Melbourne Observer. May 25, 2016

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SOUND OF MUSIC

● Amy Lehpamer stars as Maria Rainer in The Sound Of Music which opened on Thursday at The Regent Theatre. She is on stage alongside Cameron Daddo as Captain Georg von Trapp, Marina Prior as Baroness Schraeder, Jacqueline Dark as Mother Abbess, Lorraine Bayly as Frau Schmidt and David James as Max Detweiler. There are three different casts alternating in the roles of the six youngest von Trapp children during the Melbourne season. Playing Friedrich will be Alexander Glenk (15 years old, from Croydon Hills), Jackson Rudge (11, Sunbury) and Oliver Wellington (12, Mt. Waverley). Playing Louisa will be Emily Crockett (13, Ivanhoe), Darcy McGrath (11, Moonee Ponds) and Bronte Muir (13, Warrandyte). Playing Kurt will be Beaumont Farrell (11, Romsey), Tim Haskayne (12, Narre Warren) and Joshua Vass (12, Mt Martha). Playing Brigitta will be Amelia Szabo (11, Hampton), Karina Thompson (11, Mt. Waverley) and Chloe Vigilante (10, Wantirna). Playing Marta will be Rachel Kipnis (10, Camberwell), Ruby Moore (8, Armadale) and Kayla Muir (8, Warrandyte), and playing Gretl will be Portia Fragapane (8, Werribee), Annie Jones (8, Glenroy) and Heidi Sprague (8, Carrum Downs). More inside this week’s Observer.

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Death of TV pioneer Oscar Whitbread

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 5 Melbourne

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It’s All About You!

CCTV job: contractor must re-pay $36,642

● The Melbourne Observer’s Cheryl Threadgold with Oscar Whitbread at the 2014 annual general meeting of the South Central Suburban Regional Group branch of the Order of Australia Association, held at Beaumaris RSL. Photo: Malcolm Threadgold ■ One of Australia's pioneering producers of shows on TV, including The Flying Doctors, television drama, Oscar Whitbread, has died Rush, Bush Patrol and the ABC's 1970s crime aged 86. and political corruption drama, Power WithHe was the head of drama at the ABC during out Glory. the 1970s and later the Seven Network, and He is survived by his son, two daughters was responsible for some of the best-known and partner, Beth.

‘Sleuth’drama plays at The Basin Theatre

■ Contractor Shane Anthony Lott, trading as SL Tech Services, has been ordered to pay $36,462.45, to Acsess Health Pty Ltd, ocer a disputed installation of a security system and cameras at a South Melbourne aged car facility.

Victorian Civil andAdministrative Tribunal member Alan Vassie this month ordered the payment after Acsess disputed the installation.

Lott was contracted to supply part of the hardware, supply, install, commission and maintain the systems.

The company considered Loft’s installation did not operate properly, and that he had damaged the equipment while installing it.

Under pressure by the builder to complete by a deadline, Acsess engaged another security systems company, Hikmah IT and Engineering, to investigate why the security system was not operating problem wasw not operating properly, to fix it, and to complete the installation of the two systems.

Acsess claimed $83,87.41 as the alleged cost to it having the work replaced or rectified and completed.

Lott’s quotation of $39,050, comprised $23,363 for materials, and the balance for labour.

Acsess director John O’Callaghan, and Alcad Australasias Pty Ltd general manager Sergio Cavarra, were witnesses for the company.

The Tribunal was told that doors at the Napier St complex did not open and close automatically as the system was supposed to make it happen.

Alarms were going off at random and needlessly.

Once Hikmah had replaced other equipment, the system worked well.

It was alleged that Lott’s mode of installation was wrong.

Mr Vassie said that Acsess had succeeded on the issue of liability.: “It has made out the case that Mr Loss did not comply with the guarantees he would render his services with due care and skill, and that those services would result in a properly functioning security system.”

Melbourne

Observer In This 92-Page Edition

Long Shots: The Editor’s Column ........... Page 6 News: NZ artists perform tonight ........... Page 7 David Ellis: Travel and wine .................. Page 8 Victoria Pictorial: Nostalgic photos ........ Page 9 History Feature: Victorian dairying ....... Page 10 West Hollywood: Gavin Wood reports ..... Page 13 Kevin Trask: Whatever happened ......... Page 14 Classic Books: Little Women .............. Page 15 Showbiz: Darren McCubbin profile ........ Page 27 Rob Foenander: Country Crossroads ...... Page 28 Jim Sherlock: Top DVDs, Top 10 lists ..... Page 30 Our Reviewers Cheryl Threadgold Rob Foenander Aaron Rourke

Observer Showbiz Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

Attempted murder

■ A man has been charged with attempted murder after an elderly man was pulled from his engulfed Bellarine Peninsula home with critical injuries. The 79-year-old man has been fighting for life since the fire in his Clifton Springs home on Thursday, reports the Geelong Advertiser.

Court upgrade

■ Maryborough Magistrates’ Court will receive $30,000 in upgrades in a bid to improve the safety of the community and courthouse staff, rep[orts the Bendigo Advertiser.

Fruit fly trapping

■ Mildura’s mass fruit fly baiting and trapping program will start from scratch this winter after a failed attempt last year risked the pest getting out of control in the region, reports the Sunraysia Daily.

$3m budget blow

■ Murrindindi Shire Council’s projected annual loss has blown out to $3 million. This is double its planned deficit. The Council, based at Alexandra and Yea, is under investigation by the Local Government Inspectorate over a matter, reports the Melbourne Observer’s sister publication, The Local Paper.

Weather Forecast ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Today (Wed.). Scattered showers. 11°-17° Thurs. Rain. 8°-13° Fri. Scattered showers. 8°-15° Sat. Scattered showers. 8°-14° Sun. Partly cloudy. 9°-17°

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5

THE T OP 5 THINGS TOP WE C AN EXPE CT T O SEE CAN EXPECT TO IN 2017 ● Peter Hatherley and Justin Stephens in Sleuth. Photo: Gary Fevreau ■ The Basin Theatre Group presents the Performance Season: Until Saturday June playful drama Sleuth, playing at The Basin 4. Times: Thurs-Sat at 8pm; Sun at 2pm Theatre until June 4.

Venue: The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd, Playwright Anthony Shaffer’s light, enter- The Basin taining script contains playful drama and keeps Bookings: www.thebasintheatre.org.au or the guessing going with constant surprises.

1300 784 668.

- Cheryl Threadgold

5. Noni Hazelhurst completing her "Hall of Fame" acceptance speech.

4. Another Royal Commission into something.

3. A Telstra outage.

2. Shane Warne saying "It wasn't my fault!"

1. Brynne Whateverhernameis doing something or other.

Ash

Page 6 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

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Ash On Wednesday

Where does Orchestra go?

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..

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The Creation by Joseph Haydn will be per★ formed at St Paul’s Cathedral, at 7.30pm on Saturday, July 9. Mario Dobernig will be Conductor.

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● Martin Foley ■ State Minister Martin Foley was unable to tell the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee where Orchestra Victoria would be relocated to after he evicts them from their long standing home in Albert Park later this year, says Shadow Minister Heidi Victoria.

“Estimates suggest that the cost of putting the Orchestra in temporary accommodation could be up to $1 million per year, blowing out Labor’s budget,” says Ms Victoria.

“This information came as the committee heard that arts funding in the Government’s 201617 Budget was down 2.4 per cent.”

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● Heidi Victoria

On today ■ The Australian Marquee Entertainment Luncheon Club will hold its May event today (Wed.) at the Marequee venue in Toorak.

The convenor is Melbourne showbiz identity Jeff Joseph, who is freshly discharged from hospital after a bout of pneumonia.

- Kasi Collins

Smooth 91.5 FM celebrated its fourth birthday ★ last weekend. The station has now become one of Australia’s greatest radio success stories. Over

the past four years, the combined audience for both stations has grown, with a current result of 7.8 per cent.

- Jane Elliott

editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

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”

Short Shots

☛ ☛ ☛

Vituoso of the Sardinian guitar, Paolo Angeli, will perform at the Italian Cultural Institute, 233,Domian Rd, South Yarra, on Monday, June 6 at 6.30pm.

HeidiArena, Christie Whelan-Browne, Alison Bell, Peter Houghton and Toby Truslove will join Eddie Perfect in The Beast to be staged in Melbourne from August 25-September 4.

A media call is being held today (Wed.) at The Sumer, Southbank Theatre for Sydney Dance Company’s CounterMove, comprising works by Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman and multi-award winning Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela.

Angus Holland has been appointed Opinion Editor of The Age. Peter Meakin has stepped in to the newly cre ated role of Executive Consultant, News and Current Affairs for Network Ten. He was previously Executive Director, News and Current Affairs for the broadcaster and held senior editorial roles at Nine and Seven.

☛ ☛

Observer Treasury Observer Curmudgeon

■ Sign spotted: “House Guarded By Shotgun 3 Days A Week. Guess Which Days.”

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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.

Chef Gabriel Gaté will release a new book in ★ July: Delicieux: The Recipes of France. The book is being published by Hardie Grant.

■ “War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left.

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Thought For The Week

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Melbourne People

● Jeff Joseph

Lucy in Matilda ■ Lucy Maunder will join the Australian company as Miss Honey for the Brisbane and Perth seasons of Matilda The Musical.

Matilda plays at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, until September 4.

Book at Ticketmaster 1300 723 038 www.ticketmaster.com.au

Text For The Week

■ “The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm.

I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

– Jonah 1:11-12 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.

Matthew Cram is Acting Content Director for ★ 3AW while Nicole Denton is on leave until April next year. He will also continue to act as National Online Content Manager for Macquarie Media.

- Telum Media

Distinguished conductor Manfred Honeck and ★ critically acclaimed pianist Hélène Grimaudwill lead 97 of Australia’s finest young players on an

international tour ofGermany, Amsterdamand China, followed by performances in Melbourne and Sydney from July 21 until August 8. During their world tour, the AYO will perform Mahler’s Symphony No.1 in D major, Titan, Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major and Vine’s Celebrare Celeberrime.

- Magda Petkoff Jenna Hudson has left her role as a reporter ★ for A Current Affair to join Place Group as Head of Public Relations, commencing June 13.

- Telum Media

Melbourne is being advised prepare itself for a ★ zombie invasion: Rose McIver, best known for her role as rime-fighting zombie Liv Moore on iZombie, is headed to Oz Comic-Con Melbourne on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. New Zealandborn McIver is also known for her roles in The Lovely Bones, Once Upon A Timeand Power Rangers RPM. - Georgie Carroll

Portland Artist Residency will tonight (Wed., ★ May 25) open an exhibition of artists from their residency program. Artists, writers and musicians are

given an opportunity to focus on their creative process. Skills are shared and connections with the local community forged.

Artists include Rune Axisa, Melissa Boag, Marisa Corral, Mandy Gunn, Carolyn Hawkins, Sarah Hendy, Hyun Ju Kim, Damon Kowarsky, Susie Lyons, Margot Solomon, Georgina Wicks, Stephanie Peters, Rachel Peters, Brooke Thompson, Julian Twigg, Sophie Westerman, Deborah Williams, Anna Willoughby, Sandra Winkworth and Raphael Zimmerman.

The exhibition continues until July 8 at the Portland Arts Centre, cnr Glenelg and Bentinck Sts, Portland. Open weekdays 9 to 5 and most weekends 1 to 4.

- Damon Kowarsky

Fawlty Towers will be staged at the Comedy ★ Theatre, Melbourne, from September 21-October 23. The full company of Fawlty Towers – Live

on Stage are Ana Maria Belo (Miss Tibbs/Ensemble), Paul Bertram (The Major), Blazey Best (Sybil), Syd Brisbane (Manuel), Paul Denny (Mr Hutchison/ Ensemble), Stephen Hall (Basil), Aimee Horne (Polly), Andrew Johnston (Mr Walt, German Guest, Ensemble), Sarah Jane Kelly (Onstage Swing), Deborah Kennedy (Mrs Richards),Anna Lee (Miss Gatsby, Nurse, Ensemble), John Shearman (Taxi Driver, Inspector, Ensemble), Emily Thomas (German Guest, Ensemble), John Voce (Mr. Thurston, Dr Finn, German Guest, Ensemble), David John Watton (Mr Firkins, Mr Kerr, MrSharp, Ensemble).

- JP Bolton The Abbotsford Convent is about to launch its first-ever crowdfunding campaign to bring so★ lar and renewable energy to the site. The crowdfunding campaign goes live on tomorrow (Thurs.) via Pozible.com

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 7

‘Sound of Music’ climbs every mountain

Interview: Mike Brady with John O’Keefe

■ Do Re Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain and So Long, Farewell delighted the 2000-strong audience at Sound of Music at the Regent Theatre on Thursday.

The 2½-hour show (includes 20-minute interval) has everything.

Independent reviewer Simon Parris said on his Man In Chair website: “This polished production is set to continue the love affair, while introducing a new generation to the rose coloured optimism of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. ● At front from left: Louisa (Bronte Muir), Brigitta (Chloe Vigilante), Marta (Kayla Muir), Gretl (Annie Jones); second row, Kurt (Joshua Vass); third row, Friedrich (Jackson Rudge); with Maria (Amy Lehpamer), Captain Georg Von Trapp (Cameron Dadodo) and, at back, Leisl (Stefanie Jones).

Melbourne

Observer

Showbiz News

By Cheryl Threadgold and Di Rolle

NZ artists perform tonight Briefs Online

■ After almost two years of work the High Country History Hub will be realised by the end of June.

Comprising more than 10,000 pieces of historical information, the hub will go live for the first time this June.

The High Country History Hub is the first of its kind and is a joint collaboration between the Mountain Cattlemen’sAssociation of Victoria, the Mansfield Historical Society and the Merrijig Public Hall Committee.

- Mansfield Courier

■ New Zealand Chamber soloists are visiting Australia to present Aotearoa and Beyond tonight (Wed., May 25) at the Recital Centre.

From the classicism of 18th-century Vienna to Czech folk music, the romanticisms of 19th century Prague and the traditional Greek dances and contemporary classical techniques this concert takes listeners on a journey through time and culture.

This melting pot of influences and style defines the New Zealand Chamber Soloists as a piano trio, and capture what it means to be a New Zealand classical musician in the 21st century The New Zealand Chamber Soloists perform traditional classical repertoire and “new” music, unique to their Asia Pacific identity.

One of the New Zealand’s premier chamber music ensembles, James Tennant (cello), Lana Hall (violin) and Katherine Austin (piano) perform regular within New Zealand and abroad whilst returning a a close

Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

● New Zealand Chamber soloists Lana Hall, James Tennant and Katherine Austin association with the cert performances, juxta- work commissioned for Conservatorium of Music posing the old and new the trio from New at the University of worlds that meet in Zealand’s leading conWaikato.

Aotearoa, New Zealand. temporary composer Primarily exponents of Among the works that John Psathas, who also piano trio repertoire they New Zealand Chamber wrote the music for the collaborate with compos- Soloists will perform at 2002 Commonwealth ers and musicians alike to Melbourne Recital Centre Games and 2004 Olymproduce vibrant and elec- tonight at 6pm will be pics opening and closing trifying festival and con- Corybas, which was at ceremonies.

Don’t come back for 3 years: VCAT

■ Dominic Zaffina's application to the Taxi Services Commissionfor accreditation to drive a commercial passenger vehicle and private bus has been refused by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal member Elizabeth Wentworth.

Zaffina has been disqualified from applying for driver accreditation for a period of three years.

Zaffina was found guilty of two charges of ‘make threat to kill’ in 2011. He denies he did anything wrong, and says he is a victim.

Zaffina has a long history of psychological ill-health, the Tribunal was told.

● Mike Brady ■ Mike Brady is back in town and Melbourne Observer reporter John O'Keefe caught up with him to check his schedule.

JOK: You're just back from Ireland. Was the trip to record new material , drink Guinness, or catch up with new family members ?

MB: I was there to meet my first grandchild Mossy Brady and to do a bit of work/research on a new Irish album I,m planning.

I can't afford to catch up with all my relatives as Guinness is quite expensive these days and I have just too many.

JOK:As a youngster did you have any bonds with Ireland?

MB: Not really , although my dad always wanted to settle back in Dublin.

We ended up in Australia, probably because the weather seemed better from that distance.

The links were maintained with wearing shamrock on St Patricks Day and the march through the City which we just thought everyone did.

JOK: Once the final siren sounds are you due to resume your Saturday show on 3AW? MB: Well I never really know whether I'm back on or not till the last couple of weeks before the last game. I won the ratings in the last survey but that’s no guarantee. It’s been 14 years now so you just never know!!

JOK: On the subject of football, do the AFL have you on speed dial for another Grand Final Day performance ?

MB: Ha ha. I always say we’re ‘in talks’ but nothing is finalised. I have a good relationship with the AFL these days and I love to do it but the main thing is the game.

I must thank Meatloaf one day for helping me get back on the ‘playing list’.

JOK: What do you regard as your greatest musical achievement from the heady days of MPD until now?

MB: I think my Irish album Bloodlines The Australian Irish Story is the culmination of a lot of things I have learned in songwriting, and life in general..

Up There Cazaly is the most public thing and I'm proud of it but I like to think of myself as more than a ‘one trick pony’.

JOK: Are you still composing advertising jingles?

MB: Yes I still am but not as many as in the old days. I like to work with agencies that understand that many of my ‘old jingles’ are based on my strategic ability not just by capacity to write ditties.

All the music tracks I've done that are still on air and working decades after I wrote them have a strategy ‘superglued’ to them. Original tracks still outperform existing tracks licensed for a small fortune with no particular relevance to the product.

There are few exceptions.

JOK: Now here's your chance to plug your forthcoming gigs, June onwards.

MB: Ah well I'm off to Europe in June-July so I've got the Go Show Gold national tour in Oz late July. InAugust I'm doing a small tour with my Irish band around regional Austtralia.

September-October is footy time for me and I do lots of shows at clubs around the country doing the old favourites Up There Cazaly, One Day in September etc. Bookings 9646 8300.

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

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Travellers’Good Buys

with John Newton

Where do pencils come from?

■ For more than 180 years the UK’s first pencil factory was set up in the Lake District town of Keswick – and it’s still thriving.

It all started when graphite was discovered in the mid 1500s in the Borrowdale valley, 15 kilometres south east of Keswick.

But it was many years before the graphite mineral was developed into a writing instrument and a cottage industry of pencil making was developed.

This culminated in the establishment of the first pencil factory, which became the Cumberland Pencil Company in 1916.

After the famous Derwent brand of fine art pencils was launched in 1938, a big variety of artists’ materials has been developed – from traditional to highly innovative.

Today, the pencil factory, which was later extended to include a museum, is now based in Workington and is the only one of its kind in the UK, producing one million pencils a year which are exported to 72 countries worldwide.

The Cumberland Pencil Museumstill in Keswick – tells the story of pencil making. It attracts more than 80,000 visitors a year, with most eager to see the world’s tallest pencil, which took 28 men to carry into the museum in 2001. The giant pencil is more than 26 feet long.

● Pencil Museum workshop

Melbourne

Observer Wines & Liqueurs

with David Ellis

Get your tongue around this ■ Just as the ordinary winery moggy it was named after was anything than ordinary, here’s a wine that when you pull the cork proves that it too is anything than ordinary.

And you may need to tear this page out to remember the name, unless you’re pretty good with handling tricky words, because it’s called The Athazagoraphobic Cat, the word meaning a fear of being forgotten. It was so-named in deference to moggy Audrey Hepburn (known generally as Ordinary) that forever trotted along in the winery at the heels of D’Arenberg’s Chief Winemaker, Chester Osborn when he took over the job in McLaren Vale back in 1984.

Made from 95 per cent Italian-origin Sagrantino and a 5 per cent hint of French-origin Cinsault, the 2011 is a predominantly tannic drop but with suggestions of quite abundant flowery astringency, fruit flavours and some complexity from the Sagrantino, and with nice aromatics from the Cinsault that almost have one musing of a good Burgundy.

This unique ultra-premium $200 price-tag wine is available from the D’Arenberg Cellar Door in McLarenVale, or online at www.darenberg.com.au ; you’ll find it an ideal match with a Winter’s braised lamb, pork roast or, as we did, purely on its own.

One to note ■ The Hunter Valley and the best of Semillon are synonymous, and a now-available 2011 Margan Aged Release Semillon off the company’s Beltree Vineyard that was planted back in the 1930s by the Elliot family, is one that will have you coming back for more… and more.

Made from grapes off vines yielding less than a tonne to the acre, this is a wine of beautifully crisp citrus characters that finishes equally crisp and clean, and reflecting what top-notch Semillon is all about. And while making for marvellously enjoyable drinking now at five years of age, it’ll reward even further with another ten to twenty years in the cellar (if you’ve the patience.)

Pay $50 and drool over this one’s lovely aged characteristics with grilled fish or lobster, or again purely on its own.

Pictured ■ A tongue-twisting out-of-the-ordinary drop named after an out-ofthe-ordinary moggy.

■ Marvellously rewarding drinking now, and more so if you’ve the patience to put it away in the cellar for another 10 or 20 years.

Other major museum exhibits are a pencil worth between 2000-3000 pounds given to the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and the replica of a top secret, gadget pencil used

by Lancaster Bomber airmen to escape Nazi Germany.

The secret map and compass pencil was one of hundreds manufactured in secret by the pencil company.

There are now thought to be just 10 of the pencils still in existence worldwide, with one on display at the museum and the other held by the UK Government.

Containing a secret compartment for a tiny compass and one of three tightly rolled escape maps on specially produced tissue paper, the pencils were distributed to RAF pilots to help guide them home safely back through the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland, as well as being sent to prisoner of war camps.

Now, to mark the end of World War II, a commemorative pencil sets have been created honouring these ingenious escape kits.

They’re on sale for 20 pounds. For more details, go to: www.pencil museum.co.uk Manager of the Pencil Museum, Dawn Walker, said: “The top secret pencil we have on display at the Museum is a truly ingenious device supplied to RAF aircrew and prisoners of war trying to escape from the depths of wartime Germany.

“The challenge of recreating such a remarkable piece of our heritage was immense, but this look-a-like pencil really does capture the minute details needed to conceal a hidden map and compass without anyone noticing.

“This specially devised wartime replica means anyone interested in history, heritage and intrigue can now become a ‘secret agent’ in their own right.”

War veteran, Douglas Newham, said, “I’m proud to have received this special replica, on behalf of the many servicemen who benefitted from this cunningly disguised gadget during a very dangerous and unpredictable time.

“Looking at it now, it’s amazing to believe that such an unexpected object had such an important role in outfoxing the enemy and maybe even saving lives.”

Managing Director of Derwent, Simon Wells, added: “It is quite incredible to think of the role pencils created in Keswick played in the war effort and escape network.

“We wanted to honour this feat of engineering and are delighted to have produced a commemorative pencil and compass set exclusively for The Pencil Museum.”

Derwent’s commemorative sets come in a wooden box, containing one complete pencil and includes all the original features of the 1940s escape kit.

That includes a compass, pencil barrel, ferrule and eraser, alongside an OS map showing the Pencil Museum’s home in Keswick and the nearby mines at Seathwaite where graphite was first discovered in the 1500s.

Did you know the phrase ‘black market’ comes from the act of smuggling graphite? But it marked a smuggler’s hands – so everyone knew what they’d been doing.

Graphite miners were stripped and search when they came out of the mines, because graphite was so valuable it was worth more than gold.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, y Mayy 25, 2016 - Page 9

Victoria Pictorial

Werribee Nostalgic Photos

● Corpus Christi, Werribee. 1961.

● Werribee Post Office. 1911.

● Werribee Bridge, 1911.

● Presbyterian Church, Werribee. 1911.

● Municipal offices, Werribee. 1911.

● Werribee Railway Station, 1911.

● Church of England, Werribee. 1911.

● Werribee Masonic Hall. 1968.

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Victorian History

Beginnings of a country dairy company Mr. Purcell: I suggested that something of the kind should be done a few weeks ago, and I would be glad to invest a like sum. But I think it would be better to form a company on the lines laid down

by Mr. Hunt. I will move- "That in tile opinion of the meeting the Yea Dairy Company be formed, with a capital of £6000, in 12,000 shares of 10s. each; 3000 shares to be the first issue; 1s. per share on application, and 1s. 6d. per share upon allotment" Mr. Quinlan' seconded the motion.

- June 1891

● Thomas Hunt ■ The plight of Australian dairy farmers, publicised in the media over the past week, has sparked memories of the golden days of dairying in the Yea district.

The Yea press, on June 4, 1891, announced the formation of a dairy and creamery.

“In accordance with an advertisement which appeared in the two previous issues of The Chronicle, a meeting was held at the Shire Hall, Yea, on Friday afternoon, when Mr T. Hunt, M.L.A., delivered an address on the modern system of dairying,” the newspaper said.

“The hall was about half filled, and a few ladies were present. Mr. J. C. Sanders, President of the Shire, occupied the chair.

“The best potted butter manufactured during the past season did not realise more than 5d. per lb.; while that made under the creamery system realised at least 10d. per lb. in London,” the report explained.

“The farmers who adhered to the old system were, there fore, losing heavily, and giving a maximum of work for a minimum of profit.”

Has anything changed in 125 years?

Some 12 tons of butter was being shipped from the Yea district every week during 1891.

“Before selecting the site it would be best to arrange the nominal capital, elect provisional directors, and arrange that the allotment of shares should close on a certain day, and as soon as that was done, then arrange for another meeting, and elect permanent directors.

“As they were aware, the district was essentially a dairying district, and he believed that 12 tons did not adequately represent what went from here every week; but if a central dairy factory were established, there would be a large increase, for many men would then put up sheds and house their cattle, and so increase their milk supply.

“Every man in a district should help in a movement of this kind, for in helping his neighbor he was helping himself,” Mr Hunt said.

The newspaper said: “So far as he was concerned, he was an enthusiast in this matter. He came from a district in Ireland where he believed the best butter in the world was made.

“They had all heard ofithe Cork butter, but the Cork market drew its supplies from the neighboring counties, in one of which (Tipperary) lie first saw the light.

“A statesman fronm this colony, who visited that county some years ago, brought one circumstance under his notice, which had made a great impression on hini. In that country there was a town of the same

June: Messrs. J. C. Sanders, Yea; T. Wilson, Ghin Ghin; J. Betts, Whittlesea-road ; J. McCormick, Molesworth; J. Quinlan, Yea River; C. Anderson, Yea; J. Kelly, Yea; E. S. Purcell, Yea; T. S. Scale, Deepdene; D. Ferguson, Azwarby ; E. McCristal, Molesworth ; W. Oliver and J. Borrie, Whittlesea road, five to form a quorum; applications for shares to be received up to Saturday, the 20th June.

The rule adopted in other places had been that the directors should act for the first six or twelve months free, so that they should all give their services in furtherance.of the good work.

Mr. Hunt responded to a vote of thanks, “saying it was a labor of love, as he was a regular enthusiast, and concluded by moving a vote of thanks to the chair -. Mr. E. S. Purcell consented to act as Hon. Secretary, and has convened a meeting of the provisional directors”.

The June 11, 1891 issue of The Yea Chronicle reported that A draft prospectus was prepared by the Hon. Secretary.

● Premises of the Yea Dairy Company name, which was not much larger than Yea, and the price obtained there for butter was £1,500,000 per an■ Thomas Hunt (1841-1934), journalist, was born on September 15, num.”

1841, at Cappawhite, County Tipperary, Ireland, the third son of John Mr Webster advised that they Hunt and his wife Anne, née O'Brien. He was educated in parish schools. should not act precipitately. From With his parents and four others of the family he arrived in Victoria in some cause or another, there were 1858 and settled at Kilmore, the home of two older sisters who had not so many people present as had reached there four years earlier. been expected, and he did not think Hunt rejected an opening in the Colonial Bank and joined the staff of that many people knew about the the Examiner and Kilmore and McIvor Weekly Journal, at the same time meeting. studying law. In 1865 he founded the Kilmore Free Press with which he He questioned if it would prove a incorporated the Examiner in 1868. success until they made another atHe remained editor and proprietor of the journal until 1933. He actempt to get the parties who were quired or established other country papers, the Seymour Express in 1872, really interested to come together. the Lancefield Mercury in 1874, the Nagambie Times in 1878 and the He would advise them to postMoira Independent in 1883, but they had passed from his possession by pone the resolution till that was done. the 1890s.

Mr McCormick: If a company is So also had much of his real estate on the collapse in 1891 of the formed, will it be for the purpose of Imperial Banking Co. Ltd, of which he was a director with Sir Benstarting creameries outside, or estab jamin Benjamin. In 1868 Hunt had married Catherine Mary, daughter lishing a factory in Yea? I would go of Martin Flynn of Melbourne; she died without issue in January 1914. into it if creameries are to be started In 1874 Hunt stood for the Legislative Assembly seat of Kilmore in a outside, but I would not if it is only to three-cornered contest, one of his opponents being Sir John O'Shanassy. start a factory in Yea. Hunt won the seat by 44 votes, a victory which he later cited to explain Mr. Webster: As there are so some of the differences that developed between O'Shanassy and himmany factories in Melbournre, would self. He retained his seat through changes of distribution which made him member for Kilmore, first member for Kilmore and Anglesey in 1877-88 it not be better to establish the and member for Anglesey in 1889-92. creameries first, and send the cream He served on two royal commissions: one on closed roads in 1878-79 down? If the factory starts.in Yea, it and the other on gold-mining which included in its report of 1891 a recomwill cause jealousies, and it will be mendation for the redevelopment of the Reedy Creek fields, one of Hunt's advisable to avoid them. particular interests. After defeat in 1892 he returned to journalism, except Mr Galvin said it would he advis for a short trip to Ireland in 1896 as Victorian representative at the Irish able, as far as possible, to avoid loNationalist Party Convention in Dublin. cal jealousies, and he would thereIn March 1903 Hunt was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly for fore like to make the resolution as Anglesey which became Upper Goulburn after 1904. In November 1908 explicit as possible. he became president of the board of land and works, and commissioner He moived that the words, "with of crown lands and survey in Bent's ministry. creameries at Molesworth, DoogHis tenure in office was brief for Bent's fall in January 1909 also allook, Flowerdalde, and other centerminated Hunt's parliamentary career. He then remained in Kilmore tres," be added after the words " Yea where he died on December 8, 1934.

Dairy Company."

Quiet in Parliament, Hunt was voluble over a wide field in his editoMr Purcell having expressed his rials and private conversation. He was an early supporter of Sir Graham concurrence, the motion was then Berry and the ideal of a 'yeomanry' of smallholders. His association with put and carried unanimously.

Irish and Catholic affairs and public figures was close and continuous Mr McCormick moved that the and he attained the status of a leading voice in the Irish community following gentlemen be appointed before the end of the 1860s. provisional directors, and that appli- Australian Dictionary of Biography cations be received up to the 20th

Thomas Hunt

● Eaton Stannard Purcell It was decided to register the company as soon as 2000 shares were taken up - the list to close on Thursday, the 9th of July; and that any subsequent issues of shares should be at such premiums as the Directors might think fit.

“Mr. Bett offered the use of a building for the creamery at Whittlesea road, and Mr McCormick thought arrangements might be made to rent the cottage lately occupied by Mr George Coles at Moles-worth,” said the report.

“It was decided to make an active canvass of the district without delay, as follows:- Ti-tree, Mr. T. S. Scale; Whittlesea-road, Mr. J. Bett; Flowerdale, Mr. C. Anderson; Homewood, Mr. J. Quinlan; Ghin Chin, Mr. T. Wilson; Molesworth, Messrs. J. McCormick and F. M'Cristal: Yea River; Messrs T. S. Scale and D. Ferguson; Yea, Messrs.

J. C. Sanders and E. S. Purcell.”

Simultaneously, a meeting was being held to form the Alexandra Dairy Company Limited.

The Standard of June 26, 1891, reported that amongst those present were: Messrs J. Fox, P. Dunn, Jas. Dunn J.P., S. Allardyce J.P, A. Dohbson, W. Dodd, W. Robb, T. Robb, R. Rennie, J. Peters. J. Hoban, J. Dick, F. Saunders, P. Lewis. F. Popple, T. Hall, F. Nicholson, Jno. Dunn, J. McMinn, T. Graham, and J. A. Gordon.

The July 16 issue noted: “A meeting of the Provisional Directors of the Yea Dairy Factory Company was held at the Shire Hall on Thursday afternoon. Present : Messrs. J. C. Sanders (in the chair), E. S. Purcell (Hon. Sec.), T. S. Scale, J. Quinlan, J. McCormick,.J. Bett, C. Anderson, M. J. Kelly, J. Borrie, E. McCristal. Messrs. W. Smith (Molesworth), James Drysdale, F. W. Petch, and H. Rivers (J. H. Teague and Co.), were also present.

“Mr Purcell read a letter from Mr McManus, Manager of the Traralgon Creamery and Butter Factory, offering to lay out a plan of a suitable factory, to purchase the machinery, and to fix it in the most advantageous position, provided the company placed the order for the machinery in his hands. ● Turn To Page 11

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 11

Victorian History

● Part of the prospectus published in The Yea Chronicle on Thursday, June 11, 1891

● From Page 10 The writer went on to say that factories were often fitted up in a very expensive manner, and without much thought as to conveniences for working it afterwards, and a practical man like himself could save them a great deal of expense and trouble, while ordering the machinery through him would not cost the company one penny more.

“It was generally thought that it was premature at the present stage to entertain Mr. McManus's offer.

“The Hon. Secretary reported that over 1200 shares had been subscribed for (220 of which had been obtained by Messrs. McCormick and McCristal), and if the other 700 to 800 were taken up the company could then be registered.

“Mr Scale felt pretty certain that if they adjourned for a week the 2000 shares would be taken up, as many were holding back to see what would be done.

“Mr J.McCormick endorsed what Mr Scale said. He and Mr McCristal had been out at Whanregarwen, but some of the people were then doubtful as to whether they would throw in their lot with Alexandra or Yea. “He believed they could get twice as many shares off if they went out again, particularly if Mr Smith would go out with them.

“Mr Smith said he would be happy to do so.

“The Chairman thought they had done very well. He believed that the Provisional Directors would take up more shares rather than allow it to fall through. He would do so himself, though he was in no way interested in dairying.

“Mr. Quinlan : But it will improve the value of your land. You know that very well.

“Mr Scale proposed, and Mr McCormick seconded, that the meeting stand adjourned till Saturday week, at 3 p.m.

“Mr Purcell was quite satisfied that, if the gentlemen who promised to canvass would go through the country and lay the matter properly before the people, there would. be no trouble in getting off the company, and that in 12 months the next issue of shares would be issued at a premium of 5s.

“He suggested that the meeting should be adjourned for a fortnight, as the matter had been hurried on a little too fast.”

The August 27 issue said: “Mr Galvin aked if any sites had been selected for the factory or creameries “The Chairman said the provisional directors were in favor of a site owned by Mr Purcell near the Yea Railway Station, but he did not like sellingit tothe company, lest it should be said that he wanted to

make something out ofit. However, after some pressure, Mr Purcell had:offered it at the price paid to the Crown for the land, or to lease it at a nominal reutal of £1 per annum, if the directors thonght it to the interesis of the company to have the site.”

In the same issue: the Editor (Patrick Galvin) noted: "We undertand that a site close to the Yea Railway Station hasbeen purchased by the diretors from Miss Norman.

“It stands on high ground, can be easily drained, and is well adapted for the purpose."

On February 11, 1892, The Yea Chronicle noted: “It was decided that the time had arrived for taking the necessary steps for the erection of a Butter Factory, so as to have it in full working order by next September.

“There are mur murs just now amongst some of the milk suppliers that they could do better by keeping their milk at home, making the cream into butter, and sending it to Melbourne.

“It is well to remember, however, that the season has been a very dry one, and that a large quantity of butter has been exported, and is still being exported, to Great Britain.

“But that will not last much longer.

Butter cannot be profitably exported after this month, and a few days' heavy rain will make feed just as plentiful as it is scarce now, with the result that all the small dairies in the country, whose churns are at present lying idle, will be in full swing again.”

In April, the paper said: “ The Directors of the Yea Dairy Company have raised the price of milk at the Molesworth and Strath Creek Creameries to 5d per gallon.”

The first half-yearly meeting (May, 1892) recorded: “They had purchased nearly 55,000 gallons of milk, and that between £800 and £900 in hard cash had been brought direct into the district through the company. The suppliers had been paid fortnightly, and the whole district must have been much benefitted.”

A paragraph was published in early August 1892: “The Directors of the Yea Dairy Company have accepted the tender of P. Mitchell and Sons, builders, Collingwood, for the erection of the Yea Dairy Factory, at £222 14s. 10d.

“Eight other tenders were received. The contract has been signed, and work will proceed without delay.”

The Chronicle said, on October 6: “The Yea Dairy Factory will have the separators at work in in a few days, and the Murrindindi Creamery is now at work; while the Molesworth, Homewood, Strath Creek, and Spring Valley Creameries are all in full swing.”

Earlier issues had spoken of connections with Terip Terip and

Kanumbra creamery connections.

In October 1892, Editor Patrick Galvin reflected on the progress of the Yea Dairy Company: “Looking over our files, we find that Mr David Wilson, at the request of the Yea Shire Council, delivered his first lecture on the subject of "Co-operative Dairying" in the Shire Hall on Thursday, the 25th September, 1890.

“Mr Wilson obtained a promise from Messrs. J. Quinlan, T. Wilson, and P. Galvin that they would make a canvass amongst the farmers, and endeavor to start a factory or creamery.

“They did so, and a meeting was held em Thursday, the 23rd October, 1890, when the canvassers made their report. Something akin to jealousy was manifested, but as Mr. E. S. Purcell remarked that if farmers could be shown how they could pick up 25s for £1 they would soon come forward to take it.

"A few months hence we hope ,to be able to chronicle the fact that Yea Factory butter has fetched the highest price on the London market.”

The Chronicle (Thursday, October 20, 1892) said: “The Yea Dairy Factory began work in real earnest on Monday, when nearly one thousand pounds of butter of the very best quality was turned out.

“The machinery, though hurriedly put together, worked without a hitch, and all who had a hand in it deserve to be congratulated on the efficiency of their work.

“It remains with the dairy farmers of this district to make a real and permanent success of the Factory.

“We hail with satisfaction the opening of the Yea Dairy Factory, believing as we do that it will tend to keep the land in reasonably-sized holdings, and that it will assist farmers in obtaining better results for their hard toil.

“We congratulate the Directors and all who have had a hand in bringingit about, ard we feel sure that it will prove a lasting benefit to the whole community.”

The first day of production had taken place in the presence of about 40 spectators and most of the directors of the company, the newspaper recorded.

“As soon as it became generally known that butter-making had really commenced, group succeeded group of visitors, and the officers of the company were kept as busily employed answering questions during the day as attending to their various duties.

“Mr. J. Christensen, the Manager, was highly pleased with the quality and color of the butter, and feels confident it will take front rank amongst the best ,brands of factory butter put on the Melbourne or London market.”

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Freemasonry’s straight shooter ■ The dictionary meaning for 'straight shooter' is: straight shooter noun 1. an honest and forthright person.

This could not be any more correct, with the latest gold medal at the Police and Emergency Services Games going to Dale Russell of Wimmera Lodge No. 70.

Director of Ceremonies Dale participated in the Games on April 13-14, competing in shotgun shooting.

Dale was not alone however.

There were approximately 70 shooters in three grades, that is A, B and C. Dale shot in the C grade with five others.

He shot 23 out of 25, as did five other shooters.

They then had a 'shoot off' and Dale got 5 out of 5 to win the event.

This is Dale's first Gold medal since competing in the games which he started in 1990.

Facelift for Centre

● Dale Russell, Freemasons Victoria's straight shooter

Foundation supports Green community

r ● A donation has been made to Fronditha Care \Image: Neos Kosmos newspaper ■ A joint donation of $30,000 from the Freemasons Foundation Victoria Ltd and Gregorios Lodge No. 865 will help make the refurbishment of the Fronditha Care residential aged care facility a reality.

The funds were donated to the St Albans facility as part of its Radiothon annual fundraiser which was held from Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8.

3XY radio broadcasters presented a live program that saw phones ringing non-stop from callers with donations, while others chose to make their financial contributions in person at the radiothon headquarters.

Participating in the event were the Victorian Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos; television personality and journalist George Donikian; State member for Oakleigh, Steven Demopoulos; Delphi Bank's, Paul Orfanos; and renowned Greek singer Antonis Remos.

The Radiothon enabled the not-for-profit aged care provider to raise an impressive $671,300 over the two day event, and achievement that Fronditha Care CEO George Lekakis said was attributed to the dedication and commitment of those involved in the event's organisation and the generosity of those who donated.

Fronditha Care Residential Aged Care services those of Greek and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

■ Lodges meeting at the Masonic Centre at 114 Lonsdale St, Hamilton, will soon experience an update of their premises, funded by Freemasons Victoria.

The works to be carried out will include: a complete repaint of the exterior and partial repaint of the interior, new LED lighting in the Lodge room, new external doors and signage and minor sealing works on the roofing, switchboard update, etc.

The work is scheduled to be carried out during August and September this year.

New seating, from the Dallas Brooks Centre on Albert St East Melbourne, soon to be demolished for re-development of the centre, has already been installed in the Lodge room.

In common with most organisations membership has been falling, but the Hamilton premises is regarded as important by Freemasons Victoria as a major regional centre.

The Lodge Secretary of 16 years and former District Coordinator, Brian Wallwork, a resident of Branxholme, sees the future as bright for the Lodges that meet in the Centre.

"We have proved the quality of our work at Hamilton, receiving full accreditation from Freemasons Victoria in 2011 and re-accreditation in 2014. This process involved a thorough investigation of our administration, and inspection of our ritual and ceremonial delivery," Mr Wallwork said.

"Accreditation gave our members the confidence needed to ask their friends to join our Lodge and we gained seven new members and a number of joining and re-joining members. This has not been sufficient to counter losses, however, mainly due to deaths and relocation, membership continues to fall, very slowly," he said.

"We are now actively seeking new candidates for Freemasonry with the overarching aim of saving our Lodge for future generations. It is not unusual for our members to clock up 50, 60 and (recently) 70 years of membership so we must be doing something right," Brian said. The Lodge celebrated its 150 year anniversary in 2014.

Reading out of poverty ■ We send our kids to school at five years old, back-pack on shoulder, lunch box in hand, with the faith that we have done all we can leading up to this important time in terms of 'school preparedness'.

This might have meant learning a little about numbers, drawing and reading them a few stories before bed.

Familiarising children with books, words and stories isn't something that comes naturally for some parents however, especially those from a non-English speaking background, or for those parents who may not be able to read themselves.

As Australia becomes more and more multicultural, this disadvantage means that more and more children from these families enter school on the back foot.

Their reading and writing ability is behind, and they may lose faith in their abilities in this area quicker than other children.

But this cycle can stop. By intervening with parents and children from the age of 0-5, Reading Out of Poverty introduces reading to children, provides them with access to books and educates parents about the connection between love and reading.

Last Friday (May 20), Freemasons Foundation Director David Gibbs presented a $4600 cheque to the organisation to enable a series of 'pop

● Freemasons Foundation Director David Gibbs with Reading Out of Poverty's Emma Pearce and Katie Pinchas. up' libraries in Melbourne's outer sub"Our volunteers will demonstrate urbs, and to assist in the further devel- to parents how to read to their chilopment of its collection of resources. dren, and how reading can help conResources will include bi-lingual nect with the child. books, and books in other languages.

“This empowers parents and enReading Out of Poverty's Project courages the routine of reading reguManager Emma Pearce said that the larly," she said. small not-for-profit organisation also Reading Out of Poverty has alaims to develop more community pro- ready established programs in 22 grams where volunteer readers assist communities as well as in indigenous parents and children in play groups, communities of the Northern Terrihubs and public libraries. tory.

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, May 25, 2016 - Page 13

West Hollywood

Real Thing takes on Nashville

■ Hi everybody, from my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites comes this week's news.

Hollywood, West Hollywood

Russell on the move

■ In my mind he has the purest voice in modern music. Pop idol and now country-blues singer songwriter Russell Morris is doing shows in Nashville and Brazil.

Russell's biggest song The Real Thing was number one in Australia in June, 1969 and without any promotional support the song written by Johnny Young and produced by my dear friend Ian 'Molly' Meldrum went number one in Chicago, Houston and New York.

In 1973, Russell moved to London to record an album only to discover there was no record contract waiting for him so he moved to New York.

After releasing an album with Wings of an Eagle, Sweet, Sweet Love and the single Let's Do It, Russell relocated to Los Angeles for more recording.

It was when he stayed at the Tropicana Hotel, which is now the Ramada Hotel, he recorded across Santa Monica Boulevard at the recording studio where the Doors recorded LA Woman.

Russell is also touring San Paulo, Brazil this week.

Pictured on a brief stop over, Managing Director, Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, Alan Johnson, with Russell Morris at the Route 66 marker in the hotel.

● Alan Johnson with Russell Morris at the Route 66 marker in the Ramada Hotel and Suites.

Trump’s business booms ■ Cash has been pouring into presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's businesses during the lead up to the presidential election, according to a Washington Post analysis of his financial records.

Based on his federal disclosure forms, revenue has increased by nearly $190 million, with money coming from book royalties, branded merchandise, and golf courses.

At his posh Florida resort Mar-a-Lago, revenue hit $30 million since the beginning of his campaign, nearly double the $16 million recorded in 2014.

Even sales of the orange-hued demagogue's bottled-water brand, Trump Ice, have jumped, to $413,000 from $280,000 in 2015.

Joe Jackson

■ The controversial and controlling father behind the Jackson family empire is in a Los Angeles hospital. Sources said that Joe had been visiting his doctor for a routine visit on Friday, May 13.

He became ill during the examination and was rushed to the hospital. It's the latest brush with death for Michael Jackson's dad, who was last hospitalised in Brazil while travelling with French bombshell Angelina Stilitti.

Ozzy Osbourne

■ Looks like Ozzy has ended his relationship with stylist Michelle Pugh in hopes of saving his marriage to Sharon Osbourne, we're told. "His family really is very important to him and he's come to his senses," said a source close to the family. "Sharon is Ozzy's whole life; he can't manage without her."

Sharon Stone

■ Diva Stone did not make it to Cannes this year for luxury jeweller de Grisogono's swanky annual party at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc because the brand would not meet her outrageous demands to attend. "She wanted $300,000 plus eight rooms at the hotel for a week and a private jet," said a source. " They pulled out.

Carrie Fisher

■ Princess Leia has withered away to nearly nothing after fans blasted her bloated figure in the last Star Wars movie as a new documentary reveals how the studio made her struggle to lose weight. "She's gone beyond anorexia!" said top New York internist Dr. Stuart Fischer after examining a recent photo of the 59year-old actress.

Leonardo DiCaprio

■ The recent Academy Award winner bought a Chanel bag for $18,100 at the Heart Fund's Generous People Dinner Gala in Cannes, France. Leonardo DiCaprio who for second year in a row, bid on limited edition Chanel bag won the evening's first auction item. The Oscar-winner also placed a winning bid of $5650 for a silk scarf by Russian model Inna Zobova's fashion line Innangelo. But a source said Leo's pricey gift was for "his mum," rather than any of his model girlfriends.

GavinWood

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

■ The Hollywood neighbourhood of Los Angeles is known for the glamour of the TV and movie industry. The neighbourhood is also the keeper of the history of that industry and the pop culture it represents.

You'll find that history permanently etched in the pavement in famous handprints, footprints and stars on the Walk of Fame.

The physical remnants of the history of film and movies from costumes and props to makeup and quirky memorabilia are collected into exhibits in multiple museums.

Although the majority of the top Hollywood attractions are related to the entertainment industry, it is not the only draw to modern Hollywood.

Nightlife, fine dining, and live theatre and music venues add to the evening entertainment. Easy access to the city's natural wonders and one of the top science museums are other draws.

West Hollywood, affectionately known as WeHo, is a city of less than four square miles completely surrounded by Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.

It was formed in 1984 from a previously unincorporated area of Los Angeles County adjacent to Hollywood, at the foot of the Hollywood Hills.

It was the 84th of 88 cities incorporated in Los Angeles County, making it one of the youngest cities in the county.

The other dominant scene in West Hollywood is design, from interiors to fashion to fine art; this is the place to find it.

The Sunset Strip is a rock n' roll Mecca where pilgrims come to pay homage to the famous names who got their start at the many live music clubs here. \ The not quite famous are still breaking out on this famous stretch of Sunset Blvd. Take in a live music performance, have a drink or enjoy a meal at any of a number of landmark establishments.

Lots of fun things to experience in and around Hollywood and West Hollywood. It certainly has grown up since the sixties.

Marilyn Monroe at Bendigo

■ It is definitely worth the trip to Bendigo to visit Australia's oldest and largest regional art galleries that was founded in 1887.

They are suggesting “spend a weekend with Marilyn”.

You will discover the local stores, unique experiences, visit world-class attractions and enjoy Bendigo's renowned food and wine culture.

Marilyn moved from Palm Springs here in California to Bendigo. The Seward Johnson, iconic eight-metre high sculpture of Forever Marilyn is on display on the corner of View St and Pall Mall.

This magnificent international exhibition is on until July 10.

Please don't miss going back to Bendigo.

Madonna to pay tribute to Prince ■ The Material Girl is paying tribute to the Purple One with a live performance at the Billboard Music Awards.

Billboard and Dick Clark Productions were tight lipped on what Madonna would showcase.

Prince was found dead on April 21 in his suburban compound called 'Paisley Park' in Minneapolis at age 57.

The Billboard Awards will air live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Ludacris and Ciara will host and performers will include Britney Spears, Justin Beiber, the Go-Go's, Celine Dion and Pink.

Nominees include Adele, Bieber, Drake, Taylor Swift and the Weekend.

Prince performed at the 2013 Billboard Awards and received the ‘Icon’ award.

www.gavinwood.us

● Marilyn Monroe

Gavin Wood’s deal for you

■ 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 flying QANTAS or Virgin Airlines, 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 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

■ Lately I watched the film I'll See You In My Dreams which was the life story of American lyricist Gus Kahn.

The biographical film starred Doris Day and Danny Thomas as Gus Kahn. It is a great film, perhaps a little sanitised but highly enjoyable.

Gus Kahn was born in Koblenz, Germany, in 1886. His family emigrated to the US and settled in Chicago in 1890.

Gus attended high school then began his outstanding career in 1908 collaborating with composer Grace LeBoy. They married in 1916 and had two children.

Gus and Grace successfully wrote songs for vaudeville and Tin PanAlley for six years.

Gus also collaborated with Egbert Van Alstyne and together they composed Memories which was the first hit song for Gus. Gus became friends with Al Jolson and if Jolson actually sang one his songs the sheet music would be labelled "As performed at The Wintergarden Theatre by Al Jolson” and that would guarantee good sales.

In those days there were no recordings and it was the sheet music sales that brought in the money.

Fortunately Gus did write many popular songs for Jolson which were used in Jolson's Broadway shows.

When Al Jolson performed Toot Toot Tootsie in his show Bombo it became a huge hit song and Gus wrote it with Ernie Erdman and Dan

Whatever Happened To ...

Gus Kahn

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

Russo. During the 1920s Gus wrote the lyrics for some great songs which included Ain't We Got Fun, Carolina in the Morning, It Had to Be You, Yes Sir that's My baby, Side by Side, That Certain Party and Love Me or Leave Me. Gus worked with many famous composers such as Isham Jones and together they published I'll See You in My Dreams which became the title song for the 1951 film.

It is amazing that an immigrant who learned to speak English at an early age could sit down and write those wonderful lyrics on a whole range of topics. Gus was fluent at both German and English.

He wrote all the lyrics for the Eddie Cantor stage musical Whoopee in collaboration with

● Gus Khan composer Walter Donaldson. The success of the many Broadway shows that Gus had writ-

ten for attracted the attention of the studio bosses in Hollywood.

In 1933 Gus worked on the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film Flying Down to Rio. In 1936 he wrote the lyrics for the song San Francisco which was performed by Jeanette MacDonald in the MGM film.

His other film credits included Thanks A Million, Kid Millions, A Day at the Races, Everybody Sing, One Night of Love, Three Smar Girls, Let's Sing Again and Naughty Marietta His last lyrics were for the Nacio Herb Brown composition You Stepped Out of a Dream and Tony Martin introduced the song in the film Ziegfeld Girl.

Gus Kahn died in 1941 of a sudden heart attack at the age of 54. Gus wrote the wonderful lyrics for Dream a Little Dream of Me and more than 20 years after his death The Mommas and the Poppas had a smash hit with their revival.

In 1970 Gus was inaugurated into The Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Grace Kahn passed away in 1983 at the age of 92.

Kevin Trask The Time Tunnel - on Remember When Sundays at 9.10pm on 3AW That's Entertainment - 96.5FM Sundays at 12 Noon 96.5FM is streaming on the internet.

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

Pleasures of Territory fish and chips ■ Even when I lived I Kyabram in my childhood, I enjoyed casting a line into the local irrigation channels after a redfin or two.

And when I moved to Blairgowrie at age 11, angling really began in earnest.

I have always been after whiting and snapper and leatheries, but of course the staple has always been the

flattie. Delightful dining, and the bigger the better.

And we would set fish traps, somewhat similar to cray pots, to catch butterfish. They were weed feeders, so couldn't be caught on a line. The smallest we ever got was 2 pounds, the largest 14.

Decades later I began to visit Darwin, and witnessed the fishing delights

of the Top End - they put our little flatties to shame.

And whilst I have never fished up there, once my son Jonas went out with our manager's husband. He was catching 6 inch fish to use as bait for fish about 18 inches long, to in turn use for the odd monster.

There is a place called Doctors Gully, where one purchases stale loaves of bread, to break up and throw into the water to feed ravenous 3 ft fish, which splash around in competition for the morsels thrown their way.

■ But the most interesting phenomenon is on the Darwin pier each evening.

Fishing is banned on one end of the wharf, the dining end. There are several takeaways, including a barra and chips.

One of the greatest joys I have experienced is to wander along the wharf to this area, purchase my fish and chips, then claim a plastic chair and sit on the edge of the pier and look down into the water, which is ablaze with underwater lights.

There are teeming fish of every type, from schools of whitebait and their ilk, up to the odd shark and croc and porpoise. It's absolutely captivating, and of course diners throw a few chips in, to be gobbled up by the waiting schools below.

And now NT Tourism has taken this fishing lark a bit further, initiating a Million Dollar Fishing competition during the wet season.

This attracted about 40,000 anglers to try their luck for their share of the loot.

So the focus of Territory tourism in the Top End is now switching from crocodiles to fishing, and this seems to be working.

■ But the Rock is still up there in the Centre. Whilst the international visitor numbers are generally down overall, applications for permits to film the Rock have increased.

There are several factors at play here. There was a Royal Visit in 2014, and the Dalai Lama stopped by in 2015, with the ceremony of the 30th anniversary of the hand-back.

Apparently one needs to obtain a permit to photograph or film, or just use images of the Rock, but there are magazines and tourist and media operators who wish to incorporate this spectacular image in their programs.

The Outback Legend

with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au

man was fatally bitten on the foot by a western brown as he was wandering around in the darkness wearing thongs.

He thought that the pain of the bite was a Bindi Burr, so didn't pay much attention, and didn't seek treatment until too late.

And then there was the Victorian gentleman who was reported missing, and his mates scoured the Stuart Highway, putting signs up all the way along to try and find him.

His four-wheel drive was eventually found south of Coober Pedy, with his body nearby.

A quickly scrawled note indicated that he had been bitten by a snake months before.

And then in Darwin a few weeks ago a 19-year-old man was bitten by a mysterious poisonous snake. Happily, he survived.

But last week a double whammy a gentleman was stung by a box jellyfish on the Coburg Peninsula.

Then a couple of hours later his wife was nipped by a venomous whip snake.

Territory tourist excitement.

■ And then, of course, crocodiles.

Every so often they jump out of the local pages on to the national stage.

So it was recently when a large salty Whilst it is a spectacular sight in attacked a little southern tinny and itself, its image has never been one of overturned it. great joy and happiness. It can be Unfortunately one of the crab fishsombre, eerie, and even threatening ermen drowned, and his mate had to at times. spend hours in the mud and the manIts history can reflect some of these groves fending off a dozen other maphenomena. The most famous event, rauding beasts. of course, was the Azaria disappearFortunately for him he survived the ance. But there have been many fa- onslaught. talities as climbers have come to grief In the seventies probably the most from heart attacks, or sudden outbursts famous Top End croc of all, Sweetof stormy and windy weather, slipping heart, was terrorising boats and their to their demise. It's a pretty hairy occupants on the Finnis River, tipping climb. them into the water, so clearly someAnd, during the evening, as the thing had to be done. glow of the reflected the sunset fades So a team was set up to trap the 5.1 away, it becomes an ominous dark metre monster. blue as it melts into the night.

The trap was set for him, baited by a roadkilled dingo.

■ There aren't many shark attacks in So the monster swam into the trap Australia each year, but, because of and was captured, and then the general fear surrounding these euthanased. The intention was to redenizens, they are always widely re- lease him into a local crocodile farm, ported, and especially so whenever a but unfortunately the safety ropes fatality arises. around his nose snagged on an underI think that the last Victorian fatal- water log, and he drowned. ity was in 1956, when a swimmer was However he is now on display at the NT Museum and Art Gallery in taken at the Portsea back beach.

It's the same with snakes. While I Darwin.

- Nick Le Souef was living in Alice Springs, one gentle-

Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 15

Observer Classic Books

Little Women (or Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) Continued From Last Week “‘You have done a great deal for your country, sir,’I said, feeling respect now, instead of pity.” “‘Not a mite more than I ought, ma’am. I’d go myself, if I was any use. As I ain’t, I give my boys, and give ’em free.’”

“He spoke so cheerfully, looked so sincere, and seemed so glad to give his all, that I was ashamed of myself. I’d given one man and thought it too much, while he gave four without grudging them. I had all my girls to comfort me at home, and his last son was waiting, miles away, to say good-by to him, perhaps! I felt so rich, so happy thinking of my blessings, that I made him a nice bundle, gave him some money, and thanked him heartily for the lesson he had taught me.”

“Tell another story, Mother, one with a moral to it, like this. I like to think about them afterward, if they are real and not too preachy,” said Jo, after a minute’s silence.

Mrs. March smiled and began at once, for she had told stories to this little audience for many years, and knew how to please them.

“Once upon a time, there were four girls, who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures, kind friends and parents who loved them dearly, and yet they were not contented.” (Here the listeners stole sly looks at one another, and began to sew diligently.) “These girls were anxious to be good and made many excellent resolutions, but they did not keep them very well, and were constantly saying, ‘If only we had this,’ or ‘If we could only do that,’ quite forgetting how much they already had, and how many things they actually could do. So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy, and she said, ‘When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful.’” (Here Jo looked up quickly, as if about to speak, but changed her mind, seeing that the story was not done yet.)

“Being sensible girls, they decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were. One discovered that money couldn’t keep shame and sorrow out of rich people’s houses, another that, though she was poor, she was a great deal happier, with her youth, health, and good spirits, than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn’t enjoy her comforts, a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to go begging for it and the fourth, that even carnelian rings were not so valuable as good behavior. So they agreed to stop complaining, to enjoy the blessings already possessed, and try to deserve them, lest they should be taken away entirely, instead of increased, and I believe they were never disappointed or sorry that they took the old woman’s advice.”

“Now, Marmee, that is very cunning of you to turn our own stories against us, and give us a sermon instead of a romance!” cried Meg. “I like that kind of sermon. It’s the sort Father used to tell us,” said Beth thoughtfully, putting the needles straight on Jo’s cushion.

“I don’t complain near as much as the others do, and I shall be more careful than ever now, for I’ve had warning from Susie’s downfall,” said Amy morally.

“We needed that lesson, and we won’t forget it.

If we do so, you just say to us, as old Chloe did in Uncle Tom, ‘Tink ob yer marcies, chillen!’

‘Tink ob yer marcies!’” added Jo, who could not, for the life of her, help getting a morsel of fun out of the little sermon, though she took it to heart as much as any of them.

Chapter Five Being Neighborly “What in the world are you going to do now, Jo?” asked Meg one snowy afternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubber boots, old sack, and hood, with a broom in one hand and a shovel in the other.

“Going out for exercise,” answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

“I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough! It’s cold and dull out, and I advise you to stay warm and dry by the fire, as I do,” said Meg with a shiver.

“Never take advice! Can’t keep still all day, and not being a pussycat, I don’t like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I’m going to find some.”

r

e rv se US N Ob N IO BO CT SE

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the time.”

“Have someone come and see you then.”

“There isn’t anyone I’d like to see. Boys make such a row, and my head is weak.”

“Isn’t there some nice girl who’d read and amuse you? Girls are quiet and like to play nurse.”

“Don’t know any.”

“You know us,” began Jo, then laughed and stopped.

“So I do! Will you come, please?” cried Laurie.

“I’m not quiet and nice, but I’ll come, if Mother will let me. I’ll go ask her. Shut the window, like a good boy, and wait till I come.”

With that, Jo shouldered her broom and marched into the house, wondering what they would all say to her. Laurie was in a flutter of excitement at the idea of having company, and flew about to get ready, for as Mrs. March said, he was ‘a little gentleman’, and did honor to the coming guest by brushing his curly pate, putting on a fresh color, and trying to tidy up the room, which in spite of half a dozen servants, was anything but neat. Presently there came a loud ring, than a decided voice, asking for ‘Mr. Laurie’, and a surprised-looking servant came running up to announce a young lady.

“All right, show her up, it’s Miss Jo,” said Laurie, going to the door of his little parlor to meet Jo, who appeared, looking rosy and quite at her ease, with a covered dish in one hand and Beth’s three kittens in the other.

“Here I am, bag and baggage,” she said briskly.

“Mother sent her love, and was glad if I could do anything for you. Meg wanted me to bring some of her blanc mange, she makes it very nicely, and Beth thought her cats would be comforting. I knew you’d laugh at them, but I couldn’t refuse, she was so anxious to do something.”

It so happened that Beth’s funny loan was just the thing, for in laughing over the kits, Laurie forgot his bashfulness, and grew sociable at once.

“That looks too pretty to eat,” he said, smiling with pleasure, as Jo uncovered the dish, and showed the blanc mange, surrounded by a garland of green leaves, and the scarlet flowers of Amy’s pet geranium.

“It isn’t anything, only they all felt kindly and wanted to show it. Tell the girl to put it away for your tea. It’s so simple you can eat it, and being soft, it will slip down without hurting your sore throat. What a cozy room this is!”

Louisa May Alcott Meg went back to toast her feet and read she said to herself. “His grandpa does not know “It might be if it was kept nice, but the maids are Ivanhoe, and Jo began to dig paths with great what’s good for him, and keeps him shut up all lazy, and I don’t know how to make them mind. energy. The snow was light, and with her broom alone. He needs a party of jolly boys to play It worries me though.” she soon swept a path all round the garden, for with, or somebody young and lively. I’ve a great “I’ll right it up in two minutes, for it only needs Beth to walk in when the sun came out and the mind to go over and tell the old gentleman so!” to have the hearth brushed, so — and the things invalid dolls needed air. Now, the garden sepaThe idea amused Jo, who liked to do daring made straight on the mantelpiece, so — and the rated the Marches’ house from that of Mr. things and was always scandalizing Meg by her books put here, and the bottles there, and your Laurence. Both stood in a suburb of the city, queer performances. The plan of ‘going over’ sofa turned from the light, and the pillows which was still country-like, with groves and was not forgotten. And when the snowy after- plumped up a bit. Now then, you’re fixed.” lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. A low noon came, Jo resolved to try what could be And so he was, for, as she laughed and talked, hedge parted the two estates. On one side was done. She saw Mr. Lawrence drive off, and then Jo had whisked things into place and given quite an old, brown house, looking rather bare and sallied out to dig her way down to the hedge, a different air to the room. Laurie watched her shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer cov- where she paused and took a survey. All quiet, in respectful silence, and when she beckoned ered its walls and the flowers, which then sur- curtains down at the lower windows, servants him to his sofa, he sat down with a sigh of satisrounded it. On the other side was a stately stone out of sight, and nothing human visible but a faction, saying gratefully . . . mansion, plainly betokening every sort of com- curly black head leaning on a thin hand at the “How kind you are! Yes, that’s what it wanted.

Now please take the big chair and let me do fort and luxury, from the big coach house and upper window. well-kept grounds to the conservatory and the “There he is,” thought Jo, “Poor boy! All something to amuse my company.” glimpses of lovely things one caught between alone and sick this dismal day. It’s a shame! I’ll “No, I came to amuse you. Shall I read aloud?” the rich curtains. toss up a snowball and make him look out, and and Jo looked affectionately toward some inviting books near by.

Yet it seemed a lonely, lifeless sort of house, then say a kind word to him.” for no children frolicked on the lawn, no mothUp went a handful of soft snow, and the head “Thank you! I’ve read all those, and if you don’t erly face ever smiled at the windows, and few turned at once, showing a face which lost its mind, I’d rather talk,” answered Laurie. people went in and out, except the old gentle- listless look in a minute, as the big eyes bright- “Not a bit. I’ll talk all day if you’ll only set me man and his grandson. ened and the mouth began to smile. Jo nodded going. Beth says I never know when to stop.”

To Jo’s lively fancy, this fine house seemed and laughed, and flourished her broom as she “Is Beth the rosy one, who stays at home good deal and sometimes goes out with a little basa kind of enchanted palace, full of splendors called out . . . ket?” asked Laurie with interest. and delights which no one enjoyed. She had “How do you do? Are you sick?” long wanted to behold these hidden glories, and Laurie opened the window, and croaked out “Yes, that’s Beth. She’s my girl, and a regular good one she is, too.” to know the Laurence boy, who looked as if he as hoarsely as a raven . . . would like to be known, if he only knew how to “Better, thank you. I’ve had a bad cold, and “The pretty one is Meg, and the curly-haired one is Amy, I believe?” begin. Since the party, she had been more ea- been shut up a week.” ger than ever, and had planned many ways of “I’m sorry. What do you amuse yourself “How did you find that out?”

Laurie colored up, but answered frankly, “Why, making friends with him, but he had not been with?” you see I often hear you calling to one another, seen lately, and Jo began to think he had gone “Nothing. It’s dull as tombs up here.” and when I’m alone up here, I can’t help lookaway, when she one day spied a brown face at “Don’t you read?” ing over at your house, you always seem to be an upper window, looking wistfully down into “Not much. They won’t let me.” having such good times. I beg your pardon for their garden, where Beth and Amy were snow“Can’t somebody read to you?” balling one another.

“Grandpa does sometimes, but my books being so rude, but sometimes you forget to put Continued on Page 16 “That boy is suffering for society and fun,” don’t interest him, and I hate to ask Brooke all

Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Classic Books From Page 15 down the curtain at the window where the flowers are. And when the lamps are lighted, it’s like looking at a picture to see the fire, and you all around the table with your mother. Her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can’t help watching it. I haven’t got any mother, you know.” And Laurie poked the fire to hide a little twitching of the lips that he could not control.

The solitary, hungry look in his eyes went straight to Jo’s warm heart. She had been so simply taught that there was no nonsense in her head, and at fifteen she was as innocent and frank as any child. Laurie was sick and lonely, and feeling how rich she was in home and happiness, she gladly tried to share it with him. Her face was very friendly and her sharp voice unusually gentle as she said . . .

“We’ll never draw that curtain any more, and I give you leave to look as much as you like. I just wish, though, instead of peeping, you’d come over and see us. Mother is so splendid, she’d do you heaps of good, and Beth would sing to you if I begged her to, and Amy would dance. Meg and I would make you laugh over our funny stage properties, and we’d have jolly times.

Wouldn’t your grandpa let you?”

“I think he would, if your mother asked him.

He’s very kind, though he does not look so, and he lets me do what I like, pretty much, only he’s afraid I might be a bother to strangers,” began Laurie, brightening more and more.

“We are not strangers, we are neighbors, and you needn’t think you’d be a bother. We want to know you, and I’ve been trying to do it this ever so long. We haven’t been here a great while, you know, but we have got acquainted with all our neighbors but you.”

“You see, Grandpa lives among his books, and doesn’t mind much what happens outside. Mr. Brooke, my tutor, doesn’t stay here, you know, and I have no one to go about with me, so I just stop at home and get on as I can.”

“That’s bad. You ought to make an effort and go visiting everywhere you are asked, then you’ll have plenty of friends, and pleasant places to go to. Never mind being bashful. It won’t last long if you keep going.”

Laurie turned red again, but wasn’t offended at being accused of bashfulness, for there was so much good will in Jo it was impossible not to take her blunt speeches as kindly as they were meant.

“Do you like your school?” asked the boy, changing the subject, after a little pause, during which he stared at the fire and Jo looked about her, well pleased.

“Don’t go to school, I’m a businessman — girl, I mean. I go to wait on my great-aunt, and a dear, cross old soul she is, too,” answered Jo. Laurie opened his mouth to ask another question, but remembering just in time that it wasn’t manners to make too many inquiries into people’s affairs, he shut it again, and looked uncomfortable.

Jo liked his good breeding, and didn’t mind having a laugh at Aunt March, so she gave him a lively description of the fidgety old lady, her fat poodle, the parrot that talked Spanish, and the library where she reveled.

Laurie enjoyed that immensely, and when she told about the prim old gentleman who came once to woo Aunt March, and in the middle of a fine speech, how Poll had tweaked his wig off to his great dismay, the boy lay back and laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks, and a maid popped her head in to see what was the matter.

“Oh! That does me no end of good. Tell on, please,” he said, taking his face out of the sofa cushion, red and shining with merriment.

Much elated with her success, Jo did ‘tell on’, all about their plays and plans, their hopes and fears for Father, and the most interesting events of the little world in which the sisters lived. Then they got to talking about books, and to Jo’s delight, she found that Laurie loved them as well as she did, and had read even more than herself.

“If you like them so much, come down and see ours. Grandfather is out, so you needn’t be afraid,” said Laurie, getting up.

“I’m not afraid of anything,” returned Jo, with a toss of the head.

“I don’t believe you are!” exclaimed the boy, looking at her with much admiration, though he privately thought she would have good reason to be a trifle afraid of the old gentleman, if she met him in some of his moods.

The atmosphere of the whole house being

summerlike, Laurie led the way from room to room, letting Jo stop to examine whatever struck her fancy. And so, at last they came to the library, where she clapped her hands and pranced, as she always did when especially delighted. It was lined with books, and there were pictures and statues, and distracting little cabinets full of coins and curiosities, and Sleepy Hollow chairs, and queer tables, and bronzes, and best of all, a great open fireplace with quaint tiles all round it.

“What richness!” sighed Jo, sinking into the depth of a velour chair and gazing about her with an air of intense satisfaction. “Theodore Laurence, you ought to be the happiest boy in the world,” she added impressively.

“A fellow can’t live on books,” said Laurie, shaking his head as he perched on a table opposite.

Before he could more, a bell rang, and Jo flew up, exclaiming with alarm, “Mercy me! It’s your grandpa!”

“Well, what if it is? You are not afraid of anything, you know,” returned the boy, looking wicked.

“I think I am a little bit afraid of him, but I don’t know why I should be. Marmee said I might come, and I don’t think you’re any the worse for it,” said Jo, composing herself, though she kept her eyes on the door.

“I’m a great deal better for it, and ever so much obliged. I’m only afraid you are very tired of talking to me. It was so pleasant, I couldn’t bear to stop,” said Laurie gratefully.

“The doctor to see you, sir,” and the maid beckoned as she spoke.

“Would you mind if I left you for a minute? I suppose I must see him,” said Laurie.

“Don’t mind me. I’m happy as a cricket here,” answered Jo. Laurie went away, and his guest amused herself in her own way. She was standing before a fine portrait of the old gentleman when the door opened again, and without turning, she said decidedly, “I’m sure now that I shouldn’t be afraid of him, for he’s got kind eyes, though his mouth is grim, and he looks as if he had a tremendous will of his own. He isn’t as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” said a gruff voice behind her, and there, to her great dismay, stood old Mr. Laurence.

Poor Jo blushed till she couldn’t blush any redder, and her heart began to beat uncomfortably fast as she thought what she had said. For a minute a wild desire to run away possessed her, but that was cowardly, and the girls would laugh at her, so she resolved to stay and get out of the scrape as she could. A second look showed her that the living eyes, under the bushy eyebrows, were kinder even than the painted ones, and there was a sly twinkle in them, which lessened her fear a good deal. The gruff voice was gruffer than ever, as the old gentleman said abruptly, after the dreadful pause, “So you’re not afraid of me, hey?”

“Not much, sir.”

“And you don’t think me as handsome as your grandfather?”

“Not quite, sir.”

“And I’ve got a tremendous will, have I?” “I only said I thought so.”

“But you like me in spite of it?”

“Yes, I do, sir.”

That answer pleased the old gentleman. He gave a short laugh, shook hands with her, and, putting his finger under her chin, turned up her face, examined it gravely, and let it go, saying with a nod, “You’ve got your grandfather’s spirit, if you haven’t his face. He was a fine man, my dear, but what is better, he was a brave and an honest one, and I was proud to be his friend.”

“Thank you, sir,” And Jo was quite comfortable after that, for it suited her exactly.

“What have you been doing to this boy of mine, hey?” was the next question, sharply put.

“Only trying to be neighborly, sir.” And Jo told how her visit came about.

“You think he needs cheering up a bit, do you?”

“Yes, sir, he seems a little lonely, and young folks would do him good perhaps. We are only girls, but we should be glad to help if we could, for we don’t forget the splendid Christmas present you sent us,” said Jo eagerly.

“Tut, tut, tut! That was the boy’s affair. How is the poor woman?”

“Doing nicely, sir.” And off went Jo, talking very fast, as she told all about the Hummels, in whom her mother had interested richer friends than they were.

“Just her father’s way of doing good. I shall come and see your mother some fine day. Tell her so.

There’s the tea bell, we have it early on the boy’s account. Come down and go on being neighborly.”

“If you’d like to have me, sir.”

“Shouldn’t ask you, if I didn’t.” And Mr. Laurence offered her his arm with old-fashioned courtesy.

“What would Meg say to this?” thought Jo, as she was marched away, while her eyes danced with fun as she imagined herself telling the story at home.

“Hey! Why, what the dickens has come to the fellow?” said the old gentleman, as Laurie came running downstairs and brought up with a start of surprise at the astounding sight of Jo arm in arm with his redoubtable grandfather.

“I didn’t know you’d come, sir,” he began, as Jo gave him a triumphant little glance.

“That’s evident, by the way you racket downstairs. Come to your tea, sir, and behave like a gentleman.” And having pulled the boy’s hair by way of a caress, Mr. Laurence walked on, while Laurie went through a series of comic evolutions behind their backs, which nearly produced an explosion of laughter from Jo. The old gentleman did not say much as he drank his four cups of tea, but he watched the young people, who soon chatted away like old friends, and the change in his grandson did not escape him. There was color, light, and life in the boy’s face now, vivacity in his manner, and genuine merriment in his laugh.

“She’s right, the lad is lonely. I’ll see what these little girls can do for him,” thought Mr. Laurence, as he looked and listened. He liked Jo, for her odd, blunt ways suited him, and she seemed to understand the boy almost as well as if she had been one herself.

If the Laurences had been what Jo called ‘prim and poky’, she would not have got on at all, for such people always made her shy and awkward.

But finding them free and easy, she was so herself, and made a good impression. When they rose she proposed to go, but Laurie said he had something more to show her, and took her away to the conservatory, which had been lighted for her benefit. It seemed quite fairylike to Jo, as she went up and down the walks, enjoying the blooming walls on either side, the soft light, the damp sweet air, and the wonderful vines and trees that hung about her, while her new friend cut the finest flowers till his hands were full.

Then he tied them up, saying, with the happy look Jo liked to see, “Please give these to your mother, and tell her I like the medicine she sent me very much.”

They found Mr. Laurence standing before the fire in the great drawing room, but Jo’s attention was entirely absorbed by a grand piano, which stood open.

“Do you play?” she asked, turning to Laurie with a respectful expression.

“Sometimes,” he answered modestly.

“Please do now. I want to hear it, so I can tell Beth.”

“Won’t you first?”

“Don’t know how. Too stupid to learn, but I love music dearly.”

So Laurie played and Jo listened, with her nose luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea roses.

Her respect and regard for the ‘Laurence’ boy increased very much, for he played remarkably well and didn’t put on any airs. She wished Beth could hear him, but she did not say so, only praised him till he was quite abashed, and his grandfather came to his rescue.

“That will do, that will do, young lady. Too many sugarplums are not good for him. His music isn’t bad, but I hope he will do as well in more important things. Going? well, I’m much obliged to you, and I hope you’ll come again. My respects to your mother. Good night, Doctor Jo.” He shook hands kindly, but looked as if something did not please him. When they got into the hall, Jo asked Laurie if she had said something amiss. He shook his head.

“No, it was me. He doesn’t like to hear me play.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll tell you some day. John is going home with you, as I can’t.”

“No need of that. I am not a young lady, and it’s only a step. Take care of yourself, won’t you?”

“Yes, but you will come again, I hope?”

“If you promise to come and see us after you are well.”

“I will.”

“Good night, Laurie!”

“Good night, Jo, good night!”

When all the afternoon’s adventures had been told, the family felt inclined to go visiting in a body, for each found something very attractive

in the big house on the other side of the hedge.

Mrs. March wanted to talk of her father with the old man who had not forgotten him, Meg longed to walk in the conservatory, Beth sighed for the grand piano, and Amy was eager to see the fine pictures and statues.

“Mother, why didn’t Mr. Laurence like to have Laurie play?” asked Jo, who was of an inquiring disposition.

“I am not sure, but I think it was because his son, Laurie’s father, married an Italian lady, a musician, which displeased the old man, who is very proud. The lady was good and lovely and accomplished, but he did not like her, and never saw his son after he married. They both died when Laurie was a little child, and then his grandfather took him home. I fancy the boy, who was born in Italy, is not very strong, and the old man is afraid of losing him, which makes him so careful. Laurie comes naturally by his love of music, for he is like his mother, and I dare say his grandfather fears that he may want to be a musician. At any rate, his skill reminds him of the woman he did not like, and so he ‘glowered’ as Jo said.”

“Dear me, how romantic!” exclaimed Meg. “How silly!” said Jo. “Let him be a musician if he wants to, and not plague his life out sending him to college, when he hates to go.”

“That’s why he has such handsome black eyes and pretty manners, I suppose. Italians are always nice,” said Meg, who was a little sentimental.

“What do you know about his eyes and his manners? You never spoke to him, hardly,” cried Jo, who was not sentimental.

“I saw him at the party, and what you tell shows that he knows how to behave. That was a nice little speech about the medicine Mother sent him.”

“He meant the blanc mange, I suppose.”

“How stupid you are, child! He meant you, of course.”

“Did he?” And Jo opened her eyes as if it had never occurred to her before.

“I never saw such a girl! You don’t know a compliment when you get it,” said Meg, with the air of a young lady who knew all about the matter.

“I think they are great nonsense, and I’ll thank you not to be silly and spoil my fun. Laurie’s a nice boy and I like him, and I won’t have any sentimental stuff about compliments and such rubbish. We’ll all be good to him because he hasn’t got any mother, and he may come over and see us, mayn’t he, Marmee?”

“Yes, Jo, your little friend is very welcome, and I hope Meg will remember that children should be children as long as they can.”

“I don’t call myself a child, and I’m not in my teens yet,” observed Amy. “What do you say, Beth?”

“I was thinking about our ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’,” answered Beth, who had not heard a word. “How we got out of the Slough and through the Wicket Gate by resolving to be good, and up the steep hill by trying, and that maybe the house over there, full of splendid things, is going to be our Palace Beautiful.”

“We have got to get by the lions first,” said Jo, as if she rather liked the prospect.

Chapter Six Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful The big house did prove a Palace Beautiful, though it took some time for all to get in, and Beth found it very hard to pass the lions. Old Mr. Laurence was the biggest one, but after he had called, said something funny or kind to each one of the girls, and talked over old times with their mother, nobody felt much afraid of him, except timid Beth. The other lion was the fact that they were poor and Laurie rich, for this made them shy of accepting favors which they could not return. But, after a while, they found that he considered them the benefactors, and could not do enough to show how grateful he was for Mrs. March’s motherly welcome, their cheerful society, and the comfort he took in that humble home of theirs. So they soon forgot their pride and interchanged kindnesses without stopping to think which was the greater.

All sorts of pleasant things happened about that time, for the new friendship flourished like grass in spring. Every one liked Laurie, and he privately informed his tutor that “the Marches were regularly splendid girls.” With the delightful enthusiasm of youth, they took the solitary boy into their midst and made much of him, and he found something very charming in the innocent companionship of these simple-hearted girls.

Continued on Page 25

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Observer Classic Books From Page 16 Never having known mother or sisters, he was quick to feel the influences they brought about him, and their busy, lively ways made him ashamed of the indolent life he led. He was tired of books, and found people so interesting now that Mr. Brooke was obliged to make very unsatisfactory reports, for Laurie was always playing truant and running over to the Marches’.

“Never mind, let him take a holiday, and make it up afterward,” said the old gentleman. “The good lady next door says he is studying too hard and needs young society, amusement, and exercise. I suspect she is right, and that I’ve been coddling the fellow as if I’d been his grandmother. Let him do what he likes, as long as he is happy. He can’t get into mischief in that little nunnery over there, and Mrs. March is doing more for him than we can.”

What good times they had, to be sure. Such plays and tableaux, such sleigh rides and skating frolics, such pleasant evenings in the old parlor, and now and then such gay little parties at the great house. Meg could walk in the conservatory whenever she liked and revel in bouquets, Jo browsed over the new library voraciously, and convulsed the old gentleman with her criticisms, Amy copied pictures and enjoyed beauty to her heart’s content, and Laurie played ‘lord of the manor’ in the most delightful style.

But Beth, though yearning for the grand piano, could not pluck up courage to go to the ‘Mansion of Bliss’, as Meg called it. She went once with Jo, but the old gentleman, not being aware of her infirmity, stared at her so hard from under his heavy eyebrows, and said “Hey!” so loud, that he frightened her so much her ‘feet chattered on the floor’, she never told her mother, and she ran away, declaring she would never go there any more, not even for the dear piano. No persuasions or enticements could overcome her fear, till, the fact coming to Mr. Laurence’s ear in some mysterious way, he set about mending matters. During one of the brief calls he made, he artfully led the conversation to music, and talked away about great singers whom he had seen, fine organs he had heard, and told such charming anecdotes that Beth found it impossible to stay in her distant corner, but crept nearer and nearer, as if fascinated. At the back of his chair she stopped and stood listening, with her great eyes wide open and her cheeks red with excitement of this unusual performance. Taking no more notice of her than if she had been a fly, Mr. Laurence talked on about Laurie’s lessons and teachers. And presently, as if the idea had just occurred to him, he said to Mrs. March ...

“The boy neglects his music now, and I’m glad of it, for he was getting too fond of it. But the piano suffers for want of use. Wouldn’t some of your girls like to run over, and practice on it now and then, just to keep it in tune, you know, ma’am?”

Beth took a step forward, and pressed her hands tightly together to keep from clapping them, for this was an irresistible temptation, and the thought of practicing on that splendid instrument quite took her breath away. Before Mrs. March could reply, Mr. Laurence went on with an odd little nod and smile . . .

“They needn’t see or speak to anyone, but run in at any time. For I’m shut up in my study at the other end of the house, Laurie is out a great deal, and the servants are never near the drawing room after nine o’clock.”

Here he rose, as if going, and Beth made up her mind to speak, for that last arrangement left nothing to be desired. “Please, tell the young ladies what I say, and if they don’t care to come, why, never mind.” Here a little hand slipped into his, and Beth looked up at him with a face full of gratitude, as she said, in her earnest yet timid way . . .

“Oh sir, they do care, very very much!”

“Are you the musical girl?” he asked, without any startling “Hey!” as he looked down at her very kindly.

“I’m Beth. I love it dearly, and I’ll come, if you are quite sure nobody will hear me, and be disturbed,” she added, fearing to be rude, and trembling at her own boldness as she spoke.

“Not a soul, my dear. The house is empty half the day, so come and drum away as much as you like, and I shall be obliged to you.”

“How kind you are, sir!”

Beth blushed like a rose under the friendly look he wore, but she was not frightened now, and gave the hand a grateful squeeze because she had no words to thank him for the precious gift

they all laughed at her because she woke Amy in the night by playing the piano on her face in her sleep. Next day, having seen both the old and young gentleman out of the house, Beth, after two or three retreats, fairly got in at the side door, and made her way as noiselessly as any mouse to the drawing room where her idol stood. Quite by accident, of course, some pretty, easy music lay on the piano, and with trembling fingers and frequent stops to listen and look about, Beth at last touched the great instrument, and straightway forgot her fear, herself, and everything else but the unspeakable delight which the music gave her, for it was like the voice of a beloved friend.

She stayed till Hannah came to take her home to dinner, but she had no appetite, and could only sit and smile upon everyone in a general state of beatitude.

After that, the little brown hood slipped through the hedge nearly every day, and the great drawing room was haunted by a tuneful spirit that came and went unseen. She never knew that Mr. Laurence opened his study door to hear the old-fashioned airs he liked. She never saw Laurie mount guard in the hall to warn the servants away. She never suspected that the exercise books and new songs which she found in the rack were put there for her especial benefit, and when he talked to her about music at home, she only thought how kind he was to tell things that helped her so much. So she enjoyed herself heartily, and found, what isn’t always the case, that her granted wish was all she had hoped.

Perhaps it was because she was so grateful for this blessing that a greater was given her. At any rate she deserved both.

“Mother, I’m going to work Mr. Laurence a pair of slippers. He is so kind to me, I must thank him, and I don’t know any other way. Can I do it?” asked Beth, a few weeks after that eventful call of his.

“Yes, dear. It will please him very much, and be a nice way of thanking him. The girls will help you about them, and I will pay for the making up,” replied Mrs. March, who took peculiar pleasure in granting Beth’s requests because she so seldom asked anything for herself. he had given her. The old gentleman softly stroked the hair off her forehead, and, stooping down, he kissed her, saying, in a tone few people ever heard . . .

“I had a little girl once, with eyes like these.

God bless you, my dear! Good day, madam.”

And away he went, in a great hurry.

Beth had a rapture with her mother, and then rushed up to impart the glorious news to her family of invalids, as the girls were not home.

How blithely she sang that evening, and how After many serious discussions with Meg and Jo, the pattern was chosen, the materials bought, and the slippers begun. A cluster of grave yet cheerful pansies on a deeper purple ground was pronounced very appropriate and pretty, and Beth worked away early and late, with occasional lifts over hard parts. She was a nimble little needlewoman, and they were finished before anyone got tired of them. Then she wrote a short, simple note, and with Laurie’s help, got them smuggled onto the study table one morning before the old gentleman was up.

When this excitement was over, Beth waited to see what would happen. All day passed and a part of the next before any acknowledgement arrived, and she was beginning to fear she had offended her crochety friend. On the afternoon of the second day, she went out to do an errand, and give poor Joanna, the invalid doll, her daily exercise. As she came up the street, on her return, she saw three, yes, four heads popping in and out of the parlor windows, and the moment they saw her, several hands were waved, and several joyful voices screamed . . .

“Here’s a letter from the old gentleman! Come quick, and read it!”

“Oh, Beth, he’s sent you . . . ” began Amy, gesticulating with unseemly energy, but she got no further, for Jo quenched her by slamming down the window.

Beth hurried on in a flutter of suspense. At the door her sisters seized and bore her to the parlor in a triumphal procession, all pointing and all saying at once, “Look there! Look there!” Beth did look, and turned pale with delight and surprise, for there stood a little cabinet piano, with a letter lying on the glossy lid, directed like a sign board to “Miss Elizabeth March.”

“For me?” gasped Beth, holding onto Jo and feeling as if she should tumble down, it was such an overwhelming thing altogether.

“Yes, all for you, my precious! Isn’t it splendid of him? Don’t you think he’s the dearest old man in the world? Here’s the key in the letter.

We didn’t open it, but we are dying to know what he says,” cried Jo, hugging her sister and offering the note.

“You read it! I can’t, I feel so queer! Oh, it is too lovely!” and Beth hid her face in Jo’s apron, quite upset by her present.

Jo opened the paper and began to laugh, for the first words she saw were . . .

“Miss March: “Dear Madam — ” “How nice it sounds! I wish someone would write to me so!” said Amy, who thought the oldfashioned address very elegant. “‘I have had many pairs of slippers in my life, but I never had any that suited me so well as yours,’” continues Jo. “‘Heart’s-ease is my favorite flower, and these will always remind me of the gentle giver. I like to pay my debts, so I know you will allow ‘the old gentleman’ to send you something which once belonged to the little grand daughter he lost. With hearty thanks and best wishes, I remain “‘Your grateful friend and humble servant, ‘JAMES LAURENCE’.”

“There, Beth, that’s an honor to be proud of, I’m sure! Laurie told me how fond Mr. Laurence used to be of the child who died, and how he kept all her little things carefully. Just think, he’s given you her piano. That comes of having big blue eyes and loving music,” said Jo, trying to soothe Beth, who trembled and looked more excited than she had ever been before.

“See the cunning brackets to hold candles, and the nice green silk, puckered up, with a gold rose in the middle, and the pretty rack and stool, all complete,” added Meg, opening the instrument and displaying its beauties. “‘Your humble servant, James Laurence’. Only think of his writing that to you. I’ll tell the girls.

They’ll think it’s splendid,” said Amy, much impressed by the note.

“Try it, honey. Let’s hear the sound of the baby pianny,” said Hannah, who always took a share in the family joys and sorrows.

So Beth tried it, and everyone pronounced it the most remarkable piano ever heard. It had evidently been newly tuned and put in apple-pie order, but, perfect as it was, I think the real charm lay in the happiest of all happy faces which leaned over it, as Beth lovingly touched the beautiful black and white keys and pressed the bright pedals.

“You’ll have to go and thank him,” said Jo, by way of a joke, for the idea of the child’s really going never entered her head.

“Yes, I mean to. I guess I’ll go now, before I get frightened thinking about it.” And, to the utter amazement of the assembled family, Beth walked deliberately down the garden, through the hedge, and in at the Laurences’door.

“Well, I wish I may die if it ain’t the queerest thing I ever see! The pianny has turned her head!

She’d never have gone in her right mind,” cried Hannah, staring after her, while the girls were rendered quite speechless by the miracle.

They would have been still more amazed if they had seen what Beth did afterward. If you will believe me, she went and knocked at the study door before she gave herself time to think, and when a gruff voice called out, “come in!” she did go in, right up to Mr. Laurence, who looked quite taken aback, and held out her hand, saying, with only a small quaver in her voice, “I came to thank you, sir, for . . . ” But she didn’t finish, for he looked so friendly that she forgot her speech and, only remembering that he had lost the little girl he loved, she put both arms round his neck and kissed him.

If the roof of the house had suddenly flown off, the old gentleman wouldn’t have been more astonished. But he liked it. Oh, dear, yes, he liked it amazingly! And was so touched and pleased by that confiding little kiss that all his crustiness vanished, and he just set her on his knee, and laid his wrinkled cheek against her rosy one, feeling as if he had got his own little granddaughter back again. Beth ceased to fear him from that moment, and sat there talking to him as cozily as if she had known him all her life, for love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride. When she went home, he walked with her to her own gate, shook hands cordially, and touched his hat as he marched back again, looking very stately and erect, like a handsome, soldierly old gentleman, as he was.

When the girls saw that performance, Jo began to dance a jig, by way of expressing her satisfaction, Amy nearly fell out of the window in her surprise, and Meg exclaimed, with up-lifted

hands, “Well, I do believe the world is coming to an end.”

Chapter Seven Amy’s Valley of Humiliation “That boy is a perfect cyclops, isn’t he?” said Amy one day, as Laurie clattered by on horseback, with a flourish of his whip as he passed.

“How dare you say so, when he’s got both his eyes? And very handsome ones they are, too,” cried Jo, who resented any slighting remarks about her friend.

“I didn’t say anything about his eyes, and I don’ see why you need fire up when I admire his riding.”

“Oh, my goodness! That little goose means a centaur, and she called him a Cyclops,” exclaimed Jo, with a burst of laughter.

“You needn’t be so rude, it’s only a ‘lapse of lingy’, as Mr. Davis says,” retorted Amy, finishing Jo with her Latin. “I just wish I had a little of the money Laurie spends on that horse,” she added, as if to herself, yet hoping her sisters would hear.

“Why?” asked Meg kindly, for Jo had gone of in another laugh at Amy’s second blunder.

“I need it so much. I’m dreadfully in debt, and i won’t be my turn to have the rag money for a month.”

“In debt, Amy? What do you mean?” And Meg looked sober.

“Why, I owe at least a dozen pickled limes, and I can’t pay them, you know, till I have money for Marmee forbade my having anything charged at the shop.”

“Tell me all about it. Are limes the fashion now?

It used to be pricking bits of rubber to make balls.” And Meg tried to keep her countenance Amy looked so grave and important.

“Why, you see, the girls are always buying them and unless you want to be thought mean, you must do it too. It’s nothing but limes now, for everyone is sucking them in their desks in schooltime, and trading them off for pencils bead rings, paper dolls, or something else, a recess. If one girl likes another, she gives her a lime. If she’s mad with her, she eats one before her face, and doesn’t offer even a suck. They treat by turns, and I’ve had ever so many bu haven’t returned them, and I ought for they are debts of honor, you know.”

“How much will pay them off and restore your credit?” asked Meg, taking out her purse.

“A quarter would more than do it, and leave a few cents over for a treat for you. Don’t you like limes?”

“Not much. You may have my share. Here’s the money. Make it last as long as you can, for i isn’t very plenty, you know.”

“Oh, thank you! It must be so nice to have pocke money! I’ll have a grand feast, for I haven’ tasted a lime this week. I felt delicate about taking any, as I couldn’t return them, and I’m actually suffering for one.”

Next day Amy was rather late at school, bu could not resist the temptation of displaying, with pardonable pride, a moist brown-paper parcel before she consigned it to the inmost recesses of her desk. During the next few minutes the rumor that Amy March had got twenty-four delicious limes (she ate one on the way) and was going to treat circulated through her ‘set’, and the attentions of her friends became quite overwhelming. Katy Brown invited her to her nex party on the spot. Mary Kinglsey insisted on lending her her watch till recess, and Jenny Snow, a satirical young lady, who had basely twitted Amy upon her limeless state, promptly buried the hatchet and offered to furnish answers to certain appalling sums. ButAmy had not forgotten Miss Snow’s cutting remarks about ‘some persons whose noses were not too flat to smell other people’s limes, and stuck-up people who were not too proud to ask for them’, and she instantly crushed ‘that Snow girl’s’ hopes by the withering telegram, “You needn’t be so polite all of a sudden, for you won’t get any.”

A distinguished personage happened to visit the school that morning, and Amy’s beautifully drawn maps received praise, which honor to her foe rankled in the soul of Miss Snow, and caused Miss March to assume the airs of a studious young peacock. But, alas, alas! Pride goes before a fall, and the revengeful Snow turned the tables with disastrous success. No sooner had the guest paid the usual stale compliments and bowed himself out, than Jenny, under pretense of asking an important question, informed Mr. Davis, the teacher, that Amy March had pickled limes in her desk.

Continued on Page 26

Page 26 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Observer Classic Books From Page 25 Now Mr. Davis had declared limes a contraband article, and solemnly vowed to publicly ferrule the first person who was found breaking the law. This much-enduring man had succeeded in banishing chewing gum after a long and stormy war, had made a bonfire of the confiscated novels and newspapers, had suppressed a private post office, had forbidden distortions of the face, nicknames, and caricatures, and done all that one man could do to keep half a hundred rebellious girls in order. Boys are trying enough to human patience, goodness knows, but girls are infinitely more so, especially to nervous gentlemen with tyrannical tempers and no more talent for teaching than Dr. Blimber. Mr. Davis knew any quantity of Greek, Latin, algebra, and ologies of all sorts so he was called a fine teacher, and manners, morals, feelings, and examples were not considered of any particular importance. It was a most unfortunate moment for denouncing Amy, and Jenny knew it. Mr. Davis had evidently taken his coffee too strong that morning, there was an east wind, which always affected his neuralgia, and his pupils had not done him the credit which he felt he deserved. Therefore, to use the expressive, if not elegant, language of a schoolgirl, “He was as nervous as a witch and as cross as a bear”. The word ‘limes’ was like fire to powder, his yellow face flushed, and he rapped on his desk with an energy which made Jenny skip to her seat with unusual rapidity.

“Young ladies, attention, if you please!”

At the stern order the buzz ceased, and fifty pairs of blue, black, gray, and brown eyes were obediently fixed upon his awful countenance.

“Miss March, come to the desk.”

Amy rose to comply with outward composure, but a secret fear oppressed her, for the limes weighed upon her conscience.

“Bring with you the limes you have in your desk,” was the unexpected command which arrested her before she got out of her seat.

“Don’t take all.” whispered her neighbor, a young lady of great presence of mind.

Amy hastily shook out half a dozen and laid the rest down before Mr. Davis, feeling that any man possessing a human heart would relent when that delicious perfume met his nose. Unfortunately, Mr. Davis particularly detested the

Melbourne

odor of the fashionable pickle, and disgust added to his wrath.

“Is that all?”

“Not quite,” stammered Amy. “Bring the rest immediately.”

With a despairing glance at her set, she obeyed.

“You are sure there are no more?”

“I never lie, sir.”

“So I see. Now take these disgusting things two by two, and throw them out of the window.”

There was a simultaneous sigh, which created quite a little gust, as the last hope fled, and the treat was ravished from their longing lips. Scarlet with shame and anger, Amy went to and fro six dreadful times, and as each doomed couple, looking oh, so plump and juicy, fell from her reluctant hands, a shout from the street completed the anguish of the girls, for it told them that their feast was being exulted over by the little Irish children, who were their sworn foes.

This — this was too much. All flashed indignant or appealing glances at the inexorable Davis, and one passionate lime lover burst into tears.

As Amy returned from her last trip, Mr. Davis gave a portentous “Hem!” and said, in his most impressive manner . . .

“Young ladies, you remember what I said to you a week ago. I am sorry this has happened, but I never allow my rules to be infringed, and I never break my word. Miss March, hold out your hand.”

Amy started, and put both hands behind her, turning on him an imploring look which pleaded for her better than the words she could not utter.

She was rather a favorite with ‘old Davis’, as, of course, he was called, and it’s my private belief that he would have broken his word if the indignation of one irrepressible young lady had not found vent in a hiss. That hiss, faint as it was, irritated the irascible gentleman, and sealed the culprit’s fate.

“Your hand, Miss March!” was the only answer her mute appeal received, and too proud to cry or beseech, Amy set her teeth, threw back her head defiantly, and bore without flinching several tingling blows on her little palm. They were neither many nor heavy, but that made no difference to her. For the first time in her life she had been struck, and the disgrace, in her eyes, was as deep as if he had knocked her down.

“You will now stand on the platform till recess,”

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said Mr. Davis, resolved to do the thing thoroughly, since he had begun.

That was dreadful. It would have been bad enough to go to her seat, and see the pitying faces of her friends, or the satisfied ones of her few enemies, but to face the whole school, with that shame fresh upon her, seemed impossible, and for a second she felt as if she could only drop down where she stood, and break her heart with crying. A bitter sense of wrong and the thought of Jenny Snow helped her to bear it, and, taking the ignominious place, she fixed her eyes on the stove funnel above what now seemed a sea of faces, and stood there, so motionless and white that the girls found it hard to study with that pathetic figure before them.

During the fifteen minutes that followed, the proud and sensitive little girl suffered a shame and pain which she never forgot. To others it might seem a ludicrous or trivial affair, but to her it was a hard experience, for during the twelve years of her life she had been governed by love alone, and a blow of that sort had never touched her before. The smart of her hand and the ache of her heart were forgotten in the sting of the thought, “I shall have to tell at home, and they will be so disappointed in me!”

The fifteen minutes seemed an hour, but they came to an end at last, and the word ‘Recess!’ had never seemed so welcome to her before.

“You can go, Miss March,” said Mr. Davis, looking, as he felt, uncomfortable.

He did not soon forget the reproachful glance Amy gave him, as she went, without a word to anyone, straight into the anteroom, snatched her things, and left the place “forever,” as she passionately declared to herself. She was in a sad state when she got home, and when the older girls arrived, some time later, an indignation meeting was held at once. Mrs. March did not say much but looked disturbed, and comforted her afflicted little daughter in her tenderest manner. Meg bathed the insulted hand with glycerine and tears, Beth felt that even her beloved kittens would fail as a balm for griefs like this, Jo wrathfully proposed that Mr. Davis be arrested without delay, and Hannah shook her fist at the ‘villain’ and pounded potatoes for dinner as if she had him under her pestle.

No notice was taken of Amy’s flight, except by her mates, but the sharp-eyed demoiselles dis-

covered that Mr. Davis was quite benignant in the afternoon, also unusually nervous. Just before school closed, Jo appeared, wearing a grim expression as she stalked up to the desk, and delivered a letter from her mother, then collected Amy’s property, and departed, carefully scraping the mud from her boots on the door mat, as if she shook the dust of the place off her feet.

“Yes, you can have a vacation from school, but I want you to study a little every day with Beth,” said Mrs. March that evening. “I don’t approve of corporal punishment, especially for girls. I dislike Mr. Davis’s manner of teaching and don’t think the girls you associate with are doing you any good, so I shall ask your father’s advice before I send you anywhere else.”

“That’s good! I wish all the girls would leave, and spoil his old school. It’s perfectly maddening to think of those lovely limes,” sighed Amy, with the air of a martyr.

“I am not sorry you lost them, for you broke the rules, and deserved some punishment for disobedience,” was the severe reply, which rather disappointed the young lady, who expected nothing but sympathy.

“Do you mean you are glad I was disgraced before the whole school?” cried Amy. “I should not have chosen that way of mending a fault,” replied her mother, “but I’m not sure that it won’t do you more good than a bolder method. You are getting to be rather conceited, my dear, and it is quite time you set about correcting it. You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long, even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty.”

“So it is!” cried Laurie, who was playing chess in a corner with Jo. “I knew a girl once, who had a really remarkable talent for music, and she didn’t know it, never guessed what sweet little things she composed when she was alone, and wouldn’t have believed it if anyone had told her.”

“I wish I’d known that nice girl. Maybe she would have helped me, I’m so stupid,” said Beth, who stood beside him, listening eagerly.

To Be Continued Next Issue

Observer Crossword Solution No 39 T O U G O R U N R E S P X I M A I N I M R A S R S H I N I T L E A D E B U L T E O P I N C A C I D E F R L O W E E D E C R L A K E K S C A R S O A U P U L P E P S C H O A I T W I N S K A E M C E P J A U N E T C R A V T T O B E Y R O S E N T M A D I E R A E N E W L

H A B I T N U T T I E R E

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N E X U C T E A L H N L O O G N B A L O E K S A Y Y S O U T E H H O O S I T E L S C M O O N P E E O S I G N N T K N S O N T A R W E

S S N C O B Y O O K O A H A S M A B R G O C S H U R H E A S R S H U N E S P S A T H N O L S O G N Y U I D S A I N C U E O S H M D S

A A P P A L P E H S I D S S A G M A A E A G R E N N D A I S S L A L M A B B A D L E A G E A N D A S X E I O O U L S D E D S E T T E O S T

N O I N T E N H E R E F E R D R O S T O N O I N V E N A N T E H E T R A V A G E N R A D N I L A U U N D E D C U E A R S M S C E N T R A A R E S S E D S T M T M I N I H E A L R R H Y D E O H A E R W R U B A B A U B W J U T E A S A P M Y H E R O B N A R I D D E N B E S D L A D Y E E M O R P P B O L I S A T H E R K E T N C E S A H O A K R O A M E S P E C I W E R U N O O R R U P T S T O E N H E S I S

B O F A V Y N S C D T I S E T O R I P M C H E A I G I A T E N R R P A Y O B A L L D E N S H E O V E B A D R O L O D E E D D O D E P U O A T C H E E T R I B E D O C N A T A S L N L Y A T E E A M A R I I M C H U P U R T R E E T S A L I S F E D F E I A L R O L M S I

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A I S P I C C I T R E D F L M Y I N N G A F O O X T T E P R I O D D E O R E C L C O E D A S S I B N G H

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P E L D E E C A O N R C I X E N O T S T E R O P E A T H O X R I D C I D S R E O M O A I T S T T S E P A I S R E E D

E T A R O N S C A A R I S B D O S G E V L E N R T E H E O N S T E M S S E W S E I N G H S T I N E O R N O E I R G H E T S S T N O W

M P A O B L F O R E C K K L O E S O

L O N E S I E R T E M L Y O S A T M I F H Y I L E L A V E A R M A D A R E O M B E A G B N E N D R I I G N O E G S L T Y P R E A D M E N M P S K A B S D E S O W N E R I M I L O I N D G E K R A N G P E R E P E E A E E L L K

Y E T N B A E N A E D V W A N S C I E N G A H O E M A I E M L E I D X I R R E S A R E S R O N S P Y A L L A T R A B A L G E E S I N F N O

E S I C C K U B S A L E L D G U E S A B R S A N T R M A C L E E A Q U N E S E T X E S S K R C E L G E A A S N E T S T E R W N

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 27 e urn lbo Me

Every Week in the Melbourne Observer

ver N ser O Ob TI C SE 3

Observer Showbiz

Radio: MBS Radiothon underway ............................ Page 28 Theatre: The Horse, review by Beth Klein ............... Page 29 Country Music: Rob Foenander’s latest news ............ Page 28 Jim and Aar on: Top 10 lists, reviews .................................... P age 30 Aaron: Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions ........... Page 31 PL US THE LLO OVATT”S MEGA CRO PLUS CROSSSWORD

DARREN’S BEAUTIFUL LIFE Glass Menagerie

● Pamela Rabe and Luke Mullins in The Glass Menagerie. Photo: Pia Johnson ■ Belvoir Theatre’s production of Tennessee Williams’s Glass Menagerie opened with a flourish this week to a capacity house at the Merlin Theatre, The Coopers Malthouse.

I do need to say at the outset that some of the intimacy was lost in the large black box space that is the Merlin Theatre. Sitting close to the rear wall it was quite noticeable the lack of audience response in the upper level to the many passages of humour.

That said, the set design by Michael Hankin provided a great visual of the interior of the Wingfield home centre stage supported by projection screens either side that brought us many a close up of the most poignant moments.

The segments on screen were excellent and brought much detail of the actors at times it mattered most.

Both lighting design by Damien Cooper and costume design by Mel Page were meticulous as we were taken into the 1940’s St Louis apartment.

Most impressive were the table settings and other hand props all very well executed and used by the cast.

The overbearing mother Amanda Wingfield played by Pamela Rabe brought us all the pathos demanding of the role while being obsessed in seeking “gentleman caller’ as a suitor for her youthful but shy daughter Laura, played by Rose Riley.

In rejecting the family’s overtures of her disability Laura displayed the innocence of a child with wonderful fascial expressions and body movement.

Her character was further enhanced in the lengthy scene between the “gentleman caller” Irishman Jim O’Connor played by Harry Greenwood.

After building up hope, disappointment for Laura was to follow as O’Connor revealed he was to marry another in two weeks.

Linking all the work was son Tom Wingfield, played by Luke Mullins, who worked tirelessly supporting the family through their dysfunctionality. He showed great emotion coupled with exasperation and submissiveness, of the Wingfield’s suffocating home life.

Tennessee Williams’s devotees should not miss this production.

Dates: Until June 5 Venue: Merlin Theatre, The Cooper’s Malthouse, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank Bookings: boxoffice@malthousetheatre.com.au 9685 5111 - Review by Graeme McCoubrie

Man of Mode

● Darren McCubbin ■ Gippsland arts practitioner and Mayor of Wellington Shire Council, Darren McCubbin, leads a busy life.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Diploma of Education, Darren worked first as a meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, taught Mathematics and Physics at Sale Catholic College, and since 1991 has been self-employed as a performing artist.

He was elected to the Wellington Shire Council in 2004, and has been Mayor three times.

Among Darren’s varied positions are Executive of Gippsland Regional Arts, Sale, former Chair of Festivals Australia Board, a former Board Member of Regional Arts Victoria and the recipient of an Arts Activist award in 1989.

Darren also created and performs with The Murder Company, which has completed over 2000 professional performances in Gippsland, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Chinese Taipei since 1990, including private and corporate occasions.

Darren’s projects as writer/director include Yarram Secondary College performances, summer holiday pantomimes in Latrobe City and Wellington Shire involving more than 300 young people, productions for Guthridge, Lucknow, Longford, Bairnsdale West, Swifts Creek, Sale and Mirboo North Primary Schools, and The Trial of Ned Kelly for RMIT Heritage Week.

As well as his professional work, Darren started in community theatre as a dancer in 1975 with the Springvale South Light Opera Company in Orpheus and the Underworld.

The fit 14-year-old wasn’t a dancer, but Darren says he was “dragged in” when they needed a male to lift the female dancers.

“A couple of sessions with this bevy of goddesses and I decided that this was better than footy training, and the rest was history,” says Darren.

From there Darren performed with Westernport Light Opera, now Windmill Theatre Company. Then after transferring to Gippsland. He got a leading role in Showboat with Maffra Dramatic Society, and ended up marrying the female lead!

Darren has now played leading roles with productions for the Sale Theatre Company, Maffra Dramatic Society, Gippsland Chamber Opera and Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company.

He still enjoys the odd amateur theatre stint, either working the lights for the Sale Theatre Company, or directing pantomimes.

Currently Darren is playing the role of George in the Hannie Rayson play Life After George, which opens in July.

Turn To Page 29

● Josh Futcher. Photo: Aaron Walker ■ Janet Dimelow’s adaption of Sir George Etheridge’s 17th century play, The Man of Mode, attempts to place a contemporary spin on what was written as a spoof and satire of the times.

The original mocked the sexual excesses and intrigues of Charles II’s court. The wit survives as characters are taken to task for their behaviour with devastating reposts.

The machinations of the court are fathomable though modern audiences may find the convoluted plot line more of a challenge.

Some of the quick entrances and exits of the original seem awkward by today’s standards. Contemporary direction (Dirk Hoult)adds pace, doing away with excessive sets and cumbersome period costumes.

But there is a disconnect between the period nature of the play and current forms of delivery. As a play of manners, the characterisations that worked best were non-naturalistic and excessive which would have been more in keeping with the time.

Sir Fopling Flutter and Belinda were standouts because of this. A contemporary reference to life in Melbourne as an attempt to add relevance also seemed out of kilter with the flow of the plot.

Dorimant (Josh Futcher), whilst having an affair with one woman courts another but decides to chase after a third giving rise to jealousies, resentment, rejection and envy.

The ensemble cast, some playing more than one role, represent young lovers, old lechers, the servants, the heiress and the would be rakes.

The number of roles is a reason why such plays are rarely done today as they are not commercial but this cast (Catherine Glavicic, DominicWeintraub, Elizabeth McColl, Emma Pursey, Jake Fehily, Leah Baulch, Louisa Fitzhardinge, Matt Young, Ryan Murphy, Tamiah Bantum) entered into the spirit of the evening keeping the momentum moving forward at all times.

The 90 minutes went by very quickly.

Restoration works are somewhat of a lost art making this Chapel off Chapel performance unique.

At Chapel off Chapel until May 28.

- Review by David McLean

Media Flashes

■ Applications are open until May 31 for a radio presenter’s job at ABC Horsham. It pays $55,000$60,000, plus “generous superannuation”. See www. jocksjournal.com for more details.

■ US actor Alan Young, best known as the owner of Mr Ed, has died, aged 96. He died at the Motion Picture and Television Home in California on Thursday.

■ Claire Askew has been appointed Editor of Cosmopolitan.

■ Stephen Drill is a new Chief of Staff at the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. ■ The new-look 20 to One hosted by Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli begins next week on Nine.

Page 28 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Observer Showbiz

Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria

Lifeline for local arts, music

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

Maria’s new work ■ Sing A Song For Ireland is the new album release from Taradale singer-songwriter Maria Forde.

The 12-track recording features both Maria's own compositions plus some well known and loved Irish cover songs.

As the title tracks suggests, the stories recall the plight of Irish immigrants from the time of the Great Famine until today.

Maria is a regular voice that is heard at both club gigs and high profile festivals locally and internationally. \ Her easy listening Celtic and Australian folk style of music has earned her great applause from both industry critiques and fans alike with a performer of the year award in 2015.

More info: www.mariaforde.comood Friday Appeal.

Danny is going places ■ Young Melbourne artist Danny Stain is on a musical mission. He has just released his debut single and video clip Working Overtime and he's already been profiled on the popular Channel 31 Guitar Gods program.

Danny is currently writing for his first album and works both as a solo artist and with his band.

More info: www.dannystain.com

Country bonanza ■ Denver Walles hosts Country Bonanza every Friday evening from 7pm - 9.30pm on Mountain District Community Radio 3 MDR 97.1FM. "Less talk - more tunes" is the catch cry for the program that plays a great mix of both local and overseas artists.

- Rob Foenander

More Showbiz Briefs ■ Piano virtuoso Joyce Yang joins the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and conductor Diego Matheuz on June 3, 4 and 6 for Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2.

■ Re-visioning Histories brings together leading Australian indigenous and non-indigenous artists to revaluate the history of colonisation and its impact on indigenous Australians. It opens at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre from Saturday, June 18, until Sunday, August 21.

r Obser vbeiz On This Day Show

Wednesday Thursday May 26 May 25

■ Comedian Syd Heylen was born in Renmark, SA, in 1923. He died aged 73 in 1996.

Country singer Tom T Hall was born in 1936 (80).

Actor Andrew Clarke was born in Adelaide in 1954 (62).

Actor Mike Myers was born in 1963 (53).

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

■ English music hall performer George Formby was born in Lancashire in 1904.

He died aged 55 in 1961.

Actor John Wayne ( Marion Morrison) was born in 1907. He died aged 72 in 1979.

Actor Robert Morley was born in Wiltshire, UK, in 1908.

■ Radio Confidential is not the biggest fan of the on-air part of radiothons.

Presenters, out of their comfort zone, are put in to an ad lib situation, and some of them have little useful information to impart.

Radio Confidential oftens turns to another station for the week or fortnight when the regular format is ditched, happy to return when things are back to normal.

Latest station to conduct its radiothon is Melbourne fine music station, 3MBS. We admire what they do. And we hope they raise plenty of music to keep doing what they do.

The station’s General Manager, Leone Knight, says that with the latest major cuts to arts funding for many organisation, the station is more important than ever in providing a voice for local companies to reach their audiences.

The annual Radiothon continues until Sunday (May 29).

“3MBS gives exposure to local music and arts companies throughout Melbourne on its FM and digital bands, and across the world with its internet streaming service,” Knight says.

“It's not unusual for 3MBS announcers to get a call or email from Europe or the United State from a fan of what the station is doing.”

3MBS does not receive government funding.

The Melbourne arts community is a supportive one, Knight says, and this year's Radiothon includes many gratis live performances from major performers and ensembles that want to thank 3MBS for the exposure and encouragement the station has given them to launch their careers.

A notable example is cellist and music entrepreneur, Chris Howlett, whose other hat is 3MBS Board Vice-Chairman.

"As a young musician, the constant encouragement and

Melbourne's cultural history alive , just phone 9416 1035 or hop on line at www.3mbs. org.au

Oz Comic Con here

● Leone Knight, 3MBS General Manager exposure I received from munity and 3MBS: “It is such 3MBS has enabled me to forge a gift to be able to provide our a busy and successful career, fine professional and emergboth here and across Asia, ing musicians with the chance to perform for the audiences where I tour each year.

“It's vital that we keep who will turn up at their con3MBS on air so that emerging certs and buy tickets, because young musicians can receive they heard them on 3MBS. “To keep supporting perthe same help I did and start their own brilliant careers,” formers and recording their concerts we need all 3MBS Howlett said.

Standard subscriptions to listeners to get on board and 3MBS are priced at $85. There subscribe,” Knight said.

“It's not just classical muare various other subscription packages with different price sic that 3MBS supports - there are several specialist jazz propoints and benefits.

Apart from helping give lo- grams, arts interview procal musicians a career plat- grams and music theatre form, keeping 3MBS on air shows.

“3MBS is living proof of a gives constant music at the touch of a switch 24 hours a station that provides something for every fine music lover. day, 365 days a year.

“Subscribers have a chance “It is aslittle as $8 per month to have this constant source of to win prizes from a prize pool music, arts interviews and live of over $65,000, including to air performances,” Knight overseas trips, major music and opera subscriptions and says.

She is passionate about the movie packages.

“To be part of the action and love affair between Melbourne's music/arts com- keep this vital part of

■ Oz Comic-Con Melbourne returns through the June Queen’s Birthday long weekend The pop-culture expo explodes to life at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 11-12.

Headlining stars include John Barrowman (Torchwood, Doctor Who, Arrow), Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) and Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgement Day).

Also visiting will be DavidAnders (iZombie, The Vampire Diaries), Timothy Omundson (Psych, Supernatural), Ingrid Oliver and Samuel Anderson (Doctor Who), Paul McGillion and Rachel Luttrell (Stargate: Atlantis) and David Giuntoli (Grimm).

Each guest will be taking part in professional photograph and autograph opportunities across the weekend, as well as question and answer panels each day.

Renowned comic artists including Nicola Scott, Mike Choi,Wolfgang Bylsma and Tom Taylor will be in attendance.

The Victorian finals of the Australian Championships of Cosplay will also be held.

Doors open from 9am until 6pm each day. www.ozcomiccon.com Melbourne

Observer

Friday May 27

Saturday May 28

■ US actor Vincent Price was born in 1911. He died aged 82 in 1994. The late Mike Gibson was born on this day.

British singer Cilla Black (Priscilla White) is 75 (1941).

Politician Pauline Hanson is 62 (1954).

Fotballer Wayne Carey is 45 (1971).

■ Actor Patrick White was born in London in 1912.

He died aged 78 in 1990.

American singer Gladys King is 70 (1944).

Boxer Jeff Fenech is 52 (1964).

Singer-actress Kylie Minogue was born in Melbourne in 1968 (48).

Sunday May 29 ■ US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in 1917. He died aged 45 in 1963.

Radio man Stan Zemanek was born in 1947. He died aged 60 in 2007.

Actress Jo Beth Taylor was born in Perth in 1971 (45).

News reader Natarsha Belling is 46.

Monday May 30

■ Cartoon voice man Mel Blanc was born in 1908.

He died aged 81 in 1989. He was the voice of Bugs Bunny.

Band leader Benny Goodman was born in 1909. He died aged 77 in 1986.

Stage singer Jill Perryman was born in Melbourne in 1933

Tuesday May 31 ■ US actor-director Clint Eastwood was born in San Francisco in 1930 (86).

Guitarist Tommy Emmanuel was born in 1955 (61).

Former politician Justin Madden is 55.

Entertainer and dancer Todd McKenney was born in Perth in 1965 (51).

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, May 25, 2016 - Page 29

Observer Showbiz

Lyric Opera rom-com

■ Lyric Opera of Melbourne presents a 19th century rendering of a ‘rom-com’, Il Signor Bruschino, by beloved Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, this June in Prahran.

Il Signor Bruschino is a charming one-act comedy, with two lovers, Florville and Sofia, attempting to deceive their elders in order to marry.

Lyric Opera’s production is set to showcase exceptional singing, in English, with their hallmark contemporary twist.

Melbourne soprano Rebecca Rashleigh will play the lead role of Sofia – her first as a principal artist – in a return to Lyric Opera, where she received her first operatic role as an understudy two years ago.

“I was a little hesitant to begin with – I couldn’t figure out whether Sofia was smart or stupid, but as I looked deeper I realised she’s an intelligent, relatable and feisty woman, very unlike the ‘damsel-indistress’ opera roles I have played in the past,” said Rebecca.

Much of Rebecca’s inspiration comes from her family, particularly her late great aunt, who also aspired to be a professional opera singer in her youth, but was forbidden by her father – Rebecca’s greatgreat grandfather – who believed a career in the theatre was not appropriate for a respectable woman.

“My great aunt was one of my biggest supporters, and I always keep a picture of her close to me when I perform,” said Rebecca, who was Opera Scholar Australia’s Scholar of the Year for 2015.

Sofia’s lover Florville is being played by Shanul Sharma, former thrash metal singer turned tenor, and also a Lyric Opera returnee after starring as the title role in Werther in 2014.

Shanul was recently accepted into the Wales International Academy of Voice in Cardiff, and is currently crowd funding his tuition and expenses to undertake the extraordinary opportunity.

Joining Rebecca and Shanul in this tale of intentional mistaken identity, are Bruce Raggatt, Matt Thomas, and up-and-coming director Lara Kerestes, under the mentorship of Suzanne Chaundy as part of the inaugural Opera Director’s Workshop.

The chamber orchestra will be conducted by Lyric Opera’s Artistic Director, Pat Miller.

For further information: www.lyricopera.com - Cheryl Threadgold

The Horse ■ One has to congratulate the Next Wave Festival for ‘challenging artistic norms’, and Dylan Sheridan’s The Horse certainly fits the brief – a sensory experience that is intriguing and ultimately perplexing.

Sheridan is both a composer and visual artist, and The Horse dramatically combines the two skills in an obscure and abstract work.

Even as you enter the dark space a strange sense overwhelms. There is an understanding that the performance has already begun and the room is weirdly silent as the audience waits for something to happen.

The Horse provides plenty of drama, played out in impressive lighting techniques and curious, if not foreboding, sounds and musical interludes.

However it’s the measured silences and dark atmosphere that surreptitiously create the real drama an out-of-this-world and eerie ambience.

The punctuations of vibrant light and rapid bow action, provided by talented cello and violin accompanists, were a much-needed contrast.

Described as a ‘concerto for saxophone’ (among other things), this led to an expectation that there would be a significant saxophone component. The instrument itself featured but there was a disappointing lack of playing, well at least in any conventional sense – and that may be the point.

Sheridan’s avant-garde music and staging will either excite or leave you perplexed, as in my case, both a valid and worthwhile outcome. At the very least it will have you wondering about your attention limits.

The Horse was performed at the North Melbourne Town Hall as part of the Next Wave Festival.

- Review by Beth Klein

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

Trace of Magic ■ Trace of Magic will be travelling to Melbourne to perform her new family comedy magic show Why Kids are Smarter than Adults, in the Melbourne Magic Festival opening on June 28.

To celebrate the fascinating world of magic in the eyes of the children, audiences will enjoy an interactive and comedy magic show that as a family bonding activity.

Not only can children participate in the show's fun activities, but Trace's trademark story-telling magic performance will also leave the parents reliving fond childhood memories.

The show should be a learning and fun bonding activity for the whole family.

Trace of Magic’s interactive performances of illusions and awe have captivated a broad spectrum of audiences.

From kids' shows to corporate events, she is known to deliver magic performances that will leave every audience filled with a sense of wonder.

Trace’s journey towards mastering the art of magic began when her friends pointed out her talent in performing magic.

Originally, she performed close up magic at

Titanic The Musical ■ StageArt presents The London Chamber Revival Titanic: The Musical from July 7 – 24 at Chapel off Chapel.

This chamber musical tells the stories of the people on board and the men and women who determined their fate.

In the final hour of April 14, 1912 the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York, collided with an iceberg and ‘the unsinkable ship’ slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic events of the 20th Century. 1517 men, women and children lost their lives.

Based on actual characters, the musical focuses on their hopes and aspirations. Unaware of the fate that awaits them, the third class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the newly liberated second class aspire to attain a more grand lifestyle of the rich and famous, while the millionaire aristocrats of the first class believe their wealth and power will last forever.

Principal cast includes: Don Winsor, Greta Sheriff, Paul Batey, David Irvine and Joel Granger. Executive Producer: Katherine Armstrong.

Performance Season: July 7-24. Bookings: 8290 7000 www.chapeloffchapel.com.au

Skylight ● Trace of Magic her friends' parties as a ance on Hong Kong TV hobby.

Broadcasting (TVB) and One thing led to another she has also been featured as her impressed audi- in Sydney's top Asian loences gave her referrals cal magazines, appearand recommend- ance in Sydney local tions, and soon she started newspapers and been inperforming stage magic terviewed with anAustrafor kids' parties, corporate lian Chinese radio station events, and weddings.

2CR. It’s no surprise that she Dates: June 28 - July 2 decided to develop magic at 6:45pm into a career, giving her the Venue: Northcote opportunity to tour Town Hall, 189 High St America, attending Magic Northcote Live Conference and even Bookings: melbourne visiting The Magic Castle m a g i c f e s t i v a l . c o m / in Los Angeles. speaker/why-are-kidsTrace of Magic has re- smarter-than-adults cently made a TV appear- Cheryl Threadgold

Dash and D’Bree ■ Dash and D’Bree: Fierce, written and performed by Hayley Butcher and Katrina Mroz, is being presented from June 23 – 25 at The Space: cnr Carlton and Little Chapel Sts., Prahran, as part of the 2016 Melbourne Cabaret Festival.

They've studied the Gospel of Tyra Banks, read up on RuPaul, and are prepped to unleash a stack of original songs. Running from If only they could agree on what being fierce actually is.

Dash loves Disney, Taylor Swift, and dieting. She’s about keeping it nice, not "real" - being a pelvis thrusting feminist was never on her radar. But thanks to her booty-twerking, drag queen loving, throw your hands up at me BFF D'Bree, she’s about to be educated in the ways of the Fierce 21st Century female.

Fast becoming a Melbourne comedy must-see, Dash and D’Bree creators Butcher and Mroz met 10 years ago at St Martins Youth Arts Centre and immediately bonded over tales of working the fashion retail floor, as well as their ability to quote Strictly Ballroom word for word.

In 2011, they gained national exposure on Network 7 show Australia’s Got Talent with Clap Rap, an original song promoting the all important message to “Protect Your Glorybox”.

They advanced to the semi-finals of

■ David Hare’s contemporary classic Skylight returns to Melbourne Theatre Company’s stage 20 years after its Australian premiere.

Led by newly appointed MTC Associate Director Dean Bryant (I’ll Eat You Last, Next to Normal), Skylight opens on Thursday, June 23, at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.

Colin Friels (Endgame, Red) and Anna Samson (Birdland, The Sublime) feature as estranged lovers who reunite and old passion sparks.

But just as quickly as they are reminded of what brought them together, they realise their opposing ideologies and mutual desires are as incompatible and self-destructing as ever.

Award-winning director Dean Bryant said: “Rarely do the personal and political come together in such an exciting and theatrical evening. It’s a thrilling opportunity to experience actors on fire up close.

Skylight is funny, sexy, sad and even more relevant to who we are as a society now than it was twenty years ago.’

A few years ago, Kyra broke off her relationship with a wealthy married man, having caused more hurt than she could bear, and settled for a more meaningful life as a teacher in a disadvantaged school.

But is it idealism that drives her or her need for repentance? When her former lover Tom tracks her down to her cold London flat to rekindle their relationship, she must decide whether she could ever again be the person she once was.

The cast features Colin Friels, Anna Samson and Toby Wallace Venue: Southb ank Theatre, The Sumner Season dates:June 18-July 23 Opening night: Thursday, June 23, 8pm Cast and Artist Q&A: Monday 13 June, 6pm Tickets: MTC Box Office 8688 0800 or mtc.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold ● From Page 27

● Dash and D’Bree the series, and performed in front of 2.1 million viewers. They have also produced a Dash and D’Bree webseries which has recently been selected by Melbourne WebFest for a Spotlight screening.

Performance Season: June 23 - 25 Times: Thurs - Sat 10:15pm Tickets: $37 Full, $33 Concession and Grps 6+, $29 Festival Friend Pass Holder Bookings: online via www.melbournecabaret.com/dash-anddbree-fierce or at the door Venue: The Space - cnr Carlton and Little Chapel Sts, Prahran www.dashanddbree.com - Cheryl Threadgold

Darren’s beautiful life ■ “I find amateur theatre still allows me to concentrate on my skills and push myself a bit,” says Darren.

“Working for yourself you tend to do things you are good at, ‘pulling on some old rope’ as the saying goes, as you don’t want to be trying something new in front of a corporate client! Plus it is a bit of fun.”

A play Darren wrote with students at Yarram Secondary College, Hotel Olympus, finished last week, and rehearsals are now underway for the Mirradong Centre’s self-written performance of Adams Family Busted, which opens on June 21 in Yarram.

Darren’s busy life also includes writing a pantomime for a Traralgon performance at the end of the year, and coordinating interstate performances by The Murder Company.

“Life is beautiful,” smiles Darren. “heh … that’s a good idea for a play …!”

- Cheryl Threadgold

Page 30 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

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

● Leonardo DiCaprio gives a well deserved Oscar winning performance in The Revenant.

FILM: THE REVENANT: Genre: Adventure/Drama/Thriller.

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson.

Year: 2015.

Rating: MA15+ Length: 156 Minutes.

Stars: **** Verdict: A frontiersman named Hugh Glass on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s is on a quest for survival and revenge after being brutally mauled by a bear and left to die. Nature has rarely been depicted so naturally and realistically brutal and so poetically breathtaking at the same time in this cold, dark, tough, unforgiving and exhausting tale of human endurance for survival pushed to the limits. You can almost feel the frostbite in every frame thanks to superlatively taut and fever pitched direction by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Birdman). The entire cast give more than any other on the screen in recent times, most notably Tom Hardy, but it is Leonardo DiCaprio who hits the screen with a force of with an Oscar winning performance of realism and conviction as Hugh Glass out for survival and revenge, there's few performers out there who has given so much for their craft. Based in part on the novel by Michael Punke, and fictionalized previously on the screen as "Man in the Wilderness" (1971) starring Richard Harris.

FILM: THE 33: Genre: Drama/Biography.

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gabriel Byrne, James Brolin.

Year: 2015.

Rating: M. Length: 127 Minutes.

Stars: ***½ Verdict: Gripping drama based on the real events of the 2010 mining disaster in which a group of thirty-three miners were trapped inside the San José Mine in Chile for more than two months. This is one of those rare examples when most of us know the ending, that you can't help but be compelled right to the end. The stellar cast lead by Antonio Banderas, and including Juliette Binoche, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gabriel Byrne and James Brolin, all give strong and convincing performances of flourishing characterization and a back-story. Mexican director Patricia Riggen keeps the tension of the trapped miners at an almost nail-biting fever pitch throughout. Claustrophobic set design is as realistic as it gets, and the James Horner's heartfelt score, his second last before his death in June of last year, all combine to create a thrilling and captivating tragedy to triumph experience with its heart firmly in the right place.

FILM: THE CANNONBALL RUN: Genre: Comedy/Action.

Year: 1981.

Rating: PG. Length: 95 Minutes.

Stars: ***½ Cast: Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Farrah Fawcett,Sammy Davis Jr, Jackie Chan, Jamie Farr, Jack Elam, Peter Fonda.

Verdict: If you like cars, girls, stars and side-splitting laughs, this is a fun as it gets! A wide variety of eccentric competitors participate in a wild and illegal cross-country car race. Brimming with hot cars, beautiful girls and unending comic vignettes, Roger Moore is particular is a standout sending up himself, and a touch of 007, and the hilarious outtakes during the end credits. Followed by the inferior "The Cannonball Run II" in 1984 with added guest stars Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Movies, DVDs With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke

Lust For Life

● Screen legends Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn excel in the breathtaking bio-pic Lust For Life.

Matching him is the late great ■ (PG) (1956). 122 minutes. AvailQuinn (La Strada / Requiem For A able on DVD and Blu-Ray. Gorgeously lensed and filled with Heavyweight / The Savage Innocents emotional power, this dazzling look / Zorba The Greek / Last Train From at the life of painter Vincent Van Gogh Gun Hill), who fills Gauguin with so can easily be seen as a work of art much swagger and energy that he almost steals the film from Douglas (and itself.

With the added bonus of witness- won the Oscar for Best Supporting ing a Hollywood superstar in peak Actor).

Donald (The Bridge On The River form, Lust For Life is a film that will leave a deep impression on anyone Kwai / King Rat / Quatermass And The Pit) is quietly wonderful as Theo, who views it.

Starting when Van Gogh was de- and is a much-needed calming prestermined to become a Christian mis- ence against Van Gogh's unpredictsionary, the story follows his turbu- able nature. lent, often painful life right up to his VisuallyLust For Life is excepfinal, fractured days. tional, with every location, landscape, From his well-meaning immersion and paint stroke vividly captured (in into the Belgian mining town where Metrocolor and Cinemascope), and the he first sent by the church, to feelings superlative cinematography by of being an outsider while staying at Russell Harlan (To Kill A Mockingthe family farm, Van Gogh continu- bird / Run Silent, Run Deep / The ally perceives himself as a failure, Thing From Another World) and even more so after disastrously re- Freddie Young (Lawrence Of Arabia vealing his love for widowed cousin / Lord Jim / Doctor Zhivago / Ryan's Kay (Jeanette Sterke).

Daughter) has to be seen to be beAs his passion for painting in- lieved. creases, Van Gogh crosses paths with Never has an artist's life been Paul Gauguin (Anthony Quinn), and brought so strikingly to the big screen. the two strike up an artistically probPraise must also go to director ing but also highly turbulent friend- Vincente Minnelli, who shows a brilship. liant eye for colour and composition, Their fiery differences in tech- regularly making the film appear like nique and style causes the struggling one of Van Gogh's own creations.

Dutch artist to suffer deep bouts of Mostly known for classic musicals depression and uncertainty, a condi- such as Meet Me In St. Louis (1944), tion he will find it impossible to re- An American In Paris (1951), The cover from.

Band Wagon (1953), and Gigi (1958), Even at his worst, Van Gogh is lovMinnelli, who along with fellow ingly supported by his relative Theo film-maker Robert Wise (who would (James Donald), who forever be- also be connected to famous musilieves in his brother's talent despite cals), had a select body of work that what the art world are saying. proved he could produce outstanding Based on the weighty novel by Irv- dramas. ing Stone, screenwriter Norman The best examples are The Bad Corwin (who wrote the 1951 drama And The Beautiful (1952) and its unThe Blue Veil, with Jane Wyman and official follow-up Two Weeks In AnCharles Laughton) manages to con- other Town (1962), both searing exdense the epic material into a cohe- poses of the dark side of Hollywood, sive, dramatically impactful script. and again starring Douglas.

It is sterling work that deservedly Criminally under-seen (and inearned him an Oscar nomination. This creasingly hard-to-find), this double allows the great cast to sink their teeth bill is must-see viewing for any seriinto every role. ous movie-goer.

Douglas, despite his American acLust For Life is a unique blend of cent, completely dives into the role of art and film, and is an overwhelming Van Gogh, making him a compelling example of what cinema is truly cacharacter worthy of our sympathy, pable of. With a gallery of talented even though he is a hard person to artists on both sides of the camera, like most of the time. we the lucky viewer are presented Van Gogh's dedication to his craft with an absorbing, illuminating, and and his exhaustive work rate are per- memorable experience. Beautifully fectly represented on screen. remastered in glorious widescreen on Though missing out on the Acad- Blu-Ray, it is like watching the film emy Award for Best Actor, Douglas for the first time. did win at the Golden Globes and RATING - *****.

The New York Film Critics Circle.

- Aaron Rourke

Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. 2. BAD NEIGHBOURS 2.

3. MOTHER'S DAY. 4. THE JUNGLE BOOK. 5. FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS. 6. EDDIE THE EAGLE. 7. THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY. 8. THE BOSS. 9.24.

10. SHAKESPEARE LIVE! FROM THE RSC. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: MAY 12: THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE, BASTILLE DAY, GREEN ROOM, REMEMBER, THE BOY, THE FIRST MONDAY IN MAY, WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT. MAY 19: CRIMINAL, HIGHLY STRUNG, KEANU, THE MEDDLER. THE DVD AND BLU-RAY TOP RENTALS & SALES: 1. THE BIG SHORT [Drama/Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling].

2. THE GOOD DINOSAUR [Animated/Family/Adventure/Jeffrey Wright].

3. POINT BREAK [Action/Thriller/ Adventure/Luke Bracey, Ray Winstone].

4. STAR WARS: EPISODE VII THE FORCE AWAKENS [Fantasy/ Adventure/Harrison Ford].

5. SPOTLIGHT: [Drama/Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdames].

6. SISTERS: [Comedy/Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, John Cena].

7. JOY [Comedy/Drama/Biography/Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper].

8. SUFFRAGETTE [Drama/Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham-Carter, Meryl Streep].

9. CREED [Drama/Sport/Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson].

10. THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - Part 2 [Action/ Jennifer Lawrence].

Also: THE LOBSTER, TRUTH, YOUTH, OUR BRAND IS CRISIS, THE 5th WAVE, SECRET IN THEIR EYES, BRIDGE OF SPIES, SPECTRE, IN THE HEART OF THE SEA, SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN: The Peanuts Movie.

NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: THE 33 [Drama/Antonio Banderas, Lou Diamond Phillips, James Brolin, Gabriel Byrne].

TALE OF TALES [Drama/Salma Hayek, Toby Jones, Vincent Cassel].

REGRESSION [Thriller/Emma Watson, David Thewlis, Ethan Hawke].

NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLURAY THIS WEEK: THE 33 [Drama/Antonio Banderas, Lou Diamond Phillips, James Brolin, Gabriel Byrne].

TALE OF TALES [Drama/Salma Hayek, Toby Jones, Vincent Cassel].

REGRESSION [Thriller/Emma Watson, David Thewlis, Ethan Hawke].

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK: Season 2.

Turn to Page 35

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 31

Observer Showbiz

Local Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold

‘God of Carnage’ at Shepp.

TheViolet Sisters

● Jennifer Monk in The Violet Sisters ■ Against the backdrop of Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath that devastated Staten Island in 2012, two sisters, Sam (Jennifer Monk) and Pam (Leticia Monaghan) meet to discuss their father’s funeral.

They have been estranged for the last eight years and the lack of amenities in the household – water, electricity and phone – serves as a metaphor for the absolute breakdown in communication between them.

The interplay crafted by playwright, Gina Femia, brings to light the animosity, anger and bitterness between the sisters but this is counterpointed with the familiar recollections they share of their upbringing.

Director Sarah Vickery has counteracted the moments of tension and emotional violence with the calmer intimacy only siblings can know.

The dialogue is fearsome with Jennifer and Leticia assimilating the expression and accent of Staten Island giving authenticity to their performances.

The accent coach, Lisa Dallinger, would have had a role to play here. The interchanges between the sisters are relentless requiring sustained characterisations from both actors.

They never falter.

Performed in the close confines of The Owl and Cat Theatre in Richmond, the claustrophobic and overwhelming intensity of the play is fully realised. Make the effort to see it if you can.

Performance Details: Until May 27 Venue: The Owl and Cat Theatre 34 Swan St Richmond 8pm Bookings: www.owlandcat.com.au - Review by David McLean

MASTERCLASS

● Julie Byrne (back left), Debbie Keyt (tutor), Jillian Scott, Stephanie Poon (front left), Nuala Martin and Jill Gilligan.

Photo: Malcolm Threadgold ■ Members of the D.K. Productions Masterclass at Beaumaris Theatre were well-prepared last week when testing their audition techniques in front of a small audience.

Each performer presented the character Rita’s monologue from Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita, using their own individual style and interpretation.

This Masterclass for adults has been running regularly since 2011 under the tutelage of Debbie Keyt, and provides training and confidence for adults wishing to start their theatrical journey or brush up on skills such as audition technique, voice projection, diction, character development, script analysis, public speaking, improvisation and all forms of stagecraft.

Enquiries: 0401 450 979

Melbourne

Observer REVIEW: OVER MY DEAD BODY

SHOWS ■ Shepparton Theatre Arts Group Inc.: God of Carnage (by Yazmina Reza) Until May 21 at 17 Wheeler St., Shepparton.

Director: Fiona Kennan. Tickets: $30/$25. Bookings: 5832 9511.

■ Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company: Thoroughly Modern Millie Until May 27 at the Forge Theatre andArtist Hub, 80 McKean St., Bairnsdale. Director: John Lewis. Tickets: $32/ $27. Bookings: 03 5152 1482.

■ Brighton Theatre Company: Over My Dead Body Until June 4 at Brighton Theatre, Arts and Cultural Centre, Carpenter St., Brighton. Bookings: 1300 752 126 www.brightontheatreco.com ■ The Basin Theatre Company: Sleuth (by Anthony Shaffer) Until June 4 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin.

Director: Chris Shaw. Bookings: www.thebasintheatre.org.au ■ The 1812 Theatre: Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club (by Jeffrey Hatcher) Until June 4 at the 1812 Theatre, 3-5 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Christine Grant. Tickets:: $27/$24. Bookings: 9758 3964 www.1812theatre.com.au ■ Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company: Thoroughly Modern Millie until May 22 at the Forge Theatre and Arts Hub, 80 McKean St., Bairnsdale. Director: John Lewis. Bookings: 5152 1482.

■ MLOC Productions: Young Frankenstein Until May 28 at the Shirley Burke Hall, 64 Parkers Rd., Parkdale. Tickets: $25-$40.

Director: Matthew Bearup; Musical Director: Matthew Nutley: Choreographer: Rhylee Nowell. Bookings: 9551 7514 www.mloc.org.au ■ The Colac Players: Kiss of Blood (by Richard Hand and Michael Wilson)Until May 28 at the Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery, 520 Corangamite Lake Road, Cororooke. Directors: Al Mustapha et al. Bookings: trybooking.com ■ Phoenix Theatre Company: The Vicar of Dibley Until May 28 at The Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Rd., Doncaster.

Director: Craig Maloney. Bookings: www.trybooking.com/ KWMD ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): Come BlowYour Horn (by Neil Simon) May 26 - June 5 at the Strathmore Community Theatre, Cnr Loeman and Napier Sts., Strathmore. Director: Mark Stratford. Tickets: $20/$15. Bookings: 9382 6284 www.stagtheatre.org ■ Babirra Music Theatre: Mary Poppins May 28 - June 12 at the Whitehorse Centre, Nunawading. Director: Chris Bradkte; Musical Director: Ben Hudson; Choreographer: Di Crough. Bookings: www.babirra.org.au ■ Torquay Theatre Troupe: All Things Considered (by Ben Brown) Until June 4 at 16 Price St., Torquay. Director: Michael Baker. Bookings: 5261 4219.

■ Malvern Theatre Inc: And Then There Were None (byAgatha Christie) June 17 - July 2 at 29a Burke Rd., Malvern. Director: Nicholas Opolski. Tickets: $20. $5 extra per person for Gala Night. Bookings: 1300 131 552.

■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: God of Carnage (by Yasmina Reza) July 1 - July 16 at 36 Turnham Ave., Rosanna. Director: Terese Maurici-Ryan.

■ Diamond Valley Singers: Once Upon a Mattress July 1, 2, 9 and 9 at 8.00pm, July 2, 3, 6 and 9 at 2.00pm at the Warrandyte High School Theatre, Alexander Rd., Warrandyte. Enquiries: www.dvsingers.org

AUDITIONS ■ The Mount Players: Falling From Grace (by Hannie Rayson) May 26 and 30 at the Mountview Theatre, 56 Smith St., Macedon.

Director: Natasha Boyd. Enquiries: 0413 188 513 ■ Wyndham Theatre Company: Caught in the Net (by Ray Cooney) May 29 at 2.00pm and May 30 at 7.30pm at the Crossroads Theatre, Cnr Synnott St and Duncans Rd., Werribee. Director: George Benca. Enquiries: georgebenca@gmail.com .■ Strathmore TheatricalArts Group (STAG): Close of Play (by Simon Gray) May 30 at 7.30pm at the Strathmore Community Theatre, Cnr Loeman and Napier Sts., Strathmore. Director: Mel de Bono Enquiries: www.stagtheatre.com ■ Cathouse Players: The Shifting Heart (by Richard Beynon)May 31 at 6.00pm at the Director's residence, Kyneton.

Director: Bette Sartore. Enquiries: 5422 1603.

■ MLOC Productions: Bye Bye Birdie! From 7 June in Parkdale.

Director and choreographer: Drew downing, Musical Director: Phil Scanlon. Enquiries: www.mloc.org.au

OUR TEAM ■ We acknowledge wit th thanks the Melbourne Observer team of honorary reviewers: Mark Briggs, Rita Crispin, Martin Curtis, Barbara Hughes, Lyn Hurst, Kathryn Keeble, Beth Klein, Deborah Marinaro, Graeme McCoubrie, Catherine McGregor, David McLean, Maggie Morrison, Jill Page and Elizabeth Semmel. All volunteer their time, and pay their own travel costs, to encourage and foster local theatre in Victoria.

● Christopher Cole (Mark), Robert Harsley (Gerald), Carol Shelbourn(Amanda), Gail Bradley (Isobel) in Over My Dead Body.

Photo: John Shelbourn ■ Brighton Theatre Company continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary year by presenting Derek Benfield’s comedy Over My Dead Body, playing until June 4.

Patrons of Brighton Theatre Company shows can always be assured of quality theatre and this, the company’s 131st production, is no exception.

The play tells of newly widowed Gerald discovering his late wife Helen’s forward planning has filled his house with uninvited women. Gerald colludes with his son-in-law and daughter to solve the problem to allow him to live life on his own terms.

John Shelbourn’s set representing Gerald’s drawing room conveys warmth and liveability, inviting patrons to feel they share the room with the characters.

Under Brad Lowry’s skilled direction, the well-rehearsed cast do great work delivering Benfield’s often witty, sometimes trite dialogue, and effectively using well-timed comedic pauses.

The actors include Robert Harsley (Gerald James), Rachael Gordon (his daughter Shirley Tyler), Christopher Cole (Shirley’s husband Mark), Carol Shelbourn (Amanda Eddison), Gail Bradley (Isobel French) and Naomi Mendoza (Carol Capstick).

Each actor portrays their character convincingly, with a particularly enjoyable, high-energy performance from Naomi Mendoza. Effective costume design is by Christina Carolan.

On a critical note, I experienced a visibility issue past other patron’s heads when actors were seated downstage. Some mode of elevation for downstage seating would remedy this.

Over My Dead Body is an amusing play with some poignant moments. Combined with Brighton Theatre Company’s warm. friendly hospitality, patrons can be assured of an enjoyable theatre experience.

Performance Season: Until June 4 Venue: Brighton Theatre, Carpenter St., Brighton Bookings: 1300 752 126 www.brightontheatreco.com - Review by Cheryl Threadgold

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? ■ Winterfall Theatre presents EdwardAlbee’s Who’sAfraid of Virginia Woolf? From June 14 – July 10 at Winterfall’s new home, the Blackbox Theatre.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a drama of broken dreams and marital breakdown whose message resounds as forcefully as it did upon its feted premiere in 1962, before it was immortalised in the 1966 film adaptation starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Said playwright Albee: “People often get it wrong. They think it’s a play about people who hate each other. It’s not. It’s a play about people who love each other.”

Directed by Denis Moore, Winterfall Theatre presents a loyal adaptation of the play,with an ensemble cast featuring Chris Connelly, Winterfall co-founder Michele Williams, Jordan Fraser-Trumble and Cassandra Magrath (Wolf Creek / SeaChange) starring as Albee’s two famous couples, George and Martha, and Nick and Honey.

Winterfall co-founder and cast member Michele Williams said, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? looks at the all-American dream that was held as supreme in the 1950s, and the sadness that eventuated when people felt they could not live up to its ideals. Albee’s genius lies in the way he looks at how society creates façades for itself – masks to hide behind, ways to behave so that we can fool ourselves and those who are closest to us.”

Winterfall Theatre was founded in Northcote in 2010 by Michele Williams and Trent Baker. It relocates to its new home at Blackbox Theatre, on the grounds of Preshil Senior Campus, bringing professional theatre back to the eastern suburbs for the first time since the closure of Hawthorn’s Church Theatre in 1990.

Performance Season: Previews: June 14 – 19; Season June Venue: Blackbox Theatre, Preshil Senior Campus, 22 Sackville St., Kew. Tickets: www.trybooking.com/LGVV winterfalltheatre.com

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 32 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Melbourne

Observer

Lovatts Crossword No 39 Across

Across

1. Difficulty (of assignment) 6. Put oil on 11. Balance out 15. Staff members 20. Scruff (of neck) 21. Rock music style, ... metal 22. Spy, ... Hari 23. See 92ac 25. Favour 26. Scours 27. Gowns 29. Lull 32. Hairless 34. Exclusive English school 36. Recline (3,4) 39. Boot-shaped country 41. Basil sauce for pasta 43. Din 46. Goes by horse 48. Strong point 49. Chief 51. ... & ahs 52. Catalogues 55. Disfigure 56. Captures (criminal) 59. Jemima Goldsmith's ex, ... Khan 61. The A of AM 62. Thaw 63. Sports award 64. Disburdens 67. Windpipe 68. Thorny 70. Japanese religion 71. Barbaric 72. Deep wounds 73. Alleged assassin, Lee Harvey ...

74. Roman garments 75. Glow with (health) 77. Distend 78. Introduction (4-2) 79. Philippines capital 82. Invaded 86. Snooker foul 87. Ali ... & The 40 Thieves 89. Remunerates too little 92 & 23ac. Knuckle of veal stew (4,5) 94. Extreme 96. Scan 98. Animal enclosure 100. Laughing scavenger 101. Company emblem 103. Cogwheel 105. Undersized 106. Cultural symbol 108. Loathsome 111. Furtive glance 112. Moon shape 114. Surround 116. Volcanic flow 119. Early Peruvian 120. Cummerbund 121. Fair-haired lady, ... blonde 123. Imminent 124. Pre-dinner snack, ... d'oeuvre 125. Stripped 126. Strain 127. Bears (costs) 130. Post-graduate business degree (1,1,1) 131. Unrelenting 135. Burglary 138. Short skirt 139. Entertainer, ... Harris 141. Alternate, every ...

144. Unwanted plant 146. Donkey 147. Cure 148. Pole 149. Deciduous trees 150. Or near offer (1,1,1) 151. Jane Austen novel 152. Bomb hole 153. London's ... Park 155. Swirl 157. Small hound 158. ... Eildon 160. Hawaiian greeting 161. Wear away 162. Lifeless 163. Tick over 165. Mediocre (2-3) 166. Massage 167. Play on words

168. Remove errors from 169. Automobiles 171. Addis ..., Ethiopia 172. WWII German sub (1-4) 175. Yawns 176. Baghdad is there 179. From Sydney or Perth 180. Rope-making fibre 182. Head cook 184. Take no notice of 185. Flesh of fruit 186. Jet-bubble bath 188. Quickly (1,1,1,1) 189. Fulfilled (demand) 190. Source 191. Mother sheep 193. Mentally sound 194. Unhappily 196. Brave man 197. Wild goat 198. Waters (garden) 200. Colleges 205. Much ... About Nothing 207. Arrange in print 210. Tormented by nightmares (3-6) 211. Chattering idly 212. Identical sibling 213. Not stereo 214. Crack army force (1,1,1) 216. Infatuated, ... over heels 218. ... & twos 219. Korean karate, tae ... do 220. Female boarding house proprietor 224. Songwriter 227. The M of YMCA (3'1) 229. Mexican currency 230. Judge 231. Make speech 232. ... & evens 233. Scamps 235. Reception host 237. Pant 239. Actress, ... Russo 241. Inuit canoe 244. Type of marble 246. Elvis Presley's daughter (4,5) 249. Globes 252. Excursions 254. One or the other 256. Latter-day Saint 258. Consolation 259. Inflexible 260. Tomato sauce 263. Possessor 264. Cowardly 265. Liquid units, fluid ...

267. Say from memory 270. Illusion 271. Necessitates 272. Acorn bearer (3,4) 273. Cut of steak 274. Follows orders 277. Wander 279. Native of Aberdeen or Inverness 281. Festivities 284. Fragrant flower 286. Prompted (actor) 288. Was expert (in) 292. You 294. Hereditary unit 295. Nervous 298. Dressmaker 300. Unnourished 301. Valuable possession 303. Assortment 306. Concert venue, ... Square Garden 308. Actress, Miranda ...

309. Overtake 311. Continue doggedly 314. Secret store 315. Blows up 316. Suspect's excuses 317. Native American tent 318. More than half 319. Join register 320. Nevada city 321. Recently married folk 322. Dissertation 323. Moaned wearily 324. Famous (4-5)

Down

Down

1. Cycling's ... de France 142. Stewardesses 2. Cremation vessels 143. Thefts 3. Nun's attire 145. Wear best clothes (5,2) 4. Outdo 151. Magic potions 5. Snooty person 154. First appearance 6. Granny Smiths or pippins 156. Downward distance 7. Dorks 159. Also titled (1,1,1) 8. Ahead (2,5) 164. Meadow (poetic) 9. Queen's ceremonial chair 169. Manages 10. Outlaw 170. The Constant Gardener actor, ..

11. Pearl-bearer Fiennes 12. Conifer (3,4) 173. Expresses sorrow over 174. ... speak louder than words 13. Lodge firmly 177. Stands on hind legs 14. Samples 178. Search 15. Deserve 181. Overturned 16. Artist, ... Picasso 183. Stiffly 17. Beginning 187. Study of body tissue 18. Mediterranean volcano 192. Heftier 19. Unwell 195. Myths 24. Salt Lake City state 199. Become rusty 28. Dublin republic 201. Cries like crow 30. Test 202. Pig noise 31. Cocktail, ... colada 203. Devonshire tea cake 33. Rosebush pests 204. Holy book 35. Hollywood's movie accolades 206. Lukewarm 37. Note well, nota ...

207. Vagrant 38. Havana is there 208. Cupid 40. Tokyo Bay port city 209.

Former lovers 42. Ringworm 213.

Move listlessly 44. Available (2,4) 215. Pale-looking 45. Screen legend, ... Loren 217. Study table 47. Islands 221. Bus terminus 48. Brown skin marks 222. Sufficient 49. Rocket, guided ...

223. Louts 50. Ratty 224.

Shakespearean king 53. Experienced hand 225.

Horse-taming display 54. Visual symbolism 226.

Computer input device (1,1-3) 57. Moving onwards 228. Removes surgically 58. Sleighs 234. Pleasant tasting 60. Crazier 236. Meal courses 63. Perplex 238.

Chopping tool 65. 12 o'clock 240.

Persona ... grata 66. Long narrative 242.

Worshipping 68. Brazilian soccer great 243. Pilot's emergency aid, ... seat 69. Fertile soil 245. Pest 76. Encroachments 247. Annoying 79. Inflatable vest, ... west 248. Influence 80. Naked models 250. Bemuse 81. Ill-gotten cash, filthy ...

251.

Set free 83. Savoury jelly 253.

Ireland's ... Fein 84. Furnishing scheme 255.

Promissory notes (1,1,2) 85. Alsatian or labrador 257.

Porridge cereal 88. Booklets 258.

Match before final 90. Household dirt 261.

Comprehend (4,2) 91. Competent 262. Zoom 93. XVII 265.

Greatest in age 95. Pub drinks 266.

Opted 97. Schedules 268. Earth lumps 99. Antiquated 269. Rowing teams 100. Detect sound 275. Genuine, ... fide 102. Says yes to 276.

Snow monster 104. Land measures 278.

Concerning 107. Quoted 280.

Terminating 109. Alpaca relative 282. Long time 110. On an occasion 283.

Termites, white ...

111. Twosome 285.

Rope tangle 113. Horridly 287.

Hate 115. Goaded 289. Profane oaths 117. Throat-clearing noise 290. Declare to be true 118. Grain husks 291. High standards 121. Devotee 292. Ribbed 122. Stockpiled 293. Leg joint 127. Wooden peg 296. Written composition 128. Small streak 297. Trap 129. Backpackers' accommodation 299. Merit (5,6) 302. Steeple top 132. Insistently 304. Horrify 133. Directed 305. From Athens 134. Vestige 306. Stingy 135. Strictness 307. Sketched 136. Capital of Pakistan 308. On Her Majesty's Service 137. Casual (remark) (1,1,1,1) 138. Indian prince 310. Pack (cargo) 140. Large fruit bat (6,3) 312. News 141. Bone specialist 313. Sea bird

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May y, y 25, , 2016 - Page g 33

Solution on Page g 26

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www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 35

Sport Extra

New integrity authority for all codes ■ The Victorian State Government has announced that all three racing codes will be overseen by a single independent integrity body.

AVictorian Racing Integrity Unit will be established within two years, following on from one of the key recommendations made by a report into the integrity structures of each racing code.

The Andrews Government handed down the report, by former British horse racing executive Paul Bittar, last Thursday.

The report also recommends a restructure of the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board, whereby the ability to appeal decisions at the Victorian Civil andAdministrative Tribunal will be removed.

All three codes have indicated they will work together to ensure a positive future for their activities, in light of an increased focus on integrity and animal welfare.

"The Board will examine the Review in full and looks forward to working with all racing codes to implement any further positive changes to enhance and strengthen the sport of greyhound racing in Victoria, Greyhound Racing Victoria Chairman Bernie Carolan said.

Good luck ■ The luck of Gippsland trainer Steve Creighton, featured in last week's column, has continued.

Steve thought all his Christmases had come at once when his bitch, Narralee, recovered from injury to win a heat of the Sapphire Crown.

But the courageous dog went one

Greyhounds

with Kyle Galley better last Thursday night, with another upset win, this time in the $100,000 to the winner Final.

"I don't know what to say - I'm still in shock," Creighton said after the event.

The rags to riches fairytale continued when Narralee sprinted to the early lead from box two, holding off the challengers in a fast time of 29.47 seconds.

Narralee's owner, Linda Gray, is a single mum and works as a parttime cleaner. Needless to say her share of the prizemoney cheque will come in handy.

"I can now buy a brand new car it's always been a dream of mine," Gray said.

The night's co-feature, the $145,000 Harrison-Dawson Sprint, produced another upset result when Dundee Ospree got under the guard of most punters in winning as a 25/1 outsider for veteran trainer Geoff Scott-Smith.

It’s a feast ■ Sandown Park's May feast of rac-

ing reaches its peak tomorrow night with the Sandown Cup Final staged over 715 metres.

Won by some outstanding dogs over the years, the Sandown Cup has again drawn a first class line up, after a record seven heats were staged last Thursday night.

The field, not in box draw order, comprises: No Donuts, Kilkee Flex, Wind Whistler, Zipping Kane, Luna Jinx, Dublin Bull, Bells Are Ringin and Who Dey.

Works at ‘Bool

one which has caused the club plenty of headaches in the past.

Toilet facilities, food servery, bar and kitchen areas will be overhauled, while ceilings, floor coverings, lighting and air conditioning in the club rooms will also be replaced.

A new judges’ tower will be built, while fire services to the site and buildings will also be upgraded.

A covered roof canopy will also be installed over the existing alfresco area.

“It is in the best interests of Victorian greyhound racing to have a strong, prosperous and accountable Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club and this development will go a long way to ensuring that is the case for many years to come," Greyhound Racing Victoria CEO Alan Clayton said.

The club is currently under administration, however a successful recent Cup meeting and the appointment of Craig Monigatti as Manager have the club on the right path for the future.

Monigatti previously worked with the Carlton Football Club, and grew up in the Warrnambool area.

He is looking forward to lifting the profile of greyhound racing in the south-west region.

■ Facilities at one of Victoria's oldest greyhound tracks will undergo a major redevelopment.

Greyhound Racing Victoria have announced a $1.8 million redevelopment of the club rooms and judges tower at the Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club.

Works will include a new electrical switchboard system, replacing the

■ Greyhound Racing Victoria will trial a ‘hoop arm’ lure at The Meadows from Wednesday, June 15.

For a period of six weeks, races will be run at the venue using the hoop arm lure, which is positioned closer to the centre of the track than the traditional lure.

Up north

■ Although Sandown Park takes the spotlight on Thursday night, there is also a very good feature race being staged in Brisbane.

The traditional Winter Chase is run over the long distance of 710 metres at Albion Park, and runners qualified in heats last Thursday night.

The field in box draw order is: 1) Cyndie's Magic, 2) Sandave Sapphire, 3) Vegas Bound, 4) Spring Bonanza, 5) Sarajevo Girl, 6) In The Picture, 7) Got ABrother, 8) Golfing Amy. Reserves: 9) Abby's Magic, 10) Echo Gal.

Hoop arm

● Craig Monigatti

The trial of the lure will be monitored by GRV, and it is felt this kind of lure encourages less interference in races.

The catching pen gate at The Meadows has been reconfigured so that the hoop arm lure can be used safely.

Upcoming race meetings

■ Wednesday: The Meadows (Day), Bendigo(Twilight), Cranbourne (Night), Ballarat (N); Thursday: Shepparton (T), Sandown Park (N), Warrnambool (N); Friday: Horsham (T), Bendigo (N), Geelong (N); Saturday: Traralgon (T), The Meadows (N); Sunday: Sandown Park (D), Lang Lang (D), Healesville (D), Sale (T); Monday: Ballarat (D), Traralgon (T), Shepparton (N); Tuesday: Geelong (T), Horsham (T).

- Kyle Galley

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Victorian Sport

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 35

Melbourne

Howard be thy name

■ The beautifully named galloper, Howard Be Thy Name, showed plenty of grit in winning the South Australian Derby, and should go on to better things.

He took his record to five wins from his 11 starts with six minor placings.

Piloted by top jumps and flat rider, Irishman, JohnAllen, the three-year-old, was out in a beautiful run in the race by Allen although forced a bit wide earlier.

Trained by el Ssupremo Darren Weir, he is a top stying type and will be hard to beat in the Queensland Derby coming up on June 11.

He made it a hat trick of wins at Morphettville in South Australia with his Derby win, and Weir said he will stay as long as your mother-in-law.

He is a nice type by leading sire, Redoute's Choice, and could be a spring horse the way he's going.

Howard Be Thy Name is being quoted at around the $8 mark for the classic.

The favourite for the Queensland Derby is the Chris Waller-trained three-year old, Mackintosh, who after a big win at Hawkesbury won the Rough Habit Plate over 2000 metres at Doomben in great style, to take his record to four wins from his six starts.

He gave nothing else a chance winning the Rough Habit by nearly three lengths in race record time recording 2.02.81 for the 2000-metre trip and it looks like Chris Waller has unearthed another top notcher.

He will go around favourite at present, around the $3 mark.

Equal second favorites are Howard Be Thy Name and Cylinder Beach.

The latter ran a good second behind Macintosh in the Rough Habit, although a bit behind the winner, he was in trouble earlier, but showed heart in the run home.

The Lee and Anthony Freedman-trainedCool Chap, a winner of the VRC St.Leger, put in a strong run in the South Australian Derby to finish a good third after drawing the car park in barrier 17.

He will have no trouble with the trip, and is in a strong camp. is currently being quoted at the good odds of $10.

Of the others Encosta Lane and Unbiased are at $11 each of two and Eagle Way fourth in the Rough Habit is at $9.

Summing up: Macintosh has the form on the board, likewise Howard Be Thy Name, and you can leave Cool Chap out.

Smart type ■ The David Hayes-Tom Dabernig combination looks like they have struck gold with the promising two-year old, Blue Tycoon, who won convincingly at Caulfield, taking out the Phil Sly Memorial Plate.

The son of top sire, Written Tycoon, gave nothing else a chance in scoring easily.

He is out of Blue Music, who is by the American dam, Bluebird.

Having only his third race start, he settled just off the pace before his rider, Michael Walker, the ex-New Zealand top rider, released the brakes and he bolted away.

After a promising second at his first start he won in good style at Morphettville at his next outing, after being checked several times in the run, he showed a top of heart to win in great fashion.

When interviewed about the run after his win at Caulfield, Tom Dabernig said the stable had a high opinion of the colt and could by a spring proposition.

He has got a lovely action and a nice horse to train, with all the ability in the world, one to definitely keep your eye come the spring.

● Col Chap. Photo: Getty Images The Jericho Cup will be re-run annually from the 100th Anniversary in 2018.

This will be to honour Bill the Bastard, The Australian Light Horsemen and their magnificent mounts - The Walers 1914-1918.

A great tribute by the Melbourne Racing Club to these great horsemen.

The winner at Caulfield this year of the Jericho was the aptly named Tavi Bay, raced in partnership by a group under the banner of one of the greatest thoroughbreds to grace the turf, in Shergar.

Shergar raced in Britain and took all before him, but after his career and standing at stud he was stolen reported stolen and never found.

Ted Ryan

Fine gesture

major offensive against the Turkish Empire. In order to lull the enemy into believing noting unusual was afoot, a race meeting was organised on the eve of the assault.

The main race was called the Jericho Cup over three miles (4800 metres) through the desert sands.

The Winner was Bill the Bastard, probably Australia's greatest war horse.

His exploits are detailed in the book, Bill the Bastard by noted historian, Professor Roland Perry.

■ I was thrilled to learn that two of my good friends in racing, Les Carlyon and Pat Hyland, had been inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

Les and I have been friends for many years and he has written some great books on racing especially the late great Bart Cummings life story.

He is also well known for other great pieces of literature, including the Great War and Gallipoli.

Well done, Les, it couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

Former top jockey and now trainer, Pat Hyland, has been there and done that, a Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and a Golden Slipper on his favourite horse Vain.

At 74, Pat still rides the horses he trains in track work, and gets up six days a week at 2.45am. As they say in the classics “you are a better man than I am Gunga Din”.

- Ted Ryan

Nice touch ■ The Melbourne Racing Club is to be congratulated with the running of the Jericho Cup at Caulfield in respect of our Australian Light Horsemen who represented us.

Approaching the end of the First World War the Australian Light Horse were planning a

● Darren Weir. Photo: Getty Images

Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 30

Top 10 Lists

NEW RELEASE AND RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD THIS WEEK: None Listed for This Week.

NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: THE ROCKFORD FILES: TV Movies Collection.

THE ROCKFORD FILES: Season 6.

COLUMBO: Season 10 - Part 1.

COLUMBO: Season 10 - Part 2.

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK: Season 3.

FLESH AND BONE (TV Series).

HAVEN: Season 5 - Volumr 2.

JANET KING: Season 2.

CSI: CYBER - Season 1.

MIDSOMER MURDERS: Season 18 - Part 1.

WWE: Wrestlemania 32 WWE: Wrestlemania 32 WWE: Fit Series - Stephanie Mcmahon WWE Power Series: Triple H WWE: Battleground 2015 WWE: Brothers of Destruction WWE: Daniel Bryan: Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes! WWE: Extreme Rules 2015 WWE: Fast Lane 2015 WWE: Hell in a Cell 2015 WWE: Omg! The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History WWE: Omg! The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History WWE: Omg! Volume 2: The Top 50 Incidents in WCW History WWE: Owen - Hart of Gold WWE: Owen - Hart of Gold WWE: Royal Rumble 2013 WWE: Payback 2015 WWE: Summerslam 2015 WWE: Summerslam 2014 WWE: Sting: Into the Light WWE: Sting: Into the Light WWE: Shawn Michaels: Mr. Wrestlemania WWE: The Best of Sting WWE: Survivor Series 2015 WWE: Survivor Series 2014 WWE: Wrestlemania 30 WWE: Wrestlemania 29 WWE: Wrestlemania 25 WWE: Wrestlemania 21 WWE: Wcw's Greatest Pa y-Pe r-View Matches - Volume 1 WWE: True Giants WWE: Triple H: Thy Kingdom Come WWE: The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro - Voumel 02 - James Sherlock

OK: John O’Keefe

■ STARKERS: Gold 104.3 is about to take food to a new level. Coming up is Nude Food where diners will assemble in a Smith St eatery provided they all are starkers - not a stitch of clothing allowed. Make it a date tomorrow (Thurs., May 26) for this first-ever feasting in the nude. Food fights not allowed.

■ BORING: The first TV debate on Sky between Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbill pulled in an audience of 39,000 viewers.

Another rivetting show Dora the Explorer on an opposition channel outrated all that pollie talk.

■ BETS ON: Bets are being wagered as to exact date The Age will cease weekday publication. Current favourite is end of current year, with no appearance in new year. After 42 years with The Age, cartoonist/journalist John Spooner is leaving Fairfax. Spooner is a much awarded media man and is a threetime winner of the Walkely Award .

■ GOTCHA: KIIS 101.1 has relaunched the Gotcha telephone prank featuring Matt Tilley as Mr Gotcha. His first call was full of farts and a bit of fun. It is game of KIIS to try the Gotcha stunt after the dramas of the 2Day FM Royal Prank.

■ FLYING HI: 60 Minutes is once again embroiled in controversy. The alleged incident happened on a Qantas plane bound for New York when a 60 Minutes senior producer performed a inappropriate reveal - she had to be subdued by fellow Nine News staffers and cabin crew. Nine HR are conducting a internal review over the incident that happened on April Fools Day. - John O’Keefe

Page 36 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Victorian Sport Melbourne

Racing Briefs

Win for young trainer ■ Youthful Kilmore trainer Joshua Benson was victorious at Tabcorp Park Melton on Wednesday with 7-Y-0 Armbro Operative/Inclination gelding Future Operative who scored in the Join The Pegasus Club Pacers Handicap for C1 or better class over 2240 metres.

Raced by father David, Future Operator taking a concession for Melton based Alex Ashwood stepped cleanly from 10 metres to trail the solo front marker Bungalally Boy. Easing three wide on the final bend, Future Operator finished full of running to register a 5.1 metre margin over Pantheon which raced in the open from the bell, with 30 metre backmarker Grins Rendition (one/one) at bell third. The mile rate 2-01.

Tricky Melton finish ■ Tatura trainer David Abrahams, a member of a famous trotting family from the halcyon days, has a very smart 4-Y-0 gelding by the name of Fabrication which was successful in the Prydes Easifeed Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2240 metres at Melton.

Driven by David Murphy, Fabrication coming from 20 metres settled four back in the moving line, with Alabamas Invasion leading from 10 metres.

Set alight racing for the bell, Fabrication was left in the open for the remainder of the race as ex-Kiwi Our Revenue Maker crossed Alabamas Invasion.

Going head and head along the back straight, Fabrication a son of Dream Vacation and Figment did best to score by a nose in a tricky finish, with Save Our Pennys (one/one) third 4 metres away. The mile rate 2-04.8.

Rivals swamped ■ Doreen based concessional reinswoman Maddie Ray would have been "over the moon" after winning the Anytime Fitness Melton Pace for C5 & C6 class over 2240 metres at Melton with 6-Y-0 D M Dilinger/ Myrina gelding Crazy Dave in a rate of 1-59.1..

Trained by one of harness racing's good guys Gary Bailey at Portarlington, Crazy Dave was taken back to the rear of the field after being trapped wide from gate five, before going forward in the last lap.

Despite being very wide on the home turn, Crazy Dave swamped his rivals in the straight to record a 4.6 metre margin in advance of Mister Clooney along the sprint lane from the back of the leader and third placegetter Springfield Tattoo.

Ultra impressive

■ Smart Bacardi Lindy/Cloud Chaser gelding Cruisin Around resumed at Bendigo on Wednesday and was ultra impressive in taking the Bush's Produce 3-Y-0 Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres.

Prepared at the Cranbourne Training Complex

by Michael Hughes, Cruisin Around with regular reinsman Greg Sugars in the sulky was given a sweet trip three back along the markers, with Calder Knight flying away from gate four to lead easily.

Popping away from the inside in the last lap, Cruisin Around strode to the front in the home rurn and raced away to register a 18 metre margin over Calder Knight and Getthenet which trailed the pacemaker 6.2 metres back in third place.

In-form reinsman ■ Former Kilmore trainer Wayne Potter now at Avenel, snared the Glenn Craven/Johnny O'Keefe Tribute 19th May 2-Y-0 Pace over 2180 metres at Kilmore on Thursday with Wicked Nights, a filly by Art Major from Twice As Hot. With in-form stable reinsman Mark Pitt holding the reins, Wicked Nights was driven forward from gate four to lead and was never headed, scoring by 3.3 metres in 2-00.1 from a death-seating Albietta who would have given the Shinn's a double. Emma Sheffield was 6.1 metres away in third place after being given every opportunity by David Miles (one/ one).

- Len Baker

More Hamilton wins for Mattie ■ Hamilton on Victoria's Western District was the venue for Monday harness racing ans Terang trainer/driver Mattie Craven's ultra-consistent ex-Kiwi 5-Y-0 Bettors Delight/Electric Lady gelding Emman-uel chalked up his 8th victory in 26 outings by taking the fast class race on the program - the Hamilton Spectator Pace for C4 to C6 class over 2160 metres.

A prohibitive $1.20 favourite following a narrow defeat at Melton 10 days earlier, Emmanuel led throughout from gate two, easily accounting for Djibouti from last by 2.9 metres in a rate of 2-00.1, with border hopper Officianado a metre back in third place after racing parked for the last half of the journey.

Pressure ■ Local concessional reinswoman Jackie Barker was victorious aboard Mount Gambier trainer Ken Dihm's 5-Y-0 Chief Marty/Quintessa Bromac gelding Our Supreme Guy in the Finchetts Plumbing Pace for C2 & C3 class over 1660 metres.

Spearing away from gate four as he usually does, Our Supreme Guy was eased to trail speedy gelding Shadow Of Fortune (gate five), receiving the run of the race.

With the pressure being applied from the bell by a death-seating Ark and Our Sir Ivanhoe three wide from last, Our Supreme Guy dashed home along the sprint lane to register a 2.2 metre margin over Goodtime Alltime (three back the markers) and Shadow Of Fortune returning a slashing mile rate of 1-54.9.

Double ■ Another Mount Gambier winner on the day was David Drury who snared a stable double with Wotplanetrufrom greeting the judge in the PFD Pace for C1 class over 1660 metres and Angel Of The City the Grand Central Hotel 3-Y-0 Pace over 2160 metres.

Wotplanetrufrom a 4Y-0 gelded son of Our Sir Vancelot and Sorrento Star led throughout from the pole for Melton based Alex Ashwood, scoring by 2.6 metres from Extra from last and All EyesAnd Ears which trailed the winner. The mile rate 1-58.4.

Blissful Hall/Hot To Trot Lombo filly staged a form reversal after finishing fourth to stablemate Oyster Stride at Ararat a week earlier.

Driven by Glen Cra-

Baker’s Delight

Harness Racing

This Week’s Meetings

■ Wednesday - Maryborough/Geelong, Thursday - Yarra Valley/Mildura, Friday - Melton, Saturday Ballarat, Sunday - Kilmore, Monday - Cobram.

Horses To Follow

Melbourne

Observer

len-baker@ bigpond.com

with Len Baker

ven, Angel Of The City possied one/one from gate five after being caught wide in the early stages, as Oyster Stride showed blistering speed from outside the front line to lead.

Easing three wide on the final bend, Angel Of The City careered away on straightening to register a 7 metre victory over Itz Sports Touque which raced in the open from the bell, with Oyster Stride a disappointing third a head away. The mile rate 159.6.

Forward ■ At Echuca on Tuesday, Stawell owner/trainer Owen Martin provided a stable double, first starter Longtan Cassanova taking the Caledonian Hotel Social Club 3-Y-0 Pace over 1755 metres and Hellovaway the GTS Farm Supplies Tongala Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2160 metres, both driven by son-in-law Michael Sullivan.

Longtan Cassanova a Blissful Hall/Longtan Legacy gelding led all of the way from gate four, accounting for Dallas Nickolay (one/one) and Come On Bonnie which followed the winner in a mile rate of 1-57.9.

T ough 6-Y-0 Dream Away/Jilliby Jasmine mare Hellovaway went forward shortly after the start to park outside the pacemaker Kankkunen which had crossed A Special Dream which flew away from outside the front row.

With Sullivan dictating terms to perfection, Hellovaway outstayed her rivals to win by 2.5 metres in a rate of 2-00.2 over the leader, with A Special Dream using the sprint lane for third.

Quinella ■ Longlea trainer Glenn Sharp's team of trotters have been airborne in recent times and stablemates Tella Tall

Tale and Gidah snared the quinella in the Jack Hunter Memorial Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2530 metres.

Leading out from 10 metres, Tella Tall Tale relinquished the front running to Gidah hitting the back straight on the first occasion after beginning at 100 miles an hour from 40 metres.

After setting a brisk tempo, Gidah was nabbed on the wire by Tella Tall Tale which came off his back on turning, scoring by a head in 2-05.5, with Lindy Vale (one/one - three back the markers home turn) third 2.2 metres away.

Prowess ■ A strong winner on the night at Echuca was 4-Y0 Live Or Die/Honeymoon Os Over mare Divorce Time in the Staffordshire Standardbreds Pace for C0 class over 2160 metres.

Trained at Kyabram by Greg Caldwell, Divorce Time missed away from inside the second line before giving chase and circling the field to race without cover outside the leader Kerry Sheffield (gate four).

Showing plenty of staying prowess on turning, Divorce Time just lasted by a head from Bridie Hanover (one/two - three wide last lap), with Kerry Sheffield weakening to finish third 2.6 metres away. The mile rate 204.7.

Passage ■ Portarlington father and daughter Neville and Mandie Henderson snared the Andy & Kate Gath Racing Stable Pace for C1 & C2 class over 1720 metres with consistent 7-Y-0 Jaguar Cam/ Billys Treasure mare Black Cougar.

Black Cougar finished hard along the sprint lane to gain the day by 1.5 metres over the leader in a mile rate of 1-57.6.

■ Gilty Hanover, Blacknbrown, Royal Icing, Flying Miss Mac, No Tomorrow, Riley James, Classic Shark, Sixty, Our Revenue Maker, Goodtime Alltime.

Parked outside ■ Serpentine's Robert Rothacker combined with Anthony Butt to land the Alabar Pace for C1 class over 2150 metres at Bendigo with home bred 4-Y-0 Modern Art/Aniteattheopera gelding Repeat After Me. Letting rip from mid-field at the bell to lead for the final circuit, Repeat After Me had 8.4 metre to spare over Nickys Idol which parked outside him for the last lap, with Our Pontiac coming from last to finish third in a mile rate of 1-58.9.

Two wins in a row ■ Aucklander Mark Burley brought up two wins in succession with handy Real Desire/Miss Carlyle filly Our Emancipation who is on the market in the J & A Mazzetti Pace for C0 class over 1690 metres at Kilmore.

Starting from gate two on the second row, Our Emancipation possied three back in the moving line as the sensationally backed Lusus Naturae led from gate two for Tony Peacock and Damian Wilson.

Vacating the cosy spot prior to the bell to park in the open, Burley poured the pressure on approaching the home turn to lead on straightening and kick clear.

Although the hard run started to tell halfway up the running, Our Emancipation held on to register a 1.2 metre margin over Trip Sevens (one/two at bell) and Return Soldier (three back the markers), returning a mile rate of 1-58.3.

Trained at Ky

■ Quality three year old colt Brallos Pass had nothing more than a "stroll in the park" to land the Elliott Print Kevin Bowen Pace for C3 to C6 class over 1750 metres.

Trained at Kyabram by Mark Watson and driven

by Bendigo based Ellen Tormey, Brallos Pass this season's Adelaide Derby victor, led throughout from the pole, scoring untouched by 12.8 metres in advance of a death-seating Duke Of Albany and Riley James from last in a mile rate of 1-53.5 (last half mile 55.9 - quarter 28.4).

Good race at S. Hill ■ The Elliott Print Brenton Gurnett Pace for C1 class over 1750 metres taken out by Tibytoa was the most entertaining race on the Swan Hill program.

When Call Her Julie (gate four) was handed the front by polemarker Miss Sixtys entering the straight on the first occasion, the favourite Staress was left in the open, with stablemates Superstar Xpress and Royal Icing at the rear.

The race was to change complexion in the final circuit as Michael Bellman aboard Royal Icing made a lightning move to dash away approaching the home turn and open up a huge gap on his rivals.

Looking all over a winner on straightening, Royal Icing started to throw out signs of distress as the winning post loomed and Tibytoa which had been three wide in the final circuit sprouted wings to blouse him in the shadows of the post to record a 1.2 metre margin, with Superstar Xpress a head back in third place.

A5-Y-0 gelding by Tibet from Burnarama trained

by Boris Devcic at Irymple and driven by Shepparton's Matt Newberry, Tibytoa recorded a mile rate of 1-58.4.

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