Melbourne Observer. 130320A. March 20, 2013. Part A. Pages 1-14

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■ Hollywood TV couple Ellen DeGeneres and Portia Di Rossi are due to arrive in Melbourne over the next week, with a Melbourne black-tie party planned for Tuesday. Ellen sent a message yesterday that she is on her way. Di Rolle has more on Page 8.

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Page 2 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - Page 3

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City Desk

Melbourne

Observer

The hottest news about Melbourne’s A-listers

The Buzz

New ‘Encore’ EP out

Standard Double

● Vocal artist eM

■ Melbourne-based dance vocalist eM is releasing her Encore EP. eM released her first full-length album Darker Harder in 2010 and the feature track A Miracle sat solidly at the No 1 position for all genres on www.hardcoremix.com for nine months.

Mz eM has been earning considerable acclaim from the United States and has requests from DJs around to world to remix her tracks, according to publicists, Hot Off The Press. Encore can be downloaded from iTunes.

Under The Clocks 1.8 million falafels, 15 years, later

ELLEN HERE SOON ● Kate McLennan and Wes Snelling in Standard Double, being presented as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 28 – April 21 at The Blackman Hotel, St Kilda Rd. More details on Page 98.

Photo: James Penlidis

Gina fights ● Ellen DeGeneres and Portia Di Rossi

■ US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and partner Portia De Rossi are expected to arrive in Melbourne over the coming week, with a planeload of their viewers as tourists.

Ellen struck a deal with QANTAS and Swisse Vitamins to bring her LA studio audience ‘down under’.

Ellen and Portia are expected to land in Sydney as early as Thursday, and travel to Melbourne next week.

Victorian Premier Dr Denis Napthine is expected to host a blacktie function for the pair on Tuesday.

The couple are expected to visit the Geelong region. Portia was raised in Grovedale, where she was known as Mandy Rogers.

They may even visit Phillip Island during their Victorian visit. Ellen has been showing viewers that she is practising to throw a boomerang.

Big guest list for ‘Empire’ ● Gina Riley ■ Actress Gina Riley is fighting breast cancer. The Kath & Kim star discovered the condition late last year, and had the cancer removed.

In a story broken yesterday (Tues.) by News Ltd journalist Darren Devlyn, Riley is said to be undergoing further treatment through Cabrini Hospital.

■ A VIP list of 700 is expected at the Crown Melbourne rooftop tonight (Wed.) for the opening of Empire in the Spiegletent.

Impressario Ross Mollison will join Crown PR whiz Ann Peacock in greeting a crowd including singer Anthony Callea, Anna McGahan (House Husbands), Adrienne Pickering (Rake),Tim Campbell (House Husbands), Jared Daperis (Underbelly: Squizzy), Leah de Niese (House Husbands), Ian Dixon (Underbelly:Squizzy), Georgia Flood (House Husbands), Rick Donald (House Husbands), Alicia Gardiner (Offspring), Gracie Gilbert (Underbelly: Squizzy), Jo Hall (Nine News), Tony Jones (NineNews), Clint Stanaway (Nine News), Ayrton Woolley (Nine News), Martin King (ACA), Elise Elliott (ACA), Andrew Faulkner (Kids’ WB), Jane Harber (Offspring), Brodie Harper (Postcards), Elise Jansen (Underbelly: Squizzy), Peter Moon (Underbelly: Squizzy), Scott Major (Neighbours), Gary Sweet (House Husbands), Dermott Brereton (Celebrity Apprentice), Kim Watkins , motor racing champion Mark Skaiffe , and Caroline Wilson (Footy Classified).

Empire is said to “smash through the borders of comedy, circus, variety and burlesque”.

Melbourne Moments Opening night

Award finalists

■ A Clockwork Orange will open at the Merlyn Theatre at The Malthouse, 113 Sturt St, Southbank on Tuesday April 9. The production is directed by Alexandra SpencerJones.

Masters Games ■ Channel 7 sports presenter Mark Beretta, a 10-time Australian national waterskiing champion and avid road cyclist will swap the bike for a Dragon Boat when he lines up in the Australian Masters Games being held in Geelong from October 5-12.

● A Clockwork Orange

■ A group providing support to women in the sex industry, including women trafficked to Australia, has been named one of five finalists in the Social Impact category of the 2013 Community Sector Awards.

Project Respect - a not-for-profit organisation based in Collingwood provides direct support and advocacy for women in the sex industry and has been a pioneer in the area of anti-slavery and human trafficking.

The Social Impact Award recognises an individual, organisation or network that has made an contribution to social justice in Australia.

● Prahran Market’s famous falafel man, Austen Kent ■ Prahran Market’s famous falafel man, Austen Kent, next week celebrates 15 years of operating his business ... in which he has prepared 1.8 million falafel balls using a traditional recipe.

He started in the Market in 1998 with his Moroccan-born father, Paul Kent. Austen has run the business on his own since his father passed away in 2008. “ Our falafels are a mixture of both Egyptian and Israeli recipes using both broad beans and chickpeas” says Austen.

His ingredients for success: ““Falafels have to be cooked and eaten then and there. They can’t be prepared and kept warm in a bain marie. It’s not traditional and I refuse to do it that way.”

Plan launched

To London

● James Packer ■ Crown Limited Chairman, James Packer (pictured), with special guest Dr Denis Napthine, Victorian Premier, unveiled the Crown Resorts’ Reconciliation Action Plan in Melbourne on Monday, advises Tara Bishop, Media Relations Manager - Hotels and Food & Beverage.

■ Martin Stern of Glen Huntly will run in next month’s London Marathon, having raised more than $24,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Martin is running in support of his sister Julia Cannell, a Bentleigh mother of three, who was diagnosed with leukaemia last year.

“Julia was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia when she was 28 weeks pregnant with her third child,” Martin said.

“It completely turned Julia’s life upside down. Treatment started literally in the space of a few days.”

What’s On In Melbourne

Sydney’s iconic comedy night, Wit Large, is bringing three of its ★ favourite acts to this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival. They are Dave Blousten’s Grand Guignol, Laura Davis’s Look Out It’s A Trap and Shane Matheson’s The Immortal Space Hopper Of Doom.

Janete Sampaio of Double Edge PR says Furnitex will return to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from July 18-21. with a diverse range of furniture manufacturers catering to many industry sectors.

Twelve landscape gardening apprentices from across Victoria will compete at the Garden Show for gold medal success and potentially the chance to progress to the 2014 Worldskills Australia National Competition.

★ ★

PHOTO: IKON IMAGES

Page 4 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

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Mark Richardson ♥ Straight from the heart

E-Mail: mark@localmedia.com.au

GET SET FOR OUR BEST

■ It's not uncommon for writers to perform at their best approaching deadline.

Screenwriter, producer lecturer and mentor Robert 'Bobby' Galinsky is no exception.

With more than35 years in the film and television industry, Bobby is internationally recognised as one of Australia's best writers and producers.

Days out from deadline, finishing up the delivery of the Michael Hutchence treatment - Two Worlds Colliding, which is the adaptation of the novel - Just A Man, Bobby answered my call where he explained he was surrounded by a thousand notes writing on his Porch (his desk) in his Elwood home.

"We are on schedule to cast and acquire the music and everything else for the film over the next couple of months,” Bobby commented.

That's great news for Michael's family, friends, INXS fans and the film's investors, although I was calling about his upcoming lecture and presentation at the one-off 'Best Of The Best' workshop created by Emily Greenaway.

Over five days in April, Emily has drawn 17 of Australia's leading producers, directors and choreographers to Melbourne to part their industry experience, expertise, techniques and wisdom to students and those wanting to succeed in the entertainment industry.

Mentoring Porch Thoughts Before calling Australia home in 1994, Bobby had a number of stints with top advertising agencies in the USA as well as various divisions of the Walt Disney Company and won several prestigious screenwriting awards as an amateur before turning professional in 1988.

Bobby is also writing and producing Dust And Glory - the biggest privately funded film in Australian history, due to be filmed this year and directed by Simon West (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, The Expendables 2).

With time ticking down on his looming deadline, I realised because he mentioned it first and seemed happy with my distraction, I could slip in a couple of questions on the progress of Two Worlds Colliding.

Are you any closer to deciding who will be playing the part of Michael Hutchence?

We are either going to cast a complete unknown, or we are going to go with an established actor and make that the marquee thing. Ultimately it will be up to the producing team over the next couple of months.

Researching more into Michael's life, was he Just a Man? Michael was a brother, father, son

Off The Porch Thought For The Day Antony Ginandjar and Ashley Evans

The Squared Division "It's been six years since the birth of our creative direction and choreographic company.

Our hard work and passion has seen us work with global music heavyweights such as Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift and Ke$ha; giving us the strength and courage to take on more challenges.

This is what drives us to represent Australia. It is this knowledge we love sharing with younger generation performers in Australia. Dancers, experience THE SQUARED DIVISION on April 8 in Melbourne."

and was the most idolised rock-star probably in Australian history. He was just a very sweet guy and a tormented guy too. Michael was everything to everybody and being a rock-star was only part of it.

Is there a particular moment in Michael's life that you have imagined yourself being in and what went through your mind?

Meeting Paula Yates for the first time in his hotel room; wondering what would my next move be and would it be a good move?

Your $40 million Dust and Glory film has been described as a cross between Mad Max and Jewel of the Nile. What is the story about and why were you drawn it?

Dust and Glory has been an eightyear saga that I heard about years ago.

My business partner in Top Cat Films - Elizabeth HowattJackman optioned the book and I fell in love with it.

It's the most amazing story, let alone an Australian story for the world market. It's about the biggest car race in the world that took place annually in the 50s.

A guy that threw dynamite at the cars named 'Gelignite' Jack Murray. It was an absolute legendary race that completely disappeared off the map in 1956.

The Best of The Best workshop has an amazing line-up of industry personnel and it will be a great way for anyone to hear from many influential choreographers, producers and writers.

What are you presenting?

I am going to try and compress 35 years of success and train wrecks into two hours so that when people walk out, they're going to have the initial tools to know how to take charge of

● Bobby Galinsky their financial career - the business value so people invest in them to end of their career. I can't teach them make films and television projects. acting or directing, I can teach them Creative people are the gateway to how to take control of themselves investor's dreams. And nothing hapwhere no other school in Australia pens without investors. does.

What will be your key mesIn your experience, what are sage during you lecture? the keys to fast-tracking success Never listen to anybody who tells and putting failure into perspec- you that you can't do something betive? cause they are not interested in your Failure is a great thing because it's outcome. The only person that cares a clear report card that shows what about you is you. Only you know you did wrong instead of wondering what's in your heart. what went right.

What is your Porch Thought If we can learn from failure in- of the Day? stead of trying to avoid it, then we My Porch is my desk and I like to can move forward. The fast track to think of my desk being in Atticus success is to think of yourself as the Finch's court room in the film - To talent and not think of yourself as be- Kill A Mockingbird. Over the next ing dependent on somebody else. couple of hours, I would like to think Just take charge and draw people what Atticus Finch would do with to you. The key epic in my life was the choices I have. not being a begging writer but pro- ■ To join Bobby Galinsky and ducing and controlling my own work. other top Australian producers, What is the difference be- directors and choreographers tween wannabes and achievers including Ash Evans and Antony and how do you explain the dif- Ginandjar , Rob Shook, Jacqui ference?

Green, Mike Snell, Dana Jolly There are millions of people out (and more) visit www.joining there with vast quantities of money forces.com.au .' Best of The Best' that have no talent to take their finan- Workshop April 8-12, Left Leg cial dreams and turn them into a film. Studios, Albert Park. Limited I basically teach people to show their Seats.

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - Page 5

Court Roundsman

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

$100,000 PAYOUT IN SEXUAL Observer HARASSMENT LEGAL CASE In This 104-Page Edition

Cameron Daddo chats

● Cameron Daddo pictured with the Observer’s Kevin Trask on Monday ■ Ahead of his Melbourne season in Legally him hosting his own program: The Cameron Blonde, Cameron Daddo will speak with Daddo Cartoon Show.

Observer columnist Kevin Trask on his That’s Cameron moved to Los Angeles in 1992 Entertainment radio program this Sunday to purse his acting career in Hollywood. He (March 24). and his wife Alison Brahe, and three children, Daddo will speak about his role in the pro- still call Los Angeles home. duction that will be staged at The Princess The interview with Kevin Trask will be Theatre from May 9. broadcast in the That’s Entertainment radio Daddo was born and bred in Melbourne, program that goes to air on 96.5 Inner FM, and first came to the attention of Australian based at Heidelberg. television viewers as the host of the children’s The radio station streams its broadcasts on television show Off the Dish which soon led to the internet: www.innerfm.org.au

TV lensman honoured

● Nine News presenter Peter Hitchener shares the excitement with cameraman Glenn Edwards on his Quill Award at the Melbourne Press Club event held at Crown Palladium on Friday night.

■ A Victorian lawyer must pay $100,000 to a 50-year-old female law graduate who claimed she was sexually harassed at his offices.

Judge Garde, President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, this month ordered the compensation payment to be made within 30 days.

The lawyer, who cannot be named, is the sole principal of a legal firm in a suburban main street.

The woman was undertaking practical legal training as part of her studies for a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.

She claimed that there was an uninvited verbal sexual advance, that the lawyer showed her a pornographic video of himself, that he ogled her breasts, that he performed an unwelcome massage, that he showed a photo of himself naked, the he sent a sexual text message, and that there was an attempt to sexually touch her.

The lawyer was said to have shown a video where a Russian prostitute performed a sexual act on him.

The lawyer secretly made video and sound recordings of the conduct and conversations of the parties at his office on one night last year.

The woman she told the man that she would not “cross the line” because he had a partner for whom she had respect. She said she was an honest and moralistic person.

The lawyer had claimed that the woman was not an employee of the firm, so legislation did not apply.

The woman was paid a fixed amount of $50 per day, and later $100 per day, for each day that she worked. She was paid in cash.

One recording is said to contain the lawyer asking the woman 78 times for sex. ● The Observer is limited in what it can publish, but the complete VCAT case report can be read at www.austlii.edu.au ‘GLS v PLP (Human Rights)’

CAR FIRM FAILS ■ ACS Financial Pty Ltd has failed to be reimbursed $434,613 for an arrangement that went sour with New Concept Car Sales (Vic) Pty Ltd. ACS gave 19 cars to New Concept to sell when they had reached the end of their lease.

VCAT Senior Member Ian Proctor was told that New Concept went into liquidation, and ACS was not paid for the cars, and could not recover the vehicles.

ACS made a claim against the Motor Car Traders Guarantee Fund, but it was declined.

“I affirmed the Fund’s decision because I was not persuaded it is more likely than not that ACS was not paid for each of the cars about which it made a claim,” Mr Proctor said.

There were no contracts of sale or car registration documents showing ACS at some point being owner of the cars.

City Desk: Ellen arrives in Melb. soon ........... Page 3 Mark Richardson: Bobby Galinsky interview .. Page 4 Melbourne People: In The Picture ................. Page 6 Cartoonist: Matt Bissett-Johnson’s view ....... Page 7 Di Rolle: “I love my job” ............................... Page 8 Melb. Confidential: Our town’s secrets .......... Page 9 Kate’s Mates: A workplace send-off ........... Page 10 Footy Memories: Harry Beitzel remembers ... Page 12 Yvonne Lawrence: Life and style ................. Page 13 Outback Legend: Nick Le Souef ................. Page 14 Travel and Wine: David Ellis reports ............ Page 89 Interview with ‘BT’ Radio Confidential Local Theatre Movies, DVDs

Observer Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

iPhone scam sequel ■ Kylie Parkinson from Cape Clear used her foster mother’s credit card to buy 14 new iPhones. She told Court this week she did not mean to buy so many phones at once. She intended to make $6000 by selling the phones, the Ballarat Courier reports. Parkinson received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Charged with murders ■ The son of one of two brothers shot dead on a merino property in western Victoria has been charged with their murders. Ross Streeter, 30, of Strathfieldsaye, appeared in a brief out-ofsessions court hearing where he was charged with two counts of murder.

Huge drug crop busted ■ A multi-million-dollar cannabis crop, the North East’s biggest in a decade, was found in a vineyard in the King Valley early this week.

Between 4000 and 6000 almost-mature plants, which police said could fetch about $18 million on the street, were growing under the neglected vines in a 35-hectare property just outside of Cheshunt, the Border Mail reports.

Weather Forecast ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Wednesday. Partly cloudy. 17°-28°.

Thursday. Chance of storm. 11°-25°.

Friday. Mostly cloudy. 13°-23°.

Saturday. Partly cloudy. 14°-24°.

Sunday. Partly cloudy. 12°-26°.

Monday. Clear. 17°-25°.

Tuesday. Mostly cloudy. 15°-30°.

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5 THE TOP 5 COMMENTS HEARD DURING THE SELECTION OF A NEW POPE 5. "OK Pelly, your turn to get the pizzas" 4. "Who's the smartie who put a Logies coupon in the ballot box?"

3. "Would the Apache Cardinal please refrain from doing a war-dance every time there's smoke" 2. "Very funny ... Silvio Berlusconi is not eligible!"

1. "The smoke is green - the new Pope is St Patrick!"

Page 6 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

People Melbourne

● Diane ‘Dee Dee’ Dunleavy and Zoe Walsh were at State Parliament House for the Hummingbird Ambassadors O'Brien Institute team. Steve van Aperen was guest speaker.

Send news to editor@melbourneobserver.com.au

Fax: 1-800 231 312

Hospitality at Crown Suite

In business

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

Enjoyed Grand Prix ● Jodi Crocker, Katie Sneath and Matthew Anderson were pictured at the Crown Suite at the Formula 1 Grand Prix at the weekend.

Jerry, gee!

● Patti Newton and 3AW entertainment reporter Donna Demaio enjoyed the colour of the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park.

● Grant Allen ■ Melbourne radio advertising executive Grant Allen has established his own business, Gravia Media.

The South Melbourne company specialises in advertising campaign planning for businesses.

Magpies: Lou Richards is 90 ■ Collingwood football legend Lou Richards turned 90 years of age this week, and radio presenter Neil Mitchell visited ‘Louie The Lip’ to record a special interview.

Lewis Thomas Charles Richards was born on March 15, 1923. He played 250 games with the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1941 and 1955.

As well as being a publican, he became a media commentator. He was the ‘Kiss of Death’ in the Sun News-Pictorial, described matches on radio 3DB, and called games on HSV-7.

He later worked for the Nine Network.

● Jerry Hall ■ Melbourne’s usual social press contingent gushed when 54-year-old actress Jerry Hall was interviewed

by Ann Peacock at Crown, ahead of the Texas-born model’s appearance in The Graduate at Her Majesty’s Theatre from September 20.

Talent time

PHOTO: TWITTER

● Norm Beaman, former Seven News reporter, orders one beer at Crown Palladium at the Melbourne Press Club’s Quill Awards on Friday night.

● Jamie Redfern ■ Known best for Young Talent Time, Jamie Redfern is teaching singing and performance classes in Wyndham Vale soon.

There are also expected to be group classes in Hastings.

● Kate McMurrich, account executive at 3AW, was farewelled by the station’s longest-serving employee, David Mann, at a staff function held at Media House, Docklands, on Friday afternoon.

It’s all Greek to Julia

Golden Days

● Prime Minister Julia Gillard posed for photos at the Greek community’s Antipdoes Festival held in Melbourne at the weekend.

● Larry James ■ Golden Days Radio 95.7 will be broadcasting episodes of Address Unknown in their Radio Theatre program at 3pm On Monday (Mar. 25), says GDR President Larry James.

It stars Lionel Stevens, Harp McGuire, Ray Barrett and Joe McCormick.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - Page 7

Around Melbourne

Media Flash VISIT TEDDY BEAR HOSPITAL Briefs Support

● Bob Carr ■ Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr says a Fairfax article about him losing faith in Prime Minister Julia Gillard is wrong, reports News Ltd.

Contact

● Chloe Athanasako ■ Missing Wyndham Vale woman Chloe Athanasakos has made contact with friends and returned home. Police spoke with Chloe late Monday evening and would like to thank the public and media for their assistance.

Bashing ■ The cruelty case of a Doncaster ringtail possum bashed by a man with a swimming pool metal pole is being investigated by Wildlife Victoria, RSPCA and Police.

■ Thousands of children and their families are expected to bring their favourite teddy bear for a check-up at the Teddy Bear Hospital at the Good Friday Appeal’s Kids Day Out at Etihad Stadium on Good Friday, March 29.

Some 460 medical students, biomedical students, junior doctors and nurses will volunteer for ‘hospital duty’ and don their hospital scrubs on Good Friday to carry out the mock medical check-ups.

Last year, the inaugural Teddy Bear Hospital ‘treated’ more than 2000 teddy bears and soft toys and raised more than $10,000 for The Royal Children’s Hospital.

The Teddy Bear Hospital is a Royal Children’s Hospital and University of Melbourne program that aims to help familiarise children with the medical consultation process and provide health promotion in a fun and interactive manner.

The $5 cost of each mock-medical check-up with children who bring their teddy or soft toy will be donated to the Good Friday Appeal.

And if you forget your own Teddy on Good Friday you can adopt one at the Build-A-Bear Workshop Adoption Centre, right beside the Teddy Bear Hospital.

Teddy Bear Hospital Director, Professor Paul Monagle from the University of Melbourne Academic Centre at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, says the aim of the program is to reduce the fear of medical consultations by empowering children to participate in a simulated medical consultation as the teddy’s ‘carer’.

“We are very grateful to Professor Monagle and all the trainee and junior doctors and nurses who have volunteered to be part of the event again this year,” said Good Friday Appeal Executive Director Deborah Hallmark.

The Teddy Bear Hospital will run from 10am-4pm at Etihad Stadium on Good Friday. www.goodfridayappeal.com.au

Inside news from TV, radio, press and online

$20,000 to experiment

Football 2013

HARMONY DAY AT FED SQUARE ■ Orange is set to be the colour of an iconic Melbourne landmark as Federation Square is illuminated to celebrate Australia’s multi-cultural spirit for Harmony Day. Harmony Day is celebrated on (Thurs.) March 21 each year and since it began in 1999, almost 50,000 events have been staged across Australia involving community groups, schools, churches, local governments and the business community.

Some 300 events are being staged across Victoria on and around Harmony Day. Federation Square, as one of Melbourne city’s most popular meeting places, will light up in the Harmony Day colour, orange, after dusk tonight (Wed., Mar. 20) and tomorrow (Thu., Mar. 21). ● A special ‘cheerio’ to Observer readers Joan Brockenshire, Tommy and Kole Dysart. More cheerios on Page 82.

Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

● Footy fanatic Greg Newman has recorded an interview with 3AW football commentary chief Brian Taylor. The interview is in the Observer Showbiz section on Page 91.

Melbourne-raised Greg Newman is part of the Observer team, and publishes the popular Jocks Journal, which is an essential part of radio programming across Australia.

Greg now also works at Brisbane station 4BH, a sister station to Magic 1278.

Health study for seniors ■ A study is under way into the effectiveness of two herbal extracts and a micronutrient combination formula on cognitive and cardiovascular health in older people.

The Centre for Human Psychopharmacology at Swinburne University of Technology is examining the role of Bacopa Monniera and French Maritime Pine Bark (pinus pinaster) Pycnogenol on cognition, cardiovascular function and other health markers. Many of these variables have been shown to be impaired as we age.

If you are interested in taking part in this clinical trial and would like further information, please contact arcli@swin.edu.au or phone 9214 8267 or 9214 5472.

■ Journalists, developers, inventors and content creators across Australia are invited to pitch for a share of the $20 000 CitizenJ Experiments Fund.

The fund is part of CitizenJ, a pioneering new-media journalism project at The Edge, State Library of Queensland, aimed at giving everyday people a credible platform to tell their stories.

CEO and State Librarian, Janette Wright, said the CitizenJ Experiments Fund was an invitation for innovation in the media sector.

“The Experiments Fund is an opportunity to ● Tim Fairfax take a risk on an idea; to develop it, test it and prepare it for implementation in a media context,” said Ms Wright.

“We are looking for great ideas across the categories of content, tools and residency.

“Funding in the content category will support the research, development and publication of new and experimental journalism, including data, written, audio, visual, video, multimedia and transmedia content.

“Funding in the second category will enable the development of new tools for sourcing, publishing or distributing journalism content.

“A $5000 residency will be available to provide mentoring and professional development through the CitizenJ program.”

CitizenJ newsroom co-ordinator, Ursula Skjonnemand, said previous CitizenJ Experiments Fund winner, Ben Robertson, was a great example of the scope of the fund.

“Mr Robertson received backing in the previous round to develop a remote aerial camera platform enabling the capture of high quality aerial video footage “These devices offer a unique opportunity to gain a birds-eye view and footage that has not been possible at this price point.”

Applications for the CitizenJ Experiments Fund close April 12. Full details can be found at http:// citizenj.edgeqld.org.au/experiments CitizenJ is a pioneering new-media journalism project aimed at giving everyday people the platform to tell their stories and equipping citizen journalists with the credibility to make sure these stories are told well. More information see citizenj.edgeqld.org.au This program is supported by Tim Fairfax and Queensland Library Foundation.

Hectic times in Geelong ■ Antony Catalano’s Metro Media Publishing has scored a coup by recruiting 3AW account executive Kate McMurrich to work on his Weekly Review - Greater Geelong edition.

Kate has most recently worked in sales for the radio station, as well as being PA for Direct Sales Manger Sue Chapman.

Kate joined 3AW some 10 years ago, but also gained experience in Queensland and Canadian media along the way.

Her fiance is Nick Swifte, Victorian Investment Director at Aegis ● Antony Catalano Media (Mitchells).

■ Nick Papps, Geelong Advertiser Editor, was thrilled with public response to the Addy’s 48-page Cats pre-season maagzine in Saturday’s edition.

■ Denis Scanlan, host of The Front Page on Geelong radio station The Pulse 94.7, is off air for two weeks. He and wife Colette are holidaying in Hawaii.

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

To

Pat Cash is back in town

Di For

Doing your homework ■ Well, I have done my homework and a new Pope is looking over us!

All is good with the world.

A colleague of mine from South Africa mentioned to me at dinner how she found there were so many rules in Australia and asked how do I stand living with all the rules.

I told her I didn’t think there were any rules at all, and how free and fantastic it is for all of us living in this great land of ours.

No sooner had I spoken than I heard that the Aussie cricketers hadn’t done their homework. My friend said to me rather smartly: “I rest my case!”

I used to hate homework. Now that I run my own business I actually love homework and it would be nothing for me to put three points down on what should improve the game of cricket, but alas I wasn’t asked.

There is something about grown men doing homework I find rather silly, but there you go!

Taking Care of Business ■ I think if you are good enough to make the grade for the Aussie cricket team, then that should be it. It’s all about what goes on at the pitch.

I can’t imagine any cricket coach asking Sir Donald Bradman to do his homework. If you’re good, the proof is in the pudding.

A wonderful cricketer Imran Khan said, “The team that is going to win is the one that does its homework the best by studying its opponents.”

It’s a bit like being an Elvis impersonator, it’s all about what goes on on the stage, and if you are good, you are good and if you are great, you are great.

David Letterman had an Elvis impersonator on his show recently.

Shawn Klush was his name, he was excellent. One of the best I have seen.

I think Elvis ToTthe Max, Max Pallicano, who comes to Australia a lot, is fabulous.

However, I have to say home-grown boy Mark Anthony ranks as one of the best. Returning from a sold out tour of the US – Mark Anthony performs his Elvis If I Can Dream show to his home town Adelaide and Melbourne.

In Melbourne he will be at the Palms At Crown on Friday August 16, and Saturday, August 17. August 16 is the anniversary of the death of The King himself, Elvis.

Award-winning Mark Anthony has been named as one of the top Elvis performers in the world. He looks, sounds, moves and thrills like Elvis.

If I Can Dream is a brilliant musical journey highlighting the career of Elvis Presley. Playing to sell-out crowds on its debut, the response to this show has been immense creating an international career for Mark Anthony.

If I Can Dream includes a huge live band, five costume changes, four dancers and a video screen displaying historical images capturing the timeline of Elvis’s hits.

I must say I always watch Elvis documentaries when they come up on the tele and he certainly has the X-factor in spades, I would love to have seen him live.

When working with Johnny Cash, he told me some great stories about Elvis and the trouble they used to both get up to.

Mark Anthony will take the audience onto an Elvis journey from the 50s rock’n’roller, movie years to the 1968 comeback tour and Aloha Special.

He comes with high praise too. “Mark Anthony is one of today’s best Elvis Tribute artists … it’s fun for me to watch Mark perform, because he reminds me, so much of my old friend Elvis Presley – the greatest entertainer this world has known! Mark’s show plays tribute to Elvis for all the right reasons, and brings back memories of the we were there on stage with the man himself! Keep up the great work Mark … your friend in Nashville,” said Joe Moscheo of The Imperials.

The Imperials toured with Elvis from 1969 till 1972 and recorded two gospel albums with him.

More about Mark Anthony is at www.himselvis.com Palms at Crown Melbourne bookings: www.ticketek.com.au

I love my job! with leading Melbourne publicist DI ROLLE

■ Nice to see Aussie tennis icon Pat Cash back in town. I first met him way back at The Don Lane Show.

One of Australia’s favourite sporting sons, he tells me he is available to add another dimension to corporate events around town.

Always charming and a great guest anywhere he goes, whether it be at black tie event or backyard barbecue, Pat is someone I am always happy to have in a room where I am.

Whether it be to entertain and interact with guests at your next event or to engage in exclusive coaching or playing sessions with personal lessons or valuable clients.

Pat’s extraordinary talent and life have made him a unique and extremely popular figure in the world of corporate entertainment.

He is relaxed and completely at home as a guest in a private corporate box, and equally at home appearing as a special guest at major events taking part in Q&A sessions.

Also, Pat has many years’ experience and a successful track record in holding one-on-one, or small corporate tennis coaching sessions; or simply getting onto the court with a “Captain of Industry” and a group of his or her guests to have a hit.

Pat is a good look and a great person to have around, he is available for corporate events coaching sessions, appearances and endorsement campaigns.

Contact Andrew Taylor for any queries or booking inquiries on 0414 596 491 or visit www.andrewtaylormanagement.com

GREAT OUTLOOKS ON LIFE

■ Thanks to Fiona Byrne at Sofitel Melbourne On Collins for a wonderful night with the opening of the Meera Sethi Returned exhibition (see photos on Page 11).

It is so good to see Fiona fitting in to her new position at the hotel.

Sofi’s Lounge on Level 1 is really the most beautiful place to meet and have a wine or a cuppa at the end of the day.

I know, working as hard as I do, to walk into that space is just heaven. A slice of heaven in Melbourne.

And the staff are superb!

I can’t resist mentioning Jerry Hall again. What an impressive woman she is.

She is so comfortable in her skin. She has the most wonderful smile and great outlook on life. I just adored her. I can’t wait to see her in The Graduate when she comes back for the strictly limited season at Her Majesty’s Theatre from September 24.

Book now: Ticketek 132 849

Ali’s sparkle heads for Melbourne

One fabulous lady who is definitely coming to Melbourne to do concerts is Ali McGregor.

I love Ali McGregor. An accomplished cabaret and jazz performer, Ali presents her new show Alchemy.

The Herald Sun says “somewhere between opera and pop sits a genre of music called Ali McGregor - creating unique hybrids of popular songs, standards and blues ... she is inspired by the divas of opera, burlesque and trashy 80s pop” Ali features unique mash-ups and genre-defying versions of Madonna, Salt’n’Pepa, Radiohead and Elvis, as if they were sung by a 40’s diva in a Las Vegas club.

Ali is one of Australia’s most versatile singers. With an incredible vocal range and entertaining and emotive performance style, she is accompanied by one of Australia’s finest jazz pianists and arrangers, Sam Keevers and his trio.

The Age says Ali “sparkles with sexy playful● Jerry Hall in Melbourne at Crown ness, moving simplicity and a beautiful warm working the light Photo: Ros O'Gorman tone.’

Dates: Wednesday - Friday May 15 and 17. And Saturday, May ■ Ellen clearly hasn’t been taking her Swisse 18. 7.30pm. vitamins! She has the flu and Team Ellen At the Salon, Melhas delayed her tour to Australia by a few bourne Recital Cendays. tre.

Ellen, 55, is staying at home with Portia Duration: 1 hour and chicken soup to get well enough to fly.

50 minutes including In a statement from one of her producers he interval. – in cabaret revealed that “Ellen is far too sick to fly, she mode. is unwell and was so unwell she couldn’t tape This will be divine. her shows this week.”

Tickets: $40 ($30 ● Ali McGregor Twitter followers will have seen the tweets concession). Pre-order that Ellen has been sending, leading to specu- food and beverage lation that she might not be coming to Austra- packages and save. lia.

Presented by One tweet read: “Trying to get over a bug Melbourne Recital before I go to Australia, nobody wants to be Centre. down under the weather!”.

Book through In another tweet she wrote, “Between my melbournerecital.com humidifier and Portia making me tea non-stop, or phone 9699 3333. there’s so much steam coming from our house Be there. I wonder people think we picked the new Pope.” who might be in the Twelve months in the planning, a statement audience? from Warner Bros explained, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show will delay its arrival into Turn to Australia by a few days while Ellen recovPage 11 ers from the flu. for photos “Ellen will meet her fans in Sydney later of the Meera in the week, and will then head to Melbourne.

More announcements about the trip will be made Sethi in coming days.”

‘Returned’ Oh dear! I do hope she gets here. There exhibition will be a lot of very disappointed people if she at Sofitel doesn’t! ● Elvis Presley - or is it?

Ellen needs vitamins

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - Page 9

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Confidential Melbourne

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

Both ends of spectrum

News Ltd loses its Punch

■ News Limited has announced the closure of opinion website The Punch.

Website trafic will be redirected to news.com. au and integrated.

Toby Maguire, Editor of The Punch said: “We were the first mainstream media player in this space.”

Lisa visits 3RPP

Prix pas

BROTHEL DEATH COURT SEQUEL

● Suzanne Sheakespeare Photo: Andrew Keshan ■ Two events at each end of the performing spectrum will no doubt attract culture vultures over the next few days.

Soprano Isabel Hertaeg brings her brand of musical mayhem to the Butterfly Club in her show Death By Soprano.

With the tag line ‘it’s not over ‘till the Soprano is dead’, Isabel says she is sharpening the operatic blade in her cabaret toolbox, because being a soprano is a dangerous and hazardous occupation.

And who could argue with her? As she explains in the show, thousands of soprano characters have been sacrificed in the name of art since opera began in 1598.

Isabel brings her 60-minute black comedy to the Butterfly Club’s new city location at Carson Place at 6pm tonight (Wed.), followed at 9.30 pm by Isabel’s accompanist, Amy Abler, doing her one woman show, Pianodivalicious, which puts to the audience the tantalising line – what if Bette Midler and Liberace had a love chlld … and she takes it from there! ★★★ From the beautifully ridiculous to the truly sublime – on Sunday (Mar. 24) the Melbourne Bach Choir and Orchestra has lured expat Melbourne soprano Suzanne Shakespeare back from London as soloist in Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor.

The mass was written for Mozart’s new wife Costanze, to show off her vocal virtuosity, and Suzanne will bring her own brand of magic to it.

Other soloists include Danielle Calder, James Egglestone, Tim Reynolds and Pelham Andrews.

Conducted by Rick Prakhoff, the program also includes Bach’s Ouverture and Air on a G string, among other delights.

It all starts at 3pm on Sunday at All Saints’ Church, St Kilda. Book on 0477 087 593 or www.trybooking.com/CGOI - Julie Houghton

Tuning in from overseas ■ Victorian community radio stations which transmit their programs on the internet are winning a large number of international listeners.

Ellice Viggers Mersey View show on 3RPP-FM receives 450 to 500 overseas hits per episode.

The station’s jazz presenters have listeners throughout the US, Europe and New Zealand.

96.5 Inner FM has a large number of US listeners for That’s Entertainment on Sundays. Golden Days Radio has won many UK listeners.

■ A court case. following the death of a man outside a South Melbourne brothel, has started in the Supreme Court.

De Jun ‘Kevin’ Zheng, 33, of Doncaster, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Abraham Papo outside Madam Leona’s brothel.

Papo had gone to the brothel, believing he might find his Korean girlfriend, who he believed was being held against her will.

Papo had sent messages to his girlfriend, wanting her to get out of the sex industry, Court has been told.

Zheng is also charged with perverting the course of justice following an alleged approach to Papo’s family.

Fiji travel still uneasy ■ Melbourne travellers bound for Fiji still need to be wary ... with the military government charging the local Fiji Times directors with breaching the media decree. All directors are required to meet residency requirements, including spending half of each year within the Fiji Islands. A severe sentence has been given to the paper’s top journalist Fred Wesley.

ASIC CANCELS LICENCE ■ The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has cancelled the Australian financial services licence of Addwealth Financial Services Pty Ltd as the company was unable to comply with its licence conditions.

In September last year ASIC imposed additional licence conditions on Addwealth FS following ASIC concerns, among other things, over the appropriateness of advice to certain clients, As part of ASIC’s ongoing monitoring of Addwealth FS’s compliance, ASIC became aware that Addwealth FS had breached those additional licence conditions, including failing to lodge independent external compliance reports.

At the same time Addwealth FS requested ASIC cancel their licence under the Corporations Act 2001.

ASIC agreed.

As part of the licence cancellation, ASIC imposed conditions that Addwealth FS for the next 12 months extend professional indemnity insurance and maintain its membership of an external dispute resolution service.

ASIC is writing to former Addwealth FS clients advising them of the circumstances of the licence cancellation and other general matters that they should know about and be aware of in terms of any financial products that they hold and any complaints they may wish to make.

ASIC is conducting enquiries into the conduct of individual officers of Addwealth FS and related companies. At this time ASIC has no further comment to make.

Whispers

● Ted Baillieu ■ Former Victorian Premiers Ted Baillieu and Jeff Kennett seemed to give each other a wide berth at the Chairman’s Dinner at the Grand Prix at the weekend. Was it something that Jeff said?

Hold-ups ● Lisa Curry popped by the Mornington studios of 3RPP-FM to be interviewed on the Thursday morning Sugar And Spice program hosted by Bob and Judy Phillips.

Rumour Mill

■ Nepean Hwy and Eastlink, as well as local Frankston roads, will be gridlocked this Sunday (Mar. 24) when the Ironman competition takes over. Road closures will also apply in the Melbourne City.

Ring back ■ Crisis Support Services are advertising a “Suicide Call Back Service’ on 1-300 659 457.

Cowboys Hear It Here First

Pointing the bone ■ The Rumour Mill wonders if a senior newspaper executive wanted to be overheard in a city building elevator, discussing a columnist he termed as “selfserving”. “No column lasts forever,” the exec told his offsider.

Logie cutbacks?

■ The Rumour Mill hears that there have been financial cutbacks for this year’s Logie Awards on Sunday, April 7. The red carpet will be rolled out for TV’s night of nights at Melbourne’s Crown Entertainment Complex. The star-studded event begins when Shelley Craft, Jules Lund and Shane Crawford greet the biggest names in Australian television. There are overseas msuicians booked, but no Aussies.

Battle for RSL rooms ■ Heidelkberg RSL sub-branch members are defying head ofice instructions from ANZAC House.

Instead of closing the sub-branch premises after financial challenges, the club is opening on Friday and Saturday nights after a motion to cxlose the premises was defeated.

E-Mail: Confidential@MelbourneObserver.com.au

● Daryl Braithwaite ■ Singer Daryl Braithwaite was the headline act when electrical and furniture retailers Stan Cash made their comeback at Brooklyn at the weekend.

Also apearing at the Geelong Rd outlet was footy identities Tom Hafey and Peter Daicos, appearing alongside a bucking bull and bungy run device.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Melbourne People

Kate’s mates Kate McMurrich farewell party after leaving 3AW

● Kate McMurrich with partner Nick Swifte

● Tania Kimmins and David Hoyle

● Ben Peel with Tara Davies

● Renae Stapleton with Simone Elliott

● Primrose McKenzie with Caroline Schneider

● Greg Jennings with Ben Peel

● Melanie McDonald and Sue Clark

● Lynette Churchill, Susanne Worton, Sussan Hassett

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - Page 11

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 Melbourne

Observer

Ash On Wednesday

PERFECTLY MOWED

Happy and humble service

Our Doors are Open!

Keith Rankcom happily helping at Royal Freemasons Any given Friday you will find a man sitting in a vacant cottage, rummaging through jewels, aprons, cufflinks and other used goods.

Often sitting alone, and visited only randomly, he doesn't do it for money, he doesn't do it for recognition; he does it to demonstrate his commitment to the core belief of Freemasonry - universal charity.

He is one of many examples of Freemasons contributing to the community.

For more than 160 years Freemasonry has been alive in the Australian community, and many important events during that time have demonstrated the benevolent foundations of the fraternity.

An example of this is the establishment of the Royal Freemasons' Homes of Victoria in 1867.

Known today as Royal Freemasons, it serves the Victorian community with care, compassion and respect, assisting their elderly clients to live a secure, dignified and rewarding life through the provision of a range of quality care and accommodation options.

The man in the cottage, Keith Rankcom, is but one of many volunteers who offer their time at Royal Freemasons.

A Freemason for more than 62 years, a volunteer for more than 26 years, Keith is a weekly fixture at the Moubray Street facility.

Keith commenced as a volunteer bus driver, and quickly became invaluable to the residents on their outings and adventures.

Today Keith manages the Regalia kindly donated from deceased estates.

A man of deep principle and respect, Keith does it for the love of it and to ensure Masonic history and significance remains intact.

His individual contribution is highly admirable, and Royal Freemasons would not be the same without Keith and his fellow volunteers.

Like Keith, a number of the current volunteers have significant links to Freemasonry; be they Freemasons themselves, relatives or spouses of Freemasons, or individuals looking to offer support to their fellow Freemasons residing at one of Royal Freemasons four residential aged care facilities.

For many, the time spent at Royal Freemasons has become as familiar as reading the daily newspaper or their attendance at lodge meetings.

The practice of benevolence is common to both the act of volunteering and the message of Freemasonry, and there is great opportunity for personal benefit in combining the two.

For information on how you too could volunteer at Royal Freemasons, contact their Volunteer Coordinator on 9452 2445.

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

■ Our local theatre contributor Cheryl Threadgold tells us about a new show, prefectly Mowed Lawn, that is being staged

by La Mama from April 4-14. It stars Benn Bennett/ Cheryl says: “What is it that’s so appealing about a perfectly mowed lawn?

Is it the smell? Is it the precision? Or is it the artistry?

“A well-kept yard seems to be all the rage. It’s fair to say that a good garden and a freshly painted house go hand in hand.

“And then there’s the water feature, “and come to think of it”, said the lady with a perm, “maybe we should get a slightly taller fence.”

“And then an Audi.”

“And then a box hedge.”

“And then I’d probably like to go on a holiday.”

“Somewhere exotic.”

“Somewhere difficult to pronounce.”

“Like Bali.”

Benn Bennett is a musician, comedian and writer who has worked with a variety of Melbourne’s comic and cabaret performers and presented solo shows throughout Australia, the UK and Europe.

Perfectly Mowed Lawn sees Bennett return to solo performance for the first time since 2010.

For this show, Bennett will present an hour of new music, a series of field recordings, voiceovers that resemble modern Australian suburbia, and a selection of photographs and holiday snaps from the 80s.

Join Benn for an evening of observations and overheard conversations from a suburb he probably shouldn’t mention, but probably will.

Season: April 4 - 14 Times: Wed, Sun 8.30pm. Thu, Fri, Sat and Tue Apr 9, 10pm Venue: La Mama Theatre, 205 Faraday St, Carlton Tickets: $25 Full. $15 Concession Bookings: www. lamama.com.au or 9347 6142.

Ourselves ■ There is only one more edition of the Melbourne Observer prior to the Easter break.

We will publish as normal on Wednesday next week (March 27). We do not publish on Easter Wednesday (April 3).

Harry Beitzel remembers

● Writer and performer Benn Bennett in Perfectly Mowed Lawn at La Mama Theatre Carlton, from April 4-14.

Photo: Andre Gorgievski

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 ■ “Nature couldn’t make us perfect, so she did the next best thing. She made us blind to our faults.”

Observer Curmudgeon ■ “The Irish are a fair people - they never speak well of one another.”

- Samuel Johnson

Text For The Week ■ "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." - Proverbs 21:9 The Melbourne Observer is printed by Streamline Press, 155 Johnston St, Fitzroy, for the publisher, Ash Long, for Local Media Pty Ltd, ABN 67 096 680 063, of the registered office, 30 Glen Gully Road, Eltham, Distributed by All Day Distribution.

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

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

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT COURT REPORTS Contents of Court Lists are intended for information purposes only. The lists are extracted from Court Lists, as supplied to the public, by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, often one week prior to publication date; for current Court lists, please contact the Court. Further details of cases are available at www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au The Melbourne Observer shall in no event accept any liability for loss or damage suffered by any person or body due to information provided. The information is provided on the basis that persons accessing it undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content. No inference of a party’s guilt or innocence should be made by publication of their name as a defendant. Court schedules may be changed at any time for any reason, including withdrawal of the action by the Plaintiff/Applicant. E&OE.

■ I am writing this on St Patrick’s Day, a special day of memories for me especially March 17, 1968. I do so with the assumed right as an honorary Irishman!

This honour was confirmed to Ron Barassi and me as far back as October 1967. We were in Ireland with the Galahs and after we defeated Co Meath, the All Ireland Gaelic Football champions Ron and I were privileged to be granted an audience with Eammon de Valera, then 85 years, the third President of Independent Ireland.

He was a strong man and a controversial political leader in his own country. He fought the battle for an Independent Ireland in the fields and streets of Dublin and in the diplomatic corridors of London and the USA to overthrow the British rule and control of Southern Ireland.

History is built around extraordinary events and people. Ireland’s independence was won initially because of the toll of the catastrophic ‘potato famine’ of 1845-47 when over two million of Ireland’s eight million population died of starvation.

Something had to be done to the unfair ownership of Ireland’s land by absent and disinterested British aristocracy. It took another 50 odd years but the likes of hero Michael Collins and de Valera stood up to be counted.

In de Valera’s early career he played Rugby Union for his college and university in Limerick and progressed to represent Co. Munster as full back. He was fascinated how after only three weeks training in Gaelic football we were able to comprehensibly defeat his nation’s Gaelic champions.

We were booked for 15 minutes and stayed over one hour as he questioned us about our own Irish population. He knew and was fascinated about our most famous Irishman, Ned Kelly!

I invited Co. Meath to Australia to play the Galahs in March 1968. We played five matches one in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and two in the heat wave of Melbourne.

The first was at the MCG and the second on St Patrick’s Day in 42 degree heat at Carlton’s Princes Park. It was a “Great Day for the Irish.” It started in the morning with the St Patrick’s Day procession through the main streets of Melbourne. My PR company built a Co. Meath float specially designed in green and shamrocks to welcome the Meath players and supporters to Melbourne. It was a huge success.

At halftime in the Meath final game the tanned Galahs led the ‘lily-white’ Irish but the Meath boys wanted to win the Tour undefeated and they did! The after match function was a treat never to be forgotten by both teams and supporters. I don’t know how many Irish were located in Victoria but most were at Carlton that day!

We toured the world again in October-November 1968 playing Gaelic teams in London, Ireland, San Francisco and our final match in New York.

We won or drew all games to boast we were the unofficial Gaelic Football World Champions!

Kevin Sheedy and Tommy Lahiff – “can ya hear me ‘arry?” Toured with my last Galahs team in 1978.

As did Allen Aylett, Jack Hamilton and Ray Allsop whom I had organise the Schoolboys’ Tours in the early 1980s which led to the AFL/GAA, IRS Test Series in 1984. ● Harry Beitzel’s Footy Week is on P100

Free reader ads are available in the Classifieds section of the ‘Melbourne Observer’

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - Page 13

Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

■ I vaguely remember watching the Our Gang short films at my local cinema in the late 1940s and I used to read the Our Gang comics.

It was a strong influence on young children and we formed gangs of our own so that we could play together, have fun and imitate the characters in the film series.

My favourite was Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer because he had a funny strand of hair sticking up on top of his head.

The series was originally titled The Little Rascals but it was changed to Our Gang in 1938 over a copyright issue.

Carl Dean Switzer was born in Paris, Illinois, in 1927. As a child Carl and his older brother Harold sang in local shows.

In 1935 the boys were visiting their grandparents in California and wanted to see the studios where the famous Little Rascals series was filmed.

They did an impromptu performance of hillbilly songs and comedy at the studio cafeteria where they were spotted by the producer Hal Roach.

Roach was so impressed with the boys that he cast them in one of the short films.

Carl was given the name of ‘Alfalfa’ and Harold became ‘Deadpan’ or ‘Slim’.

Carl became a very popular character along with George ‘Spanky’ McFarlane, Billy ‘Buckwheat’ Thomas and Daria Wood.

It was the first time filmgoers saw children

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whatever Happened To ...

Carl Switzer

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM playing together without racial overtones. Although Carl was a fine singer Alfalfa would always sing “off key” to get a laugh.

Carl acted in 61 short films and was known throughout the world.

In 1941 Carl Switzer left the series at the age of 14.

Comedy, It’s a Wonderful Life, Going My Way, The Track of the Cat, White Christmas and The High and the Mighty.

Carl married Dian Collingwood in 1954 they had one child but the marriage only lasted for two years.

By 1956 he was reduced to playing an uncredited slave in The Ten Commandments.

Carl dreamed of making a big comeback but it

● Carl Switzer

never happened. His friend Roy Rogers gave him a small role in his television series.

Carl’s last film role was in 1958 in The Defiant Ones which starred Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier.

He did earn a reasonable living working as a dog breeder and hunting guide with some notable clients such as Roy Rogers and James Stewart.

On the night of January 21, 1959, Carl had been drinking heavily at a bungalow home in the San Fernando Valley and got involved in an argument with a man over a payment of $50.

The argument turned into a fight and when Carl allegedly charged at the man with a knife he was shot in the stomach and died on arrival at the hospital.

The trial resulted in a verdict of “justifiable homicide” but there are some who think Carl was murdered and he only held an unopened pen knife.

But after all this time who knows the real truth?

Carl Switzer was buried at Hollywood Memorial Park.

He was only 31 – and like many famous child actors, Hollywood turned its back on him when he grew up.

Kevin Trask The Time Tunnel - with Bruce & Phil– Sundays 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

TERRITORY UFOS ARE IN THE NEWS

■ There's been ongoing discussion over the past few years about the gradual tendency for Alice Springs residents to head off elsewhere because of the violence and the tensions in the town.

"I've had enough of the violence and the crime in the town, and there is nothing done about it. There's one law for one and one law for others".

This was from business owner Tracy Randall, who is contemplating selling up and moving to Queensland.

Her business? Many Maids, the town's only escort agency.

And what prompted her outburst?

She was parked outside a motel at 3am one morning recently, attending to a customer, when her car was broken into and certain "items - tricks of the trade", which she wasn't using in the motel, were stolen.

Reminds me of an instance a few years ago which Ozzie told me about.

A young lady would go from shop to shop along the strip - she'd steal something from one shop, and then try and sell at for a couple dollars in the next one.

She got to Ozzie's shop, but he knew her and ejected her straight away.

The next business was the Blue Grass Restaurant where diners were happily having breakfast in the outdoor dining area.

The lady's last visit had been to the adult shop, and she was going from table to table amongst the startled diners waving a huge dildo about - "five dollars, five dollars!"

■ UFOs are in the news again. In fact, in the NT, they're never far away from it! 380 kms north of Alice on the Stuart Highway is Wycliffe Well, the "UFO Capital of the world".

I often spoke with the operator of the roadhouse, and he would regularly witness strange lights darting about in the night sky.

And many others witnessed the same phenomena so that the little roadhouse became the talk of the UFO community across the world, with constant visitors checking them out.

Some visiting US UFO ladies came to Alice Springs and made a big song and dance in the local media about Pine Gap being a study centre for such phenomena.

I was in Scotty's pub one night with a mate whose wife worked at the Base.

He'd had a bit to drink, so I thought he may wish to share a few things with

The Outback Legend

with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au me. He didn't, but he didn't brush me off either: with a twinkle in his eye, he said: "If you wanted to study UFO's you could pick a worse place than somewhere in the middle of the desert in a friendly country away from prying eyes and city lights!"

■ I've always been an avid anti-fox and anti-cat advocate. Or at least feral cats. The damage which these vicious predators do to our native wildlife in the Centre is inestimable.

And one of the victims of these mini-monsters is the Bilby.

Whilst they do sporadically occur in other places, the Central Land Council is concentrating its efforts of conservation in Sangster's Bore, 600k's northwest of Alice in the Tanami Desert.

They've set up cameras outside burrows to check on their movements. Interestingly, they found that Bilbies share their burrows with both rabbits and Echidnas.

They're expanding the project, using helicopters to also monitor a hundred square kilometres out, to find out how widespread the population actually is.

It always seems that even when there are more creatures released into the wild, foxes and cats gobble them up straight away. But they always thrive in fenced off habitats, away from these predators.

No matter how many surveys and good intentions, the only solution is to get rid of the cats and foxes.

■ There's always controversy about the original settlement Australia. It was once thought that our current Aboriginal inhabitants were the originals, and that they had been here uninterrupted from time immemorial.

But there's recently been some more research. It appears that the DNA of top end Aborigines and Indians and Sri Lankans is connected somehow, showing that there was a migration from this area to Australia about 4000 years ago.

And, coincidentally, that's when the dingo arrived - apparently these chaps brought them across with them.

Plus some tools that are distinct from those used by Central Australian Aborigines.

There has also been much controversy emanating from the discovery of the Bradshaws, the unique rock art in the Kimberleys.

The local Aborigines claimed that these works have nothing to do with them, indicating that there was an earlier race of Aborigines in the area, and that the current chaps must have come along and massacred these incumbent inhabitants, wiping them out.

That theory is a bit too politically incorrect, so it's covered up so we don't hear much about it!

■ Even though there are well recognised settlements in Australia from where opals are extracted, from larger actual town such as Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge, down to tiny little settlements such as Koroit and Opal Creek in Queensland, there are many other areas in Australia where this precious gemstones is located.

Years ago a friend of mine found some gem quality opal clinging to granite boulders in the Glenrowan quarry.

The quarry owner at the time was not interested, and he blew it all up and spread it over the local roads.

When I drive from Port Augusta to Darwin, I firstly pass near to Andamooka and Coober Pedy, and close by several other fields.

But the interesting thing is that I see, the whole way along, opal bearing clay

● Wycliffe Well in the cuttings on the side of the high- Glen Helen, and a backpacker showed way. About the whole way from me a stone he'd found in Kunnunurra.

Woomera to Coober Pedy this is the In fact it seems that you can dig a case. hole in many parts of Australia and And then further north, around you've got a fair chance of a good Renner Springs, more opal clay. I have strike! even seen opal which has been dug from - Nick Le Souef the Alice Springs golf course, from ‘The Outback Legend’

From The Outer

Melbourne

Observer

kojak@ mmnet.com.au

With John Pasquarelli

■ John Pasquarelli is on sick leave after being hospitalised in Townsville, Far North Queensland.

- John Pasquarelli:, kojak@mmnet.com.au Due to production dificulties, Yvonne Lawrence’s column has been held over until the next edition. We apologise for this problem beyond our control

Observer Mailbag PO Box 1278, Research, Vic 3095 Editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au

Against same-sex union ■ Angela Thornton of Sorrento e-mails: “You journalists think you can change the world by stealth.

You report about TV personality Ellen De Generes and her “wife”, ‘Portia De Rossi’. For your information, marriage is between a man and a woman.”

■ Editor replies: The ‘wife’ reference was made in The Age (Mar. 15), not by us.