Ob 21may14 bz

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - Page 7

Showbiz News

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

Rare works this Sunday Observer at Melbourne Town Hall In This 88-Page Edition

● Andrew Wailes

Coco-lossal

● Coco Lectric ■ The ‘biggest celebration of Tease in the The art of burlesque continues to be popuSouthern Hemisphere’ can be seen in the lar the world over, with the artistic removal of Australian Burlesque Festival, being pre- clothing ensuring no full frontal nudity. sented in Melbourne as part of a nationwide ABF Burlesque workshops will also be tour, from June 5-8 at various venues. available throughout the tour for anyone wantCoco Lectric (pictured) from the United ing to learn how to strut their own stuff. Adult States of America, will be performing in The women and men of all ages welcome.

Big Tease on June 7 at 9pm (doors open at For more details, visit www.australian 7pm) at Ormond Hall, 557 St Kilda Rd, burlesquefest.com Melbourne.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Appeal dismissed ■ Leland Kenneth Patrick has lost an appeal (a pseudonym) has lost a Court of Appeal bid to have a sex case conviction overturned.

Patrick had been convicted

by County Court Judge Richard Maidment on six charges of indecent assault and one charge of gross indecency.

Supreme Court Judges Neave, Tate and Sifris determined that a six year and three months jail sentence should proceed.

The Court judgement, hand-

ed down last Wednesday, stated that the man’s daughter complained of incidents at the family home at Warranwood.

Other offences were alleged to have taken place at Boronia, a Lilydale factory and at his Croydon South home.

The daughter, now an adult in her thirties, said she was as young as eight when her father touched her vagina, made her touch and lick his penis,and made her masturbate him.

The man is said to have later apologised: “I want to apologise for the things that I have done.”

Defence counsel had said the evidence was inherently ambiguous.

The appeal judges detailed specific reasons why the appeal was dismissed.

■ Two great masters of early 20th century English music are being brought to life, musically speaking, in the opening concert of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic's 2014 season this Sunday (May 25).

RMP Chief Conductor Andrew Wailes will lead almost 300 talented musicians from the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Melbourne University Choral Society, accompanied by the RMP Orchestra in a concert at Melbourne Town Hall.

The concert features Ralph Vaughan Williams' Toward The Unknown Region, and Sir Edward Elgar's Sea Pictures and cantata The Music Makers.

The soloist in Sea Pictures is internationally acclaimed Australian contralto Liane Keegan as the soloist. who has returned home to Melbourne after a stellar career on the opera and concert stages of Europe.

Sea Pictures has been made famous by at least two great English contraltos, Dame Clara Butt and Dame Janet Baker.

Sea Pictures is a song cycle of five poems for contralto and orchestra, with words written by Elgar's wife Alice.

He wrote it for the famous contralto, Clara Butt, who dressed as a mermaid when she sang the first performance, which he conducted.

Two weeks later, Butt performed it for Queen Victoria - minus the costume - and the work has remained popular to this day.

Elgar's The Music Makers is a largescale work for contralto, chorus, organ, and large symphony orchestra, features the famous lyrics "We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams…".

Considered one of Elgar's finest but rarely performed large scale works, The Music Makers was commissioned for the 1912 Birmingham Festival, which had also presented the first performance of Elgar's famous Dream Of Gerontius.

Andrew Wailes is delighted to be back in Melbourne Town Hall and working with Liane Keegan.

"I am especially thrilled to be again working with Liane Keegan, who will be a terrific match for Elgar's beautiful but incredibly demanding Sea Pictures.”

Liane Keegan was principal dramatic contralto at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and has sung many famous principal operatic mezzo roles both in Australia and throughout Europe.

Turn To Page 9

Mark Richardson: Rick Gerber chats ...... Page 4 Photos: CLOC Theatre opening night ...... Page 8 News: Teacher suspended .................... Page 9 Di Rolle: Jane Kennedy’s new book ....... Page 10 Melb. Confidential: I’m No 1, says Tom .. Page 11 Long Shots: Etcetera, etcetera ........... Page 12 West Hollywood: Gavin Wood reports .... Page 15 David Ellis: Best of travel, wine ........... Page 16 Joan Crawford: Kevin Trask tells .......... Page 18 Victoria Pictorial: Nostalgic photos ...... Page 20 Yvonne Lawrence is on extended leave Cheryl Threadgold Julie Houghton James Sherlock Aaron Rourke

Observer Showbiz

Latest News Flashes Around Victoria

6 months to be dry ■ Gavin Wright, 40, who slapped and pushed his wife in front of their two small children has been given six months by Geelong Court to seek treatment for his drinking problem, the Geelong Advertiser reports.

Barracks works OK ■ Building work on a huge new military warehouse at Wadsworth Barracks in Wodonga is going ahead with the $64.7 million project getting confirmation from the Federal Government budget, reports the Border Mail.

Plans thwarted ■ Plans to re-open Wentworth Services Club could be stymied by National Australia Bank, reports the Sunraysia Daily. Kelly Group wants to run the club .

Builders liquidate ■ Traralgon-based Neilson Builders closed its doors on Thursday and has been placed into liquidation, with at least $2.5 million owing to a list of mostly Gippsland-based creditors, reports the Latrobe Valley Express.

Ex-cop fined $1500 ■ Former Sale policeman Daniel McIlwaine has been convicted and fined $1500 for pretending to be a Police officer.

Weather Forecast ■ ■ ■ ■

Today (Wed.). Clear. 12°-18° Thurs. Chance of rain. 13°-20° Fri. Chance of rain. 11°-21° Sat. Partly cloudy. 13°-20°

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5 THE TOP 5 SELLING POINTS USED BY THE ES TATE A GENT WHO SOLD THE EST AGENT HOME OF OSCAR PISTORIUS 5. "A LOVELY QUIET NEIGHBOURHOOD" 4. "EASY-ACCESS EN SUITE BATHROOM" 3. "FEATURES A GREAT RUMPUS ROOM" 2. "RUBBER CEILINGS AS PROTECTION FOR A BOUNCING HEAD" 1. "COMES WITH A COMPLETE COURSE OF ACTING LESSONS"

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne People

Ash

Opening Night: 42nd Street CLOC Musical Theatre At National Theatre, St Kilda Photos: Denise Damianos

● Anna Meadows and Marcus Flood

● Barry Rechert and Angela Warner

● Bryony Davies and Jon Lee

● Carly Wickenton and Patrick Breen

● Graham McGufie and Merinda Backway

● Jenine Caruso and Dorothy Tyson

● Kate Hendry and Natalie Powell

● Kristina Schreder and Brendy Ford

● Melanie Ott and Tim Cant

● Melissa Casey and David Harford

● Michael Hill and Nathan Toovey

● Pauline Duncan and Maryanne Purvis

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - Page 9

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Observer

Showbiz News

‘Death at Intervals’ confronts

X-Men hit Melbourne

Death At Intervals shifts and challenges our perceptions of mortality and when Death returns at the end of the performance it is received with relief. This play portrays a dark vision yet is ultimately uplifting and life affirming.

Season: Until April 25 Times: Wed, Sun 6:30pm, Thu, Fri, Sat 7:30pm Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St, Carlton Tickets: $25 Full, $15 Concession Bookings: www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6142 - Review by Catherine McGregor

Briefs Penalty

The White Prince ■ Australian Mutual Holdings Limited has paid $20,400 in penalties after the Australian Securities and Investments Commission issued two infringement notices for misleading statements in Product Disclosure Statements for two investor funds it manages.

Fined

■ Warwick Campbell, 19 of Corio, drank six cans of vodka and swallowed a tablet he thought was ecstasy before launching a frenzied, unprovoked attack on two young nightclub patrons, Geelong Court has heard. He was fined $500 and placed on a 12-month Community Corrections Order with 100 hours of unpaid community work.

Denton ■ Andrew Denton made a rare return to the small screen this week as a guest on community TV Channel 31's Famous With Luis. The program airs at 7.30pm Mondays..

■ Death At Intervals, presented by La Mama, is a confronting and satirical puppet show about that fundamental aspect of humanity - mortality.

When death ceases to exist, in an unknown country, what follows is not the rejoicing that one might expect.

Picture instead a land of ever declining elderly where resources are strained, retirement age is 100 and the only escape from eternal decay is to be sent into exile.

Creator Colleen Burke adapted this show from the novel by Portuguese author Jose Saramango. Puppets are an inspired medium for bringing to life this magical realist vision.

Death At Intervals provides the audience with much relevant food for thought. It has moments of black comedy and many visual delights - from the little Pope stepping majestically over the five bald and ancient heads, to the beautiful and ailing author Saramango, whose character opens the play to the live accordion music of Dave Evans.

The skill and craftsmanship of puppeteers Colleen Burke and Frank Italiano is wonderful. They breath life and poetry into their beguiling and comically doleful puppets.

The originality of design turns a simple bowler hat into a sinister man and a pair of black scissors transforms into a raven, the harbinger of death.

● Riley Fitzgerald and Joshua Hunt perform in The White Prince which opened on Saturday. Deborah Marinaro reviews the show on Page 47.

‘Not fit to teach’ ■ Victorian teacher Mr Bandujeeva Muthuthanthirige has been found as “not fit to teach”: by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

His registration as a teacher has been suspended.

The Victorian Institute of Teaching may find a teacher has engaged in serious misconduct/serious incompetence and/or is not fit to teach.

Under the Education and Training Reform Act , the Institure may make a determination to suspend and impose conditions on the registration of the teacher.

Muthuthanthirige (Registration No. 331511) was found not fit to teach, on April 28.

The Panel determined to suspend

FILE IMAGE

his registration of Muthuthanthirige from April 28 until October 28 next year.

Conditions have been imposed prior to reinstating his registration: ■ Mr Muthuthanthirige is required to attend treatment of at least eight counselling sessions at his own

Best of Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

from a registered psychologist experienced in treatment for alcohol and substance abuse who is also experienced in working with the teaching profession and has a knowledge of the professional standards of teachers.

The counselling sessions must address his treatment for alcohol and substance abuse and strategies to prevent relapses in future.

The sessions must examine how Mr Muthuthanthirige’s conduct has harmed the professional standing of teachers and how it has breached the Victorian Institute of Teaching Code of Conduct.

Two reports must be submitted to the Institute. ● From Page 7

● Hugh Jackman at the X-Men launch ■ There has been a global campaign over the past week to launch the film X-Men :Days Of Future Past.

Stars have been walking the red carpet in New York, London, Beijing, Moscow, Singapore, Sao Paulo and finally Melbourne, with Hugh Jackman, Peter Dinklage and Fan Bing Bing in attendance.

The event was at Melbourne Central in the heart of the city with thousands of fans hoping to see their favourite film stars.

I managed to get an interview with Peter Dinklage who plays my namesake Dr Trask in the film.

Peter is the star of the hit television series Game Of Thrones and he told me work is about to start on series five.

Hugh Jackman was most gracious to his Wolverine fans and looked fresh and full of energy, despite the grueling time he has had traveling around the world to launch the film.

Hugh went straight from the launch to appear ‘live’ on The Project on Channel 10.

He is returning to the US to host the Tony Awards on Broadway next month.

Fan Bing Bing is currently filming in Melbourne opposite Pierce Brosnan and Bill Nighy in The Moon And The Sun. I have seen X-Men :Days Of Future Past and I think it one of the best of the X- Men series. It has a good script and some comical moments.

The plot is described in the publicity blurb: The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in XMen: Days of Future Past.

The beloved characters from the original ‘X-Men’ film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from the past in order to change a major historical event and fight in an epic battle that could save our future.

And there you have it. But a warning, stay till the end of the credits for a ‘teaser’ for the next X-Men film in the series.

- Kevin Trask

Sunday concert ■ The concert opens with a work for chorus and orchestra from that other English master composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams', Toward the Unknown Region.

The work established Vaughan Williams as one of the leading composers of the 20th century, and Toward The Unknown Region is a companion piece to the composer's famous A Sea Symphony and was first performed at the Leeds Festival in 1907 with the composer conducting.

Described as romantic in style and transcendental in mood, it ends with a powerful conclusion which conductor Wailes promises will "just about raise the roof off the Melbourne Town Hall".

● Kevin Trask with Dr Trask (Peter Dinlage).

Their radio interview was broadcast on Sunday (May 18) on That’s Entertainment on 96.5 Inner FM.

☛

ON THE MOVE. Melbourne Observer columnists are on the move. Theatre columnist Cheryl Threadgold is in Vancouver, Washington DC and New York this week. Julie Houghton is on the Gold Coast. Mark Richardson is in Indonesia. Editor Ash Long was able to visit Whittlesea yesterday.

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

To

Di Sibling revelry

● Ann and Liz Callaway ■ If I was to answer the question ‘who wrote the theme song to the popular 90s sitcom, The Nanny I would answer Ann Hampton Callaway.

Not only did she write it. She sang it too.

It is not the only thing that Ann Hampton Callaway has done. She is part of a striking sister act, The Callaway Sisters, and they are heading to Melbourne to present their Broadway hit stage show, Sibling Revelry.

The dynamic sisters first performed Sibling Revelry at New York’s Rainbow and Stars in 1995 and have been performing it ever since. After sell-out dates at New York’s hottest cabaret venue, 54 Below, with one show only in Sydney and Melbourne, Sibling Revelry is a must see for all lovers of cabaret, musical theatre, jazz and the ever popular Great American Songbook.

Liz Callaway is best known for her work on Broadway and as a recording artist. A Tony nominee and Emmy Award winning actress and singer, she made her Broadway debut as ‘May’in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along and received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Baby.

Liz also played young Sally in the famous star-studded cast of Sondheim’s Follies for five years and won acclaim as Grizabella in Cats.

In film, Liz has voiced the main character of Odette in the classic children’s film The Swan Princess, Anya/Anastasia’ in Anastasia, and the adult Kiara in The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride.

Ann Callaway: singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer, Ann Hampton Callaway’s versatile voice has been featured in many popular film television, musical theatre and cabaret projects.

Praised for her warm vocals and wit, Ann is considered one of the best jazz singers in the world; her vast and diverse career includes highlights such as writing songs for the biggest names in show business from Barbra Streisand to Carole King. Ann is also the only composers to have collaborated with the late Cole Porter.

Ann’s dark, husky and jazz-flavoured sound is the perfect complement for Liz’s clear bell tones. Together this dynamic duo from Chicago prove they’re one singular sensation, singing the best of the American Songbook – from show tunes to jazz and pop, Sibling Revelry is an evening full of wit and humour combined with some of the best songs America has produced.

7.30pm. Wednesday, June 25, one performance only, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.

Melbourne Recital Centre. Tickets from $70.

Book tickets at www.melbournerecital.com.au or call the box office on 9699 3333 during business hours.

Everybody loves Romano’s ray of sunshine

I love my job!

■ I love Ray Romano: a brilliant sensitive man, a great writer, very funny but a truly liberated man.

It was his television series. He created the Men Of A Certain Age series. I then watched him in Everybody Loves Raymond.

So I was particularly pleased when I heard that Everybody Loves Raymond has been inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters.

It is a great example of high quality broadcast programming that provides family entertainment, resonates with audiences of all ages, and above all makes everyone laugh. Don’t ll of us need that!

With talk of us all working till we are 70 (which I totally embrace by the way) I came across a lovely quote, ‘Work is good, provided you do not forget to live’.

Being a workaholic that was one of the best lessons I had to learn. I think I have become very good at balancing it all.

It’s only in retrospect when I look back and realise that I can have a lunch here and there, and also an afternoon off, and it doesn’t have to be all about work.

The world is not going to fall apart if I don’t work 15 hours a day! It’s a nice feeling!

For Jane: one dish, two ways ■ One of the places I love visiting a lot in Melbourne is the ABC. I probably go there at least once, sometimes twice, a week.

It’s a place on Southbank that is one of the most important aspects of my job, whether it’s taking an visiting artist in for The Conversation Hour ,or a musician or chat show guest to Richard Stubbs.

They are all wonderful people in there and very much a family.

From Jon Faine. who I listen to every morning, to Tony Delroy late at night, the ABC is full of wonderful people.

They are all people important to our daily lives, to bring us the news whether it is from the wireless to the television.

The ABC News Breakfast program is part of my morning viewing as well.

Watching Virginia Trioli and Michael Rowlands in the morning begins my day on the right foot, knowing what is going on in the world.

I caught up with the wonderful Jane Kennedy at the ABC. We were both their for Libbi Gorr’s Morning, heard on Sunday mornings.

I incidentally caught up with Libbi behind the scenes at the ABC TV studios at Q&A. That is the magic of the ABC you just never know who you are going to bump into!

I have long admired Jane Kennedy, not only for the fact she always looks so great, but I enjoy her talent as a writer and her clever sense of humour has always appealed to me.

with leading Melbourne publicist DI ROLLE

Batt on a hot pink roof

● Jane Kennedy and Rob Sitch Jane was also a coNot to mention the eryone happy. A way fact that she has moth- that wouldn’t involve producer of movies ered five children un- her having to eat plain The Dish and the film voted der the age of five at food with the kids or recently required the kids to mi- Australia’s favourite one stage.

She manages to raculously start loving of all time, The Castle.

She continues to write books and keep ‘spicy’ food.

A way where one work behind the laughing amidst it all.

She always seems base meal could be scenes at Working to me to handle every- jazzed up, or down, to Dog as Casting Directhing she does with a suit all taste buds. One tor on shows such as dish, two ways.

The Hollowmen and minimum of fuss.

These recipes are Thank God You’re So feeding her whole family, without easy, fast and fresh, Here.

Her first cook fuss is something she with plenty of is 100 per cent at. Like bonboombah, low- book, Fabulous carbs alternatives for Goods Minus The everything she does.

Boombah, was pubJane is a dish in the grownups.

From Moroccan lished in 2009, and herself and her latest book is aptly titled One beef kebabs, tuckshop was followed by Dish, Two Ways. teriyaki salmon, or OMG! I Can Eat spicy cumin lamb That? in 2010, ceFeeding A Family.

Every night is hard. ribs, these are the new menting her status as A lot of families know family classics that one of the Australia’s are guaranteed to be- favourite cookbook that.

Jane Kennedy come dinner time authors.

Jane lives in knows because she favourites.

Jane, as we know, Melbourne and, cooks for seven people, seven days a started her career in clearly taking her the late 1980s along- commitment to comweek.

Grown-ups are side comedy team The edy too far, she and easy, but kids … well. D-Generation on a partner Rob Sitch I cannot even imag- number one breakfast have five children.

FM radio station and I always admired ine.

I saw my mother on television with The how she could do all these things and raise cook for four children Late Show.

She co-wrote, pro- a family and there she every day and she managed it sometimes duced, directed and was looking so calm starred as the ruthless and cool on a Sunday better than others.

She would have reporter Brooke morning waiting to do loved this book, she Vandenberg in Front- her radio interview. It knew only too well line, a brilliant satire was great to see her most kids don’t like about the current af- and catch up.

Her book is availspices and herbs and fairs industry.

And to this day able in all good book zest. Orange bits. And especially not hot bits. some of the best tele- stores. It is published So Jane set out to vision was ever pro- by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $39.95 find a way to keep ev- duced in that series.

● Bryan Batt ■ Mad Men star Bryan Batt likes coming to Melbourne and he is heading back here in late June to be part of the American Songbook Festival 2014 at Melbourne Recital Centre.

New Orleans native and most recently seen in a featured role in the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning film 12 Years A Slave , Bryan is bringing his hilarious oneman-show Batt On A Hot Tin Roof .

The dashing star is perhaps most famous for his two-time SAG Award winning performance as ‘Salvatore Romano’ in the critically acclaimed series Mad Men which earned Emmys, Golden Globes, the SAG and the Peabody Award.

As a Broadway veteran, Bryan’s leading and principal roles include: 2005 revival of La Cage Aux Folles, Beauty And The Beast, Sunset Boulevard, Saturday Night Fever, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Cats. Off Broadway: Forbidden Broadway (Drama Desk nomination).

Bryan also originated the role of Darius in the NY and LA productions and the film adaptation of Paul Rudnick’s Jeffrey Bryan tours his one-man show and will soon unveil an all-new concert.

Bryan has also authored two books and is an accomplished interior designer. His most recently released design book, Big, Easy Style, was released last autumn.

Batt On A Hot Tin Roof celebrates the salacious journey of Bryan Batt’s own life and career, featuring a broad selection of musical numbers to colour the compelling narrative.

The show, in Bryan’s own words, is a chance to return to the live stage which he loves and present a light hearted but poignant take on his up-bringing and family.

Performing in the very intimate surrounds of The Salon at Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday-Saturday, June 26-28, this will be a special event.

Tickets available now from www. melbournerecital.com or phone 9699 3333.

Food and beverage packages are available and it will be a good night in cabaret style. A perfect winter’s night entertainment, glass of red wine, some cheese, great venue and wonderful entertainment.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - Page 11

Confidential Melbourne

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

42nd Street: toe-tapping time

● Carly Watson (left), Chris Rogers and Tailem Tynan in CLOC Musical Theatre’s 42nd Street.

Photo: Richard Crompton ■ CLOC Musical Theatre at the National Theatre, Barkly St, St.Kilda, is celebrating 50 years of great musicals and the 100th show is one that should not be missed.

42nd Street is a show that has your feet tapping from the very first note of music and it does not stop.

This production of 42nd Street is directed by Alan Burrows with choreography by Susan Lewis, and the Musical Director is Bev Woodford.

It is 1933 , at the height of the Great Depression.

Dance auditions are being held for Broadway’s newest show, Pretty Lady.

Young and naïve Peggy Sawyer, fresh off the bus from Allentown, Pennsylvania, arrives late and is so nervous that she misses the audition, but catches the eye of Billy Lawlor, the romantic lead.

Billy wangles an audition for Peggy with Julian Marsh, the show’s legendary producer.

CLOC’s 42nd Street was directed and also choreographed by Alan and Susan in 1996 to very appreciative audiences, and so it is fitting to present it again as their 100th show.

Alan Burrows cast this show with a very good cast of 34 that all gave superb performances.

Pam Christie Birkett as Dorothy Brock gave a stunning portrayal of her role as the prima donna, Ric Birkett as Julian Marsh was the show’s producer who is putting on a show, Melanie Ott as Peggy Sawyer was the bumbling nervous person who wants to get in to show business and played her role superbly.

Tim Cant as Billy Lawlor fancies Peggy and was appreciated by the audience with his vocals, Stephanie Powell played the role of Maggie Jones and was the person who seemed to calm everyone down and another great performer.

With very strong leads and a superb cast of tappers this show is one for the whole family. It is very colourful with fabulous costumes and sets that worked very well.

This is also a very well-lit show thanks to the lighting techs.

42nd Street is a non-stop music show with tunes that people like to hum or whistle as they leave the theatre.Tunes such as Young And Healthy, Shadow Waltz which was brilliantly performed by means of lights and scrim, You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me, We’re In The Money Lullaby Of Broadway, and Shuffle Off To Buffalo plus many more.

For a toe tapping and a musical experience don’t miss 42nd Street.

42nd Street runs until Saturday, May 31.

8pm with matinees on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 at the National Theatre, Barkly St, St.Kilda.

To book on line at www.cloc.org.au or you can phone 1300 362 547 for tickets, but don’t miss this show.

- Review by Brian Amos of Radio Eastern 98.1 Theatre Program

‘I’m actually No 1, not No 3,’ claims 3AW’s Tom

■ Tom Elliott, radio station 3AW’s ‘Drive’ show presenter, says he has not come third in the ratings ... but that he is, in fact, the market leader.

“Raf (Epstein) broadcasts 3-6, as do I. We know who won,” Elliott told the Australian Radio forum on Facebook, administered by the Melbourne Observer.

“The hour by hour figures known as the 'true' ones in the industry are the only ones we focus on. Last survey (No2) I finished a narrow first AM and FM.” The official radio ratings summary (reproduced, at right) shows that 774 ABC is rated in the number one position with 9.9 per cent market share. Next is Nova 100 (9.5 per cent) and then 3AW (9.0 per cent).

“Interesting analysis, except for the uncomfortable fact I've never lost a 3-6pm survey against Raf Epstein,” Elliott told Melbourne Observer Editor Ash Long, with a sting in the tail.

“But never let the facts get in the way of a good story, hey?

Golden Days Radio General Manager Alex Hehr said: “Ash, I have never known you to get it

● Tom Elliott wrong..methinks Mr Elliott doth protest too much.”

Long pointed out that Elliott has hit single figures in the 4pm-7pm

Associations lose status

survey, which is the industry measure.

Long told Elliott: “The uncomfortable fact is you have lost both of those surveys. No 1 survey saw 774 ABC with 12.2, and you with 10.2.

No 2 survey saw 774 ABC with 9.9, and you with 9.0. FACT. FACT.” Long said Elliott had lost more than one-quarter of the listeners that he had inherited from Hinch.

“Sorry Tom, the Hinch Hunch is proving true,” said George Peden.

Alex Hutchinson said: “Love him or hate him, Derryn Hinch was far more interesting to listen to and I'm inclined to think his ratings proved this point.”

Rumour Mill

■ A number of Victorian associations are about to lose their incorporation status, according to Stephen Scodella, Operations Manager:

C.L.E.O. (Come Let’s Enjoy Ourselves) Social Club Inc.; Wooragee Progress Association Inc.; Southern United Dogsport Club Inc.; Mansfield Street Kindergarten Inc.; ADDSUP – Knox Attention Deficit Disorder Support Group Inc.; Gemach Chomesh Charitable Fund Inc.; Esplanade Alliance Inc.; Ability Initiative & Motivation Inc.; Outdoor Recreation Centre – Victoria Inc.; Centre for Australasian and Turkic Strategic Studies Inc.; Your Voice Inc.; Elevate Church Inc.; Moorabbin Golf Club Inc.; Melbourne Iceworld Inc.; New Life Program Inc.; Epsom Community Church Inc.; All Seasons Caravan Club Inc.; Sunrise 21 Incorporated; Midwives Association of Victoria Inc.; Tandem Club of Australia Inc.; Melbourne Community Television Consortium Inc.; Interdenominational Foundation for Aid to Missionworkers Inc.; The Rosedale Junior Football Club Inc.; Hope Christian Centre Casey Inc.; Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Port Melbourne Inc.; Whitehorse Community Church Inc.; Harp Society of Victoria Inc.; Mirridong Auxiliary Services Inc.; Pakistani Australian Christian Association Inc.; Balnarring Playgroup Inc.; The North East and Goulburn Valley Association of Camera Clubs Inc.; Inventorium Inc.; Companion Animal Volunteer Service (Cavs) Inc.; Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome Foundation (Vic) Inc.; Jaci Inc.; Peepshow Inc.; Mildura Gospel Music Festival Inc.; Friends of Fortuna Inc.; Eastwork Employment Inc.; Chelsea Bayside Probus Club Inc.; Wangaratta Marathon and Fun Runs Inc.; Carinya Early Learning Centre Inc.; North East Football Netball Inc.; Stawell Rockdrilling Club Inc.; Brunswick Beasts Warhammer Club Inc.; Belle Vue Park Kindergarten Inc.; Leigh & District Historical Society Inc.; Eternal Life Vision Australia Inc.; Eastern Psychologists Group Inc.; Boort Park Committee of Management nc.; Australian Society of Aviation Artists Inc.; The Australian Persevere Alliance Inc.; Novels for Nepal Inc.; Bendigo Film Society Inc.; Lead on Ballarat Inc.; Lions Club of Elwood Inc.; The Ararat Orchid Society Inc.; Invermay Slimmers Inc.; Latvian Relief Society ‘Daugavas Vanagi’ of Geelong Inc.; Over Sixty Exercise Club Inc.

Hear It Here First

Media boss in Court ■ Antony Catalano, a senior executive associated with Fairfax Media, is pleading not guilty to two drink-driving charges.

Police allege he drove with a bllod alcohol reading of .09.

The 47-year-old Caulfield North man’s case has been adjourned to a later date, so that a nurse can give evidence about a blood sample. ● Antony Catalano ■ Epilepsy Foundation organisers are warning about a fraudster posing as door-to-door collectors. The bogus collector has been seen in southeast suburbs over the past five years.

Waiting for June 31 ■ The business partnership between Joy Wyers and Adele Wyers, trading as Thai Me Boutique, is being dissolved effective from "June 31, 2014", according to the Victoria Government Gazette. 30 days hath June.

E-Mail: Confidential@MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whispers

Danger

● Malcolm Fraser ■ Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser has upset the Jewish community with new book, Dangerous Allies.

The Australian Jewish News has hit the streets this week with the headline: ‘Dangerous Lies?’

Sponsor

● Derryn Hinch ■ The ‘Jail 2 Justice’ walk being undertaken by Derryn Hinch started at Langi Kal Kal prison on Saturday.

Hinch has attracted Nike which is providing footwear, and Jayco loaning a motorhome for the two-week campaign.

On slide ■ A Save The Age photographers’ slide night is being held on Friday to protest against Fairfax Media’s plans to reduce the camera pool to five staff..

Which bank?

■ The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has announced that it will impose, licence conditions on the Australian financial services licences of two financial planning businesses owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia – Commonwealth Financial Planning Limited and Financial Wisdom Limited. Compensation to customers had not been applied consistently.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Melbourne

Observer

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Observer

Ash On Wednesday

Etcetera, etcetera ■ Winners of double tickets to The King And I at the Princess Theatre (8pm, June 10 performance), starring Lisa McCune and Jason Scott Lee, are: ■ Alissa Heffernan. PO Box 68, Watsonia, 3087.

■ Joanne Hook. 3-81 King William St, Fitzroy, 3065.

■ Penny Baker. 20 Peate Ave, Glen Iris, 3146.

■ L J Moody. 38 Barber Dr, Hoppers Crossing, 3029.

■ June Jones. 32 Bridgewater Dr, Morwell, 3840.

Tickets will be mailed.

Vale Geoff

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● Geoff Osborn ■ We were saddened to hear of the passing on Sunday of Geoff Osborn, of Murrindindi, near Glenburn, in the Yea district.

He was a good bloke, with a keen sense of humour, and a sense of fair play. He and Daphne were one of the first families to greet us when we lived in that district for a dec ade from 1985.

A poem ■ Comedian Marty Fields says: “A Poem: I dig, you dig, we dig, he digs, she digs, they dig. It's not a beautiful poem, but it's very deep.”

■ Radio man Rod Boyd says: “Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband.”

60 years ■ Ivy Walker and her colleagues set up quite a legacy when they formed the Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group in 1954.

STAG celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and Cheryl Threadgold has all the details on Page 37.

Congratulations to all concerned on six decades of achievement.

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● Ivy Walker

with K enneth Mulholland Kenneth

Game shows

● Lisa McCune is in The King And I

Long Shots

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Melbourne TV Memories

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 ■ “A taxpayer might be defined as a government worker with no vacations, no sick leave and no holidays.”

■ “Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service and character.”

Observer Curmudgeon ■ “A person becomes wise by observing what happens when he isn’t.”

■ “It is especially hard to work for the money you’ve already spent on something you didn’t need.”

Text For The Week ■ “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

- Matthew 6:24 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.

● Graham Webb ■ I begin this post with an apology, because I'm finding it difficult to recall the chronology of these programs and the dates when they went to air, even after trawling the web.

I do have a memory of Blind Date, compared by Graham Webb, at Channel 0 in Studio A. It must have been 1968-69.

Certainly before Maria and I were married in 1970. The 'certainly' is because of a late night visit to the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg on my way to the family home in West Heidelberg.

I was in a very uncomfortable situation. Some kind of infection had kindled in one of my nostrils and had blown my upper lip into a balloon of pain that had dogged me all through the entire day of recording.

Back then we would do, I think, 10 shows in a day. That's five hours, plus turnarounds: wardrobe changes, cast breaks, make-up renewals, coffee, catching breath at lunch, dinner etc.

The entire thing was rostered around 10 to 11 hours. Not unusual back then.

My face began to blow up by the time I clocked on and got steadily worse through the day. By the time I clocked off I was in a lot of pain and determined to get to the Austin.

Back then the old Austin Hospital was a tiny affair compared to today. The Casualty area was more casual than Casualty.

I arrived around midnight and there were two young nurses on duty. You actually knew that they were nurses because they wore starched uniforms, which not only identified them but gave them some authority.

I did my best to explain my problem, although by then it was pretty obvious, as my face was taking on a whole new dimension.

The nurses were most sympathetic and understanding, which was good considering that I really required an interpreter by then.

One of them told me that an injection of anti-bug thingy was all I needed, while the other went off to get the goods. I began to roll up my sleeve but was informed that that wasn't required.

When nurse 2 returned with a rather vicious looking needle, nurse 1 told me to drop my pants and bend forward. As the injection went in, it felt like to the hilt, I fancied I heard a tiny, muffled chortle.

Suitably chastened, I upped my strides and shuffled off into the night. Over the years, I have often wondered if, through my delirium and trauma, I actually heard the sounds of mirthful laughter, gradually receding as I drove away.

Next morning my face was back to normal (as normal as it could be).

As for Blind Date, well Graham Webb was professional, but the actual recording sessions seemed interminable. And that was only my first sample of what was to come.

Musical Cashbox. 1969. Produced by Larry K. Nixon. Director Bob Loxton.

Originally compered by Chris Kirby and his sidekick, wooden-headed Terry, whose smart-alec remarks added spice to a pretty basic game show, was videoed in Studio A. Kirby was a young and clever ventriloquist who went on to greater rewards overseas. He was replaced by Tim Evans, an American buddy of Nixon.

I remember the first morning Tim, who hailed from Texas, arrived in Studio A. Larry, in checked vest and sporting a huge Havana cigar, loudly proclaimed to all, “Chim Evanges! He's a bum!”

Turn To Page 17

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 14, 2014 - Page 13

Melbourne People

MasterChef Team Challenge Screening at Republica, St Kilda.

Photos: Fiona Hamilton

MasterChef Team Challenge Screening at Republica, St Kilda

● Loredana and Clarisse Bonello

■ The MasterChef team challenge was filmed at Republica and Captain Baxter in January this year and went to air this month on the Ten Network.

Executive Chef and co-owner Matt Dawson held a pizza and pinot evening for all those involved with the summertime filming and screened the show for guests to see what went on behind the sceens on the day.

It was alarming, most guests had no idea what actually was going on in the kitchen.

The Red team working from Republica won, leaving members of the Blue team to face eviction during the week.

Guests included WINK models Loredana Bonello, Milica Vujic, Jasmina Basic and Cailin Moore, Vixen goal keeper Geva Mentor and Captain Baxter and Republica co-owners Matt Dawson, Angela Dawson, Tom Doolan and Amara Doolan.

● Executive Chef Matt Dawson with children Aaliah, Ella and Isaac

● Milica Vujic, Caitlin Moore, Jasmina Basic

● Geva Mentor and Lachlan Crawford

● Ben Brown and Anja Schaefer

● James Cuttance and Leticia Monaghan

● Bruce and Leonie Hinton

● Rupert Coffey and Renee Burns-Woods

● Maureen and Charles Northam

● Terri Bonello and daughter Lourdes

● Travis and Alison Atkins with their daughter Ella

Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Scholarship awards night voted ‘complete success’ Healesville Lodge supports SES

● The photograph shows, at left, WBro Phil Tinker (Healesville Masonic Lodge) presenting the cheques to Steve Collins (SES) alongside the 4WD the money raised has gone towards purchasing.

● The car doors are very quickly removed with the Jaws of Life equipment.

■ Healesville Masonic Lodge - with the support of the Freemasons Victoria Board of Benevolence has come to the assistance of the Healesville SES in order to help keep their 4WD vehicle on the road as part of their fleet.

In exchange for their new Emergency Service vehicle the SES were due to lose their 4WD. As the 4WD is an important part of the SES armoury, funding was needed to purchase the vehicle from SES Head Office.

The Healesville Masonic Lodge heard of this need and performed fund raising activities to assist and on Sunday, April 27, was able to present the SES with cheques to the total of $14,000. With funds that the SES had already raised themselves - the 4WD was able to be purchased and remain in Healesville.

The cheques were presented at a pleasant Sunday morning tea with many members of both groups in attendance with their family members. Part of the morning activities included a demonstration of the Jaws of Life equipment so often used in assisting at car accidents and other emergency situations.

■ The Dallas Brooks Centre was filled on Wednesday last week (May 14) with a sea of different coloured uniforms and the chatter of excited primary and secondary school students.

They had arrived for the annual Freemasons Victoria Scholarships Award Night.

The evening, which was hosted by Grand Secretar,y RWBro. Peter Henshall, witnessed more than 100 scholarships with a collective value of more than $250,000 in recognition of academic excellence.

A highlight of the evening was when the Grand Master, MWBro. Hillel Benedykt, joined by his brothers Simon and Ron, presented the Eliezer Benedykt Memorial Scholarship in Music to Meg Sampson.

Meg has been singing all of her life and is now writing her own music, and playing the guitar.

Meg performed one of her own compositions, Missing Puzzle Piece, and was later interviewed for an upcoming episode of Freemasons: The Inside Story, on Channel 31. Stay tuned.

The evening included an inspiring presentation by Emily Peel, past recipient of the Freemasons Victoria Scholarship.

Emily spoke about her education journey, her interest and passion for the environment and how her scholarship has enabled her to pursue her dreams.

The Freemasons Victoria Scholarship, worth $7000, was awarded this year to Meg Stevenson who is currently studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne.

She hopes to use the scholarship to assist in completing her undergraduate degree and pursue a postgraduate degree in Law. Congratulations !

MWBro. Hillel concluded the evening by giving the students some very honest advice about the timing of studies and how planning your career can change your life.

He also announced a new scholarship for introduction in 2015, which will be presented in the name of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation, with whom Freemasons Victoria has established a new partnership.

● Students jump for joy at being awarded a Freemasons Victoria scholarship

Happy viewing for Royal Freemasons Homes

● From left: Danielle Carey-Munro, RFHs Executive-Service Operations, Joy Tharle and Lynette Myors, Dandenong Lodge Ladies Auxiliary; Frank Fordyce, President of the Board of Benevolence; Ron Stephenson, Secretary of Dandenong Lodge; Christina Chia, RFHs Executive Officer and Alex Bolek, Darvall Lodge Facility Manager.

■ The Royal Freemasons Homes Darvall Lodge at Noble Park hosted an afternoon tea on Wednesday, April 30 to acknowledge the generous donation of a television that has been provided by the Dandenong Lodge members Joy Tharle and Lynette No. 635 Ladies' Auxiliary.

Myors; Lodge Secretary Ron The afternoon tea was attended by Dandenong Lodge Ladies' Auxiliary Stephenson and Lindsay Tharle.

Also in attendance, staff of the Royal Freemasons Homes Danielle Carey-Munro, Executive-Service Operations; Christina Chia, Executive Officer; Alex Bolek, ManagerDarvall Lodge and Frank Fordyce, President of the Board of Benevolence.

Royal Freemasons Homes Darvall Lodge offers residential aged-care services with a variety of private and twin room accommodation for up to 60 residents.

The calm, friendly atmosphere and excellent location makes this a popular choice for elderly people in Melbourne's south-east.

The television donated is now placed in the Fern Room, one of the three tastefully decorated lounges and sitting rooms at the Lodge.

The shared spaces include two spacious dining rooms, a large therapy and activities room and four secure ● Barrie Young outdoor courtyards.

Generous donation

In vita tion tto o bec ome a blood donor Invita vitation become ■ Barrie Young of Pakenham Lodge No. 496 achieved a remarkable milestone on May 9, donating his 175th whole blood donation to the Red Cross Blood Service. It is a feat that has taken in the vicinity of 50 years to accomplish.

Barrie started donating blood in the early 60s when a second cousin of his was diagnosed with Leukaemia.

Early treatment for this illness included blood transfusions, and being a young healthy individual that Barrie was, he decided to repay the Red Cross Blood Service by becoming a donor.

To those who may be interested in facts and figures, 175 donations is equal to 87.five litres, or 19.25 gallons. Quite a lot of blood in anybody's language.

One of the things that most hampers the Red Cross Blood Service is a lack of donors. There is at times a critical shortage of blood supplies.

This is a service that is well worth our support, just ask yourself "What would happen if I needed a transfusion?" or more importantly "someone nearest and dearest to me?".

So become a donor, urge family and friends to help out with this worthwhile cause. Remember, every donation has the potential to save a precious life.

Further information about eligibility and donating sites can be found at / www.donateblood.com.au/ or by calling 13 14 95.

● 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, May 21, 2014 - Page 15

West Hollywood

Bring on Melbourne’s East End From my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites comes this week's news.

Harry Connick Jnr helps ‘American Idol’

London has its West End

■ I have always thought we should label our theatres with such a name. Congratulations, now we can promote the area worldwide as a major tourist attraction.

All the theatres in Melbourne's East End are usually full with world-class productions. The area is bounded by Flinders St, Swanston St, Londsdale St and Spring St. The world-class theatres in that area are: the Forum, the Athenaeum, the Regent, the Comedy, the Princess and Her Majesty's Theatre. In that area you will find all the boutique hotels and restaurants, live venues and speciality shops, so it is a very vibrant part of Melbourne.

The East End. Sounds great, I love it.

Our own John-Michael Howson has come up with one of the best suggestions I have heard. A theatrical walk of fame similar to the Hollywood walk of fame that is so popular here, dedicated to the stars of the Australian theatre. This is a brilliant way of promoting the world's most liveable city.

Name: Harry Connick Jnr. Birth Name: Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jnr. Birth Date: September 11, 1967 Birth Place: New Orleans, Louisiana Occupation: Singer, Pianist, Composer/Arranger, and Actor Relationship Status: Married To Jill Goodacre

● John-Michael Howson with Alan Johnson, Managing Director, Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites.

Seth Rogan wows them at the Box Office

West Hollywood restaurant rules ■ In West Hollywood's never-ending game of restaurant roulette, bets are being made on a number of new establishments (and hedged on at least one old one with a change of menu and chef.)

Perhaps the most notable (at least in the online world of celebrity gossip) is Housewives of Beverly Hills TV reality star Lisa Vanderpump's opening of P.U.M.P. on what has become known as the city's "cursed corner."

The corner, 8948 Santa Monica Boulevard at Robertson, has been home to Java Detour, Voodoo Room, Gozar and Kachina Grill, to name establishments of the last few years.

P.U.M.P. is set to open for dinner (with an Italian / Mediterranean menu). The opening hasn't been hindered by a lawsuit filed against Vanderpump and Todd, and the owners of the property.

In the suit, still on the Los Angeles Superior Court docket, two former employees of The Abbey allege that the owner of the property promised to help them open a sports bar on the location but reneged and did a deal with Vanderpump instead.

Recent filings in Los Angeles Superior Court allege that there was a series of misrepresentations by property owner Elie Samaha. Further east, Thomas Schoos' Beach Nation, on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard at Sweetzer, is set for a ‘soft’ opening this week.

Beach Nation will offer drinks and light food on a white sand-covered patio facing Santa Monica Boulevard.

If you close your eyes, you can fantasize that you're hearing the waves on Santa Monica Beach rather than the neverending flow of traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Beach Nation is near Don't Tell Mama's, the restaurant and piano that occupied Schoos' former O Bar space until its closing on Monday.

On Santa Monica Boulevard at Formosa, Formosa Cafe is welcoming a new chef after a brief venture by Red Med to revamp the menu of the '50s Hollywood hangout.

Red Med signed on in January to offer a Vietnamese-inspired menu. But a disagreement with Formosa management ended that in April.

Now new chef Brian Huskey is developing an Asian and Latin menu that will debut late next month.

On Melrose Avenue at Fairfax, Andres Izquieta and Mike Shab have opened Fala LA as what they are calling an "answer to our fast food nation."

Fala, 7751½ Melrose Ave. in the space formerly occupied

by Tomato Pie Pizza, does offer fast food, but not what you'll find at Micky D's.

Its menu - which includes falafel and salads - caters to the "vegan, diet conscious, allergy restricted, lactose intolerant, healthy and wellness gurus" that make up a substantial part of the WeHo population. ★ Raymond Sarlot, former owner of Chateau Marmont, has died. The real estate developer who restored the Chateau Marmont hotel on Sunset Boulevard after he and a partner paid $1 million for the landmark property in 1975 has died.

Sarlot died April 27 at his home in Los Angeles after a long illness, his wife Sally Rae Sarlot told the Los Angeles Times.

He was 89.

Sarlot moved into the Chateau Marmont and oversaw its restoration over several years after he purchased it with business partner Karl Kantarjian. Sarlot, a Chicago native who was also instrumental in launching the Los Angeles Marathon, sold the hotel in 1986.

■ Auditions for season 14 of Idol will include stops in the three judges' hometowns. In addition, Idol announced that it is reducing its live broadcast to one show each week.

The ladies love Harry and obviously American Idol fans do too, because Harry Connick Jnr is officially returning to the judging table on the Fox singing competition.

During his appearance on Live With Kelly And Michael, the 46-year-old singer confirmed that he is coming back to the newly announced 14th season of the series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harry is expected to join fellow judges Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez once again, along with host Ryan Seacrest.

GavinWood

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

Aussies play in West Hollywood

● Cameron Daddo ■ Holding The Man is the inaugural production by the newly formed Australian Theatre Company here in America.

Based on the much loved award-winning book by Timothy Conigrave, adapted for the stage by acclaimed playwright Tommy Murphy, Holding The Man is a hilariously funny, tender and moving play following the remarkable true life love story of Tim Conigrave and John Caleo.

It is a celebration that speaks across generations, sexual preference and culture.

The course of teenage love rarely runs smooth, but it is a white-water adventure if you are a gay boy in an all-boys school in 1970s Melbourne with a crush on the captain of the football team.

Still, despite the odds, Tim and John fall in love and for 15 years their relationship survives everything life throws at it the separations, the discriminations, the temptations, the jealousies and the losses - until the only problem love can't solve threatens to part them.

Intimate, funny, tough and relevant. One of the stars on stage is Cameron Daddo. Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Avenue.

www.gavinwood.us

■ Is Seth Rogen the hottest actor in Hollywood? Neighbors conquers the weekend's box office in America. Starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne and Zac Efron, it is the story about a couple with a newborn baby facing unexpected difficulties after they are forced to live next to a fraternity house.

"Not only is he (Seth Rogen) one of the biggest comedy stars on the planet, he's also a multi-hyphenate, having cowritten and co-directed This Is The End (along with having co-written The Green Hornet, Pineapple Express and Superbad, to name a few).

He's probably the most successful of the Judd Apatow troop so far, and he's showing no signs of slowing down.

By and large, his best films often are broad comedies (like his newest movie opening this week, the very funny flick Neighbors), with Rogen being a likable oaf.

He's a rare leading man who doesn't look like a leading man. Sometimes, like in Knocked Up or Zack And Miri Make A Porno, which works for the narrative itself, increasing the effectiveness of the films.

He's like a big teddy bear, so you want to like his characters, plain and simple. He's been able to subvert that here and there in more offbeat works like Observe and Report, but for the most part he's the guy you want to love in his projects.

On the flip side though, Rogen has from time to time gone towards more dramatic parts, and he's done quite well there too.

The best example of that is Take This Waltz, where he's amusing but very much a dramatic character, and a romantic one too, at that.

He was Oscar nomination worthy there, as were many elements of that sadly ignored film.

The same goes for his supporting turn in the dramedy 50/ 50, where he was ignored by the precursors as well.

He was also quite good in another dramedy, Apatow's Funny People, so he's got more going on than some realise.

Overall, Rogen is a bit of an underrated actor, with more talent than he's given credit for.

With this week's Neighbors showing him in a slightly different light than usual (he's still an immature comedic character, but he's also shown as a husband and a parent, hinting at some more responsibility than he usually has), it could be that Rogen is on his way to trying something new.

I certainly hope he keeps trying his hand at dramedies, as he's potentially going to get himself a Best Supporting Actor nomination one day if he continues on that path.

At the same time though, he makes me and millions of other people laugh consistently, so I hope he doesn't abandon that either.

Basically, whatever he decides to do, he'll likely succeed."

My special deal for you

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

When you are 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 See you soon, Happy Holidays, Gavin Wood.

Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Melbourne

Observer

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Travellers’Good Buys

with David Ellis

Ready to ride London’s ‘secret tube’ ■ It may be six years away, but train buffs are already beside themselves as they await the just-announced opportunity to ride part of a “secret section” of London’s vast subterranean rail system, one that operated for 22 hours a day, seven days a week… yet in its 76 years’ lifetime never carried a single passenger.

And while originally comprising some 10.5km of tracks in tunnels that in places ran almost parallel with those of London’s famed Tube, it’s going to take all those six years to reopen just 1km of track and to totally refurbish an original station and control room.

Literally a ghost-train, this line employed hundreds of people between 1927 and when it closed in 2003, and was built by the British Post Office to carry mail a deep 21m under London’s CBD on driver-less trains that ran on narrow tracks just 610mm (2ft) wide, and inside tunnels a mere 2.7m in diameter.

Dubbed the “Secret Tube” and “Mail Rail,” at its peak it had eight subterranean stations that included two huge mail sorting centres, and a fleet of remote-controlled mini electric locos that could reach an amazing 64kmh as they hauled 4-billion letters, packages and parcels a year in little wagons to those stations for delivery across London’s CBD, and to other centres for distribution UK-

● Loading mailbags onto London’s ‘Secret Tube Mail Rail’ in mid last-century

Melbourne

Observer Wines & Liqueurs

with David Ellis

Tim’s 21st Aberfeldy: best yet ■ Tim Adams has been producing an absolutely marvellous Clare Valley Shiraz under his Aberfeldy label since 1989, and it seems fitting that his latest release – the 2010 – is both what he considers “his best Aberfeldy to date,” and also his 21st vintage of the wine.

2010 was a spectacular vintage throughout the Clare Valley, and while a stand-out for red wines generally across south-eastern Australia, it was Shiraz in the Valley that had everyone talking.

Tim took advantage of this great vintage to use the most outstanding parcels of fruit from old, premium dry grown vines for his Aberfeldy Shiraz, and threw his all into crafting a wine that many experts and buffs are already saying has potential for anything up to 20 years in bottle – only getting better and better by the year.

At $65 this is a wine to grab a bottle or three of while you’ve an opportunity, both for special occasion enjoyment now and for over the next couple of decades on other equally special occasions. With full-bodied dark berry fruit flavours, and balanced oak, tannin and acidity, and lovely Shiraz white pepper notes on the nose, enjoy it on its own, or at the table with a Winter-time’s classic slow-roasted beef brisket or beef stew. A creamy or buttery sauce that’ll truly enhance both these food/wine matches.

One to note ■ Boutique Hunter Valley winery, Hungerford Hill has released its latest “Classic” series wines – drops that are actually made from fruit from the cool climate Tumbarumba region in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains.

Included is a 2011 Classic Tumbarumba Chardonnay, a worthy successor to the 2009 and 2010 that have had some of Australia’s highest accolades heaped upon them, and which is shaping-up to be quickly-recognised with equal plaudits. With beautiful ripe stonefruit flavours coupled with suggestions of ruby red grapefruit and nutty bread, this is a real mouth-filler wine.

Pay $36 and savour with pan fried snapper or roast chicken, each with a creamy or buttery sauce that’ll truly enhance both these food/ wine matches.

Pictured ■ Great wine that’s ideal with a Winter-time’s slow-roasted beef brisket or beef stew.

■ Fried snapper or roast chicken with a creamy or buttery sauce will have you drooling over this one.

- and world-wide. Conceived to run mail faster than land transport from Paddington in London’s west to Whitechapel in its east, plus a half dozen points in-between, work started in 1915 with the line being laid in preformed iron “rings” that were lowered down vast vertical shafts and riveted together in tunnels dug through the clay those 21m underground.

But with WWI labour and materials shortages, work was soon suspended – and with the fear of German Zeppelin air-raids, the alreadybuilt tunnels were used as safe-keeping for the treasures of the British Museum.

Construction resumed on the line in 1924 and the London Post Office Railway finally opened in time for the delivery of Christmas parcels in December 1927, and letters a few weeks later; thirty-one years on, in 1958, an additional line diverted out to Rathbone Place.

But in 2003 the Post Office deemed Mail Rail to be uneconomic, closing and mothballing it on May 31 of that year. It’s virtually lain vacant since, although several “urban exploration” and rail enthusiast groups have managed to smuggle themselves inside to explore the tunnels and abandoned stations – finding and photographing workers’ uniforms still hanging on pegs in old staff rooms, kettles on rusted stoves, bulky walkie-talkie radios, original train-control rooms … and despite eleven years dust and rust, 70 of the tiny electric locomotives and their mail wagons in surprisingly good condition.

And in 1991 one station and an original loco and a wagon were revamped as “a private railway below The Vatican” in the Bruce Willis movie flop, Hudson Hawk.

Now London’s Islington Council has approved a short section of the Mail Rail being restored and opened to tourists at what was known as Mount Pleasant Station, and which during its heyday was one of the biggest mail sorting centres in the world.

And interestingly, like all other stations Mount Pleasant was closer to the surface than the 21m deep main Mail Rail line … so that the driverless mail trains would be assisted in slowing-down with the 1-in-20 incline into the station, and enjoy a speedy get-away with the 1-in-20 decline.

The British Postal Museum and Archive (BPMA) that’s behind the tourist train venture, is having original mail wagons refurbished and fitted with seats, and also with plastic domes for passengers to take-in the tunnel and station “views.” As well, a brief recorded history of the Mail Rail will also be played during the 1km returnloop ride from Mount Pleasant.

And while it will be 2020 before all this comes about, the BPMA has already started building a new museum that will open four years earlier, in 2016 in what will be a totally refurbished Mount Pleasant Station and control room.

Hundreds of artefacts already put aside for the new Museum include flintlock pistols used by guards on19th century Royal Mail coaches, telegrams to and from the Titanic, and items of evidence produced during the trials of Britain’s 1963 Great Train

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - Page 17

Melbourne TV Memories

By Kenneth Mulholland

Lost count by the time we reached Ep 20 ● From Page 12 Off To The Races was a show that had a very short life. Again shot in Studio A in my early days at 0. Presenter, Director, Producer, all elude me.

My only memory was that of Peter Bakos, a popular horse-racing jockey of his time, and his answer to a question posed to him.

The question: “What is Cock-aleeky?'

His answer: “A medical condition?”

The Price Is Right. 1973-74.

Compere, Garry Meadows. Announcer Keith Livingston. A Reg Grundy production. Produced by Bill Mason. Bob Loxton, initial director.

Followed by Fred Johnston.

This one bothered me. Not because of the program but because the pro-

ducers wanted to indoctrinate not only the audiences but also the crew.

An American concept, we were meant to engage and embrace as much as those who were told to “Come on down!”

By then, I had had some four or five years experience on camera and, although not yet hard-nosed, was developing a 'bulldust' detector.

I didn't like being hauled into production meetings which were no more than 'hype these people up and get them star-struck over this incredible new production.'

I'd seen people come out from the USA and England before, some talented and some conniving charlatans.

My feeling then, as it still is today, is that professionals can operate professionally, whether they agree with a premise or not.

In this instance we were given no alternative, we had to look like we were having just as much fun as the contestants.

I did not like to conform or be indoctrinated. And this was an early example. We are yet to get to Almost Anything Goes.

As for Garry Meadows, nicknamed 'Thunk!'by some crew, because of the defining crease at the top of his nose between his eyebrows, he was a very easy bloke to work with.

No big-dealing, no big-noting, just a man in the moment.

That moment ended for Garrett Seaton Meadows on Thursday, July, 2, 1982 in the walkway at the Herald building en route to the 3DB studios.

Garry, 43, died of a heart attack.

There is more to say about the man and the performer later on Bluestone

boys.' Chard Hayward. $30.000 Treasure Hunt. 1977. ATV-0. Studio A. I worked it, and I recall a few crew nick-naming him 'Slightly Burned Hayward'. In fact, Chard, Welshborn, was early trained in opera and worked in theatre, appearing and directing.

His family arrived in Sydney where he finished his schooling and joined the Army, becoming a Lieutenant at age 19. Choosing acting, he joined the cast of Number 96 and later hosted Treasure Hunt.

From Australia he moved and based himself in America, appearing in films in the UK, the Philippines, New Zealand and the United States.

However, I have virtually no recall of the show. Quiz shows by then were merging, as were my eyes.

Perfect Match. Hosted by Greg

Evans. 1984-86. Cameron Daddo 87Here I have a confession to make.

On one of these marathons a fellow cameraman and a floor manager (let's call them Ollie and Blowie) and I decided to have a 'martini moment’.

On the second day, after the first five shows of the day we repaired to the staging office between breaks.

Geoff Grant was the director and Barrie Pullen was the third cameraman. Between these two men, the Herculean task of dragging our drunken trio over the line, was achieved. At the final change for the 20th show, my two companions and I shambled out of the scenery bay into Studio A to be confronted by the staging crew who were busy removing the last parts of the set. Somewhere along the line we'd lost count.

- Kenneth Mulholland

Melbourne

Observer Statewide

Sad passing of Geoff Gillespie

■ Family and friends gathered at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Yea, yesterday (Tues.) for the funeral service for the late Geoffrey Taysom Gillespie.

He was husband of Fay; father of Russell, Dennis, Merle and Lynette; father-in-law of Ann, Liz, Shane and Don. Geoff was grand father of 12, great-grandfather of 8. He was brother to Ian and Max. Geoff had recently been a resident of Rosebank Extended Care Centre, Yea.

Food and Wine ■ Australia’s Italian-inspired cooking duo, Nic and Rocco from My Kitchen Rules, are teaming with Dr. Oetker Ristorante for the 2014 Good Food and Wine Show in Melbourne (May 30-June 1) and will show pizza lovers how to create an authentic Italian pizzeria taste at home.

CD launch event

Grants to educators

■ Victoria’s best educators were honoured at the weekend at the 2014 Victorian Education Excellence Awards, with winners in 14 categories presented with professional development and research grants worth between $10,000 and $50,000.

Speaking at the Crown Palladium in front of 41 finalists, State Education Minister Martin Dixon congratulated the winners and nominees for their contribution.achievements.

Hawkesdale P-12 College teacher Britt Gow won the Lindsay Thompson Fellowship, following on from her 2013 honour as Bankmecu Secondary Teacher of the Year for her work blending digital learning with traditional faceto-face teaching.

Primary Principal of the Year: Esther Wood, Burwood Heights Primary School Secondary Principal of the Year: Karen Wade, Bentleigh Secondary College Teachers Health Fund School Leadership Team of the Year: Warracknabeal Secondary College Herald Sun Outstanding Curriculum Innovation: Warrnambool East Primary School Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Early childhood Teacher of the Year: Rachael Weber, Karingal East Kindergarten Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Primary Teacher of the Year: Kate Phoenix, Avenel Primary School Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Teacher of the Year – Disability and Additional Needs: Shane Spence, Mount Evelyn Special Developmental School Bankmecu Secondary Teacher of the Year: Katherine Tsagaris, Parkville College Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Teacher of the Year – Indigenous Education: Christina Drummond, Echuca East Primary School Education Support Team of the Year: Dandenong West Primary School Bankmecu Business Manager of the Year: Barb Martin, Buninyong Primary School Outstanding Partnerships with Families and Communities: Ballarat Secondary College Outstanding Youth Pathways and Transitions: Carwatha College P-12

■ A new CD, Crossing Roper Bar Vol 2: The Ghost Dances, will be launched by the Australian Art Orchestra and Young Wagilak Group at Bennetts Lane on Tuesday (May 27). A workshop will be held on Thursday, May 29.

Publicist Prue Bassett says the rare live performance to launch the second CD marks an enduring cross-cultural collaboration.

Distinguished Australian pianist and composer Paul Grabowsky will be featured. He initiated the project.

Artists to participate include Daniel Wilfred, David Wilfred, Tony Hicks, Stephen Magnusson, Niko Schauble and Phillip Rex.

The King And I

■ Opening night of The King and I will be staged at the Princess Theatre on Thursday, June 12 at 7:30pm. It stars Lisa McCune and ● Fay and Geoff Gillespie ardson departed Melbourne early this week to deliver a series of lectures, in association with ■ The Larger Than Life Event Agency is to be Broadcast Design Indonesia.

The Porch Thoughts creator will address a launched at Melbourne's new events venue, Krimper, in Guildford Lane, rom 6pm-9pmon number of seminars on the subject of ‘Be A Creative Writer For The Media’.

Wednesday next week (May 28).

His tour includes Jakarata, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Mark will also be involved in other media projects whilst over■ Helen Letos writes to the Melbourne Ob- seas. server: “I have always been a Port Melbourne girl , so I was excited to see those wonderful photos of times gone by in burra land (Observer, ■ A celebration of a major literary work of origiMay 14).

“The aerial view taken in 1925 of the pier, is nality from one of Australia’s most writers, Robno doubt where Beacon Cove is now, and as a ert Hillman, was held last night (Tues.) at former GMH employee, it is interesting to see a Eltham Bookshop. Morag Fraser was ‘in conbuilding I once worked in (not that long ago) versation’ with the author Holden's have since sold that building, but it remains the same.”

■ Editor replies: Thanks for the note, Helen.

Our Victoria Pictorial pages are one of the most ■ The premiere of The Speechmaker, by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch, will be popular features in the Observer. staged at 8pm on Thursday, June 5 at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse.

The production is being staged by the ■ Melbourne Observer columnist Mark Rich- Melbourne Theatre Company.

Agency launch

Port pix pleasure

Book celebration

The Speechmaker

Mark is overseas

Rolling Thunder

■ A new Australian concert drama, Rolling Thunder Vietnam: Songs That Defined A Nation, will soon undertake a national tour.

The show features the music of Steppenwolf, Joe Cocker, Buffalo Springfield, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Gladys Knight, Billy Thorpe, The Rolling Stones and Curtis Mayfield.

The singer-actor line-up includes Wes Carr, Kimberley Hodgson, Tom zOliver, Matt Pearce, Vanessa Krummenacher and Will Ewing, says publicist Julie Cavanagh.

The show has been written by Bryce Hallett, and will be directed by David Berthold.

The concert will be held at Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, at 7.30pm on Friday, August 22, and 2pm and 7.30pm on Saturday,m August 23.

Film Festival

■ The 63rd Melbourne International Film Festival has announced that it will open with the Australian premiere of the Spierig Brothers’ new feature Predestination. The Festival runs July 31-August 17. Opening Night is July 31.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 18 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

■ Lucille Fay LeSueur was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1904. After her parents separated her mother married a man who ran the Ramsey Opera House in Oklahoma and that is where young Lucille was bitten by the acting bug.

She never went any further than elementary school. Lucille gained work as a dancer in several stage shows before landing a film contact with MGM Studios at $75 a week.

She made her screen debut in the silent film Pretty Ladies where she played a chorus girl. By the end of the 1920s sound films were popular and so was Lucille who was now known as Joan Crawford.

In 1929 she sang a song titled Got A Feelin For You in the film The Hollywood Revue of 1929. It is one of my favourites and it is on YouTube - do yourself a favour and have a look.

At that stage she was 25 and a stunning beauty who could sing and dance.

Joan married Douglas Fairbanks Jnr and the marriage lasted for four years. Her films during the 1930s included Rain, Grand Hotel, Dancing Lady and The Women.

She married the handsome actor Franchot Tone in 1935 and was divorced in 1939.

When Joan Crawford left MGM most people thought she was "washed up" but her role in the 1945 Warner Brothers film Mildred Pierce and her Academy Award win as Best Actress in a Leading Role revived her career.

Joan's films during the 1950s included Sud-

Whatever Happened To ...

Joan Crawford

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM den Fear, Johnny Guitar, Torch Song and Female On The Beach.

Her role opposite Bette Davis in 1962 in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane was absolutely brilliant.

The two actresses could not stand each other and things were very tense during the filming. It is one of my favourite films.

Bette Davis was nominated for an Academy Award and Joan was furious that she did not get a nomination.

In the late 1960s when Franchot Tone was in a wheelchair and dying of cancer Joan would look after him in her New York apartment.

She married four times in her lifetime and adopted five children.

● Joan Crawford

Joan played herself in an episode of The Lucy Show in 1968.

Apparently she was a big fan of the television series Bewitched and a personal friend on Agnes Moorehead.

In 1973 Joan became a virtual recluse and rarely left her apartment.

Although Joan had already written her autobiography in 1978 her daughter Christina Crawford wrote a ‘tell- all’ book titled Mommie Dearest.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Christina about her memories of her mother and she did not paint a pretty picture of the way Joan treated her children.

The book was made into a film with Faye Dunaway playing Joan. The film became a cult classic and Joan disinherited Christina and her brother as a result.

Joan Crawford passed away from a heart attack in 1977. Whenever they talk about the Golden Years of Hollywood, Joan Crawford is remembered for her wonderful work on the screen.

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.

In search of the Territory’s wild cat ■ Last Saturday a spectacular event was seen to materialise on stage in Alice - it was the 30th anniversary of the Araluen Theatre, and some performers from the Duprada Dance Company, along with Jia Yin Du and Kristy Lee Denoven, from the Australian ballet, came to town to celebrate the event, and pranced the night away.

I have often been an audience member there. There was Graeme Connors, whose performance I loved.

I have always thought that he's an under-rated talent on the local country music scene - his voice and presentation are superb.

Then there were the Topp Twins, a country duo from New Zealand. I think every lesbian lady in town was

Pith And Point Luncheon

Beethoven

■ The Australian Marquee Entertainment Luncheon Club, run by Jeff Joseph, will meet at Giorgio’s restaurant, Armadale, on Tuesday (May 27).

■ Pers Lane Plays Beethoven will be staged by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Thursday-Sunday, June 5-7 at Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall Conductor: Olari Elts (Estonia).

Piano: Piers Lane (Australia, London-based). Brahms Tragic Overture. Beethoven Piano Concerto No.3. Pärt Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten. Beethoven Symphony No.4.

Charismatic Australian-born pianist Piers Lane was the soloist in Grieg’s Piano Concerto when the MSO returned to Hamer Hall in 2012.

Bookings: 9929 9600 or visit www.mso.com.au

Circus Oz ■ Circus Oz Big Top’s season in Melbourne opens from June 18-July 13 at Birrarung Marr, between Federation Square and Batman Ave. Tiickets: $22-$96. ticketmaster. com.au Phone: 136 100.

At Eltham ■ Sally Rippin, author of Strawberry Thief, will be at Eltham Bookshop from 3pm-4pm on Sunday, June 15.

Cost: $12 (one child and one adult) includes a signed copy or a $10 gift voucher and strawberry flavoured afternoon tea

Aus. premiere ■ The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is presenting the Australian premiere of Rhymes For Young Ghouls from short filmmaker, Jeff Barnaby, from Saturday, July 5-Sunday, July 13.

Best friends ■ Ten months after the first residents moved in, Lifestyle Hastings residents believe the change is adding years to their lives.

Gloria and John Owen had highest priority to accommodate their Maltese-cross dog Oscar.

The couple say that the lifestyle change - with Oscar - is adding years to their lives…

Farewell ■ The spiegeltent spectacular from New York City, Empire by Spiegelworld, has just concluded its Australian tour.

The 17-month tour was a resounding success, with more than 200,000 people experiencing the Spiegelworld production in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Newcastle.

Scholarships ■ Young musicians are invited to apply for the 2015 programs offered by the Australian Youth Orchestra.

The AYO is one of the world’s most prestigious and innovative orchestral training organisations for gifted pre-professional musicians.

Applications are open from May 26 until June 13.

Every year the AYO receives over a thousand applications from across the country.

at that concert, driving me mad. They were so excited they were leaping about and yelling out, scrambling over seats, and generally annoying the rest of us.

And, not to be left out of course, was Kevin Bloody Wilson. The workers at the theatre are little old art-loving local ladies who proudly guide patrons to their seats, staying by the exits for the whole performance.

Most of Kev's audience were ringers from the bush, and testosteronefilled males from town, who sang along with gusto to his highly indelicate ditties.

The little ladies' ears must have been burning.

■ A few years ago I mentioned a dog which had jumped out of its owner's car at an uninhabited outlying mining camp near Barrow Creek.

It stayed there for weeks, waiting for its owner to return. Some workmen, out checking on some pipelines, discovered it and brought it back to civilisation, where it was reunited with its owners, a Darwin family.

Now the same thing's just happened to Nina, a Bluey from Oodnadatta.

■ Apparently she had been stolen and dumped in the Simpson Desert.

Jana Berger, from Alice, came across Nina at Eringa Waterhole in the South Australian desert.

A lone motorbiker had been riding through the desert, when he encountered this dog he assumed was a dingo, so stopped to take some photos.

It came up to his motorbike and jumped on board, so he took her to the water hole, from where Jana took her to Alice.

She had been roaming around in the desert for about a month, and was happily reunited with her Oodnadatta family on their way back from holidays, through town.

I have owned one Bluey, and apart from their intelligence and intense loyalty, they're very hardy.

■ For years I've had a great interest in the big black, and brown, cats supposedly roaming around various parts of Australia; usually it's Victoria, but there have been reports of sightings from all over the country.

There are also other reported sightings of different animals, one of which is easy to identify - the Thyla-

The Outback Legend

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

■ An interesting duel was fought out in the bush up north recently, and the combatants both ended up deceased.

A big death adder, and a large cane toad.

Speculation is rife as to the nature of the duel, and why both of them subsequently died.

I can understand a toad succumbing to the snake, because its venom is extremely toxic.

I have often seen venomous snakes kill their prey - once a mouse or a rat is bitten, they don't take long to expire - just a couple of minutes.

The creature is so small and the venom so toxic, that it just generally rolls over nearby.

The snake follows up via its scent trail, and devours it.That would explain the toad's demise. Some ‘experts’ have surmised that the toad has squirted poison over the snake, but this doesn't happen, so it's a mystery as to what actually happened. However, death did occur.

■ I had the pleasure of introducing Keith and Angela McGowan to a mate of mine, Jim Cotterill.

Jim ran a roadhouse about 100 kms south of Alice Springs, which he originally called ‘Jim's Place’.

However when he tried to formally cine - they have supposedly been ex- register the name as a settlement per tinct for centuries on the mainland, se, so he could have some signs and since 1934 in Tasmania, where erected beside the road, indicating the the last one died in the Hobart Zoo. availability of fuel, the bureaucrats It was ironic, because they were objected to the name. mercilessly hunted by Tasmanians, So he had to spend a couple of and then, as soon as the last one died, years placating them, going back there were declared a protected spe- through history to find a more acceptcies! able, formal name, so it's now called The origin of these, if they'd do Stuart Well. exist, is no mystery. It is assumed that However when I introduced Keith the black and brown cats are escap- and Angie to Jim, there was also anees from zoos or circuses, and the other introduction - to Dinky, the Singcougar is descended from some set ing Dingo. free by US airmen in the Grampians He became famous the world over in WW II. for marching up and down the keys of But the origin of the Cape York Jim's piano, whilst Jim tinkled away, striped cat, and the Gippsland Thy- and singing at the top of his voice. lacine ‘cat’, again if they exist, are both He was an internet sensation, and mysteries. Now there's a story cur- he performed several shows each day. rent in the NT - a circus which was Dinky was 14 years old last year, passing through Tennant Creek a few when Jim sold the business. weeks ago supposedly lost a lion.

He and his wife Mardi, and Dinky, The beast has been reported by retired to Alice, and I was saddened to members of one family as it stalked hear he has gracefully expired. His about a truck stop on the Highway. arthritis became a bit too much, so If there's any validity to this sight- Jim had little choice. ing, it'll cause quite a stir near and far.

RIP Dinky.

Just in case, I wouldn't be - Nick Le Souef bushwalking for a while!

‘The Outback Legend’

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - Page 19

Page 20 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Victoria Pictorial

Mornington Peninsula Western Port

● Dromana Hotel

● Sorrento Front Beach

● Flinders Pier

● Stony Point Pier

● ‘Merlswood’, former post office, Tankerton Rd, French Island

● Crib Point Post Office

● Moorooduc Post Office

● Somerville Mechanics Institute