Ob 18jun14 bz

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - Page 7

Showbiz News

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

‘Go Show’ to pay tribute Observer to the late Jim Keays In This 84-Page Edition

Mark Richardson: Sibling revelry ........... Page 4 Observer: Philip Brady’s birthday ......... Page 8 More photos on Pages 13, 38 and 39 News: Marty Rhone’s star role ............ Page 9 Di Rolle: Magic to do, just for you ....... Page 10 Melb. Confidential: Auditor banned ....... Page 11 Long Shots: The Editor’s column ......... Page 12 Gavin Wood: Life from West Hollywood .. Page 15 Been and Seen: Miss Universe photos ... Page 16 Yvonne Lawrence: Life and style ........... Page 17 Kevin Trask: Roy Orbison tribute ..........Page 18 The Arts, Theatre Movies, DVDs Radio Confidential TV, Reviews

The King And I ★★★★★

Observer Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

● Jason Scott Lee and Lisa McCune in The King And I. Photo: Kevin Trask ■ Lisa McCune and Jason Scott Lee provided a faultless opening night of The King And I when the season opened at the Princess Theatre.

John Frost and Opera Australia hosted a gala first night with a guest list that included Premier Dr Denis Napthine, Arts Minister Heidi Victoria, Geoffrey Rush, Rhonda Burchmore, Judith Durham, Denise Scott and David Mann.

VIPS invited included Rachel Griffiths Gorgi Coghlan, Chrissie Swan , Harrison Craig, Travis Cloke, Jacinta Stapleton, Nadine Garner, Guy Grossi, Pamela, Em Rusciano, Hannah Gadsby, Colette Mann, Chelsea Butler, Mike Larkan, Libbi Gorr, Frank Woodley and Tom Gleisner.

The King and I was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s fifth musical together. It was based on Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam, which took its inspiration from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, a British governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand) in the early 1860s.

The score is beautiful, the costumes and staging are exquisite.It is a five-star performance. ● Rhonda Burchmore and Judith ● Kevin Trask speaks with Durham on the opening night red carpet at the Princess Theatre Marty Rhone, Page 9

● Jim Keays ■ The Go! Show Gold reunion concert will have a special tribute to musician Jim Keays who died on Friday (June 13).

Keays was an Australian musician who fronted rock band The Masters Apprentices as singer-songwriter, guitarist and harmonica-player during 1965–1972, and subsequently had a solo career.

Keays was diagnosed in 2007 with myeloma. His kidneys had failed. The cancer was in remission after chemotherapy and stem-cell transplants.

He died from pneumonia due to complications resulting from his cancer at a Melbourne hospital.

The Go! Show reunion concert is being staged at the Palais Theatre, St Kilda, on Saturday, August 2.

Promoter Dennis Smith told the Melbourne Observer that the concert will start at 7.15pm, because of the volume of acts appearing.

Artists include The Mixtures, Johnny Young, Normie Rowe, Ronnie Burns, Ross D Wyllie, Ronnie Charles, Tony Worsley, Colleen Hewett, Bobby Bright, Colin Cook, Buddy England, Mike Brady, Marcie Jones and the Cookies and Pussyfoot.

The Masters Apprentices had Top 20 hits on the Go-Set National Singles Charts with Undecided, Living in a Child's Dream , 5:10 Man, Think about Tomorrow Today, Turn Up Your Radio and Because I Love You. Jim Keays also wrote for the teen newspaper, Go-Set, as its Adelaide correspondent in 1970 and its London correspondent in 1973.

The band reformed in 1987–1988 and again later. Keays, as a member of The Masters Apprentices, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1998.

Syringe at hold-up ■ A Hawthorn man will be accused of holding a syringe to staff at Geelong’s Chemist Warehouse before allegedly stealing a quantity of drugs, reports the Geelong Advertiser.

Claims at saleyards ■ RSPCA Victoria is making inquiries after reports an allegedly emaciated horse was assessed as fit for sale at Echuca saleyards last month, reports the Riverine Herald.

Fears of poisoning ■ Colac's Linda Scott has made an emotional plea to cat owners after finding her two sevenmonth-old moggies dead in a laneway beside her house. She fears they died of poisoning.

Scooter stolen ■ Thieves robbed ex-serviceman Graeme Harvey, 78, of Delaocmbe, of his $1200 mobility scooter, reports the Ballarat Courier.

Murder charge ■ Homicide Squad detectives have charged a woman, Lisa Clark, 39, with murder following the death of a man in Ringwood.

Suspicious fire #20 ■ Tatura’s CFA brigade have just attended the 20th suspicious fire in the district.

Weather Forecast ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Today (Wed.). Partly cloudy. 6°-14° Thurs. Mostly cloudy. 8°-15° Fri. Mostly cloudy. 8°-16° Sat. Partly cloudy. 8°-15° Sun. Partly cloudy. 10°-15°

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5 THE T OP 5 TOP MOST CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESSES

● John Wood and Anne Wood on the red carpet at the Princess Theatre

5. oscarpistorius@hoptusnet.com 4. flightmh370@?

3. geoffreyedlesten@bigblonde.com.au 2. clivepalmer@verybroadband.com 1. asada@whatthebloodyhellisgoingon.com

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

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Circus Oz ■ The media call for Circus Oz’s new show, But Wait…There’s More will be held this morning (Wed.).

Cast will be introduced. It includes Ania Reynolds, April Dawson, Ben Hendry, Candy Bowers, Dale Woodbridge--Brown, Kyle Raftery, Lilikoi Kaos, Matt Wilson, Nathan Kell, Olivia Porter, Scott Hone and Spenser Inwood.

Opening night at The Big Top at Birrarung Marr has an invitation list that includes Stefan Dennis, Max Gilies, Angus Sampson, Karen Martini, Nadine Garner, Jane Allsop. Hannah Gadsby, Virginia Gay, Francis Greenslade, Clare Bowditch, Ben and Jackie Gillies, Bert LaBonte, Manu Feidel, Julian Burnside, Glenn Ridge and Heidi Arena.

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

● Dorothy Baker with Kevin Trask

Philip Brady celebrates 75th b’day

Comic-Con ■ The Melbourne leg of Oz Comic-Con 2014 will be staged on July 5-6 at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton.

Now in its third year, Oz Comic-Con hosts pop culture events which celebrate film, television, comic books, graphic novels, gaming and anime.

Appearances are expected from MacGyver star Richard Dean Anderson, Robert Englund who is known for his role as Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Alien stars Tom Skerritt and Veronica Cartwright, Kristian Nairn and Daniel Portman from Game of Thrones, and Arthur Darvill better known as Rory Williams from Doctor Who.

Extended

● Patrick Roberts with Gordon Bennett

● Philip Brady, Giovanni Mico, Bruce Mansfield, Terese and Elizabeth Mico at The Olive Jar restuarant, Carlton (formerly La Contadina).

● Max Bleach, singer ■ Melbourne TV-radio personality Philip Brady celebrated his 75th birthday with four parties at The Olive Jar restaurant, Carlton, at the weekend.

The Friday night party had a guest list which included Patti Newton, Peter and Jackie Smith, radio producer Simon Owens with wife Chris), violinist Patrick Roberts, singers Dorothy Baker and Max Bleach, TV producer Gordon Bennett, Melbourne Observer columnist Kevin Trask.

Sunday’s gathering included many of Philip’s 3AW colleagues including Bruce Mansfield (with wife Jill), Doug Aiton, Dr Sally Cockburn, Mike Brady, David Mott, John Blackman, Paul Harris, Ken Francis and Bianca Johnston.

Also there were former producer Wes Turnbull (with mother Lyn), Channel 9 newsreader Peter Hitchener, former Nightline producer Nathan Zwar, animal rescue man Nigel Williamson, ex-Good Morning Australia producer Jen Brown (with husband Jim), RSPCA stalwart Dr Huigh Wirth, gardening expert Jane Edmanson from Magic 1278, TV makeup veteran Jan Gash, and showbiz legend Val Jellay with son Marty Fields.

● Peter Smith with Ash Long

● Ian Reid with Naomi Reid

● Val Stewart, Dennis and Carol Smith

■ The Mother and Son season, at the the Comedy Theatre, has been extended until August 17. It stars Noeline Brown, Darren Gilshenan and Shane Jacobson.

Gala Night ■ The opening night gala for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival will be held tomorrow (Thu.) night at Chapel Of Chapel.

A two-hour packed cabaret extravaganza hosted by London cabaret star Spanky, will feature Ginger and Tonic, Alana Conway, Michael Dalley, Melissa Langton, Amanda Harrison, Elise McCann, The Beautiful Losers, Geraldine Quinn and Matthew Mitcham.

● Radio producer Simon Owens with wife Chris

● John and Jenny Davidson travelled from New South Wales for the birthday celebrations.

● Terry and Mary Boyd, with Jeannette Hodgkinson, sister of Philip Brady

Soccer ■ Roy Hay and Bill Murray, academic historians and devoted football fans, will promote The History of Australian Football, The Gondola Room, Veneto Club, 119 Bulleen Rd, Bulleen from 4pm-5pm on Sunday, July 13.

The book is illustrated with 400 archive photos and published in lavish large-format hardback, with stories from 150 years.

● Craig Woolley, Werner Utri and Dr Jerome Santamaria at The Olive Jar restaurant, Carlton, at the weekend, to celebrate Philip Brady’s 75th birthday.

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - Page 9

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Showbiz News

Marty Rhone’s star role Drew Morphett OAM

Briefs Official

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

5-year on Wodonga financial adviser

● Geoff Shaw ■ The staid Weekly Times newspaper last week declared Frankston MP Geoff Shaw as “dill of the week” for his “self-indulgent, petulant tantrums”.

Pollies

● Denis Napthine ■ Speculation continues that Ted Baillieu may make a comeback as Leader of the Victorian Coalition prior to the November State Election.

At the Euroa seat, held by Dr Bill Skyes for the Nationals, it is rumoured that the Liberal Party may contest the seat against their Coalition partner.

Farewell ■ Leigh Spence, director of TV dramas including Prisoner, A Country Practice and Home And Away, has died at the age of 75.

Spence’s career started at the ABC in the late 1950s, starting as a studio hand.

● Marty Rhone with Kevin Trask ■ Marty Rhone had great success with the hit song Denim And Lace in 1975 and over the years has worked as a singer, actor and promoter.

In 1978 he performed the role of Lun Tha in the London production of The King And I starring opposite Yul Brynner and Virginia McKenna.

He is currently playing The Kralahome in The King And I at the Princess Theatre with Lisa McCune and Jason Scott Lee. This is a magnificent show and Marty gives a strong performance. I was there on opening night and over the years I have seen many productions of this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical but this is without doubt the best so far.

The performances the costumes, the sets and the lighting are wonderful. The ‘A list’ audience leapt to their feet for a standing ovation at the curtain call on opening night.

- Kevin Trask

● Drew Morphett and wife Kaz were at State Government House when the sports comentator received his OAM. Ted Ryan has more details on Page 47.

‘King’ star on radio ■ A star of The King And I, ShuCheen Yu, visited the studios of Golden Days Radio at Glen Huntly yesterday (Tues.).

She recorded an interview with Ian McLeod. Station President Larry James told the Melbourne Observer that the interview will be featured in Alex Hehr's Saturday morning breakfast program on July 5 at 9am.

Shu-Cheen is currently starring as Lady Thiang in The King and I at the Princess Theatre.

The interview discusses her role in the production and there are also some songs from her latest CD Lotus Moon.

Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

● From left: Ian McLeod, Carlos Kramer, Shu-Cheen Yu and Alex Hehr at the Golden Days Radio studios in Glen Huntly yesterday (Tues.).

Quiet room at Northland ■ Northland Shopping Centre has announced a community partnership with Amaze, formerly Autism Victoria, to open Australia's first ever shopping centre 'Quiet Room' - a sensory soothing space for individuals with Autism.

Built entirely by local volunteers and businesses, the pioneering 'Quiet Room' concept has been introduced in a bid to give the 55,000 Victorians affected by ASD a positive shopping experience.

Amaze CEO Fiona Sharkie said, "It can be very difficult for parents with children on the spectrum to be able to come out to public places, such as shopping centres, for fear of their child having a 'meltdown' .”

■ The Australian Securities and Investments Comission has banned Sebastian Konjevic from providing financial services for five years after an investigation alleged he had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct.

Konjevic, of Wodonga, was a client adviser of UBS AG, the holder of an Australian financial services licence, from 2005 to last year.

ASIC found Konjevic had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct under the Corporations Act because he: ■ had not adhered to various UBS codes of conduct, including the code of business conduct and ethics of UBS, gifts policy and corruption policy, and was in a position of conflict, and ■ was likely to have misled his employer and UBS Wealth Management Australia Ltd into assuming that he was complying with the various codes of conduct and relevant policies, and was not in a position of conflict as required under those policies, when this was not the case.

ASIC’s investigation found that between March and August 2012, under an arrangement with Astra Resources PLC, Konjevic stood to receive 900,000 Astra shares and referrals from Astra of its shareholders to Konjevic to act as their adviser if he caused current UBS clients to acquire Astra shares and if he assisted Astra in obtaining UBS custody services.

Several UBS clients invested a total of $1 million in Astra on Konjevic’s recommendation and, as a result, 900,000 Astra shares were received by a nominee of Konjevic. The receipt of the Astra shares was not disclosed to UBS or UBS Wealth.

ASIC Commissioner Greg Tanzer said, “Financial advisers are required to avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest and abide by the policies their employers have in place to manage this. Advisers who fail to meet these obligations and pursue their own interests will be removed from the industry.”

UBS Wealth, which co-operated with ASIC’s investigation, reported Konjevic’s conduct to ASIC and terminated his employment in April last year.

Konjevic has the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC’s decision.

ASIC has commenced separate court action against Astra, its directors, a former director and Astra Consolidated Nominees Pty Ltd alleging breaches of the Corporations Act relating to fundraising.

Barrel bungs ■ An historic mural at the Dimboola Hotel looks set to go when the building is demolished over coming weeks. The mural features Essendon football legened Tim Watson, who was raised in the town.

■ The management of Manningham Council’s Carols By Candlelight is to be outsourced to an outdoor events company from next year, after the 33year-old celebration at Ruffey Park, Doncaster, has come under review.

■ Investores are needed to keep Como House financially viable, reports the Stonnington Leader. The National Trust is looking to increase the number of pricate functions to raise more revenue.

■ Batman Park at Northcote may face a name change out of respect to local Aboriginal community interests.

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

To

Di Fifty Flowers

● Barbara and Charles Blackman ■ I get to meet some fabulous people in the work I do. I get to meet more interesting people in a week than most people do.

I never take it for granted what I do. A wonderful woman I met is Barbara Blackman.

Barbara is a philanthropist, writer, music-lover, letter writer and patron of the arts.

Former wife of the painter Charles Blackman, she worked for many years as an artist’s model.

She has conducted countless interviews for the National Library of Australia’s oral history program.

In 2006, Barbara was presented with the Australian Contemporary Music award for patronage.

Barbara Blackman gave a bouquet to the world’s musicians in the form of Fifty Flowers, a 1978 painting by her former husband Charles.

The painting will hang in Melbourne Recital Centre’s Green Room to be enjoyed by the artists who perform at the Centre.

Barbara Blackman’s passion for contemporary music, a love affair which began in high school when she was introduced to the works of Shostakovich, has motivated her patronage of the art.

In 2004, she pledged $1 million to music in Australia; funds have since been distributed to Pro Musica, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian National University’s School of Music and Canberra International Music Festival among other groups.

The painting, an exuberant beautiful floral still life counterpointed by a placid white cat, had a touching genesis. During their separation, Barbara sent Charles a bunch of 50 golden flowers for his 50th birthday, which Charles ‘returned’ as the painting when Barbara herself turned 50.

The painting has since been loaned to Canberra University and to Government House, where it was hung in the main reception room during Dame Quentin Bryce’s residency.

Flowers are a signature Blackman motif, appearing in works from many of his periods.

Blackman spoke of capturing that particular kind of frailty and sensibity which people have in relation to flowers.

Barbara Blackman was inspired to give Fifty Flowers to Melbourne Recital Centre by the example of the Centre’s founding patron, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, a woman who Barbara admired greatly.

The painting will not be on public display but in the Green Room, where Barbara Blackman feels it will be most at home.

She She loves loves you, you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah

I love my job!

● Paul McCartney ■ Rock n roll heaven is getting pretty crowded with Jim Keays now joining all the greats. I can see him up there with John Lennon, George Harrison, Doc Neeson and many more.

It’s quite a gang up there. Fifty years ago I got to meet John Lennon.

I was the Vice-President of The Beatles Fan Club.

I was 16-years-old. It was one of the most amazing times of my life and set me on what was to become my career and fascination with celebrity.

From the day I met The Beatles in Melbourne inside the Southern Cross Hotel, I never looked back.

I knew I wanted to work in entertainment and I knew I wanted to be around ‘the business’, as they say.

People ask me to describe what it was like meeting The Beatles, I simply say it was like meeting Mozart!

For Magic to do, just for you

■ When Dawn French was judging Australia’s Got Talent, she spoke of Michael Boyd when he appeared on the show.

She said that he was astonishing, and called him a stunning magician.

Michael became a finalist on Australia’s Got Talent 2013.

He brings his magic and mystique to the PalmsAt Crown in a show called just that Magic And Mystique.

Acclaimed Australian-born illusionist Michael Boyd brings Mystique and some of the world’s best illusions to the Palms at Crown for two shows only, July 4, 2 pm and 8pm.

It appears that Michael cannot get enough of Melbourne ... and why not, it’s a great town.

I like Michael. He is a hard worker and the real deal.

Featuring some of the world’s most impressive illusions designed and built by the same team that work alongside the world famous David Copperfield, Boyd’s incredible production will surprise and delight.

As well as jawdropping escapes, levitations, transformations, special effects and mind blowing disappearances, Michael loves his audiences.

He told me audiences will be left in utter disbelief as they see things which they believe to be impossible yet happening right in front of their eyes.

This is a perfect show for families on holidays all over the country, as well as Melbourne live theatre and event audiences.

with leading Melbourne publicist DI ROLLE

● Michael Boyd

Hooray for World Cup

Mystique promises to bring even more magic to Melbourne.

Born in Melbourne, Michael Boyd’s magician grandfather taught him all about the world of magic and by the age of 13, Boyd joined the Young Magicians Magic School to hone his craft.

Following high

school he hit the road performing three shows a day until he eventually got his big break on the TV show, Pot Luck .

Since then, his career has skyrocketed and he’s now one of the most acclaimed magicians in the country.

Tickets available now at ticketek.com or phone 132849.

Sir David Attenborough returns

■ I have thrown myself totally into the World Cup. Some 33 countries are playing in Brazil under the watchful eye of Christos the Redeemer.

Spain is my tip to win.

There are, however, a lot of games to be played before the winner is announced.

For a month of the fabulous World Cup series, there will be a lot of tired people going to offices daily.

I know I have all games marked and ready. I am looking forward to the coverage.

My World Cup liftout from the papers has curled up edges, red circles, black circles and coffee spilled on it already.

My prediction for the best players are Croatia’s Luka Modric and Spain’s Xavi Hernandez. And take the tip: watch out for Italy’s Marlo Balotelli.

● Luka Modric, soccer player for Croatia

● David Attenborough ■ Sir David Frederick Attenborough is a perfect example of why I want to work till I am way past 70.

At 88 he is coming back to Australia. This time he will appear live on stage in Sydney and Melbourne in November in a new show titled Sir David Attenborough – The Third Dimension.

A pioneer of the latest technological advances in program making, Sir David brings the natural world to audiences worldwide in ways not dreamt of just a few years ago.

Focusing on his latest programs, Sir David will share his most recent experiences filming the natural world, using the latest technology such as CGI and time-lapse and showing audiences some of his programs highlights as they were meant to be watched - in 3D. He is fantastic.Iimagine Sir David, in person, on stage, talking about his latest film expedition and then watching his work in 3D. This maybe the largest 3D viewing in Australia, a testament to Sir David’s continuing quest to use the latest technology to bring us closer to the natural world. It will truly be a unique experience.

Following the sold-out tours of Australia in 2012 and 2013, the new show will provide a completely fresh look at the natural world and an insight into Sir David’s recent travels and discoveries.

To register for pre-sale tickets visit www.lateralevents.com Sir David will be in Melbourne: 8pm Friday, November 14 at the Palais Theatre. Tickets begin at $65, book now at ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100 and that’s not all – he is also appearing on Saturday, November 15 at 8pm at the Regent Theatre.

Phone 1300 111 011. Tickets go on sale on Monday (June 23).

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - Page 11

Confidential Melbourne

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

Victorian auditor banned for 5 years

Bitch Melbourne’s Secrets

Tim Evans mystery

■ The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has accepted an enforceable undertaking from Warren John Sinnott, of Kennington, as part of an ongoing investigation into the collapse of Banksia Financial Group.

Under the undertaking, Sinnott is prevented from practising as a registered auditor until June 2019.

Sinnott was the lead auditor responsible for the audits of companies in the Banksia Group – which included Securities Holdco Limited and its subsidiaries, Banksia Securities Limited and Cherry Fund Limited – for the financial years 2009-2012 .

ASIC formed the view that Sinnott failed to carry out or perform adequately and properly the duties of an auditor.

ASIC found that Sinnott did not conduct the audits in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards as required of him under the Corporations Act. In relation to each audit ASIC formed the view that Sinnott failed, among other things, to: ■ perform sufficient audit proce-

dures in relation to loan receivables and obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to reduce the risk of material misstatement of loan receivables to an acceptably low level display an appropriate level of professional scepticism when auditing the valuation of, and provision for impairment of loans receivable, and adequately document his conclusion about the reasonableness of the provision for impairment ■ remain alert through the audits that the risk of the potential impairment of loan receivables may cast doubt over Banksia Group's ability to continue as a going concern

‘Ballroom’ opens Jan. ● Tim Evans ■ Whatever happened to Tim Evans, the loud Texan musician-comedian, who came to prominence on Melbourne TV in the 1960s?

A 3AW listener raised the question on the Nightline program, whose co-hosts Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady recalled Evans’s days as a comedy scriptwriter, a folk singer ... and later as a Melbourne taxi driver.

Evans had married Melbourne TV singer Elaine McKenna, Channel 9’s ‘girl next door’, who had starred in The Tarax Show and Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight.

Elaine died prematurely, succumbing to a fast lifestyle to which Evans had introduced her after she departed Australia in 1961. Elaine met Evans, a member of the Wanderers Three folk singers.

They married at St Patrick’s Cathedral, El Paso, in October 1963.

Sister Julie McKenna, well-respected for her work over the past 35 years with Australian youth involved with singing and dancing, is said to have contacted the radio station and advised that the name of Tim Evans now also appears on the memorial stone at Elaine McKenna’s grave.

● Elaine McKenna

take responsibility for the overall quality of the audit and provide an appropriate level of supervision and review, and ■ appropriately conclude that he had obtained reasonable assurance to form an appropriate opinion on the financial report.

Under the undertaking, Sinnott agreed, among other things, to: ■ participate in a further 10 hours of continuing professional development on audit methodology each year during the period of suspension in addition to the mandatory professional requirements ■ provide to any client or employer a copy of the undertaking where he is engaged by them to perform any audit and/or review work for which registration as an auditor under the Corporations Act is not required, and ■ submit for review to a registered auditor, approved by ASIC, the first three audits conducted by him following the period of suspension that are required to be conducted by a registered company auditor and implement any recommendations made by the review auditor.

Rumour Mill

Hear It Here First

Player denies claim ● Phoebe Panaretos and Thomas Lacey ■ Strictly Ballroom The Musical will open at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, in mid-January.

Tickets for Baz Luhrmann’s hit show will go on sale on Monday, July 21 from www.ticketek.com.au.

The show had its premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, The Star. in April. This new production is staged by the original creative team behind the classic 1992 film, including director and co-writer Baz Luhrmann, set and costume designer Catherine Martin, choreographer John ‘Cha Cha’ O’Connell and co-writer Craig Pearce.

Playing the pivotal roles of ‘Scott Hastings’ and ‘Fran’ is Thomas Lacey and Phoebe Panaretos who lead an outstanding Australian cast of 43 including Bob Baines as Les Kendall, Drew Forsythe as Doug Hastings, Natalie Gamsu as Abuela, Robert Grubb as Barry Fife, Fernando Mira as Rico, Heather Mitchell as Shirley Hastings and Mark Owen-Taylor as JJ Silvers.

It is the story of a championship ballroom dancer who defies all the rules to follow his heart. This uplifting and courageous tale originated as a stage play that Baz Luhrmann devised with a group of students at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1984.

■ AFL player Majak Daw has denied sex assault allegations being investigated by Police, saying he is horrified by the claims.

A Victoria Police statement said: “Sexual crimes squad detectives arrested and interviewed a 23-year-old Wyndham Vale man on May 25, in relation to historical sexual assault in Altona North in 2007.”

● Majak Daw

‘Such a pity’ ■ Stage Whispers magazine yesterday (Tues.) published a review of the MDMS production of Guys And Dolls with the comment: “Such a pity....this promised to be sensational. It was good, but the lack of energy and enthusiasm did nothing to cover the cracks ... This is still an enjoyable night of music theatre – and a remarkable achievement. I saw it on the second night and it felt a little flat in places, but that’s to be expected.”

E-Mail: Confidential@MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whispers

Top 40

● Casey Kasem ■ Some Mebourne radio fans were quick to pay tribute to American Top 40 DJ Casey Kasem who died this week.

A pity that a few used a photo of US music identity Dick Clark to say their farewell on social media.

● Dick Clark

Side tracked

■ A man learned the hard way on Monday night night in Frankston North that vehicles aren’t made for train tracks.

The 24-year-old Hastings man became confused when crossing the tracks at the intersection of Overton Rd and Dandenong Rd East shortly before 9.40pm.

He has turned his Holden on to the train tracks and driven for a short distance before becoming bogged.

Despite attempts to move the vehicle, it was firmly stuck.

Police from Frankston and Carrum Downs attended and all trains through the area were stopped.

The man was given a preliminary breath test and returned a positive result. The driver will be charged on summons with a range of offences.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

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Melbourne

Observer

Ash On Wednesday

Simply first-class

■ Our travel expert David Ellis says the Chinese man who recently made international headlines by dining free in an airline’s First Class Lounge for almost a year, may not be the trail-blazer he’s been made out to be – it seems he was beaten to the ruse by some devious young Aussie travel agents years ago.

The un-named Chinese man bought a fully-refundable First Class ticket with China Eastern Airlines in the city of Xi’an early last year, and immediately used it enjoy a slap-up meal pre-flight in the airline’s Domestic VIP Lounge – after which he phoned the airline, rescheduled his flight to the next day and went home.

That next day he returned to the airport, ate, drank, changed his flight to yet the next day again, and once more went home… doing the same thing for an amazing 300 consecutive days until the airline realised what he was up to.

And when confronted, he ’fessed up, pointed out that as his ticket was fullyrefundable, and said he wanted his money back – and got it.

Writing in Australasian travel industry newsletter, eGlobalTravel Media, Australian travel journalist Peter Needham says that many years ago when paper tickets were still in use here, some enterprising young travel agents in a travel agency would regularly write themselves a First Class ticket, then duck out to Sydney’s Mascot Airport where they’d simply show their paper ticket and be allowed into the airline’s First Class Domestic Lounge.

There they’d tell staff “they were early and would check-in later,” and enjoy the First Class hospitality for as long as they wished.

As no bookings had actually been made, at the end of their sessions they’d tear up their “tickets” and go home… and as one (now somewhat highly revered in the travel industry) boasted to Needham this week, “you certainly got the best grog in that First Class Lounge.”

Cabaret coverage ■ Our Local Theatre chief columnist Cheryl Threadgold reports on the explosion of cabaret entertainment across Melbourne.

Cheryl says five different reviewers will provide reports from Melbourne Cabaret Festival shows, which begin tomorrow (Thurs.) night.

Melbourne TV Memories with K enneth Mulholland Kenneth

Golden Days of 0-10 Remote Broadcasts

● David Ellis

Long Shots

editor@melbourneobserver.com.au

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

Observer Treasury Thought For The Week ■ “We are just statistics, born to constitute resources.”

- Horace

Observer Curmudgeon ■ “Probably the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, but the opening battles of all subsequent wars have been lost there.”

- George Orwell

Text For The Week ■ The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

- Mark 12:31 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.

■ From the early country racing broadcasts that spanned Victoria during the late 1960s and on deep into the 1970s, to the horse racing of all the local courses, to the coverage of the Melbourne Cup itself, ATV was there: Moe to Ballarat, Geelong to Bendigo, Yarra Glen to Warracknabeal, Ararat, Colac, Stawell, and the list goes on.

Then there were the other bike, motor car and boating broadcasts: Red Line Speedway, Caribbean Gardens, Lakelands hillclimb, Wallan mini bikes, Lake Eppalock boat racing, Phillip Island motor and motorbike racing, and the Standing Quarter Mile drag racing at Calder Speedway.

Channel 0 also covered Association Football (the old VFA), soccer at South Melbourne, tennis, even grid iron.

There were also internal broadcasts from the Exhibition Buildings and external ones from the Showgrounds for the Royal Show, as well as the famous/infamous Bird Man Rallies, Moomba Parades, Carols By Candlelight and Music For The People events from the Sydney Myer Music Bowl.

There was a Lobo special, (from Festival Hall, I think) and later, when drama became more sophisticated, OBs for Matlock Police, Prisoner and Neighbours as well as many beach spectaculars.

Here are some of my memories of those times.

Initially I hated the country racing broadcasts, not because of what they were, but simply because they took me away from Maria.

We were going together and engaged in the late 1960s and wed in 1970, and I found it hard to be so far away, especially on overnight stays such as when we did Saturday horse racing and Sunday motor racing.

An early, notable memory, was a dual Saturday/ Sunday OB at Stawell before we were married.

Maria drove up and stayed in the motel where we were lodged (in her own room), I spent a memorable couple of night hours cruising around the outliers of the Grampians with Hayden (Flash) Cordel from audio, while Maria entertained Simon Hellings and a couple of others.

(She didn't want to re-visit the mountains after our adventure a few years before, and 'entertained' means having a couple of friendly drinks.

Another memory: the mounting yard at Caulfield.

My camera is covering this. I have had a very social and late night beforehand. Somewhere between the nags parading, I find a seat and dose off. It is called a ‘power nap’ these days.

Back then I sported a stunted excuse for a beard.

I was stingingly woken by a punter pulling my whiskers, who pointed out the fact that someone else was manning my camera. The Head of Outside Broadcasts Ken Bell, no less.

His comment, when I tapped him on the shoulder, was, 'Dear oh, bleeping dear!' And dear old bleeping 'Dinga' Bell never mentioned my indiscretion in reports. A very, very decent fellow.

Then there was Calder and 'The Jet Car’. Barry Cross was the cameraman on the start line. The camera was mounted on a trolley fitted with a seat and me at the rear end manually pushing and pulling it with the aid of a back steer lever.

There was (and probably still is) a starting countdown lights system known as 'the Christmas Tree' at the takeoff line of the Standing Quarter Mile.

The idea was to see who could cover that distance fastest. Simple enough with the standard machines of the time.

Enter 'The Jet Car’, a machine powered by some intimidating noise generator that literally exhausted fire and brimstone. There seemed to be a mindset back in those days regarding jet powered land and water machines. Who could design and build something bigger and better?

When Barry and I hit the start line that day, we were already slightly woosey on motor fumes. Barry signalled me to push him right into the driver's cockpit to check out the instruments and the man at the wheel.

As the 'Christmas Tree' began its countdown, lights flashing, and engine rising to a crescendo, Barry was right in there, the camera lens almost touching the driver. I was watching the count-down tree. Barry was by then really yelling to get him out of there.

Turn To Page 17

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - Page 13

Melbourne People

● Jane Edmanson and Gill Andrew

Philip Brady’s 75th birthday At The Olive Jar, Carlton Photos: Ash Long

● Philip Brady with Patti Newton

● Ronald Blaskett Jnr with father Ron

● Jim and Jenchurai Brown

● Phil Danby with Jane West

● Walter and Elizabeth Welst

● Dorothy Baker sings Auf Wiedersehen

● Mary Murphy

● Garry Stewart with Kevin Trask

PHOTO: 3AW NIGHTLINE/ FACEBOOK

● Nigel Williamson, Sally Cockburn, Nathan Zwar

PHOTO: 3AW NIGHTLINE/ FACEBOOK

● Ken Francis and Bianca Johnston

PHOTO: BRIAN McGINLEY

● Fleur and Ash Long of the Melbourne Observer

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Fantastic special bike for Mt View Primary School

● Kenisha on bike with Jack Simpson and Barrie Wain of Lodge of Rapport, representing Social Committee that raised the funds.

■ In September last year, Lodge of Rapport No. 920 received a phone call from Mount View Primary School's social worker Ellen Kennedy, asking if the Lodge would be able to assist with the purchase of a special bicycle for use by the school's students.

She advised that the school had been prompted to make the contact as a result of viewing Channel 31's Freemasons: The Inside Story.

Late last year, Freemasons Victoria and Lodge of Rapport responded to the request to fund the special bicycle.

The Lodge of Rapport donated funds, which were matched by a dollar for dollar grant from Freemasons Victoria's Board of Benevolence.

It took some time, but on Monday, May 26, the Mt View Primary School was presented with a fantastic new bike made by Solve Victoria.

The bike will enable children like Kenisha pictured, to take part in the physical education program at the school

Surprise after many years of community work ■ When community leader and former City of Ballarat Assistant Commissioner Bruce Clark first received notification he was being considered for an Order of Australia medal he said he could not believe it.

Queen's Birthday honours were something that happened to other people.

However the Council of the Order of Australia thought otherwise, and Mr Clark will receive a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for his service to the community of Ballarat.

"It was unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading,” Mr Clark said.

"I've got no idea who nominated me. It came out of the blue. I've admired people who have received the honour in the past. It was nothing I aspired to.

“You don't get involved in community activities for rewards. It is the last thing you think about.” he said.

Mr Clark was Assistant Commissioner for the City of Ballarat between 1994 and 1996, and co-founder of the Committee for Ballarat.

He was chairman of the Ballarat Economic Development Board, life governor of Ballarat Health Services, board member of the Sovereign Hill Museums Association, chairman of the Mining Committee, board member of Ballarat Lifeline and the Ballarat YMCA, a Ballarat Historical ParkAssociation life member and co-founder of the Ballarat Tourism Board.

Mr Clark has also made a contribution through his long involvement with Rotary (since 1975), being honoured as a Paul Harris Fellow, an award named after the founder of Rotary International, and past president of the Rotary Club of Ballarat.

Notification of the OAM came out a few weeks ago and Mr Clark admits it has been difficult keeping it under his hat, telling no-one except his wife Beverly.

"Of course they are very strict in terms of confidentiality when you are told,” he explained.

"As soon as I am allowed I will start telling people about it. My daughter Fiona works nightshift so it will be a pleasure telling her when she finishes, and then I will tell my son Geoffrey. Or maybe I should tell him to read the paper!" Mr Clark said.

● Bruce Clark Photo and story: Adam Trafford, Ball;arat Courier

Tarra Trail Fitness Park opens

● Roy Alderton, Freemasons Victoria and Wellington Shire Mayor Cr Scott Rossetti join Minnie and Bill Kee at the unveiling of the Tarra Trail Fitness Park plaque.

Photo: Yarram Standard ■ Yarram's new Tarra Trail Fitness Park was officially opened and handed over to the Wellington Shire on Monday, May 12. The Wellington Shire will now take responsibility for the popular facility.

Freemason, Bill Kee of Tarra Lodge No. 127 in Yarram, is the man behind the Fitness Park, and welcomed the large crowd to witness the handover, thanking all who were responsible for helping to establish the park.

"The Tarra Trail Fitness Park will provide a substantial asset to local community and will assist with the health, fitness and wellbeing of its members as well as attract visitors to the area,” Bill said.

"It also fits with the Smile You're In Yarram project. There are certainly plenty of smiles around today,” he said.

"The project has already been accepted within the community as being a magnificent facility and we are hopeful it will add value and health to residents.”

The concept for a fitness park came about from Bill's wife Minnie who was heavily involved with the council and state government to ensure the Tarra Trail project was fulfilled.

Minnie had seen fitness equipment placed in strategic positions in various parts of Australia and so as the Tarra Trail was developed she thought it would be appropriate to construct a fitness park on the Tarra Trail which would add to an asset to the trail which the public could use.

"The $45,000 project was funded in part by the Tarra Lodge that applied to Freemasons Victoria for a dollar-for-dollar grant and was successful in receiving $20,680.00. Wellington Shire Council kicked in another $10,400 for the project, with the remaining funds donated by the Tarra Lodge, local businesses, service groups and individuals.

● To find out more about Freemasonry, how to become a member, or attend upcoming public events, please visit www.freemasonsvic.net.au or ’Like’ our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/freemasonsvic for the most up to date information. ● Don't miss Series 2 of Freemasons: The Inside Story, airing Monday nights at 8:30pm on Channel 31, or visit www.C31.org.au to watch it online.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - Page 15

West Hollywood

LA Consular Corps golf day From my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites comes this week's news.

Robins’ public apology

Greg Norman at play

■ Los Angeles Consular Corps is a non-profit corporation formed for the purpose of fostering and promoting an esprit de corps amongst members promoting and fostering goodwill, friendly relations and co-operation between countries and the United States federal, state and local government authorities.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors held its 27th L.A. Consular Corps Golf Day Invitational last week that included Consul-Generals and trade representatives from 97 countries to meet and network in an informal setting with local government officials and business representatives throughout the county.

It is vital to showcase to the international community, the strong partnership that exists between public agencies and local businesses both in the USA and Australia.

Australian champion golfer Greg Norman was special guest and he teamed up with Alan Johnson, Managing Director Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, West Hollywood for 18 holes.

Your favourite Neighbour is a major movie star

● Alan Johnson, Ramada Plaza Managing Director with golfing legend, Greg Norman.

■ Robin Thicke is attempting to win back his estranged wife, Paula Patton, following their separation in February.

Sometimes "sorry" just doesn't cut it, so Robin Thicke is offering up a most public apology by reportedly naming his next album after his estranged wife.

The R&B singer has decided on the name Paula for his next album, the follow-up to his breakthrough No. 1 album Blurred Lines.

Thicke and his high-school squeeze Paula Patton announced their separation back in February after nearly nine years of marriage. They have a son, Julian Fuego, who was born in April 2010.

Thicke met Patton when he was just 14, and their romance was chronicled in For the Rest of My Life, a single lifted from 2013's Blurred Lines.

Depending on whom you believe, their relationship breakdown may have been triggered by photos surfacing which depicting Thicke getting cosy with other ladies. Though Thicke has downplayed it all.

The theme of his new album was laid bare when Thicke used the platform of the 2014 Billbaord Music Awards to premiere its first track, Get Her Back.

Thicke will release his new album on July 1 through Star Trak/Interscope Records. Though until now, the title had been a mystery.

The year long gap between the Blurred Lines album, released last July 12, and his upcoming full-length offering marks the fastest turnaround for an album in his career.

Is Robin's overblown romantic gesture enough to win-back Paula's heart? Only time will tell.

‘I Want To Marry A Prince’ - cancelled

● Guy Pearce ■ Guy Pearce (The Hurt Locker) has joined the cast for futuristic feature Equals opposite Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult.

The film is billed as a futuristic love story set in a society where emotions have been eradicated. It is about the joy of finding connection, and the fear of having it taken away.

Filming is set to commence in Japan and Singapore this August.

UK based sales and finance banner Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international sales on the film and launched the project to buyers during the 2014 Cannes Film Market.

It has so far sold in over 35 territories.

Drake Doremus, previously a Sundance grand jury award winner, first worked with Pearce on his feature Breathe In. Equals is written by Nathan Parker and is being produced

by Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Ann Ruark, and Jay Stern and Chip Diggins of Route One, who are also financing the movie, and executive produced by Mike Pruss, Lee Jea Woo, Choi Pyung Ho and Russell Levine.

Pearce recently rocked up at the Cannes Film Festival to support David Michod's The Rover alongside Robert Pattinson.

LA Pride in W. Hollywood ■ Some 300,000 guests attended the LA Pride Festival on Santa Monica Blvd last weekend.

The Boulevard was closed from Fairfax to LaBrea. The huge LGBT celebration with vendor booths, food, entertainment, dance pavilions and the parade along Santa Monica Boulevard drew thousands to the epicentre of LGBT, West Hollywood.

The best vantage point was from the balcony of the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, from there the world passes you by.

This year's festival featured more than 30 events ranging from art exhibits to author talks to music performances to stage productions.

The theme of this years festival was I Do to acknowledge the hundreds of marriages that were performed in the city last year following the June 2013 Supreme Court decision that affirmed marriage equality in California.

GavinWood

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

Flying solo to hospital ■ Harrison Ford was airlifted to hospital from the set of Star Wars after breaking an ankle and suffering chest injuries when the door of his Millennium Falcon hit him.

The actor, 71, was filming at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire when the hydraulic door of a spaceship prop fell on him.

It was believed the door was part of the Millennium Falcon, the ship famously piloted by Ford's Hans Solo character in the initial films.

It was recently disclosed that the spacecraft would be part of Star Wars: Episode VII, in which Ford is reprising his role as the buccaneering Solo.

Medics treated Ford after he fell to the ground and was stretchered onto a helicopter.

The air ambulance took him to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, which has a trauma unit that specialises in fractures.

It is thought he fractured his ankle and is awaiting results of further tests to see if he suffered injuries to his chest. It is not yet known how long the star will take to recover, although producers insisted shooting would continue as planned.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said officers were called to the scene of the accident.

He said: “We were called to Pinewood Studios at 5.05pm after reports of a 71-year-old man being injured by a garage door.”

I wonder if Harrison would have liked that comment.

If you would like to be part of Movie Magic, come to Hollywood, the home of the movies.

www.gavinwood.us

■ Reality television went too far. You cannot put on a show that mocks the monarchy. Who was the Einstein who came up with this concept for a show?

He was making some headway in convincing several attractive American ladies that he was indeed Prince Harry in a rather far fetched reality dating show called, I Wanna Marry Harry.

But it seems British commoner and royal lookalike Matt Hicks's choice of bride may never be revealed.

US network Fox have announced the program has been cancelled due to dismal ratings. Relieved, I hear you say.

The show's May 20 premiere only attracted a measly 1.91 million viewers, despite airing directly after the hugely popular American Idol.

And on this week's fourth episode where Hicks eliminated another royal hopeful ratings dipped below a million after being slammed by critics.

However, there was some hope for viewers desperate to discover the ending to the saga - Fox will air the remaining episodes on Fox.com and On Demand while apparently looking for other places to complete the run.

In the show, Matt - who is so poor he can't afford a car and instead rides a pushbike - is the object of desire for 12 US women who believe he's a proper blue-blood.

Housed in a genuine English castle the girls had to compete against each other for the love of the 'prince'.

Except of course he's not actually royalty, not even close.

Matt, a 6ft 3in redhead, works with his hands, clearing up oil spills. ' “I'm here to find a genuine connection with a girl … maybe even find the one, “he said.

The show, which ended up being rather farcical, showed Hicks being given a 'crash course' in how to look and sound like 'His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales' fourth in line to the throne no less.

Special Holiday Offer

■ I have managed to secure a terrific holiday deal for all readers of the Melbourne Observer.

When planning your trip to Los Angeles, come and stay at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood.

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

Please contact: Joanna at info@ramadaweho.com Happy Holidays, Gavin Wood.

Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Melbourne People

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Miss Universe Australia National Finals At Sofitel On Collins Melbourne Photos: Fiona Hemilton

● Miss Universe Australia 2014 Tegan Martin.

● Peter Lazer (MC for the the evening) with his wife Liz.

● Lee Chan from Channel Seven’s Coxy’s Big Break.

● Dean Giannarelli with Real Housewives of Melbourne favourite Gina Liano

● Olympic swimmer Leisel Jones with dance instructor Jason Coleman.

● Chantelle Ford from The Block

● Sarah Czarnuch with Mason Crozier.

● Olivia Wells crowns Tegan Martin Miss Universe Australia 2014.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - Page 17

Melbourne TV Memories

By Kenneth Mulholland

Gatekeepers didn’t stop the ‘0’ camera crew From Page 12 I let him sweat a few moments more as the car began to rev even louder and harder ... then dragged him back off the track as the machine took off.

At the end of that day, Barry, bleary and somewhat out of it, said to me, “That was pretty hairy. Great stuff, you idiot.”

High on octane fumes, we didn't need a drink afterward. We were both cooked.

At Red Line Speedway, we, the camera crew and technical director are sitting in a crew car at the entrance to the venue.

Howard Simmons, the Technical Director is driving. The station wagon is clearly marked as a television vehicle. A couple of cameras are to be seen in the back.

The Gate Keeper says to Howard: “Good morning sir. Can I see your entrance pass?”

Howard replies, “We're television crew, with cameras, for the broadcast today.”

“I'll have to have some identification, sir.”

“Look at the cameras in the back.”

“No identification?”

“The cameras have the channel emblems on them.”

“You have no personal identification?”

“We are here to televise your racing event. If you don't let us in, there will be no broadcast.”

“I can't let you in without identification, sir.”

Joe Battaglia, from the back seat, “Ask him to get in touch with Phil Burns. Let him sort it out.”

Howard likes that. “Go and talk to Phil Burns up there. We'll wait here holding up everyone else. Oh, and by the way, it's your job on the line.”

Now looking somewhat apprehensive, the White Coat calls backup.

Eventually, Burns lumbers down the slope and nods us in.

Joe smiles that self-satisfied Italian smirk. Ah yes, Gate Keepers.

Still at Red Line. Not being an advocate of noise for noise sake, I used to love the sounds of the tranquil countryside: the wind sighing over the undulating land, the whisper of the trees, the birds calling in the early morning sun.

And then the first engine belted into action, followed by a second and third until Red Line was a raging torrent of obliterating sound that would not let up all day until the final flag fell across

the finish line. My camera position was downhill on a raised scaffolding surrounded by stacks of tyres. I wondered about them. Until one meeting where I was following the bike leader in close-up when he suddenly vanished.

The director cursed me and cut away. Frantically I whiz-panned ahead and then back without picking him up. Then I heard the muffled imprecations and looking over the edge of my platform, came face to face with the rider who had managed to drive full on into the tyres. He was none too happy walking his bent bike back uphill.

Yep, 'Some Mothers Do 'Av 'Em.' Which was probably what Maria had on her mind when I returned home after one of these events and took off my glasses to clean them.

“You look like a reverse panda!”

Well, that's what a day in the heat, dust and grime, sweat and tyre rubber does to your face.

And in those long ago days, where there was no relief crew, we had to develop 'cameramen's bladders.' We were on air from Noon to five.

Five hours. Quite a long time. And when the days were very hot we had to drink liquid to avoid dehydration.

Is a puzzlement? But not at Lake Land Hill Climb. I swiftly learned which camera position was 'the one.'

Sited half-way up the mountain slope on a raised scaffold hidden amongst the trees, this serene, secluded oasis offered shade from the rays, a cooling breeze, birds flitting... and silence ... except for the brief whizz-pan of a single, blurred machine. ● Turn To Page 18

Melbourne

Observer Life & Style

‘I think the eyes have it’ ■ It’s true. At some stage every one’s eyebrows will go feral. It’s happened to me.

Ever since Athol Smith told me that my eyebrows were a great shape, I regularly attended a beauty parlour to keep them that way.

He forgot to mention what happens when a few years are added to youthful brows.

When I was incarcerated in bed my brows took a back seat to any beauty regime.

So the dreaded day came when I looked in the mirror and saw feral eyebrows. Eyebrows that were fast becoming in the style of Mr Menzies.

I took it very calmly and spent some time with tweezers hoping that I could repair the situation. I did quite a good job, and cancelled my order for a Yashmak to cover my forehead.

Yvonne’s Column

Depressive sigh ■ There was too much to occupy my mind to be worrying over brows, so I dismissed it from my mind- until the dreaded day that I perused them again.

Shock! Horror! OMG! I discovered a white hair. They had gone past feral, and it had to go.

Now, if you wear reading glasses and are trying to select just one maverick hair, from an entire eyebrow, then you know it is a difficult task.

Armed with my trusty tweezers I grabbed the hair and pulled it or so I thought. I actually pulled out a number of neighbouring hairs and I was left with the rampant interloper that was refusing to go, and a small bald and red patch.

My eyes were watering, and it was hurting so much, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

I’ve become expert at shading in the bald patch with a mascara wand, but just knowing I’ve passed the age of attractive brows can, at times, be the cause for a depressive sigh.

Grumpy people ■ De Bono thinking is that you should never look too closely in a mirror for fear at what you may find. And it works.

However, yesterday I was on the go from 10 in the morning until I staggered in the front door at half past eight at night.

I’d been to one appointment after another all day.

I felt so sorry for my other half who had to wait for me. Fortunately he can press a button on the dashboard of his car and the seat turns into a recliner, so he could grab some shuteye.

But what struck me was the grumpy attitude of every professional person with whom I came in contact.

They were all medical people and as my first appointment was at 11 I would have

with Yvonne Lawrence yvonne.lawrence@bigpond.com

thought that the receptionist hadn’t had time to become grumpy. Everyone was quietly reading in the waiting room and all was well.

Dismissed!

■ My first procedure was over and I came out to be told by the receptionist not to go, but to wait.

After sitting there for nearly an hour and another appointment due soon at another surgery, I went to the desk and asked grumpy-puss how much longer I had to wait until I could go.

She didn’t remember me, or my name, who I had seen, and in fact what I was still doing there.

I told her that she had asked us to wait. She snarled at me and said she didn’t tell me to wait and I could go.

Now normally that would have called for a response from me. But Miss Grumpy, who could have had the lead in Snow White, had turned away and started chatting to her counterpart at the desk.

In other words I was dismissed.

Eviction threat ■ But before leaving I had time to check two things. I checked out her eyebrows and apart from being over-plucked they were okay. So she was just a grumpy person.

I noticed that taped to the wall near her desk was a sign informing people that they had entered a safety zone, and that bad language or behaviour would result in security being called and they would be escorted from the premises and their appointment cancelled.

● Rob Richardson at Abbey Road I wondered if these notices, which are springSo each person I saw yesterday was grumpy, ing up in most Government departments, are couldn’t care less, or had never been told what the real cause of bad behaviour and vile lan- a smile can do and that honey will catch more guage. flies than vinegar.

Pain can make a person react in ways that Even my doctor wasn’t his usual affable are not normal behavior to them. self.

Although to be fair, he had waited to reSo you may be faced with a long queue and ceive my results electronically sent to him. And a grumpy person at the desk tells you to sit down and wait your turn, which could be another six it was well after five o’clock. hours. This could cause some angst.

Punishment threat ■ If you look sideways, then a security guard will escort you from the building with the threat of more punishment.

Threats of punishment are one of the most popular ways to try to influence behavior in our society.

But it can greatly increase aggression.

The last thing a frightened person and one in excruciating pain needs is someone unsympathetic and grumpy, telling them that security has been called, they will be escorted from the premises and their appointment cancelled.

I’m citing a Casualty Department because I witnessed a similar incident. I’m certain a reassuring voice giving the person a bit of feedback as to when a doctor would see them etc would work and make the experience more pleasant for everyone.

I’d like to see the more human approach studied because these notices of punishment are not working.

Wave from Queen

■ I was cheered somewhat by a call from Rob Richardson from Athens. Of course, he sends me loads of photos that he has taken via e-mail and I find so interesting.

It was lovely to see one of the Queen, riding in the coach, which was made in Australia. It looked, from the angle that Rob had taken the photograph, that she had spotted him and given the Aussie from down under a special wave.

I bet he has that one enlarged and framed for all to see.

With the days becoming shorter and certainly colder, remember to keep the grumps at bay.

A smile a day keeps the doctor away as the saying goes, or was that an apple?

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

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 18 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

■ They called him ‘The Big O’ and during his career he sold millions of recordings. Roy Orbison was admired by his peers for his creative singing style and fans throughout the world loved him.

Roy Kelton Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas, in 1936. His parents gave him a guitar when he was six and his father taught him how to play it.

He started a band whilst at high school and in his early days he was friends with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Pat Boone.

Roy was a group member of The Teen Kings band and when he went solo he recorded with Sam Phillips at Sun Records.

Roy had his first hit in 1956 with the song Ooby Dooby.

He married Claudette Frady in 1957 and at that time he was having some success as a songwriter. Roy signed with Monument Records and in 1960 released songs such as Only The Lonely, Crying and Running Scared.

Dream Baby was another huge hit song for him in 1962. In 1964 The Beatles invited Roy to sing on their UK tour but he was so popular that he took numerous curtain calls before the Beatles even got onstage.

His hair went prematurely grey and he dyed it black for the rest of his life.

The photo we have used in this article is courtesy of Pete Smith. Pete went backstage after Roy's 1962 concert at Festival Hall.

Whatever Happened To ...

Roy Orbison

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM What is unusual is that Roy is not wearing his trademark sunglasses, but it seems that he only wore them onstage as part of his image.

Ray Peterson who had a big hit song with Tell Laura I love Her is also in the photo. Ray passed away in 2005.

Roy had another big hit song with Pretty Woman which was released in 1964. The song was later used as the title for the 1990 romantic comedy film starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.

Roy suffered tragedy in his lifetime, in 1966 his wife Claudette died in a motorcycle accident and two years later two of his sons were killed in a house fire.

Roy appeared on many television shows but

● Roy Orbison, Ray Peterson and Pete Smith only made one feature film titled The Fastest Guitar Alive (it was a shocker). In 1969 he married Barbara Jakobs and they had three children during their marriage.

I attended a Neil Diamond concert at the Myer Music Bowl in 1976, Neil announced that he was going to bring a special guest onstage and out walked Roy Orbison. The crowd went wild, Roy Orbison sang Running Scared and they sang a duet of Song Sung Blue.

Roy Orbison was in Melbourne for his own

concerts at the time. In 1976 at his last concert Elvis Presley acknowledged Roy Orbison in the audience and said,"Quite simply, the greatest singer in the world, Roy Orbison."

In 1977 it was discovered that he had three coronary arteries blocked in his heart. The following year he had a triple heart bypass operation. Not many people know that Australia's rock singer Lonnie Lee worked with Roy in the US composing songs during the 1970's.

In 1988 he joined the singing group The Travelling Wilburys which featured George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne.

In the same year he also released a new solo album.

Sadly Roy Orbison died of a heart attack on December 6, 1988, at the age of 52. His widow Barbara who had been his manager and coproduced the stage musical Only The Lonely The Roy Orbison Story passed away in 2011.

Barbara also died on December 6, 23 years after Roy. They are both buried in Westwood Memorial Park and their graves do not have a headstone.

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

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

Keith McGowan fulfilled his ‘destiny’ ■ I used to call them ‘Territory Moments' - just when you thought you'd seen it all.

From people regularly sleeping in the middle of the road, as per last week; to a gentleman hopping out of his car and stuffing a recently roadkilled kangaroo onto his back seat; to supermarkets selling deep frozen kangaroo tails; to a drunken man swaying

along the Todd Mall, loudly berating Captain Cook.

Then I have seen a line of people across the Stuart Highway near the Rock turn-off, holding up cars, threatening them with rocks, and demanding money and alcohol.

And I've seen patients walking down the Mall in their pyjamas, having just discharged themselves from

Pith And Point TV Memories

‘Relaxed’

From Page 17 It was driven by a driven driver... and the tranquillity that followed.

Back to the interesting book, perhaps another cold drink from the car fridge, and if necessary. I didn't need a tree to go behind. Ah no. I had an entire forest. Ain't nature great?

Hi jinx with Arch Fletcher. I can't remember which venue it was, but it was a country location. I was having a yarn with a couple of other crew members after we had gone off air, probably having a beer, when an object abruptly fell around my neck from behind. It was a snake.

Here, let me go on record as saying that I didn't freak out. Why? Because I knew that we were standing in the open away from any trees, and also because the creature didn't move.

I've never handled a snake before or since, and it was repulsive at the time, but I lifted it off my neck, turned around and discovered Arch Fletcher grinning at me, and threw the snake back at him.

Being Arch, he nimbly shifted those old, bowed legs aside. “Just a dead one we picked up on the road up here,” he said, grinning.

Arch Fletcher, like Ken Bell, saw action during the Korean War, but those bow-legs told of something else: this was a man who had spent muchof his life on horse back.

From my recall of a conversation with Arch he mentioned, as did 'Dinger' Bell, their participation on the Korean peninsula.

I know, without a moment's hesitation, that I have the backing of all those people who worked with both men, who respected and honoured them, and loved them.

- Kenneth Mulholland

■ Arts Centre Melbourne will become the first arts venue in Victoria to host a “relaxed performance” specifically designed for children with Down Syndrome, autism spectrum disorder or sensory and communication disorders.

Arts Centre Melbourne in partnership with Victorian Opera will present a relaxed performance of Hansel And Gretel at Fairfax Studio on June 17.

The now fully-booked performance is the first in a wider disability access pilot program funded by $80,000 in donations from The Lorenzo and Pamela Galli Charitable Trust and the Cassandra Gantner Foundation.

Celebration ■ Cirque du Soleil officially celebrated its 30th anniversary on Monday (June 16). Three decades ago, Cirque du Soleil was the dream of a small community of travelling performers in Quebec, Canada who would do anything to share their love of the circus.

The Voice Kids ■ A new show that will unearth Australia’s outstanding young musical talent, The Voice Kids, premieres Sunday (June 22), at 6.30pm on Channel 9.

An Artspace ■ Heidi Valkenburg, Sarah Masson and Kat Phillimore opened An Artspace upstairs at Carters Public House, 300 High St, Northcote, on Saturday (June 14). It remains open until July 5.

hospital; one chap was being wheeled down the street by his mate with his bottle and drip still attached.

But last week an older lady hobbling about on a walking frame was subdued with capsicum spray.

She had been throwing rocks at her carer, and apparently had a couple of knives in her possession, so the police were called.

So she and her walking frame were quickly bundled into a divvy van.

Never seen that yet in Swanston St! ■ When Angie McGowan called me last week to tell me that Keith was about to be awarded a posthumous OAM, I reflected on his life and contribution as I saw it.

Over the 40-odd years that I knew him, I witnessed the development of his career to the climax it had been for the past 20 years.

Earlier on he was a run of the mill, albeit highly successful, announcer and DJ, but his contribution to society, and his fellow man per se, blossomed latterly, when he fulfilled what I reckon was his "destiny".

And that was not merely entertaining, and amusing people, but really making a difference to his listeners' lives.

I listened to his listeners as they called in, and was occasionally involved in this, and they were just so excited to be a small part of his world.

His voice, this disembodied persona, was not merely just a voice - he was a part of their very existence, another family member, fulfilling a need for company and a kind of companionship for the often long hours when they couldn't sleep.

Most of them wouldn't ring in, but they were content just to know he was there, seemingly just individually talking to them personally.

And this cheered and chuffed many a sleepy soul as they lay incumbent in their lonely beds.

■ I remember once one of my girls, Petra, rushing into the shop, yelling with excitement: "The cars beat the bikes!"

I'd no idea what she was talking about, but then it dawned on me - The Finke!

Every Queen's Birthday Weekend the trail bikes and the dune buggies descend upon Alice Springs to race through the desert.

Whilst many a Melburnian heads

The Outback Legend

with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au off on their own long weekend jaunts, it's usually to a beach or a stream or a lake somewhere - in Alice it's just the bush.

There's nary a waterhole or a lapping wave, or a flowing creek for that matter, in sight - just a dry riverbed which runs for miles.

Most of Alice's population fill their utes or 4WD's with swags and booze, and heads out to their favourite spots by the track, which they "bugs" year after year. Some have been set up with permanent barbecues and even rudimentary bush furniture.

They then settle down for an entire weekend's entertainment in the form of these growling machines roaring through the sand.

Then, as the superb outback sun sets, the campfires are lit, more tops popped, and a grand time is had by all!

■ There's always plenty of talk in Central Australia about feral animals, and there's just been a new report released. It's the Action Plan for Australian Animals , drawing on contributions from 200 experts.

It's identified 133 mammals in the ‘extinct or threatened’ category. And it claims that about 90 per cent of the population of our small animals has disappeared in the last 20 years in the Top End. Of course, as we already knew, Australia's extinction rate is the highest in the world, and it's 40 per cent higher than previously thought.

And, unsurprisingly, feral cats are the main problem.

Now there's a move afoot to at least get some Western Quolls out and about.

There's a ‘Threatened Species Project’ in the Flinders Ranges, and four quolls from the Alice Springs Desert Park have just been released into the area.

Last April there was a first batch re-housed into Wilpena Pound, and there are now 36 of them roaming around, so hopefully this new lot will survive the predations of these other vicious and noxious creatures and start breeding up again

■ There's always been a controversy in the NT - Uluru or Ayers Rock?

Most Territorians to refer to it as ‘The Rock’, and rarely is Uluru mentioned anywhere, except by visitors.

This harks back to 1985, when the edifice was handed back to the traditional owners by Bob Hawke. It's always been a highly political situation - at that time he apparently didn't even consult Caucus about this - he was appeasing a union who had demanded this in return for their support and his political survival. It worked.

This outraged the then Territory Labor Government - "We will be out of office for decades to come!" they cried. And there were right. Then the official name change also stuck in the locals' craw, so it's still ‘The Rock’..

So, around Alice Springs there is no mention of Uluru on the highway signs - it says Ayers Rock, much to the confusion of tourists, who are always fed the Aboriginal name by tour and travel agents outside the NT, both locally and internationally.

So now there's a move afoot to change this. One gentleman, George Bateman, has been trying for two years. "It'll be done", he was officially told, "when there's money in the budget to pay for it".

He's not holding his breath.

- Nick Le Souef ‘The Outback Legend’