Melbourne Observer. 120815A. August 15, 2012. Part A. Pages 1-16

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● At back, from left: Kate Moore, Brian Cadd, Jon Stevens, Jim Keays, Col Joye and Maree Jacobs . In front, from left: John Paul Young , Russell Morris

LONG WAY TO THE TOP

J LO HEADS TO MELB. Page 20

■ Australian rock-n-roll legends gathered in Melbourne this past week to record national TV publicity for the Long Way To The Top concerts that start touring from October 5.

Melbourne Observer columnist Di Rolle has all the details of the reunuion tour - which pays tribute to Billy Thorpe - on Page 41.

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■ Maeve Healy and Tim Weber in Track Youth Theatre’s production of Ali Baba! being presented this week on August 17 and 18 at 7.30pm and August 17 at 2.00pm at the Renaissance Theatre, High St, Kew East. Written and directed by Ed Bailey, the show is an all-singing, all-dancing pantomime based around the traditional story of Ali Baba. It tells how poor Ali discovers the cave where Abu Hassan and his 40 thieves hide their stolen treasure. Lots of excitement and adventure follows, finishing with a happy ending where people live happily ever after. The show is performed by 45 eager youngsters aged 9 to 16 who play merchants, slaves and thieves in wonderful colourful costumes. There are spectacular dances and songs, and lots of terrible jokes in typical pantomime style! Track Youth Theatre was started in 1980, and, has performed at the Renaissance Theatre since 1981. The group is run by Ed Bailey, assisted by his wife Maureen and a team of dedicated helpers – parents and volunteers - support the kids. It is suitable for ages 3 and over, with much of the humour directed at adults. Tickets: $15 adult, $10 concession. Bookings: 9818 3811. Tickets also available at door.

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City Desk

Melbourne

Observer

The hottest news about Melbourne’s A-listers

The Buzz

Best newcomer nod

Party-time

● Yumi Stynes

● Valentina Jovanoska ■ Melbourne events organiserextraordinaire Valentina Jovanoska held a ‘Before the Madness’ cocktail party for friends at the weekend, prior to the Spring fashion festival and racing season.

Guests spotted at the Prahran soiree included Stasia Raft, Tara Bishop, Sally Freud, Matthew Anderson, Joshua Klein, Christian Wagstaff, Natasha Stipanov and Suzanne Carbone.

VJ's schedule includes a runway featuring 30 brands, nine shows, the QV Gam Zone over three weeks, the WTC Gypsy Festival and Cup marquees.

● Jennifer Lopez

■ Mega-celebrity Jennifer Lopez will perform at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday, December 11.

The Latino’s Dance Again show will also tour Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

“I can’t wait to get to Australia and that side of the world. We are going to dance and sing all night,” Lopez said.

Her boyfriend, Casper Smart, 25, is choreographer for the show.

Her twins, Max and Emme, are likely to accompany her.

Jennifer - who says in interviews she is still ‘Jenny From The Bronx’ is listed by Forbes magazine as the world’s most powerful and influential celebrity.

Her films include Selena, Anaconda, The Cell, The Wedding Planner, Angel Eyes, Enough, Maid In Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, Bordertown and The Back-Up Plan.

Tickets for the Melbourne go on sale on Tuesday (Aug. 21).

★ ★ ★

Graffiti artist Fred Fowler (also known as Nurok) opens the Decorating The Apocalypse exhibition at Blackwoods Gallery, Easey St, Collingwood, this Friday (Aug. 17).

A fine art charity auction will be held at Menzies Gallery in South Yarra on Sunday, August 26. Conducted by the Lasallian Foundation, proceeds will be directed to Sri Lankan children, says Louise Mitchell.

Dean, David and Murray Godfrey - the men who run the Melway street directory business - will launch their 40th directory at the Melbourne Town Hall on Tuesday (Aug. 21).

Melbourne Moments Tash To Europe

Melbourne Day

■ Leaving their blokes behind in Melbourne, Crown Media Relations Manager Natasha Stipanov, and gal pal Li Hawkins, leave this week for Europe.

Their 3½-week tour will be based from Venice.

■ Siobhan Browne, Executive Oficer of the Melbourne Day Committee, says the August 30 celebrations look to be bigger than ever before. Lord Mayor Cr Robert Doyle will raise the flag at 10.30am.

Highlights include, a flag raising ceremony at Enterprize Park, a regatta on Victoria Harbour, the annual Melbourne Day Debate, a corporate breakfast, a schools program and many free or discounted offers at attractions across the city.

Free cruises will be available on Sunday, August 26.

Opening night ■ Rhonda Burchmore opens her show, Cry Me A River: The Julie London Story, at The Comedy Theatre tomorrow (Thirs.). She will perform five shows.

Under The Clocks Games gold

JENNIFER LOPEZ D N U O B E N R U O B L ME

Work to do

● Eddie McGuire ■ As soon as the QANTAS jet from London hits the Tullamarine runway, MMM radio host Eddie McGuire has work to do. The latest radio ratings show McGuire’s Hot Breakfast audience from 7.5 per cent to 5.8 - losing almost a quarter of his listeners.

■ Fresh from her departure from Network 10 after The Circle was axed, Yumi Stynes has received a nomination for ‘Best Newcomer On Air’ in the Commercial Radio Awards to be presented in October.

Yumi appears on The 3pm Pickup with Chrissie Swan on Melbourne’s Mix 101.1.

Stynes will compete for the metro award against Fox FM’s Ella Hooper, Dave ‘Gleeso’Glesson from Adelaide’s Triple M, and Marty Johns of Sydney’s Triple M. More details, Page 42

● Natsha Stipanov

● Dan Webb ■ The London 2012 Games are over ... but veteran Melbourne newsman Dan Webb had memories of the 1956 ‘Friendly Games’ for listeners to 3AW’s Nightline this week.

Dan told Bruce Mansfield, Philip Brady and John Blackman that he was one of three commentators for HSV-7. The others were Ron Casey and Bill Collins. Alf Potter was the Director. Gordon Bennett filmed events.

They worked 10am-5pm at the MCG, and then took the station’s three cameras to Olympic Park for the evening events.

Royals at Cup?

● Charles and Camilla ■ 3AW’s Rumour File last Thursday carried the rumour that Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be guests at the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, November 6.

The Royals are visiting Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Canada as part of the Queen’s 60th Diamond Jubilee.

Deb’s venture

Book underway ■ Dan Webb, whose working career included 3DB and HSV-7 from its opening night in November 1956, is maintaining a busy schedule in retirement.

He is penning a biography of Bill Marriott of Mount Buffalo fame.

Dan will also be one of those present at the August 30 meeting of The 44 Club, a group of former senior Herald & Weekly Times staff who meet for lunch at the RACV Club. Guest speaker is Observer Editor Ash Long.

● Debra Byrne ■ Fresh from her role in the shortlived Nine Network series, Tricky Business, Debra Byrne is starting a talent school in the Werribee region.

The one-time Young Talent Time performer is keen to pass on real entertainment tuition, as opposed to the trend to focus five-year-olds into false eyelashes and revealing stage costumes.

What’s On In Melbourne

Angela Ceberano of Flourish PR has announced that Nickelback's ★ Melbourne fans will enjoy an extra show at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday November 28.

Curator Cindy Seeberger advises that Beleura House and Garden, ★ Mornington, has been granted museum accreditation after a visit by Museums Australia (Victoria).

Nicole Vignone tells us that Crown Melbourne will have its Focus ★ On Footy exhibition from August 27 to October 7, featuring portraits of Shane Crawford, Eddie McGuire, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Nathan Buckley, Molly Meldrum, Kevin Sheedy, Ron Barassi, James Hird, Sam Newman and Jimmy Bartel

Page 4 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

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Mark Richardson ♥ Straight from the heart

E-Mail: mark@localmedia.com.au

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

■ The Humour Foundation is an Australian charity founded in 1997

by General Practitioner Dr Peter Spitzer and professional performer John Paul Bell who wanted to give something back to the community.

They had often talked about the 'art of medicine'.

Clown Doctors were created and work alongside health professionals and parody the hospital routine helping children adapt to hospital life, diverting their attention during procedures, instilling calm in emergency and providing encouragement during physiotherapy.

The Clown Doctors program does not receive government funding, yet, the foundation remains dedicated to promoting and delivering the health benefits of humour to patients through community support including, fundraising events, sponsorship and grants.

Research has shown that there are many health benefits to humour including the relief of fear and stress to aid recovery, boosting the immune

Fantastic Porch Thoughts system, benefiting the heart and respiratory system and creating endorphins often alleviating pain.

Currently there are 55 highly skilled, colourful and engaging Clown Doctors that work in 21 hospitals around Australia and make positive differences to 135, 000 people each year.

Clown Doctors visit all major Victorian children's hospitals including the Royal Children's Hospital, Monash Medical Centre, the Northern Hospital Victoria and in the Geelong Hospital Children's Ward.

In between 'Clown Rounds', I caught up with Josephine Lange, who since 2007, continues to create smiles for hundreds of patients each week as the singing, ukulele playing and bubble blowing, Dr Fantastic.

What inspired you to become a Clown Doctor?

I was inspired by the possibility of taking care of the parts of a child that medicine can't always get to.

As a child smiles, you can feel a lightness in the room.

What is your take on clowning around?

Clowning is less about trying to be funny and more about finding play. I need to be open to my vulnerability and stupidity.

What is the art of being a Clown Doctor?

Having 360 degree vision.

Within a second, I need to be aware of my surroundings and know how a child is reacting to me, their parents, doctors, siblings, other patients and I need to work out how incorporate them all.

Do you have a performance background?

Yes, I trained at The John Bolton Theatre School with a focus on physical theatre including mask, clown and improvisation. I also have a strong background in music.

While there are no official qualifications to be a clown doctor, we all have performance backgrounds.

It's important to understand the craft of play and performance, as well as having a strong sense of empathy.

How did you create Dr Fantastic?

I created a costume that inspired me to play in. Dr Fantastic is a constantly growing, the more I work, the more I find what works.

There is a lot of self-reflection and we have regular professional development classes to expand what we do.

What do you think children feel when a clown first appears?

Each child has a different reaction. You can never be sure of how you're going to be received, so I never burst into a room. Our routines start with doing something fairly small from a distance or in a doorway. What we do after that will depend on the reaction we receive.

What makes for a great day for

● Back (from left): Dr Nose, Dr Achoo, Dr Doctor, Dr Fairy Floss, Dr Clever. Front (from left): Dr Tickle, Dr Fantastic, Dr Nurse, Dr Noodles Dr Fantastic?

Changing an outcome. I met one boy in pathology and while he was having his blood taken I did some slapstick which he enjoyed.

For some reason Dr Fantastic couldn't find the door and kept walking into the walls. At the end of the visit, his dad told me at his last blood test, they had to hold his son down.

What is the best reaction to Dr Fantastic you recall?

It came from a dad. I'd been told his daughter was gravely ill. As I was playing with his daughter he made a phone call. I heard him say to the person on the line, "Listen to this, she's laughing. She's laughing!"

Clown Doctors visit all wards, including burns, oncology, emergency ● Jo Lange and intensive care and foyers, (Dr Fantastic) where do you enjoy spreading your The Humour Foundation is a humour the most?

I love the distraction work we do not-for-profit organisation, how in burns and pathology. We make a can people or businesses support huge difference there. But I also love the work of Clown Doctors?

The best support is regular supthe wards. Especially when parents tell you it's the first time their child port. The Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund is a Foundhas smiled in a week or more.

What is the key for a clown work- ing Partner and has been supporting ing alongside health professionals? The Humour Foundation since Find out what they need from you 1999. Cadbury became Principal and then try to provide it. Because and Strategic Partner in 2003. Busiwe're not doctors, we can some- nesses and individuals can sponsor times get kids to do things they Clown Doctors. There is more inforwouldn't do for 'serious' grown-ups. mation on our website www.clown If a doctor needs to see if a child doctors.org.au What is your Porch Thought of can reach out or walk or move in a certain way, we can set up toys for The Day? Our vulnerability is the greatest them to reach for or bubbles to catch.

Who else can benefit from Clown gift we can give to ourselves and the world.

Doctors?

What is Dr Fantastic's Porch joke The elderly. We're starting an Elders Clown program in aged-care of the Day? What do you call a fish with no facilities. It's a different kind of eyes? A fsh. clowning, but one that's very effective.

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - Page 5

Breaking News

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

MARRINER WINS LEGAL CASE Observer OVER LAGUNA QUAYS RESORT In This 56-Page Edition

City Desk: Melbourne’s A-Listers ........... Page 3 Straight From Heart: Mark Richardson ... Page 4 Melbourne People: Been and Seen ........ Page 6 Cartoonist: Matt Bissett-Johnson .......... Page 9 Di Rolle: What’s On In Melbourne ......... Page 10 Melb. Confidential: It’s your funeral ...... Page 11 Long Shots: Next radio champ named ... Page 12 Yvonne Lawrence: Life and Style .......... Page 13 Melb. Extra: Kevin Trask’s column ......... Page 14 Magazine: Lou - My Magnificent Life ..... Page 15 Readers’ Club: Birthdays, recipes ......... Page 16 Commerical Radio, ABC Awards Lists Local Theatre Movies, DVDs

Dead heat in Eisteddfod

Observer Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

● St Columba’s College (above) tied with Fairhills High School in the Rock Eisteddford Challenge held at Hisense Arena on Friday night ■ The presentation by St Columba’s ColVIC SCHOOLS COMPETE lege of A Grim Tale, a fable inspired by the Global Financial Crisis, led to a dead heat in munity College and Traralgon College. the Rock Eisteddford Challenge with Fairhills Award of Excellence for Drama: Parade College which performed People Over Profit. College, Eltham High School, St Columba’s Brunswick Secondary College achieved College, Fairhills High School, Brunswick third place in the Premier Division.

Secondary College, Overnewton Anglican Production Judge Alison Ross described St Community College and Traralgon College.

Columba’s performance as “clever, fabulous Award of Excellence for Soundtrack: Paand bold”, while performance judge John rade College, Knox United, St Columba’s Gray said Fairhills show was “a powerful College, Fairhills High School, Brunswick and thrilling performance”.

Secondary College and Traralgon College.

First Place in Open Division went to PaAward of Excellence for Set, Design and rade College for a performance that explored Function: Parade College, Gladstone Park technology and its hold, with second place Secondary College, Knox United, St awarded to Eltham High School with their Columba’s College, Fairhills High School, performance Studio 11: Apollo Landing.

Brunswick Secondary College and OverThe Edge Award of Excellence for Chore- newton Anglican Community College. ography: Parade College, Eltham High Award of Excellence for Costuming CharSchool, Knox United, St Columba’s College, acter: Parade College, Gladstone Park SecBrunswick Secondary College, Overnewton ondary College, Eltham High School, Knox Anglican Community College, St Helena Sec- United, St Columba’s College, Fairhills High ondary College, Fairhills High School and School, Brunswick Secondary College, OverTraralgon College. newtonAnglican Community College, St HelAward of Excellence for Stage Use: ena Secondary College, Belmont High School Gladstone Park Secondary College, Eltham and Traralgon College.

High School, Knox United, St Columba’s Award of Excellence for Visual EnhanceCollege, Fairhills High School, Brunswick ment: Knox United, St Columba’s College, Secondary College, Overnewton Anglican Fairhills High School, Brunswick SecondCommunity College, St Helena Secondary ary College, James Fallon High School, OverCollege and Traralgon College. newtonAnglican Community College, St HelAward of Excellence for Performance ena Secondary College and Traralgon ColSkill: Parade College, Knox United, St lege.

Columba’s College, Fairhills High School, Award of Excellence for Entertainment Brunswick Secondary College, Overnewton (Open): Parade College Anglican Community College, St Helena SecAward of Excellence for Entertainment ondary College and Traralgon College.

(Premier): St Columba’s College Award of Excellence for Concept: Eltham Award of Excellence for Health, Life High School, Knox United, St Columba’s Col- Skills and Creative Thinking: Traralgon College, Fairhills High School, Brunswick Sec- lege ondary College, Overnewton Anglican ComMore on Page 43

● David Marriner ■ Melbourne businessman David Marriner has won a Court of Appeal case in which Australian Super Developments sought for him to pay $929,800 over the Laguna Quays Resort.

A long-standing dispute between the parties saw Marriner and his associated companies accused of exceeding a $4.7 million budget in their joint venture by $824,890.

Marriner had been Chief Executive and Director of ASD, until he resigned when there were disputes over the project.

Supreme Court Judges Neave, Mandie and Judd, sitting as the Court of Appeal, this month heard that Marriner had provided his expertise as a property developer to the venture.

Marriner had counter-claimed against a number of parties including United Super, which was the trustee of the Construction and Building Union Superannuation Fund.

The CBUS appointees were Barry Frost, George Wason, Thomas John Suple Kane and Ralph Willis.

In 2000, CBUS were becoming increasingly unhappy with Marriner’s involvement and the parties agreed to sever their relationship.

Matters of dispute included a $1.6 million bond paid to the Mackay Electricity Board by a previous party in the resort, Village Roadshow.

An earlier judgement has described financial dealings are “labyrinthine”.

In an extensive judgement, the Court of Appeal found that Marriner’s appeal succeeded, and that issues should be returned to a judge in the Trial Division.

Caught three times ■ James Hind, 24, of Ballarat, has been fined $600 and ordered to do community work after being caught riving unregistered cars unlicensed and with fake number plates.

Girlfriend bash claim ■ Damien Seeley, 27, of North Shore, allegedly put his thumb in his girlfriend's eye and threatened to poke it out, before stomping on her head, and he was later found to be running a string of drug labs, Geelong Court has been told. Seeley has been allowed bail.

Eye on older drivers ■ Bendigo Police are calling on families to keep an eye on the driving habits of their older relatives. They are encouraging people to sit down with their loved ones and chat about their driving, especially in light of physical and mental changes.

Biggest bust in 10 years ■ Horsham Highway Patrol seized the largest amount of amphetamines it has seen in 10 years on Saturday, when theypulled over a Melbourne couple in their 40s during a routine check.

Fined $3000 for texts ■ Christopher David Kane of Canperdown has been fined $3000 for repeatedly sending abusive and threatening text messages to a woman. Kane pleaded guilty to 26 breaches of an intervention order.

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5 THE TOP 5 SIGNALS THAT WERE RECEIVED BACK ON EARTH FROM ‘CURIOSITY ROVER’ WHEN IT LANDED ON THE PLANET MARS. 5. "Down Down!".

4. "This service is temporarily unavailable, please try again".

3. "One of the astronauts was a 'no show'. He refused to travel if he didn't get first-class pyjamas".

2. "Well done NASA. Slight error though, this is Uranus".

1. "Hey it's Usain here - what kept you?"

Page 6 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

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People Melbourne

Send news to editor@melbourneobserver.com.au

Fax: 1-800 231 312

Our Man In Beijing

Etihad announces moves

● Jonas Nordwall ■ Jonas Nordwall will perform at the Show Shoppers concert to be perfomred at the Kingston City Hall this Sunday (Aug. 9). More details on Page 9.

■ Emma and Ralph Carr were pictured at the opening of The Bourne Legacy at Crown Melbourne.

● Aparna Bhattacharjee and Peter Muir in Our Man In Beijing at La Mama Theatre from August 25-September 9.

Photo: Jacy Teh-La ■ Mama Theatre presents Our Man In Beijing from August 25 to September 9 at 205 Faraday St, Carlton. Written by Dr Moni Lai Storz and directed by Wolf Heidecker, Our Man In Beijing is a comedy about an Australian junior manager, John Williams, sent to Beijing to get a contract settled with a Chinese singer, Ding Mei Ling. An important client in Australia wants her to become the cover girl for the next edition of their life-style magazine. Instead of a smooth course of proceedings, John finds many cultural challenges for which he is ill-prepared to manage. The play gives some entertaining insights in the differences between Australian and Chinese cultures.Proceeds from this season will contribute to the production touring Kuala Lumpur in 2013.Bookings: www.lamama.com.au ● More Local Theatre reports by Cheryl Threadgold on Page 45

Racing Making headlines awards

● Luke Nolen Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 ■ The Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards were staged at Crown Palladium on Sunday night.

Major winners were: ■ Scobie Breasley Medal presented by Tabcorp: Luke Nolen ■ Fred Hoysted Medal presented by Commotion Creative: Peter Moody ■ Tommy Corrigan Medal presented by TRP: Steve Pateman ■ Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the Year: Black Caviar ■ TVN Most Memorable Moment Award: Black Caviar’s Lightning Stakes win

■ Mebourne writer Frank Howson will proudly be at the Comedy Theatre tomorrow (Thu.) night when Rhonda Burchmore appears in the opening night performance of Cry Me A River: The World Of Julie London. Frank wrote the show.

Farewell to ‘The Blake’ ■ Kevin Boudrie, one of the early film staff members at GTV-9, passed away this month aged 76.

Nicknamed ‘The Blake’, he had worked in the pioneering days of cinema and drive-in theatres in Melbourne.

He was husband of Jessie, and father of David and Andrew.s level includ-

● James Hogan ■ Melbourne-born James Hogan, President and CEO of Etihad Airways, will conduct a media conference this morning (Wed.) at the Medallion Club, Etihad Stadium to announce new developments in the airline’s business in Australia.

World premiere in St Kilda

● Firass Dirani, Serge Thomann and Julia Blake were pictured at the premiere of Last Dance at the Melbourne International Film Festival. The film was shot in East St Kilda and will debut in October.

Birthday cheer ■ Tara Bishop, Media Relations Manager at Crown, enjoyed a birthday weekend with friends at the weekend.

A Sunday celebration included Christian Wagstaff, Stasia Raft, Kathryn Gunn, Paul Santoro, Tara Cahill, Tamara Dimattina, Corina Baldwin, Trace Ainsworth, Valentina Jovanoska, Clemence Harvey and Michelle Campbell at Zia Rina's Cucina.

Tara had also been busy with the Treasure Chest function for more than 150 people at Docklands, which aims at raising funds for women who needed breast reconstruction after breast cancer.

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - Page 7

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - Page 9

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Breaking Showbiz News

HELEN REDDY MAKES COMEBACK Briefs

EXCLUSIVE: By Kevin Trask

Twice As Nice

Listen to the Melbourne Observer on your radio WEDNESDAYS 12.45AM. Cheryl Threadgold, community theatre writer, reports on 3AW. www.3aw.com.au

Angry MP

1.15AM. Jim Sherlock discusses movies/ DVDs with Andrew McLaren. www.3aw.com.au 10AM. Editor Ash Long talks with Denis Scanlan on The Pulse 94.7 www.947thepulse.com 10PM. Rob Foenander presents Country Crossroads on Casey 97.7 FM www.3ser.org.au

● Angry Anderson ■ Rock singer Angry Anderson, 65, wants to becomea Member of Parliament. He has nominated to get National Party pre-selection for the seat of Gilmore.

Mayne out

● Stephen Mayne ■ Serial candidate Stephen Mayne has quit one of the few jobs for which he has ever won an election. He has quit as a Councillor at the City of Manningham, and intends to stand for the City of Melbourne.

Drug bust ■ Gary Rose, 56, has received a suspended jail sentence, after being caught by Police trying to sell cannabis in Ford St, Wangaratta, during the middle of the day.

● Kevin Trask with Helen Reddy ■ Toni Lamond has told friends that her half-sister Helen Reddy is quietly making a comeback into showbusiness.

Helen became world famous with hit songs such as I Am Woman, Delta Dawn, I Don't Know How To Love Him and Angie Baby.

Helen recently sang with a small band in Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar in San Diego which is run by the widow of singer Jim Croce.

This was followed by two performances at a college in Panorama City and now Helen is booked into venues in the US until October.

What a family - Helen's nephew Tony Sheldon has been wowing audiences as Bernadette in Priscilla Queen Of The Desert on Broadway; Toni Lamond is a fabulous performer; and Toni and Helen's mother, Stella Lamond, was a legend of the Australian stage.

To quote Toni - "Helen's voice is still fantastic and I for one couldn't be more pleased, she is doing what she should be doing - knockin' 'em dead! " It would be great to see Helen Reddy on-stage again in Australia - I have my fingers crossed.

THURSDAYS 9.15AM. Editor Ash Long talks with Bob and Judy Phillips on 3RPP. www.rppfm.com.au

● Jessica Aszodi ■ Following the well-attended performances of the traditional opera The Marriage of Figaro, Victorian Opera is going contemporary with its final main stage offering for 2012.

The company is pairing two short operas, Spanish composer Manuel de Falla's Master Peter's Puppet Show and American composer Elliot Carter's What Next?

Master Peter's Puppet Show will be sung in Spanish with English surtitles, and follows the drama of what happens when shadow puppets are attacked and a theatre is destroyed as the dreamy knight of legend, Don Quixote, is bypassed in favour of a puppet show. ● Turn To Page 41

CHITTY CAST NAMED

■ David Hobson will play the lead role of Caractacus Potts in the cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to be staged in Melbourne early in 2013.

Other cast members include Rachael Beck (Truly Scrumptious), Alan Brough (Baron Bomburst), Jennifer Vuletic (Baroness Bomburst), Peter Carroll (Grandpa Potts), George Kapiniaris (Goran), and Tyler Coppin (The Child Catcher).

Producer Tim Lawson announced that creatives include Rog-

Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

TO OPEN IN 2013 er Hodgamn, Director; Dana Jolly, Choreographer; Peter Casey, Musical Director; Anthony Ward; Scenic and Costume Designer; and Matt Scott, Lighting Director.

The show will open at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, on November 16 for a 10-week season; followed by a 10-week season at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne.

The show ran for four years at the London Palladium, one year on

Broadway, as well as an extensive tour through the United Kingdom.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has a cast of 70, including eight dogs. It is best known for sensational sets and special effects.

The show is adapted from the original MGM film by Jeremy Sams and Ray Roderick, with music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will open in Melbourne on January 30.

Ticketek: $55.90-$129.90.

Stoppers ■ Melbourne Theatre Organ presents ShowStoppers on Sunday, (Aug. 19) at 2pm at the Kingston City Hall, Cnr Nepean Hwy and South Rd, Moorabbin.

One of the world’s finest organists, Jonas Nordwall from Portland, USA, will present showstopper entertainment from blockbuster movies to classical transcriptions and beyond, played on the magnificent Kingston City Hall Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ.

Tickets: $30, Members $25, Students $10, Under 18 Free.

Enquiries: 9563 2927 Bookings: kingston arts.com.au or 9556 4440.

10PM. Kevin Trask presents The Time Tunnel with Walter Williams www.4bc.com.au

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

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

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

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

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

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

melbourneobserver.com.au

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

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To

Shudders down your spine

Di Right royal coverage ■ What a wonderful surprise during the Channel Nine coverage of the Olympic Games to have Leila McKinnon come back from commercial break with an interview with the two princes,William and Harry.

Both the boys were strong supporters during the Olympic coverage, often seen in the stands at most of the events. Their interview was charming relaxed and enthusiastic.

Leila McKinnon, aka Mrs David Gyngell, is positively glowing expecting her first baby.

The interview was a real winner and a gold medal for Leila who did a sterling job with the coverage.

I find her a delight and her excitement at interviewing the young royals was palpable.

Acknowledgement ■ Talking of gold medals and the coverage of the Olympics I was disappointed that so many people sat back in their ar chairs complaining and whinging about the coverage.

I for one know the amount of work it takes to bring the pictures to everyone and appreciate all the work that wasdone by so many people to bring it all together – we tend to be so spoilt these days with what we get on television and what we can access in our lounge rooms.

Both Fox and the Nine Network did a sterling job, in my opinion.

There was so much talk of ‘weapons of mass despair’, ‘missiles missing out’ and our favourites bombing. They are world class athletes and did their best. That is all that can be asked of these wonderful ambassadors.

A little bit of praise goes a long way. Sitting in one’s armchair with a cold beer is all very well. It’s the people out there on the playing field doing their bit that is the important thing.

In my experience in life, it’s all about acknowledgement.

Farewell to Flip ■ I am not eagerly awaiting the departure of my dearest friend Flip Shelton to far away shores, Flip and her family have bought a pair of maracas, strapped some fruit to their heads and are learning the lines to Peter Allen’s unofficial Rio anthem When My Baby Goes To Rio … and heading to the home of Caipirinha, Carnival and Copacabana.

From September8 to August 2014, Flip, her husband Jof, and their beautiful son Harvey will be living in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

Why you ask? Jof has had a 27-year apprenticeship including managing venues at Summer and Winter Olympics, two previous World Cups, summer and winter Asian games, Commonwealth Games, two Euro football championships, World Cup swimming, World Cup cricket, and managing the 2011 AFL Grand Final, ● Turn To Page 41

I love my job!

■ I want to talk about the Black Arm Band. “This is music to send shudders down your spine and bring tears to your eyes,’ wrote The Age newspaper.

Black Arm Band and their splendid Dirtsong were first presented to sold-out houses as part of the 2009 Melbourne Festival. Dirtsong is a powerful musical journey through Australia’s culturalheartland inspired by the words of Alexis Wright (Miles Franklin Award winner).

Set against a stunning backdrop of moving imagery and text, the performance features unforgettable songs performed in 11 different Aboriginal languages from some of the most extraordinary performers in the land, backed by an exciting ensemble of Melbourne’s finest jazz musicians.

Dan Sultan, Emma Donavan, Lou Bennett, Shellie Morris, Trevor Jamieson, Stephen Pigram, Shane Howard, Djolpa McKenzie, Dewayne Everettsmith, Deline Briscoe and William Barton come together to honour the 20th anniversary of the High Court of Australia’s historic Mabo decision.

An unforgettable evening to inspire the heard and lift the spiri,. it is introduced by Gail Mabo. Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre , PBS 106FM and The Black Arm Band Company, I will certainly be attending one of the two performances of this most special event. 2pm and 7.30pm at Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.

For bookings visit melbournerecital.com.au or phone 9699 3333.

For CATCH ‘THE MOUSETRAP’

■ Wandering around the city it is amazing how much live theatre is on and also coming to Melbourne, so it is lovely to see our theatres all lit up at night.

I am looking forward very much to Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap commencing at The Comedy Theatre onAugust 30, and being staged until October 7 This all-Australian production is one of 60 professional production which have been licensed worldwide in celebration of The Mousetrap’s 60th Diamond Anniversary which will include productions in every continent .

Productions have been scheduled for countries from Russia and China to Turkey, Holland and Venezuela.

Agatha Christie’s classic ‘whodunit’ opened on London’s West End in November 1952 and has since played over 24,000 performances.

The Mousetrap is the longest running show of any kind in the world and continues to delight audiences to this day at London’s St Martin’s Theatre.

I remember queuing up in London to see this many years ago thinking I was very grand.

It wasn’t 1952 it was around 1975!

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster 136 100 or on line www.ticket master.com.au tickets are from $40 upwards.

Better TV ■ When we hear of Channel 10 dropping their morning show, it is refreshing to hear that another television channel is lifting their drama content.

with leading Melbourne publicist DI ROLLE

● Christy Sullivan.

I speak of SBS Television which has commissioned its first drama series in three years. And what a series it looks to be.

Better Man is a four part mini-series that looks at the true story of the remarkable life and death of Van Nguyen; a Vietnamese Australian man who was convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore and executed for his crime in 2005.

His hanging was the first execution of an Australian in South East Asia since 1993.

Nguyen was only 25 years old.

Better Man is a Fremantle Media Australia production in association with Bravado Productions for SBS. Good on them I say.

Powerful ■ Better Man is the

Photo: James Morgan

powerful story of a young man desperately trying to provide for his family, for which he paid the ultimate price.

From the colourful yet abusive upbringing that Van shared with his twin brother and loving mother, to the gripping and heartstopping events leading up to his arrest in Singapore, Better Man culminates in an extraordinary threeyear legal battle led by Lex Lasry and Julian McMahon to save the young man’s life.

Despite all their efforts, along with those of Van’s loved ones, the Australian Prime Minister and two Popes, Van Nguyen’s life came to a tragic end on December 2, 2005.

At the time of his passing, nearly half of Australia wept as the

boy known in Changi as – ‘the baby of death row’ – became the last Australian to be executed.

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said: “Better Man is an example of the sort of compelling, inspiring and thought provoking content that SBS can create with sustainable funding.

“Whilst our unprecedented Federal Budget funding boost is largely addressing the challenges we’ve faced in a changing media landscape, it has also enabled us to get back into the business of drama programming which our audiences know when we do it, we do it well.”

Better Man is the first commission for Tony Iffland, SBS’s Director of TV and Online Content.

Iffland said: “Better Man is a moving and important story told in a contemporary drama and reflects is-

● Dan Sultan sues that affect our human side of it communities. It is a makes it a compelling uniquely Australian one and we are exstory and one that only tremely fortunate to be SBS would tell. joining with SBS to be “SBS is proud to able to tell it,” said Ian support this production Hogg, CEO, Fremantle which underlines our Media Australia and commitment to mak- Asia Pacific. ing the very best Better Man is writhome-grown pro- ten and directed by gramming for all Aus- writer, director, actor tralians.” and teacher Khoa Do. “While this is a FMA Creative Diconfronting story, the rector and Executive Producer, Jason Stephens, said: “Khoa Do’s involvement brings a resonance to Better Man which no other writer could because of his own family history, along with his extraordinary talent and accomplishments.”

In 2005, Khoa Do was awarded the Young Australian of the YearAward for his services in drama and working with youths in Sydney's south-west.

Production commences in October and will be filmed in Melbourne and Vietnam.

Better Man will transmit on SBS One in 2013.

This is one series I ● Khoa Do of Better Man eagerly await to see.

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - Page 11

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Confidential Melbourne

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

‘INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT’ OVER PHILIP’S JACKET

Bitch Melbourne’s Secrets

It’s your funeral

● Denis Walter in the latest series of TV commercials for Tobin Brothers Funerals.

■ 3AW’s Denis Walter features in a series of TV commercials for Victorian funeral directors, Tobin Brothers. The ads are this week playing on high rotation on Melbourne television.

Until recently, current commercial arrangements entered into by radio presenters were listed at each radio station’s website. Listeners were able to have an understanding which on-air mentions were influenced by sponsor payments.

All that seemsto have changed under the new Broadcasting Services (Commercial Radio Current Affairs Disclosure) Standard 2012.

There is no information at the 3AW website about Walter’s link with Tobin Brothers. Indeed, the only interests listed are for station presenters John Burns (voice advertisements for ULR); Derryn Hinch (product marketing for JMB Beverages); Darren James (voice-overs for Bilia Volvo); Tony Leonard (program contributor for Ace Radio); Nick McCallum (reporter for Seven News); Ross Stevenson (voice-overs for Lexus of Blackburn); and Neil Mitchell (Herald Sun column and Channel 7 appearances).

Mitchell crossed to the Nine Network several months ago..

AUDITORS TO HIT BROTHELS ■ The Fair Work Ombudsman is to audit up to 1800 brothels in Victoria in the months leading up to Christmas.

Most audits will be conducted throughout Melbourne, but scrutiny will also be over some businesses in Bendigo, Geelong and Shepparton.

The campaign will focus on the entitlements of clerical workers in the sex industry. Inspectors will enquire if brothel managers and receptionists are being paid correct wage rates, penalty rates, overtime rates, and annual and personal leave entitlements.

Inspectors will also check if any workers have been misclassfied as contractors.

■ The Olympic rings are the most protected trade mark in the world.

Just ask the Olympic Hotel in Preston, which was forced to drop the five rings from its logo, even though the symbol had been at the business since the 1956 Games.

There was protracted rounds of legal correspondence between the Olympic trade mark attorneys and the northern suburbs pub, before the hotel switched to a generic torch logo instead.

Melbourne Confidential understands that 3AW’s own Philip Brady may have narrowly escaped his won international incident when attending the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games.

Brady had paid A$2000 for a single ticket to the opening ceremony in London, having pre-

● Philip Brady and THAT jacket

TO STAND TRIAL IN $5.7M CASE ■ Russell Andrew Johnson, sole director of Sonray Capital Markets Pty Ltd, has been committed to stand trial at the Supreme Court on criminal charges brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, following a three-day committal proceeding in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Johnson, of Toorak, was committed on: ■ two charges of conspiracy to commit theft to the value of $5,780,000 ■ two charges of conspiracy to engage in false accounting ■ one charge of conspiracy to obtain financial advantage by deception ■ 17 charges of theft to the value of $742,641, and ■ two charges of submitting a false document to ASIC. Johnson entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

If found guilty, Johnson could face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the state offences of conspiracy and theft and a term of five years imprisonment in regards to the submission of a false document to ASIC. The charges relate to allegations that Johnson conspired with another to utilise various Sonray client's trading accounts to create numerous unfunded deposits for which no physical cash was involved.

This was done to either obtain funds for use by himself or Sonray or to hedge the trading book against margin calls.

The effect of the unfunded accounting entries caused a deficiency in the segregated clients trading accounts.

Additionally, Johnson faces charges that, in a solvency report submitted to ASIC, there was a false statement about equity injections into Sonray.

Johnson was granted bail and will appear at the Supreme Court on August 22, on conditions.

The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions.

viously enjoyed attending the Los Angeles games in 1984.

Earlier in the Olympic opening week he attended an official Australian reception in London, offering thanks on 3AW to Melbourne events boss Ron Walker, and senior Olympic movement oficial Kevan Gosper.

At the opening ceremony, Philip was resplendent in a neatly pressed jacket featuring an Australian coat of arms, and something looking very much like the Olympic rings.

As luck had it, Philip was seated in the 80,000strong stadium, next to a person who introduced themselves as being an attorney who works fulltime in protecting the Olympic intellectual intelligence .... and who took more than a passing interest in THAT jacket.

Rumour Mill

Whispers

Good news

● Ted Baillieu ■ Victorian premier Ted Baillieu was the recipient this week of an extraordinary positive report in the Herald Sun. ‘Big Ted’ was described by journalist Peter Rolfe with many superlatives: “his own man”, “not a fly-bythe-seat-of-yourpants Premier”, “not acid-tongued”, “not hard hat-wearing”, “measured”, “cautious”, “standing up for Victoria”, and “not afraid to take on Canberra”.

Stinging

Hear It Here First

The Friendly Games ■ During the recent 18month ‘war’ between 3AW and challenger 1377 MTR (Melbourne Talk Radio), the parties were portrayed as mortal enemies.

Fairfax Radio (3AW) in one corner, and John Singleton’s Macquarie Radio Network (MTR) in the other.

How quickly things change? Who noticed 3AW giving credits of “in association with MRN”, whenever sound bites were used from the ● John Singleton official Australian radio broadcaster> MRN? Yes, audio lifts from the enemy, Macquarie Radio Network.

● Daniel Andrews ■ Whilst the Herald Sun was full of praise for the Premier, Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews was in the firing line.

Rolfe said Andrews “is yet to tell Victorians what he stands for”, and that “he had better start showing Victorians an alternative”.

Retiring

Castlereagh Line ■ CDs with episodes from the popular Castlereagh Line radio serial may soon be sold to the public.

Bruce Ferrier from Grace Gibson Productions currently supplies the 910 episodes only to radio stations for replay.

But the rumour is that the episodes will soon be sold to the public, bit-by-bit, when a new Grace Gibson website is commissioned.

E-Mail: Editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

● Cr Jess Paul ■ Banyule City’s youngest-ever Councillor, Jess Paul, is retiring, at the age of 24 to “pursue new opportunities”.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Melbourne

Observer

Ash On Wednesday

NAMED: MELBOURNE’S NEXT RADIO WINNER ★

Many of Victoria’s newsagents will lose the home delivery side of their businesses, under ‘T2020’ changes being announced by The Herald & Weekly Times Ltd (News Limited). Goodwill of some newsagency businesses will collapse significantly overnight.

We hear that Rupertswood Mansion, Sunbury, could be in the running for Tourism Victoria awards later in the year. We hope manager Margaret Mclelland and staff have a win. They deserve it.

Long Shots

★

● Ross Stevenson ■ 3AW Breakfast host Ross Stevenson (real name Ross Campbell) has topped the Melbourne radio ratings so often, his station bosses have lost count.

Last week’s ratings figures, the fifth survey for this year, saw Ross and sidekick John Burns, bring in 19.2 per cent of available Melbourne ears.

Stevenson is a genius.

He works extremely hard at making the ad libs sound effortless. Melbourne’s radio legend ‘Nicky’ (3UZ) is said to have quipped that his ad libs were “best after the third re-write”.

Stevenson’s formula is

Louie liquored us all ■ Do parents monitor the music that their children hear on radios, or through their headphones?

Take singer Pink’s song, Blow Me (One Last Kiss), being repeated often on Mix 101.1, with these inspired lyrics: Just when it can't get worse I've had a sh*t day You've had a sh*t day We've had a sh*t day They didn’t write them like this in the good old days.

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”

predictable: the rhyming slang to which you can set your watch; his partner ‘Burnso’ arrogantly making howling errors of fact; and a rusted-on team of contributors.

DJ should be sacked

● Tom Ballard ■ You have to wonder how the ABC is spending your eight cents a day.

Over at the ABC’s Triple J ‘youth station’, breakfast show presenter Tom Ballard has been making jokes about the Holocaust.

Ballard ‘joked’ that Hitler should have had at ‘fan forced ovens’ at World War II concentration camps.

At first, he refused to apologise. "If you don't like the show, just don't listen,” Ballard said on Twitter.

When public outrage became obvious, Triple J management: “We recognise the concerns regarding the comments are serious. Triple J agrees the comments made were inappropriate.

“The matter has been followed up with the Breakfast team. Triple J regrets the matter and apologises unreservedly for any offence caused."

After some pressume, Ballard said: "I'm very sorry that on my breakfast radio program, I offended and upset a lot of people.

“That's not what I like doing; I like making people laugh and I like making people happy. I never set out to vindictively offend or belittle anyone or any group with my comedy, that's not what I'm about. I sincerely apologise that's how I came across in this instance."

Ballard should have been sacked.

But Long Shots has heard the voice that we predict will one day assume Melbourne radio’s ratings crown.

Swan is on song

● Chrissie Swan ■ We reckon Melbourne media woman Chrissie Swan is set to become the next ‘Queen’ of this town’s radio industry.

Chrissie heads the Mix 101.1 breakfast program, plus a national 3PM PickUp program.

She was a co-host of The Circle, before jumping ship at the end of last year. (Wasn’t that an inspired move?)

Chrissie, 38, motherof-two, has also taken her intelligence and humour to TV, at first as a Big Brother contestant, and now as host of Can Of Worms.

Chrissie has won a 6.2 per cent ratings share at Mix. She would double that at a 3AW. A number of AW hosts will retire soon. Chrissie would be a top sign-on.

● Lou Richards broadcasting on HSV-7 and 3DB Together, the Richards brothers fu■ Long Shots enjoyed a chat this week with one of the younger breed of elled most of Melbourne’s media ... some of it actually within highly-policed Melbourne journalists.

Newspaper reporting in 2012 has its liquor opening hours.

Lou’s media connections expanded real differences to the 1960s and 1970s.

Today, there are few note-pads and when his Sun News-Pictorial column pens. Interviews are recorded on (ghosted mostly by Tom Prior), with iPhones. Stories are filed from laptop radio work at 3DB, then television with computers at remote locations - if the HSV-7, and later at GTV-9 in a move reporters ever leave their air-condi- organised by former Observer Editor tioned ‘work stations’ in concrete tow- John Sorell.

One of Melbourne’s media pack, ers.

The 2012 journo expressed real fas- Stephen Phillips, has been close to the cination that the Melbourne newspa- Magpies legend, now close to his 90th per editors of old had liquor cabinets in birthday.

Stephen has co-written several their offices.

Long Shots is surprised that they books with ‘Louie The Lip’: Kiss Of don’t! The old-style Melbourne foot- Death: Memoirs Of A Sporting Legend; in-the-door reporters would work and Shooting From The Lip. Just in time for Fathers Day 2012, strange hours, and many would end their shift at the Phoenix Hotel in Stephen and Lou have teamed with an Flinders St, run by Collingwood footy updated biography, Lou: My Wonderful Life. We preview the autobiogralegend Lou Richards.

In the early days of the Observer phy on Page 15. when it was headquartered in Newton ■ And just for the record, there is no St, Richmond, the ‘local’ was the liquor cabinet in the Editor’s office at Prince Alfred Hotel in Church St run the Melbourne Observer. This job is

by Lou’s brother, Ron Richards. crazy enough, sober!

Short Shots

★ ★ ★

It was great to hear Melbourne commentator Peter Donegan’s no-nonsense athletic events descriptions on Channel 9 of London 2012.

And an honourable mention too, to Tony Jones of Nine News, for his work at the Games.

Mal Garvin, the boss who presided over the multi-million-dollar financial collapse of Melbourne radio station 3AK, has sent a Facebook message to a friend, with a Biblical quote from the bok of Job, approximating: “I will be vindicated.”

Jacki Weaver has been signed to appear in a Melbourne theatrical production next year, More details soon.

★

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.

Have you heard ...

■ Filming of the ABC’s Paper Giants: Magazine Wars begins in Melbourne this month.

■ Charges have been laid against Cr Milvan Muto, 52, relating to allegations of blackmail, communicating a private conversation, possessing imitation handguns and possession of a drug of dependence.

■ City of Melbourne Council meetings are to be recorded and uploaded to the municipality’s website.

■ Bristol Hotel owner Peter Mitchell is to make his fourth attempt at converting his Williamstown pub into 40 apartments.

Local drinkers are against the move.

■ Northcote Business Association has pulled the plug on this month’s High Noon Festival, with promises that a similar event will be held next year.

Observer Treasury Thought For The Week

■ “Television is that remarkable invention that makes it necessary to wake up before you can go to bed.”

Observer Curmudgeon

■ “People who grumble about the taxes have one consolation - they don’t have to pay on what they think they are worth.”

- The Buloke Times

Text For The Week

■ “My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.”

- Psalm 62:7

45 issues of the Melbourne Observer home-delivered to any address in Australia. Only $99. Phone 1-800 231 311

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - Page 13

Community News

Mike Brady brings Variety, Yooralla and Scope together ■ The ability to stand and walk is something many of us take for granted.

However for 11 young children, taking independent steps will be a unique and empowering experience thanks to a partnership between Variety – the Children’s Charity, Yooralla and Scope.

This initiative is thanks to Variety Life and Board Member Mike Brady and the supporters of his ‘Non-Event’ for the funding of these grants.

These children will now receive life-changing equipment and the

CHILDREN TAKE THEIR FIRST STEPS chance to walk.

Yesterday (Tues.) saw three of the 11 children receiving walking equipment customised to their individual needs.

The event took place at Scope Go Kids, 177 Glenroy Rd, Glenroy Mike Brady helped the children take their first independent steps.

● The Variety Bash - Horsham to Hamilton Island - will depart Victoria on August 23, arriving September 1

Melbourne

Observer Life & Style

News Briefs

THANK YOU, DEAR FRIENDS

Freebies

■ It’s easy for me to say how much I love winter because so far, I’m coping with the higher cost of heating.

Many things about this time of the year are a joy: from the comfort food, which warms our body, to the hot chocolate we consume as we watch television late at night.

Winter clothes I love because they hide a mutitude of sins from drinking hot chocolate, and the winter shoes are just the bees’ knees.

A couple of winters ago I bought a pair of German walking shoes that were guaranteed to get you to the top of Mount Everest without so much as a callous.

They are still in the cupboard.

They looked good, felt good, but were so heavy I couldn’t get my feet off the ground. So much for the correct shoes to walk the dogs in winter.

Reading that the Wittner family was celebrating a hundred years in the footwear business reminds me that I bought a pair of shoes from Wittners a couple of years ago that have finally become so decrepid that they are gone past my “can’t be seen in public stage’ and have been relegated for gardening. I loved them so much I just can’t bring myself to discard them.

Congratulations Wittners ■ These shoes that I “just had to have” were on the ‘special table’ and my eyes were drawn to them because they were the colour of Californian oranges.

The soles were so soft and could be rolled up like a rasher of bacon, and the look was pure Vogue in the boating scene, and simply bliss to wear.

My husband hated them from the minute I took them out of the bag and used to call me ‘Daffy Duck’ every time I wore them, which I might add was as often as I could.

It used to make him raise his eyebrows when strangers would comment on my shoes and ask me where I bought them.

I loved those shoes, and sadly they have reached their use-by date. I can’t even pass them on to the Op shop.

David Wittner is such a gentleman and was always on hand to help me with my purchase, or sometimes simply for a chat. Congratulations David on a wonderful history.

Loved the Olympics ■ Now that the Olympic Games have closed I feel as if I have lost a friend because it has been a big part of my life for many nights.

I may be bleary eyed from lack of sleep, but it was worth it just watching the events.

It is a shame that just as some of our Australian commentators had stopped putting down our athletes over not winning gold, the games have finished and our gold tally had increased.

Top tradesman dicovered ■ Last week I told you I would tell you about a bricklayer I found who in my experience is the epitome of how a tradesman should behave.

A cowboy builder had driven his truck and trailer across our nature strip and clipped the brick pier, which was part of our electric gates.

Yvonne’s Column

see them every day, sometimes just knowing that there is someone who is a good listener and is interested in what you have to say is a comfort.

It’s always sad when we lose contact with a good friend for whatever reason. And when a really close friend dies it is almost too much to bear.

But we can keep them in our memories and I’ve found that it helps to talk about some of the things that you used to do together. It could even be a friendly game of scrabble or swapping a favourite recipe or just having a gossip.

Farewell to dear pals

with Yvonne Lawrence yvonne.lawrence@bigpond.com

Because there were four houses being built in the street we couldn’t find the cowboy responsible. Our neighbour said he would repair the pillar but then he moved interstate and the pillar started to disintegrate.

Where does one find a bricklayer who knows his trade and is prepared to do a relatively small job?

Phoning a friend for a contact he recommended an electrician who could cut off the power to the gates, but he was at a loss with a bricklayer.

So, taking a big gulp I looked up the local paper and knew that I would know the best one once we talked.

There was no answer to my phone call from a couple, and a couple also said the job was too small. However I carried on and let my fingers do the walking.

Punctuality personified ■ A local bricklayer answered and knew exactly what I wanted. He said he would be around to give me a free quote at 11 in the morning.

Precisely at 11 he rang the doorbell ready to start if I accepted his quote. So of course I called him Mr Punctuality from then on.

The pillar was rebuilt the next morning. Tony cleaned up the area and left it as he found it.

So, if you are ever looking for a bricklayer with 25 years’ experience, I can’t speak too highly of Tony.

You’ll find him on 0417 501 190 or after hours: 9830 0315.

Thank you dear friends ■ Thank you for the good wishes you sent me for my birthday.

I’m having un-birthdays as I used to do when Mary Hardy and I celebrated her birthdays. B ut as much as I like to let the day simply slip by I can’t ignore the telephone calls and cards from friends.

Friends are important in our life. We don’t have to

■ I’ve been thinking about losing friends this week when I read that authour Maeve Binchy died.

Through a set of circumstances I phoned her in London one day because she had agreed to an interview about her latest book. What a charming and giving woman.

That one phone call led to many more and I felt that I could call her a friend.

She imparted so much in respect to writing and even about life in general.

Maeve was badly afflicted with painful arthritis and suffered greatly.

I wish I’d called her more often because now I’d have much to chat about.

There is a lesson there. We should touch base, just to let them know we are thinking of them.

Farewell to another good friend, although we never met: author, art critic and sometimes curmudgeon Robert Hughes.

There are many books, which I read and re-read, and his The Fatal Shore is one of them.

It’s a giant of a book and tells the history of Australia’s first white settlers who came ashore from a British prison fleet in Botany Bay. It is brilliantly written account of the convict transportation.

Hughes draws on a wealth of documents to make the Fatal Shore, a history on an epic scale and a pageturner.

He lived in New York and was the author of: The Shock Of The New, and a very successful television series, Heaven And Hell In Western Art. A big man who gave a lot to the world and I’ll miss him as a ‘friend’ who gave me all the things that keeps me interested and vital to my well-being such as art and reading.

Vale Robert Hughes.

Taking care ■ So thank you to those friends, known and unknown who remembered me on my birthday, and who also took the time to write to me when I missed my column due to the ‘flu “Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded “ - Goethe.

“If I had known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself. ” - Eubie Blake (on his 100th birthday) And ain’t that the truth.

Yvonne Contact: Melbourne Observer.

P.O. Box 1278, Research 3095

■ A new Ribs & Burgers store at Northcote Plaza opened at the weekend, by giving a free burger a week for a year, to each of the first 100 people.

Cash row

■ Hennessy Lane Hair Design Pty Ltd of Rowville Lakes is to face Court over allegations that a staf member was underpaid. Owner Craig Francis Lane is to face the Federal Magistrates’ Court on October 9 that he underpaid two women a total combined amount of $9669.

Claims

● Cr Frank Penhalluriak ■ A seven-day hearing against Cr Frank Penhalluriack of the City of Glen Eira was scheduled to start this week at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Cr Penhalluriak is accused of bullying, and he is ‘vigorously defending the allegations”.

The Councillor is accused of having bullied the City’s CEO and Community Services Director.

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

■ I never saw ‘Mo’ live onstage but I loved his radio shows. As a child I listened to McCackie Mansion which featured Mo and a whole host of great characters - which included Horrible Herbie, Spencer the Garbageman and Lasho.

This was another world to me - great comedy writing performed by a wonderful cast of talented Australians.

Roy Rene Mo was one of the most popular Australian comedians of the 20th Century.

Harry van der Sluys was born in Adelaide in 1891, he was the fourth born of seven children.

Although his family were Jewish, young Harry went to a Catholic school.

At the age of 10 he won a singing competition at the Adelaide Market and this led to a role in the pantomime Sinbad The Sailor at The Theatre Royal.

In 1905 the family moved to Melbourne and Harry trained as a professional jockey. But the theatre beckoned and in 1908 he was singing in vaudeville shows at the Gaiety Theatre, in those days he was known as ‘Roy Boy’.

Two years later he was using the name of Roy Rene Mo and appearing onstage in comedy sketches throughout Australia.

Whilst he was touring for Sir Benjamin Fuller in New Zealand he developed the black and white makeup which became his trademark.

In 1916 he teamed with Nat Phillips and they became the comedy duo of Stiffy and Mo. They played shows in Sydney and Melbourne where

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whatever Happened To ...

Roy Rene Mo

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM they broke box office records. In 1917 Mo married Dorothy Davis who was an actress but the marriage was to end in divorce 12 years later.

Stiffy and Mo finally broke up in 1928 and the following year Mo married Sadie Gale with both Christian and Jewish services.

Sadly Stiffy died of a heart attack at the age of 49 in 1932.

Mo had been appearing on the Tivoli circuit and was known as the ‘King of the Tiv’ but The Great Depression saw a decline in live theatre attendances and Mo went on a tour of the Hoyts Suburban Picture Theatres with Sadie.

In 1934 he made his one and only film Strike Me Lucky which was directed by Ken G Hall.

The film has been panned by some critics

● Roy Rene Mo but I have seen it several times and I really enjoy watching Mo at work. I think it is a national treasure.

Throughout the war years Mo was again playing to packed houses on the Tivoli circuit but his contract was terminated in 1945.

My friend, the late Ian Travis, recalled Mo presenting a show at the Collingwood Town Hall.

His family were given free tickets because they loaned Mo young Ian's bed to be used in one of the stage sketches.

Mo began in radio in 1946 after joining the Colgate Palmolive Unit and appeared in a program titled Calling The Stars.

The following year a new radio show McCackie Mansion was launched and it was to run for three years.

Mo played the lead and the theme was his frustration with family, friends and neighbours.

The cast included Hal Lashwood, Harry Griffiths, Jack Burgess, Harry Avondale and Rita Pauncefort.

It was full of ‘catch phrases’ and eccentric characters. The program had the biggest listening audience of any Australian radio show at that time.

Mo appeared in several other popular radio shows in the early 1950s and visiting stars such as Dame Sybil Thorndike and Jack Benny described him as ‘comic genius’.

Roy Rene died of heart disease at his home in Sydney in 1954 and was survived by his wife, son and daughter. He is buried in the Jewish section of Rookwood Cemetery in NSW. The Mo Awards for stage performers are named after him and in Adelaide they erected a statue in his honour.

In 1973 Freddie Parsons wrote a wonderful book titled A Man Called Mo and in the foreward Graham Kennedy described seeing Mo onstage in 1949 at the old Kings Theatre in Melbourne Graham said it was the funniest night he had ever spent in the theatre. What a compliment.

- 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.

IT’S NOT JUST CROCS THAT ARE SNAPPING

■ Further on freshwater crocodiles last time I mentioned my reluctance at inserting my index finger into their ‘vents’ to discover their masculinity or femininity.

This time it's a full-blown herpetological controversy.

It appears that there is a form of Freshie which occurs in the Liverpool River in Arnhem Land, and a Victorian herp went ahead and described it as a new species, naming it after his daughter.

The formal description of the claimed new species was published in the recent Australian Journal of Herpetology.

This aroused the ire of a mate of mine in Darwin, Graham Webb, to claim he discovered the croc in 1979, and that they are indeed smaller, but this is because of a lack of food - it's not an actual different species.

To add confusion to it all, crocodile geneticist Sally Isberg has said that it's possible for the isolated species to become so inbred as to develop a genetic split, but the new discoverer hasn't proven this.

But then Adam Britton, another croc researcher, said that there are some genetic differences, but not enough to be classified as a new species. So the new species dips out Crocodylus Johnstoni it remains!

Snapping all round!

at 11.45am. He was .182. Fannie Bay frivolity!

■ I've never liked horses much, and years ago experienced a permanently scarring moment of puntorial diminishment!

I've been to the Lightning Ridge Easter Races, and the Coober Pedy Cup, just as a drinker. Also to the Darwin Cup. Territorians certainly enjoy any excuse for a celebration, and the Cup, just held at Fannie Bay, is such an event.

Just like their southern counterparts, there is fashion and merriment!

This time the merriment tended to spill over a bit.

One gentleman, who claimed that he was “just being a hero", was apprehended doing burnouts on his motorbike - his reading was .112.

Then there was a young lady who was driving her car from the track alerting police to her presence by "pig squealing" as she drove along - her reading was .176.

Finally, another gentleman nearly hit a traffic controller in the car park

■ A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that a recent author had claimed that if China and the U.S. ever waged a sea battle in the South China Sea, Pine Gap would probably be singled out has a target.

I think that were there would be a few more serious prior consequences to such a confrontation!

Now there are more revelations.

An ex- Russian officer in the Missile Force, one Colonel Yarynich, claims that the Base was always, and remains, a prime target for a Soviet attack.

And there was a recent release of some Intelligence Assessments by the National Archives, which also support these claims.

A nuclear attack on Pine Gap would raise the possibility of radiation fallout over Alice Springs,they also concluded. Really?

And then I almost forgot about the other attack on the compound a few years ago by a few of Kevin Bloody Wilson's Supermegafuglies.

The Outback Legend

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

They'd be worse than the Russians I reckon!

■ Then there's the annual Bushfoods Recipe competition. This always produces some delicious and innovative entrees into Alice Springs gastronomical world.

This reminds me of some other bush cuisines which I have encountered.

Not Bush Tucker per se, just your average garden variety meat and veg, prepared and served in a bush manner with bush etiquette.

When one is raised in an environment of suburban Melbourne kitchens and dining rooms, one becomes accustomed to certain standards of food preparation and presentation.

And cleanliness and hygiene are usually a given.

Some kitchens in the bush I have been in don't quite cut this mustard!

Ozzie told me of his one of his many bush camps. There would be a large perpetual pot bubbling away on the kitchen stove.

All his mates would come and go at different times, and just dip into the pot for their dinner or lunch. The leftovers were just scraped back into the pot - toast, jam, bones, gristle, saliva and spittle and lurking bacteria - the lot.

It took me a while to acquaint my stomach to bush cuisine and acquire a steely stomach.

When I lived at Lightning Ridge with my mates Sid and George Graham in their humpy, it was - get used to it or starve.

There were cats running all over the kitchen table, with hygiene at a minimum.

Once I was up there with my friends Sue and Robin Tuckerman, and George proffered a plate of his ‘goulash’.

So, after having composed herself, Sue managed to tentatively and hesitantly sip away at the mysterious offering.

"Enjoy that?" said George.

"Very nice!" Sue quietly and politely opined.

"Well bore this into you, luv!" as to her horror another lot was plopped into the bowl.

■ The last week I mentioned the ceremony in Darwin celebrating the 150th anniversary of John McDouall Stuart's arrival.

● Crocodylus Johnstoni A couple of years before, there was The Mayor and the Freemasons to have been an equally stirring event Grand Master were to have a in Alice Springs, with the unveiling of handover ceremony on the front lawn a memorial to the explorer. of the council, in the heart of Alice.

The Alice Springs Freemasons, inHowever, even though there was cluding my mate Les Pilton, from support for the project from everyone, Barrow Creek, had decided to erect a including traditional owners, a small statue and present it to the people of group of about eight activists objected, Alice Springs in recognition of his ex- and set some stalling wheels of buploits, and a reminder of the fact that reaucracy in motion. It now appears Alice Springs only received its cur- that this will soon resolve itself. rent name in 1935 - before that it was Meanwhile Mr Stuart still lanjust Stuart. guishes recumbent in Mark's workSo Les his and his mates commis- shop, awaiting his final fate! sioned Mark Egan, Ted's son, for the - Nick Le Souef ‘The Outback Legend’ bronze work.

From The Outer

Melbourne

Observer

kojak@ mmnet.com.au

With John Pasquarelli

■ As we stagger on towards an election that we need to free us from the worst government in our history, many are asking what will an Abbott Government be like?

Will it take us in fresh new directions or will it be a repeat of the disastrous Fraser years when massive mandates were squandered?

Many of these questions will be answered when new faces appear after the election.

Our politicians who survive on the public teat do not generally inspire confidence where there is a massive disconnect with mainstream Australians who view most of their MPs with contempt questioning their salaries for whatever reason, their perks and the exposed overseas travel rorts enjoyed by too many of those who have never employed another human being out of their own pocket.

One wonders if they will ever climb again the ladder of public approval?

Waiting for an Abbott Government will be an army of Labor barracking bureaucrats who will obfuscate and block at every turn.

The weaker reeds in government will be tied up in knots by those who have had years of training for such a day.

Are Coalition apparatchiks preparing for this battle by drawing up lists of those bureaucrats to be led to the launching pad?

- John Pasquarelli: kojak@mmnet.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - Page 15

Observer Magazine

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www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

LOU: MY WONDERFUL LIFE

By Ash Long, Editor

■ When I was a Sunday Observer newsboy in the late 1960s, it didn’t take long to learn that a Collingwood footy club win in the Saturday VFL competition would mean plenty of sales.

Being in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, I’d even buy extra copies of the Sporting Globe at full price, to resell them to Magpies supporters on my round. The tips would always cover the investment.

But if the Maggies lost that week, you might as well stay home. The suburb sulked. As did the black-andwhite supporters.

Former Collingwood champion Lou Richards was an essential ingredient to Melbourne’s weekly diet on VFL. You would read his previews and reviews in the Sun News-Pictorial, hear his match descriptions on 3DB, and watch Lou and his mates on HSV-7’s World of Sport at Sunday lunchtime.

If you worked in newspapers,

● Lou Richards pictured over the past year there was a good chance you would drink at his Phoenix Hotel in Flinders St, with mates from The Herald and Weekly Times.

Lou Richards, due to turn 90 in March next year, is suitably described as the “face of the game”, in the foreword written by Magpies President Eddie McGuire, in the newly-released Lou: My Wonderful Life.

Author Stephen Phillips to quick to acknowledge that this book is an update of The Kiss of Death: Memoirs Of A Sporting Legend, first published 25 years ago.

Phillips traces Lou’s early years, kicking a paper footy around the backstreets of Collingwood and Abbotsford in the dark years of the depression.

Lou talks about his family’s days running hotels, and his mother’s father, Charlie Pannam, having a “godlike moniker” throughout Collingwood.

He played from 1894, and was pictured in the lace-up canvas uniform of the time. Lou recallx a number of relations playing for the Magpies.

Lou recalls the area of his youth: “The Collingwood of the 1980s is a vastly different suburb from the area I grew up in.”

Lou traces his first game, as a 16year-old in the sub-district competition, played on a disused rubbish tip in Clifton Hill.

“I found out what football was all about - survival!”

By 1940, Lou was trying out for the Seconds at Victoria Park.

“Well played today, son. You’ll be a Collingwood player,” said coaching legend Jock McHale.

Lou says: “Those few words, which were probably the most exciting I have ever heard, have stayed with me until this day.” ● Lou Richards outside the Phoenix Hotel, Flinders St. 1972

Lou tells how he was selected for his first Collingwood seniors’ match in 1941.

He recalls playing a 1942 match at the Punt Rd Oval against Richmond legend Jack Dyer (‘Captain Dyer’), and learning fast that all players needed to be men on the field.

Lou and Jack were much later to team as a popular Victorian television team, where they were joined by Bob ‘Woofa’Davis for League Teams.

A good slice of the 268-page book traces Lou’s years as a Collingwood champion, as its captain, and as a premiership winner.

Lou tells of his youth, his courtship with Edna (marrying in 1948), their family days, and his work in the media as well as pubs, first taking over the lease of the Town Hall Hotel in North Melbourne, owned by the Richmond Brewery.

Lou recounts being invited by Frank Mogg of 3XY to call VFL games. With Stephen Phillips, Lou tells tale-after-tale of popular football names, as well as tracing the Collingwood story through the years.

The pioneering days of the sportsmen’s night are recounted with Lou’s colleagues including Ron Casey, Doug Elliot, Bill Collins, Colin Long and Doug Ring.

The story is told of the 1355 episodes of that Victorian institution, World of Sport, which came to a close in 1987.

“I have magnificent memories of World of Sport, of the blokes who

worked on the show, of the crew who helped put it together week after week and of the amazing and seemingly endless list of celebrities who made their way through the portals of that cramped studio.”

Lou fondly recalls his days at the Sun, ghost-written for 20 of them by Tom Prior, the stunts and the dares.

The Fairfax organisation put a line through World of Sport and League Teams, and soon Lou was talkingtto each of John Sorell at Nine, David Johnston at Ten, and even Tim Lane at the ABC. Channel 9 won - and a whole new life chapter began with an association with a large range of Nine programs that included The Footy Show and Sunday Footy Show.

Eddie McGuire tells how Lou Richards is held in such esteem at the network that their annual footy prize is named in Lou’s honour.

Likewise, a statue of Lou will soon be unveiled at the Magpies’ Westpac Centre.

Stephen Phillips has done well to present this new edition of Lou’s life story.

There is plenty for Collingwood fans, and non-Magpies too. Even the non-footy supporter who has an interest in Melbourne life through the decades won’t be disappointed.

It recognises a wonderful contribution to Victoria and its sport.

■ Lou: My Wonderful Life is published by Slattery Media Group. it can be bought at www.slatterymedia. com for $32.95.

● Lou Richards in action on the footy field

Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Readers’ Club Family Search

Searching for descendants of Williamina Sherrif Muir B. Linden of 24 Dunnoch Rd, Kennington, Ashford, Kent, England, writes: “I am endeavouring to put some flesh onto the Australian lik of my Muir family tree. I would be interested to make contact any current Muir family members in the hope of discovering more information relating to my great Aunt Williamina Sherriff Muir.

“Williamina Sherriff, born Febryary 3, 1900, was a daughter of Robert Muir, born 1846 in Scotland, and Margaret Thomson. He was a Colliery Inspector then a gas worker and died 1917, buried in Ince in Makerfield.

“Williamina Sherriff travelled to Australia in 1923, age 23 years, on board SS Suevic, arriving Melbourne on December 12. She is recorded in the Victoria electoral roll 1924 lving at 296 Park Avenue, North Melbourne, occupation dispenser.

“Williamina Sherrif Muir married Andrew William Duncan in 1962 priorto her death in Garfield in 1965, age 64 years. No children were advised on the death certificate and she apparently spent some 42 years in Victoria.

“Of particular note though is the UK family believes she did have children although no record of any other marriage has come to light.

The State of Victoria privacy laws prohibit searches for any children with W S Muir as they may still be alive today. If there are any descendants who would care to get in touch I would be grateful for any information relating to Williamina’s life in Australia.” linden.b@btinternet.com

Sticker Of The Week

■ This one was spotted in Carnegie: “I may be left-handed, but I am always right.”

Melbourne Photo Flashback

● Observer reader Beverley Dixon writes of the Convalescent Hospital, Sherbrooke: “I remember as a 9- or 10-year-old being sent to Sherbrooke Convalascent Home owned by the Royal Children's Hospital. The matron was Sister Elsie Hennell (deceased) and the occupational therapist was Miss Docker.

“I have been told that one of the major universities had the Docker Memorial crystal award for the outstanding occupational therapy student. At my age Miss Docker seemed old, grey hair up in a bun, maybe about 60 plus. She took us for exercises outside twice a week and they had a portable classroom where I did things like making a pink and green elephant out of felt, a jigsaw puzzle using a fretsaw (I would be reluctant to do that now) and my favourite activity was basket weaving. I made a single thermos flask holder, a double thermos flask holder, and a sewing basket which I still have today and lastly a man's leather waller which I still have.

“Other memories are it was bread and milk for breakfast, otherwise nice meals and lollies on Sunday night. The cook was Mrs Kendall. Every morning I was allowed to go to the post office with Matron o collect the mail and visit friends in a lovely home opposite for morning tea. Some nights Matron would let me into her sitting room and play scrabble with her and another Sister. Sometimes on the nice evenings the kitchen would pack picnic teas and we would go over to the Sherbrooke Forest and sit on a long log and eat our sandwiches.

“Things I was absolutely amazed at at the age of 10 was the talking tree, the reflection pool, the waterfalls and I was forunate to see a lyrebird dancing on the mound.”

Your Stars with Christina La Cross Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 20) Not a good time for secret love affairs, as you're feeling more emotional and sensitive than you're willing to admit. Just make sure you're not trying to fix a past problem with a current offer of temptation.

Taurus (Apr 21 - May 21) This week will need particular care in romantic matters as you can suffer easily from gossip and insinuation. You pretend to have thicker skin than you really do and it's time for some honest talking.

Gemini (May 22 - June 21) You're having fun again and not a moment too soon after recent stress and strain you've been put through. There's still one negative influence we both know you need to distance yourself from though, isn't there?

Cancer (June 22 - July 23) Invitations which you receive at this time have more meaning behind them than first meets the eye. For once you can afford to read in between the lines, so trust in your instincts. They'll lead you well.

Leo (July 24 - Aug 23) Differences with a loved one may arise quite suddenly and you'll have to be more tactful and considerate than you feel they deserve. All comes to light by Friday and is sure to be worth compromise.

Virgo (Aug 24 - Sept 23) This should be a surprising day, but it does contain a romantic quality which can promise you lasting happiness. All you have to do is throw a little more honesty into the melting pot.

Libra (Sept 24 - Oct 23) Your affections will easily attract admirers from all walks of life. Just make sure you don't confuse what is actually a physical attraction for a mental one. You and I know you need both together, don't we?

Scorpio (Oct 24 - Nov 22) House moves and changes to where you live are relevant for many of you right now but there are also some Scorpios who are just finally becoming content.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 - Dec 21) Your career continues to be full of opportunity this week and as a result of this you may have some backlash coming from your personal life and friends and family.

What can I say Sagittarius, you're loved!

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20) Not everything is what it first seems, so try to hold back on casting judgement too soon. You would be far better to sleep on any major decisions. In fact, a certain relationship depends on it.

Aquarius (Jan 21 - Feb 19) This period brings a slowing down in your affairs as it begins to be a more quiet time after the recent dramatics which made for such an entrance into August. Time to concentrate on love now.

Pisces (Feb 20 - March 20) Don't waste time worrying about problems you know you cannot solve. You'd be far better to put your time and energy into what can be achieved this week. In fact, it's the key to your success.

Observer Mailbag ■ Betty Jeffrey, Melba Hwy, Glenburn, writes: “Just a line to let you know that Ray and I are having a double celebration on August 30. We will have been married 60 years.

“We were wed at the Mernda Methodist Church by Rev. Walter Betts. Walter was married to Ray’s aunt, Ethel Knox.

“Eight years later on August 30, 1960, we moved from Mernda to ‘Highwood’, Glenburn.

“The farm was run down in those days but it’s a different story today.”

■ Editor replies: The happiest of anniversaries to you, Betty and Ray. ★★★ ■ Melbourne Observer columnist Kevin Trask received a surprise from Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush at the media launch of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum on Monday afternoon this week.

GeoffreyRush told Kevin that his favourite radio station is 96.5 Inner FM, based at Heidelberg, and that his favourite program is Black Hat, White Tie And Tails, presented 11am-1pm on the community station. The show was founded by Kevin’s brother-in-law Bill Gosstray and late brother Jack Trask. ★★★ ■ Melva Scott of Noble St, Anglesea, writes: “Recently on two occasions, people have suggested that I should read the Melbourne Observer, so last week I picked up a copy. And now I am your latest fan!

“I really enjoyed all the little, clever bits; the historical and literature sections; and the human interest stories. The content covered Victoria, national and overseas news - Angelsea even got a mention. I also liked the variety of short pieces on the lighter side of life, written with an enthusiasm reminescent of a university rag.

“So please keep on doing all the good that you can do.”

■ Editor replies: Thanks Melva. You have asked about the availability of a photo that we published in April. We no longer do photo sales.

The latest technology means that we don’t even produce photos these days. It all goes from camera to printing plate.

Join in our chat IN PRINT: Read the Melbourne Observer every week.

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More Mailbag ■ Thanks to Observer reader David Manenti of Summer Hill Crash Repairs Preston, 157173 Plenty Rd, Preston, for sending a photo of the premises as they were in 1886, some 126 years ago.

■ Editor replies: We have fond memories of working with Sam Manenti of Summerhill in the 1980s on the Preston and Reservoir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ★★★ ■ Observer reader David Kleesh reminds us that the Whittlesea Community Market is being held this Saturday (Aug. 18) from 8am-1pm at the Showgrounds, Yea Rd. Sites from $20.

The market raises money for the chaplaincy at the Whittlesea Secondary College and Primary School. ★★★ ■ Victorian Jazz Archive Vice-President Marina Pollard tells us about a Fundraiser for the Victorian Jazz Musicians’ Benefit Fund on Cup Day (Tues., Nov. 6), 12 Noon-5.30pm at ‘Komba Park’, Mountain Hwy, Wantirna. Contact Jeff Blades, 9801 5007.

■ Mavis Pickering from the Jazz Archive advises that a fundraiser will be held on Sunday, October 14, 1.30pm-4.30pm, at the Burvale Hotel, featuring the Shirazz Jazz Band. ★★★ ■ Martin King’s Melancolia exhibition will be held at James Makin Gallery, 67 Cambridge St, Collingwood, until September 1. An ‘Artist Talk’ will be held 2pm-4pm this Saturday (Aug. 18)

Birthdays/Celebrations ■ Wednesday, August 15. Birthday greetings to Melbourne public relations practitioner Helen Reizer.

■ Thursday, August 16. Happy birthday to Observer reader Graeme Trainor of Templestowe ■ Friday, August 17. Actor Shane Porteous is 70; he was born at Coleraine.

■ Saturday, August 18. Birthday greetings to Nigel Williamson of Nigel’s Animal Rescue.

Entertainer Silvie Paladino celebrates today, and also performs in Chess. Osberver reader Jason Andrew Toppin of Boronia is 33. It is a special birthday for Observer subscriber Margaret Rose Mclelland.

■ Sunday, August 19. Happy birthday to Observer reader Peter Greenaway.

■ Monday, August 20. Fitzroy chocolate maker Sir Macpherson Robertson died on this day in 1945, aged 85.

■ Tuesday, August 21. Michael Shepherd celebrates a birthday today. Emma Strauss blows out the candles.