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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - Page 7

Showbiz News

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

Bob, Sweat and Tears: Observer you won’t be disappointed In This 88-Page Edition

Seussical The Musical

● Mark Yeates, the Cat in the Hat in Seussical opening at the Athenaeum Theatre on April 7.

■ Old Carey Performing Arts Club presents the Elephant, who one day hears voices comSeussical from April 7 – 21 at the Athenaeum ing from a speck of dust.

Theatre, 188 Collins St, Melbourne He soon discovers that within this tiny speck Based on its runaway success and sold-out exists the smallest planet in the universe. On season of Seussical last year, Old Carey Per- this tiny planet live a tiny race of creatures formingArts Club (OCPAC) brings the Broad- known as Whos way version of this magical show to a profesAlthough ridiculed by the other animals in sional Melbourne theatre. the Jungle of Nool for believing in something Seussical guarantees smiles, laughs and a he cannot see, Horton stubbornly persists in feel-good experience for all ages. It features his belief that the Whos exist. much-loved characters the Cat in the Hat, Travelling everywhere from the Jungle of Horton the Elephant, the Grinch, Mr Nool to McEligott’s Pool, some of the characMcGurkus, Yertle the Turtle, the Mayor ters fall in love, some have desperate advenWhoville, Gertrude McFuzz, the Sour Kan- tures and some save the world. garoo, and many others, in a delightful amalDates: April 7 – 21 gam of Dr Seuss’s most famous stories.

Times: April 7, 21 at 6pm, April 8, 15 at Among the cast are professional musical 2pm, April 10, 11, 14, 17, 19, 12 at 11am theatre performers Joshua Robson, who reVenue: Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins cently toured with King Kong: The Musical, St, Melbourne Emma Russell (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and Tickets: $30 adult, $19 children under 16.

Nicholas Renfree-Marks (The Wind In The $79.80 Group of 4 ($19.95 per ticket) Willows).

Bookings: Ticketek, Comedy Fest Box ofSeussical is a musical comedy based on fice, at the door the works of Dr Seuss that debuted on BroadInfo: www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/ way in 2000. season/shows/seussical The story follows the adventures of Horton - Cheryl Threadgold .

Lawyer ordered to produce documents

● Gary Rowley (Jago) in Otello, presented by CitiOpera, and reviewed by Jill Page on Page 8.

■ Melbourne lawyer Paul Shaba has been ordered to produce copies of original files and contempraneous notes relating to the matter of Fiona and Chris Johnson.

Jonathan Smithers, Senior Member of Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, ordered last month that Shaba explain the circumstances of how documents were produced.

Shaba is facing an allegation of professional misconduct brought by Legal Services Commissioner Michael McGarvie.

Mr Smithers ordered that any legal practive where Shaba works is to subject to inspection oce a month.

Shaba has also been ordered to pay a total of $2000 costs of the Legal Review Board.

Shaba had been accused of conflict of interest, failing to act on instructions and in the best interests of clients.

● Bob Downe ■ The platinum prince of stretch polyester, Bob Downe, is back with a brand new show at the Athenaeum for the Melbourne Comedy Festival and it’s a hoot.

The former host of Good Morning Murwillumbah has been outed by the local paper, the Murwillumbah Irrigator, which screamed the shock news across its front page, ‘He’s been living a lie!’

Bob Downe is on a mission to address the vicious allegation that he is pretending to be gay for pay and milking the pink dollar in the best way he knows how: through song, dance and light entertainment with some costume changes thrown in for good measure—everything from the ubiquitous safari suit to a three-piece Roger David.

Bob, Sweat and Tears promises to reveal the real Bob Downe, the man behind the Max Factor. What follows is a nonstop roller coaster ride through Bob’s back catalogue.

Lounge lizard Downe, alter-ego of the multi-talented, Mark Trevorrow, sings his way through a multitude of ‘golden oldies’ from the Beatles to the Carpenters to Katy Perry.

Downe’s three-piece backing band, The Full Catastrophe, with John Thorn on keyboards, Sam Leske on guitar and Holly Thomas on drums, were enjoying the show as much as the audience.

Trevorrow never strays from the wellworn path he has created for Downe. This, it seems, is exactly what his audience wants and Trevorrow stands up and delivers.

Bob Downe is an entertainer in the old style. You won’t be disappointed if you head out to see this fun show. But be warned just don’t sit in the front row and don’t be late.

Performance season: Until April 20.

Venue: Athenaeum Theatre, Collins St, Melbourne. Show duration: 60 minutes Tickets: $32 - $39. Booking: Ticketek 132 849 or 9650 1500.

- Review by Kathryn Keeble

Mark Richardson: Straight from heart ..... Page 4 News: Bankrupt adviser banned ............ Page 9 Di Rolle: Simpsons 25th birthday ......... Page 10 Melb. Confidential: Businessman guilty .. Page 11 Long Shots: We’re proud of Cheryl ....... Page 12 Gavin Wood: Congratulations Molly! ..... Page 15 David Ellis: Best in travel and wine ....... Page 16 Yvonne Lawrence: Life and style ........... Page 17 Observer Readers Club: Your Stars ........ Page 19 Victoria Pictorial: Nostalgic photos ...... Page 20 Freemasons: Colour photo spread ... Pages 24-25 James Sherlock Cheryl Threadgold Aaron Rourke Julie Houghton

Observer Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

5 times over limit ■ Aged care worker Laura Zurakowski, 34, of Breakwater, had a blood alcohol reading of .261 and was drug-affected when she slammed her car into three stationary vehicles at Grovedale, Geelong Court has heard.

Zurakowski has been fined $2500 and disqualified from driving for four years.

Alert on con men ■ Cold calling con men have been targeting households in Victoria’s north east, reports the Wangaratta Chronicle.

Drugs tip-off ■ Police say Ballarat’s marijuana supply has been dented after they seized around 100 plants in a major drug bust at a vacant house in Canadian, reports the Ballarat Courier.

Footy star in Court ■ Former AFL footballer Simon Neil Buckley, 26, was convicted in Echuca Court last week of careless driving and failing to stop at a Police request, reports the Riverine Herald.

CEO’s sudden exit ■ Mildura Council CEO Mark Henderson quit on Thursday night, and had left the building by Friday, says the Sunraysia Daily.

Weather Forecast ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Today (Wed.). Chance of rain. 10°-27° Thurs. Partly cloudy. 8°-20° Fri. Mostly cloudy. 13°-20° Sat. Partly cloudy. 10°-18° Sun. Partly cloudy. 10°-20°

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5 THE T OP 5 SUGGES TED TOP SUGGESTED AWARD S FOR ARDS THE NEW HONOURS LIS T. LIST 5. Sir James-Mowing.

4. Lady Sunbeam.

3. Earl Grey of Ti-Tree 2. Sir Cular-Quay.

1. The CEO of Fletcher Jones aka Lord of the Flies.

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Next Wave Festival

● Emily Sexton ■ The Next Wave Festival will unfold in Melbourne from April 16- May 11.

Artisticf Director Emily Sexton says that a city-wide, month-long celebration of cutting-edge arts and culture from around Australia and the globe will be staged.

The Festival’s 30th anniversary will be a tightly curated selection of the most ambitious, risky and new art, including performance, dance, visual art, sound art – and ideas.

The Festival occurs every two years, and features the work of 239 artists.

“Next Wave will enliven Melbourne’s theatres, galleries, laneways, beaches, rivers, the side of Trades Hall, gardens, private homes and bathrooms,” Emily says.

On display ■ The new Tasmanian works of Geoff Dyer will be on display at the James Makin Gallery, 67 Cambridge St, Collingwood, from today (Wed., Apr. 2) until May 4.

His works feature in numerous international private collections in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Mini march ■ A ‘mini ANZAC march’was held at Fawkner Memorial Park on Sunday (Mar. 30) to raise awareness about a special Commemorative Poppy Tile for graves that allows people to recognise the war service of their ancestors on their graves.

RSL Victoria Vice-President Major George Logan launched the tile before the march began, with the Chair of the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust Catherine Brown. The Creswick Light Horse Troop marched.

Ash The Melbourne Observer Editor Ash Long is heard: ● 8.45am Wed., with Ron Burke, 3NRG-FM Sunbury ● 10am Wed., with Denis Scanlan, Pulse 94.7 Geelong ● 9.15am Thu., with Bob and Judy Phillips, 3RPP Peninsula

Billy, Patti dig for dollars at Crown

● Billy Brownless, Ann Peacock and Patti Newton raise money for charity ■ Billy Brownless and Patti Newton raised cash for charities last week at Crown Melbnourne in a Dig For Dollars, a La Vegas-thed gaming promotion.

Billy raised $5978 for his charity, the Geelong Hospital Children’s Ward, and Patti raised $5652 for the Motor Neurone Association of Australia.

Crown Melbourne has buried hundreds and thousands of gold coins in the name of charity.

The promotion runs until Sunday, April 13. There will be daily performances with glamorous feather and rhinestone adorned showgirls from 12 Noon , and Vegas-inspired entertainment at the Jackpot Bar. Viva Las Vegas will perform at The Palms (April 3 and 4) and feature the world’s best Elvis tribute artists backed by the Sweet Inspirations in a live spectacular.

Open day at Homes

Sydney visitors ■ The Sydney Dance Company celebrates 45 years when presenting Interplay in Melbourne from April 30-May 10 at the Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.

Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes, including intervals.

Tickets: $30 - $75.

Bookings: www.sydney dancecompany.com or 8688 0800 More details, Page 43

● George Foenander met with Noeline Brown, Ambassador for the Ageing, at the Royal Freemasons Homes at Windsor on Saturday. Noeline has flown in from Bowral, NSW Southern Highlands; she is soon to star in the stage production of Mother And Son, which will play at the Comedy Theatre from July 18.

Random Acts Of Music

● Catherine Yp

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

■ Musica Viva’s Random Acts of Music will surprise Melburnians with spontaneous free music. Each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from May 6-22, streets will come to life with the sounds of music, featuring Shrewd Brass, Amanaska and Ogham Soup.

Five players from Shrewd Brass take to the streets each Tuesday: with Martin Macaulay, tuba; Tom Ryan, trombone; Rosemary Savage, horn; Greg Spence, trumpet; and Laura Hertaeg, trumpet. Amanaska features music with Simon Lewis, Janine Maunder and Vinod Prasunna. Ogham Soup Jason Day, Elliot Folvig and Karen Kyriakou.

Gentlemen of Deceit ■ Cheryl Threadgold files this review: “It is always great to see local, home-grown performers doing well, and such is the case with Melbourne magicians Alex de la Rambelje, Luke Hocking and Vyom Sharma, who have returned to this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival to present Gentlemen Of Deceit.

“And deceive us they do.

Whether using rope, balloons, playing cards, videoed onscreen close-up magic using coins, or the nerve wracking long vertical nail inside a mystery paper bag, the illusions and psychological trickery created by these talented performers is at times truly amazing.

“Luke, Vyom and Alex shun theatrical magician garb, instead appearing neatly dressed in casual wear.

“This becomes unnerving in itself as these three pleasant and polite young gentlemen chatting in relaxed style, openly admit to deception, messing with our minds, and admit no self-respecting magician would ever be honest with an audience!

“Under the direction of Daniel Lammin, Gentlemen Of Deceit is a well presented show in a very comfortable venue, with fun audience interaction, volunteer participation and comedy entwined to effectively showcase some masterly tricks. ● Turn To Page 37

New show

■ A new show opens from 6pm tonight (Wed., Apr. 2) at the C3 Contemporary Art Space at the Abbostford Convent, 1 St Heliers St. Abbotsford Works on display include those by Luke Adams, Mia Kenway, David Ashley Kerr, Danica Chappell, Sarah Crowest, Suzanne Brown, Glenn Dalton, Peter Douglas, Penelope Hunt, Jessie Imam, Jodie Kipps, Sim Luttin, Elyss McCleary, James McDonald, Anna-Marai O'Keeffe, Brad Rusbridge and Lynette Young.

Otello: Review by Jill Page ■ The premiere of Verdi’s dramatic opera Otello was presented last Friday evening by CitiOpera at Glen Eira Town Hall.

This masterful opera was first performed in 1887, and CitiOpera is celebrating 450 years of William Shakespeare and 201 years of Giuseppe Verdi.

This masterpiece of passion, power, intrigue and murder was cleverly brought to life with brilliant music and strong vocal ability.

Under the expert baton of Maestro Gaetano Colajanni, the orchestra produced powerful and passionate music interpreting perfectly Verdi’s magnificent score.

The emotion and beauty of Verdi’s opera scores always totally immerses the audience. However at times the orchestra tended to overpower the cast.

The direction was by internationally acclaimed soprano, Stella Axarlis, and Act One opened strongly with quite powerful singing from an excellent chorus. The chorus, although small in numbers, produced a very impressive sound throughout.

Otello (sung on Friday by Salvatore Granata) produced lovely quality singing and conveyed his torment and anguish as the story unfolded.

Gary Rowley as Jago played a treacherous, scheming villain brilliantly, with beautiful vocal work conveying his dark nature.

As Desdemona, Suzanne Ribet , who sang the role on Friday, produced beautiful work with a thrilling tone. The haunting Willow Song in Act Four was a highlight, which Suzanne displayed impressively with lovely floating top notes. All the cast were most impressive and all displayed fine vocal ability.

Turn To Page 37

Grand theatrical style

● Reg Gorman with OIivia Deeble ■ The quality of the short films being produced by the students at Swinburne Technical College is just amazing.

I was invited to see a screening of I Remember The Future which is directed by Klayton Stainer and stars veteran Australian actor Reg Gorman.

The special effects in this Sci-Fi short film would cost millions in a Hollywood production.

During a visit from his estranged daughter (Tiffany Lyndall-Knight) an elderly writer (Reg Gorman) struggles with his fading mind and the future.

Olivia Deeble, who is the granddaughter of Reg Gorman, also has a small role in the film.

Klayton told me that I Remember The Future will be entered in local and international film festivals. I am sure it will receive recognition.

Swinburne Technical College continues to foster the Australian filmmakers of the future.

- Kevin Trask

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - Page 9

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Observer

Court Roundsman

Rhonda receives award

Bankrupt adviser banned Sigley’s shop floods

Briefs Saving

■ Daylight Saving ends in Melbourne at 3am on Sunday (April 6) when clocks are turned backward one hour to 2am. Daylight Saving resumes on October 5.

Ozcar

■ The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has banned Victorian-based financial adviser, Allan Burt Vissenjoux, from providing financial services.

Vissenjoux, who is an undischarged bankrupt, has been banned from providing financial services until May 29, 2016.

The ban expires when Vissenjoux’s bankruptcy ends.

Vissenjoux was most recently an authorised representative of Total Financial Solutions Australia Ltd until October last year.

Vissenjoux has the right to lodge an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC’s decision to ban him.

Under the Corporations Act , ASIC can ban bankrupt individuals from providing financial services

Victorian teacher’s registration cancelled ● Molly Meldrum ■ The music industry’s Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum was yesterday (Tues.) presented with an Ozcar award.

Gavin Wood has more details on Page 15.

Set aside ■ A decision by the Psychology Board of Australia against Dominic Greco has been set asie by VCAT. Greco’s registration was suspended last year. His business provided writing of psychological reports to accompany victims of crime applications to the Victims of Crime Appeals Tribunal.

A referral proceeding is due to be heard this month. It was alleged that Greco poses a seriours risk of psycholoogical harm to people.

■ The Victorian Institute of Teaching has cancelled the registration of Steven Foster Aumann.

The Institute placed a notice in the Victoria Government Gazette last Thursday notifying that Aumann had been convicted on: ■ one count of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child under 16.

■ one count of sexual penetration of a child under 16.

■ one count of an indecent act with a child under 16.

● Popular Melbourne entertainer Rhonda Burchmore was at State Government House with daughter Lexie to receive her OAM, after being named in the Australia Day honours.

Wrongtown ● Matthew Sigley ■ The Kyneton shop, Long Story Short Secondhand Books and Music, conducted by Matthew Sigley was flooded late last week.

“We lost around 500 LPs and 200 books as well as some prints,” social media friends were advised

by Matthew, son of entertainers Ernie and Glenys Sigley.

Much of the rock and pop section was destroyed.

“There are major repairs that need to happen so we will be closed until further notice.”

The flooding caused as a result of a skylight being broken without the knowledge of Matthew’s business. Rain poured on stock for eight hours.

Eviction order lost ■ Victoria’s Director of Housing has lost a bid to regain possession of a Broadmeadows property rented by Amber Zavos.

The Director sought to end the tenancy agreement, arguing that she had abandoned the rented premises.

Ms Zavos that although she was not always at the premises she had not abandoned it.

A neighbour, Jason Marshall, told Victorian Civil and Adminisitrative Tribunal Member Kylea Campana that he had only seen Ms Zavos only once every three months.

He sdaid he had seen a removal van at the premises. In cross-examination, he admitted he was unclear

whether furniture was going in or out of the rented premises.

He had peered over the fence on one occasion, only to see Ms Zavos who told him to go away.

The Tribunal was told that Ms Zavos had been the victim of a violet assault and several burglaries at the Broadmeadows address.

She sometimes stayed with her mother in Collingwood, where she

felt safer, sharing a bed with her nineyear-old son. She is her mother’s carer.

Ms Zavos has considered moving to a three-bedroom property, but was told by the Office of Housing that she could not be on two waiting lists at the same time.

She has been on a waiting list for six years.

Ms Zavos had a third party staying at the rented premises. He was removed by Police after a number of thefts in the area.

Ms Zavos continued to pay rent, and has all utilies connected.

“In my view Ms Zavos has not abandoned the rented premises,” Ms Campana said.

Melbourne Observations

No kids’ permit

with Matt Bissett-Johnson

■ A 67-year-old man with a Police record has been refused a Working With Children permit.

The man, known at VCAT as ‘BHU’, had been found guilty of two indecent assault charges in 1984.

VCAT Deputy President Heather Lambrick was told ‘BHU’ was seen kissing and cuddling two 6-year-old girls, and gained an erection due to his actions.

In 1997, ‘BHU’ pleaded guilty at Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court to loitering as a convicted sex offender after an offence at a local swimming pool.

In 1978, he was found guilty at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court of threee counts of ‘wilful and obscene exposure’.

● Claire Bowman and Rose Sejean in Wrongtown Wednesdays at the Butterfly Club until April 16.

■ I passed Dr Livingstone on my journey upstairs where the opening night had an appreciative house and the usual prop plops.

This female two-hander features Claire Bowman from the city of churches and Rose Sejean from Sleepy Hollow. Tim Ferguson directs.

Its great strength shines through in the performers’ singing abilities and witty lyrics.

Its weakness is the sketch comedy material.

Both women are terrific singers as soloists but together have those magic qualities of mixing and matching tones. Lowering the backing track volume would have made them even better.

Their harmonies are exciting and joyful. Their comic acting is fine and the use of film helps but the material varies.

With comedy, you really have to be sure it works.

Know your audience and get it pitch perfect. If you want to include topical events, fine. But Dolly Parton’s mammary glands were last seen on Russell Crowe’s floating zoo.

Black comedy can be gripping but I’m not sure where jokes about Malaysian Airlines fit; perhaps where that plane is probably located.

The ABC could easily feature a musical Clarke and Dawe weekly spot where these two ladies rip into whatever’s in the news with their wit and marvellous music.

One perfect example would be their Fats Waller song. Fats would have loved it. It was a blast to the fat blaster Michelle Bridges with the new lyrics warning about doughnuts and other fatty delights in Ain’t Michbehavin’. It was clever, witty and helped by the slightly perfect music.

Bowman and Sejean work their vocal cords to the nodule and deserve good houses.

Just get someone to work on their programme design and printing and let the rest of the world go buy.

Show: Wrongtown Wednesdays (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) Dates: Wednesdays until April 16 at 6.00pm Venue: The Butterfly Club, Carson Place, Off Little Collins St, Melbourne.

Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/ season/tickets/how-to-book/ - Review by Cenarth Fox

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

To

Coffee catch-up with Ken

Di For

Doh! That happened quickly

● The Simpsons ■ I love a celebration and I was knocked out to hear that The Simpsons is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. How come that has come around so quickly? That is a lot of episodes of The Simpsons.

The way they are celebrating is to let fans vote for their favourite episodes to play on Channel Eleven during Live Fan Favourite Countdown.

Voting closes Monday (April 7). I voted for the Tom Cruise episode, it was a classic. Network Ten is letting viewers make the calls in a tribute to the 25th anniversary.

For the next five days, fans of The Simpsons have the chance to vote via tenplay.com.au/Simpsons25.

On Wednesday next week ,(April 9), Channel Eleven will devote the night’s animation Fixation line-up to the winning episodes in a live countdown.

Hosted by Couch Time’s Labby and Stav, the special will feature The Simpsons’ best moments as the hosts interact with fans via social media using the hashtag #Simpsons25. I think this will be huge.

The Simpsons is the longest-running scripted series in the history of television. It is the world’s most watched US series, airing every hour of the day somewhere in the world.

The Simpsons Saturday at 6pm on with encores on Wednesdays at 8.30pm on Eleven.

Q44: miss it, you miss life

● Gabriella Rose-Carter ■ I love it when a new theatre opens in Melbourne. We pride ourselves on our arts culture and this is a lovely story.

As a young man, renowned American playwright, John Patrick Shanley observed life while he rode the Q44 bus from the Bronx to Queens. He realised it had no last stop and that it goes on forever.

The Q44 is life. Miss it and you miss life.

Turn to Page 37

I love my job! with leading Melbourne publicist DI ROLLE

■ There is nothing better on a Friday afternoon to stop all the madness of work, put down the phone, stop the computer, and catch up with old friends.

Having coffee and a catch-up is something I have been promising to do with 3AW’s Ken Francis for years now.

It was Ken who instigated the catch-up and we talked and talked about radio, and how we ended up in the respective fields.

From me being a young girl and asking my mother how Graham Kennedy got his suits to wear on his television show ... to me ending up working in television and working on nighttime television.

I love it, and have done so all my life having spent many hours and years working with Don Lane and Steve Vizard, to now being an avid watcher of David Letterman and the brilliant Jimmy Fallon.

Ken talked about his days when watching television and his early love of radio and the wonderment of television programs such as The Brady Bunch.

It was a delight to catch up and made for a special celebration for the eve of my birthday.

● Ken Francis

Michael returns to Melb.

■ I first met Michael Winslow when he came to Australia to promote the Police Academy movies.

What legends those movies became and so did he!

I am always interested to see what he is up to: he has returned back to Australia several times.

He is coming back and asking us what are we all missing in our social lives?

The answer, of course, is the old school classic … dinner and a show!

What a show it was, I recall, when it was a treat to go out to dinner and a show.

So his invitation to Melbourne is to come and have a seriously delicious meal and then not move, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Yarraville Club and Cherry Rock present … the man with 10,000 voices. He is the Human Voice Sound Effects master.

Direct from the USA Michael Winslow!

His show was one of the highest -elling, greatest reviewed, most talked about comedy shows ever at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

It is a mix of impersonations, impressions, storytelling, music and sound effects – not a traditional stand-up comedy routine.

I have been told by a good source there will signature renditions of Rock-Gods like Jimmy Hendrix and a re-enactment of an entire scene from Star Wars are a “must see”.

That alone makes me want to go to this show.

April 4 – 20. www. yarravillelaughs.com

Sounds of Brazil

● Michael Winslow

Disco Fanny

● JMAC ■ I like encouraging talent about whom we don’t hear a lot. When the Melbourne International Comedy Festival comes around, there is always someone that stands out.

This year its JMAC and her show is called Disco Fanny. It’s been a big year for this worldwide, famous, dance, music, popstar.

Following on from her launch of her first single Disco Fanny, JMAC took off to Bali for a much-needed rest.

There on her path to self-discovery she encountered welcoming hippy communities, took part in many sacred ceremonies and was reborn. Funny how Bali did same thing to me!

Hold tight Melbourne. In 2014 I have been told that we are about to see aside of JMAC we didn’t know existed. She is clever and very bold.

This year JMAC breaks down barriers of the social-norm and isn’t afraid to talk taboo with a certain part of the female anatomy the main focus of her show. This is conscious, observational, stand-up comedy.

Learn more about her on whoisjmac.com I heard that wonderful Peter Hitchener said of JMAC: “I don’t know what I will be in for but Gold Logies prediction for JMAC!” Her show is on at Paloma Bar, 480 Collins St, runs from April 4-19, 7.30pm. Bookings at the venue or www.tixnofee.com

● Stacey Kent and Jim Tomlinson ■ The critic Gilles Tordjman wrote that Brazil was not a nation, but a region of the heart, where everything seems to ring to the tune of a more accurate vibration.

This is a sentence that Stacey Kent could no doubt make her own. At the age of 14, the American singer discovered the endless charms of the album, Getz/Giberto, an historic encounter of jazz and bossa nova, after which nothing would ever be the same.

Over the course of a musical journey that has wandered freely in the open spaces of jazz and song, Brazil became - in her eyes and I think in a lot of music followers - more than a countr.

A kind of internationalised poetic horizon, a chosen land on an intimate scale. Stacey Kent has never loosened the emotional ties that bind her to Brazilian music.

An eternal student, this well-informed polyglot, with a degree in comparative literature, has followed her passion to the point of learning Portuguese language and taking an interest in the cultural and political history of the giant golden and green Brazilian history.

I have long admired her superb voice and so it is a special privilege to be working with Stacey Kent.

A radiant jazz singer she has long been quietly gathering devotees around the world with her impeccable musicality and her hypnotic voice.

It’s a sound that makes you lean in to hear what she’s confiding, tinged with the mysterious quality of yearning and melancholy, what the Portuguese call saudade, an expression for bittersweet pangs of nostalgia and heartache.

In a Melbourne exclusive, Stacey performs originals and wistful bossa nova classics featured on her latest acclaimed album, The Changing Lights, a beautiful collection which takes me through a sad/romantic world of wanderlust and missed connections.

I promise you this is a rare chance to be bewitched by a singular musician and her tight-knit band in songs of love beautifully lost and found.

7.30pm, Monday, April 28. Elisabeth Murdoch Hall , two hours including interval.

Tickets from $68 Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre. Discover Mood Indigo, the Centre’s jazz stream, at melbournerecital. com.au/indigo

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - Page 11

Confidential Melbourne

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

Toorak pair’s dilemma

■ A professional couple in Toorak are wondering how to surgically remove a Melbourne journalist who has attached themselves socially to the family.

The pair welcomed the scribe when publicity was sought, even extending an invitation to the wordsmith into their home for a social event.

Now the couple are in the socially awkward position of dropping hints to the obsessive reporter that it is time to head back to the suburbs.

Sounds of swing at Mentone RSL

● The JASSisters, from left Su Rogerson (tenor sax), Anna Struth (vocalist) and Jenny Stengards (trumpet) will be joined by Daniel Hedger and the Let’s Dance Big Band at the Mentone RSL on Sunday, April 6 from 1pm – 4pm.

■ For an afternoon of swinging and melodic music for listening and dancing pleasure, the Let’s Dance Big Band can be enjoyed on the first Sunday of every month from 1.00-4.00pm at The Mentone RSL, 9 Palermo St, Mentone.

The first Swing Dance is on Sunday, April 6, with the Let’s Dance Big Band playing favourite tunes from the swinging Big Band era, with a dash of Dixie, a spoonful of Boogie and a spice of Latin, all cooked until swinging.

Classic vocals from the greats will be presented

by Anna Struth, Daniel Hedger and the JASSisters.

The Big Band comprises 14-17 players, including five saxophonists who double on flutes and clarinets, a brass section of trumpets, trombones and a rhythm section of piano, double bass and drums, with an option of adding a guitar.

The Big Band was originally formed in 1980, playing at weddings, balls, dinner dances and concerts. Big Band leader Mike McKeon says that after a few years they decided to form an Octet from the big band, the South Coast Swingtet, to be more financially viable for the times.

However, the recent renewal of interest in swinging melodic music, which Mike believes is thanks to many of the community radio stations, led to reforming the bigger band, which has since played for extended seasons at various suburban hotels, RSL clubs and special events in the ‘elite’ hotels including the Hyatt, Windsor and Palladium Room at the Crown Casino, Melbourne Town Hall, Floor 89 Eureka Tower and full house at Club Kilsyth tea dances.

The Big Band has also played for fund-raising organisations, Kingston Council events, at public dances at the East Malvern RSL, New Year’s Eve balls and ‘live to air’ broadcasts on community radio stations 3CR and Southern FM 88.3 to very enthusiastic audiences.

Mike says the Let’s Dance Big Band has a good mix of youth, age and gender, “ … with a broad range of experience ranging from university music training, teaching, work in the service bands, to many years in the Town Hall dance scene, theatre pit, jazz and orchestral areas.”

Date: Sunday, April 6, 1pm-4pm (the first Sunday of each month) Venue: Mentone RSL, 9 Palermo St, Mentone Music admission: $15 or $12 for RSL members Meals are available between 12 noon and 2.00pm and must be pre-booked on 9583 2841.

Drinks available from the bar.

Band enquiries: 9551 7363 - Cheryl Threadgold

How quickly we forgot Black Saturday victims

■ How quickly some Victorians have forgotten the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires from just five years ago.

Five years ago today, the Melbourne Observer started a special project to help the residents of the bushfire zone.

We commenced weekly publication of The Phoenix newspaper

● ‘The Phoenix’ newspaper

● Danny Heal to help locals get back on their feet.

We provided absolutely free advertising to local businesses throughout the Murrindindi, Yarra Ranges, Mitchell, Nillumbik and Whittlesea regions.

We have away more than $1.2 million of advertising over 18 months, totally without charge, to lend a hand.

Altona North businessman pleads guilty ■ Carlo Cini, 56, of Altona North, pleaded guilty on Thursday in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to 22 offences following an Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigation.

The charges relate to Cini's conduct as the sole director of the Williamstown-based company, C Cini & Company Pty Ltd (now in liquidation).

Between 2007 and 2008, Mr Cini raised more than $1 million from seven investors based on representations that the funds would be used for property development being undertaken by the company.

The funds were subsequently used for other purposes, including other company-related expenses and personal payments associated with Cini.

Cini also obtained a financial advantage for the company by evading debts due to the investors. This related to the issuing of valueless cheques to the investors with a face value of more than $700,000.

A further charge related to an investor agreeing to lend funds to the company on the basis of reckless statements made by Cini.

Cini pleaded guilty to: ■ 10 counts of obtaining property by deception ■ one count of fraudulently inducing a person to invest money, and ■ 11 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

A number of charges, including alternative charges, were withdrawn by the prosecution as a result of the guilty plea being entered into.

Cini was conditionally bailed to appear before the County Court for a plea hearing on July 31.

The matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

One of the most affected areas was Kinglake, with many of the 173 lives lost in the 2009 fires coming from that area.

Victoria cheered on as the Kinglake Football Club reached the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League Grand Final over the next year. It narrowly missed out on the flag, but won a place in our hearts.

Lakers spokesman Ashley Geelan said the club “has really struggled both on the field with lack of numbers and off the field with lack of finances and supporters”.

“This year, many of 2009 Committee has returned in an effort to save the club.

“We had only 13 blokes for the seconds last year, with many ‘doubling up’ to then play seniors afterwards and the club was close to folding.

“Danny Heal (2009 Victorian Volunteer Of The Year) has taken on the role of Club President,” Geelan says.

If you would like to support the Kinglake Football Club, check out: kinglakefc.com.au

Rumour Mill

Hear It Here First

ANZ Bank in strife ■ The ANZ Bank has started to send out $100 Visa gift cards to 700 consumers after concerns about an advertising offer were raised by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The Bank promoted a gift card for conusmers applying for income protection insurance, The advertisements for income protection insurance with a bonus offer of a card ran in newspapers and online between November and December last year. Consumers did not qualify for the gift card unless they maintained their policy for an initial year and paid all premiums when due. ASIC believed the contract fine print was not clear enough.

Amber time increases ■ VicRoads will be increasing amber light time at some intersections in coming weeks following a review of the national traffic management guidelines.

Recommended amber time at intersections where the approach speed is 80-kmh will increase from 4.5 seconds to 5.0 seconds and in 90-kmh zones, from 5.0 to 5.5 seconds. There is no change to signal timing for turning lanes.

E-Mail: Confidential@MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whispers

Fevola signs

Brendan Fevola ■ ‘The Fev’ has signed on for a reduced fee to play for Kinglake Football Club in its ANZAC Day (April 25) match against Yarra Glen under lights at the Kinglake ground (see report at left).

The Lakers are selling sponsorships and marquee tickets. Phone Danny Heal, 0424 933 964 ■ Disclosure: Observer Editor Ash Long was a foundation sponsor of the Kinglake Football Club when it reformed in 1990.

To Court

■ Hillcrest Christian College (Vic.) Inc. has requested a Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Registrars’ PreHearing Conference for Monday (Apr. 7) afternoon when it is due to allege a civil claim against Aaron Sharma for “monies due”.

Bizarre ■ Police are appealing for public assistance following a bizarre series of incidents in the Melbourne CBD last week.

A man continually darted amongst foot traffic on Swanston St, near Flinders Lane and outside St Paul’s Cathedral, around 5.30pm.

He lunged at female pedestrians, grabbing at them and at times chasing them along the footpath.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Melbourne

Melbourne

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Observer Master of her craft

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Ash On Wednesday

■ At the Melbourne Observer we are most proud of our own ... but the team is especiallypleased about theatre correspondent Cheryl Threadgold’s achievement last week.

Cheryl received her Master of Arts certificate last week at Swinburne University, at a graduation ceremony held at the Melbourne Convention Centre.

Cheryl started the course when she took on the non-professional theatre column in the Melbourne Observer, when she also tok on the weekly theatre report on 3AW’s Overnighters program conducted by the late Keith McGowan.

In Cheryl’s usual thorough way, she was keen to ensure that her reports were written in the best possible way to support Victoria’s non-professional theatre sector.

Cheryl received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2010 “for service to the performing arts, particularly through the Mordialloc Light Opera Company, and to the community”.

Hearty congratulations Cheryl on your important achievement.

BACK COPIES -- ARCHIVES BACK ARCHIVES BBack a c k copies C o p i efor s f2012-14 o r 2 0 1 2editions - 1 3 e dof i t i the ons of the Melbourne Observer all available at ourat our Melbourne Observerareare all available 1969-82, 2002-11 may website. Back copies for 1969-89, may be inspected by appointment at State the State be inspected by appointment at the Library Library, 328 328 Swanston St, Melbourne. of Victoria, Swanston St, Melbourne.

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● Swinburne University of Technology Chancellor Bill Scales presents Cheryl Threadgold with her Master of Arts (Writing) degree in a graduation ceremony held last week at the Melbourne Convention Centre.

Photo: Southam Graduation Services

Long Shots

editor@melbourneobserver.com.au

with Ash Long

Back Copies

● Ash Long with Bert Newton ■ A dear friend organised tickets for us to see the closing night of Grease The Musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Sunday night. We had a ball.

It has been such a hit, with wall-to-wall sell-out audiences over its 12week season. It has been one of the most successful ticket sellers in the history of Her Majesty’s Theatre with 160,000 Melbourne patrons.

The great news is that producer John Frost has organised a return season in Melbourne for December and January at the Regent Theatre, after it returns from Singapore, Perth and Adelaide.

Tuickets have gone on sale this week.

The all-star cast will be back: Rob Mills and rising star Gretel Scarlett remain in the lead roles; Bert Newton plays DJ Vince Fontaine, while Todd McKenney is the Teen Angel. Joining the cast for the encore season is pop icon John Paul Young in the role of heart throb Johnny Casino.

with K enneth Mulholland Kenneth

Long Arm, Happening 70

Grease is the word

MELBOURNE OBSERVER ONLINE 2.1 MILLION HITS ANNUALLY ON THE WEB: www.MelbourneObserver.com.au You can read our paper free on the Internet.

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

Melbourne TV Memories

“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”

Observer Treasury Thought For The Week ■ “A school is a place where children go to catch a cold from other children so they can stay at home.”

Observer Curmudgeon ■ “An advisory capacity is the only capacity in which some people will serve.”

Text For The Week ■ “As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.”

- Daniel 1:20 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.

■ They worked in Studio B. They were a film crew working in a television environment. They dined in the Channel 0 canteen, but mostly kept to themselves or fraternised at 'arm's length.'

Initially, I had the feeling that they included you, rather than the other way around.

We were never locked out of Studio B, but we were not invited in either.

It was almost as if the crew of Long Arm considered themselves superior to us TV mob. Of course that really wasn't so, although they did speak a different lingo and laughed at their own in-jokes.

It appeared that they were a long-time unit, which I doubt. I believe that they were a part of the fledgling film world of the time, working on various assignments with various people of that world and clinging together throughout a project, then on conclusion, moving on to a new crew roster.

In other words, film was, and is a different animal to television. That's stating the bloody obvious to people in the business, but perhaps not to those who aren't.

Eventually, over the brief months of the show's production, we got to know these outsiders and also to insert one of our own into their ranks.

Rob Weekes, an in-house director, was the 2nd Unit Director. Colin Eggleston and Simon Wincer (who both would go on to be directors working for Crawford Productions, and Wincer much further: to Hollywood no less).

The film crew, on the other hand, got to know us.

I was lucky to work with Guy Furner in Studio A on a commercial, I think, for the State Bank. It was shot on film, the camera mounted on our studio crane with me driving.

“That's a monty!” Film-speak for “Cut and Print”.

The girls found Guy easy on the eye, dark hair and beard, white teeth, red sensual lips ...

Anyway, at the end of Long Arm's run some of the film crew found positions at ATV: Dale Evans, Billy Parnall, Bruce Dunlop and Graeme Nicholas amongst them.

Interestingly, a couple of the episodes were produced by Michael Pate, the Australian actor who had ventured over to America and found a niche in Hollywood as a character actor over a number of years. He finally returned in 1968 and by 1971 starred as Vic Maddern in Matlock Police.

Meanwhile, I was rostered on shows of the time such as the ever-present Roy Hampson merry-goround ... come to think of it, that might have been one of its titles, or maybe Carousel.

Then, I vaguely recall Italian Panorama, with Barry McQueen and definitely remember Happening 70.

Yes, Ross D. Wyllie. The man with the limp, the smile, and the voice.

This was the era of the 'Vaseline lens.' This was, amongst others, a simple, primitive effect to cloud the outer areas of a picture by simply smearing Vaseline around the edges of a round glass disc that was taped over the camera lens.

The effect had to be used on all three studio cameras, and only for soft and usually slow numbers.

I found my own 'special effect,' used a number of times on solo spot-lit numbers, which was to shoot the singer very wide, positioned at the bottom of frame, and to avoid all the down-faded lights and the lighting grid itself, I'd use the cap-up disc to mask that part of the vision out.

Directors like Bob Loxton soon used this image in the corner of the frame to then superimpose a mid shot or close-up of the singer in the darkened area and slowly fade through to it.

On Happening the names roll through: Johnny Young, The Strangers, Russell Morris, The Masters Apprentices, Zoot, Johnny Farnham, Lyn Randell, Ronnie Burns, Daddy Cool, Bev Harrell, Dinah Lee, Normie Rowe, Liv Maessen.

Names like Lionel Rose appear because of his celebrity as a champion boxer, rather than as a singer.

And singers like Hans Sven Poulsen, (Bruce Gordon Poulsen, born 1945) he of the song Boom Sha La la Lo. attained a following of those who wanted to believe in his Danish background.

It was there, but he was born here. ● Turn To Page 17

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - Page 13

Melbourne People

Hummingbird Ambassadors Luncheon The Park Hyatt Photos: Fiona Hamilton

● Coral Knowles and Dr Max Lim

● Angela Hummerston and Julie Maclean

Hummingbird Ambassadors raise funds for O’Brien Institute projects

● Zoe Walsh and Jasmine Bell

■ The Hummingbird Ambassadors last week held their annual March Lunch at the Park Hyatt Ballroom to raise funds for the O’Brien Institute.

The O'Brien Institute conducts ground-breaking research combining biology and engineering to regenerate tissue and organs to restore hope and rebuild lives.

Guests included Big Brothers Jasmin Bell, Stephanie Hickey (Channel 10 commentator and former Olympian), 3AW's Dee Dee Dunleavy and Vicki Poupanaki (MCM) Michael Crossland was guest speaker and Wendy Stapleton performed some of Dusty Springfield’s biggest hits.

Photos: Fiona Hamilton

● Slyvia Lau, Professor Wayne Morrison and Wendy Cheng

● Ari Laurnech, Maria Maisano, Maria Mori and Barbara McCash

● Campbell Walker, Jan Spooner and Wayne Morrison

● Melissa Hetherington and Michael Crossland

● Julie Leeming with Wendy Stapleton

Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Melbourne People

● Susie Morgan and Kaye Moran

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Premier Art Exhibition Opening Night At Glen Eira City Council Gallery Photos: Jenny Pihan

● Jenny Pihan with Daniela Baker

Premier art exhibition opens at Glen Eira City Council Gallery

● Ellie Quick of Williamstown

■ A premier art exhibition opened officially on Wednesday night (March 26), attended by an enthusiastic crowd of art lovers eager to view the latest paintings created by four artists Fu Hong, Peter Smales, Patricia Moran and Do Noble.

Organiser Jenny Pihan said the night was tinspirational with all of the featured artists attending the show to discuss their new works with collectors and several film crews and journalists documenting the event.

The exhibition features a diverse range of realist and impressionist paintings with figurative work, landscape and still life paintings on display.

This free exhibition is presented by Jenny Pihan Fine Art at the Glen Eira City Council Art Gallery in Caulfield will be open daily, 10am to 5pm, until Sunday, April 13.

Phone 0417 368 807. www.jennypihanfineart.com.au

● Sue Martin, Peter Smales, Jennie Fuller

● Do Noble, Anna Sango and Andrew Barclay

● Caesar Sario and Turs Sario

● Peter Smales, Rosemary and Douglas Browne

● Bob Shan and Fu Hong

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - Page 15

West Hollywood

Congratulations to my friend ‘Molly’ From my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites comes this week's news.

Another gong for Ian

■ So much has been written about my old friend Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum and now it's my turn. It seems like yesterday the a young 'Molly' was miming to Winchester Cathedral by the New Vaudeville Band, wearing a top hat and doing it all on Channel 0 on Kommotion from 1964-67.

After that came Uptight with Ross D. Wyllie as host and Ian 'Molly' Meldrum on the couch and as a journalist with the pop music paper, Go Set . Molly would be in the thick of it as it really was the start of our own pop culture.

Ian's career soared with television appearances and live appearances. He also produced one of the most important songs of the era, the Real Thing by Russell Morris.

From 1975 and the start of colour television to 1986, Countdown averaged more than three million viewers every Sunday night. The man with the hat was the talent co-ordinator and host of this amazing show.

The cream of the world music industry performed on the Countdown stage and it was Molly out the front pushing for Australian music to have a place on the world stage.

When I joined Countdown to do the voice overs, late 1979, as a young announcer from Brisbane and who just got the hottest radio gig in the country, breakfast radio on 3XY, I couldn't talk to Ian as I was in awe of his amazing talent.

Eventually we started an amazing partnership on EON FM where we were the first number one FM breakfast team in the country.

We are both Aquarians and that means we are quite mad and enjoy a good laugh. Mondo Rock said it best: the Chemistry was right. Since then, we have remained the closest of friends and I am over the moon with Ian's current award, the Ozcar for his work in music, television, radio and the arts.

The Ozcar was presented by Alan Johnson from the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites and Hoteliers International to Ian yesterday, April 1. I say, how fitting.

● A snap shot in time. That was the day we became the number 1 FM breakfast radio team: Gavin and Molly on EON FM. What a fantastic time we had on Melbourne radio. Great memories.

● Flashback: Alan Johnson presenting former Ozcar recipient Sam Kekovich

West Hollywood welcomes Oprah

Mondrian taps top chef Brian Malarkey's Herringbone

GavinWood

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

Some more fine restaurants ● Brian Malarkey ■ The Mondrian on Sunset Boulevard near the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites has engaged celebrity chef Brian Malarkey of Bravo's hit show Top Chef and ABC's The Taste.

He has brought his acclaimed Herringbone restaurant to this landmark Sunset Strip Hotel.

Herringbone showcases ‘ocean-to-table cuisine’ serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in the poolside cabanas as well as the Skybar and in-room dining.

Q&A with Chef Brian Malarkey Q. Why did you choose Mondrian for your next Herringbone incarnation?

A. Mondrian Los Angeles is an iconic hotel on the amazing Sunset Strip. As a young chef working at Citrus in LA, I used to drive down Sunset Strip in awe of the rich history of WeHo (West Hollywood) and it has been a dream of mine to have a restaurant there.

Q. What will you offer at your WeHo location that's different from your other restaurants?

A. We will be offering more menu items because the kitchen is so large. You'll see a lot of adventurous and over-the-top surf and turf dishes that we've been wanting to try from rabbit to goat to sea urchin and abalone. We're going to have fun, but also maintain some of the basics like lamb and lobster.

Q. What makes Herringbone the perfect match for Mondrian?

A. Herringbone's overall concept is similar to that of Mondrian Los Angeles. It's somewhat sophisticated and refined but very fun. The music is great and the vibe is incredible. Herringbone really fits into Mondrian Los Angeles because we're both all about providing the best possible experience for our guests.

● Crossroads Restaurant, Los Angeles ■ Crossroads. 8284 Melrose Avenue www.crossroadskitchen.com The Story: If your image of vegetarian and vegan restaurants involves a 1970's flashback or a rarified version of Jamba juice, chef Tal Ronnen is about to rock your vegan world.

He was anointed Oprah Winfrey's favourite vegan chef working on her 21-day vegan cleanse several years ago.

Ellen DeGeneres and hotelier Steve Wynn are his biggest fans. What makes Ronnen's approach different? A strong dose of Mediterranean flavour and seasonal Southern California ingredients.

The garden of signature dishes growing here include Cauliflower Bisque served with a crispy Kale; Herb Risotto-stuffed Banana Peppers; and Hearts of Palm Style ‘Crab Cakes’ with apples and beets.

■ Red Medicine. 8400 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills www.redmedicinela.com The Story: Vietnamese cooking that will keep Red Medicine in the spotlight. Signatures such as Brussels sprout appetizser, young parsnips and Halibut dressed in squid ink and caramelised onion sauce makes you come back for more.

www.gavinwood.us

● Oprah Winfrey ■ OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, is on the move.

Winfrey's three-year-old cable channel has signed a multiyear lease for new office space on 'The Lot' in West Hollywood.

OWN employees will move into three floors of a newly constructed five-storey building, which will serve as the network's Los Angeles-based headquarters at the end of this year.

Among the perks: the CIM Group property, located at 1041 North Formosa Avenue, will offer OWN executives and producers access to screening rooms and sound stages.

The network has had to do without the latter in its office at 5700 Wilshire Blvd, in Los Angeles' Miracle Mile neighbourhood, which it has occupied since its launch. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Harpo Studio's President Sheri Salata and fellow President, Erik Logan, and of course Oprah, found themselves inspired by the super-charged atmosphere that an active lot provided.

'The Lot' is steeped in Hollywood history, which is an added benefit. The nearly 100-year-old studio location has been home to such iconic TV projects as Love Boat and Dynasty, as well as films including Wuthering Heights, Some Like It Hot and .

So much to see and do

■ There is so much to see, eat and experience when you come to Los Angeles for your dream holiday.

When planning your trip come and stay in the centre of the action at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood.

Please mention 'Melbourne Observer' when you book and you will receive the special rate of the day.

Please contact: Joanna at info@ramadaweho.com See you at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites.

Happy Holidays, Gavin Wood

Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Melbourne

Observer

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Travellers’Good Buys

with David Ellis

Vintage tale behind winery’s history ■ Few industries attract tales, histories, myths and legends around themselves as does the wine industry.

And in South Africa there’s one winery that dates back to the 1600s, and whose yarn about its founders appears an almost fairy-tale of instant lovers, of secret meetings, an ultimate marriage, and seemingly living happily ever after…

Except that for this tale, its initial course ran anything but fairy-tale – because Laurens Campher was a white German soldier with the Dutch East India Company in Cape Town, and his lover, Ansela van de Caab was one of the company’s black slaves.

And when Laurens quit and moved 64km away to become a farmer in 1685, his appeals to authorities to allow him to marry his lover and release her from her squalor were rebuffed on the grounds she was “a heathen slave”.

So bizarrely, once a month for fourteen unbroken years, Laurens walked the 64km from his farm at Stellenbosch to Cape Town to spend a night or two with Ansela in her grim slave’s quarters, and then trekked the 64km back to his farm. In that time he fathered three children to her.

And equally bizarrely when an influential Dutch woman in Cape Town heard of their amazing tale in the mid1690s, she had Ansela tutored in the Bible and eventually baptised into the

● Kim and Rijk Melck and family consider themselves “custodians of Muratie Wine Estate’s rich heritage”

Melbourne

Observer Wines & Liqueurs

with David Ellis

Family’s early Christmas wish ■ The Hunter Valley’s Margan Family Winegrowers have an enviable reputation for their Aged Release Shiraz, a drop that winemaker Andrew Margan sees as wonderfully rewarding for he and his team, and one that’s equally rewaqrding for we as consumers.

The reason is that Andrew only makes this wine in years of exceptional vintages, and his just-released 2009 was from one of those which he considers in the “outstanding” category – making this one a little unique as he did not make a Margan Aged Release Shiraz in years immediately on either side of his 2009, that is in neither 2008 nor 2010.

Fruit for the 2009 came off 40 year old vines with a low half a tonne per acre yield, and with intense concentration of flavour: while typical Shiraz dark fruits (blackberries through to plum) and a peppery spiciness are to the fore, this a not overly-full-bodied Shiraz but rather nicely medium-bodied with a mild savouriness about it and fine tannin.

With a $75 price tag it’s a great wine to share with good company around the fire during the coming cooler months, or to put on the table with eye fillet of beef leaning towards the rarer side, lamb shanks with garlicky mashed potatoes, or game dishes.

And with 15-20+ years of drinking life, one to also consider getting your hands on now as a Christmas gift for that special person as Andrew made only 100 dozen – to do so (be it for yourself or another,) phone (02) 6579 1317 or visit www.margan.com.au

One to note ■ Shaw Vineyard Estate at Murrumbateman in the Canberra District is another to release a great drop from a great vintage, their 2013 Estate Riesling that company CEO Graeme Shaw says is the result of “near perfect conditions” after three previous years of cool, wet and difficult times.

Those good conditions gave fruit of full-flavour that’s reflected in this wine that has a typical Riesling crispness that the Canberra District is well-known for – and lovely intense flavours of guava and cumquat coupled with beautifully balanced acidity.

At $25 it’s a wine that’s got “love me with the seafood” written all over it.

Pictured ■ With just 100 dozen made, get in early to snare a bottle of this for yourself or a special someone at Christmas.

■ Love me with seafood is written all over this one from the Canberra District.

Lutheran Church – so as a now-Christian she could be freed from slavery and able to marry Laurens.

That marriage took place in 1699 and with their three children, aged 9, 5 and 3, they then walked the 64km to the farm at Stellenbosch on which Laurens had built them a modest stone house.

They also planted the first-ever wine-grapes in the Stellenbosch area, and on Lauren’s death in 1729 were making 600 litres of wine a year for commercial sale.

Today the Campher’s De Driesprong farm is Muratie Wine Estate, one of the most respected names in this prestigious winemaking region, and one of the oldest in South Africa.

After Lauren’s death, Ansela and their son Cornelius ran the farm and winery for five more years, and in the 1760s it was bought by a Martin Melck for his daughter Anna Catharina (Beyers,) it remaining in the MelckBeyers family for over a century.

Others dabbled with it after that, and eventually renowned artist, George Paul Canitz and his wife stumbled upon it empty and in somewhat sad state in the mid-1920s.

They fell in love with what they saw, bought it and not being winemakers brought-in experts to guide them – including planting South Africa’s first-ever Pinot Noir vines to extraordinary success.

They stayed-on for 30+ years… on their deaths, their daughter Annemarie taking-over the running of Muratie, and remaining there for over three decades more.

And amazingly after the Melck family had owned and run the place for over a century from 1763 until the late 1800s, another Melck – this time Ronnie – appeared on the scene in 1987, to buy and fold the property once again back into the Melck clan.

Today it is managed by Ronnie Melck’s son Rijk (who is also winemaker), his wife Kim, and his brother, sister and mother who call themselves “custodians of Muratie’s rich heritage.”

They also enjoy enormous success both with their wines and Kim’s boutique on-site restaurant – the winery open 7 days a week, and Kim’s restaurant for lunch Tuesdays to Saturdays.

They have a range of wines honouring the company’s founders, including their Ansela van de Caab label blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and an unusual Laurens Campher label blend of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho and Viognier.

There’s also a Ronnie Melck Shiraz, an Isabella Chardonnay (named after Rijk and Kim’s daughter,) a George Paul Canitz Pinot Noir – and a Lady Alice sparkling named after a bubbly 20th century socialite who for a time owned the winery.

All these and others are available for tasting and sales daily and there are twice-daily guided cellar tours.

Details www.muratie.co.za Southern African holiday experts Bench International can prepare a range of holiday packages to Cape Town which can include sightseeing excursions to the nearby Winelands and centres like Stellenbosch and Paarl, as well as the Cape of Good Hope and other centres.

For more details phone 1300AFRICA or visit www.bench international.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - Page 17

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne TV Memories

By Kenneth Mulholland

Flashbacks to ‘The Long Arm’ and ‘Happening 70’ ● From Page 12 Nonetheless, he established his musical credentials with hits for others such as Monty And Me, Light Across the Valley, It's Only a Matter Of Time and Rose Coloured Glasses for Johnny Farnham.

Behind the scene and the camera's eye were other people: new-come fledglings such as Tony Healey, Jeff Joseph, Darryl Sambell, Ron Tudor and Ian Meldrum. Yes. It was 44 years ago, in case you find this thought unreal.

And there were us, further behind the scenes. We were working for the Channel as in-house staff, and within the channel was another group, the film unit that slaved, flat out, for three months on the in-house film series that was a fore-runner for O's early effort at police drama The Long Arm.

Nineteen episodes were made.

The cast, led by Robert Bruning, Sandy Harbutt and Lyndal Moor, were competent, and the program only failed because of unreasonable production expectations and internal pressures.

Here are some comments from a lady who worked the show, Dale Evans: “'Umm ... me: callow youth of 20. Scene: Interior edit suite ... I have survived two editors and a couple of assistant editors who have fallen in the trenches.

“We are working an average 60hourr week, soon to rise to 75 then 90 as censorship and cock-ups cut our turn-around time down to about two days.” ( One episode, The Long View, about the Vietnam war... was censored (after I had spent four days ed-

iting one-for-one, then two-for- two etc. work print and blank spacer to simulate a blinking POV. ) TV Minnear, Director of Photography, was notorious for his two- or three-minute one-shot pan round opening scene for one episode.

Bruce Dunlop , grip, fresh from the Army, had no gut, for the only time in his life. He was an English editor with foul temper, given to throwing his cash onto the canteen table to show his disregard (in front of me, earning $30 a week to his $300 at the time: 1970).

He threw a 4lb metal tape splicer against the wall one morning, rather too close to my ear, which caused me to start smoking under Kay Burley and Di Rolle's concern that I needed something to calm me down.

He also pushed a Moviola down

two sets of stairs in a fit of pique. I think he was replaced by Paul Britnell who was wont to fill the edit basket and room to waist height with offcuts, which it was my job to roll up and label each morning.

He smoked his pipe while cutting ... not too bright considering the inflammability of film cleaner and cement those days ... tipped waste of one or t'other into bin and followed it later with pipe contents. Result: fire brigade on Level One. There were a few luminaries on the crew: Simon Wincer was one of the directors, and he went on to do Lonesome Dove and others.

Bruce Dunlop, of course, capo di capo of the western promos world, according to Promax.

Guy Furner, 2nd unit cameraman ... ran a large, rowdy crew house in

Doncaster/Balwyn for the duration of the series.

Jacki Weaver lived there for a bit ... Guy went on to become award winning ACS (sic) . and specialised in micro subjects, specialized lighting (cars etc) ... DoPed, the original Eveready bunny among many others while living in the USA. Equally tall, gangly and rather good looking, Colin Eggleston was another director on the show- married to an equally titchy woman at the time ... then got together with Briony Behets (The Box) She's now in Califorinia. He died of a heart attack in Singapore I thinkproved to be a scallywag, though always charming. He disappointed many people here before going there -some wonder if he actually did die . ● Turn To Page 18

Melbourne

Observer Life & Style

The beautiful art of letter writing ■ It’s such a shame that the art of letter writing is a thing of the past.

It seems that e-mail or a text message is the norm these days.

It won’t be many years before babies are born with one long digit and our language, as we know it will be unrecognisable. I’m glad that I won’t be around.

When Peter and I started our mammoth declutter, we began in our much-used and comfortable den.

The first thing we did was attack the contents of the lovely old Chinese lacquer bookcase.

Yvonne’s Column

Such memories ■ The bookcase served as a special place for our very old books, which we never allowed to be roommates with other books.

These books were special, and although were much read were treated with the respect they deserved. For that reason they were never lent, not even to our dearest friend.

Silver fish stopped in their tracks knowing that to cross the line on this selection of books was instant death.

The Chinese bookcase also served as a writing desk and a receptacle for old letters that at the time were very special and were meant to be kept.

There were many out-of-date diaries that recorded some exciting times in my life, and gave me a wonderful afternoon of pleasure to read each entry again.

Some entries were written in code: an easy code such as the one that we had at school.

Goodness knows what went on in those days that had to be kept from prying eyes.

I recalled however, some terrific times. What wonderful memories through the written word.

Life had no fears ■ Also stuck in the pigeon holes above the bookshelves were photographs that had been taken with a Box Brownie, and now freckled with age.

The snaps caused the Man Of The House (MOTH) and I much mirth as we sat on the floor remembering those days when life held no fears and we looked forward to the future with exciting expectations.

Indeed, we didn’t know about carbon tax, crippling water and electricity bills, and going into Melbourne at night being very risky.

Life was a bowl of cherries!

The big bundle of letters that were tied up with faded red ribbon in the fashion of a legal brief we kept till last to read.

Reading the letters, which Peter’s father wrote to his wife from overseas during the war, changed our enjoyment somewhat.

correspond with a few. Of course I received some nasty mail from listeners who didn’t approve of my program or me.

But I made it my rule that if the letter didn’t have an address or at least a name, then I didn’t read it and it went in the bin.

I never gave them another thought. There were too many of the good things happening to be worried about the ranting of a few.

Only two were handed to the Federal Police.

One man was caught, and the other is, I presume, still writing vile things to unsuspecting radio presenters. It’s the nature of some people – few in number I hasten to add.

Delightful letters with Yvonne Lawrence yvonne.lawrence@bigpond.com

We felt like voyeurs prying on the words of two people in love. One who was missing her husband and trying not to tell him of her loneliness.

And a husband who was trying to make light of the terror of war he was feeling.

Mother’s secrets ■ We took time out for a cup of tea and wondered if we should go on and leave the rest till tomorrow.

Somehow, that batch of Peter’s mother’s letters left us wishing that we hadn’t opened them.

But we couldn’t leave them in case unfeeling relatives threw them away when they sorted through our possessions after we had gone.

We ploughed on and then came across a few love letters that I had written to the MOTH when I was overseas.

Peter wasn’t big in letter writing and preferred to phone.

Now he wished he had written to me, because I didn’t let him forget his lack of correspondence for the rest of the afternoon.

Listeners’ mail ■ I actually came across letters that listeners had written to me when I conducted a radio program.

They had me reminiscing about the program and the people I met.

It was an exciting and very enjoyable time for me.

The letters were all about their family and what was happening in their life. Some of the letter writers became friends, and indeed, I still

■ The letters never got to me. Nor did I take their ramblings to heart.

I wish I could have taught Charlotte Dawson the art of not allowing nastiness to creep into her soul.

The pleasure of going down to the letter box, fighting the snails before they get to the mail first, always makes me happy. Even today, a bill doesn’t destroy my day.

Mind you, the water, electricity and the rate notice this week did set my teeth on edge a bit.

But I was delighted to receive a letter re-addressed to me by my editor, Ash Long.

Ash has a distinct handwriting and I always look forward to what his envelope has to offer.

Favourite poem ■ I’ll call the writer Fay – she’ll know who she is and say that her lovely long newsy letter made my day.

Fay wrote to tell me that one of her favourite poems is Trees by Joyce Kilmer, and by coincidence I had written about it in my column.

She was interested to know who put the poem to music.

I’ve discovered that a few composers did, but Oscar Rasback is the most likely.

Many famous singers such as Paul Robeson and Richard Tauber sang Trees.

Fay enjoys reading Nick Le Soeuf as do I, and I’m happy to say, Yvonne’s column.

Like so many listeners, she enjoyed Keith McGowan and Ash Long batting the breeze each night on radio.

Then she dropped a bombshell. She reminded me that she and a friend had been on the trip to ‘Tasting at the Top’at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and we shared some of the pleasures of the trip.

Tassie delights ■ After an idyllic few days at Cradle Mountain where we experienced great walking paths,

sunny afternoons, and at night, a light snowfall.

Of course who could resist building a snowman?

We walked from our chalet down to the main building for breakfast through a guard of sweet little Pademelons extending their paws for food.

How did they know that I had food for them in my pocket?

I pledged my love for Tasmania and the friendly Tasmanians with whom we shared our stay.

After one trip I made to Tasmania I informed Peter that I had found a Georgian house that was for sale, and I wanted to buy it. It was being sold for peanuts. And I wanted it.

Peter reasoned that the house may cost peanuts to buy, but the cost of airfares going backwards and forward every weekend would soon eat up our bank balance.

Silly Peter. It hadn’t dawned on him that I wanted to relocate.

We didn’t relocate. But I’d left a piece of my heart in Tasmania.

Made my day ■ Fay excitedly wrote that next month she would be a great-great grandmother. Isn’t that a great piece of news to casually drop at the next gathering of women?

Peter gets a mention. She remembers him from Cradle Mountain, and of course, I talk about him so much in my columns.

But, not as much as Moosh, my cat.

Moosh is suffering from dementia and quite often forgets who he is and where he lives.

Often, he forgets to eat, but he never forgets to share his love with us.

His purr is still as strong as ever, but it’s now a robust and deep baritone.

And I was happy to tell Moosh, that Fay sent him a big smackeroo at the close of her letter.

Thanks Fay, you made my day. Your letter will be placed in the Chinese bookcase in the newly de-cluttered pigeon hole where no dust gathers, and only good things are received.

Good karma.

- Yvonne Contact: Editor, Melbourne Observer P.O. Box 1278, Research, 3095.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 18 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014

■ I had the great pleasure of seeing the famous screen legend Lauren Bacall onstage at the Princess Theatre in 1986 when she starred in the stage play Sweet Bird Of Youth.

I could not believe that the former wife of Humphrey Bogart was in Melbourne - I will never forget seeing her onstage.

Betty Joan Perske was born in 1924 in New York City.

Her Jewish parents were divorced when Betty was only five. Her mother took custody of her only daughter and changed her surname back to her maiden name of Bacal.

When she became an actress Betty used the first name of Lauren and added an extra ‘L’ to become Lauren Bacall.

In her teenage years she studied at The AmericanAcademy of Dramatic Arts in New York and appeared in several Broadway productions.

She worked as a fashion model and usherette prior to getting a screen test for Howard Hawk's production of To Have Or Have Not. Although she was nervous at the audition she did get the part opposite Humphrey Bogart.

The scene when she delivered the famous lines "You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and. .. blow" established Lauren as a major star.

Although Bogart was married at the time

Whatever Happened To ...

Lauren Bacall

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM the couple fell in love and they finally married in 1946. She starred opposite Bogart in another three films The Big Sleep, Dark Passage and Key Largo.

Lauren had two children with Humphrey Bogart. Shortly after Humphrey Bogart's death in 1957 Lauren announced her engagement to Frank Sinatra but the relationship ended abruptly.

Then in 1961 she married Jason Robards, the marriage lasted for eight years and they had ● Lauren Bacall one child.

One of the highlights of Lauren's career was Her films included How To Marry A Millionaire, Designing Woman, Womans World, Mur- winning the Best Leading Actress Tony Award der On The Orient Express, Written On The for her performances on Broadway in the musicals Applause and Woman Of The Year.

Wind, Harper and The Shootist.

I may be wrong about this, but I do recall hearing that when Australian actor Frank Wilson suffered a heart attack during the Melbourne season of Sweet Bird of Youth in 1986 Lauren went to visit him in the hospital and held his hand. Can anyone confirm this story?

Lauren has written three autobiographies the first By Myself was published in 1978. She won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 1997 for her role in The Mirror Has Two Faces.

In 2009 she received an honorary award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

I thought she was marvellous in her cameo role in The Sopranos when she played herself in a ‘mugging scene’ with Michael Imperioli.

Lauren will celebrate her 90th birthday in September. Lauren Bacall has been a beautiful star of stage screen and television.

She is remembered in the lyrics of the 1980s Bertie Higgins song Key Largo - we had it all just like Bogie and Bacall.

Kevin Trask The Time Tunnel - with Bruce & PhilSundays at 8.20pm on 3AW That's Entertainment - 96.5FM Sundays at 12Noon 96.5FM is streaming on the internet.

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

Finding crabs, 1000 miles from Sorrento

■ Whenever I'm driving I always keep a sharp lookout for reptiles.

Whether it's blueys on the Peninsula, or stumpies around PortAugusta, or beardies around Lightning Ridge, or thorny devils and sand goannas and Perenties on the way to the Rock, I often stop and remove them from the highway to the safety of the nearby bush.

It's the same with snakes, but usually I don't need to stop because they are generally slithering pretty quickly out of the way, and I've rarely ever run one over.

But on one drive up to the Centre, I was just out of Alice when I ran over a very strange looking snake, the like of which I had never seen before.

It was a light grey colour and kind

Observer Overmatter Debt-collecting lawyer rapped ■ Lawyer Victoria Nominkos has been reprimanded by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Member Elizabeth Wentworth.

Nominkos has agreed to not allow third parties to use her business name or stationery, and will not allow her solicitor’s code to be used in the Magistrates’ Court computer system.

Nominkos must pay a $25,000 fine to the Legal Services Board, plus costs of $75,000.

Nominkos was last year found guilty of seven charges of professional misconduct, and one charge of misconduct at common law.

Nominkos had allowed letters of demand in her then firm, A’Backett Lawyers.

The Tribunal heartd that the letters were generated and sent by debt-collecting firms and not by A’Beckett Lawyers. The communications were misleading, the Tribunal was told.

● From Page 17

Ken Mulholland’s TV Memories ■ We had a go at everything those days - I started as a negative matcher because I had used the word sprocket in my interview.

I was hot from Monash Teachers College's first film and TV course in 1970 ... once ensconced, I got to mix sound tracks occasionally'small, medium and large' war cassettes in one of the studios.

I could be mixing anecdotes here - there were two very capable sound recordists: Danny someone, and a very cute younger guy ...

Nagras were the go, we cut on upright Moviolas from 16mm work print with those new-fangled auto printed edge numbers ... I missed the hand printing by months, thank the Lord .

The first editor I went to work under was living in a caravan in the car-park as the deadlines were already dire.

He developed a bleeding stomach ulcer and had to leave soon after ... that was before the censoring of the previously mentioned Vietnam episode that made every week a

nightmare rush.

I think Britnell had something to do with that. He had been in a Japanese POW camp and was anti everything we 'young things' were standing up for. He also took it upon himself to call my parents to alert them to the fact that I was 'seeing' Guy .

Imagine if a manager did that today to a 20-year0old member of staff!

Early on, an incident occurred that is burnt into my memory forever. Unloading the day's shoot's exposed negative from sealed bags, to assemble onto reels for the lab, I dropped the core out of 1600 ft of film ... sweating blood, with no way of summonsing help, I spent what felt like hours in there.

I'm 19, alone and panicking - trying to get it all back onto the plate and spool, without synching it (over tightening and therefore scratching)...

Someone eventually came looking for me and rescued the situation, thank God. - Kenneth Mulholland

of furry. I stopped and did a uie only to find caterpillars scattered all over the road. I hadn't run over a snake - it was a line of processionary caterpillars.

They group themselves together and shelter under leaves, and then, en masse, they form into a single-file procession, and march across the desert, looking just like a slow-moving slithering snake.

I've since encountered dozens of them, often unfortunately having been run over, with the bewildered individuals wandering around all over the road, so I try and flick as many as I can off into the desert, where hopefully they'll reunite with their mates and slither off again.

■ Facebook, often ridiculed by many of my mates, was begun as a social interaction phenomenon for youngsters and teenagers to keep in touch, mainly communicating inanities to each other.

Now, however, they've largely abandoned this for other social phenomena, mysterious to me.

And the adults have taken over.

Granted there are still myriads of inanities - lunches and breakfasts for all to see and salivate over.

However, there are some saving graces which I do encounter. I have about 1500 friends all over the world, and at any time at least some of them have something interesting or intelligent to communicate.

There are sites for my old schools whereby we share photos and stories about the old teachers, and even the historic aspects of my old home-towns where we can equally share anecdotes of old mates and activities and adventures.

One especially I love is the Coober Pedy site. Whilst I've been a visitor for decades, and the occasional resident, there are others are far more worthy of that epithet than me - but it's fascinating to see photos and hear stories of all the old-timers which I remember.

So, yair, I can handle Facebook ■ Dates have never interested me much. I'm not over-keen on them to eat, although I have occasionally nibbled on them.

But I did come across a touristytype establishment in Alice Springs, called the Date Farm. Obviously there were many date palms growing around the place, and there was a main

The Outback Legend

with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au building where occasional functions were held.

And they did have dates for sale in various guises. And I did find a favourite - chocolate-coated - they were delicious, so I often gorged myself on this particular delight.

Now, it appears that the two Central Australian date farms my supply the world!

Apparently 95 per cent of the world's dates come from the Northern Hemisphere, with fruit in season in June and July.

However, Aussie dates are harvested between February and April, so there's a huge potential for profit here.

And there's even a potential for the local market with one particular variety - the fresh date.

They're not permitted to be imported into Australia so the Alice growers are looking into these, because date-lovers really appreciate this previously-ignored variety.

Good luck to 'em.

■ When my kids were little I often took them up to Lightning Ridge with

me. Of course they were always foraging around seeking creatures of all kinds which were lurking about in the bush. There were scorpions and centipedes, snakes and lizards, moths and butterflies of all description; and the odd dragonfly and stick insect and spider.

Then on one visit Jonas found a crab scuttling about. A crab - 1000 miles from Sorrento!

I brought it back home, and put it in a cage with a few other desert creatures, and it was quite happy.

I rang a mate of mine, Martin Gomon, who was the crustacean man at the Melbourne Museum, and he informed me that, even though this was quite a rarity, it was by no means unknown - the Inland Freshwater Crab.

So, again to the bewilderment of an Alice Springs resident this time, one was recently brought in to Justin Rutherford at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre.

Apparently they dig a burrow about a metre deep, and can survive for about six years of drought, just living off their accumulated body fat.

With the first drought-breaking rain, they emerge and scurry about, and lay a few hundred eggs, which quickly hatch and swim about and quickly grow into adults. Then the cycle repeats over again.

■ Early preparations and registrations are beginning for October's Masters Games Active and enthusiastic oldies from all over Australia gather in Alice every two years to jump about and run around, throw balls, catch them and hit them and kick them.

I have been in the thick of many of these games, as the participants rushed from venue to venue. The weather is a bit of a problem - from cooler southern winters to a hotter October Alice, but they cope.

The final celebration of the closing ceremony at the local oval is always a sight to behold.

Each team dresses up in crazy garb, and runs around trying to terrorise their opponents, all the while liquor copiously passing lips.

Not everyone in Alice is so delighted with this event though - they take all the available hotel rooms for a couple of weeks, which means that the international big spending tourists can't get into town.

And these chaps only buy two products anyway while they're in town no souvenirs or opals or paintings just booze and condoms.

- Nick Le Souef ‘The Outback Legend’

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - Page 19

Observer Readers’ Club The Way We Were 100 Years Ago The Berringa Herald April 4, 1914 PICNIC The annual Presbyterian Sunday school picnic is advertised elsewhere for to-day at M'Coll's hill.

ROKEWOOD STOCK SALE. Dalgety and Co.'s Rokewood stock sale takes place on Wednesday next.

PROFESSIONALAPPOINTMENT. We understand that Dr A. Roberta Donaldson, daughter of! Dr J. B. Donaldson, of Linton, has been appointed medical resident to the Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne.

BANK DAY. Owing to Good Friday being a public holiday the Berringa Agency of the E. S. & A. Bank will open on Thursday.

ABSENCE EXPLAINED. Mr H. Eluriilge, secretary of the recent P.S.A. at Berringa in aid of the Hospital and Orphanage, has received word from Cr M. Vaiighan, explaining his reason for not being present. His absence was unavoidable onaccount of il health.

PRESBYTERIANISM The Revs. A. H. .Moore, B.A., and W. J. Murray, B.A., will pay an of ficial visit to this mission on Monday next, and they will meet representatives of the order at churches at Illabarook in the evening.

I.O.O.F. The ordinary meeting of the Rerringa lodge was held om Thursday evening. N.G. Bro. A. Hope presided. A detailed account of theproceeding of the Grand Lodge Session was given by P.G. Bro. Shaw. Grand Warden Bro. Elsey and P.G. Bro. Aisbett from Smythesdale lodge were also present.

OBITUARY. Another of the old pioneers of Smythesdale has passed away, in the person of Mrs Mary Firth.

Melbourne Photo Flashback

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Birthdays/Celebrations

● Melbourne Observer reader Pam McDonald of Rosanna has sent in a photo of Macleod Railway Station, taken circa 1950. Who remembers the railway branch line that went to the Mont Park Hospital and Gresswell Sanitorium? Local people left their muddy boots in a box at the Macleod Railway Station, changing into their work shoes. They picked up their boots - unstolen - on the return journey.

Your Stars with Christina La Cross ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 20) Tests and exams which are taken at this time should go really well for you my friend.

Just remember not to confuse someone else's life problems with your own. Be your own person.

TAURUS (APR 21 - MAY 21) Exciting offers are set to come your way which should help you to see your life from a far more constructive angle. You've been looking at life as if the glass is half empty when it's half full.

GEMINI (MAY 22 - JUNE 21) Jealousy has been, and can continue to be a problem if you don't start to look at life from a more mature perspective. Talks had with old friends help you remember what and who you really value.

CANCER (JUNE 22 - JULY 23) This week, it's all about working as a team and showing that you care about others' progress and success as much as you do your own. Don't lead on an ex if you don't mean it.

LEO (JULY 24 - AUG 23) The best relationships have to be built on trust and trust is something you've had an issue with recently. Today offers you and the person concerned the chance to find some common ground.

VIRGO (AUG 24 - SEPT 23) It's time to make yourself a priority and to indulge in some good old fashioned pampering. You need to remember how important you are and how much of a priority your happiness should be.

LIBRA (SEPT 24 - OCT 23) The little things you say to those you love will make a lot of difference today so try to make your words constructive and helpful ones. An instant attraction can change a Libran's life today.

SCORPIO (OCT 24 - NOV 22) You seem to be so much happier in yourself and the decisions you make over the next few days will only reinforce this fact. Job opportunities come through social links you make now.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23 - DEC 21) You have before you the opportunity to earn decent money and to make the kind of contacts who can take your career up to the next level. The only catch is you have to sacrifice personal time.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22 - JAN 20) It would be to your advantage to read through any contracts you have a second time.

Your stars suggest there are better deals you could be getting. A little fine tuning can ensure they are yours.

AQUARIUS (JAN 21 - FEB 19) A childish frame of mind could see you saying and doing things which you know can get you into trouble. Know how far is too far to go. It can help save an important relationship.

PISCES (FEB 20 - MARCH 20) An overbearing influence is making you nervous about something you were previously confident in. Try to separate from them. They don't have to be a part of your plans if you don't want them to.

■ Yesterday (Tues. April 1). Heather Kirby of Seymour. Robyn Mann of Werribee. Brendan Bartlett of Bundoora.

■ Thursday, April 3. Dennis Wall.

■ Saturday, April 5. Don Davy of Ormond.

Michelle Van Raay. Shane McInnes (30).

■ Sunday, April 6. Bruce Gow. ■ Tuesday, April 8. Sean Callander.

■ Wednesday, April 9. Mrs R Tonkin of East Malvern. Jamie Redfern. Elizabeth Redfern.

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Page 20 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Victoria Pictorial

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Around Western Port Historic Photo Collection

● Balnarring Store

● ‘Coolart’, Balnarring

● The Foreshore, Balnarring Beach

● Point Leo beach, 1910

● Shoreham Beach

● Flinders. Circa 1870s.

● The pier, Stony Point.

● Main Road, Crib Point