Melbourne Observer. 121114A. November 14, 2012. Part A. Pages 1-16

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HELEN KAPALOS FIRED Page 11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

BINNY LUM TRIBUTE TURN TO PAGE 9

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■ Cosmo Cosmolino bring their gypsy romance to the Substation, Newport, this Friday (Nov. 16). Pictured, from left, are Helen Mountfort, Andrea Keeble, Dan Witton, Judy Gunson and Sue Simpson. More details in Observer Showbiz, P57.

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City Desk

Melbourne

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The hottest news about Melbourne’s A-listers

The Buzz Hush movie event Stars as Melba

● Bill Duff

● Cristina Russo ■ Cristina Russo will perform the music of Dame Nellie Melba at a performance to be given at St John’s Anglican Church, Toorak, on Sunday, November 25, as a fundraiser for the Savoy Opera Company.

Cristina is familiar to audiences of Savoy Opera Company, from her principal soprano roles with the company in The Gondoliers and Iolanthe this year.

The event - Melba Returns will be compered by Melbourne Observer arts contributor Julie Houghton.

More details of the performance are on Page 00.

■ Music A&R man Bill Duff, who assists the Hush Music Foundation, which a body that records and releases CDs to assist sick children across Australia, advises of a fundraiser from 2.15pm on Sunday, November 25. After refreshments, a movie will be screened at 3.15pm.

A special screening of Skyfall, the new James Bond 007 movie, will take place at the Kino Cinemas, Collins Pl, 45 Collins St, City.

Bookings can be made at hush. skyfall.eventbrite.com

TRUE WIZARDS

Alyson Mary Rolle

■ The talented creative team from MLOC’s The Wizard of Oz, are from left: Tanya Chaves (musical director), Keir Jasper (choreographer), Lucy Nicolson (director) and Katie Lewis (assistant director).

The Wizard of Oz can be seen at the Phoenix Theatre, 101 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood until November 17.

Bookings www.mloc.org.au or 9570 4052.

Photo: Trevor Lowther

Under The Clocks The Drowsy Chaperone

● The cast belts out a number in Fab Nobs Theatre’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone, running until November 24 at 44 Industry Pl., Bayswater.

Photo: Karl McNamara ■ Directed by Karl McNamara, with musical direction by Vicki Quinn, The Drowsy Chaperone is told from the perspective of a huge fan of musicals from the Jazz Age, The Man in Chair.

The show has been described as a musical within a comedy, as he shares the plot of a favourite musical with the audience and interjects with parts of his own life.

As The Man in Chair plays songs from his beloved musical production, characters appear to tell the story of Janet Vandegraff, a glamorous showgirl who has decided to quit the spotlight for love.

Bookings: 0401 018 846

Binny Lum mourned

The ‘Survivors’ group from ★ Melbourne’s showbiz fraternity will hold its twice-yearly gathering at South Melbourne this Saturday (Nov. 17).

A fourth Cliff Richard concert has been announced for Hamer Hall, Arts Centre, on Tuesday, February 19.

James Makin Gallery, Collingwood, will be holding an exhibition with Tim Burns in the new year.

★ ★

Around Town ● Binny Lum

■ With involvements in Melbourne radio back to the 1940s and 1950s, media pioneer Binny Lum has passed away at age 97.

Bernice Lum (Mrs Geoff Charter) was known as ‘Cousin Binny’ in the early days of 3KZ, working with Norman Swain on the children’s sesssion.

Binny took over from Florence Cheers (better known as Mrs Smoky Dawson).

Binny made the transition to television soon after it started in Melbourne in 1956.

Observer columnist Kevin Trask, and showbiz commentator Chris Ryan (who delivered a eulogy at last week’s funeral service) pay their tributes on Page 9.

What’s On In Melbourne

Rachel Peek, Co-Producer, says St Columba’s College achieved third ★ place in the National Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Champions television special at the weekend. Kilbreda College and St Bede’s College

● Alyson Rolle ■ Observer columnist Di Rolle pays a moving tribute to her late mother, Alyson, who died on October 31. Di’s feature article is on Page 12.

● Sumi Jo ■ Acclaimed Korean soprano, Sumi Jo, will be appearing at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, for one performance only on Tuesday, November 20 at 8pm.

were second in the RAW Division, with MLC School and Mackillop Catholic College in a tie for third place. Kew Primary School came third in the J Rock Performance class with their performance..

Seven short plays celebrating life by the water commence tonight (Wed.) at the Palais Theatre, St Kilda, as part of its 85th anniversary celebrations, says publicist Julie Cavanagh.

Grand Wazoo will perform at the Thornbury Theatre at 7pm on Sunday (Nov. 18). Former member Shirley Davis will be guesting.

★ ★

Page 4 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

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Mark Richardson ♥ Straight from the heart

E-Mail: mark@localmedia.com.au

CURTAIN CALL FOR NOBODIES

■ Every now and then we spot a familiar face and yet; we're unable to think fast enough to put a name to their face.

We may be walking down the street, sitting opposite a familiar someone in café or browsing the shelves beside them in aisle eleven at our local supermarket.

It becomes frustrating trying to make the piece fit the puzzle or to pin-point where your paths have crossed. "Did we work together? No! Was she at my sister's BBQ a couple of years ago? I don't think so! Do our children attend school together? Probably not! Well, she must be a famous nobody then".

At the Prahran Market in Melbourne, my famous nobody actually turned out to be a quite famous somebody in the theatrical world.

Bernadette Robinson - the star of the critically acclaimed one-woman show, Songs For Nobodies, regularly enjoys down time with a coffee at one her favourite café Porches where she was excited to tell me the show is returning to Melbourne in January.

Songs For Nobodies received astonishing reviews from critics in both Sydney and Melbourne after its premiere in 2010 and a fan-base, which includes some of the most high profile Australians in the global arts fraternity including Geoffrey Rush, Barry Humphries, Fred Schepisi, Max Gillies, Jane Turner and Rhonda Burchmore.

Songstress Porch Thoughts In Songs For Nobodies, Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas touch the lives of five ordinary women and Bernadette tells their stories by magically transforming to each character during the show to bring to life each nobody and each legendary singer.

How did Songs For Nobodies come to be?

The whole production started when I approached Director Simon Phillips - the 'then' Artistic Director of the Melbourne Theatre Company and Joanna Murray-Smith, one of Australia's leading playwrights, to create a work for me to perform.

The piece evolved over a number of years and each of the five monologues is about a different nobody five women from different countries, times, and social classes. These five women are linked by having all been touched in some way by a great singing legend of the 20th century.

How did the script enhance both your singing and acting talents?

The production provided me with a unique and wonderful opportunity for me to act on deeper levels.

Joanna created wonderful stories,

Off The Porch Thought For The Day Greg Rafferty Movember Mo Bro "The collective knowledge of generations gives us great power to avoid mistakes of the past, plan thoughtfully for the future and to become the best version of one's self. So this Movember, I would encourage all men to seek and share wisdom with loved ones and to learn their family history and predispositions, to better understand the health risks they face.”

both humorous and poignant. The show also gives me the opportunity to sing the songs of some of the world's greatest singers that I bring to life.

To have worked with two greats of Australian theatre has taken me to a new level, and to play those roles has been challenging; yet satisfying.

How did you rehearse for each of the characters you play?

I worked closely with both Simon and Joanna on the development of the characters. I created a different accent for each character and we would work separately on each character throughout the rehearsal period.

Who is your favourite to perform?

My favourite changes from performance to performance. Sometimes it can be the cheeky, Irish nanny; other times the straight-laced, English librarian. It depends on how I'm feeling and who I connect with the most on the day.

What song do you most personally connect with and why?

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien- the Piaf song which means 'no regrets'- is the one I personally connect with most, because it's about living your life and, no matter what and having no regrets.

If you could live the life of one of the characters, whose would you most like to live?

I'd probably choose Too Junior Jones, the New York Times journalist who after interviewing Billie Holiday becomes a success and no longer a 'nobody'.

How do you prepare to shift your voice on stage from the likes of the smoky blues of Billie Holiday to the thrilling soprano of Maria Callas?

I have always had a versatile voice. I have a huge range and an excellent technique, but it also takes a tremendous amount of concentration and discipline.

After seeing your performance in 2010, I recall Barry Humphries quoted as saying that you are a 'major talent' and a 'spellbinder'.

How do you feel being supported by the likes of an international star such as Barry?

This show has been enormously successful which has been so gratifying, particularly when I have been given the support of some of my role models, including Barry Humphries and Geoffrey Rush.

How do you cope performing a

● Bernadette Robinson string of shows, often back to back? to perform and why?

Working eight shows a week is Apart from the Sydney Opera incredibly taxing, given the fact that House, which is magical, I love the it is a one-woman show. I am on stage Fairfax Theatre. The Fairfax is for 90 minutes, singing and acting where Songs For Nobodies first prewithout a moment to rest or pause. miered and it is where I will be reI have to rest between shows and turning in January. The charm and try to get some good nutrition and the intimacy of that space cannot be drink plenty of water. I use so much surpassed. energy during the show that on a posiWhat is your Porch Thought of tive note, I tend to lose a lot of weight The Day? throughout the run.

Find continual joy in the things Apart from the characters in the you love. For me it's family, music show, if you could play the part of and food. For you it may be someany international performer, who thing different. would it be and why? ● Songs For Nobodies is a MelI would love to play Maggie bourne Theatre Company ProducSmith because she is the most bril- tion and is produced by Harley liant actress and I hear she is leaving Medcalf, Duet Entertainment. The Downtown Abbey, so there may be a Arts Centre, January 2- 13, 2013 vacancy for me!

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - Page 9

Breaking News

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

VET SUSPENDED FOR 6 MONTHS: Observer ‘UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT’ In This 72-Page Edition

Radio, TV pioneer Binny Lum dies, 97

■ Victorian veterinarian Dr Donna Quinlan has had her registration suspended for six months.

A panel of the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria found Dr Quinlan to have engaged in unprofessional conduct of a serious nature.

Dr Quinlan’s registration is eligible to be reinstated early in 2013.

Dr Quinlan is not to obtain, administer, prescribe, sell or supply schedule 8 and/or schedule 11 drugs.

Dr Quinlan is required to undertake further education, completing 60 hours in a veterinary clinic, as an observer under the supervision of a registered veterinary practitioner.

“This training must be successfully completed prior to the conclusion of the period of suspension,” said Dr Sally White, Registrar and Executive Officer of the Dr Quinlan must complete and present to the Board a case log of no less than 40 cases which conform to guidelines 1, as a result of the cases observed while under the supervision of a registered veterinary practitioner.

The case log must be successfully completed and provided to the Board prior to the conclusion of the period of suspension in February.

A fine of $500 has been imposed against Dr Quinlan, who is also required to pay the reasonable costs of the legal hearing. of the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria.

City Desk: True wizards ...................... Page 3 Melbourne People: In the picture ........ Page 10 News: Ten’s Helen Kapalos fired ......... Page 11 Di Rolle: In memory of Alyson Rolle ..... Page 12 Melb. Confidential: Priceless gossip .... Page 13 Long Shots: The Editor’s column ........ Page 14 Yvonne Lawrence: Life and Style ......... Page 15 Nick Le Souef: Outback Legend .......... Page 16 Observer Showbiz: Local theatre section. P57 Sport: Ted Ryan’s racing page. P64 Footy Week with Harry Beitzel. P70 The Arts, Theatre Movies, DVD Radio Confidential Lovatt’s Crossword

Observer Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

JP’s job revoked ■ The appointment of Graeme James Rootes as a Justice of the Peace has been revoked by the Governor-in-Council.

‘I’ll dig my dogs up’ ■ Kyal Stephen Bennett, 24, of Bendigo, has has offered to dig up the remains of his three dead dogs to prove he put them down

Geelong Times closes ■ Publisher Anton Ballard has closed his fortnightly Geelong Times magazine after a decade in print.

Mike McColl Jones ● Melbourne radio-TV personality Binny Lum has died at age 97 ■ Binny Lum, a pioneer of Melbourne radio Observer columnist Kevin Trask said: and television, has died at the age of 97.

“Bernice Lum was born in 1915 in Adelaide.

A funeral service was held last week. Mel- Her father was a Chinese doctor and her bourne showbiz commentator Chris Ryan, a mother was of English and German ancesfriend of 40 years, offered a eulogy. try. Bernice was the eldest of three children.

“Binny was a ground breaking pioneer of “The family moved to Melbourne and woman's broadcasting and television presen- settled in St Kilda in 1923. Bernice was poputation in this country,” said Chris, who was a lar at school and musically gifted. When she Channel 7 colleague.. graduated from PLC she began acting in ra“She never recognised the glass ceiling. For dio plays. her it simply didn't exist - if she felt she could “The young actress appeared on 3XY, do something she just went and did it.

3AK and 3KZ in plays such as One Man's “She was a feminist if you will before that Family and The Lone Hand. expression was termed.

“She married Jim Terry who played ‘Gin“She asked me to her home on Christmas ger’ in stage shows (based on the character day in the first year I met her at Channel 7 and ‘Ginger Meggs’) and Jim also worked in rafor the next 41 years that tradition was dio. In 1946 their daughter Sharon was born. honoured, as in marriage - in sickness and in “In 1950 Bernice took over the children's health until death last week, at the age of 97 ... radio session from Florence Cheers on 3KZ “She was an exceptional woman of great and teamed with Norman Swain. She was charm and charisma who was a natural com- ‘Cousin Binny’ and from that time onwards municator. she became known as Binny Lum. “Her great legacy of friendship is woven “Binny worked at many radio stations in into the lives of many thousands of people. It Melbourne on various programs. In 1957 she was a privilege to have been her friend, and an was invited to host the television program at honour to be asked to pay homage to that friend- Thursday At One on Channel 9. ship,” “Binny also did commercials on In Chris Ryan said that Binnny Lum’s col- Melbourne Tonight. One night a mischievous lection of radio interviews have all been care- Graham Kennedy substituted fruit salts for fully preserved. the milk product that Binny was advertising “They range from the first exclusive Aus- and the glass fizzed everywhere. tralian interview with the Beatles, early ca“In the early 1960s Binny Lum was apreer chats with Joan Sutherland and Barbra pearing on Time For Terry at Channel 7 with Streisand - having crashed a party in Terry O'Neill, Ian Turpie and Pat Carroll.

Streisand's dressing room during the opening “Jim Terry and Binny were divorced in season of Funny Girl. the 1950s.

The conversations included all sorts of “In 1977 Binny married long time friend movie stars and musicians from Fred Astaire Geoff Charter who also had a wonderful rathrough to Louis Armstrong. dio career and at that time worked with 3MP. “And of course every interview had a grand In 1984 Binny began a new radio show on story to accompany it! Binny's was a fortu- 3AK.” nate life, well lived,” Chris said.

- Ash Long

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Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

● Entertainer Rick Astley proved to be a hit at the Emirates Stakes Day at Flemington on Saturday.

Photo: Sue Deenim

■ ABC radio host Kathy Bedford this week announced her resignation on Twitter: "I resigned as presenter of @ABCDriveVIC “A very tough and sad decision but after 10 years it is time for a new challenge.”

People Melbourne

Never Gonna Give You Up

Kathy Bedford resigns

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Mother’s Milk

With Mick ● Mother’s Milk is being performed at fortyfive downstairs. Pictured is writer/ director Joanne Trentini. See the Observer Showbiz section for Maggie Morrison’s review. Page 57 Photo: Sarah Walker

■ Cancer researcher Professor Jerry Adams has won the Australian Academy of Science’s most prestigious award for biological sciences, the Macfarlane Burnet Medal.

Joint head of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s Molecular Genetics of Cancer division, Professor Adams studies the natural process of cell death, or apoptosis, and how flaws in this process contribute to the development of blood cancers.

The Medal is awarded every two years.

● Melbourne identity Mick Gatto was pictured with 3AW staffer Kate McMurrich at a function on Friday night.

Stretton Trio

A Day At The Races PHOTO: SUE DEENIM

● From left: Benjamin Kopp, Emma Jardine and Martin Smith ■ The Streeton Trio will return to Australia and perform at the Art Gallery of Ballarat on Sunday (Nov. 18).

They will also perform at ANAM (Australian National Academy of Music) in South Melbourne on Wednesday next week (Nov. 21) before finishing their tour in Canberra for Musica Viva.

Giselle Hoarau describes the Streeton Trio is a young allAustralian, Berlin-based classical piano trio featuring Benjamin Kopp, piano; Emma Jardine on violin; and Martin Smith on cello.

● Leading the fashion look at Flemington on Oaks Day were (from left) theatrefood-fashion identity John Parker, celebrity scribe Suzanne Carbone, event designer Christian Wagstaff and Crown media relations manager Natasha Stipanov.

■ Eltham Bookshop, Hardie Grant Publishing and Element Restaurant are presenting a special lunch tomorrow (Thurs.) with Luke Nguyen to celebrate his new book, Greater Mekong.

At Surrey Music Cafe

● Barry Wratten is looking forward to the next Surrey Music Cafe to be held on November 30 at the Box Hill Arts Community Centre. More details in the Observer Showbiz section.

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - Page 11

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Showbiz News

Standing ovation for ‘Next To Normal’

HELEN KAPALOS FIRED Briefs Moving

● Dylan Lewis ■ A move to his home town of Adelaide is on the cards for Nova 100 morning presenter Dylan Lewis. He will present the breakfast radio program at the group’s South Australian station with Shane Lowe.

Enough

● Paula Kontelj ■ After 14 years with Bay FM Geelong, breakfast shopw cohost Paula Kontelj has decided to throw away the 4am alarm clock and enjoy a sleep in.

Her position is being advertised.

- Greg Newman

New JPs ■ Victoria has six new Justices of the Peace, says official Matthew McBeath.

They are Majella Mary Ballantine, Peter Allan Brown, Stephen Roy Gilligan, Shona louise Guest, Emmanuel Joseph Spiteri and Maxine Roberta Tepper.

● Helen Kapalos: fired by Ten Network ■ The Ten Network has fired Melbourne newsreader Helen Kapalos as part of its budget cuts involving 100 newsroom redundancies nationally.

Kapalos, 41, has co-anchored the Ten News At Five with Mal Walden since 2006, when she replaced Jennifer Hansen.

Kapalos began her career in her hometown of Newcastle, NSW, as a reporter for ABC Radio in 1994, before moving to television on SBS in Sydney.

She returned to Newcastle, where she worked both as an award-winning reporter and news presenter for NBN Television News.

In 2002, she joined the Nine Network where she worked as both a reporter and news presenter. In 2005, she became a news presenter on Nightline and later became a reporter on National Nine News and A Current Affair.

Mal Walden, who re-signed with the Ten Network recently, will continue to present Ten News At Five.

● The outstanding cast of Next To Normal, playing in Williamstown until November 24: Alaimo (Henry), Brittany Lewis (Natalie), Rosa McCarty (Diana), Paul Watson (Dan), Bradley Dylan (Gabe) and Michael Butler (Doctor).

Photo: Gavin D Andrew ■ Williamstown Musical Theatre Company has courageously presented a more serious style of show SHOW REVIEW BY than usual, and it is to their credit that regular patrons CHERYL THREADGOLD can trust the company’s judgement to maintain their usual high-standard.

More Theatre News on P77 Even so, I didn’t expect to enjoy Next To Normal, a musical about bi-polar disorder, including electro- and treatment from Doctors Fine and Madden convulsive therapy treatment (ECT).

(Michael Butler).

What eventuated was a unique theatre experience, An outstanding musical theatre cast has been asso emotionally powerful that opening night’s audi- sembled by director Shaun Kingma and in particuence instinctively stopped applauding after songs, to- lar, McCarty’s portrayal of Diana is brilliant. tally immersed in the penetrating mood of this suExcellent artistic contributions also include musiperbly presented production. cal director Tyson Legg’s splendid orchestra, Nadia The final standing ovation indicated massive au- Gianinotti’s innovative movement, Jason Bovaird dience appreciation and admiration for cast and crew. and Deryk Hartwick’s lighting, Marcello Lo Ricco The rock musical Next To Normal tells of house- and Dean Gourley’s sound design and Nicole Black’s wife Diana Goodman’s (Rosa McCarty) struggle with costume coordination. bipolar disorder and hallucinations, stemming from a Congratulations WMTC for venturing into unfatrauma 16 years earlier. miliar territory and creating a resounding success.

The show reveals the effects of her illness on her Next To Normal can be seen until November 24 at family - husband Dan (Paul Watson) and teenage 8pm and November 18 at 2pm at the Williamstown daughter Natalie (Brittany Lewis). Diana’s super- Mechanics Institute, Cnr Melbourne Rd and Electra image created for son Gabe (Bradley Dylan), dis- St, Williamstown. tances her from Natalie, who befriends teenage Henry Tickets: $32/$28. Bookings: 9885 9678 or (Zachary Alaimo). www.wlt.org.au Diana’s wretched struggle includes medication - Cheryl Threadgold

McHALE’S BABY Your FINALMelbourne WEEK: $99 for 45 Observer

■ Lawyer-turned-journalist James McHale will front ABC1’s new 5.30pm national news bulletin, set to start early in 2013.

The bulletin is expected to be produced from the Perth studios of the national broadcaster, and relayed across Australia.

In the eastern states, the 5.30pm bulletin will be a direct competitor to Ten’s News At Five.

"We can confirm that planning is under way for launching a new national ABC News bulletin early next year, but all the details are still to be confirmed,” said spokeswoman Kim Jordan.

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Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Alyson Mary Rolle. 1922-2012.

■ My mother Alyson loved reading my column. She would often ring me and say “I have something for your column”. It would be something that happened in her retirement home or some news on Buddy Franklin whom she loved.

Alyson was a committed Hawthorn supporter. She loved ‘the Hawks’all her life. Loyal to them to the end, she thought in fact they had won this year’s premiership and who was I to correct her? I let her think they had indeed won.

● Alyson Mary Rolle in 1947

She knew her football and would often predict the winner of the Brownlow Medal saying knowingly – “he is a great footballer he deserves to win”.

She told me once “Ben Cousins was the greatest footballer she had seen play the game since Haydn Bunton Jnr”.

I tended to believe everything she told me from a very young age and continued to do so in later life. She would smile her smile and her blue eyes would twinkle and tell me such stories.

She served in the Royal Australian Navy and was proud of her years in the service. And she was proud of her kids.

She loved her kids. I was the eldest, then Peter my brother and my sisters Debi and Jacky.

One of the last things she said to me on the phone was “I am going to miss my kids”.

My mother passed away on October 31 at 3.15am with my sister Debi at her side.

We didn’t make it time for that final goodbye.

However we were blessed to have many goodbyes as Alyson had been ill for so longm each time I left her I felt I was saying goodbye, I know it was the same for my sisters and brother.

I miss her. I will miss every day for the rest of my life. The impact she had on my life is enormous. I am the woman I am today because of her.

She taught me about movies, men, books, life, the arts, she loved the theatre, she loved music, she played all sorts of music from Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra to Bob Dylan.

She took me to the Palais Theatre when I was young and I saw Rudolf Nureyev leap from one side of the stage to the other, I have never forgotten it.

She was bright, smart, self-taught and knew everything about everything. She was glam-

orous, incorrigible, flirtatious and fabulous.

She was politically aware like no one else I know except for Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert. She would have loved to have known that Obama got back in.

She was worried about that. She worried about a lot of things, however despite that she remained savvy, street smart with an intuition that was never wrong - ever.

She had an opinion on everything and she knew what she was talking about. She was fiery and yet quiet with a brain that never stopped ticking over.

She loved a cold beer and playing backyard cricket with her kids and our Dad. We all had many happy times with her. She loved laughing and she laughed a lot. She loved having people around her and having a good time.

Born in Armadale, Melbourne, 1922, Alyson grew up in Kew with her sister Dorothy and her brothers Ken and Lionel.

She went to Hawthorn West school. She adored her mother Mabel who died when Mum was 14.

Mum often said she never got over losing her mother. She spoke about Mabel a lot and we as children never got to meet her, however there were photographs of her and lovely stories told my Mum. Alyson travelled the world with my father Peter and said that moving to Sydney from Melbourne with Dad broadened their lives, she said it was the best thing they ever did.

Mum married Peter Rolle on June 14, 1947, at St Mary’s Church, Caulfield. They lived in Melbourne all their married life until they moved to Sydney in the early 70s.

They lived in Mosman and then moved to Forster, on the coast of northern NSW. We had a lot of fun up there. Fishing, playing cricket and all that goes with a seaside town.

And now it’s my turn Mum, I don’t think I will ever get over losing my mother either.

I am blessed to have great siblings and we will always look after each other. Since she has gone, I feel grown up, taller, stunned, sad and the world looks and feels different.

I will miss our phone calls. I will miss her wisdom and her laugh.

She will live on in me and I will speak to her every day.

My column this week is dedicated to my mother Alyson Mary Rolle.

● My mother Alyson with my brother Peter

Vale Paul Barber

Di

I love my job!

■ I want to talk about a wonderful gentle man – Paul Barber.

Paul was a delight. I had the privilege of working with him at Channel 7 when he produced Tonight Live With Steve Vizard.

We shared many laughs together. He loved his work. He was a great journalist and a terrific radio man. He spoke his mind and he lived his truth.

He loved the Collingwood Football Club. He loved his friends and he loved a laugh There were many happy times ● Paul Barber shared with him and Darren James and family, Derryn Hinch and the Finneys. Paul passed away on Friday evening (Nov. 9).

Paul, you will be missed. I loved our lunches at Box Hill, my train rides to get there and you being at the station waiting for us.

And you laughing as we arrived. You taught me many lessons. You were always interested in what I was up to.

Bali will never be the same again.

Vale Paul Barber.

Rolle Susan Boyle heads for Melbourne

■ I have long had a celebrity crush on Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert.

I also include Leigh Sales from 7.30 on the ABC in that group.

So I was really amused when I received a survey from Lonergan Research ● Jon Stewart reporting that Barry Humphries, Rebel Wilson, Magda Szubanski and Bert Newton are among our top celebrity crushes!

According to Lonergan Research, Australians value humour and heart above supermodel looks.

Almost 85 per cent of Aussies rate sense of humour and intelligence as more important than a perfect appearance, according to the survey of more than 1000 people.

Dave O’Neill would have to be my Aussie celebrity crush – I just love him and he is a great bloke to boot!

with leading Melbourne publicist DI ROLLE

■ In 1968 Andy Warhol said “everyone will be famous for 15 minutes”. How right he was.

Look at all the people who have been famous for 15 minutes.

I speak of Benjamin who won Big Brother last week. What a star he is. He has it all going for him and I do hope he is managed properly and doesn’t remain a 15-minute winner and that he doesn’t disappear.

He needs good management. He could have his own TV show if he plays his cards right.

Benjamin is a very impressive young man.

Who knows? He might be famous for longer than 15 minutes and end up having a musical produced for him! .

Someone who is having a musical produced for them is Susan Boyle. Her fame has gone from 15 minutes to a world-wide phenomenon – and it had to come ... a musical written called The Susan Boyle Musical, I Dreamed A Dream.

Direct from the UK, the new musical based

● Elaine C Smith as Susan Boyle

on the life of the global singing sensation will run next year in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre from May 31.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, November 26 . I thought what a great idea for a Christmas present for someone close.

I would love a musical based on my life.

Maybe it will happen one day!

Susan Boyle said this week: “I am thrilled that Australian audiences will have the opportunity to see the incredibly talented Elaine C. Smith in Ed Curtis’s amazing production of my official story.

“This has been an incredible ride and I hope to have the opportunity to visit Australia again when the production opens in Melbourne in May, 2013.”

The musical tells the story of Susan Boyle’s life, from her birth … and the hand which life dealt her, up to the present day. ● Turn To Page 57

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - Page 13

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Confidential Melbourne

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

VIC. GROUPS LOSE STATUS

Bitch Melbourne’s Secrets

‘Grubby’ lifts his game

● Diane ‘Dee Dee’ Dunleavy, Peter ‘Grubby’ Stubbs with Elise Elliott ■ 3AW Weekend Break co-presenter Peter ‘Grubby’ Stubbs lifted his fashion game at Saturday’s Emirates Stakes Day at Flemington, after being chastised for wearing a radio station windcheater to the racecourse at the previous Saturday’s Derby Day meeting.

New York state of mind

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

● As the Observer went to press, Rachel D Taylor was jetting her way back to Melbourne hoping that she would make it in time for Coldplay’s concert last night (Tues.) at Etihad Stadium. Rachel, Executive Director of The Production Company, was photographed on Fifth Avenue, New York City, just before her return flight.

■ A number of Victorian associations will lose their incorporation status this month, advises Deputy Registrar David Betts: Inbathamil Oli Listeners’ Association Inc.; Parkdale Senior Citizens Club Inc.; Waubra Preschool Inc.; Neighbourhood Watch Ed6 Inc.; Incipi Inc.; Edenvale Dressage Club Inc.; Mooroolbark Philatelic Society Inc.; Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Team (EERST) Australia Inc.; Protein Biology Association Inc.; Biz 3228 Inc.; Geelong Kyokushin Karate Organization Inc.; The Old Mentonians Volleyball Club Inc.; St. Art Inc.; Miracle Life Centre Inc.; Rochester and Lockington District Adult Riding Club Inc.; Thomas St Racquet Ball Inc.; Maroondah Retirement Village Inc.; Eltham Boxing Club Inc.; Diamond Valley Youth Boxing Club Inc.; Yarra People Inc.; Eastern Suburbs Roamers Association Inc.; Melbourne Chinese Basketball Club Inc.; Suzanne Cory High School Parents and Friends Association Inc.; Society Of Magnetic Resonance In Neuroscience Inc.; Woori Yallock T.O.W.N. Club Inc.; The Grainger Ensemble Inc.; Boronia Bolters Little Athletics Club Inc.; Bunninyong Pre School Inc.; Australian Commercial Dental Laboratories Association Inc.; Friends of Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief Fund Australia Inc.; Authors Australia Inc.; Oatlands Kindergarten Inc.; Building Consumers Collective of Australia Inc.; Southern Mental Health Association Inc.;Army Group SouthASLWargaming Group Inc.; Manangatang BadmintonAssociation Inc.; Maramba Kindergarten Inc.; Phoenix Club Inc.; North Essendon Ladies Probus Club Inc.; Fleetwood Kindergarten Inc.; Dandenong Festival of Music & Art for Youth Inc.; Lions Club of Culgoa Inc.; Yallourn North Kindergarten Inc.; Melbourne Stamp Show 2009 Inc.; Linga Longa Rockers Inc.; NSCIT National Society of Chartered Interpreters and Translators Inc.; Australian Medical Qigong Association Inc.

Rumour Mill

Contract

Hear It Here First

Talk of lawyers at Ten ■ Sacked Channel 10 newsreader Helen Kapalos is understood to have called in her lawyers after being fired by Ten News Director Dermot O’Brien and human resources boss Graeme Kethel on Friday night.

Kapalos was grabbed by the arm by the HR boss’s assistant, sacked by 6.30pm, with computer ● Helen Kapalos and security access shut off immediately. Kapalos had to battle to get access to her computer to print off a travel itinerary for her trip at the weekend to the United States.

■ There are persistent rumours that another BIG media name is about to be told that their contract is not going to be renewed.

Dummy

Defaulter faced jail ■ A Kilsyth man faced 62 days in jail after he was pulled over in Dorset Rd, Bayswater, in an operation being conducted by the Sheriff’s Office. The man owed $6374 in unpaid fines, which were paid by a relative to save the man going to prison.

PUBLIC TELLS FAIRFAX THAT PRODUCTS ARE ON THE NOSE

■ Fairfax Media, publishers of The Age, has suffered another dramatic fall in the circulation of their Melbourne daily newspaper.

The consistent drop in paid sales is far in excess of the falls being experienced by other publishers, with some readers transferring to online media products.

The Age Monday-Friday paid circulation dropped by 16.9 per cent to 158,485 copies in the July-September period. This was from a level of 190,760 copies in the same period in the previous year.

By comparison, the weekday sales of the Herald Sun dropped 4.4 per cent to 460,370 from 481,573.

The aqudited figures, announced at the weekend, saw The Age Saturday edition drop by 15.1 per cent, from 265,704 to 225,574.

The Sunday Age paid sales dropped by 15.4 per cent from 228,826 to 193,545.

Fairfax Media Chief Executive Greg Hywood is being paid more than $30,000 a week ($1.6 million a year) while presiding over the biggest circulation failures in the company’s history.

Whispers

● Greg Hywood Editor-after-editor has persisted in producing an Age with little relevance to readers who do not live in the inner-city areas such as Fitzroy and Carlton..

Fairfax has not been able to sell

newspapers in country areas, so has cancelled deliveries, citing them as “uneconomical”.

Large bundles of unsold copies of The Age are now commonplace on newsagency shelves in outer Melbourne suburbs.

Main news sections of The Age early in the week can measure as few as 16- or 20-pages. The Green Guide supplement on Thursdays has been reduced from 40 pages to 24 pages.

Some 1900 staff are being retrenched by Fairfax, many of them journalists and sub-editors.

Circulation falls of similar magnitude are being experienced by Fairfax’s NSW daily, The Sydney Morning Herald. Its Sydney Sunday newspaper, The Sun-Herald, has a sales level about half of what it was just years ago: 322,950.

The Sun-Herald has lost 21.3 per cent of its readers in 12 months.

Sales of the Fairfax national daily paper, The Australian Financial Review, have fallen 6.5 per cent to 68,425. The weekend edition is down 3.9 per cent to 69,012.

- Ash Long

There are only three days to take advantag of the Melbourne Observer’s $99 subscription deal. You will receive 45 editions, mailed to your letterbox anywhere in Australia. Coupon on Page 11. Or pay by card, phone 1-800 231 311.

● Kim Kardashian ■ A life-size model of Kim Kardashian again proved a hit amongst guests at the Swisse pavilion at the Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington hosted

by Mitch Catlin.

Claim ■ Nazareth College is due to be at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this morning (Wed.) to make a civil claim against Duncan Cowan, alleging “monies due”. There is to be an application to attach to earnings.

Quotable

● Aaron Rourke ■ Good to see Observer movie man Aaron Rourke’s opinion quoted in The Age’s full-page ad for The Intouchables on Friday.

Aaron’s advice is worth quoting.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 Melbourne

Observer

Ash On Wednesday

Teenager elected to local Council Short Shots

Long Shots

★

Freemasonry and Cricket

A Bentleigh cleaning company ius to face Court over allegations that it employed three Indian students without paying them. Amounts of $1170, $1205 and $4445 are alleged to have been unpaid.

Our Doors are Open!

How The Ashes was born

✩

Victorian publishing company, Newspaper House, has been running full-page ads for its website for its Free Press and Review newspapers. The ads have had every thing except the website address.

✭

● David Eden ■ Mentone Grammar School student David Eden, 18, has been elected as a Councillor at the City of Kingston.

Cr Eden had to share his first day Councillor duties with a three-hour VCE English exam.

The Ashes Photo courtesy Melbourne Cricket Club Library Collection With the days becoming longer and warmer, we know that summer is on its way back to us from the Northern Hemisphere.

As summer returns to us, so does cricket season.

But did you know that the most famous of our cricket rivalries, The Ashes, was born in the home of a Freemason?

In August 1882, Australia enjoyed its first defeat of the English cricket team.

The shock victory prompted sporting journalist, Reginald Brooks, to publish a tongue-in-cheek obituary for English cricket, advising that the ashes of English cricket would be taken to Australia.

Later that year, Victoria’s first Grand Master, Sir William John Clarke, Baronet, was sailing home to Australia with his family after a tour of Europe, on the same vessel as the English cricket team.

Sir William, being president of the Melbourne Cricket Club, invited the English cricketers to spend the Christmas holidays at Rupertswood, his family home.

On Christmas Eve, an after-lunch cricket game was held, between the English cricketers and a local team. Nobody kept particular score, but all agreed that the English had won the ‘tournament’.

Later that day, Lady Clarke presented English Captain Ivo Bligh with a small pottery urn that she maintained held the ashes of a burnt bail - the ashes of ‘English cricket’ that his team had won the right to take back to England. England did go on to win two of the three official matches that they were in Melbourne to play, but it was Lady Clarke’s presentation of the ‘real trophy’ for which England and Australia could now play that became Ivo Blight’s prized possession.

Interestingly, nobody really knew about the urn until it was presented to Lords after his death in 1927, although The Ashes became the unofficial name for test cricket played between Australia and England from that meeting in Melbourne at the end of 1882.

Because cricket is always played in summer and the two nations alternate as host, the next Ashes series will be played next year in England.

Freemasons Victoria Library and Museum has Sir William's Master Masons Certificate, dated May 9, 1857, for Tasmanian Lodge No. 781, Hobart Town, Van Dieman's Land.

You can see the certificate, along with a myriad of other interesting Masonic items, during Library opening hours.

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

Sky watch ■ Tyabb woman Deborah Waterstone has been fined $20,000 after aerial photos of her property showed an illegal pool, verandah and deck.

Ms Waterstone will also have to pay $3220 costs incurred by Mornington Peninsula Shire, Magistrate Franz Holzer ruled.

Dixon Records at Camberwell have published a large colour advertisement mourning the passing of Moses the cat, describing him as a “beloved employee and friend”.

★

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”

Isobell’s 95th

Complaints have been lodged about e-mails sent to Moreland Council candidates by Jenny Jacomb, who described herself as Secretary of the Moreland Residents and Ratepayers Action Group.

Jacomb demanded complete access to the bank account records of candidates, ending her e-mail with “you will comply!”

✩

First-time offender Anthony Koncik, 20, from Endeavour Hills, has escaped a jail term after he faced Court, charged with choking his girlfriend after he found her in a car with another man at the Mentone foreshore car park about 11.45pm. Koncik has been placed on a 12-month Community Corrections Order, and must perform 150 hours of unpaid community work.

✭

The Age newspaper says it had 31,502 digital subscribers in the July-September audit period.

The company wants to introduce a paywall for regular users early next year.

★

Margaret Fulton: Queen Of The Desserts will be staged at Theatre Works, St Kilda, from November 21. Amy Lehpamer has the lead role in the show written by Doug McLeod.

Granted bail

✩

Knox City Council could reap as much as $1.5 million in fines from the 26 per cent of residents who did not vote in the municipal elections. At Yarra City, only 52 per cent voted.

● Fleur Long is pictured with her mother Isobell Tunzi on her 95th birthday celebrated at the weekend at Moubray House at the Coppin Centre of Royal Freemasons.

■ Richard Meyzis, 38, of Mernda, has been granted bail, after appearing at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court, accused of filming a Preston woman before allegedly attacking her.

He faces charges of indecent assault, stalking and using an optical surveillance device. He returns to Court on December 10.

Countdown ■ Only five m,ore Observers to go before Christmas.

■ Phone me direct on 9439 9927 if you want discount-priced advertising in the Melbourne Observer in the lead-up to Christmas.

&

Short Sharp ■ David Muscat is reportedly being investigated for running as a candidate in the City of Manningham elections, and not declaring that he had a conviction for assault ■ Victorian actress Marney McQueen is taking her one-woman show, Rump Steak On A Vegan BBQ, to the Tallarook Mechanics Institute this Saturday (Nov. 17). Marney’s parents live nearby at Strath Creek.

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 © 2012, 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.

✭

John Blackman is hosting a fundraiser for the Victorian Blind Cricket Association to be held at the Hume and Hovell Cricket Ground, Strath Creek, this Sunday (Nov. 18)

★

Former car dealer Colin McKenzie, 52, of Warburton, is to face Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on January 21, facing 52 charges alleging that he defrauded more than $½-million from finance companies. It will be alleged he falsified documents intended to finance new and used cars.

✩

Former Western Bulldogs star footballer Doug Hawkins is to coach Bacchus Marsh in 2013.

Observer Treasury Thought For The Week

■ “If it was as easy to arouse enthusiasm as it is suspicion, just think what could be accomplished.”

- The Buloke Times

Observer Curmudgeon

■ “When a man has a birthday he make take a day off. When a woman has a birthday, she may take as much as five years off.”

Text For The Week

■ “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

- 1 Peter 5:6-7

Use the discount coupon on Page 11 to obtain 45 issues of the Observer for $99. Phone 1-800 231 311

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - Page 15

Showbiz Extra

News Briefs

‘Me And Jezebel’ at Mount Waverley ■ Peridot Theatre Company presents Me And Jezebel until November 24 at the Unicorn Theatre, Mount Waverley Secondary College, Lechte Rd., Mount Waverley.

Directed by Helen Ellis, Me And Jezebel is playwright Elizabeth Fuller's true life account of the events of the summer of 1985 when screen legend Bette Davis came to her home in Connecticut to stay for one night and ended up staying for a month. Tickets: $23/$20.

Bookings: 1300 138645 (landline) or 9898 9090 (mobiles).

- Cheryl Threadgold ● Katherine Hubbard in Peridot Theatre Company's production of Me And Jezebel, which runs until November 24.

Photo: Annette DeBoer

■ An opening night function was scheduled last night (Tues.) at the Glen Eira City Council Art Gallery, Caulfield, for Three Artists.

Jenny Pihan Fine Art of Hampton is holding an exhibition with the works of Paul Margocsy, Peter Smales and John Scott.

■ An evening with Nobel Laureate, Peter Doherty, was scheduled to be hled night (Tues.) at Montsalvat, Eltham, in association with Eltham Bookshop and Melbourne University Press.

■ David Collins and Tanya Wilks of Newcastle are being billed by radioinfo.com.au as Australia’s longest-running pair.

Melbourne’s ‘Bruce and Phil’ have been together longer, but had a year’s break when Bruce was sacked by 3AW.

Melbourne

Observer Life & Style

Court Rounds

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

■ What a great time I had last week. There was so much happening I didn’t have a minute to spare. It was not the norm, so it was all the more enjoyable.

Being a carer makes you re-think your schedule every day.

We used to try and do certain things on special days of the week, such as the laundry on Monday and the shopping on Thursday and so on.

But things have changed since Peter has become incapacitated, and it is all for the better.

The patient comes first and everything else pales into ‘later’.

Who cares if the laundry isn’t done on Monday?

Any day will do, and seeing there are only two people in this house the laundry bundle is not huge or indeed important.

Now I get rid of a cobweb when I see it, but if I miss it, c’est la vie.

Yvonne’s Column

Nicole comes close second

Giant bums on the TV ■ It was a week of relaxing and enjoying the things in life that keep me happy whilst keeping up with my duties to the ‘sickie.’

Being into politics albeit American, and a Royalist, I could enjoy two of my favourite events on the one day.

How lucky was I to think that I could enjoy another Royal visit.

And having a new larger television was terrific, even if everyone looked to have huge bums. I haven’t read the instructions properly and adjusted the size of bums yet, but who cares. It just made Peter laugh.

Camilla looked elegant every day of her visit, and it was such a joy to see that the people have at last taken to her. I didn’t hear one catty or nasty word, nor did I read it in the press either.

She won extra bouquets from me when she adopted a little ‘Heinz 57 Variety’ dog that was on death row at a local animal welfare shelter. What a lucky little dog is he? It’s usually corgis that have the run of a palace.

Great sense of humour ■ Prince Charles is looking so happy and I’m sure it is the personality of the Duchess that makes him so.

Friends of mine who have met her tell me she has a wonderful sense of humour and is a great hostess. In fact, they say that she makes the Prince laugh – so what more could a man want.

Besides, Prince William and Harry openly confess that they love her because she makes their father happy.

And she has become a confidant of the Queen, which in itself says a lot.

If you haven’t noticed, the Duchess has terrific legs.

Peter suggested that it may be all the horse riding she does.

And how wise she was to wear shoes with a low heel and not go for the ridiculous ‘follow me heels,’ to do all the walking that is expected. I speak from experience.

I wonder how many sprains and broken ankles were diagnosed the day after the Cup, particularly those women who had drunk too much bubbly and were wobbling around on these dangerous heels.

Opposition during the last State election when he was calling results on television.

I was embarrassed not only for the Labor Party but for him. Come to think of it, when will our Ministers learn that it is a privilege to become a Member of Parliament and to conduct themselves with dignity.

Where is the wit of yesteryear? It used to be enjoyable to watch Parliament.

Nowadays, it is toe curling to listen to some of the comments that are shouted across the House.

There is one Victorian MP who almost daily uses Facebook to tell us what he is doing.

It doesn’t appear to be much considering the time he spends on Facebook. He usually badmouths the Prime Minister. Does he think he is funny?

His words are as boring as himself, and does his party no favours.

with Yvonne Lawrence yvonne.lawrence@bigpond.com

I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many women who discarded their shoes and walked around in bare feet.

Not a pretty sight.

America owes squillions ■ We spent Melbourne Cup Day at home like Darby and Joan, and in between serving a delicious crayfish salad and making sure the champagne was on ice, plus attending to my carer’s duties, my eyes were glued to the television to catch up with the Presidential elections between races, and I missed nothing.

It was great having my husband incapacitated because I had a captive audience to discuss the politics of America, and what it would mean to Australia if Republican Mitt Romney had won.

So the Presidential election had me on my toes. I wanted Barack Obama to have a second term, and you could hear me cheering when a tired, but exuberant Obama took centre stage to claim victory for a second term.

He’ll have his work cut out for him.

I thought that Australia was in debt owing a kings ransom, but it is piggy bank coinage compared to the squillions America owes.

No wonder Wayne Swan thinks our debt is really nothing to worry about.

Americans show the way ■ The American way of showing the television viewers how each State is voting during an election makes for easy understanding. Hopefully our television stations will take note.

I’d hate to see, ever again, the nastiness and rudeness of Daniel Andrews, the now Labor Leader of the

■ If all the events made me happy, then the weather really did. Beautiful weather and the garden was looking almost as good as the roses at the races – well, almost.

Something that made us feel so happy was playing a new CD of Il Divo. Their selection is just delightful, but the best is their version of ‘Hallelujah, which I played over and over again.

Didn’t Nicole Kidman look stunning in her Edwardian style My Fair Lady inspired outfit?

No actress will ever look as good as Audrey Hepburn did, but Nicole comes a very close second.

I’ll have another responsibility added to my carer’s duties next week when we install new summer magnetic closing curtains on the rear doors and Moosh will have to learn that the cat door has gone and he only has to push the curtain and he’s in.

I’m sure it won’t take him long, but hopefully a possum doesn’t become too inquisitive.

At least it will keep the insects out, we hope!

Playing possum ■ Those ringtail possums, in one night chomped every leaf and small fruit off my loquat tree. There was only one branch left that they couldn’t reach.

I’ve been standing guard because three big loquats are getting colour and should be ready for eating any time.

Unfortunately the Ninja possums will be casing the tree too, so I’ve put up a couple of rubber snakes to scare them off before I can pick them.

It will be a case of the survival of the fastest, I think.

My lovely big bushytailed possums would never think of doing anything so dastardly because I feed them a gourmet meal every night. Besides, they are so fat and heavy the branches wouldn’t bear their weight.

Hope you had a great Melbourne Cup Carnival, managed a glimpse of the Royal couple, were lucky with your horses and thoroughly enjoyed your day.

- Yvonne Contact: Melbourne Observer, P.O. Box 1278. Research 3095 3WBC 94.1FM, P.O. Box 159, Box Hill 3218

Fined $46,200 ■ A national service station operator has been fined $46,200 for underpaying more than 200 employees.

The penalty has been imposed against Freedom Fuels Australia Pty Ltd - a company which operates service stations in Victoria and elsewhere.

The penalty is the result of a prosecution by the FairWork Ombudsman.

Freedom Fuels Australia admitted in Court that it underpaid 234 employees a total of $191,197 between May 2006 and July 2009.

The employees, including a number of juniors aged under-21, worked as casual and part-time console operators.

Fifty-six employees in Victoria - at locations including Melbourne, Sale, Traralgon, Churchill, Moe and Morwell - were underpaid $73,905.

The employees were underpaid overtime rates and penalty rates for weekend, shift and public holiday work.

Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson says the Court's decision sends a message that underpaying lowpaid, vulnerable workers is a serious matter.

Freedom Fuels Australia has directly back-paid the underpaid workers it has been able to locate - and has paid to the Collector of Public Monies all entitlements owing to the many underpaid workers it has not been able to locate.

Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

■ John Wood has been a great survivor in the entertainment business in Australia.

John has been working in film, television, stage and voiceovers for many years. He has been very popular as an actor in several hit television series such as Blue Heelers and Rafferty's Rules.

John Wood was born in Melbourne in 1946.

Whilst at Ringwood Technical College he formed a drama group with his English teacher John Ellis and this led to his joining Melbourne Youth Theatre with young actors such as Max Gillies, Wendy Hughes and Peter Curtain.

John graduated from NIDA in 1969 and one of his first television roles was in the ABC ‘soap opera’ Bellbird. Sadly very little footage of Bellbird exists today.

He is a talented script writer and has written episodes for television series such as Prisoner, Cop Shop, The Sullivans and Blue Heelers.

His first significant ongoing role in a television series was as the magistrate Michael Rafferty in Rafferty's Rules. John won the TV Week Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor in 1988 and 1989.

I remember when the first episode of Blue Heelers was screened on Channel 7 in 1993.

There was a technical glitch in the sound and the episode was repeated, the publicity may have helped to bring attention to the new series.

John played Sen. Sgt. Tom Croydon for 13 years. He won the Logie Award for Most Popu-

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whatever Happened To ...

John Wood

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM lar Actor twice and after many years of being nominated won the Gold Logie in 2006.

His theatre roles have included Twelfth Night, The Crucible, Away, The Club, My Fair Lady, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Art, The Elocution Of Benjamin Franklin and King Of Country.

I was actually onstage with John in The Real Inspector Hound when a group of audience members were invited to sit onstage and be a part of the play. I must remember to put that in my CV. John has portrayed Alan Bond on two occasions, firstly in the television mini series The Challenge and then recently in Killing Time.

His film roles have included Blue Fire Lady,

● John Wood

The Empty Beach, Ginger Meggs and The Bit Part.

In 2004 John was a contestant on Dancing With The Stars and his dancing partner was Jenni Pedersen.

In 2006 he was the host for the Channel 9 documentary series Wine Me, Dine Me. Last year John played a character role in Neighbours for six months. I really enjoyed the story on John Wood in the series Who Do You Think You Are? which traced his family history and focussed on his father's experiences as a prisoner of war in Europe during the Second World War. John is working on a new film in Wagga and may be starring in the stage adaptation of the film Strange Bedfellows.

He will be seen on television in The Doctor Blake Mysteries in 2013.

John and his wife Leslie have been happily married for 42 years and they have two daughters. John Wood is always busy in his chosen profession and is one of our most popular Australian actors.

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.

ABORIGINES USE ESP TO COMMUNICATE

■ A regular reader, Dan Webb, called me last week with a query: "Have you ever read a book called Lightning Ridge by Ion Idriess?

I replied that indeed I had - three times!

Mr Idriess was a noted writer of the Australian Outback and its characters and their adventures early in the last century, and I became devoted to his works at about age 12.

Not only did he tell stories of Lightning Ridge, but there are dozens of other volumes, including probably his most famous, Lasseter's Last Ride.

I had read many of his volumes early in my teens, and have revisited a few sporadically ever since.

Whilst I never met him, there were a couple of obscure connections, family and otherwise.

Firstly, my dad supplied some photographs for one of his early books, Men Of The Jungle, about the Gulf Country.

They were taken by his dad, Dudley, who was then director of the Melbourne Zoo, on a trip up there.

Indeed there is a Le Souef Creek on the road to Cooktown, a photo of which Keith McGowan sent me last year during his tropical trip.

Then, in another volume about Aborigines of the Kimberley region, he describes how they employed ESP to convey messages to friends hundreds of miles away.

Ted Egan told me that he had seen the same thing with the Walpiri people around Alice.

And he was a firm believer in the existence of a mysterious striped marsupial cat in the jungles of Far North Queensland.

My great Uncle Sher, who built Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney, wrote a definitive book on Australian animals back then, and was of the same opinion, and controversially included it in the volume.

No one's found one yet!

■ At the Lightning Ridge Easter Cup, not only do horses race around the track, but goats as well.

Then there are the lizard races in Western Queensland, annually at the Quilpie show.

They catch a few bearded dragons and train them up. I have also heard of stumpy-tail and sand goanna races somewhere in the bush, but I can't recall where.

But in the Territory, 50 kms out of

The Outback Legend

with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au Darwin, there's the Noonamah Cup for frog racing! The participants catch 24 Green Tree Frogs, which are quite spectacular creatures, brightly coloured, almost luminescent.

They are fed on a strict diet of crickets before the race day, and then each frog is purchased by a local business for the ‘naming rights’.

There are three heats with eight frogs each, the first three in each one advancing to ‘the race that stops Noonamah’.

They are obviously wagered on, and last year they raised $14,000 for Variety and a few other community projects.

Noonamah Tavern owner Dean Innes said that he hoped they'd beat that this year.

I have always loved these frogs, and have often had them as pets.

Apparently the winner of the first race, decades ago, immediately ate his frog after its win!

Araluen on Saturday night residents were forced to huddle in their homes while a mob of dozens of drunken young people invaded.

Apparently it was the aftermath of a nearby party, and a mob just took to the streets, fighting and smashing cars and property and bottles of grog as they surged through.

Terrified residents locked themselves in as they rampaged through their yards, grabbing lumps of wood to use as weapons to attack passing cars and each other.

"One kid fell over, and a bunch of 10 or so laid into him and started kicking," one resident reported.

Even when the police arrived they abused them and fought with them. It lasted till about 4am.

Some of these drunken kids were as young as 10, so what hope have they got for any possible productive future?

It is despairing.

■ And further up north, the same thing is happening.

The community of Wadeye has just seen its worst violence "in 50 years" according to some observers.

There are a couple of gangs rampant in the town - Judas Priest, and rivals Evil Warriors, and the recent death of the Judas Priest gang leader was a recipe for disaster, and a full blown riot broke out amongst about 200 people, involving various weapons.

The community was known as Port Keats when I was in the Territory, and was always in the news for all these wrong reasons.

At one stage it was reported that some of the residents would gather up a few surplus camp dogs for a bit of "sport".

This consisted of tying the hapless canines up to stakes on the shore at low tide.

As the waters rose, the "sport" was watching the local crocodiles swim up and attack and devour the dogs.

(As with the cruelly-treated camp dogs in Alice, ne'er an RSPCA officer to be seen!)

Some advisers, with a modicum of PR sense, eventually told them that this gruesome activity wasn't doing their image much good.

■ A couple of incidents just filled me ■ And then there is an "only in the with a sense of hopelessness last NT" moment! week.

A gentleman, Paul James, had been In the Alice Springs suburb of sleeping in his car for a few weeks at

● Ion Idriess

Darwin's Mindil Beach, famous for its markets.

However, because of the final market one night, he had to move to nearby Vesty's Beach, a "putrid place", he reported.

He was happily asleep in his car when he awoke to find a naked man in the back, with his hands groping all over him.

"How would you feel if someone woke you up with his hands all over you?"

Mr James jumped out of the car, as did the perpetrator, and chased him, managing to land a few blows along the way before he escaped.

He then found some thongs and jocks in the back seat, so he took them to the police and reported the incident.

And what eventually happened?

The man himself contacted police to claim his lost undies back!

- Nick Le Souef ‘The Outback Legend’

From The Outer

Melbourne

Observer

kojak@ mmnet.com.au

With John Pasquarelli

■ The sudden rush for our students to learn other languages needs serious consideration.

I'm not joking but many of our teachers today can't spell properly so how could they even start to teach English?

Many Indians I know are very proud of their fluency in English and that language is taught in their homeland yet we are being told that we must learn Hindi?

We see Chinese students in Australia attending English classes yet we must learn Mandarin? Aboriginies who are taught English as a second language find themselves hopelessly handicapped when it comes to finding a proper job - we do live in a crazy world.

English is the international language of business and diplomacy and while there are reasons for a minority of students to specialise in a particular language, our MPs should stand back and seriously think before opening their mouths about the latest politically correct edict.

The cost of setting up all these foreign language courses would be huge and this point alone proves that most of our MPs speak before thinking so the Coalition should pause and reflect.

Maybe the need to speak these languages is to allow us to say 'I surrender' when the time comes?

- John Pasquarelli, kojak@mmnet.com.au