180705 citynews

Government system completely corrupted PAUL COSTIGAN

Enough to have Albo licking his lips ROBERT MACKLIN

The ghostly hoax of Government House NICHOLE OVERALL

Sorry for keeping you waiting, not!

WENDY MACKLIN JULY 5, 2018

THE SPICES OF LIFE Here comes the World Curry Festival!

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! y a d h t r i B y p p a H Tell everyone! It’s our 20th Birthday – but we’re giving the presents!

To celebrate we have a full month of activities, from Monday July 2nd to Sunday July 29th Visit the zoo during our birthday month and go into a weekly draw for platinum memberships, tours and other great prizes.

Join our 'party in the viewing park' every weekend with face painting, meet and greets with our mascots and fun keeper talks.

Go on a Special Zoo Birthday Tour, available every day at 11.30am during our birthday month – including weekends and every day during school holidays – for only $10 for adults & $5 for kids, plus zoo entry.

(Book online or at the gate) Participate in our kids colouring competition to win membership, or choose to go on a Family Tour together!

Sign up for a zoo membership during the month of July to win a night at Jamala Wildlife Lodge OR book a room at Jamala to win a platinum membership.

See our Facebook page for more information and a program of events

See you at the Zoo!

NEWS / Australian Girls Choir

New choir plans to empower girls through music

By Helen Musa

CANBERRA’S burgeoning choral community is about to welcome a new kid on to the block – well, kids, actually – in the form of the Australian Girls Choir.

With offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane, the choir that likes to make its young choristers look as good as they sound is moving into the national capital with the twin purposes of empowering girls and making music.

“We’ve been completely overwhelmed by the interest and support of the families in Canberra,” says Nicole Muir, CEO of the hosting organisation, the Australian School of Performing Arts, when “CityNews” catches up with her at the Australian War Memorial.

Nicole Muir, CEO of the Australian School of Performing Arts.

Also a co-founder and chair of Girls from Oz, a philanthropic organisation that offers performing arts programs to girls in remote Australia, Muir, it turns out, is a former Canberran with an impeccable arts pedigree.

Educated at Watson Primary School and Dickson College, from both of which Splinters Theatre emerged, she rubbed shoulders with then-busker Tim Ferguson, who played Pontius Pilate in the school musical, threw herself into drama, then later headed to Deakin University to take out a degree in that subject.

Public speaking was another skill she picked up in Canberra. “I got addicted to the applause,” she says, explaining that because of it she’s been able to help by compering concerts at the Opera House, for instance.

Muir admits to a feminist agenda and is of the view that girls were for too long sidelined by the cathedral tradition of singing that sees the boy soprano voice as the acme of perfection.

The choir, she says, was founded by former school teacher Judith Curphey, with the motto: “Every child can learn to sing”. When Muir was interviewed for her job 18 years ago Curphey noted her unfamiliarity with choral singing, but she’s made up for it since. Besides, she was able to use her drama expertise to assist in developing the choir’s unique style where all the girls dance as well as sing.

INDEX Arts & Entertainment 19-21 Cinema 20 Crossword 23 Dining 21 Gardening 22 Horoscopes 23 Letters 8 News 3-10 Politics 7 Socials 12-13

The Australian Girls Choir… Canberra classes start in late July.

“Judith wanted them to dance because she knew audiences would find it more approachable if there was a visual element,” she explains.

She dislikes the term “choralography”, which has entered choral competitions, describing it as “a bit of this and a bit of that”, and says: “We don’t call it choralography, we call it musical theatre”.

That’s because the end products are

fully-staged. The girls are taught how to smile and engage with the audience and are coached in costume and makeup, like planning a production for the theatre.

She is particularly excited that they secured the rights to do a medley from the Barnum film musical “The Greatest Showman”, but says they’ve also done medleys from “Annie”, “The Little Mermaid” and even “Oliver!” with

the girls playing boys.

The young singers’ successes have been notable. They were the face of Qantas in the “I Still Call Australia Home” advertising campaigns, have sung for Nelson Mandela, the Queen, Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama and Oprah Winfrey as well as appearing at the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open Final and the “Broadway to Oz” Arena Tour with Hugh Jackman.

Muir’s biggest task is recruiting, working with parents, schools and alumni to bring in aspiring singing starlets – already 200 have signed up in Canberra, where classes start in late July.

With 5700 choristers across Australia, the organisation uses what she calls “a gentle style of audition”.

“We prefer to call it ‘group assessment’, it’s not really an audition, because we accept everyone,” she says.

“Judith’s philosophy is that if you have a spark, you can sing.”

There are seven training levels but only the very top choir is selective.

Now it’s time to recruit staff in Canberra, some of them choir alumni, although Sydney senior music staff will support the Canberra team. Head office is in Melbourne, but there will be a home office in Canberra.

Australian Girls Choir, enrolment details at ausgirlschoir.com.au or 1800 338142.

Since 1993: Volume 24, Number 24

Cover: Curry chef Arunkumar Asharikkandy.

Photo by Ana Stuart.

Story Page 21.

Well written, well read

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www.codea.com.au CityNews July 5-11, 2018 3

SEVEN DAYS

Awkward Zed struggles with ‘noddies’ AS hard as he might try, ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja is simply not a convincing “nodder”. Contemporary political press conference nodders are a sight to behold.

These polished performers have an impressive range of plausible, thoughtful expressions. A pensive pose, a pious pout, a deft display of disgust. But Zed’s awkward, shifty body language while standing behind the PM screamed he either didn’t want to be seen with Malcolm or that Top Hat had farted.

ABORIGINAL man Clinton Pryor walks from WA to Canberra to inform politicians of the shameful plight of his people and battles to even get past the forecourt of the Federal Parliament. Yet if you’ve clocked up a few redcarpet miles you are greeted with a green light and a conga line of political parasites. Star of

the ABC series Rake Richard Roxburgh and Emmy award winner Judy Davis headlined an all-star cast in town with a message for lawmakers.

Under the banner “Make It Australian”, the group called on the government to broaden local content rules to counter the threat posed to the domestic TV and film industry by Netflix and Amazon.

A LARGE kangaroo invading a sports field in suburban Canberra is pretty much a normal occurrence, although one such incident has excited many people. A video of an eastern grey hopping around the Deakin Oval during a soccer match has gone viral on social media.

I now regret not recording the large roo that made an appearance on Tuggeranong’s Greenway Oval several weeks back. The animal leapt the fence near the scoreboard, bounded through the midfield like Chris Judd in a fur coat settling in the pocket at the other end of the oval to watch the final quarter of the – until then – mundane AFL game.

Darwin rubs it in.

STILL on social media and Canberra give yourself a row of pats-on-the-back emojis. A new study of the online habits of more than 1500 Australians has discovered that ACT residents used Twitter more (25 per cent) than any other group ahead of NSW and Victoria. The study also revealed more Canberrans use LinkedIn than any other state or territory. On average, Canberrans post on Twitter 35 times a week.

Walker Clinton Pryor.

4 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

most famous users of social media stop by? As POTUS will be in the neighbourhood, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation leaders’ summit in Papua New Guinea in November, the inevitable speculation is that Donald Trump drops by The Lodge to hang with his BFF Mr Trumble.

AND what better way to consolidate our new status than to have one of the world’s

AFTER a week of sub-zero overnight temperatures the kind folk of the NT have been thinking of we poor sods here in the capital.

The “NT News” has tweeted: “Dear residents of the capital of Australia, sending you our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Lots of love, Darwin.” Attached to the

heartwarming message was a graphic, just in case we weren’t already aware of the stark disparity of our climates.

WHILE we appreciate the warm vibes emanating from the north there are other more serious issues that twin the territories.

According to “The Australian”, conservative MP Kevin Andrews has “expressed his deep disappointment” with PM Malcolm Turnbull and warned of a “secret deal” facilitated by the Prime Minister paving the way for introduction of euthanasia in the NT and ACT. FORMER Canberra political power couple Mary Porter and Ian De Landelles may have serendipitously stumbled upon a new career in retirement. From the cluttered space of food/travel/lifestyle bloggers the pair has emerged as promising Bog Bloggers. De Landelles filed the following on his Facebook account: “On long road trips finding clean toilets is always a challenge. Just found the best one ever. Clean, odour free, hot water, soap and towels.

Mary tells me the women’s even had fresh flowers.” The impressive lavatory is at Walcha, NSW.

NEWS Heart award winners TWELVE Canberra women have been recognised with Women with Heart Awards for their commitment and support to fighting heart disease in the community.

Those recognised were: Genevieve Bond, Dixon Advisory, corporate supporter of Heart Foundation ACT. Heather Chadwick, cardiac rehabilitation nurse and Heart Foundation ACT Ambassador.

Daniela Gagliardi, Heart Failure Care initiative, Capital Health Network.

Julie Griffin, owner, Curves Weston.

Emma Ryan, Heart Foundation Big Heart Appeal Supporter.

Pearle Taverner, cardiac research registered nurse at the Canberra Hospital for about 25 years.

Kathleen Moorby, health manager, Heart Foundation ACT. Alice Tay, partner, Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers and National Heart Foundation board member.

Nicole Freene, Yeddung Gauar Cardiac Rehabilitation Group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Laura Tchilinguirian, ABC Radio Canberra presenter.

Joy Wheatley, long-term Heart Foundation ACT Supporter (20 years+).

Melanie Glover, long-term Heart Foundation ACT volunteer.

CANBERRA MATTERS

The government system completely corrupted The ACT government system is now completely corrupted in its dealings with residents on planning, development, social housing, public housing, the urban environment, community and cultural facilities – and the list goes on.

ON Thursday, June 28, I attended one of the “Canberra Conversation Lecture Series” organised by former chief minister Jon Stanhope.

With a room full of 160 or more citizens concerned about this city’s planning (or the lack of it), there was an expectation that some gems would be forthcoming. I was very disappointed.

If this is the best we can do, then the corrupted systems that now underpin this government’s development-friendly regimes will continue to do damage for many years.

On the way home I thought I needed to communicate with Jon Stanhope that his three speakers should be respected for their learned contributions, should be allowed to be consulted on occasions, but that their respective families should no longer allow them to front public seminars.

Collectively the contributions by Tony Powell, Ken Taylor and Patrick Troy were well informed. Unfortunately, the presentations were chaotic, rambling and depressing.

Any audience member with an

enthusiasm for making change would have left the room dispirited. There were no realistic pointers that any citizen could grab hold of and go forth to bring about change to the city’s complex planning systems. The highlights were not from the main speakers but from the facilitator, Toni Hassan, and late in the hour by Jon Stanhope.

Toni tried to keep the speakers on subject and to answer the questions posed. She knew her stuff, had read their research papers and offered the audience the occasional short, sharp, critical comment. It became obvious that the future for this city’s planning will rely on voices such as Toni Hassan to bring together people of her generation to confront a corrupted system of government.

I use the term “corrupted” carefully. Think about a computer system that develops coding faults that then corrupts all other software despite efforts to apply patches and fixes, that themselves are the wrong ones. The solution is not to apply more patches, but to replace the system software

completely – a full, clean install.

The ACT government system is now completely corrupted in its dealings with residents on planning, development, social housing, public housing, the urban environment, community and cultural facilities – and the list goes on.

A comment by Jon Stanhope towards the end of the seminar provided a clue to the depth of the problem with this ACT Labor/Greens hive of misinformation and remoteness.

Jon questioned whether the current Hare Clark hybrid election process is delivering good government. Is the power of the Labor/Greens semicoalition form of government blocking democratic processes? Despite all the assurances at the last ACT election, the systems remain corrupted. The

Digital mischief by Paul Costigan.

Chief Minister and his ministers have applied Band-Aids, but most have turned out to be superficial or, in some cases, possibly worse than the original problem.

The other comments posed by Jon Stanhope drew a few nods. These are matters I ponder often. Why are people so complacent, why do they not speak out (in the face of continual misinformation and spin) and why don’t people insist on something better than what is being spooned out to them by this government?

We can only hope that betterinformed and more-focused people

such as Toni Hassan can bring new energies and approaches to these complex debates to completely reboot how government and its agencies operate in this city.

In finishing, I wish to ensure that such learned people as the three who presented at this seminar are treated with respect. As “elders of the tribe” they should be consulted and their expertise drawn on when applicable.

But we desperately need others to step up and to test fresh ideas through such public forums and to take the leadership in how to usher in a new form of government with real vision for this wonderful city.

Tony Powell’s views can be read at the-southern-cross.com/TP/TP.pdf Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the visual arts, photography, urban design, environmental issues and everyday life matters.

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CityNews July 5-11, 2018 5

GRUMPY / medicare

Sorry for keeping you waiting, not!

Determined WENDY MACKLIN just tries and tries to sit out the telephone queue to speak to a human at Medicare. Can she do it?

HAVE you tried to telephone Medicare lately? Well, don’t.

I received an actual letter saying I needed to confirm my family details in order to “get more money back from Medicare”. Irresistible.

As expected, the Mozart (or Haydn) symphony began after the options didn’t fit and I told the robot I wanted a “consultant”. But I had the latest “New Scientist” magazine to usefully pass the time until a human was available.

This is a marvellous weekly publication with much more interesting and understandable information than the layperson would expect. Of course there are always some articles on subjects such as quarks and quantum mechanics, which I ignore; I love stories from the animal kingdom and learnt to my shock and horror that hedgehog numbers are dropping in the UK due to the disappearance of the hedgerows and the growing numbers of badgers, which eat hedgehogs! Honestly.

No details were given but good news is, the little cuties are still doing well in the ”untidy urban garden.”

I am also fascinated by the medical stories and current research because when you reach a certain time of life

(The Cracking-Up Age) you need to be fully informed on all the latest breakthroughs and cures so you can tell your doctor…

Ah, at last the music has stopped and a voice: “We apologise for keeping you waiting, but if you would like to leave the queue, you can go to the website at MyGov or access the app, or the Android or download the link to…

Or maybe try the bush telegraph or put two tins on the ends of a string or, if really desperate, give the NBN a go!

The music thunders in my ear again. I am getting a bit mad now because it has been 15 minutes and I know what’s going on. They don’t really want anyone on the phone because, to save money, they have one consultant for the whole of Australasia and that includes the Mawson Base and Christmas Island. Wow, that poor dear must be really rushed off her feet.

But I’m not giving up. I turn to the cover story of the magazine….”Earth four billion years ago. We’re homing in on the moment life began”. Of course, they are talking about a few genetic molecules in a kind of sac (sack?) and researchers each have their favourite spot where they think

this popped up. The quest was begun by that amazing man Charles Darwin who went through the torments of hell trying to fit his incredible innovative thoughts into the Bible stories and not upset Dad the Very Reverend.

In 1871 Charles “described a hypothetical warm little pond rich in chemicals and salts with sources of light, heat and electricity”. Who knew this about him? In the 1950s in an experiment – which is one of the most famous of the last century, I read – two chemists recreated the pond in a lab. They worked out what would have been present on early Earth and zapped the soup with simulated lightning and produced amino acids, the building blocks of all proteins.

Much excitement. But it turned out to be the secrets of water more than life.

And scientists have been wrestling with the problem ever since…

Ah, the violins stop and there is a voice. I snatch the receiver off the floor. “We apologise… and if you would like to leave the queue… and you can also complete the form and take it to your nearest Medicare office.”

No thanks. Been there, done that.

Last time while waiting, I read most of a paperback novel and a toddler threw up on my shoes.

I will not weaken. Back to the search for life’s crucible. The author

of the article, Penny Sarchet, says the start could be in sand, sea or ice.

In 1979 a submersible called Alvin discovered black smokers in the mid-Atlantic and there were “some very alien, ancient-looking fauna” but it was too hot. In 2000, cooler submarine vents in the Pacific looked promising and were called the Lost City. Then the Voyager 2 space probe sent intriguing pictures back from Europa, Jupiter’s icy moon. Could space be the place?

The author discusses six candidates on Earth and my favourite is definitely a freshwater pool in California – Bumpass Hell – but she reckons the most likely is a hydrothermal crater lake in India.

The photo is surprising. This seems to be the only place in India that has NO people!

“We apologise…” Oh, shut up. This is ridiculous. Wait a minute. That’s a human voice. It’s coming from a bedroom where the Significant Other has been ordered to keep off a sore leg for a few days. For him, time is moving VERY slowly.

“When’s lunch?” he calls.

I turn off my phone. They’ve won.

Four billion years in Earth’s life has passed and 40 minutes of mine has gone forever.

So, if you are planning to call Medicare in the future, remember you will need all the time in the world.

In 2017, over 400,000 new jobs were created – that’s more than 1100 a day.

We’re helping businesses grow. jobs.gov.au

So if you’re a small to medium business owner who’s wondering about the next step or has changing business needs, there are Government initiatives and incentives to help you hire staff.

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6 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

parking Fee-dodgers park at hospice Reader JOHN from Aranda is beyond grumpy, he’s livid at insensitive parking at the hospice HERE’S some news to get your blood very close to boiling point; I have it on good authority that some of our public servants who work in the Parliamentary Triangle are parking at Clare Holland House as opposed to paying their government-subsidised parking fees!

Do these “low-lifes” not have any shame at all?

What an act of absolute and total disregard for our fellow human beings’ compassion!

Those of us who have had immediate dealings will agree that Clare Holland House is a very special place and should be treated with the utmost of respect.

As if it is not traumatic enough and emotionally draining for those people who find themselves spending a large amount of their time at the hospice, to then have the extra unnecessary stress of trying to park their vehicle because of some thoughtless person is just unforgiveable!

This parking area is reserved for patients, visitors and staff of the hospice. For heaven’s sake people, show some empathy and respect for those within your community who frequent this facility. Your disregard is not only a disgrace but totally un-Australian!

Grumpy is an occasional column dedicated to things that get up your nose. Readers are invited to vent (no more than 300 words, please) at editor@citynews.com.au

POLITICS

When flip comes to flop for pollies THE media loves to catch politicians out doing the flip-flop or the back-flip.

The thing is that politicians make decisions by carefully balancing the scientific and statistical evidence, weighing up the impact on ordinary people and counting the financial and long-term costs.

And pigs can fly! The Pauline Hanson statement on the flip-flop will, no doubt, be embedded into the political lexicon: “One Nation will not be supporting company tax cuts. So, I haven’t flip-flopped. I said ‘no’ originally, then I said ‘yes’. Then I have said ‘no’, and I’ve stuck to it”.

Perhaps, by defining the art of changing policy midstream, Senator Hanson will have made a significant contribution to the language of politics after all.

If the stance of a politician never changes there is a problem; new evidence comes to light, issues that have not been considered previously are added to the bank of knowledge. There are constant cultural changes. And compromises need to be made if there are to be outcomes. A minor matter to some is of great importance to others. Being able to consider new evidence, to reflect and to change thinking is a reasonable sign of an intelligent approach.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s “captain’s call” on company tax cuts for medium-size businesses is a case in point. Of course PM Malcolm Turnbull is going to call it a backflip and frame the decision as poor leadership. Making such a call carries a high risk.

Labor opposed tax cuts for multinationals and supported them for workers. However, medium-size businesses presented a dilemma for Shorten. With turnover of between $10 and $50 million, mediumsize businesses support the employment of more than a million Australians. However, many of them also return a disproportionate profit for their

owners compared to the workers whose wages have remained stagnant for more than a decade.

Shorten’s “call” may have made sense if he had simply considered the evidence, carefully weighed up the statistical data and attempted to make a decision in the best interests of the community as a whole. However, the political reality was to cause the back-flip.

Following the statement on business tax breaks, Bill Shorten was in a losing position knowing any change to the decision would be described as a “back down”. A series of by-elections in the wind and clear differences within the Labor Party made it harder.

Shorten took the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of being able to change his view because in his own words: “Smart politicians don’t just lead, they listen”.

Changing policy on rare occasions should not be seen as a mortal sin and reversing

opposition to these tax cuts was sensible. A proper process of reconsideration without a predictable outcome reflects strong, rather than weak, leadership. Having such calls regularly reviewed would be a sign of poor judgement and poor leadership.

However, never having decisions reconsidered would be more like a dictatorship.

The cross-benches in the Senate have made the tax and other negotiations difficult. In his inaugural speech as a senator, Nick Xenophon spoke of making decisions issue by issue rather than trading one issue for another.

“Horse-trading implies a willingness to vote for something you don’t believe in, in order to get something else you want,” he argued. “Sometimes when people do try and horse-trade they can end up with a donkey or, worse still, end up making an ass of themselves.” It is a shame that this lesson was not picked up more generally.

Parliamentary committees provide another opportunity for compromise in decision making. They provide the opportunity to carefully consider the broadest implications of decision making before making recommendations to government.

With a Xenophon approach there would be far less flip-flopping and a much clearer and more transparent process in decision making. However, in the end, politics is about the contest of ideas and games are part of the process.

BRIEFLY

Pet lover Katy Gallagher.

What Katy did next

FORMER senator Katy Gallagher is one of four new members to the RSPCA ACT board. Other newcomers are Chris Collins, a property and construction project professional; Viki Press, a senior public servant and Michelle Bennett, GM of a customer service company.

CEO Tammy Ven Dange retired from the organisation on June 30 and the board will announce her replacement “in the near future”.

Pelvic workshop WOMEN of all ages are invited to attend a free workshop on education and self-help strategies for continence problems. Presented by a physiotherapist from ACT Health, the workshop will cover issues relating to bladder and bowel control/ incontinence, bladder and bowel prolapse, and concerns pre/post gynaecological surgery. At Gungahlin Community Health Centre, 57 Ernest Cavanagh Street, 1pm-4pm, Tuesday, August 14. Bookings to 6207 9977.

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CityNews July 5-11, 2018 7

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8 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

YOUNG & RESTLESS

It’s time to think big OVER recent months, article after article has been published about new, exciting and controversial developments for our great city.

However, it’s always met with the same response; “no, no, no”.

No to developments in our suburbs, such as Curtin, Forrest or Campbell; no to developments in our dying town centres, and certainly no to developments in Canberra’s most neglected and suffering area – the CBD. A similar group of locals even oppose new government infrastructure as well as industrial development in industrial areas. Absurd, I know!

As a city we cannot expect better services and businesses to thrive when we don’t want to move into the 20th, let alone 21st century.

My background growing up in small business tells me that in areas where businesses are closing or there are vacant properties, such as in Garema Place, the simple solution is to increase the density of apartments, hotels and offices in the area.

I believe that the ACT government’s fresh push for city renewal is long overdue.

However, it can only improve so much, such as

As a city we cannot expect better services and businesses to thrive when we don’t want to move into the 20th, let alone 21st century. new footpaths or street lights.

Developers, small and large, are left to do the rest.

We should focus more on the design and amenity of new buildings, ensuring there are enough green areas, construction is highly sound, the building is as environmentally friendly as possible and, most importantly, that it is aesthetically pleasing.

The way to ensure that developments are economically viable so that they meet this criteria, is to remove height limits in our town centres and our CBD. I concede tall buildings cast shadows, but for the greater good of our city, we require it.

Taller buildings mean more people are living and working in our town centres, which accounts for more public transport use, fewer cars on the road and increased small business success.

When density is high, the “dark and gloomy” parts of urban centres become transformed into vibrant and lively precincts.

I call on the government

and the opposition to wake up, to persist and to do not only the best but the most environmental and logical thing for our city; considerably increase the density in both our CBD and our town centres.

This planning change coupled with government infrastructure spending will hopefully protect significant amounts of empty, greenfield land as a natural habitat for thousands of animals, as well as to keep high-rise development out of the suburbs so as to maintain our bush-capital principle and, most importantly, to keep our great city’s heart vibrant and beating for many years to come.

John-Paul Romano (@johnpauldromano) is an 18-year-old Canberra entrepreneur and founder of The PURE Network (thepurenetwork.com)

JOHN-PAUL ROMANO

LETTERS

Planning or social engineering?

I REFER to Michael Moore’s column (“Arrogant Labor’s thumbs up to cynical push polling”, CN June 28) regarding questions requiring “black and white” responses to planning surveys.

The government is proposing Territory Plan Variations to include residential use of two large open-space blocks in North Watson. The consultants appointed to provide preliminary consultation have issued a survey, with three key questions. Question 2 is a classic: “Do you think there is likely to be a general demand for additional dwellings in this area?”

The response options are “Yes” or “No”, albeit with an option to provide supporting comments to the answer. Given the demand for residential dwellings in virtually every area of every city in Australia, let alone the demand in this part of Canberra, what would possess someone to pose that question – a question upon which irreversible decisions may be made? What credibility can be given to this survey when such a loaded question is one of only three questions?

These proposed plan variations will allow for more than 400 additional dwellings across the two separate land parcels, yet no consolidated traffic impact report was made available at the recent information session, just separate disconnected individual reports.

Most residential properties in the immediate proximity of these blocks have at least two cars per dwelling; in some cases up to four or five. Yet the traffic reports seem to suggest that Aspinall Street (the primary entrance and exit street) will be subjected to only minor impact. I guess this conclusion is consist-

ent with the mindset that posed the above Question 2.

This is not town planning, this is social engineering.

Geoff Murray-Prior, North Watson

Only thing working’s the dunny!

ONCE more work has stopped on the Mirrabei Drive fiasco or are they contemplating a revised construction?

The only thing working for the past two weeks has been the lonesome dunny half way across the embankment.

As well I am still waiting for answers to my previous questions about costs and the cost overruns for these works and the light rail shemozzle.

My thanks to letter-writer Colin Lyons for his support, it’s a pity that more ratepayers don’t add their contempt of our so-called leaders and the waste of money because of inept governance and hiring of inadequate contractors.

How about a vote of no confidence to rid us of these greenie-led misfits?

Ray Leister, Amaroo

Thanks for the columns THANKS for your various columns by Mike Welsh, Michael Moore, Robert Macklin and especially Paul Costigan; informative and mind-expanding regarding our town and our government.

Lesley McGrane, via email

Write to us

Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au or write to the editor at: 9b / 189 Flemington Road, Mitchell 2911

YESTERDAYS

The great, ghostly hoax of Government House IT’S a parochial tale passed around for almost 100 years of a missing jewel and the ghost of one of the “Ancient People” of this land, said to wander the grounds of an iconic Canberra property.

The retellings have ranged from whisperings round the campfire, to newspaper columns and books, among those believing they’d encountered the “strange, thin and eerie” figure, prominent clergymen to highly-regarded public servants. And then there’s the potential connection to a world famous diamond.

So, is it an authentic territory-based spectre, one of the earliest urban myths of the capital region, or might it possibly rank as the first local hoax?

“The Mystery of Yarralumla” had its public beginnings in a 1924 article in the tabloid, “The Sun”.

Long before the “found footage” of “The Blair Witch Project” would ever become a thing, an “old letter or manuscript, unsigned”, dated 1881, was discovered at the pastoral homestead that would later host governors-general, after its Commonwealth appropriation in 1913.

It revealed how in 1826, a James Cobbity of Queensland was dispossessed of “a large diamond” by a convict, who passed it on to an unnamed friend for safe keeping.

Following a prison escape,

He has been seen from the dining room on cold, dreary nights when the breezes whistle down on Canberra from snowbound Monaro ranges. In summer he has been seen digging under an elm tree where a diamond of great value is said to be hidden and for which he is ever searching.”

“The Australian Women’s Weekly”, August, 1939 said friend wound up settling in these parts – still in possession of the stone – the reverend James Hassall, chaplain of the Berrima Gaol where the man had recently resided, declaring he was witness to “seeing him live honestly”.

On his death, his son decided to make good on the inheritance and set off to Sydney accompanied by an, again nameless, Aboriginal man.

“Between Cooma and Queanbeyan they were held up by bushrangers”. Rather than give over the diamond, the son’s companion swallowed it. Enraged, the villains of the piece shot him.

Thereafter, the innocent victim was buried “under the large deodar tree” (not elm) on the land of “Colonel Gibbes, and later Mr Campbell”.

While no reference was made to the guardian ghost in the original, his presence grew as pronounced as the shadow he was subsequently said to cast on moonlit nights when seen fossicking among the roots, allegedly looking for the treasure he took to his grave.

Although I’m loathe to put paid to such an august local enigma, the story would seem to have more holes than the poor man’s alimentary canal had he really decided to choke down the irregularly shaped rock.

The existence of one James Cobbity appears dubious.

Granted, this would have been harder to ascertain nine decades ago, but surely more widely known was the fact diamonds weren’t discovered in Australia until 1851, near Bathurst. Outside a family heirloom, precisely how farmer Cobbity came by such a precious commodity is relegated to the list of unexplained elements.

In contrast, the reverend Hassall certainly existed, attached to the Berrima lock-up at about the time in question.

He also just happened to have grown up at Cobbitty (double “t”), NSW, moving to Queensland soon after the described dramatic events. He died in 1904, conveniently eliminating any chance for corroboration.

In the throes of further historic sleuthing, I happened upon a strikingly similar legend attached to the “cursed” Sancy Diamond. In the late 1500s, a servant dispatched to deliver the jewel on behalf of the French king, was murdered. The diamond would eventually be discovered in “the faithful man’s stomach”.

And so then, to the final act in this compelling Canberran conundrum.

A singular reference in the “Sydney Morning Herald” of 1945 appears to reveal all.

Mrs Kate Newman, of Sydney, formerly of Yarralumla, declared herself the daughter of Frederick Campbell, owner

John Gale propagated the yarn in his 1927 book “Canberra Myths and Legends”. of the property from that prophetic year, 1881.

According to the once Miss Campbell, she’d decided it needed to be known the piquant tale was “pure imagination”. Concocted with a friend, they wrote it down and hid it, not too carefully, in “old Colonel Gibbes’ stone vault”. From there, it was “well away”.

The creative genesis of the fabrication wasn’t provided but the Sancy was making headlines at that juncture: the gem had mysteriously disappeared for 40 years, resurfacing in 1906 and purchased by the American millionaire, William Waldorf Astor. He bestowed it on his son’s new bride (Lady Nancy Astor, who would become only the second woman elected to the English House of Commons) as a wedding gift. A suitable spark for young, febrile imaginings perhaps?

The fate of the “manuscript” Mrs Newman was unable to say. It had though, drawn to a conclusion with a challenge:

“Believe, and receive a fortune.

Doubt, and leave the jewel in its hiding-place.”

As it is, the tree still stands unmolested in the grounds of Government House. Given they live for centuries, the kernel of doubt that raises will invariably see this tantalising bit of folklore resurrected for at least

another 100 years.

Nichole Overall is a journalist and history sleuth, intent on uncovering regional mysteries of the most obscure kind. For more of the details, including famous apparent sightings of the Ghost of Yarralumla, see nichole2620.wordpress.com

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CityNews July 5-11, 2018 9

THE GADFLY / shorten’s tax turnaround

Enough to have Albo licking his lips THE cracks appearing in Bill Shorten’s leadership are being greeted with delight by the Coalition.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne could barely contain himself as Shorten’s “captain’s call” on the decision to oppose business tax cuts caused consternation in the Caucus.

And Shorten’s ignominious back down didn’t help one bit.

“Albo will be licking his chops,” Pyne said, at any wavering of support for the Labor leader. The “Albo” in question was, of course, Anthony Albanese who contested the leadership against Shorten in the wake of Labor’s defeat in the 2013 election.

At the time Albo won a thumping 60-40 majority of the party’s 30,000 rank and file, but Shorten, the supreme faction boss, countered with a similar proportion of Caucus votes from a mere 86 members and senators.

It was a terribly unjust result for a party that says it believes in one vote one value. Yet Albo accepted his defeat with the kind of grace and decency that marks his career in politics. Nevertheless, he would not have been human if he hadn’t felt a sense of injustice and a determination to stick around to see if Shorten faltered in his unaccustomed role fronting for the movement, instead of plotting behind the scenes.

Moreover, in the five years since

then he has been the very model of the loyal front bencher, with not a word of public descent; and not a whiff of private briefing against his leader.

Shorten himself stuck closely to the tactics – and to the very last syllable of the words – fashioned by his leadership team. He looked and sounded exactly like a ventriloquist’s dummy but such was the disillusion in the electorate with Malcolm Turnbull that in the 2016 election Labor ran the Coalition to a close finish. Indeed, in its wake Shorten paraded around the country as though he’d actually won it.

This was an operation designed to dissuade Albo from mounting a challenge, the only time he could have done

so under the rules foisted on the party

by Kevin Rudd when they wanted him to “save the furniture” in 2013.

In the event, Albo stayed mum and has continued as the loyal supporter while Turnbull has established a seemingly permanent ascendency over Shorten as preferred PM. At the same time, despite its leader, Labor has retained a narrow lead over the Coalition in the polling. But it’s just the kind of lead that could be upended in an election campaign, especially

one where Shorten was seen as the alternative national leader. Australians are no fools; they remember that it was Shorten who provided Julia Gillard with the numbers and the knife to plunge into Kevin Rudd’s back in 2010; and he did exactly the same to Julia in 2013.

Even if the Libs are on the nose, the very idea of this man representing Australia in the great international councils of the world is anathema.

He’s a creature of union manoeuvring and he has one blinding principle – to scrabble himself into The Lodge by any means at hand.

Little wonder that the moment Albanese makes a speech that differs from the Shorten line by a hair’s breadth, the political world lights up with a technicolour explosion: “Albo’s making a run! You beauty!”

But will it change anything in the Caucus room? Time will tell.

If it does, then Christopher Pyne might well recall the old adage: “Beware of what you wish for…” robert@robertmacklin.com

BRIEFLY Preschool opens, school rejoices ON Friday, July 6, Emmaus Christian School in Dickson will formally open its newly refurbished preschool. The new $1.4 million preschool facility was co-funded between the ACT government and the school, which is a Christian co-ed P-10 school serving more than 350 students. On the same day the community will celebrate 21 years of education at Emmaus with a special assembly, where students will perform, sing and celebrate with their teachers and families.

Dance made easy DUTCH, professional, world-dance teacher André van de Plas believes dancing should be fun at all levels, at all times, for everyone. To prove it, he’s holding an Easy Dance Workshop at the Folk Dance Canberra Hall, 114 Maitland Street, Hackett, 10am-1pm, on Saturday, July 21. It costs $18 and enquiries to 6241 2941. The full details of André’s weekend workshop are at folkdancecanberra.org.au

Meeting with music SINGER and entertainer Peter Stevenson will entertain the ladies of the Gungahlin Day VIEW Club at their next lunch meeting in Nicholls, from 11.30am on Wednesday, July 25.

Lunch costs $35 and the occasion is open to visitors and interested ladies.

Bookings to 6262 2556 by noon, Monday, July 23.

Looking forward to an active later life?

Start thinking about it now.

Australians are living longer. And that means there’s a lot more life to enjoy.

Whatever you’re looking forward to, the government has programs to assist Australians to be better prepared.

The government is providing over $22 million to sporting and other local organisations to help you stay healthy, active and connected.

There are lots of ways to live the life you want.

Visit longliveyou.gov.au

longliveyou.gov.au

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.

10 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

BASTILLE DAY / July 14

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Music of the people who will not be slaves again EVERY year since 1880 the Bastille Day Military Parade is held at the ChampsÉlysées in Paris on the morning of July 14.

Bastille Day, the French National Day, commemorates the Storming of the Bastille in 1789, a pivotal event at the beginning of the French Revolution.

It also celebrates Fête de la Fédération, 1790, a celebration of the establishment of the constitutional monarchy.

The people of Paris stormed the Bastille, a fortress and prison in Paris, during a time of political and economic uncertainty.

Weeks after the Storming of the Bastille, at a session of the Assemblée Constituante on August 4, feudalism was abolished. Later that month, the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen” was proclaimed.

In France, Bastille Day is formally called La Fête Nationale (the National Celebration).

02 6260 6060 | 36 giles st, kingston | Tue-Sat: 7am-4pm

Lunch Lunch in in Canberra Canberra today, today, Champagne Champagne breakfast in Paris breakfast in Paris tomorrow! tomorrow!

Celebrating French food with local produce SPECIALISING in French-inspired breads and pastries, the Parisian-styled cafe Silo Bakery and Cafe in Kingston is a great place to celebrate the unity of France through French food.

“Our bread and our pastries are what we’re most proud of,” says Todd Fallace, of Silo Bakery and Cafe.

He’s part of the family run operation there, which sees him working alongside his mum, brother and dad, Angelo, who is the head patisserie chef.

Angelo, who has been baking for about 40 years, loves creating something from scratch, in particular croquembouche, which is his favourite creation. “[Angelo] loves baking because it relaxes him, he understands what standards need to be met and loves watching people enjoy his products,” Todd says.

He says Silo Bakery and Cafe specialises in using local ingredients to create dishes, jams, biscuits, rustic breads, pastries as well as a large range of tarts such as its vanilla Brulee Tart, which is its biggest seller.

“Our passion is for authentic food, based on produce from the bakery oven using local suppliers of fruit, meat, vegetables, smallgoods, oysters, truffles and wines,” he says.

Silo Bakery and Cafe, 36 Giles street, Kingston.

Call 6260 6060, email silokingston@gmail.com or visit silobakery.com.au

Who’s for a champagne breakfast in Paris?

DIRECT flights from Canberra to Paris mean Canberrans can leave at lunchtime today and be in Paris, ready for a champagne breakfast by the morning, says Active Travel’s owner Nick Carter.

But that’s just the beginning and Nick says France, the epitome of romance, filled with history, culture and a modern wonder of the world – the Eiffel Tower – has many different landscapes and things to see.

“There’s stunning beaches in the south, the opulence of Monaco, barge cruises, the French Alps and the wine regions of Bordeaux,” he says.

“Now, in the summer, it’s a great time for river cruises and a chance to go see the Louvre.

“Even though there’s big crowds, you get caught up in the excitement of seeing world-famous works of art.”

But for those with a love for the snow, Active Travel’s instore boutique of Club Med specialises in ski resorts, offering all-inclusive, luxury style resorts.

And if all-inclusive luxury isn’t for the traveller, Nick says Active Travel is still fiercely independent in its offering and will only ever offer suggestions that meet with their needs.

“We specialise in customising trips, not just pulling products from the shelf, so we can take advantage of any or all of these activities,” he says.

Active Travel, G16/27 Lonsdale Street, Braddon.

Visit activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783188.

Vive la France 1300 1300 783 783 188 188 || askus@activetravel.com.au askus@activetravel.com.au CityNews July 5-11, 2018 11

SCENE / around canberra

invite us / scene@citynews.com.au

At the opening of Vertikal Indoor Sports, Fyshwick

At Business After Business, Barton

Daniel Rex, Johnathan Efkarpidis, Adelaide Mourd and George Konstantinou

Saidu Kamara, Jeff Brewer and Dhammith Abeysuriya

Brendan Schmid and Jo Flynn

Anna Kovacs, Louise Mcdonald, Annika Basson and Maya Basson

Adam Brown, Paolo Bellini, Michael Stomps and Damian Von Demleux

Louise Straughair and Nathan Visser

Carmelina and Marco Castrucci

Jerry Basson, Spring Li, Thomas Preiss and Scott Kovacs

Cam Sullings and Ewan Brown

Ayesha Ali, Sarah Bolin and Jessie Mazlin

Tiffany Blyton and Marie Kugler

Larisa Medenis, Liam Gates and Annelize Jacobsz

Christine Marr and George Maclean

Andrew Sutton, Robyn Hendry and Scott Leggo

sundayROAST Stay in touch with the names making news on Sundays from 10am as 2CC and “CityNews” present Canberra’s only local weekend news and current affairs program.

It’s a revolving panel show that brings to the microphone great “CityNews” commentators and 2CC personalities.

Be part of the conversation and call 6255 1206 between 10am and noon.

12 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

SCENE / around canberra

Photos by ANA STUART

At the 2018 Master Builders Building Excellence Awards, Civic

At the opening night of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’, Civic

Jim Docherty and Tim Waterson

Stephen Phillips and Gabby Beard

Alana Romaniuk-Fry and Emily Davidson

Peter Leemhuis, Olga Lunow, Graciete Ferreira and Darrell Leemhuis

Angus Gorman and Aaron Hazelton

Debra Nowell and Nicky Bush

Cathy Salter, Ian De Costa with Alan and Sirirat Dean

Shannon West and Tara Cheyne

Irma and Mikna Milo

Darren McQuade and Michael Archer

Lachlan McEwen and Michael Latchford

Cathy Petocz and Hannah de Feyter

Skevos Mavros, Kareena Arthy and James Pearson

Jillian Kaleb and Amanda Kennedy

Paul and Patrick Hester

Peter Cumines and Andrew Grimm

Glenn Benstead and Ross Cunningham

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“ISN’T IT TIME TO TURN IN YOUR OLD RUNNING SHOES?” Two great locations in Phillip & Gungahlin

• Extensive range of shoes for Runners, Joggers, Walkers and Gym enthusiasts of all ages • Brands include Asics, Brooks, Nike, New Balance, Mizuno, Saucony, Hoka and On • Great range of technical running apparel which breathes (wicks moisture) all year round

Entrance between the Central Café & Gloria Jeans Café Hibberson St, Gungahlin 6241 7054

• Extensive range of nutrition products from Endura, GU, Hammer and Tailwind • Come in and speak to our staff of Runners, Triathletes and Orienteers with a passion and a first-hand knowledge of our entire product range!

Or visit our ‘long running store’ in Dundas Court, Phillip 6285 3508

Be ski ready

KEEPING fit can be hard over the frosty months, but winter doesn’t have to mean cutting down on exercise routines.

There are lots of ways to keep nourished and healthy in order to stay fit this winter.

Here is some inspiration…

Winter’s the best time to be running, says Nick SURPRISINGLY, winter is the best time for runners to increase their training, says long-time runner and director of The Runners Shop, Nick Walshe.

Nick, who’s in his late thirties, has been running since he was 15 and says people can go longer in the colder weather without their heart rate being elevated.

Nick’s passion for running led him to take over The Runners Shop in Phillip nine years ago and then open a second shop in Gungahlin in 2015.

“Our staff are all runners or triathletes, providing first-hand knowledge and passion,” he says.

Nick recommends that people change their shoes every 800 kilometres.

“Once people get to the stage when they’re running most days, it’s good to have a couple of pairs of shoes,” he says.

“Shoes behave like the muscles in your body, if you give them a rest between runs they’ll last longer.”

And if runners still need motivation to move this winter, The Runners Shop has been sponsoring the YMCA Canberra Runners Club for more than 20 years and will have a 5km and 10km fun run starting at Menindee Drive, Parkes, from 12.45pm on July 21.

Entry is free for members of the YMCA Canberra Runners Club, or $10 for non members and $5 for junior athletes.

The Runners Shop, 76 Dundas Street, Phillip, call 6285 3508 and upstairs 46-50 Hibberson Street, Gungahlin, call 6241 7054 or visit therunnersshop.com.au

Spa that’s ‘in its own league’ OVER a year old, Hale Spa, which is part of Hale Gym + Spa in Barton, is everything people have ever wanted from a spa and more, says spa manager Delia Waites.

Delia has been to many spas and salons around the world and says Hale Spa is like no other – “It’s in its own league”.

“Coming in with 17 years’ experience, and most of that time in my own business, I make sure all of our therapists are fully equipped with knowledge of what they are doing behind closed doors,” she says.

“They go through intense one-on-one training before they start treating clients.

“From product knowledge, customer relations, regular treatment training and treating each other for feedback.

“We also try other salons to know how we can do it even better.”

Delia suggests people come in and try their treatments such as a quick eyebrow tidy, manicure, pedicure or leg wax or, she says, stay longer and

Hale Gym + Spa, 10–14 Macquarie Street, Barton.

Email enquiry@halespa.com.au, call 6273 3101 or visit halehealth.com.au

Dentist dedicated to helping children

Warming up to summer through winter Pilates

KARABAR Private Dental has a new dentist dedicated to helping children to keep their teeth healthy.

The new dentist, who is trained in paediatric dentistry, is able to treat children under sedation with an anaesthetist present, says Karabar Private Dental’s oral health therapist and hygienist Koco Clarke.

“This is a good service for children who are nervous and can’t be treated in the chair or they need lots of work done and want to do it in one appointment,” she says.

“The price is affordable and people can use the $1000 Medicare Dental Voucher for children aged between two and 18, to go towards their dental fees.

Koco says the friendly and patient team at Karabar Private Dental is willing to make any trip the best trip to the dentist, so in the future people, no matter what their age, feel confident coming.

And then, Karabar Private Dental’s focus on aftercare is just as important, so people will have fewer problems with their teeth in the future.

CORE Essentials Pilates aims to prepare people for the warmer months in a healthy and progressive way during winter, says owner Sven Smith.

“Exercise has so many benefits and to be in a warm and friendly Pilates studio with professional instruction, Cathie Raymond, Sven Smith clients will see the and Anita Markey. benefits,” he says.

“It keeps you positive and energised making winter easier to get through. “[And], summer bodies are made in winter, so we encourage people to come into the studio and get working towards getting into better shape by spring.”

Core Essentials Pilates is a boutique pilates studio that offers personalised and individualised programs in a small-class setting. Classes include springboard pilates, mat, reformer, men’s and circuit classes, as well as private and duo classes.

Core Essentials Pilates is offering a new 7am class called Gym and Tonic that focuses on strength and cardio (gym), and pilates (tonic).

Karabar Private Dental Surgery, Karabar Shopping Mall, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 3760 or visit karabarprivatedental.com.au

Core Essentials Pilates, Level 1/14 Barker Street, Griffith.

Email admin@coreessentialspilates.com.au, call 0410 598542 or 0488 349747, or visit coreessentialspilates.com.au

core essentials pilates • Prevent Injuries • Correct Muscle Imbalance • Improve Sports Performance • Strength & Toning • Balance & Functional Movement

www.coreessentialspilates.com.au 0488 349 747 Level 1 / 14 Barker Street, Griffith Shops

14 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

enjoy hours at Hale focusing on whole-body treatments such as body exfoliation, wraps, advanced facials, peels and omnilux light therapy facials.

“All types of massage are available with our highly experienced massage therapists,” she says.

Canberra’s most luxurious day spa Hale Spa provides a full complement of day spa treatments. Immerse yourself in the cave-like spa pool, or dissolve away your stress in the steam rooms and infrared saunas.

Take a seat in the Scandi-style lounge in front of the fireplace with views onto a landscaped courtyard and water feature while you prepare for your facial or body treatment in one of the nine private treatment rooms.

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WINTER FITNESS

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Exclusive point system rewards effort not fitness FERNWOOD Fitness at Woden is offering a new, innovative heart-rate-based system, called MyZone, that monitors calories, heart rate and time exercising in real time and converts the data into Myzone Effort Points (MEPs), says club manager Vivia Hale.

“Myzone is exclusive to Fernwood Woden,” she says.

“The system uses a game-based platform and social experience that rewards effort not fitness, motivating Fernwood Woden users to reach their personal bests. club manager Vivia Hale.

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Fernwood Fitness began as a small club in Bendigo in 1989 and has grown into a health and fitness destination for thousands of Australian women.

Fernwood Fitness Woden, 21 Bowes Street, call 6281 7199. Visit fernwoodfitness.com.au

ELECTRIC BIKES from $1,500

Cookie’s big range of electric bikes

Hands-on approach to pain and injury

RECENTLY Cookies Cycles opened a second division of the shop, called Canberra Electric Bikes, and now owner David Cooke can confidently say he has Canberra’s largest range of electric bikes.

Located inside Cookies Cycles in Franklin, David says he has about 15 types of models on the floor, which include folding bikes, mountain bikes and commuting bikes, ranging in price from $1500 to $5000.

“Electric bikes are going to be a big part of the future,” he says.

“They’ve really taken off in Europe so I want to build them up in Canberra and get more people commuting to work by bike.”

As for fitness, David says electric bikes are able to maintain some level of fitness without getting hot and sweating – “like walking,” he says.

“People also use them in group settings to keep up with their friends or for off-road riding, so they have help getting up the hills, which means they can enjoy the downhill rides,” he says.

Even though there’s been changes, David says Cookies Cycles still has the same service as always – providing family bikes, scooters, skateboards and maintenance services.

“But now with a larger range of electric bikes,” he says.

HANDS-On Physiotherapy takes a “hands-on” approach to help manage acute and chronic occupational, musculoskeletal and sports injuries, says practice manager Liz Kell.

But, being one of Canberra’s original hand specialists, it also offers hand Practice manager Liz Kell. therapy following injury or surgery as well as management of Occupational Overuse Syndrome (RSI) and chronic conditions, including pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, is available.

“We can treat or manage injuries including sports injuries, wrist and finger fractures, elbow fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint replacements in the hand, wrist or elbow, nerve entrapment syndromes and osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritic conditions,” she says.

“We also fabricate static and dynamic splints for our clients as required by their treating surgeons or condition management.

“We have experience with Graded Motor Imagery in the management of phantom pain, chronic pain, CRPS and post trauma.”

Cookies Cycles, 227 Flemington Road, Franklin.

Call 6242 0338, email shop@cookiescycles.com.au or visit cookiescycles.com.au

Hands-On Physiotherapy, 1/43 Mawson Place, Mawson. Call 6286 6467, email admin@ hands-onphysiotherapy.com.au or visit hands-onphysiotherapy.com.au

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Canberra Electric Bikes 16 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

Phone 6286 6467 Southlands, 1/43 Mawson Place, Mawson ACT admin@hands-onphysiotherapy.com.au www.hands-onphysiotherapy.com.au

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CHARNWOOD / since 1973

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Homestead to home for thousands FOUNDED in 1973, Charnwood is named after the Forest of Charnwood in Leicestershire, England, and was the name of the homestead for the district’s first landholder, Henry Hall, who obtained a grant of the 1400 hectares of land in 1833.

The Belconnen suburb is now a place where more than 3000 people call home.

Shop 1, 23 Charnwood Place, Charnwood ACT

Caring nurse Melissa joins the team MY Medical Practice in Charnwood is adding to its quality, bulk-billing health care service, with its new practice nurse, Melissa, who has nearly a decade of experience working in a hospital.

Assistant director Amanda Coulton says Melissa is a great addition to the team and can assist patients in services such as immunisations, dressing and wound care.

“Melissa brings a wonderful set of knowledge and skills to our practice and we are delighted to offer her assistance and service to patients,” Amanda says. “[And she] has a particular interest in stroke awareness and is a keen ambassador for the National Stroke Foundation.”

Bookings can be made with Melissa on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9.30am and 5.30pm.

Other appointments with doctors can be made from Monday to Friday, between 8.30am to 6pm.

Amanda says the practice sees the development of continuing doctor and patient relationships as an essential part of effective, positive treatment.

My Medical Practice’s nurse Melissa.

But if the patient’s regular doctor is not available within the time desired, the receptionists will offer an appointment with an alternate doctor.

“We’re unlike other bulk-billing practices, we pride ourselves on our customer service and putting our patients first,” she says.

My Medical Practice, 7 Charnwood Place, Charnwood. Call 6258 0006 or search @MyMedicalCharnwood on Facebook.

Josh believes in the quality of the Blu-ray experience

PH: 6258 8054

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Henry Hall pictured in 1875.

STREAMING videos or movies still doesn’t compare to the excellent quality of Blu-ray, which is why Network Video Charnwood still has about 9000 titles, says owner Josh Mudford.

“We have lots of titles from different services such as Netflix and HBO but they’re all in the one place as opposed to paying for multiple services,” he says.

“We have a film-lovers’ club for our regulars, who pay a monthly fee for their weekly hires, which means they don’t pay anything for weekly hires and get 50 per cent off new releases.”

At the moment people can get there hands on new releases such as the latest “Tomb Raider” movie and Steven Spielberg’s latest science-fiction movie “Ready Player One”.

For Josh, science fiction is his favourite because films can do anything in the sci-fi realm.

But, he’s always happy to give recommendations and greet customers with a great service.

Network Video, shop 1, 23 Charnwood Place, Charnwood.

Call 6258 8054 or visit networkvideo.com.au

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS IN THE CITY

Looking to the stars for the Dark Emu

By Helen Musa

LOOKING to the night sky, south to the Southern Cross, you might see the Dark Emu. That’s the mixture of negative space and dust cloud in the spot where Scorpio meets the Milky Way and it’s also the title of Bangarra Dance Theatre’s newest production, heading for Canberra soon.

Bangarra director Stephen Page got the idea of creating a dance around this curious symbol of negative force from Bruce Pascoe’s best-selling non-fiction book, “Dark Emu: Black seeds: agriculture or accident?”, which depicts a sophisticated, rich civilisation in Australia preceding white arrival, putting paid to the idea of a simple hunter-gatherer society.

That stereotype of uncivilised man waiting to be civilised has been, in Pascoe’s view, a convenient lie for those who invaded the country – “The stain is deep in our chalk,” he says.

Page, in what he calls a “creative and emotional response” to Pascoe’s words, has turned the myth of the hunter-gatherer on its head in a 70-minute dance work, co-choreographed with Yolande Brown and Daniel Riley, that celebrates “the heritage of careful custodianship”.

The 18-strong ensemble of dancers tells interconnected stories in a series of thematic gambits encompassing earth, sky and ocean. A sample of the segment titles will give an idea – “Dark Spirit of the Sky: Looking into the void”, “Bogong Moth Harvest: Oiling and feasting”, “Trampled by Indifference: A scourge of hooves, of flies and disease”, “Whales of Fortune: The pinnacle of reciprocity, trust is shared with the cetaceans” and, finishing on a positive note, “Baiame – The spirit of resilience and hope, singing up the land”.

Author Bruce Pascoe… a champion for the revival of Australia’s first languages.

With music by Steve Francis, sets

by Jacob Nash and costumes by Jennifer Irwin, the company hits its straps in this formidable work, which succeeds “Bennelong”, one of Bangarra’s most important works to date.

Pascoe’s influence on the work is incalculable, but when “CityNews” caught up with him recently, he was modest about his input.

A Yuin, Bunurong and Tasmanian man who lives at Mallacoota, he’s made himself a champion for the revival of Australia’s first languages. He won the Prime Minister’s Young Adult Literature Award in 2013 for his teenage novel “Fog a Dox” and the NSW Premier’s Book of the Year and Indigenous Writer’s Prize in 2016 for “Dark Emu”.

But getting involved in a dance work? Hardly, until some of the dancers alerted Page to the content of “Dark Emu” and the pair met at a Sydney Writers Festival.

“According to Stephen, I said it would make a good dance – I wish I had said it,” Pascoe says. “But anyway, we got together, worked out an idea and then Stephen went away with his dancers and the writer Alana [Valentine] and I put something together… she is a very competent and experienced writer.”

Pascoe has stayed well away from the stage performance.

“People expect me to be nervous, wondering what will happen to my work, but I knew that they would represent my ideas, so I went along with it,” he says.

“I just talked to the dancers about culture and some of the elements.

“I don’t make much intervention into the dance, they’re good at doing certain things, so let them do it.”

But those central ideas were critical. The story of the Emu, consort of creator Baiame, is found in the lore of Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri people and elsewhere.

The “Dark Emu” he explains, is not a constellation, it’s the dark space near where Scorpio crosses the Milky Way – a dark space. To see the “constellation”, astronomers advise, you have to look at the dark dust-clouds, not the stars.

Pascoe sees a clear parallel with the narrative about Aboriginal culture and history, “looking between the stars, so to speak”. And between the stars, what you find is a full and rich civilisation.

“Dark Emu,” Bangarra Dance Theatre, Canberra Theatre, July 26-28.

Taking on the baddies south of the border DOUGAL MACDONALD

The challenge is to think small!

By Helen Musa “PIN8” is ANCA Gallery’s eighth fun exhibition where contemporary artists, designers, craft practitioners and makers of all disciplines to showcase miniature, wearable artwork – in the brooch form. Sculptors, printmakers, painters, ceramicists, silversmiths, machine-makers, photographers, woodworkers and glass artists are all involved. At ANCA, 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson, until July 15.

DAVE “Rod” Patten plays Rod Stewart and Shannon G Brown plays Elton John in the “Rod and Elton Show” coming to The Q, Queanbeyan, Saturday, July 14. Bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

Bangarra Dance Theatre’s newest production “Dark Emu”... depicts a sophisticated, rich civilisation in Australia preceding white arrival.

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“CITYNEWS” columnist and prolific author Robert Macklin writes with droll understatement that he’s had quite a week. To wit, his “Dragon and Kangaroo” history of Australia-China relations for the last 200 years went into its third printing.

Two of his earlier books, “Fire in the Blood” (depicting the “golden age” of Australian bushranging) and “Dark Paradise”, the savage history of Norfolk Island were signed to be translated into Mandarin and published in China. “And to top it off, I signed a film agreement with Hollywood producer Daniel Collins for a film or TV series from my first novel, ‘The Queenslander’, published in 1975,” says Macklin.

THE coming Scandinavian film festival offers original cinema from the Nordic region. It features the sellout Norwegian supernatural drama, “Thelma”, the story of a student who moves to Oslo where she discovers she has terrifying powers. At Palace Electric, July 11-29. Bookings to palacecinemas.com.au “LET All Men Sing” will feature a selection of songs old, new and quirky from the Canberra Men’s Choir. Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest, 12.40pm1.20pm, Wednesday, July 11. No bookings required, tickets at the door.

“JAMES and the Giant Peach” is Roald Dahl’s story about a young boy who lives with his dreadful aunts until, one day, something magical happens. Child Players ACT is presenting Richard George’s adaption for the stage at Belconnen Community Centre, July 12-21.

Bookings to 6257 1950, canberrarep. org.au or tickets at the door.

CANBERRA Community Chorale will perform a concert of British sacred music across the ages, from Byrd to Britten, chosen by musical director AJ America to ensure a variety of styles and eras. Chorale accompanists Lucus Allerton and Jonathan Lee will also give solo performances of British keyboard music. Wesley Uniting Church, 7.30pm, Saturday, July 7.

Bookings to trybooking.com

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CINEMA

Taking on the bad lads south of the border “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” (MA) THIS is a sort-of sequel to director Denis Villeneuve’s 2015 actioner about a somewhat clandestine US government agency tasked to eradicate bad behaviour south of the border along which Donald Trump wants to raise a fence to stop illegals from entering the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Directing the sequel is Stefano Sollima, whose filmography is mainly episodes of Italian TV series. The screenplay for both versions is the work of Taylor Sheridan.

Some say that both versions use the same screenplay.

So what’s the difference? Not a lot. But that’s not to deny the dramatic worth of either. The sequel is another blood-andthunder journey along a Hollywoodian path well travelled by Uncle Sam’s crimeprevention services. Both versions have Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro playing the same characters. Good guys. Brave.

Committed to their duties. On the side of the angels, although neither character shows much compunction about the pain, suffering and even mortality that they periodically deliver to bad guys.

This time, chief field agent Graver (Josh Brolin) persuades the Defence Department that the way to stop badness is to set the Mexican criminal cartels at each other’s throats. Tagging along is Alejandro (Del Toro) with a private agenda crying for vengeance.

Omar Sy in the role of Samuel and Gloria Colston as his eight-year-old daughter in “Two is a Family”.

The girl this time is Isabel, the 16-yearold daughter of the chief of the Reyes cartel. Played by Isabela Moner, this kid endures a lot, much of it unpleasant.

As actionist escapism, this sequel delivers fair to average quality. Its tensions are strong. Its action is vigorous. Its issues are straightforward. We are entitled to wonder when the next sequel will arrive, who will direct it and whether Taylor Sheridan’s screenplay will get dusted off again. If it works, why try to fix it?

At all cinemas

“Two is a Family” (M)

speaks both languages fluently without any crossing of accents. And to suit the requirements of this film, she has African ancestry.

Why would that be appropriate? Playing her father Samuel is Omar Sy, who in 2011 made his debut and an instant reputation in “The Intouchables”. He’s big, brown and beautiful and his acting is memorable. Samuel is a playboy at heart who comes to England to return baby Gloria to her mother (Clemence Poesy) who wants Samuel to take responsibility for the fruit of a one night stand 12 months previously.

“Two is a Family” is comedy with bite, offering an invitation to laugh vigorously and happily. The bite won’t draw blood. It needs thinking about.

Its progress toward denouement might make some wonder whether Gloria is so spoiled that future realities might bring anguish. But that’s far into a future where the film doesn’t reach.

At Palace Electric

IN 2013, Mexican writer/director Eugenio Derbez wrote, directed and played a principal role in “Instructions Not Included” about a man unexpectedly saddled with the care, feeding and raising of a three-month-old girl baby.

In 2016, French director Hugo Gelin got together with Derbez to make the same movie in French but set in London. The little girl (Gloria Colston), as an eight-year-old,

“No Date, No Signature” (M) In 1985, post-revolution Iranian films burst on to Australian screens with “The Runner”.

In later years at the Sydney Film Festival and occasionally commercially, more of them appeared – for example, “The Olive Grove” and “The White Balloon”. They weren’t just

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In Hotel Sorrento Hannie Rayson reaches into the heart of family relationships to reveal, gradually, the multiplicity of factors that both bring family members together – and drive them apart. A highly commercial and relatable comedy/drama this award winning play, which inspired the film of the same name, tells the story of three sisters who grew up together in the seaside town Sorrento.

WEDNESDAY 18 JULY 8.00PM • THURSDAY 19 JULY 10.30AM & 8.00PM FRIDAY 20 JULY 8.00PM • SATURDAY 21 JULY 2.00PM & 8.00PM 20 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

beautiful. They said much and it was worth hearing.

Fast forward to last year and this intense drama about truth, professional skills and ethics. Driving home, forensic pathologist Kaveh (Amir Aghaee) has a collision involving a father and his eight-year-old son. The father refuses an offer to drive the boy to hospital.

Next day as the pathology team is allocating last night’s mortalities, Kaveh sees that the boy is among them.

Kaveh’s colleague Leila (Zakieh Behbahani) does the PM on the boy and reports that the cause of death is botulism. But might she have missed an internal injury? The stage is set for a look at how they do things such as medicine, food sanitation and law enforcement in Iran.

Very much like they do it in Western countries.

I selected “No Date, No Signature” for review because I’ve been starved for Iranian cinema in recent years. Sitting alone in the cinema as I do for so many new films that don’t clamour mainstream virtues, I found it rewarding. Shot in colour, its appearance might easily be mistaken for monochrome.

But it’s not.

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COVER STORY / world curry festival, july 13-15

Chef loves turning on the curry festival heat

By Danielle

to Sunday, July 15.

Festival founder and chair of the Canberra India Council Deepak-Raj Gupta describes the event, which was born out of love for curry and culture, as “a celebration of good spicy food”.

With a focus on street food for this year’s festival, Deepak-Raj says there will be different fusions of cuisines of different regions of the world, which are not on the regular menu at restaurants.

“This event features stalls representing various authentic curry flavours from regions across the world such as Asia, Europe and Africa,” he says.

Across the three days there will also be a variety of live entertainment such as Bollywood or Africanstyle dance, belly dance and folk dance.

“Another program at the festival is the ‘Chilli Eating Competition’, which has gained popularity over the years with increasing brave participants and amused onlookers,” Deepak-Raj says.

NOHRA INSPIRED by his mother’s cooking as a child in Kerala, India, Canberra chef Arunkumar Asharikkandy has made a career from his love for curry and is excited to share his food, for the fourth year, at this month’s World Curry Festival in Civic.

Arunkumar, the owner of Garnish of India, in Civic, was one of the main sponsors for the first World Curry Festival in the ACT and says he loves sharing his curries there each year.

“The curry festival gives me the opportunity to serve our Canberra community with a variety of Indian curries,” says Arunkumar, 47, of Gungahlin.

“I enjoy when people come to the stall to taste and then appreciate my curries.”

Growing up, Arunkumar says he would hang around the kitchen and watch his mother cook and from then on all he wanted to do was cook.

He became a chef at 18 and has worked in several states of India such as Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Chandigarh-Punjab as well as Singapore and has been working in Canberra for 10 years.

Arunkumar says his all-time favourite dishes are still inspired from his childhood, which include crab, prawn and goat curries.

“I grew up in a place surrounded by ocean, so

Chef Asharikkandy’s top tips to make a curry great: • Always use fresh ingredients.

Curry chef Arunkumar Asharikkandy…

•U se the right amount of spices, for best results “Nothing tastes better that an authentic and delicious goat curry.”

Photo by Ana Stuart grind your own spices. seafood was always my staple food from childhood,” he says.

“Crab and prawns were regularly cooked at home, which made me fall in love with these dishes.

“I also love red meat especially spicy goat curry, because nothing tastes better that an authentic and delicious goat curry.”

Garnish of India will be one of 30 stalls at the World Curry Festival in City Walk from Friday, July 13

• For better texture and flavour cook curries slowly at a low temperature for a long time.

• Use meat with bones to give the curries more depth and flavour.

• Garnishing with spices and herbs at the end gives the dish a magical taste.

World Curry Festival, City Walk, Civic. Noon-9pm, Friday, July 13; 11am-10pm, Saturday, July 14 and 11am-6pm, Sunday, July 15.

DINING / the conservatory restaurant, national arboretum

High hopes high above the trees THE architecture is grand and the views, through gigantic windows, stunning. Our group settled in at The Conservatory Restaurant, perched on high at the award-winning 250-hectare Arboretum, home to 44,000 trees from across Australia and around the world.

The inspiration for our visit was to indulge in the seasonal menu (two courses for $39 and $49 per person).

The Conservatory serves contemporary Australian cuisine showcasing fine local produce.

When the dish labelled “mushroom landscape” arrived we were wowed by the plating. The dish celebrated all things mushroom and included a small bowl of soup, packed with flavour, mushroom sponge and custard. Other dishes looked just as gorgeous, including the tender crispy salt and native berry calamari, which we happily dunked into tartare sauce.

The native berry was a lovely twist.

Chef Janet Jeffs, in charge of Ginger Catering which handles the food scene at the Arboretum, has long been a passionate advocate for what she calls a “good, clean and fair food economy”. It’s why her cooking is based on fresh seasonal ingredients sustainably produced and

It’s lovely to see chef Janet Jeffs applaud local food heroes by crediting them on the menu. it’s lovely to see Janet applaud local food heroes by crediting them on the menu.

But back to the entrees. While the blue tartlet with caramelised apple, pecan and herb salad was divine, the Japanese pumpkin to me was bitterly disappointing. It was dry and left on the plate (staff didn’t ask why when clearing).

The two of us who ordered the coconut braised massaman curry duck legs for mains returned our dishes with frowns on our faces because we were keen on the promised combo of flavours.

But my serve of duck was dry and smothered with so much sauce it was overwhelming. This time the staff were on top of the problem and didn’t hesitate to offer other options.

We both ordered the salmon, agreeing it was a much better outcome and loving that the fish was cooked medium rare. The yuzu mayo, wild and brown rice, and charred kale rounded out the dish beautifully. It’s not a big

LAMB ROGAN JOSH Chef Asharikkandy says: Lamb rogan josh is from the Jammu and Kashmir region of India and consists of pieces of lamb with a gravy/sauce flavoured with ginger, garlic and aromatic spices such as cloves, bay leaves, cardamom and cinnamon. Its characteristic deep-red colour traditionally comes from the dried de-seeded Kashmiri chillies, however the flavour is mild with a beautiful aroma of spices rather than the heat of chillies, which makes it suitable for anyone.

The key to making authentic rogan josh is a blend of whole spices, which is what gives this curry its unique taste.

Lamb Rogan Josh is best eaten with rice or naan (Indian bread).

RECIPE Preparation: 15 min > Cooking: 1 hour > ready in: 1 hour 15 min.

INGREDIENTS • 2 1⁄2 cm fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped • 8 garlic cloves, peeled • 275 ml water • 10 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1kg boneless lamb shoulder • 10 whole cardamom pods • 2 bay leaves • 6 whole cloves • 10 whole peppercorns • 2 1⁄2 cm cinnamon sticks • 4 medium onions, peeled and finely chopped • 1 teaspoon ground coriander • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds • 4 teaspoons chilli powder • 1 teaspoon salt • 6 tablespoons plain yogurt • 1⁄4 teaspoon garam masala (Indian spices) • fresh ground pepper

METHOD OF COOKING

“Mushroom landscape”... the dish celebrated all things mushroom and included a small bowl of soup, packed with flavour, mushroom sponge and custard.

Photo by Wendy Johnson deal, but one of us had to remove a branded sticker from the lemon.

One memorable dish was the pappardelle, with a scrumptious mushroom and thyme bourguignon.

Our own comment was that the amount of freshly shaved parmesan on top was overly generous leading to food wastage.

The sides we shared were dynamite, including the fun parmesan chips with rosemary salt ($10).

Janet not only appreciates local and regional ingredients, she appreciates local wines. The wine list features gorgeous drops from Murrumbateman, Tumbarumba, Gundaroo, Bungendore and more (bottles start at $45 and glasses $10.50).

The service was slow even though the restaurant wasn’t entirely full while we dined. Still that made for more time to soak in the spectacular view.

The Conservatory Restaurant, National Arboretum. Lunch every day noon-2pm; breakfast, weekends 8am-11am.

Call 6130 0173.

1. P ut the ginger, garlic, and 4 tablespoons of water into the blender. Blend well until it’s a smooth paste.

2. H eat oil in a wide, heavy pot over a medium heat, brown the meat cubes in several batches and set to one side.

3. Put the cardamom, bay leaves, cloves, pepper and cinnamon into the same hot oil, stir once and wait until the cloves swell and the bay leaves begin to take on colour.

4. N ow put in the onions. Stir and fry for 5 minutes until they turn a medium brown colour.

5. Put in the ginger garlic paste and stir for 30 seconds.

6. Add the coriander, cumin, and salt. Stir and fry for 30 seconds.

7. Add the fried meat cubes and juices.

8. S tir for 30 seconds, now add 1 tablespoon of yoghurt, stir until well blended.

9. A dd the remaining yoghurt, a tablespoon at a time, in the same way. Stir and fry for another 3 minutes.

10. Now add 275ml of water and bring to the boil, scraping all the browned spices off the sides and bottom of the pot. Cover and cook on low flame for an hour (or until meat is tender.).

11. Every 10 minutes give the meat a good stir. When the meat is tender take off the lid, turn the heat up to medium and boil away some of the liquid.

12. Sprinkle the garam masala and black pepper on top for finishing.

Recipes for goat curry and butter chicken at citynews.com.au CityNews July 5-11, 2018 21

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GARDENING

Making the most of magnolias

THERE are more than 220 species of magnolias. The evergreen varieties are mainly from North America and deciduous, with their spectacular flowers, are native from the Himalaya to Japan.

At this time of the year, the deciduous varieties are heavy in bud with flowering taking place in early spring.

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There was a huge upsurge in the interest of magnolias following their introduction by the early plant hunters into British and European gardens from the East in the mid 1800’s to the early 20th century.

One prominent breeder of magnolias is the Jury family from NZ. Mark Jury has continued his father Felix’s breeding program of amazing new introductions.

Now recognised throughout the world, I saw some of the Jury magnolias last year in garden centres in England and Holland.

To name a few of the ones I’ve seen in garden centres here are “Black Tulip”, which does resemble a tulip; then there’s “Vulcan”, “Royal Purple”, “Magnificent” and “Sunsation”. Notwithstanding these stunners, there are hundreds of many old-fashioned magnolias still as popular as ever, such as M. soulangeana series.

NECTAR-eating birds on the lookout for suitable flowers delight in visiting grevilleas. These winterflowering shrubs give colour in the garden when it’s looking for all the help it can get.

There is an ever-increasing

The “Black Tulip” magnolia… resembles a tulip.

Give the birds a break... plant grevilleas.

variety due to continuous breeding programs. You could be tempted to buy some of these just for the name alone. Some examples include “Strawberry Smoothie”, “Raspberry Ripple” or just plain “Winter Delight”. I encourage you to plant these, even if it is just for the birds’ sake for winter food.

• Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as liliums now.

• Most herbs can be planted now.

• A task for a wet day, check the mower blades, change the oil for four-stroke mowers and clean the whole machine.

Jottings...

• Plant asparagus “Purple Phantom” to add colour to summer salads.

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22 CityNews July 5-11, 2018

PUZZLES PAGE Joanne Madeline Moore

General knowledge crossword No. 646

Your week in the stars – July 9-15, 2018

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Rams are fiery creatures and you’re in the mood for a feisty debate on Monday.

Instead, put your mental energy to good use as you study, do research or work out the solution to a challenging puzzle or problem. Then the Solar Eclipse shakes up your domestic zone on Thursday night. So your mind will be preoccupied with thoughts of entertaining, redecorating, renovating, buying property, moving house or rebooting a troubled relationship with a family member.

Sherry learns to handle the wage increase

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Disruptive Uranus is moving through your sign for the next few years, which will periodically shake you out of your cosy comfort zones. This week a relationship with a relative, neighbour, friend or foreign connection will be re-energised, as you find exciting new ways to relate, debate and communicate. Don’t be afraid of change Bulls! Be inspired by Harrison Ford (who was born on July 13): “We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Get creative Gemini! Boredom is a big no-no this week, as you search out unusual people, places and activities. You’ll favour excitement and novel ideas over your usual daily routine. When it comes to a financial matter or a business deal be cautious though, as the Solar Eclipse shines a spotlight on money matters and things aren’t as straight-forward as they seem. Don’t just muddle through. If your finances are in a mess, then it’s time to sort them out ASAP.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Prepare for a full-on week, as the Solar Eclipse fires up your sign. So it’s the perfect time to be proactive as you initiate an idea; start a project; update your appearance or head off in a completely new direction. Crabs are ruled by the silvery Moon so put aside some quiet time to tune into the romance and magic of those new moonbeams. Be inspired by birthday great, actor Tom Hanks: “I always look up at the Moon and see it as the single most romantic place within the cosmos.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Beware the urge to splurge! Venus shifts into your money zone on Tuesday, which can mean a welcome boost to cash flow. But it also increases your tendency to indulge in a ‘comfort shopping’ spree. Instead, put any extra funds aside to tide you over when times are tight. Thursday night’s Solar Eclipse stimulates your privacy zone, so slow down and contemplate where you’re heading… and where you’ve been. Solitude is soul food for you at the moment as you re-charge and re-focus.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Monday looks rather messy, as you discover you’ve over-committed time, energy and enthusiasm for a particular project. It’s a good week to re-formulate your goals for the future, as the Solar Eclipse activates your hopes, dreams and wishes zone.

Steer clear of negative thinkers though. Make sure you surround yourself with positive people who promote your talents and support your dreams. And that includes you Virgo… don’t get into the habit of talking yourself down.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Being a languid and laid-back Libran won’t suffice, as the Solar Eclipse pushes you to be your personal best, explore fresh horizons and go for professional gold. Venus and Uranus also liven up your romantic life. If you’re attached – plan something wildly exciting with your partner. Singles – don’t play it too safe. Look for love with someone who is not your usual type. So this week – when it comes to work and relationships – variety is definitely the spice of life!

Solution next edition

Across

2 To find the answer, is to do what? (5) 3 Name a highly poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid. (7) 4 What medal for heroism is awarded mainly to civilians? (6) 5 What are council charges called? (5) 6 Which term describes that which is the most stately, etc? (7) 7 Name the principal garments of Hindu women.

(5) 13 What is the offence of robbery also called? (7) 15 What are groups of four known as? (7) 16 Name the governor-general of Australia 1982-89, Sir Ninian ... (7) 17 What do we call an intellectual attitude to something? (6) 18 Which group of fish crowd fairly close together?

(5) 19 Name one of the various herons occurring Down throughout the world. (5) 1 What is the tympanic membrane more readily known 20 What is the head of a Muslim religious body as? (7) called? (5) 4 In grammar, what are derived noun forms of verbs? (7) 8 Which term describes an altar attendant of minor rank? (7) 9 Name the eighth month of the early Roman year. (7) 10 What do we call one who searches for water, etc, by means of a particular rod? (7) 11 Which things are used as packing for making joints fluid-tight? (7) 12 Name an Australian theatrical producer and entrepreneur, Harry M ... (6) 14 What do we call one’s social standing? (6) 18 Name another term for a snake. (7) 21 What is a self-propelled, lighter-than-air craft? (7) 22 To spread rapidly, is to do what? (7) 23 Which bitter alkaloid, obtained from opium, is used in medicines? (7) 24 What is a complete outfit of clothing, etc, for a newborn child? (7)

Sudoku medium No. 223

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

On Monday you’re impatient to solve a puzzling problem but don’t step on other people’s toes in the process. Strive to be more subtle and strategic. Lucky Jupiter moves forwards through your sign from Tuesday. So make sure you capitalise on the energy boost and good fortune it provides. Confidence is the rocket fuel that will take you places! It’s also a wonderful week to travel, read, research or study as the Solar Eclipse stimulates your gypsy gene and boosts your brain power.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Those around you can expect some boisterous behaviour from you on Monday, when Jupiter amps up your rash and restless side. So try to burn off excess energy via vigorous physical activities or outdoor adventures. And avoid putting your foot firmly in your mouth via tactless talk or an impulsive remark. Later in the week is all about the big two – sex and/or money. So expect a fresh start involving loot or lust, as the Solar Eclipse stimulates your joint finances and intimacy zone.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

If you channel all your energy into work-related projects then your close relationships will suffer. The Solar Eclipse urges you to nurture family and friends with the time and attention they deserve. If you are having ongoing problems with a loved one, be proactive about finding a solution. With assistance from the Venus/Saturn trine, Saturday is the best day to work on repairing a rickety relationship. Renewed commitment and plenty of affection are the secrets to long-term success.

6295 2844

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Solutions from last edition

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Sudoku hard No. 222

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018

Solution next edition

Crossword No. 645

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Mid-week is a marvellous time to pursue an innovative idea, do something spontaneous with your partner or fall in love very fast! If you’re involved with a group, club or organisation, then expect power plays or personality clashes around the time of the Solar Eclipse on Thursday and Friday. If your inner voice tells you something (or someone) isn’t the real deal, then make sure you act on that information. In a smart, subtle and compassionate Piscean way.

Sherry owns a hairdressing and beauty salon and came to see me about the recent national minimum wage increase, concerned about what effect this would have on her business.

I told her the increase started for employees on awards from the first payday after July 1.

"I should add that I am not an expert on awards but I can point you in the right direction," I said.

"As you employ your staff under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award, you will need to check that award on the Fair Work website.

"There is a quick pay guide that states the dates that the rates apply from. It should be straightforward for you to work out the rates that apply for your staff. If in doubt check with Fair Work who are very helpful.

"As you got advice earlier in the year about classifications all you should need to do is to change the pay rates in your payroll program.”

I also alerted Sherry to tax changes that might affect her staff.

"There are new tax tables which may need to be imported into your payroll program," I said.

"Make sure you download them otherwise tax will be miscalculated for the full year. I have checked some payroll programs and they have all updated their tax tables but I am not sure about all payroll programs.”

Sherry said she had been getting information from the Australian Taxation Office on "single touch payroll" but she had no idea what it was. "Do I need to worry about that at all?” she asked.

I replied: “Single touch payroll applies to employers with more than 19 employees now but for anyone with fewer than 19 employees it will apply from July 1, 2019.

"Your payroll program will include the necessary reporting information. I understand that the legislation for small businesses has not yet been passed but expect that it will be before next financial year.

"As each pay is finalised the information will be sent straight to the ATO as well as the superannuation information. The ATO will be keeping running balances for each employee and will be able to check that the payment summaries are correct when they are issued.

"For you it means that your payroll has to be accurate each pay period otherwise incorrect information will be reported to the ATO. I recommend that if you realise that you have made a mistake with your payroll let us know immediately so that we can help you fix it.

“This year is the perfect opportunity to make sure that you are happy with your payroll and, if not, it would be a good idea to make a change because of single touch payroll.

"While it doesn’t affect you, I should also mention that there are reductions in Sunday penalty rates so you may need to bear this in mind if you plan to change your opening hours.”

Sherry was grateful for the advice and said she would go back to her salon and check the payroll program.

"If we're not happy with it, I'll be back to see you.”

If you need help your payroll contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

You’re keen to rush things (especially relationships) but don’t barge in with guns blazing! The Solar Eclipse and Mars Retrograde (in your sign) urge you to focus on practical matters and finish details properly before you embark on exciting new projects. So it’s a suitable time to tackle domestic chores and proceed with DIY projects. Your quote for the week is from birthday great, writer Henry David Thoreau: “Haste makes waste, no less in life than in housekeeping.”

Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd

Listen to our tax tips on 2CA and 2CC (Chartered accountant, SMSF specialist advisor and Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic No. 229892)

info@gailfreeman.com.au • www.gailfreeman.com.au Follow us on Facebook

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