Melbourne Observer. 120711A. July 11, 2012. Part A. Pages 1-12

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ENCORE!

LOCAL THEATRE NEWS

■ Shane Ryan and Vicki Smith (at back), and Melissa New and Ron Kofler, feature in Encore Theatre’s presents Sylvia by A.R. Gurney and directed by Peter Newling from July 13 – 28 at the Clayton Community Centre Theatrette, Cnr Cooke Stand Centre Rd, Clayton.

Greg and Kate have moved to Manhatten.

Greg’s career is winding down but Kate’s is on the up. Greg brings home a lost dog, Sylvia, and the pooch sparks some fireworks.

The marriage is in strife, but there are hilarious and touching complications. Will all this be resolved? Tickets: Adults $20, Concessions $18. Opening night all tickets $15. Gala Night $24.Bookings: 1300 739 099 www.encoretheatre.com.au

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■ Melbourne entertainment promoter Dennis Smith is delighted with early Ticketmaster sales for Rhonda Burchmore’s Cry Me A River: The World Of Julie London to be staged for five shows at the Comedy Theatre from Thursday, August 16Sunday, August 19. Julie London’s songbook includes Cry Me a River, Let There Be Love, ‘S Wonderful, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, and The Party's Over.

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Page 2 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - Page 3

Breaking News

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

NORTHCOTE LAWYER FINED Observer $40,000 FOR MISCONDUCT In This 48-Page Edition

Almost With You

● Fiona Macleod (Lisa) and Luke O’Sullivan (Dan) in Almost With You at La Mama Theatre until July 22.

■ The Little Theatre Company presents the young actor and brought an incredible energy premierw season of Almost With You, by re- to his role.

Raj Sidhu as Tom gave a convincing pornowned playwright Elizabeth Coleman at La trayal as a man who had been unlucky in love Mama, Carlton.

It is directed by Kaarin Fairfax and is a and life and yet remained positive, supportive story of love, laughter and loss. I don’t want and not indulgent.

Helen Hopkins as Jenny, Lisa’s best to reveal too much about the story line and friend, was terrific and played her role with give anything away or spoil the plot, as there are a few surprises in this compelling and inspired enthusiasm and sincerity.

Kaarin Fairfax’s passion for theatre is eviheartfelt play. dent and the depth she explored with her acAt first the narrative seemed a little dis- tors and their characters resonated with the jointed, although once the audience knew audience and moved many to tears. more, we were taken on an emotional journey Almost With You is on at La Mama Thewith all the characters. atre, 205 Faraday St, Carlton, Wednesday Fiona Macleod as Lisa was excellent: be- and Sunday 6.30pm, Thursday -Saturday lievable, filled with conflict and stuck in a past 7.30pm and Sunday matinees on July 15 and that would not allow her to move forward.

22 at 2pm until July 22.

We related to both her and her plight and Tickets: $25/$15. www.lamama.com.au truly wanted her to experience happiness. and 9347 6948.

Luke O’Sullivan as Dan is an exceptional - Debbie Keyt

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5 THE TOP 5 OTHER MEDIA SHOCKS THAT MAY STILL HAPPEN 5. Nar Nar Goon's The Goon News rejects offer from Gina Reinhart.

4. War Cry to go tabloid.

3. Philip Brady to do ‘drive’ on Silver Top radio.

2. The Footy Record to drop their Fine Arts page.

1. Ron Barassi to take over Channel 31.

‘TV Times’ 8-Page Liftout starts on Page 13

From Our Court Roundsman ■ Northern suburbs lawyer Patrick William Dwyer has been fined $40,000 and reprimanded after pleading guilty to charges of professional misconduct.

The Northcote solicitor, who specialises in handling criminal matters, must also pay $8102 costs to the Legal Services Commissioner, after the matter was heard by Victorian Civil and Administrive Tribunal Senior Member Jonathan Smithers.

VCAT heard that Dwyer failed to deposit fees in his practice trust account, causing a deficiency’ and create false documents and misled the Legal Services Commissioner Michael McGarvie.

Dwyer has practised in Northcote since 1978, a period of 34 years, running a busy practice which is 80 per cent funded by Legal Aid work.

VCAT heard that Dwyer created false invoices to support his version of events being probed by the Commissioner.

Mr Smithers was told that Dwyer also failed to give a concise written statement about fees to be charged to a Mr Holden, who wasw charged with murder.

Evidence was given that Dwyer is motivated by a desire to serve the community, starting with his work for the Fitzroy Legal Service in the 1970s.

“On some occasions he continues to act for clients even after there is no longer any money to pay his fees.

“On occasions he has given money to clients to tide them over with food or rent,” VCAT was told.

News: ‘Mrs Australia’ legal battle ......... Page 5 Melbourne People: Been And Seen ......... Page 6 Di Rolle: Fiona O’Loughlin on tour ......... Page 8 Melb. Confidential: Secrets in our town .. Page 9 Long Shots: The Editor’s column ......... Page 10 Yvonne Lawrence: Life and Style .......... Page 11 Trask: Ava Gardner remembered ......... Page 12 TV Times: Large print program guide ..... Page 13 Travel, Wine: David Ellis reports .......... Page 17 Readers Club: Birthdays, recipes, fun ... Page 22 Victoria Pictorial: Nostalgic photos ....... Page 27 Local Theatre: P32 Radio news: P38 Movies, DVDs: P39 Crossword: P40

Observer Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

$300-a-day drug habit ■ Shane Rose, 24, of Drysdale, will be sentenced later this year on 21 theft charges for goods totalling $16,000, to fund a $300-a-day drug habit.

No licence, next it’s jail ■ Daniel Callanan, 28, has received a wholly suspended jail sentence for a series of unlicensed driving offences at Bendigo. He blamed amphetamines.

Woman, 64: ‘.135’ ■ A Camperdown woman is alleged to have blown .135 after driving erratically along residential streets.

Page 4 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012

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Mark Richardson ♥ Straight from the heart

E-Mail: mark@localmedia.com.au

MELBOURNE CABARET FESTIVAL

■ Twenty years ago, David Read and I first teamed up to complete an assignment in our Public Relations university course.

Our news story received high distinctions and our friendship cemented.

Outside of class David was always doing something spectacular many of us considered to be quite bizarre.

He was an avid swimmer and once swam 30 kms in a shark protective cage from Port Fairy to Warrnambool, making news headlines in his campaign to assist those less fortunate than himself.

With our Communications Degrees in hand, David and I have kept in touch and through David's eightyear ownership with his partner of the iconic and award-winning venue The Butterfly Club in South Melbourne, and through my reporting on Melbourne events, David and I have continued to team-up to promote many performing artists and shows.

Again I caught up with David for a sneak preview on the eve of the opening of their third annual Melbourne Cabaret Festival (produced together with Neville) that is set to burst out across Melbourne from tomorrow until Saturday, July 21, in nine venues throughout the city with 35 entertaining live shows.

You are no stranger to the cabaret scene, how do you think your time at The Butterfly Club inspired you to conceive the Melbourne Cabaret Festival with Neville?

what we asked for! We're determined to repay this generosity by staging an ace festival this year.

What are the most challenging aspects of organising such a large 1200 during our time there - over 5000 scale event? performances and in excess of We deal with such diverse people 150,000 audience members. and organisations to stage the event.

Which Australian artists did you Your brain needs to rapidly switch help launch their careers at The But- from being 'artistic' when working terfly Club? with performers, to 'practical' when Hundreds, but one stands out. One dealing with Councils, sponsors, ventime Eddie Perfect came in with his ues and our Board, to a hyped (not accompanist. The accompanist turn- over-hyped) 'promotional machine' ed out to be pretty good so we offered when dealing with media and audihim the opportunity to perform his ences. Sometimes it's challenging to own show. We encouraged him over switch from one mindset to the next! two years to treat our showroom as a A major challenge remains the space where he could experiment lack of funding support from the State and develop new material, we also Government. There's a lack of viproduced his first tour, and now he's sion when it comes to supporting a gone on to much bigger and better niche festival which could in future things. years bring in bucket loads of tourLate last year we caught up with ists, revenue, profile and creativity him for lunch at his house in Lon- to the State, just like our revered and don, and he gave us the very first established festivals do today. pressed CD of a musical he wrote Melbourne Cabaret Limited is the music for, called Matilda. He also chaired by Ron Dobell who has gave us a plug to 5 million Poms served as a Director and Chair of watching the BBC's Jonathan Ross several organisations including his Show. Yep, that man is Tim Minchin. own philanthropic arts foundation, Being a not-for-profit festival, the Ron and Margaret Dobell Founhow is the Melbourne Cabaret Fes- dation, how has his leadership and tival funded? business expertise guided and We've funded it ourselves, but that shaped the success of the festival? can't last forever, so we've been exRon has always been a great suppanding our funding base over time. porter and someone who we can The Ron and Margaret Dobell bounce ideas off, or he comes to us Foundation have been with us from with his own. It's a relationship based the start to underpin our professional on trust, whereby we bring him bad development program for perform- news as openly as we bring him good ers. The City of Port Phillip has also news. been a terrific partner for three years The added value though comes now. The City of Stonnington and with his wife Marg - our number 1 the have joined us for the first time member - who works tirelessly to this year. City of Boroondara support the arts in Melbourne. As a We also undertook a crowd-fund- partnership they also have a fantasing campaign earlier this year tic knowledge of cabaret and music whereby we asked the community theatre on an international level - they direct to support us. They did to such see more shows in a week than I do! a degree that they donated more than News broke earlier in the year

DAZZLING PORCH THOUGHTS

● The Fabulous Singlettes As the name of The Butterfly Club gained a reputation, we increasingly found that high quality acts would perform in our intimate show room but there was no pathway to bigger and better things.

We knew there was further potential for these shows; we just had to work out a way to provide a bigger stage to enable larger audiences to see them.

How many acts do you think performed at The Butterfly Club and to how many people?

We presented (and the venue still presents) around 150 different shows annually, most of them new works. So that's probably about

● Geppetto

● David Read that that the Festival needed to raise $15,000 to make it happen. You exceeded that target through a crowdfunding event with the support of stars including Geoffrey Rush, Amanda Palmer and Paul Capsis. What is crowdfunding and what were the highlights of the campaign?

Crowdfunding is where likeminded people come together to financially support a project they believe in. Social media has made this process easy.

The crowdfunding experience was amazing not just because of the money, but because of the unexpected benefits. It brought Melbourne's disparate cabaret community together for the very first time. It validated us as a festival that the community wanted and were prepared to open their wallets to support. It created a 'tribe' of supporters around the festival.

How have you grown the Festival this year?

We've grown the Festival in two ways: by expanding to 10 nights, and by expanding geographically across the city. We're programming two hubs - one at Chapel Off Chapel and one at Kew Court House. The other seven venues are programming themselves, bringing greater diversity, accessibility and excitement to the Festival.

What are your top picks for this year's Cabaret Festival?

Like other art forms, often cabaret performers hit it big time overseas but aren't recognised in their home town. Performers like Wendy Lee Taylor, who's returning home after a ten-year residency at the Lido Paris.

Or Spanky, the cabaret sensation from London. Or The Fabulous Singlettes, who had their own TV special on the BBC and are invited to perform in Berlin's major venues every year.

What is your Porch Thought of The Day? "What good is sitting alone in your room?"

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - Page 5

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Breaking News

‘MRS AUSTRALIA’ LEGAL FIGHT Briefs Fined ■ Peter Couper, the former Chief Financial Officer of OnQ Group Limited, Bill Express Limited’s parent company, was sentenced to 21 months’ jail wholly suspended and fined $10,000 in connection with four charges, at the County Court.

$30m loss

● Eddie McGuire ■ Channel 9’s coverage of the Olympic Games, to be fronted

by Eddie McGuire, could result in a $30 million loss for the network, reports The Australian. The TV newtork is being met with weak advertising demand. London’s opening ceremony will take place on July 27.

Order

■ Matthew Hutchins, 40, of Horsham has been placed on a nine month corrections order after assaulting his 15-year-old son.

■ Lawyer Ajai Lyndon Thapiyal has lost a legal claim against organisers of the Mrs Australia quest run by the ‘Women In Need’ Foundation.

Thapiyal took Danielle Larche and Kylie Frances Tsiafogiannis to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, claiming $100, for 20 $5 votes that he lodged electronically to support his wife Caroline Colliss.

VCAT Senior Member Jonathan Smithers heard Thapiyal claim that his wife was the highest scoring contestant in the virtual voting, and that she was crowned ‘Choice of the People’ at the pageant awards ceremony.

Thapiyal said this should have automatically entitled her to a ‘top five’ position.

Mr Smithers, in dismissing the claim, said he believed the fifth position was based on a number

● Karen Gee was named ‘Mrs Australia Globe’

on factors. Thapiyal said there had been a breachg of contract, and false and misleading misrepresentations.

Thapiyal said representations made on the quest’s Facebook page about ranking constituted a contract.

Mr Smithers said he had to consider damage Thapiyal had suffered.

The votes were a donation to a charitable cause. The key obligation of the women was to pass the money on to the charitable cause, which they did.

“As a separate legal person himself, Mr Thapiyal has not suffered any loss.”

■ The Melbourne Observer understands that a number of organisations use the ‘Mrs Australia’ wording in their enterprises, and are not related.

Ms Larche and Ms Tsiafogiannis have dissolved their partnership.

TAX CHASE ON ‘FIRST HOME’

■ The location of where a man’s washing was done was one of the factors taken into account in deciding his ‘principal place of residence’ in a Tribunal case.

Manisj Kumar Patel and Arti Patel were taken to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal by the Commissioner of State Revenue.

VCAT Senior Member Robert Davis heard that the Patels claimed a ‘first owner’s grant’ from a property at Cooktown Ave, Point Cook.

The couple lived in rented premises at Vermont, then Mount Waverley, but claimed the Point Cook address as their “principal place of residence”.

Investigations showed that a teenage son continued to attend Vermont

Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

Secondary College, and that the Point Cook address was leased to tenants after six months.

The State Revenue Office claimed that when Patel claimed to live at Point Cook there was

only one bed and a microwave oven at the premises.

Mr Patel was in fact in Fiji for some of the time, running his import business. He does not work in Australia.

VCAT examined matters such as water use at the Point Cok address which was “particularly low”.

In one period there was no metered water use at all. In another period, an average of 11 litres a day was used, not much more than a “leaking tap”.

“It is almost inconceivable that for normal use of water for sanitary means, that is toilet, showering, etc, more water than that would not be used.”

Mr Davis said that Mr Patel’s cooking utsensils and chattels were at Vermont South or Mount Waverley during the time.

Patel did not change his driver’s licence address to Point Cook.

“In gauging the intention of (the Patels), in my view, what the applicant was doing was intending to set up a ruse as to what his permanent place of residence was,” said Mr Davis.

The State Revenue Ofice said Patel had claimed $26,000 for the first owners grant: $7000 for the grant, a $5000 bonus, and $14,000 as a “boost fund”.

Patel had received a low doc loan from the ANZ Bank.

“In this matter, if he lived thgere at all, it was clearly only intended to be quote transitory on odd nights and he never intended that he reside there,” Mr Davis said.

“I also note that there was no contents insurance in respect of the premises which, in some way, does not surprise me because there was very little contents in the property.”

Listen to the Melbourne Observer on your radio WEDNESDAYS 12.45AM. Cheryl Threadgold, community theatre writer, reports on 3AW. www.3aw.com.au 1.15AM. Jim Sherlock discusses movies/ DVDs with Andrew McLaren. www.3aw.com.au 10AM. Editor Ash Long talks with Denis Scanlan on The Pulse 94.7 www.947thepulse.com 10PM. Rob Foenander presents Country Crossroads on Casey 97.7 FM www.3ser.org.au

THURSDAYS 9.15AM. Editor Ash Long talks with Bob and Judy Phillips on 3RPP. www.rppfm.com.au 10PM. Kevin Trask presents The Time Tunnel with Walter Williams www.4bc.com.au

FRIDAYS AM. Ted Ryan talks racing with Denis Scanlan on The Pulse 94.7 www.947thepulse.com 2.30PM. Jim Sherlock talks movies/DVDs with Denis Walter on 3AW www.3aw.com.au

SUNDAYS 9AM. Mike McColl Jones talks the Top 5 with Bob Phillips on 3RPP. www.rppfm.com.au 12 NOON. Kevin Trask presents That’s Entertainment on 96.5FM. www.innerfm.org.au 8.20PM. Kevin Trask presents The Time Tunnel on Remember When. www.3aw.com.au

MONDAYS 2PM. Yvonne Lawrence presents Life And Style on 3WBC 94.1FM www.3wbc.org.au 8PM. Len Baker presents Harness Review on 97.9FM www.979fm.net 10PM. Kevin Trask presents Memories Are Made Of This on 4BC www.4bc.com.au

TUESDAYS 6AM. Rob Foenander presents The Big Breakfast on 88.3 Southern FM www.southernfm.com.au

ALSO BE LISTENING FOR Julie Houghton discusses the arts on 3MBS-FM, 3MBS Digital, Online www.3mbs.org.au Di Rolle discusses Melbourne entertainment on 3AW, overnights. www.3aw.com.au

AND WATCH FOR Country Crossroads TV show on Aurora Channel 183, Foxtel www.aurora.tv

melbourneobserver.com.au

Page 6 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012

■ Melbourne showbiz couple Melissa and Matt Hetherington welcomed Oscar James Hetherington to the world this past week (Wed., July 4). Mel is seen on Coxy; Matt was a contestant on The Voice.

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People Melbourne

Send news to editor@melbourneobserver.com.au

● Oscar James Hetherington

Fax: 1-800 231 312

Kate at home in Malibu ■ Melbourne-based actress and model Kate Neilson is attending acting coaching lessons in the United States with Twilight star Judi Shekoni.

Kate has been able to find time to socialise at Malibu and Santa Monica.

One of the features of her trip was watching Barry Manilow last week for the 4th of July Independence Day celebrations at the Hollywood Bowl.

At Santa Monica, Kate hired a bike, and cycled down to Venice Beach in the US summer sun.

Into The Woods ● Jessica Barlow (Witch) and Jack Turner (Jack) in Waterdale Players’ production of Into The Woods. Community theatre correspondent Cheryl Threadgold has more details on Page 32.

Photo: Lisa Law

Kids stuff at Gold

The girls light up

● Elmo, Craig Huggins and the Cookie Monster at Gold 104.3.

■ Gold 104.3 presenter Craig Huggins (‘Huggy’ is the one in the centre) greeted Sesame Street characters Elmo and Cookie at the Richmond studios, to help celebrate their 42nd anniversary.

● Melbourne radio couple Angela and Keith McGowan continue to enjoy their retirement travels, currently at Magnetic Island, near Townsville in Tropical North Queensland. Angela has been handling snakes, a koala and a four-foot crocodile at an animal sanctuary at Horseshoe Bay.

Birthday cheer at Club 3004

● Thursday’s Club 3004 meeting at Ormond Hall was also the venue for birthday celebrations for Lyndall Tennant, pictured with son Jack, and Peter Jago. The party mood continued with more celebrations over the weekend at Wheelers Hiil.

Spotlight

● Jeanne Pratt ■ As Chairman of The Production Company, Jeanne Pratt is set to welcome guests to the 2012 season opening night of The Producers at the State Theatre, Arts Centre, tonight (Wed.), starring Christie Whelan and Wayne Scott Kermond.

● Natasha Stipanov and Suzanne Carbone were at Cutler & Co, Fitzroy, to help share birthday cake with Stasia Raft.

● Stasia Raft blows out the candles at Fitzroy.

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - Page 7

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012

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To

Punch Brothers at Recital Centre

Di Fighting the flu ■ What is it with this flu that is currently going around?

It’s horrid. I had it badly a few weeks ago and then it seems to have come back in the guise of a whopping temperature, feeling unusually dizzy and forgetting things and generally feeling quite unwell whilst standing up.

All symptoms go away when I am in a horizontal position which makes it hard to do a day’s work!

However I am managing and toughing it through. It is really quite horrendous and I can understand how quickly it goes from being the flu to pneumonia.

Drinking a lot of water, walking a lot and sleeping as much as I can I am managing to keep on top of it.

It feels like it is something that is chasing me and I will not allow it to get it to get me.

Tune onto 1179AM ■ One of the things I really enjoy doing as part of my job is my radio spot each month on Vision Australia with Robyn Winslow.

Robyn will be heard for the next three weeks in the drive timeslot. She is terrific value, great voice and marvellous music knowledge. Do listen to her.

I really enjoy going over the Vision Australia and talking all things Melbourne Recital Centre on the first Tuesday of each month.

It’s a great way of keeping in touch on Vision Australia Radio. Vision Australia Radio is a network of RPH community radio stations throughout Victoria and southern New South Wales.

The service provides news, information and entertainment for people who are unable to read standard printed material.

By offering this broadcasting service, Vision Australia Radio makes it possible for everyone in the community to enjoy the same level of access to information.

Vision Australia Radio is a daily companion for many people, with an audience of around 140,000 tuning in each week.

Some of their listeners are unable to read standard print due to blindness or low vision, others have a physical, learning, comprehension or language difficulty, where spoken English is preferred to printed English.

There are also those who simply enjoy the convenience of having the newspaper read to them each day at home, in the work place or the car. Vision Australia Radio is a 24-hour service that broadcasts every day of the year.

Vision Australia Radio operates eight radio stations that cover Victoria and southern New South Wales. In Melbourne it can be heard on 1179AM. Around 800 volunteers along with a very small team of Vision Australia staff work together across Victoria to ensure Vision Australia Radio stations operate smoothly and effectively.

For information on becoming a volunteer, to request a program guide, or become a Vision Australia Radio sponsor, call 1-300 847 466.

I love my job!

● The Punch Brothers will be at the Recital Centre ■ There are a lot of good things happening in Melbourne at the moment. There is great football, terrific theatre shows, lots of great sporting activities, and the Melbourne Open House coming up on Saturday July 28.

It is a ‘must’. There are so many buildings that we love and take for granted, open on one day to walk into and explore and look around. ● Turn To Page 11

For WAITING FOR SOPHIE TO MAKE HER MOVE ■ What has got to me this week is all the carry on that is going on in politics.

I swear all the politicians have gone stir crazy of late.

Thank goodness for Paul Murray on Sky News who brings a lot of sense and sensibility to it all.

I love my dose of Paul Murray each week night Monday to Thursday 9pm on Sky – he has the best panels and at least they all care about each other, not like Q&A last week where Sophie Mirabella sat next to Get Up Director Simon Sheikh when he collapsed.

Being the great team player she is she did nothing but look at him aghast as the poor man sat motionless for more than 30 seconds.

A most interesting moment on television I swear I stopped breathing through the whole thing as I waited for Sophie to make a move!

with leading Melbourne publicist DI ROLLE

● Sophie Mirabella remains motionless as Simon Sheikh collapses on TV all accounts - telling though really who me he was genuinely knew what was going excited about the de- to come out of the cision - was editor of ranks in the News Ltd Melbourne’s Herald major restructure?

Sun newspaper Simon It was a sudden Pristel., resignation and very We, as publicists, quickly Damon have a love-hate rela- Johnston, former tionship with the edi- Sunday Herald Sun tors of newspapers, editor was appointed which makes it all the editor of the Herald more glorious to work Sun. in what we call ‘the I personally wish business’.

Simon all the best in I always liked his next chosen field.

Simon Pristel, He is a good perI can be a very pas- son and put up with a sionate publicist at lot from people like ■ Someone who has times and I was sur- me at him every day made a move, and a prised, I guess, to hear to do our stories and very positive one from of his resignation al- make the decisions he had to make.

Good on you Simon. My fondest memory I have of Simon is having afternoon tea many years ago with Tara Moss at The Langham Hotel. after her first marriage.

She had said there were to be no photos of her marriage outside St John’s on the day and promptly on the day ordered the wedding organisers, unbeknownst to me her publicist, that black umbrellas were to be put up as she walked out of the church!. ● Simon Pristel I had to deal with

Edited

the throngs of media who had gathered to take happy snaps of the wedding.

Not one of my memorable days I must admit, but lots of fun to sit around with the editor of the leading day newspaper and have a laugh with over a very hot cuppa!

Fun days.

Funny girl ■ Fiona O’Loughlin is one of my favourite people ‘in the business’.

She has written a terrific book called Me of the Never Never.

It’s a great read. I loved it and I read a lot of books.

A chaotic memoir about family, friends and finding out that all the world’s a stage as she says (I’m going through) What appealed to me about this book is that nothing turns out as you plan.

I remember when I was younger I had a much different life planned for me than what has turned out.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the way my life has turned out but it certainly didn’t turn out as I expected, I remember thinking I was going to live in London and marry Cliff Richard and live happily ever after, That didn’t happen!

Fiona says the same thing, she said – “Nothing turns out as we plan, I guess, but I often think if I’d gone to a fortune teller when I was at school and been told I’d marry a guy who makes false teeth, move to Alice Springs, have five kids and become a stand-up comedian; well, I would have been surprised to say the least.”

Fiona O’Loughlin

● Fiona O’Loughlin is certainly the funniThis book contains est (and possibly one her stories funny and of the busiest) work- sometimes sad about ing mothers in Austra- her upbringing as part lia today; a stand-up of a large Irish-Cathocomedian now based lic family on a wheat in Melbourne. farm in South AustraFormerly based in lia, her chaotic and Central Australia and disorganised family Adelaide, she is on the life ever since, living road for most of the in Alice Springs and year, doing live perfor- making it as a standmances, plus regular up comedian. television appearShe also talks of a ances including regu- darker side of the life lar appearances as of many performers – co-host on the couch alcohol. on Channel Ten’s The This book is for Circle. anyone who likes to Fiona has also had laugh (and cry), who successful shows at wants to read about a the Edinburgh and woman living her life Adelaide Fringe Fes- on her terms. tivals, the Just for I really recomLaughs Festival in mend this book. PubMontreal, and the lished by Hachette Melbourne Interna- Australia. RRP $35. I tional Comedy Festi- have bought it as gifts val. for mates.

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - Page 9

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Confidential Melbourne

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

21 YEARS JAIL: SEX ATTACKS ON 5 VICTIMS

● Judge Bernard Bongiorno and two colleagues have imposed a 21-year jail sentence on Jeffrey Peter Bavage ■ Convicted sex offender Jefferey Peter Bavage has received a 21-year jail sentence, with a nonparole period of 17 years, after his application was heard by Supreme Court Judges Neave, Bongiorno and Bell sitting as the Court of Appeal.

Bavage was found to have sexually assaulted five victims over a 30-year period from 1977 to 2007.

Bavage’s victims were aged between 7 and 17 at the time each of them was assaulted. Bavage was aged 15 at the time of the first offence, and 45 at the time of the last.

The judges have reduced the jail sentence which was originally27 years, with a non-parole period of 20 years. This sentence was imposed by County Court Judge Felicity Hampel.

The offences included the sexual assault of a sevne-year-old female as she slept in the annexe of her family’s holiday caravan at the Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park in 2007.

Her brothers were asleep in bunks right beside her; jer parents were just a metre or so from them.

The publicity at the time of Bavage being charged led to other people reporting that he had sexually assaulted them.

Two sisters, who were aged 9 and 7 at the time, complained of being assaulted between 1977 and 1983.

Another complaint came from the sister of histhen girlfriend when Bavage was 31.

A woman, who was a 17-year-old girl at Pykes Creek in 2002, when Bavage was 42, complained.

The Crown did not proceed with trials in respect of two other complainants.

The young sisters said the assaults were multiple. The younger sister said there had been 20-30 occasions.

The sister of his then-girlfriend had given evidence that she was 13 when she woke in the night to find Bavage lying beside her, with his finger in her vagina. She froze and blacked out.

A 17-year-old said she had been raped at Pykes Creek Reservoir. Their families had been friends and she had resisted Bavage’s offers to drive her from Lara to Bacchus Marsh.

Bavage threatened the 17-year-old that he would do the same to her younger sister.

At Torquay, DNA evidence linked to Bavage was found on the annexe zip, the child’s nightie and bedding, and toilet paper she used to wipe herselfd some hours later.

Mobile telephone records put Bavage at the scene of the crime.

Judge Hampel noted expert reports that there was no mental illness, although it was said that Bavage was an exhibitionist.

TAXI DRIVER WINS APPEAL OVER INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGE

■ Melbourne taxi driver Mahboob Ali Mir has won a Court of Appeal application, and an indecent assault conviction has been set aside.

Mir had previously been convicted of the charge, after he was found not guilty of a rape allegation against a female passenger.

Mir asked Supreme Court Judges Buchanan, Neave and Bell to overturn a 10-month jail sentence, of which seven months had been suspended.

The case, previously heard by County Court Judge Wilmoth, involved Mir picking up the woman from a North Melbourne hotel, and driving her to her residence in Caulfield.

She fell asleep in the taxi, and awoke to find that Mir had his finger in her vagina.

The woman said she had been drinking beer and Jagermeister shots, and left about midnight.\ She could not remember hailing the taxi. At Caulfield, she phoned her flatmate, as she could not recognise her house.

Next day, the womanj tok her clothes to the Eping Police Station, and DNA analysis was conducted.

Short & Sharp “DNA contributions for which (Mir) could not be excluded were found on the (woman’s) belt buckle and jeans button.”

The Court heard statistics about the degree of probability of Mir’s DNA on the items. This was described as “moderate” and “limited”.

Mir was excluded as a contributor to the DNA on the fronbt panel of the woman’s underpants.

The woman had given evidence that she was really angry at the driver, but he pointed at the meter and said she had to pay.

Judge Buchanan said the verdict of guilty was unsafe: “I consider that there is a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the applicant.”

‘NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST’: VCAT

■ More than 200 taxi drivers who were employed by Latimer Taxis, which has gone into voluntary administration, are to be offered jobs through 13CABS. ■ An arts season for artists, writers and film makers is being planned for Sydney Road, Brunswick from September 23Oct. 14. sydneyroad.com.au ■ Simon Pristel’s departure as Editor of the Herald Sun came as a surprise to many ... perhaps even Simon Pristel.

■ The Sex Party is chasing voters for the Melbourne by-election on July 21. “We called it the Sex Party to get your attention,” says press ads being run in the electorate.

Rumour Mill

World Of Their Own

Deal done with Govt.

■ Victorian country newspapers have done a deal with the Baillieu State Government so that regional media advertising spending is increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the total campaign budget. The announcement is being promoted by Deputy Premier Peter Ryan.

Cat move

■ Moreland Council’s plan to trap and desex stray cats, before returning them to the streets, has been ruled out of order by the State Government.

Dr Carole Webb of the Cat Protection Society says cats would be returned to a life of disease and neglect.

Warning

■ Heidelberg Theatre Company is in then local headlines, issuing warnings to its local Banyule Council not to overdevelop a car park site near its Rosanna theatre.

14 years Hear It Here First

■ It would not be in the public interest to allow Arona Amosa’s appeal to be licensed as a private security agent, says Victorian and Civil Administrative Tribunal Senior Member Robert Davis.

Amosa, 38, appealed a decision by the Victoria Police to refuse him a licence as a crowd controller.

Amosa had worked as a controller since 1999, and was found guilty of assaulting a patron at the Jetty Restaurant, Cowes, in 2004.

In 2008, he was fined, and disqualified for five years.

Mr Davis said one of the references supplied by Amosa was from Darko Sinadinov of Excell Security, who was himself unlicensed, and had been involved in a robbery.

Mr Davis also noted Amosa’s “very serious hearing impairment”.

VCAT was told anout a matter where Amosa had hit his wife with an open hand after she taunted him about not being able to work.

An intervention order was taken out. “What he chose to do was to breach the order,” Mr Davis said.

Whispers

■ Judith Durham received standing ovations at her 50-year anniversary concerts staged at Her Majesty’s Theatre at the weekend.

On Saturday night, fellow SeekerAthol Guy led the three standing ovations.

But one former colleague didn’t seem so enthusiastic about getting to their feet.

■ Frankston Council has brought in debt collectors to chase old rates, some of which date back to 1997-98.

The Council is owed $13,500 from a Carrum Downs property owner from 14 years ago.

ML&C Collections has been engaged.

No need ● Judith Durham

‘It wasn’t me’: Ricky ■ Troubled footy player manager Ricky Nixon gave an interesting quote to the Herald Sun this week: "I have never been charged with anything in my life."

He wasn’t referring to the car crash with the tram, or peading guilty twice to charges of driving while suspended. Or for using a mobile phone while driving.

E-Mail: Editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

● Ricky Nixon

■ VCAT member Anna Day has told the Caqsey Aquatic and Recreation Centre that it did not need to apply for a special exemption to open exclusively for women and girls on Friday nights from 8pm-10pm.

The Centre is to be stafed only by women during these hours.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Listen to the Melbourne Observer on your radio WEDNESDAYS 12.45AM. Cheryl Threadgold, community theatre writer, reports on 3AW. www.3aw.com.au 1.15AM. Jim Sherlock discusses movies/ DVDs with Andrew McLaren. www.3aw.com.au 10AM. Editor Ash Long talks with Denis Scanlan on The Pulse 94.7 www.947thepulse.com 10PM. Rob Foenander presents Country Crossroads on Casey 97.7 FM www.3ser.org.au

THURSDAYS 9.15AM. Editor Ash Long talks with Bob and Judy Phillips on 3RPP. www.rppfm.com.au 10PM. Kevin Trask presents The Time Tunnel with Walter Williams www.4bc.com.au

FRIDAYS AM. Ted Ryan talks racing with Denis Scanlan on The Pulse 94.7 www.947thepulse.com

Melbourne

Observer

The Best Columnists

VALE EDWIN DUFF

■ Edwin Duff, one of Australia's great jazz singers, has passed away on at the age of 84 in Sydney.

Edwin was born in Scotland and came to Australia in 1939 where he established himself as a professional singer and performed the songs made popular by Frank Sinatra.

He performed in concerts at the Sydney Town Hall and other jazz venues during the 1950s.

Edwin recorded with Jack Brokensha's Australian Jazz Quintet. He worked in the USA for 10 years where he performed with many of the famous American jazz musicians.

Edwin sang the title song for the film Lost In The Desert in 1969.

- Kevin Trask

Horsing Around

Our Doors are Open!

Freemasons return to their stonemasonry roots for Bairnsdale Hospital

● Edwin Duff

Life is a cabaret

2.30PM. Jim Sherlock talks movies/DVDs with Denis Walter on 3AW www.3aw.com.au

SUNDAYS 9AM. Mike McColl Jones talks the Top 5 with Bob Phillips on 3RPP. www.rppfm.com.au 12 NOON. Kevin Trask presents That’s Entertainment on 96.5FM. www.innerfm.org.au 8.20PM. Kevin Trask presents The Time Tunnel on Remember When. www.3aw.com.au

MONDAYS 2PM. Yvonne Lawrence presents Life And Style on 3WBC 94.1FM www.3wbc.org.au 8PM. Len Baker presents Harness Review on 97.9FM www.979fm.net 10PM. Kevin Trask presents Memories Are Made Of This on 4BC www.4bc.com.au

TUESDAYS 6AM. Rob Foenander presents The Big Breakfast on 88.3 Southern FM www.southernfm.com.au

ALSO BE LISTENING FOR Julie Houghton discusses the arts on 3MBS-FM, 3MBS Digital, Online www.3mbs.org.au Di Rolle discusses Melbourne entertainment on 3AW, overnights. www.3aw.com.au

AND WATCH FOR Country Crossroads TV show on Aurora Channel 183, Foxtel www.aurora.tv

melbourneobserver.com.au

■ The Melbourne Cabaret Festival is starting this week, and one of the highlights is sure to be the late night piano bar at the Bohemia Cabaret Club in South Melbourne.

Master piano bar entertainer, pianist and singer Trevor Jones (pictured), has honed his skills in smoky bars on American cruise ships, in casinos, and anywhere else he could earn a living with his magic fingers on the keys.

If Trevor had a dollar for every time a well-lubricated cruise ship passenger breathed on him heavily and requested Billy Joel's iconic Piano Man, he would be wealthy enough to retire by now!

But Trevor is a glutton for punishment

Dramas at deadline ■ The Observers production system took on a mind of its own right on deadline.

A number of completed pages were unable to be accessed.

We apologise that the Long Shots column, Country Crossroads, Radio Confidential, On This Day and some Showbiz items are missing from this edition.

Our apologies to our readers.

We intend to have a stern word with the gremlins, but we are mindful of the adage: “Never tell a machine that you are in a hurry.”

and will be running the riotous New York style piano bar where crowds can grab a drink, sing along with Broadway standards, or bring their own sheet music and sing solo.

There will also be guest appearances from professional singers appearing in their own shows in the Melbourne Cabaret Festival.

Saturday July 14 from 11pm, Wednesday Thursday July 18-19 from 10.30pm, and Friday-Saturday July 20 -21from 11 pm at the Bohemia Cabaret Club, 226228 Coventry Street, South Melbourne.

It's free entry, so for the price of a drink you are guaranteed a whole late night of entertainment.

Observer Treasury

It is no coincidence that the square and compass forms the logo of Freemasons worldwide. Tools that were used to create stone objects by Masons generations ago are still used in a symbolic way today: the chisel, for example, smoothes and shapes rough edges of stone and character.

Recently, some Freemasons made a rocking horse that was auctioned to raise funds for the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service Oncology Department.

The total donation of $34,000 was thanks to the fundraising efforts from the Bairnsdale Combined Freemasons Lodges Rocking Horse Raffle who raised $17,000 and the Freemasons Victoria Board of Benevolence who matched the donation dollar for dollar.

First prize in the raffle was a palomino heirloom rocking horse, beautifully handcrafted by local Freemasons, Jack Gabriel, Maurice Jones and Brian Hopkins. It took six months for Jack to make the horse, while Brian made the stand and Maurice completed the finishing touches of bridle, saddle and cloth.

The raffle was well supported within the community and the funds raised will be used for purchasing six vital signs monitors, a wheelchair and easy access waiting room chairs for the Oncology Unit.

To celebrate the wonderful donation a presentation morning tea was held at the Masonic Hall in Bairnsdale, and was well attended by representatives from Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Freemasons Victoria Board of Benevolence, Bairnsdale Daylight Freemasons, Union Lodge of North Gippsland Freemasons and Mitchell River Lodge Freemasons.

"The Bairnsdale Combined Freemasons have spent much of the past 18 months working toward this day," says Geoff Harwood, acting MC for the presentation ceremony. "Jack Gabriel, spent half a year building the beautiful rocking horse from scratch, and Brian and Maurie must be thanked for their contribution to this project. Many thanks must also go to all of the Freemasons members who have contributed many hours in making this donation such a success."

The Board of Benevolence, the charity arm of Freemasons Victoria, matched the Bairnsdale Freemason's cheque dollar for dollar. "We're very proud of the efforts of the local Bairnsdale Freemasons and are delighted to match funds from our Benevolence Board," says President of Freemasons Victoria Board of Benevolence, Frank Fordyce.

"The Bairnsdale and outlying district communities will benefit from improved facilities at the Bairnsdale Oncology Unit. We felt that this was an extremely worthwhile cause to support."

"The equipment purchased will help support patients and families through their journey with Bairnsdale Regional Health Service," says Acting Director of Clinical (Nursing) and Corporate Services, Bernadette Hammond. "In addition, I must also thank Jack, Brian and Maurie for building the fabulous rocking horse."

Acting Director of Clinical (Nursing) and Corporate Services, Bernadette Hammond (far right) warmly accepts the donation from the Bairnsdale Combined Freemasons, from left: Ted Gibson, Bob Mallows, Don Jarrat)

Thought For The Week ■ “The duration of passion is proportionate with the original resistance of the woman.”

- Honoré de Balzac

Observer Curmudgeon ■ “Many a man has fallen in love with a girl in a light so dim he would not have chosen a suit by it.”

- Maurice Chevalier

Text For The Week ■ “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed- without remedy.”

- Proverbs 29:1

To find out more about Freemasonry, how to become a member, attend upcoming public events, or to take a tour of the Masonic Centre, please visit www.freemasonsvic.net.au or 'Like' our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ freemasonsvic for the most up to date information.

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - Page 11

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne

Observer Life & Style

News Briefs

ALLOWING MYSELF TO FEEL THE RAGE

Big bucks

■ It’s been many years since I have allowed myself to feel the rage that I am experiencing at this moment.

The last time I felt such anger was when I was directing a play at a theatre in the western suburbs.

We needed milk and biscuits during a break in rehearsals and I went across the street to a milk bar, accompanied by the very well known leading man who happened to be handsome and black.

It seemed when our turn came to be served the woman behind the counter looked to new customers, and completely ignored us. Finally I spoke up and said that we were next to be served.

This dreadful woman looked us up and down and said that she didn’t serve blacks. My gasp should have alerted her that she had insulted not only a customer, but also a human being, but she turned her venom towards me and said “ and that includes white trash like you.”

Yvonne’s Column

Oh, enough is enough

All-singing, all-dancing

■ I wasn’t only insulted for myself, but more so for my friend. He actually laughed it off, and we left the shop, but not before I had told this racist bogan what I thought of her.

But I decided I would never allow myself to become so angry again, particularly with people who really know no better.

That was until last week, and once again I’ve felt such rage, and also directed at people who should know better.

Watching television I saw a smirking, dancing Treasurer waving his arms in the air holding a box of breakfast cereal in one hand, and a leg of rolled lamb in the other and a telling us that the cost of the items hadn’t increased one cent since the carbon tax came into being.

It was July 1 and the tax had only been in force a couple of hours for heavens sake, and besides, there are heavy fines for those who claim a price rise is caused by the carbon tax.

Swan becomes a goose

■ Treasurer Swan made a goose of himself, and insulted the intelligence of most of the viewers.

I really do think they believe the public are stupid and so they treat us like mushrooms: You know the old saying,” keep them in the dark and feed them fertilizser”.

Almost at the same time, we were treated to the spectacle of a ridiculous Craig Emerson pretending, in an out of tune voice, that he was a ‘rap artist’ telling us that Whyalla hadn’t disappeared either.

The Prime Minister, trying out her new“ trust me, mother knows best” voice threatened us that unless we embraced the carbon dioxide tax we can expect natural disasters such as bushfires, floods, droughts and extreme heat as regular occurrences.

How dare these supposed leaders in our Parliament treat us to so much insulting drivel.

Does she think we are all morons?

In fact, what has happened to the standard of our pollies?

Melbourne

Observer

of the gas stove with the oven turned on and the door open, as her only form of heating because she was told that gas is cheaper than electricity.

One woman told me that she has decided that life is not worth living anymore. It’s hard trying to give hope and indeed comfort for someone who is feeling so low.

Are some of our citizens being forced to live in third world conditions? I think the answer is a loud yes.

I grew up with enormous respect for the Parliament, and it wouldn’t dawn on me that an MP would lie and insult those on the other side of the house.

We must be the laughing stock of the world.

with Yvonne Lawrence yvonne.lawrence@bigpond.com

■ Type in this special marketing message to see how the type is reproduced at this level including the next line.

Knits to relax ■ Despite the tragedy of overloaded boats sinking with great loss of life, and our navy being called on for help like a marine RACV to save them, the boats are still arriving, sometimes two a day, and they couldn’t even solve the problem of what to do about the asylum seekers before they slunk off for their eight-week winter break.

Of course in her usual manner of problem solving, the Prime Minister said she would hand the problem over to a committee to find a solution!

This non-parliamentary thinking brought a reward of a salary increase as they began their holiday. The PM now collects more than $4000 per week and is paid more than the President of the United States.

She tells us in a magazine interview that she and ‘her bloke ’ sit and watch television at night and she knits to relax (hope it’s blankets for the freezing homeless). Lucky she has time!

Has she listened to one thing that the voters tell her?

What has she done to allay their fears that they wont be able to manage with the increase in costs?

Does she listen to talk-back radio and hear listeners say that they sit in the dark or burn a candle at night for fear of the power bill that they know will come.

Laughing stock of world ■ And the woman who said she sits in the dark in front

■ I do have respect and indeed admiration for Anna Burke, the Deputy Speaker of the House. Under difficult circumstances she is bringing discipline into the House and is fearless with both sides.

Why has our suspended Speaker of the House, Peter Slipper, gone of on an all funded junket to the Middle East? After all, he has been suspended and yet it seems that his life hasn’t altered at all.

Enough is enough already.

Hopefully the winter holidays in the sun and surf will give our jet setting supposed leaders time to reflect on their actions, and try and find a solution to the asylum seekers and the plight of the pensioners and others on the lowest social bracket.

It is said that the refugees know that our Prime Minister is a soft touch and they are sending as many to Australia before her days are up.

On most days I watch as much of Parliament on television as I can. I don’t miss much that is going on, and a lot of it is grubby, very grubby.

How have our supposed leaders got to this state?

Thinking about my absolute rage those years ago, I smile when I think it’s unlikely that it would happen in the western suburbs today because it is multi cultural and all nations are accepted.

Vale Sgt Blaine Diddams ■ He was the 33rd Digger to be killed in the Afghan war. It was his seventh tour of duty.

A devoted husband and father, and an inspirational leader to his men, I question why he should have been sent away yet again. Surely he had given more than could be expected of any soldier?

Couldn’t he have been used to give his experience to those about to go to war?

Watching the Prime Minister’s delivery as she announced his death and offered our condolences it was as if she knew it wouldn’t be the last time she would be called upon to do this on our behalf.

Bring our brave diggers home Prime Minister Gillard.

Yvonne Contact: Editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

Di Rolle’s Column

● From Page 8 ■ Melbourne Recital Centre is one of them.

This is a great chance to unlock Melbourne Recital Centre and explore this incredible building for free.

I am lucky I get to go in there at least four times a week.

However on Saturday, July 28, it is open to all, where the building is open for exploration and a chance to see the mechanics of this acoustically brilliant venue.

Visit the website closer to the date for a complete program of details. melbournerecital.com.au I mention the Melbourne Recital Centre also ,as one of the best bluegrass bands in the world is coming to perform on Monday, August 6, for one fabulous show, They are the Punch Brothers. One of the most exhilarating bands to come out of New York in recent years.

PUNCH BROS. AT RECITAL CENTRE , Punch Brothers explain their music as “that of a bluegrass band, but our influences range from Radiohead and Wilco to Bach and Mozart and Bill Monroe” The New Yorker reviews their work as “wide ranging and restlessly imaginative”.

Made up of Chris Thile (lead vocals/mandolin), Gabe Witcher (fiddle/ violin), Noam Pikelny(banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar) and Paul Kowert (bass), the band’s virtuosic credentials are unsurpassed.

In their first visit to Melbourne, they showcase music from their latest album Who’s Feeling Young Now?, hailed by Vanity Fair as “their most expressive work yet as an ensemble – sophisticated, poppy, kinetic

and profound, all at once”.

One of the most acclaimed and upcoming young American bands.

They will appear on Monday, August 6, 7.30pm at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.

It will be presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and PBS 106.7FM. I am ery excited about this concert.

Good words

■ I am going to finish my column this week with a quote.

I particularly liked this one, it came from Oprah’s Quote of the Day which I have sent to me each day: “The way we pay attention to the world can make a huge difference in the way we experience it.”

It is a quote by Gabrielle LeBlanc.

- Di Rolle

■ Annual advertising sales on radio in Melbourne for the 2012 financial year totalled $204.873 million. The Sydney figure is $209.925 million.

Total revenue for the five metro markets for the financial year was $680.704 million.

Struck off

■ Victorian teacher Anthony Walter Battello, also known as Antonio Walter Battello, has been convicted of the sexual offence of one count of sexual penetration of a child under 16.

Battello has been disqualified from teaching and his registration as a teacher cancelled by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

Junior G&S ■ The Pirates of Penzance ‘Junior’ will be performed by Eltham Little Theatre at the the Eltham Performing Arts Centre, 1603 Main Rd, Research, from July 12-22.

Times: Matinees, 2pm. Evenings, 8pm.

Tickets: $20, $16 concession. Bookings: www.eltham littletheatre.org.au

New show from G&S Opera Vic at Malvern ■ Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria presents A Country Girl, a new fullystaged performance conceived, devised and choreographed by Robert Ray, opening on July 11.

Five performances only will be presented on July 11, 12, 13, 14 at 8pm and July 14 at 2pm at Malvern Theatre, 29 Burke Rd, East Malvern.

Set in the Edwardian period, A Country Girl was the hit of the 1902 London season. It was Lionel Monckton's first score as principal composer and he would go on to write such hits as The Arcadians, Our Miss Gibbs, and The Quaker Girl.

Of all of the composers of the post Gilbert and Sullivan era, Monckton's star shone the brightest.

With additions from Paul Rubens, and lyrics by Adrian Ross, the score of A Country Girl is pure delight.

Enjoyable toe-tapping numbers include Try Again Johnnie, Yo-ho Little Girls to the ravishing Under the Deodar.

Tickets: $25 Full Price/$22 Concession/$18 Child.

Bookings: 9905 1111 (Monday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm).

- Cheryl Threadgold

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 11, 2012

■ It is a joy to watch the work of Ava Gardner in some of her old films on television. Ava was absolutely beautiful and had a great screen presence.

Ava Lavinia Gardner was born in North Carolina in 1922 and was the youngest of seven children.

Ava had no intentions of being an actress but when she was photographed by a professional photographer fate stepped in and through an amazing course of events did a screen test for MGM Studios.

Because of her outstanding beauty she was signed to a contract which was remarkable because Ava had no acting experience and spoke with a strong southern drawl.

In 1942 she married Mickey Rooney and the marriage lasted for a year.

I remember Mickey Rooney commenting in his stage show several years ago that the marriage might have worked if Ava was at least capable of boiling water. (Ava had a different view) Ava spent five years working as an extra and in bit parts before being cast opposite Burt Lancaster in the film classic The Killers.

She married bandleader Artie Shaw in 1945 and that marriage also lasted a year.

In 1951 she married Frank Sinatra in a storm of controversy after Sinatra left his wife Nancy.

Ava was cast as Julie Laverne in the MGM film Showboat but her voice was dubbed for the

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whatever Happened To ...

Ava Gardner

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM song Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man. Several years ago English actor Sir Donald Sinden told me in a radio interview that he remembered Frank Sinatra joining Ava in when they were filming Mogambo in an attempt to save their troubled marriage.

Ava received an Academy Award Best Actress nomination for her role in Mogambo but lost to Audrey Hepburn who won for her performance in Roman Holiday.

Sinatra's career was in a decline in 1953 and Ava was instrumental in helping him to get his Academy Award role in the film From Here To Eternity.

But although Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra divorced in 1957 Sinatra remained in

● Ava Gardner love with her for the rest of his life. Ava attended his concert at Festival Hall in 1959 when Ava was in Melbourne to film On The Beach.

Hollywood really came to Melbourne at that time as Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire and Tony Perkins were also here for the filming.

It has been revealed in recent years that Ava did not actually say, "On the Beach is a story about the end of the world, and Melbourne sure is the right place to film it."

The story goes that it was apparently made up by a newspaper journalist.

Pianist Ronnie Rosenberg (who currently plays at the Rosstown Hotel in Carnegie) accompanied Ava Gardner at the ‘wrap party’ at the Melbourne Showgrounds studio when she sang The Lady Is A Tramp.

Ronnie said her singing "wasn't up to scratch" but he added - "it didn't really matter, it was still

one of the most pleasant experiences of my life."

Ava's other films included The Hucksters, The Barefoot Contessa, The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean and Earthquake.

I thought she was wonderful in The Sun Also Rises when she starred opposite Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn.

Ava never had children of her own. In 1968 she moved to Westminster, London, and lived there for the rest of her life.

She appeared in seven episodes of the television soap opera Knots Landing and her final on screen appearance was in a television movie titled Maggie in 1986.

Ava Gardner died on pneumonia in 1990 at the age of 67.

Tina Sinatra says in her book My Father's Daughter that Frank Sinatra took the news of her passing very badly and was heartbroken.

Her autobiography Ava: My Story was released in 1990 and Ava dictated the book into a tape recorder in her own words.

Ava Gardner was one of the great screen stars of the 20th century.

- Kevin Trask The Time Tunnel - with Bruce & PhilSundays at 8.20pm 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.

LADY GAGA WAFTED AMONGST MY OPALS

■ I would often drive through Ti Tree, a couple of hundred kms north of Alice, on my way to Darwin.

There's not much there - just basically a road stop with bowsers, and normal Australian roadside cuisine.

Some 30 years ago, an Aboriginal elder called Stumpy Martin asked the owner if he would set up a curfew and sell alcohol to Aboriginal people only between 1pm and 3pm.

This situation has been in place ever since, but recently was scrapped by the owners.

This has resulted in mayhem.

Drunks are now flooding into town, smashing cars and yelling and fighting through the night.

A local Aboriginal school teacher, April Campbell, was recently attacked by an elderly intoxicated lady outside her house.

The visitors are not only disturbing the peace, but demanding food and blankets from the residents, and demanding to live in their houses, much to their concern.

It is always with despair that I learn of, and often witness, these activities, which are usually par for the course throughout the Centre, and realise just how far Outback Aboriginal inhabitants have got to go before they lead peaceful and fulfilling and rewarding, sober lives.

Unfortunately, a long way.

■ During my time residing in Alice Springs, I encountered, and befriended, many Aboriginal artists.

The men I knew were landscape artists of the Hermansburg Namatjira a tradition, wheras the ladies were generally dot artists.

I've never liked dots much, so I didn't do much business with them, but they visited every day, always trying to sell me their wares.

Recently a group of five artists came into town from the Rock, visiting for Show Day, where they were selling some of their paintings.

However, then a problem arose while they lived at Mutujulu, the Aboriginal settlement adjacent to the Rock, they hadn't banked on there being no available temporary accommodation for them when they arrived in Alice.

Which would have been OK under normal circumstances, because so many visitors to town just bed down in the dry sand of the Todd River.

Unfortunately their visit was coin-

The Outback Legend

with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au cidental with the coldest day of the year -the overnight temperature plummeted to about -4° C. The ladies only had two blankets between them, and managed to just survive in the freezing sand of the river bed.

They had started off with a few more blankets, which the Salvos had given them.

This was fine until their fellow campers stole them and burnt them to keep themselves warm!

■ Unfortunately there is still some recalcitrant behaviour around the town.

My mate Andrew Thorogood's jewellery shop ,Hourglass, was attacked, with windows broken and jewelry stolen.

And some other offenders were apprehended with cartons of grog which they had taken from the Heavitree bottle shop.

And a couple of cars were set alight and burnt.

There were also a couple of confrontations as well - early one morning two groups of ‘intoxicated people’

attacked each other at 4am one morning on the lawns of the casino, armed with hammers and other carpenters' tools.

The Hidden Valley camp was also the scene of a similar situation, when more ‘intoxicated people’ attacked police with rocks and other weapons when they arrived to quell a disturbance and to seize alcohol.

A broken hand and an assault on Police was the result.

And a 21-year-old unlicensed mother was picked up just a couple of hours after having been released from hospital, with her month-old baby in a passenger's lap. Her reading was 0.171.

But the worst, and most interesting, was when a lone cyclist was attacked by a group of young Aboriginals demanding money.

But then another group of older Aboriginals nearby came to his assistance, and formed a protective barrier around him, shielding him from his attackers.

A new one on me! But welcome.

■ And then, of course, there are some heart moving, positive, stories.

There is a large group of Aboriginal women in the Centre called the Tjanpi Desert Weavers.

They have just launched a couple of books outlining the stories about their artwork.

Professor Marcia Langton came to town to formally launch the books.

Their art consists of intricate weaving of clothing and colourful sculptures of their familiar desert creatures.

Tjanpi, one of the books launched, is about the many social and cultural benefits that Tjanpi brings, and the joy and happiness brought to the women, according to Michelle Young, the manager.

It gives children the opportunity to read and learn about what their grandmothers and great grandmothers did for their communities in developing a way of expressing culture.

This is a breath of fresh air, because so often Aboriginal women get the rough end of all sticks, and so to hear that about this, a little light at the end of one tunnel, is heartening indeed.

■ It's always been a saying in my industry: "TheYanks love opals!" And still do!

A couple of years ago, Lady Gaga originally came to town, supporting the

● Lagy Gaga Pussycat Dolls. As is often the case, we were invited backstage to set up a stand to show our opals to the girls and their roadies.

And, as is also often the case, many of them went back home was some of our beautiful opals!

So again, with a flurry and a fanfare, the Lady hit town!

We didn't get an invite to set up this time, but her roadies did drop by, and we ended up at the show.

The backstage set up of this show was truly amazing - it only takes a matter of hours to erect her threestorey castle and the attendant technology to go along with it.

There seem to be miles of spaghetti- like cables snaking over the whole set.

"It all goes up like a well-oiled machine," my mate assured me.

I didn't get to meet her Ladyship again this time, but vividly remembered last time when she was wafting amongst my opals, barely clad!

Her American roadies were familiar with this, but the eyes of the local truck drivers stood out like stalks!

- Nick Le Souef ‘The Outback Legend’

From The Outer

Melbourne

Observer

kojak@ mmnet.com.au

With John Pasquarelli

■ What a mess Australia is in and who knows where we will end up?

The carbon tax sits on our shoulders like a bird of prey and our borders are shot to pieces as we become a joke in our part of the world with the Indonesian President not bothering to have a press conference - that's telling us what dills he thinks we are.

Now some of Gillard's people are getting ready to do over the Greens without consulting with her and we wait to see what the Libs will do.

Malcolm Turnbull starts white-anting Tony Abbott with his comments on homosexual marriage and he should have gone when he wanted to resign but silly John Howard prevailed on him to stay.

Politicians' pay rises could not have come at a worse time and talkback and letters to the editor reverberate with contempt for all politicians.

DLP Senator Madigan was the only MP to decline the rise and I am reminded of Ted Mack who walked away from his parliamentary pension and is now on the age pension.

MPs still carry on with their silly stunts with Craig Emerson taking the cake with his asinine singing - imagine Menzies, Chifley and Calwell carrying on like this?

- John Pasquarelli:, kojak@mmnet.com.au