1466

goldenda ysr adio goldenday sradio adio..com

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 57

Travel Planner

Page 58 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 59

Travel Planner

Christmas by the Seaside in Merimbula

School Holiday Accommodation Available Two & Three Level Self-Contained Apartments Deluxe, Standard & Budget Queen & Twin Rooms Stay before Christmas and SAVE! January dates still available - GET IN QUICK!

PHONE DIRECT OR BOOK ONLINE NOW!

Page 60 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 61

What’s New

Burnwood BBQ's are manufacturers of high quality Charcoal BBQ's and Spits.

Large range of stock available to pick from, customers can also make to order. ● Large range of accessories: ● Prongs and plates (for Greek Gyros) ● Motors ● Grills ● Rotisserie sets ● Charcoal ● BBQ utensils By buying direct you cut down on price, not quality.

All of our BBQ's are made with 3mm thick steel.

Mention this advertisement when you purchase/order a BBQ or Spit for a free gift*. * Conditions apply: Promotion of free gift valid until October 15, 2015 or sooner should stock run out.

Page 62 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Page 63

Page 64 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au