Local Artist 32 Unreliable Guide 34 Money Matters

Aileen the creator.

Local Artist... Aileen Anderson from Maroubra

Interview James Hutton Photo Aileen Anderson

Maroubra’s Aileen Anderson is our local artist this month. Aileen has been a public primary school teacher for over twenty years. She shares her local favourites with The Beast...

How long have you lived here?

Over twenty years. I was born in the Philippines and moved to Sydney with my family at seven. My husband and I grew up in Campbelltown then moved to Coogee, Randwick, Little Bay and now Maroubra.

What's your favourite beach? All of them, for different reasons, but Coogee would have to be closest to my heart.

Where do you like to eat and

drink? Morning coffee at Morning Glory, Coogee, or The Bay Bakehouse, Maroubra, Brunch at The Pool Cafe, Maroubra, and dinner at Darley Street Bistro, Clovelly. I enjoy a drink at Coogee Surf Club and the Pavilion.

Best thing about the East-

ern Suburbs? The beautiful coastline, its ocean pools and beaches, the people and sense of community.

How would you describe your

art? My daughter helped me answer this question; Colourful, joyful and very beachy. My approach to each piece is constantly evolving as I try to capture and explore how I feel about our local beaches, people and memories. Using mainly acrylics, my hope is that each piece can give people a sense of joy, happiness, colour and connection.

Where can people see your

work? I have been so very lucky to be supported by the most beautiful local homewares store, Humble Beginnings, in Randwick. I have also had the opportunity to have my originals on display at Kim’s Art and Framing Gallery, Matraville. I am a member of Randwick Art Society and have had some of my pieces shown during local exhibitions. You can check out my website, www.aileenanderson.com.au.

Who are your artistic inspi-

rations? Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Arthur Streeton and Grace Cossington Smith.

What are you working on at the

moment? Some pieces focussing on the crowds of people on the beach, some smaller pieces on board, as well as a larger landscape piece of Coogee.

Do you have any exhibitions

coming up? The Randwick Art Society exhibition, Visualisation, at Bowen Library, from August 5 to September 25. I’m also excited to be part of the Sydney Made markets on Saturday, July 16, at Sydney Town Hall.

When did you discover you had

a gift for your craft? I’ve always loved making and creating things since I was a child, and as a teacher I had opportunities to continue to share and explore my creativity. It’s only been the past three years that I have focussed on my painting.

What do you do for work? I paint in between running my small business and being a stay at home parent. I have been a public primary school teacher for over twenty years and like many of my colleagues needed to take some time for my family and myself.

Did you study art? I studied art through high school and continued to self learn, create and teach art as a school teacher. I’ve done some short local courses, one of which was with the incredible Marie Mansfield (2021 winner of the Portia Geach Memorial Award).

Do you have a favourite quote?

“The only way to get to where you want to go is to take a step in that direction. And the best way to do that is to begin.” - Kobi Yamada, Trying

Pro-choice demonstrators outside the US Supreme Court in 1989.

The Unreliable Guide to... Reproductive Rights

Words Nat Shepherd Photo Lorie Shaull

Back in August 2019, The Unreliable Guide was concerned that nine US states had successfully challenged the American constitution and restricted a woman’s right to decide on this emotive issue. It felt like the start of a trend, and here we are, three years later, witnessing the US Supreme Court overturn Roe vs Wade, revoking 50 years of Americans’ constitutional right to abortion by allowing states to create new anti-abortion legislation.

Thousands of people across the world have taken to the streets to protest against the self-termed ‘leader of the free world’ turning into a dystopian horror penned by Margaret Atwood. Very soon, abortion will be illegal in a total of 16 states and it is estimated that 26 states are certain or likely to ban abortion. In the news today, a ten-year-old rape victim in Ohio was refused an abortion and was forced to travel interstate. A. Ten. Year. Old. Child.

There is no question that this change in US law will oppress, subjugate and potentially kill women. The Unreliable Guide would like to offer some perspectives on this emotive topic.

A War on Women

Let me state something obvious: men cannot fall pregnant. Abortions are a part of women’s reproductive health. They are chosen through choice if a woman is unable or unwilling to carry through the pregnancy, or through necessity in miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies and other reproductive malfunctions. The Unreliable Guide doubts any woman who chooses to terminate her pregnancy does so lightly, but these new laws mean many women have no legal right to choose at all.

Even some anti-abortionists recognise that draconian legislation does nothing to lower the rate of abortions. In places where abortion is illegal women are still having them. Global statistics indicate that the abortion rate is actually higher where abortion is criminalised. What this means is that instead of safer, medical terminations, women are risking their lives by having dangerous backstreet abortions or trying to self-abort.

Think this doesn’t affect you? Think again. Human Rights Law Centre associate legal director Adrianne Walters reminds us that “In Australia... we don’t have a constitutional right to abortion”. In WA, abortion is still regulated by the criminal code. To quote US writer John Irving, “making abortion illegal (is) simply a sanctimonious, self-righteous form of violence against women”.

What is Life?

The US Roe v Wade decision has denied millions of American women the right to health. Dr. Aileen Gariepy, director of complex family planning at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, states, “We’re already seeing physicians being scared to treat ectopic pregnancies” despite the fact that ectopic pregnancies are never viable and it puts the woman’s life at risk if a fertilised egg implants in the fallopian tube.

Many anti-abortionists base their arguments in a religious context - if God has chosen to create life, we have no right to take that life. But where does life begin? Is every sperm sacred? Is a condom, as a means to prevent conception, a tool of the devil? And if we must obey God’s plans for our existence, surely we should not use technology to go against the things he, in his infinite wisdom, sends to shorten our lives, such as disease or cancer. How can it be okay to interfere at the end of life and not at the beginning? And what about quality of life? If anti-abortionists really cared about babies they would lobby for free child healthcare. The US has the highest rate of infant mortality of any developed country. If they survive birth, one in seven US babies will live in poverty. Where are the demonstrations against that?

Finally, The Unreliable Guide suggests this is only the start of a worldwide degradation of a raft of hard-won human rights that we have come to take for granted. Pay close attention, people.

Don't risk it for the biscuit.

Top Gun

Words Rob Shears Photo Joseph Kosinski

As an international pilot who has seen the original over thirty times, to say I was excited to see the new Top Gun movie is a massive understatement. And it lived up to my expectations.

After the movie I was reflecting on the risks that the fighter pilots took. The movie lauds enormously risky behaviour, and the correlation with ‘star’ investment managers is uncanny.

There have been several recent star investment managers who made stratospheric gains, only to lose it all in the downturn. Celebrating these risk-takers for pushing the edges of the envelope is not what you want in someone who looks after your life savings.

The manager who makes more than reasonable returns yet does so in a less risky manner gets little kudos, but this risk-avoider is the person you want at the helm of your portfolio.

The boom in unprofitable companies during the COVID period, and the subsequent bust, has left several managers swimming naked when the tide went out.

Is there a better way to make money? Yes.

Warren Buffett’s investment strategy is all about avoiding risk. He has a simple four-filter strategy to avoid taking risks that he doesn’t understand.

“I don't try to jump over 7-foot hurdles; I look for 1-foot hurdles I can step over,” Buffett says.

Simplicity is the key. His portfolio is dominated by investments such as Apple, Coca-Cola and American Express. He follows a ‘Rip Van Winkle’ buy and hold strategy.

Mr Buffett also avoids leverage. He prides culture and the character of the management of the companies he invests in. Importantly, the correct incentives for management are crucial to the outcome of his investments.

Notably, Buffett has been buying significant amounts of shares during the current market weakness.

For those investing with dependable, rational risk managers buying wonderful companies at a reasonable price, now is a better time to allocate capital than the last few years. For those who are praying their speculative managers will bounce back to stardom, I think there may be more pain ahead.

Rob Shears is an Authorised Representative of Valor Financial Group (AFSL 405452). This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.