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STATE EDITION Vol 45 No 1530 SERVING VICTORIA SINCE 1969 Ph 1-800 231 311 Fx 1-800 231 312

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

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■ Entertainer Diana Trask is making a special series of comeback concerts from this Sunday (Sept. 15) at Warburton. Diana is pictured with 3AW’s Philip Brady and Melbourne Observer columnist Kevin Trask. More details on Page 3.

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Page 2 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013

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Mark Richardson ♥ Straight from the heart

E-Mail: mark@localmedia.com.au

FESTIVAL TAPS INTO MELBOURNE

● Festival Director Winston Morrison

Tap Porch Thoughts

● Ayodele Casel (USA): “Nothing to prove, everything to share. Tap is such a rich art form that it's impossible for it not to enrich your life.”

● Avalon Rathgeb (UK): “Have you ever felt like you are here on earth but you're kind of lost ... not sure where to go? Tap for me is the answer. I feel like I have my purpose. Tap makes me feel complete as a human. I feel freedom when I dance. For me, life is about this art form every moment of it.”

■ For as long as I can remember, tap has graced its energetic presence throughout my life.

From The Muppet Show, Young Talent Time and during my adult years watching some classic movies, including Swing Time (1936) starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers through to Jamie Bell tapping out his frustration against bricks walls in the global hit film, Billy Elliott (2000) - yes, tap has provided years of artistic entertainment in its majestic form.

The Australian Tap Dance Festival (ATDF) is the largest hub of tap dance in the southern hemisphere and is again set to dazzle audiences when it kicks off in Melbourne from September 21-27.

On his Tap Porch in Melbourne, I caught up with Winston Morrison who is regarded as Australia's leader of Tap Dance, and is the founder of MelbourneTap.com and Director of the ATDF. Winston explained that the ATDF is the only event of its kind in Australasia and will welcome some of the biggest tap professionals from both overseas and from around Australia.

The festival will celebrate Tap Dance through a series of public evening events, including a Tap Dance Film Night, a Jam Night with live musicians, Cutting Competitions, Capezion Dance Off, student masterclasses and a Tap Dance festival showcase.

You are a renowned tap performer around the world. You are also a teacher; tap magazine columnist and appeared on radio, television and have taught tap at New York's Broadway Dance Centre and Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance. When did you discover your love for tap?

Dance Porch Thoughts As a 10 year-old I was influenced

by Tap Dogs. I still remember the first professional tap performance I saw on TV: Savion Glover performed in an episode of Sesame Street. It was full of energy and excitement. I knew straight away I wanted to dance like that!

Who are some of your Tap influences as both a performer and a teacher?

My style is influenced by the old time greats and contemporary tap leaders including Grant Swift, Derek Grant, Andrew Nemr, Jared Grimes, Michelle Dorrance, Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Dianne Walker, Savion Glover and Gregory Hines.

This is now the second Australian Tap Dance Festival. What is the aim of the festival?

Essentially we bring the best tap dancers in the world to Melbourne to enable anyone and everyone to observe, participate or otherwise enjoy the energy, skill and excitement.

It's headed by an incredible team of talented professionals, with an exciting variety of events which has people travelling from overseas, interstate and locally to be a part of it.

Why does the festival appeal to so many varying age groups?

This is the only opportunity of its calibre in the southern hemisphere to have such a large community participate in or observe world-standard professional tap dancing.

It provides access and raises aware-

Festival Details ■ The Australian Tap Dance Festival runs from September 21 - 27 at The Space Dance and Arts Centre, Prahran, located centrally in the prime and bustling area of Chapel St. Ayodele Casel also has a 7:30pm show at Lauriston Girls' School's Irving Hall in Armadale on Friday, September 27.

For tickets or further information, visit www.atdf.com.au ness of people who otherwise might not have the opportunity to experience authentic tap dancing as it was in its hey-day back in the 1940s.

There are some big names and international guests coming to Melbourne to be part of the festival including Ayodele Casel from the USA who has performed in the White House and Madison Square Garden; and has appeared in major films and TV shows. How did you meet Ayodele?

I met Ayodele as a student in one of her classes at the New York City Tap Festival, and was inspired by her slightly Latin style.

She is one of the best tap dancers and is great female role model for aspiring dancers.

Who are some of the other the headline acts?

Along with Ayodele, Canada's Travis Knights and Tanya Rivard, Avalon Rathgeb from the UK will be performing and Thomas Wadelton will represent both the USA and Australia.

Chris Horsey and Shane Preston will represent the faculty of Australian teachers and professional dancers.

What's one major highlight that audiences will be amazed to see?

One special treat involves a song, dance and cane routine performance of Me And My Shadow by Chris Horsey of 42nd Street, Hot Shoe Shuffle and Tap Dogs.

What is your Porch Thought For The Day? My favourite quote is from Ayodele Casel. "Nothing to prove, everything to share."

- Mark Richardson

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - Page 3

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City Desk

Melbourne

Observer

The hottest news about Melbourne’s A-listers

The Buzz Huey’s favourites Tickets on sale

● Iain Hewitson

● Mickey Mouse ■ Tickets for Mickey.s Magic Show, to be staged in Melbourne over the summer holidays, go on sale from Monday (Sept. 16).

Publicist Julie Cavanagh says the show will also star Minnie Mouse, Cinderella, Princess Jasmine, Mad Hatter, Belle and Snow White, with international illusionist Zak Williams.

■ Melbourne TV chef and restaurateur Iain Hewitson has released a new book, Huey's All Time Favourites.

The book includes favourite recipes from his various television shows and his many years as a restaurateur, Each chapter covers a different type of produce, with recipes for fruit, sausages, offal, vegetables, brassicas, bread, sardines and more.

Hewitson is a New Zealandborn chef who moved to Australia in 1972. The book (New Holland) will sell for $49.95.

Under The Clocks Diana Trask to perform in Vic.

HAPPY DAYS

Guest speaker

● Craig Ondarchie ■ Craig Ondarchie, Parliament Secretary to the Premier of Victoria Dr Denis Napthine, will be guest speaker at the Whittlesea and Plenty Valley Tourism Association networking event at Quest Apartments, University Hill, Bundoora on Thursday, September 26, at 6.30 pm.

Association Secretary Barry Hill says attendees will learn about the Government’s vision for Whittlesea and Plenty Valley.

● Pinky Tuscadero (Amy Gridley), centre, with Arnold Delvecchio (Vince Vaughan) at left, Warren 'Potsie' Webber (Josh Stavert), Charles 'Chachi' Arcola (Chris Hunter), Pinkette Lola (Brooke Kotsos), Pinkette Tina (Charlotte Robins), Ralph Malph (Mark Briggs) and Richie Cunningham (Jesse Thomas) in Beaumaris Theatre's Happy Days A New Musical at 82 Wells Road, Beaumaris until September 15.

Photo: Pietro Giordano ■ Beaumaris Theatre's Happy Days - A New Musical can be seen until September 15 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd, Beaumaris.

Based on the book by Garry Marshall, with music and lyrics by Paul Williams, this show is directed by Debbie Keyt, with musical direction by Rhonda Vaughan and choreography by Camilla Klesman.

Tickets: $25 full price, $22 concession. Enquiries: 9583 6896. Bookings: www.beaumaristheatre.com.au Melbourne Gluten Free Expo and Conference is open from 9.30 ★ am to 4.00 pm this Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 14-15) at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Southbank. street market with style, South Melbourne Night Market, is re ★Aturning every Thursday from 5.30pm, October 31-December 19.

The fifth annual R U OK? Day will be held tomorrow (Thursday, ★ September 12), a national day of action dedicated to reminding people to regularly check in with family and friends who are struggling with life. On average, more than 2300 Australians suicide each year

Melbourne Moments Monumental

■ Artist Gregor Kregar has been awarded the $250,000 2015 Southern Way McClelland Commission, for his monumental work, Reflective Lullaby, which will be installed at the end of April 2015.

This new sculpture will be installed along the Peninsula Link freeway in Melbourne’s south-east as part of a unique commitment to public art.

It will replace Phil Price’s sculpture Tree of Life that is located on the Cranbourne Rd site, on the Langwarrin exit ramp close to McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery and the Peninsula.

Murder, he wrote

● Gregor Kregar

■ Film-maker John Safran has added author to his biography with the release of his first book, a true crime novel set in the Deep South, Murder In Mississippi (Penguin).

Safran will stage a one-night show at the Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins St, Melbourne, at 7.30pm, Wednesday, November 6.

“Murder In Mississippi is a tale of race, poverty, incarceration and the cultural fault lines that have defined the South since they found themselves on the losing side of the civil war,” says publicist Kelly Black.

● John-Michael Howson pictured with Diana Trask ■ International singing star Diana Trask will perform four very special afternoon concerts across Melbourne and regional Victoria venues from this Sunday (Sept. 15).

Diana Trask was the first popular Australian singer to break into the American entertainment business. She has an international profile as a country singer as a result of her recordings and touring in the UK, Europe and Japan.

Diana worked with some of the biggest names in show business and performed at the Grand Ole Opry and the Las Vegas showrooms.

From the early days of singing on Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight to touring with The Frank Sinatra Show, and gaining stardom on the television series Sing Along With Mitch, Diana has carved out a significant career over the years.

Comedian Reg Gorman from The Sullivans will be a special guest on the show. Promoter Dennis Smith has organised the following shows: ■ Upper Yarra Arts Centre - Warburton. Sunday, September 15 at 2pm. Bookings: 1300 368 333 ■ Whitehorse Centre, Nunawading. Sunday, September 29 at 2pm.

Bookings: 9262 6555 / www.whitehorse.com.au ■ Shepparton Eastbank Centre. Saturday, October 5 at 2pm. Bookings: 5832 9511 ■ Frankston Arts Centre. Wednesday, October 16 at 1 pm. Bookings: 9784 1060 / www.thefac.com.au

Wiggles team with orchestra ■ The Wiggles and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will reunite in December for a brand new live show at Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall.

To be performed at 10am, 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, December 14, Ready, Steady Wiggle! show will see the Wiggles perform their Wiggly hits live on stage with the MSO, giving many of their fans the chance to experience the wonders of a live orchestra for the first time.

Tickets have gone on sale through www.mso.com.au or 1300 182 183.

What’s On In Melbourne

Soul singer Renee Geyer will be inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame in Melbourne on November 20. The ceremony will ★ be conducted by Arts Minister Heidi Victoria.

Paul Bangay, renowned landscape gardener, and author of The Garden At Stonefields, will speak at Warran Glen Garden Centre and ★ Cafe, 373 Ringwood-Warrandyte Road, Warrandyte, from 10.30am on

Sunday, September 29. Cost:single: $115; couple:$125 includes a signed copy of the book (launch price $95) per package, wine and refreshments. 9439 8700. elthambookshop@bigpond.com The Whittlesea Saturday Community Market will be held from 8am to 1pm on Saturday, September 21, at the Whittlesea Secondary College, advises David Kleesh.

★

Page 4 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Farewell Tinkdadog

Sandy makes news in the NT

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Ash erver s b O e n r u o lb e M e Th

● Tinkdadog ■ 3AW presenter Dr Sally Cockburn is mourning the loss of Tinkdadog, aged just nine months.

“You gave us nine months of joy. I wish we could give humans the same dignity that Lort Smith gave you tonight,” Sally said on Monday evening.

Opera launch

● Sandy Kaye ■ Melbourne media girl Sandy Kaye had made headlines this week in the Northern Territory News.

Sandy was queued to be served at a Darwin pharmacy, and hit the head of the line. She waited .... and waited ... and waited ... to be scolded by the chemist, and told she would not be served whilst she continued to use her mobile phone in the store.

Sandy said there was no sign in the shop advising of the ‘house rules’. A social media discussion developed, with some arguing that the pharmacist was rude, and others arguing that it was bad etiquette to use the ‘mobile’ inside a shop.

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 the psychological warfare that went into the race, Born To Win is a classic story of the underdog triumphing over adversity.

Since the1983 race John Bertrand has gone on to have a career as a sportsman, businessman and philanthropist.

● John Bertrand ■ Slattery Media Group is publishing John Bertrand’s new book, Born To Win; The Power Of A Vision.

The book recounts Australia II's epic victory in the 1983 America's Cup, ending a 132-year US winning streak.

From the long hours at sea to

Edna’s costumes on display

World Of Sport memories

● Dame Edna Everage ■ A free exhibition celebrating the most glamorous and breath-taking costumes from Arts Centre Melbourne’s Performing Arts Collection is being staged from November 16-February 23.

The most show-stopping examples include costumes worn by Dame Edna Everage, Kylie Minogue and Dame Nellie Melba, and will be showcased in All That Glitters exhibition in Gallery I.

● Sam Newman, Bob Davis and Jack Dyer ■ Kennneth Mulholland reflects on his early career at Channel 7, and the Sunday institution World Of Sport: Westinghouse World Of Sport, Vealls World Of Sport and finally, rising above the sponsors, just plain World Of Sport.

And what a monument of early Melbourne television.

There are so many memories that come flooding back from the six years I worked those Sunday mornings.

But the very first is the sound of footballs hitting the handball flat, and what that did to my head after a Saturday night of partying. Why? Because I was often one of the blokes behind it bracing the sand-bagged, wooden braces to stop the plywood flat from wobbling.

Second, the sound of the wood-chop. Those razor axes biting into timber, inches away from the competitors’ feet.

Third, the heave and grunt of the the tug-o’-war teams, busting a gut, all lying down on their sides on the studio floor.

Then there was Uncle Doug Elliot. Big, booming, blustering Unk. I remember him and Bob Horsfall chuckling together over some naughty escapade or other. And one that was not Unk's doing but to his chagrin, was orchestrated by Ken Fitzgerald, a director at that time.

This happened in Studio 2. World Of Sport had spilled over from Studio 1, and Doug did some commercials there. It had been noted by the audio guy up above in the right hand end of the control room that Doug would sidle behind a couple of scenery flats on that wall and relieve himself in a low hand-sink.

Now Ken was a terrible trickster, and when he learned of Unk's habit. It was because Doug rarely left the studio as he was often needed to fill a spot or ad-lib. He got one of the lighting guys to rig up a flash-pot under the sink.

You can imagine the following event. “He's on his way.”

“Stand by flash-pot.” “He's executing his mission.” (Taking a pee.) “Fire!”

A very large, very gun-powder-charged explosion. A small mushroom of smoke emerging above the flats. An extremely red-faced Elliot emerging with a raised fist shaking toward the control room window. Ah. Sweet memory.

Lou Richards talking about he and his wife's holiday in Fiji or Hawaii. “All these girls plonking leis over your head, and not wearing much else themselves except for arse-grass.”

Jan (make-up lady) Higgs/Ackerly's comment about oranges. “I quite like eating the pith. Robbie Young's (Lighting Department.) cheeky, grinning reply. 'Yeah, I'm into the pith too.'

We were rostered on at nine o'clock, from memory, and then there was a production meeting. I only went to that on a couple of occasions, because I had to do 'Flip Cards.' Flips were big deal, done live to air and mostly by Phil 'Dixie' Duncan.

For the rest of the time I worked World Of Sport I watched on as all the personalities: Lou, Jack, Bobby Davis and Ron Casey (the primal, motivating, energising, dynamic force that propelled the show onward) became what Sundays were all about.

Back then, when football was played out on Saturdays, when a kid rode through the foggy mists of winter nights calling “Paper! Sporting Globe! Paper!” We all awaited World Of Sport.

And World Of Sport didn't let us down.

Low spotlight in studio 1. Crew and sporting greats gathered around Louie Richards and a very young, new, raw footballer on a stool.

“And how did you feel, you know, getting the ball and kicking that last goal? Was that good?”

“Oh shit yeah ...”

Turn To Page 13

Michael takes long service

Born To Win ● Dimity Shepherd ■ Victorian Opera Artistic Director Richard Mills has outlined the 2014 season for the company. The concert Games Of Love And Chance will be staged at Monash University's Robert Blackwood Hall, as a partnership between Victorian Opera and Monash University Academy of Performing Arts.

It will feature top class guest artists in singers Lisa Gasteen, Roxane Hislop, Douglas McNicol and Carlos E. Barcenas, accompanied by the Monash Academy Orchestra.

May brings a new and exclusive production of the Verdi favourite La Traviata, from Italian company Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini, but featuring the Victorian Opera Chorus and Victorian Opera Chamber Orchestra, featuring Australian soprano and award winner Jessica Pratt in her Australian debut as the central character Violetta.

Next is an opera designed to appeal to young audience - Humperdinck's Hansel And Gretel, with lots of mischief and magic.

Another Sondheim show makes its way into the 2014 season - this time it's the dark fairytale musical Into The Woods.

New Australian opera The Riders, based on the Tim Winton novel, includes Barry Ryan, Jessica Aszodi, Dimity Shepherd and David Rogers-Smith at the Malthouse Theatre from September 23 to October 4.

● Rebecca Mendoza ■ The Jazz Commune presents Rebecca Mendoza tomorrow (Thurs.) at 6pm at Cnr St Andrew's Pl and Parliament Pl, City.

Ruby Page and Fem Belling will perform later in the month.

● Michael J. Wilkie ■ Melbourne theatrical publicist Michael; J. Wiklie is taking long service leave after 10 years of running MAD (Make A Difference) PR. It has been a busy decade for Michael who most recnetly handled the publicity for Legally Blonde: The Musical.

Michael will take several months away, some of it touring the United States, before returning for a busy schedule of projects in 2014.

Ted appears to launch book

Hoppalong McGowan ● Ted Baillieu ■ The Shrine of Remembrance will host the launch of the new publication by Professor Bruce Scates, ANZAC Journeys: Returning To Battlefields Of World War Two. The book will be launched by former Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and will take place on Thursday, September 26, 5.30pm arrival for 6pm start, at the Visitor Centre, Shrine of Remembrance.

Just for fun ● Retired 3AW Overnighters presenter Keith McGowan has been on tour in South Australia, including a trip to his beloved Coober Pedy. The pair quick drive into the hills to historic Gumeracha to see the ‘Giant Rocking Horse’ ... and for Keith to ‘Ride 'em Cowboy’ on the regular sized one. The McGowans also visited Melba's Chocolate Factory and and Woodside Cheese Wrights.

■ Spring has sprung at Melbourne’s Luna Park.

From September 18, Luna Park will be open daily for the school holidays, with extended opening hours on selected evenings until 11pm.

The park is unveiling a new ride especially for the holiday period - the Body Rock.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - Page 5

Court Roundsman

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

SOLDIER STOLE DETONATORS: Observer DISCIPLINE TRIBUNAL TOLD In This 112-Page Edition

Guys and Dolls

● Nathan Detroit (Scott Hili) and Sky Masterson (Jon Sebastian) in CLOC Musical Theatre's production of Guys And Dolls, opening on October 4 at the National Theatre.

Photo: Richard Crompton ■ With hilarity, joy and a touch of old-fashThe show is co-directed by Chris White, ioned romance, CLOC Musical Theatre with co-direction and choreography by Lynette takes its audiences back to New York in the White and musical direction by Phillip late 1940s to present the classic musical fable, Osborne.

Performance season: October 4, 5, 10, 11, Guys And Dolls from October 4-19 at the National Theatre, St Kilda.

12, 16, 17, 18, 19 at 8pm; October 6, 12, 13 at Starring a motley bunch of colourful, larger- 2pm.

Venue: National Theatre, St Kilda. than-life characters who inhabit Times Square - from missionaries to gamblers, actors to gangTickets: $50 Adults; $45 Concession; sters, rogues to chorus girls and everything in Groups 15+ $45; Children $35.

Bookings: 1300 362 547 or online between, Guys And Dolls is the perfect romantic comedy for a toe-tapping, fun-filled night out www.cloc.org.au at the theatre.

- Cheryl Threadgold

■ Australian soldier Oliver Sebastian Leith has lost his Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal against the Army, after he was accused of theft of three electric detonators, and disobedience of a lawful command.

The Melbourne case was heard in Townsville by Judges Tracey, Cowdrey and Logan.

Leith had been given a command by Sgt J E Feo to conduct a “100 per cent range clearance of the Pioneer Section”.

Leith discovered the detonators when he returned to barracks, placed them in the pocket of his jeans, and then went on a protracted drinking session, the Tribunal was told.

He was arrested by civil Police after a nightclub incident. The detonators were found in a search of a transit case which Leith was carrying. at the Police Watchhouse.

Leith pleaded not guilty. He was convicted on both charges, reduced in rank to Private, and severely reprimanded.

Leith was said to have told an Army investigator that he planned to explode the detonators on the beach.

Later, Leith appealed that he was too intoxicated to recall the details of the interview which had not been recorded.

Leith was fined in a civil court over the missing explosives, but not convicted.

SHOWBIZ COUPLE WED IN US ■ Members of the Melbourne showbiz fraternity have been sending congratulations to Barry Creyton and Vaughan Edwards after they posted a ‘Got Married’ message on Facebook.

Creyton, perhaps best known for his Mavis Bramston Show appearances early in his career, now lives in Los Angeles, and is now Director at Blackstone Audio Books.

Those posting congratulations messages on Facebook include Melbourne theatrical identity Blair Edgar, actress Amanda Muggleton, entertainer Mark Trevorrow, singer Maria Venuti, showbiz reporter Craig Bennett, actress Tina Bursill, and magician Ross Skiffington.

Barry Creyton replied: “Our gratitude to all for so many kind wishes. We're more than a little overwhelmed by the warmth of these messages and we thank you from the bottom of our collective heart.”

Missing issue

● Vaughan Edwards and Barry Creyton

■ There was no issue of the Melbourne Observer on Wed., Sept. 4, due to a production system breakdown. Subscriptions and ad schedules will be adjusted accordingly.

Friends send wishes ● Blair Edgar: “They've been practising for long enough. ● Maria Venuti: “Cari amici ... what wonderful news and I've never seen you look happier ... and of course love and happiness.” ● Ross Skiffington: “Wow, what a glorious picture!”

Mark Richardson: Straight from the heart .... Page 2 City Desk: The Pink is in town ...................... Page 3 The Observer: Sandy makes news in NT ........ Page 4 Di Rolle: I really LOVE my job! ..................... Page 6 Sad News: Loss of Bruce McBrien ............... Page 7 Long Shots: The Editor’s column ................. Page 8 Melb. Confidential: Kew director jailed ........... Page 9 Gavin Wood: Live from West Hollywood ....... Page 11 Yvonne Lawrence: Life and Style ................ Page 13 Melb. Extra: Profile - Debbie Reynolds ........ Page 14 Classic Books: Les Miserables .................. Page 15 Pleasant Sunday ‘The Music Man’ Movies, DVDs, Top 10 Radio Confidential

Observer Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

Kerang Hotel on fire ■ The historic Kerang Hotel has been destroyed in an early-morning fire at the weekend.

The second-storey section collapsed into the bistro and bar areas, but the adjoining reception area and motel units remain unscathed. The main section of the hotel was built in 1928, reports the Bendigo Advertiser.

‘Paid $600 a day’ ■ Taiwanese woman Sih-Yu Wu, 31, who is in Australia on a student visa, was allegedly being paid up to $600 a day to provide “intimate relations” to a man police are hunting over the drug raid of an Alfredton house last week. The Ballarat Courier reports Wu faced Court on drug-related charges. She is to re-appear in Court on November 28.

Trio on assault charges ■ The boyfriend and two mates of a woman found in bed with another man have been committed to stand trial on assault charges, reports the Warrnambool Standard. Stephen Patrick Brown, 21, of Coleraine, Ryan Andrew Hill, 22, previously of Hamilton, and Aaron Kucera, 25, of Coleraine, faced a Warrnambool Magistrates Court committal hearing last week. The trio are alleged to have assaulted the man found in bed with the woman.

Weather Forecast ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Today (Wed.). Chance of rain. 4°-14°.

Thurs. Partly cloudy. 5°-18°.

Fri. Chance of rain. 8°-20°.

Sat. Chance of rain. 10°-20°.

Sun. Chance of storm. 10°-22°.

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5 THE TOP 5 COMMENTS HEARD AT THE G-20 CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW. 5. "Hey fellas ... it's Room 910 for Vladimir Putin's Zumba party.”

4. "Did Syria get the chemicals from Stephen Dank?"

3. "Who's got C 21? You've won the meat tray.”

2. "Barack, could you please duck down to Officeworks and get some A4 paper?"

1. "Mr Bob Carr. We have the election result.

You're flying home Economy!"

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 6 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013

To

Di Just a jump to the left

● Craig McLachlan ■ Im going to use an old cliché here, but it is well deserved, one of the nicest guys in the business is Craig McLachlan.

I have known Craig many years. He is a great talent. So therefore I was thrilled to hear that producers Howard Panter and John Frost have announced that the coveted role of Frank N Furter in the new Australian production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show will be played by television and theatre star Craig.

The much loved iconic musical will open in January 2014 at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC in Brisbane; and then follow with Perth and Adelaide; and watch this space re Melbourne and Sydney.

Fresh from shooting the title role in the second series of ABC TV’s top rating drama series The Doctor Blake Mysteries, McLachlan will again don the fishnet stockings of the character he played to great acclaim previously.

The Rocky Horror Show is a true classic and of theatre’s most endearing and outrageously fun shows. For more info visit www.rockyhorrormusical.com.au

● Craig McLachlan as Frank N Furter

Ash I love my job!

■ There is so much happening. I don’t know where to start. It’s footy finals time ... and the Essendon fallout reminded me of Sir Walter Scott’s quote, “Oh what a tangled we weave. When first we set out to deceive”” – sums up the times really!

Players and that great game of ours has been tarnished however I know football will survive it all. It must.

I was asked to speak on radio when a listener called in and said, “If women were running the AFL this whole episode would never have happened” – purely hypothetical of course.

It’s such a boys club if women were running it, it probably would have happened anyway.

Men are born with that sense of entitlement that baffles women and as we saw with the unravelling of cyclist Lance Armstrong … this is not over yet and there is more to come I am sure.

Of the whole Essendon debacle, “this sorry saga” as AFL boss Andrew Demetriou described it, is a sorry saga indeed. And a sad saga.

Germaine Greer described football as “the greatest theatre in town” and it is. I must admit I have been glued to every football show on the tele, listening to all the experts as it all unfolds before our eyes.

For COULD YOU PLAY THE ROLE OF FRAN?

■ With Spring in the air this is more exciting news and wonderful opportunity to get away from the blues.

Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical is searching for an actress to play Fran – with general auditions being held in Melbourne on Saturday September 21.

This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to go on the stage, and I would audition myself if I thought I could do it!

Strictly Ballroom The Musical will tango, sashay and bogo pogo its way onto the Sydney Lyric stage from March 25, thanks to the original creative team behind the classic 1992 film, director and co-writer Baz Luhrmann, set and costume designer Catherine Martin, choreographer John ‘Cha Cha’ O’Connell and co-writer Craig Pearce.

Although auditions have been held for some time Baz Luhrmann is still looking for an actress to play the lead female role ‘Fran’. Now, who could play that part!

Just show up on the day ready for action.

‘Fran’ is a girl in her early 20’s who blossoms from the ugly, awkward duckling of the dance studio into a beautiful and passionate dancer (and Scott’s dance partner) as they display their breathtaking, rule-breaking new dance routine in the finale of the show.

A character who undergoes a real transformation, as Fran and Scott become dance partners, fall in love and stand up for what they believe in.

She is truthful, can be very direct and is strong and proud.

Anyone can go and

with leading Melbourne publicist DI ROLLE

● Baz Luhrmann audition but certain the Saturday, Septemskills are required. ber 21 from 9am at ReAuditionees should volt Theatre, 12 be a strong actor/singer Elizabeth St, Kenwith dance training, sington.

Information is ballroom training is a bonus but not essential. available at www.

No vocal range is ynneruthvencasting. specified. Auditionees com should bring sheet music for a song of their choice in the right key, but ideally people auditioning should prepare the Cyndi Lauper ■ Strictly Ballroom song TimeAfter Time or The Musical is the inspiring story of a chamanother 80’s ballad.

Register between pionship ballroom 9am and 10am. dancer who defies all Auditionees must the rules to follow his bring a headshot and heart.

This uplifting and full resume of their training in singing, act- courageous tale origiing and dance and any nated as a stage play performance work they that Baz Luhrmann devised with a group of have done.

If they are called students at the Naback to dance on the tional Institute of day they will need to Dramatic Art back in wear characters shoes. 1984.

Then, after a preThey need to be prepared to wait around. view season at the Any successful Brisbane Expo in auditionees will be re- 1988, the play opened quired to attend a pro- at the Wharf Studios fessional audition call – in Sydney.

Strictly Ballroom in Melbourne on Thursday, September went on to become one of the most successful 26.

Full details will be Australian films of supplied to them at the all time, earning more end of their audition on than $80 million at the

About the show

box office. Discovered at the Cannes Film Festival, it was winner of the Prix de Jeunnesse and runner up for the Palme D’Or. When released in Australia, Strictly Ballroom swept the field at the 1992 Australian Film Institute Awards, gaining 13 nominations and winning in eight major categories.

With the success of the film, its closing song, a remake of the John Paul Young song Love Is In The Air, re-entered the Australian charts and became a Top 5 hit in October 1992.

In a brand new theatrical production, Strictly Ballroom The Musical will bring this iconic story to life on stage.

It will feature break-into-song numbers created from original classics from the film, Love is in the Air; Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps; and Time After Time as well as newly composed songs.

Bookings: Ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 795 26 or www.strictlyballroomthe musical.com.au

Champers in lobby ■ How civilised. I was running late for a meeting and went into The Olsen Hotel to be greeted by a gorgeous girl in smart blue suit with a bottle of champagne and a glass!

I said: “I am meeting someone” and she said “That is fine, have a glass of champagne before your meeting”.

Called “champagne in the lobby’ it’s the new thing at The Olsen on a Friday

night. My friend, who I was meeting, arrived and I said “Join me for a glass of champagne”.

He did and we had a lovely prelude to our meeting, sitting on the couch in the lobby with all the other arrivals and guests all sitting in various spots of the lobby with a chilled glass in hand.

A most civilised thing to do at 5pm on a Friday night!

Whose line anyway?

■ I have friends who are addicted to a television show which I haven’t quite got my head around, a show called Whose Line Is It Anyway!

I know if I get into it, it will be another television show I will have to circle in my Green Guide each week!

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood from Whose Line Is It Anyway are coming to Australia with their live and dangerous improv comedy Australian tour 2013.

“They are laugh-until-your-sides-hurt funny. It’s exciting to watch them weave hilarity out of seemingly thin air” so says The Cape Cod Times.

Sounds good to me.

Colin and Brad have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy for their first

Australian tour. I must admit I have watched this show a few times and I need to watch it a few more times however I can see how quick on their feet they are.

Their Emmy nominated show has been on air for many years in prime time exposure and they have both solidified their fan base by touring their improve show – and I must say nothing matches the Colin and Brad brand for their unique blend of spontaneous and smart comedy.

The entire show is driven by audience participation, using their quick wit.

Colin and Brad will take contributions from the audience to create hilarious and original scenes … just like a live version of Whose Line Is It Anyway!

Throughout the evening, the show becomes truly interactive as audience members are called to the stage to add an extra element of the unexpected.

I think it will fabulous in the theatre with a huge audience.

The guys will be in Melbourne at The Comedy Theatre Thursday, October 24.

Book at Ticket-master 1300 111 011 www.ticketmaster. com.au Tickets on sale now.

● Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - Page 7

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Showbiz People

SAD LOSS OF BRUCE McBRIEN Briefs Hi Megan!

■ Melbourne’s theatre world has lost a dedicated and highly valued identity, with the passing of Bruce McBrien OAM on August 30.

Bruce was born in Melbourne on September 3, 1926 and studied architecture.

However, he chose to enter the world of catering and retailing, becoming a buyer for Georges of Collins Street, before being employed as the first curator-manager of Rippon Lea House and Gardens, a position he held for 17 years.

Upon retirement, Bruce was appointed Honorary Curator at Government House, along with many other voluntary positions in Melbourne.

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

Shooting itself in left foot

Seussical ● Megan Gale ■ Leading model Megan Gale is due to be at the grand opening of the David Jones store at Malvern Central on Thurs., Sept. 12.

Apology

● Darryn Lyons ■ The Herald Sun newspaper has published an apology to celebrity photographer Darryn Lyons for incorrectly printing a report about his finances.

Remand ■ Aaron Dalton has been remanded to face a five-day committal hearing on October 14.

Police allege that Dalton ordered fire bomb attacks and at least one shooting.

He is accused of having been involved in a drug-traficking ring. Dalton faces 41 charges at Wangaratta Court.

● Horton (Sam McPartlan) and Getrude (Eleanor Horsburgh) in Seussical, playing in Canterbury from September 20-28.

Photo: Jaclyn DeVincentis ■ The Old Carey Performing Arts Club will bring the work of Dr Seuss to life in the musical Seussical, being performed from September 20-28 at Featherstone Hall, Canterbury.

Seussical weaves together Dr Seuss's most famous tales and characters from at least 15 of his books.

The show follows the adventures of Horton, an elephant who one day hears voices coming from a speck of dust.

He soon discovers that within this tiny speck exists the smallest planet in the universe, On this tiny planet lives a tiny race of creatures known as Whos.

Although ridiculed by the other animals in the Jungle of Nool for believing in something he cannot see, Horton stubbornly persists in his belief that the Whos exist.

Travelling everywhere from the Jungle of Nool to McEligott's Pool, some of the characters fall in love, some have desperate adventures, and some even save the world.

Performance Season: September 20, 21, 23, 5.

26. 27, 28 at 7.30pm; September 22 at 5.00pm; September 28 at 2pm Venue: Featherstone Hall, 34 Scott St, Canterbury.

Tickets: from $25.

Bookings: Online at www.ocpac.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold

Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

● Bruce McBrien He also wrote Marvellous Melbourne and Me, subtitled Living In Melbourne In The 20th Century, and last year addressed a luncheon on this topic, at Graduate House, Melbourne University.

A report of the event says “Bruce McBrien’s affection for his city was very apparent during his insightful and informative presentation.”

Bruce told the gathering he was born in 1926, the same year as Queen Elizabeth II, and started life on a housing estate, built by the ‘A V Jennings’ of the day, in the new suburb of Brighton, an outer suburb which saw the introduction of nature strips.

Bruce explained that with cars becoming more popular, they caused clouds of dust to enter the houses, and the nature strips provided a barrier for dust collection.

The audience was captivated by Bruce’s reminisces of the times, including when tradesmen travelled the streets in horse-drawn carts hawking their wares, local identities such as the ice man lugging blocks of ice for the ice chest, and the dustmen who ran alongside their cart - often local footballers, emptying tin rubbish bins, throwing the lids anywhere and they had to be searched for later.

Bruce first appeared on stage in 1952 with Heidelberg Theatre Company, and went on to perform in more than 150 productions of the Lyric, Festival, Whitehorse, CLOC, PLOS and Elwood Theatre Companies.

In 1986 he founded the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria, which now embraces more than 80 companies and supports judges travelling throughout Victoria for the Awards for Excellence program. These Awards have become known as the Bruce Awards, in his honour.

In 1990, Bruce was created a Knight of St John for community service, and in 2000 received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his contribution to musical theatre.

I will miss seeing Bruce at theatre productions, always elegantly dressed and wearing his trademark bowtie.

The Music Theatre Guild of Victoria’s tribute to Bruce McBrien sums it up beautifully: “A true gentleman and an inspiration. Will be sadly missed.”

- Cheryl Threadgold

Priest convicted ■ Former priest Fr David Rapson has been found guilty of sexually abusing eight Salesian College boys between the mid1970s and 1990.

He has been remanded in custody and returns to Court for sentencing in October.

● David Rapson

● Andrew Holden ■ The Age newspaper took another step closer to irrelevance on Friday when it was the only major newspaper in Australia to editorialise for the shambolic Rudd Labor Government, that was sacked so convincingly at the weekend’s Federal Election.

On Friday morning, The Age said its viewpoint would come as no surprise to regular readers.

Editor-in-Chief Andrew Holden said the debate should have been about principles rather than personalities.

The Age judged that Labor's policies were closer to its own. The circulation-challenged ‘compact’ chose to ignore the government shambles and in-fighting.

In some added media craziness, the Sunday edition of The Age had editorialised for the other side: a vote for the Coalition led by Tony Abbott.

“Mr Abbott, it must be said, has led a united, disciplined team for three years. It has been a formidable opposition,” said The Sunday Age. “It is with little enthusiasm that we say the Coalition deserves to win.''

The Barrel has been a keen student of Australian politics for decades. This is the first time in living memory that a newspaper has editorialised for different parties on different days of the week.

Commercially, the move to back the Labor Party has been described as “business suicide” by advertising industry observers.

In some weekday issues, there has been less a dozen major advertisers in the first half of The Age, and the total number of classified ads has been less than 60 , most of them ‘Deaths’ notices. There is a certain irony.

‘Free Press’ killed off ■ Fourth-generation newspaper owners Bob Yeates and Walter Mott will have had their good reasons (no doubt financial ones) ... but the pair have just killed off the 148-year old Kilmore Free Press weekly newspaper.

Yeates and Mott also own the North Central Review paper in the area north of Melbourne, and have incorporated the Free Press title into the Review.

The fate of the Free Press was sealed when it swapped to a Friday publication date. limiting readership. It was first published in 1865 and endured wars, depressions and natural disaster.

Former Editor Jim Smith, now 80, sold the paper to Yeates and Mott after 40 years at the helm.

Free Press Editor Bill West, 70, has retired.

The owners, operating as Newspaper House, continue to operate the Macdeon Free Press, Yea Chronicle, Alexandra Standard and N.C. Review.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Melbourne

Melbourne

Observer

Observer SQUIRRELL’S GRIP

Victoria’s Independent Newspaper First Published September 14, 1969 Every Wednesday

Contact Us Office: 30 Glen Gully Rd, Eltham, Vic 3095 Postal: PO Box 1278, Research, Vic. 3095 Phone: +61 3 9439 9927 Fax: +61 3 9431 6247 Web: www.MelbourneObserver.com.au E-Mail: Editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

Contact Us Publisher and Editor: Ash Long Media Director: Fleur Long Features Editor: Peter Mac Columnists: Len Baker, Harry Beitzel, Matt Bissett-Johnson, David Ellis, Rob Foenander, Christina La Cross, Julie Houghton, Yvonne Lawrence, Nick Le Souef, Mike McColl Jones, John Pasquarelli, Terry Radford, Mark Richardson, Di Rolle, Aaron Rourke, Ted Ryan, Jim Sherlock, Cheryl Threadgold, Kevin Trask, Veritas Distribution: Sam Fiorini, phone 9482 1145

Distribution STATE EDITION: Available weekly at approx. 400 newsagents across the Melbourne metropolitan area, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, and Victorian regional centres.

Recommended retail price: $2.95.

If your local newsagent does not currently stock the Melbourne Observer, you can place a weekly order with them.Use their ‘putaway’ service.

Newsagents contact: All Day Distribution Pty Ltd, 1st Floor, 600 Nicholson St, North Fitzroy, Vic. 3068.

Phone: (03) 9482 1145. Fax: (03) 9482 2962. Distribution Manager: Sam Fiorini.

Mail Subscriptions You can have your own copy of the Melbourne Observer delivered to your letterbox by Australia Post.

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

Back Copies BACK COPIES - ARCHIVES Back Copies for 2012-13 editions of the Melbourne Observer are all available at our website. Back copies for 1969-89, 2002-11 may be inspected by appointment at the State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston St, Melbourne.

Independently Owned and Operated The Melbourne Observer is printed by Streamline Press, 155 Johnston St, Fitzroy, for the publisher, Ash Long, for Local Media Pty Ltd, ABN 67 096 680 063, of the registered office, 30 Glen Gully Road, Eltham, Distributed by All Day Distribution.

Responsibility for election and referendum comment is accepted by the Editor, Ash Long.

Copyright © 2013, Local Media Pty Ltd (ACN 096 680 063).

Ash On Wednesday

■ Over a professional career, I reckon I have had my fill of lecturing to guest speakers and lectures.

I have been a member of Rotary, once for 10 years, then a second go for a few more years ... enough to run a few blocks if I saw anyone with a slide projector.

On Friday night, I heard a talented guest speaker who held my attention for half-an-hour.

Adventurer Mark Squirrell delivered an address that included his service with the Army, as a humanitarian aid worker, and his clim to the summit of Mount Everest.

● Mark Squirrell

Long Shots

Black kettle ■ And in a moment of hyposcrisy, I have accepted an invitation from my friend of old, Ron Pearce, to be guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Rosanna later this month.

Ron, and wife Marilyn, are well known to most of the Rotary community in Victoria, from Ron’s days as Governor of District 9790.

Anniversary ■ We are a bit reflective this week ... 44 years ago transport magnate Gordon Barton pushed the button to start the presses for the first edition of the Observer back in 1969.

Other publishers since have included newspaper whiz Maxwell Newton (foundation editor of The Australian) and war hero Peter Isacson.

I started as a paper boy on Week 3 in 1969.

Ourselves ■ Best wishes to our movies-DVD expert James Sherlock. We hope you are back on your feet soon, Jim. ■ Our arts correspondent Julie Houghton is part of the Melba concerts at Diamond Creek. See the front-page of the Observer showbiz section.

Arden Cres. concert series

editor@melbourneobserver.com.au

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

Observer Treasury Thought For The Week ■ “Once we hold a belief, it tends to stick with us for the rest of our lives, unless we challenge it.

– Dr Richard Gillett, Change Your Mind, Change Your World

Observer Curmudgeon

● Tiffany Speight ■ Rosanna's Arden Crescent Concert Series is renowned for the high quality of entertainment it provides at its Sunday concerts, and the next one coming on Sunday, September 22 is no exception.

Popular Melbourne opera singers, soprano Tiffany Speight and tenor Roy Best, will present a program of songs from the shows and other delights, accompanied by master piano man David McNicol.

Tiffany Speight is a favourite of Melbourne audiences, and has performed with the NBR New Zealand Opera, at Opera Under The Stars, the Castlemaine State Festival, the Prime Minister's Olympic Dinner, with the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Pops Orchestra, and The Production Company.

Tiffany performed many leading roles with Opera Australia and is also well known to OzOpera and Victorian Opera audiences.

Roy Best came to national prominence in his televised performance of the Duke in Opera Australia's Rigoletto, through the opera series Operatunity Oz, with more than one million viewers.

His CD Heart's Delight contains many favourite songs and arias, often requested by his audiences.

Roy is a regular concert performer and has. featured in the Opera In The Market, Opera In The Alps and Opera By The Lock concerts.

David McNicol is an accompanist always sought after by singers for his assured and sympathetic support at the piano, so to have these three talents together on the one program should guarantee a great concert, followed by afternoon tea.

The concert starts at 2pm on Sunday, September 22 at Rosanna Uniting Church, Arden Cres., Rosanna and tickets are $25 adults, $20 concession and students at $10 and $5. You can book by calling 9457 2595.

- Julie Houghton

■ “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you are still a rat.”

Text For The Week ■ “Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien.”

- Leviticus 9:10

Mail Subscription Form Mail to: Subs, Melbourne Observer PO Box 1278, Research, Vic 3095 Yes! Please organise a Melbourne Observer mail subscription for 45 editions for $213.75 (posted anywhere in Australia). I understand that the completion of the 45 editions, the subscription will be automatically rolled over, unless I advise otherwise.

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The Melbourne Observer is printed by Streamline Press, 155 Johnston St, Fitzroy, for the publisher, Ash Long, for Local Media Pty Ltd, ABN 67 096 680 063, of the registered office, 30 Glen Gully Road, Eltham, Distributed by All Day Distribution.

Responsibility for election and referendum comment is accepted by the Editor, Ash Long.

Copyright © 2013, Local Media Pty Ltd (ACN 096 680 063).

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT COURT REPORTS 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.

● Roy Best

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - Page 9

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Confidential Melbourne

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

Kiss of the Spider Woman

SCHOOL WINS INNER CITY FIGHT

Rumour Mill

Hear It Here First ● Angelo De Cata and Adam Ward in Kiss of the Spider Woman, being presented at The Owl And The Pussycat, Richmond, until September 15.

■ Both Mockingbird Theatre Company and The Owl And The Pussycat theatre venue are relative newcomers to the Melbourne theatre scene.

Both focus on serious human interaction works.

Though I’m not certain about the reality of uncomfortable seating to keep one seriously focused on the message of performance, I’ll let that pass, because Kiss Of The Spiderwoman is a deeply moving piece of theatre, which certainly kept the audience enthralled.

A play derived from the novel of the same name (by Argentinian Manual Puig), Kiss explores and unravels the complexity of two diametrically different men, one an overtly gay window dresser, jailed for underage sexual activities, the other a fanatical revolutionary being tortured in jail to try to elicit information about rebels for the authoritarian Argentinian government.

Each fights incarceration differently, Molina by dramatically narrating stories from great cinema love stories , and Valentin by psychoanalysing everything through logical deduction and keeping physically strong.

In real life neither would ever have had the remotest interest in the other, yet now, thrown together in a cell in bloody civil war times, layers peel away.

The title reflects Molina’s beautiful narrative web of deceit, slowly entrapping Valentin, as each evolves and discovers a hidden self.

The simple prison cot bed set (designed by Chris Baldock, director and Merinda Backway) is full of symbolism – tough brick walls, softened in Molina’s corner with pasted pictures of film goddess legends, and spider lines stretching out above.

Lighting and sound (Douglas Montgomery and Max Russell) weave in and out echoing and massaging the emotional journey of the protagonists , poetically strengthening the web that begins to encase both.

This is brave, provocative, work mesmerizingly performed by Angelo de Cata and Adam Ward.

Season: Until September 15 Venue: The Owl and the Pussycat, 34 Swan St, Richmond Tickets: $30/$25 Bookings: mockingbirdtheatre.com.au / trybooking.com - Maggie Morrison

Answers to Correspondents ■ R.S.: No. ■ ‘Postman’: No, we don’t know where she is. Perhaps the Witness Protection Program? Or maybe try a sanotorium (a word from the Latin root)?

■ R.: The Chairman of Crown Casino is James Packer, who has just split from his wife of six years.

Erica.

■ L.D.: The politicial party to spend the most on Federal Election advertising on Melbourne radio was the Palmer United Party. Nova 100 had more election ad revenue than 3AW, according to Airchecker.net.au - Clive Palmer’s party spent about $90,000 on each of Nova 100, Gold, Fox, MMM, 3AW, and about half of that on each of Smooth 91.5 FM and Mix 101.1.

‘Give it a bone, Kevin’

PHOTO: GOOGLE

● Permisison won to run school at Richmond ■ Ivanhoe Grammar School has won official permission to run a 100-student inner-city campus on the grounds of St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Richmond, for which it pays $60,840 annual rent.

The School won the approval of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Deputy President Helen Gibson to use part of the church grounds at 139 Richmond Tce, Richmond.

A previous Yarra City Council decision was set aside. Lawyer Egils Stokans, of Russell Kennedy, called retired legal practitioner John Cunningham Wilson as a witness for the School. Wilson is also Chief Wardeen of St Stephen’s.

The School has already been using the property for a ‘City Experience’ program, operating for Year 9 students for two weeks, four times a year.

Use has been restricted to 8.30am-3.30pm weekdays, with an office overseen by the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria, during 8.30am-5.30pm, MondayFriday. Three staff will be allowed on the premises.

■ Even the Labor Party faithful had had enough of Kevin Rudd’s concessional speech at the weekend.

“For god sake Kevin ya lost. Give it a bone,” tweeted Magda Szubanksi.

“Oh god, please tell me you're about to stand down as leader, pls pls pls,” said comedienne Corinne ● Magda Szubanski Grant on Twitter.

To Court

■ John Paul College has sought a Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Registrars’ PreHearing Conference at 10.30am this morning (Wed.) to allege a civil debt said to be owing by Steven Balog.

Back at HQ

Chopper goes to Court ■ Crime figure Mark Brandon ‘Chopper’ Read is taking VCAT action against Age writer John Silvester (‘Sly of the Underworld’ on 3AW) and Herald Sun writer Andrew Rule of failing to declare more than $138,000 of sales of the Chopper books in Britain. Rule is reported to have paid $14,000 to Read in the past week.

KEW DIRECTOR SENT TO JAIL FOR 4 YEARS

■ Clestus Weerappah, a former director of Dollarforce Financial Services Pty Ltd, has been jailed for four years over his role in the collapse of the property development group.

A second director, of a related entity, James Stephen Lewis,53, of Kew, has been convicted by jury of one charge over the collapse. Lewis pleaded not guilty to five charges.

Dollarforce collapsed in 2009 with a deficiency of $24 million with investors losing more than $8 million.

Weerappah, 48, of Oakleigh, pleaded guilty to the five charges below relating to the raising of more than $4 million from investors. The charges included dishonestly using his position as a director and making false and misleading statements, in particular: Dishonest use of his position as a director of Ivory Property Group Pty Ltd with the intention of gaining an advantage for himself, DFS or someone else by falsely representing that $1,200,000 belonging to investors would be used for the purchase and development of properties on behalf of Ivory Property Trust investors.

Whispers

Dishonest use of his position as a director of My Building No 1 Pty Ltd with the intention of gaining an advantage for himself, DFS or someone else by falsely representing that $1,780,000 belonging to investors would be used for the purchase and development of properties, on behalf of the My Building No1 investors.

Dishonest use of his position as a director of Bennett Street Developments Pty Ltd with the intention of gaining an advantage for himself, DFS or someone else by falsely representing that $1,286,950 belonging to investors would be used for the purchase and development of properties on behalf of the Bennett Street Property Trust.

Making a false or misleading statement or omission in a prospectus lodged with ASIC that made or

authorised to his knowledge information that was false or misleading in that loans provided by related parties had been forgiven on or prior to June 30, 2006, and that the prospectus was misleading in a material respect, in that an incentive payment agreement had been entered into and that My Building No 1 Pty Ltd owed $2,955,000 to investors.

Engaging in conduct that falsified the books and records relating to the affairs of Altitude Property Number 1 Pty Ltd, in that he created a false deed of sale relating to the purchase of property by Bennett Street Developments Pty Ltd, of a Balwyn property for the sum of $1,300,000 On August 6 the County Court sentenced Weerappah to four years jail with a non-parole period of two years.

The court also ordered Weerappah to repay $3.7 million to a number of investors.

Weerappah’s plea and sentence was suppressed by an order of the Court until the end of Mr Lewis’s trial, which concluded last week following the jury returning its verdict.

E-Mail: Confidential@MelbourneObserver.com.au

● Julian Clarke ■ Staff at the Leader Newspapers chain are sighing with relief that News Corp chief boss Julian Clarke has ordered an immediate return of local bosses, after an ill-fated national management model adopted by outgoing chief Kim Williams. The local papers have shrunk dramatically over the past year.

Debt claim

■ Kew lawyers Scanlan Carroll Pty Ltd have requested a 10.30am Melbourne Magistrates’ Court hearing tomorrow (Thurs.) to allege a “breach of contract/ agreement (non payment)” by Deborah Blashki Marks.

Rail pledge ■ The Coalition has promised to honour a $3.5 mil. pledge for the Yarra Glen-Healesville steam train.

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Melbourne People

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Northcote

● Northcote football team. Circa 1940-41.

● Carter’s Arms Hotel. Near Separation St corner. Circa 1910.

● Entrance to Northcote, from Clifton Hill

● The Savings Bank, Northcote. 1900-1930.

● High St, Northcote

● Northcote State School

● Northcote Football Club (VFA). 1933.

● High Street, Northcote.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - Page 11

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

The Hitch-Hikers guide to Freemasonry A 10-part series. Chapter 8.

By Justin White, Manager, Member Operations

Mildura Lodge members save a life

● Defribillator unit used at the Sunraysia Masonic Centre ■ On Tuesday February 26, during a meeting at A local Mildura Cardiologist, Dr. Alan the Freemasons Victoria Mildura Lodge, Soward, was instrumental in providing the Heart members were taken aback when a member at- Start unit to the Sunraysia Masonic Centre tending the meeting collapsed suffering from a following an extensive medical trial he conducted severe heart attack. in the Sunraysia.

Thankfully he was able to be revived by sev"The SMC Committee always hoped it eral members attending the meeting, and led by would never be used but realised the value of havDoug Hren, immediately commenced Cardio- ing such a device on hand 'just in case'", he said.

Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) using a new Many public buildings such as town halls, airports Heart Start Cardiac Monitor-Defibrillator that was and local swimming pools are being equipped with installed at the Sunraysia Masonic Centre only cardiac monitor-defibrillator units now.

18 months earlier.

Lodges should consider having at least one or Ambulance Victoria Paramedics arrived more of its members trained to act in an emerwithin five minutes and took over further treat- gency and to apply CPR should a situation arise ment of the member, who was then transferred to such as the one in Mildura. the Mildura Base Hospital.

Masonic Centres may also wish to consider Paramedics praised the prompt action taken by the other members who had commenced CPR, installing a Heart Start, or similar automatic exand commented that with resuscitation in addi- ternal defibrillator (AED) unit. For further infortion to the electric shocks delivered by the Heart mation on Heart Start AED's visit: http:// Start defibrillator, they had saved the member's www.laerdal.com/au/doc/183/HeartStartFirst-Aid-Defibrillator life.

A private pain ■ Surviving prostate cancer isn't something that men talk about freely. It isn't a topic you'd bring up at the dinner table or at work.

So how do men cope with what they've just been through? They bottle it up. They keep it to themselves and try to recover on their own.

This unhealthy method of dealing with things can tear families apart, and effect relationships, as there doesn't seem to be an outlet for men to confidently express their thoughts and feelings.

The Peter Mac Cancer Centre has picked up on this and with the financial support of the Freemasons Public Charitable Foundation, has developed a new program for prostate cancer survivors that aims to overcome that traditional male tendency to bottle up his problems. The Centre will now employ a psychologist one day a week in the outpatient clinic.

Dr Tessa Jones from the centre said the side effects from treatment could be quite severe, including erectile dysfunction.

"We always talk about patients being cured, but don't necessarily think about what the side effects or lasting effects of the treatments are. Erectile dysfunction can significantly affect a man's quality of life, his identity as a man and his relationships." she said.

An aim of the program is to make seeing a psychologist as normal as seeing a doctor or a nurse. Dr John Maynard said that less than one per cent of men treated had sought counselling and so the program would lead to better outcomes for men and their family.

"The Freemasons Public Charitable Foundation has donated $25,000 to the Peter Mac Cancer Centre. The funding will enable the Centre to provide expertise to prostate cancer survivors who will now have a qualified professional to open up to.

■ 1. What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry, sometimes just called Masonry, is the world's oldest and largest Fraternity. It aims to promote friendship, morality, and brotherly love among its members - men from every race, religion, opinion, and background who are brought together as brothers to develop and strengthen the bonds of friendship.

There are more than five million members meeting in nearly every free country in the world.

Freemasonry proposes to 'make good men better' by teaching, with metaphors taken from geometry and architecture about building values based on great universal truths.

And of course, charity and community service is fundamental to Freemasonry and something we actively take part in.

2. Where can I get more information about the Freemasons?

The best way to get information is to talk to a Freemason, either online at www.freemasonsvic.net.au or in person. You can ask questions of real Freemasons on our Live Forum, or you can use the 'Find a Lodge' tab at the top of web page.

The Lodge Finder is where you can find contact information for a Freemason at a Lodge near you. That person, usually the Secretary of the Lodge, will answer your questions and provide you with additional information.

If you would like, he can usually arrange a convenient time to meet, introduce you to some other members, give you a tour of their building, and answer your questions. You may have some of the same questions as those below, so take a look at the rest of the FAQ's.

3. What are the requirements to become a Freemason?

Although exact membership requirements may vary slightly from country to country and state to state, generally anyone meeting the following requirements may petition a Lodge for membership:

■ You are an adult male (minimum age of 18), of good character and recommended by a Freemason.

■ You believe in a Supreme Being - no atheist can become a Freemason - but we are not concerned with theological distinctions or your particular religious beliefs.

■ You are interested in becoming a Freemason because you hold a favourable opinion of Freemasonry; and, your decision to apply is based on your own "free will and accord." No one will compel you to join.

■ How do I become a Freemason? Ask! Because Freemasons have not traditionally recruited members, and do not hold public meetings, there has long been confusion about how to join the Fraternity. Does someone ask you?

Do you ask?

If you meet the requirements above, it is really quite simple: Most men can become a Freemason by simply asking.

Like Charles Brownlow, Bill Lawry, Sir Robert Menzies, almost every Freemason from the past to the present day has come about through asking.

Each Lodge manages the membership process for its candidates. In general, men seek out a Lodge near their home or work (the 'Find a Lodge' feature from the Freemasons Victoria website will help you find the nearest Lodge), or they ask a Freemason to recommend a Lodge to them. Once you've found a Lodge you would like to join, let them know of your interest and they will provide you with a process.

There has never been a better time to become a Freemason here in Victoria. As a result, there is much good information to be found on www.freemasonsvic.net.au For more information about becoming a Freemason or to fill out an application, contact the Freemasons Victoria membership team at membership@freemasonsvic.net.au or call 1800Freemason today!

First Leaders of Freemasonry in Victoria Dr Walter Balls-Headley ■ Dr Walter Balls-Headley was born in England on August 27, 1842. He entered Cambridge University at the age of 16 and two years later was initiated into Freemasonry at the Sir Isaac Newton Lodge No. 1161 of the English Constitution.

While at university seven years later, he obtained many high degrees in arts, science and medicine.

This saw him hold positions at some of

By Gabrielle Forman

● Presentation to Peter Mac Cancer Centre

England's finest hospitals namely at the London Children's Hospital and as Resident Obstetric Physician at St Bartholomew's Hospital before accompanying the Marquis of Bute, as his travelling Physician on an extensive trip through Palestine and Syria.

It was during this trip that he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis, which eventually saw him relocate to the warmer climate of Warwick, Queensland for recovery.

In 1875 after his recovery Dr Balls-Headley moved to Melbourne where he was elected Physician at the Alfred Hospital, then he later worked at the Royal Women's Hospital until 1900.

During his Melbourne medical career he was a lecturer in obstetrics at the University of Melbourne and in 1890 was appointed President of the Medical Society of Victoria.

Dr Balls-Headley was widely considered the Premier Physician of his era in this field.

On reaching Melbourne, he immediately joined a Freemasons Lodge named Meridian Lodge of St John, then becoming a foundation member of the new 'Melbourne University Lodge' when the Meridian Lodge of St John went into retirement.

It was not until his retirement in 1900 that Dr Balls-Headley became an active and prominent member of Freemasonry in Victoria.

In 1901 he was elevated to the rank of Past Deputy Grand Master, then appointed to the active position of Deputy Grand Master the following year.

In 1905 Dr Balls-Headley was installed as the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons; however his two-year term was marred by ill health.

He resigned from the Grand Mastership in 1907 and returned briefly to London, before travelling to British Columbia, Canada, where he died on March 7, 1918.

■ Excerpts taken from 'A Century of Union' by P. T. Thornton & 'The Masonic Grand Masters of Australia' by Kent Henderson

● To find out more about Freemasonry, how to become a member, or attend upcoming public events, please visit www.freemasonsvic.net.au or ’Like’ our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/freemasonsvic for the most up to date information. ● ‘Freemasons: The Inside Story’ airs every Monday night at 8.30pm on Channel 31, with replays throughout the week on Thursdays at 12.30am, 3pm and Saturdays at 12.30pm. Or catch up online at www.c31.org.au and follow the links.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - Page 13

Melbourne Memories: World Of Sport

● From Page 6 Dead silence, the young guy freezes.

This is live to air and nobody swears live to air.

'Righto, you've scored a Huttons ham, a cheese and a box of Balantines? chocolates. (Can't recall the sponsor's names. I'm sure someone will supply.)

I reckon the kid's a bit overwhelmed at the moment. Good on yer son! Back to you Uncle Doug!'

Unk swallows a portion of pie or mouthful of cola (Insert product brand name here.) and waffles something like, “Whether you're big, whether you're small, the Mark Of The Round has got it all, ruff!”

There were times on World Of Sport that the three cameras on the studio floor got so hopelessly tangled up, diving from set to set, that the director Dick Jones would just fade to black and say “Alright get yourselves sorted. The channel would sit in black for the 30, 40, 50 seconds it took, and Dick would just wind up the fader and off we'd go

again. Studio One would often be brimming with people from all over: boxers, golfing greats, reps from tennis, cricket, lawn bowls and of course, majorly, VFL football.

The greats of that era passed through Studio 1 at Dorcas Street: Ron Barassi, Ted Whitten, Daryl Baldock, Polly Farmer.

So many, such wonderful names on the roll-call: Bobby Skilton, Neil Roberts, Bobby Rose and on.

I once overheard 'Skilts' say, as he and 'Bones' Edwards were passing Make-up on their way to the studio and Pelaco Football Inquest, hosted by Mike Williamson (more of Mike and me later.) that this was a pretty good caper. They give you free pies and free beers.

And that was about right in those old, golden days. Play your heart out, take the bruises, the mud, the abuse and maybe get your head on television. (so you can let Mum see that your black eye isn't too bad.)

And all you have to do is turn up at Channel 7 before six o'clock, even if you're still in footy gear, even if you have a black eye, or a bung leg, crook back, dislocated shoulder, and you'd be 'looked after.'

Skilten fronted once with two black eyes. And he was smiling!

In the golden days of World Of Sport the program rolled itself out, the running sheet was merely a guide to what was meant to happen, but often didn't, in which case 'Case' would make a 'call' (a decision) and everything would be turned around.

Dick Jones had to spin on a dime when a guest failed to turn up or a replay on telecine or later videotape, stuffed up.

It was, as somebody said 'Organised chaos.' Ron Casey was a whizz, a giant (no pun intended on Ron's ample girth.) sporting broadcaster, a mine of information, The Bruce McAvaney of his day.

Ron was a one man band: he just did

Kenneth Mulholland

● Ron Casey everything, and he did it with a sharp Part 2 to come ... possibly part 3. eye for detail. He certainly appraised But I'll tell you one last thing: the me, figured I was frightened as hell, Four And Twenty pies that came in that I wouldn't stuff up like I had on fresh from the maker on Sunday mornTell The Truth, and gave me another ing were the best pies I've ever had, especially after a night on the turps. chance. This time I didn't blow it.

And here we have to take a breather. (No, not that Turps.)

Melbourne

Observer Life & Style

AH, THE BEAUTIFUL VANILLA SLICE

■ I have a weakness for the good old Australian vanilla slice. That’s the one that has the big slab of thick white icing on top.

Actually, it’s more than a weakness, it’s an addiction.

If I let my head go and not think about the consequences I’d nosh my way through one every day.

Even the thought of that thick white icing and the delicious yellow custard filling has me salivating as I write.

My Mum was a great cook, and the cake tins were always full. Bridge parties were a weekly event at our house and mum used to bake cakes and make ribbon sandwiches for supper.

I secretly think that it was a case of one upman-ship with her friends because she pulled out all stops with interesting and delicious things to eat.

Loved the compliments

■ Both men and women would rave over her suppers and I think mum lived off the compliments week to week.

Of course I was never permitted to go to the cake tins, and on the threat of death, opening the frig and stealing something that she had stored in there for her supper was unthinkable.

A couple of workmates called in one night unexpectedly and their eyes bugged out when mum set up a card table in front of the fire and loaded it up with her home made cakes and biscuits.

She even made ribbon sandwiches for them to accompany the coffee.

They said that they wished their mother made cakes and biscuits instead of buying them from the grocers.

And there was I upsetting mum by asking her why we couldn’t have shop bought biscuits and cakes.

Oh, how I wish that I could wave a wand and Mum would be in the kitchen cooking up a storm once more.

Great shops for cakes

■ Once I left home, the thought of eating cakes was unthinkable. We were terrified of putting on weight, and unfortunately cigarettes weren’t the answer for keeping a slim waist.

Well, since I’ve had an enforced rest at home I’ve put on so much weight I should be seven foot five. It’s the vanilla slices I have been consuming I must confess.

They seem to be bigger than the ones Mum made, and the icing is thicker, but they are almost too good to be true.

My soul mate is such a good cook that I’m thinking of entering his zucchini patties in the Royal Show.

Yvonne’s Column

with Yvonne Lawrence yvonne.lawrence@bigpond.com

We are blessed in our suburb to have two cake shops.

Zimts Patisserie Bakery café is very up market. Very European.

The cakes and savouries that they serve are simply heaven. In fact it’s the only place to go on a weekend for coffee and cake. A nd on a Sunday you can order Devonshire Tea like no other. Scones as light as a feather, lashings of cream and jam, plus an assortment of cakes and sandwiches.

It’s the place to take your mum or dad or a loved one for a special treat.

Booking is essential, but it’s worth it .

Slices always win out ■ They also have delicious cakes, but somehow my eyes always lob onto the tray with the vanilla slices. Theirs are the Continental variety. Taller and with more layers of pastry. I mean to try something else, but the slices always win out.

The other cake shop where everything is made on the premises is an unpretentious fifties style shop where two smiling women are always ready to help you with your selection.

That’s where Peter buys me my daily vanilla slice. The women know him now and reach for the slices when he walks in the shop.

Peter brought home one of their pasties the other day, and I don’t think I will ever bother to make them at home again.

The women in this cake shop have the touch with pastry.

The shop is almost next door to my pharmacy, and if I’m passing late in the afternoon going into the chemist, I can almost guarantee that there is nothing left in the window.

For every housewife ■ Looking through my recipe books the other day I came across one of Mum’s old faithful cook books, the blue, gold stamped leatherette covered Australian Cookery of Today, published around the 40’s I would think.

I’m sure many homes will still have a copy in a cupboard.

It was compiled by a woman called Prudence, and was dedicated to every Australian housewife.

There are hundreds of recipes and technical information about cooking, but to my surprise, no instructions for vanilla slices.

I remembered watching Mum make her slices and she would make the pastry base and before it went on the oven would prick it all over with a fork.

She’d make another sheet for the top and do the same.

Then after making the custard she’d pour it over the base, and then when it had set she would put the other layer of pastry, which she had iced, previously on the top.

Now I tried this once and I was in a terrible mess.

The pastry broke into pieces and when I went to cut the finished slice into squares, it went its own way, and I was left with a mess. I don’t think my custard was thick enough.

Nothing beats a slice ■ Buying them from a milk bar was never a good idea; you could bounce them on the footpath because the custard had set like rubber.

I looked up the Internet for a recipe, and there were several with simple instructions.

At the cake shop they always have chocolate covered cakes dipped in coconut with a slit that is filled with cream. We used to call them snowballs.

But I have to say that nothing beats the good old Aussie vanilla slice.

I seem to recall that there are vanilla slice competitions in the country. Editor Ash Long will know where and when it is held, and I’ll try and get there. As long as it’s not in Benalla.

War on birds

■ This town had declared war on the Indian Myna bird. There is even an Indian Myna Bird Action Group.

This town is determined to get rid of every one. Now what has the Myna bird done to these people?

And surely there are a few residents of Benalla who like these birds?

I know they rob other bird’s nests and can be a pest in the garden by digging up newly planted seedlings. But I like their cheekiness and welcome them walking behind me as I plant seedlings. They chatter away and almost dare me to plant more.

The thought that people could wring their necks appalls me. Besides, they are protected and must be released if trapped.

I was pleased to read that there are some people who can’t kill them. And hopefully will learn to live with them.

The poor old possum is on the Most Wanted List too.

I heard a woman who was collecting a possum trap from the council, say to her friend that they don’t bother to release them; her son kills them with a baseball bat.

Madam, in the words of the old Chinese sage, ‘may you and your son live in interesting times’.

Good karma Yvonne.

Contact: Melbourne Observer, PO Box 1278, Research, 3095

Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 11, 2013

■ Debbie Reynolds has been a great survivor in showbusiness for more than 60 years.

Debbie has acted in more than 40 feature films, countless television productions and starred on Broadway in many shows.

She recently performed her one woman show in Las Vegas. Life has had its difficult times for Debbie but thankfully she has overcome her problems and is in a happy place right now.

I am pleased to advise that Debbie Reynolds will be our special interview guest on That's Entertainment, Sunday, (Sept. 15) at 12 Noon on 96.5 FM thanks to the fabulous work of our producer David Miller.

Mary Frances Reynolds was born in El Paso, Texas in 1932. The family moved to California and whilst Mary was at high school she won a beauty contest which led to a contract with Warner Brothers Studios.

Her name was changed to Debbie Reynolds and she made two films June Bride and The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady.

Debbie went to MGM studios and mimed the voice of Helen Kane in the musical Three Little Words.

In her next film, Two Weeks with Love, Debbie Reynolds was teamed with Carlton Carpenter and they sang the catchy novelty song Abba Dabba Honeymoon which became a major hit in 1950.

In 1952 Debbie was cast opposite Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor in one of my favourite films Singin' in the Rain.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whatever Happened To ...

Debbie Reynolds

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM Debbie was not a trained dancer and worked hard to perform the dance routines in the film.

In 1953 Debbie married the popular singer Eddie Fisher and they had two children Carrie and Todd.

Debbie had another major hit in 1957 when she starred in the film Tammy and the Bachelor opposite Leslie Neilson and sang the title song.

Tammy earned Debbie Reynolds a Gold Record for massive sales and apparently Eddie Fisher was not impressed.

Eddie Fisher left Debbie for Elizabeth Taylor in 1958 and Debbie cared for her two children.

The notable films of Debbie Reynolds have included Hit The Deck, The Tender Trap, How The West Was Won, The Unsinkable Molly Brown,

● Debbie Reynoldsm in her new book The Singing Nun and just recently Behind The Candelabra. Many of her friends saw that film and did not realise that it was her. During her career Debbie worked with many of the major Hollywood film stars and danced with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.

Debbie has had a passion to preserve memorabilia from the films and bought stock from MGM studios when they closed down.

In 1995 I went to the Debbie Reynolds Casino in Las Vegas and I really enjoyed the film memorabilia collection in her museum.

I still remember seeing items such as the suits that Donald O'Connor and Gene Kelly wore in Singin In The Rain, the sled from Citizen Kane with ‘Rosebud’ written on it and the dress worn

by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch.

I went to see Debbie Reynolds at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne in 2006 and I will never forget her wonderful show.

I have just finished reading Debbie's new book Unsinkable - A Memoir and I could not put it down.

Debbie has been married three times and has not been able to marry the right man.

She has raised huge amounts of money for mental health through her charity The Thalians with people such as her good friend Ruta Lee. Debbie Reynolds has won many awards during her career and rightly so.

She dearly loves her children and grand daughter Billie. I hope you can tune into the interview with Debbie Reynolds on Sunday.

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. ● I am pleased to advise that we will repeating last week’s interview with Debbie Reynolds on That's Entertainment, at 12 Noon this Sunday, (Sept. 15) on 96.5 FM.

IN SEARCH OF A BULLROARER

■ I've got a mate from the US, John Pelegrinelli, who is a roadie. He's a drum technician, and he's been out here with Pink, looking after all her percussional matters.

My son Jonas and I popped along to one of her recent concerts as his guest.

I often attend concerts for visiting artists, with varying degrees of recognition of the musical numbers which are presented. Dolly Parton, the Stones, Neil Diamond - I sing along to all of them.

Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Pink, not a one.

And my enjoyment of the concert usually has a direct relationship with how many of these songs I know.

However, Pink's concert was the most spectacular I've ever been to. She combined her singing with pathos, connection to her audience, and acrobatics - the grand finale when she flew about the whole of the Rod Laver like a big bat was the best I've ever seen.

John had a couple of days off, and we tried to organise a trip to Lightning Ridge with Jonas, but this didn't work he's besotted with opals, so he's off there next trip.

But at least I got him down to the Portsea Pub for lunch, and showed him around my neck of the woods.

He's already got a didge, but he really wanted a bullroarer, so I took him into M'bantua Gallery in Mornington, run by Roszika Hayes-Marshall, a dear friend from Alice Springs.

No bullroarer, but he came away with a few dots.

■ There are a few interesting quirks which the forthcoming election is bringing forth. There was Warren Snowdon giving away free kangaroo tails - then it wass the revelation of the policy of the indigenous First Nations Political Party.

During the 25 odd years which I have been connected to the Territory, there have always been various attempted ways of curbing excess alcohol consumption amongst local inhabitants.

So this policy suggests that camps be created outside Alice, Tennis Creek, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Darwin.

These camps would be populated by "volunteer drinkers", who would otherwise be problem drinkers in the streets of the various nearby towns.

They would be in residence for either six or 12 months, and would work out their own policies and guidelines as to how the camps would be run.

The Outback Legend

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

some brainy people behind me for support," she said.

She ran on a platform of decriminalising the sex industry, legalising marijuana and euthanasia, and, of course same-sex marriage. And there should be "equality for all", she claims "Lots of things have to be looked into, like the indigenous situation. If we find a harmony in equality, it may help the Territory function a bit better - anything can happen in the Territory".

■ Whenever I see a large flock of birds, or a school of fish on a TV documentary, it's always a mystery to me how they all seem to move as one - it's as though the whole flock, or school, have a single mind. All the individuals seem to move as one entity.

You'd think that, especially with birds, they'd all be individually crashing into each other, and just end up as a squawking fluttering pile on the ground.

But no, like a well-oiled machine they fly gracefully along.

Probably the most stirring sight around the Centre is a flock of budgies twittering their way across the sky, with up to 60,000 birds in each.

I often saw them winging their way around Trephina Gorge. And, taking over the majestic gum trees and slaking their thirsts in the waterholes.

Over recent months they've flown the coop, and gone to fresher fields in the Pilbara, and West Queensland, where there's been a bit more water.

However, after some welcome rain, they're now returning, and once more they're gracing the Centre, and delighting the skies with their colourful presence.

Even though I don't mind seeing them in a cage, I much prefer them flying around in the open skies.

Then they would work for daily 8 hour shifts.

I do have a few doubts about this, because most problem drinkers I've ever seen in the streets of Alice have never worked a day in their lives, and would be too drunk to wield any tool, or perform any meaningful task.

And what's one of the primary tasks for these workers? Building a local pub at each site!

And in what currency are they going to be paid for their toil? Alcohol of course.

The mind boggles.

■ Here down South, it's an offence to drink and drive, as it is in the NT. How■ And then there's Tracy Randall. I ever I had always assumed that this was mentioned her a few months back when also the same with a boat, as it is here. her car was broken into, and a bagful Apparently not. of sex toys was stolen.

"It's not an offence to take your boat She runs "Mini Maids" in Alice and out and have a few the beers with your she wanted to be the first madam to mates!" according to Snr. Sergeant enter the Senate in Canberra.

Bauhert.

Fiona Hanson, head of the Sex Party, Typical Territory. approached her and asked her to be the Four chaps have taken this to the excandidate for the seat of Solomon. treme.

Tracy was not at all apprehensive "Drunk as monkeys," the sarge reabout this, but does admit to being rela- ported. They were out in their tinny on tively politically naïve.

Darwin Harbour performing doughnuts "I'll give it a go as long as I've got at 2.30am last Sunday morning.

Naturally the boat overturned, was swamped and sank.

So of course they had to drunkenly swim back to shore through the crocodile-infested waters.

Then the police found them and

placed them into protective custody for drunkenness.

Their missing boat may have sobered them up a bit the next morning.

- Nick Le Souef ‘The Outback Legend’

Review: Rupert ■ David Williamson's new play Rupert marks a departure in style for Australia's most successful playwright, and audiences won't be disappointed.

While Williamson is best known for his acute and humorous observations of the human condition, especially in its Australian guise, Rupert is the first Williamson play I have seen that enters the tricky waters of tracing the journey of a living and very famous Australian-American.

The best description of Rupert is probably a biopic on stage, and its ensemble cast of eight serves it brilliantly.

The structure gives us the older Rupert as a narrator with a wry sense of humour and awareness of his human fragilities and strengths, played to the hilt by Sean O'Shea, matched with the young Rupert actually living the dream and its occasional down side, expertly portrayed by Guy Edmonds.

The set is beyond minimalist - it is three open sides of black walls, with large and small props brought on and off effortlessly, leaving it to the actors to create the scene and the mood, and they never fail us.

Well directed by Lee Lewis, the ensemble of Marg Downey, Daniela Farinacci, Simon Gleeson, Bert LaBonte, HaiHa Le and Scott Sheridan play more than 50 characters between them, and there is never a dull moment. I was left in awe of their versatility and especially in the case of Simon Gleeson, his uncanny ability to mimic the accent of well-known living Australians such as former prime ministers Whitlam, Hawke and Keating.

On entering the theatre, the audience is welcomed by the older Rupert, who invites us to go on a journey through his life, with a few sly digs at audience members who might be readers of the opposition 'Age' newspaper or editors from his own News Group who he tells us have shown great loyalty by coming to his show.

He proceeds to introduce us to his family, including all his wives and children and then the fun and games begin, and for a moment Rupert looks like a harried husband dealing with fall out from multiple marriages and children competing for their father's attention.

It's a most entertaining journey for the audience, and we are presented with Rupert warts and all, but while at times he comes across with very warped values and a hard heart, at other times he is charm itself, and occasionally, even a frail human being. Very occasionally….!

The ensemble cast is superb - each one master of the multiple characters they play. But special plaudits must be given to television comedy star Marg Downey for a startlingly accurate portrayal of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, and a fine Margaret Thatcher.

However, the stars of the show are definitely O'Shea and Edmonds, as the two Murdochs. O'Shea in particular has captured the physical essence of Murdoch to the life - the slightly stooped stance, the truculent walk and the quizzical looks.

To give readers an idea of the interesting insights Williamson presents to us, Murdoch's mother is continually questioning Rupert, so he eventually asks in an exasperated tone if he has ever done anything she approves of? To which she tells him that she is in awe of his achievements, but asks him to forgive her if she, like Genghis Khan's mother, feels a little uneasy about the methods used! Possibly unfair to the real Dame Elisabeth, who was proud of but realistic about her son, but a cracker dramatic moment in the theatre for the audience.

On a personal note, we took our 22-year-old son to 'Rupert', and he said he would recommend it to any of his peer group, and classed it as 'great'. Not a bad recommendation from a member of the Twitter and Facebook generation, and older members of the audience should find it as entertaining as we did.

- Julie Houghton