CityNews 181220

HOLIDAY EDITION, 2018

Well written, well read

OH, WHAT A YEAR! • Arts editor HELEN MUSA’s top events • Dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON’s top eats • Columnist MIKE WELSH’s 365 days of Canberra • JON STANHOPE’s single public policy issue – housing • The year’s top clicks on citynews.com.au •A ND a humongous, holiday jumbo crossword (and solution!)

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NEWS

The doctor knows best when it comes to gems

By Kathryn Vukovljak

STUDYING gemmology while recovering from cancer isn’t everyone’s idea of rest and relaxation, but for GP Danielle Klar it helped create a whole new direction.

Danielle now runs her boutique jewellery concierge Plumery in Deakin with her daughter Jess, and says she loves showing clients different gems and creating personalised designs.

In the years before her breast cancer diagnosis in 2014, she had been a high-flyer in the RAAF, the ADF, the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture and had big career aspirations.

“I loved the complexity of managing lots of people and large operations, and I wanted to be the first doctor who was secretary of the Department of Health, or the first female who was secretary of the Department of Defence – that’s where my goals were at the time,” she says.

As there was a history of breast cancer in the family, mum-of-five Danielle, 45, says she was used to regular check ups so when she was diagnosed she thought: “It’s minor, it’s early”.

“I didn’t talk to anyone about it, just told work I’d be away for two weeks. I really thought I’d get the lump out and it would all be fine but it didn’t work

Danielle Klar and daughter Jess... “I’d never have imagined I’d end up where I am but I’m very happy,” says Danielle.

Photo by Kathryn Vukovljak out that way,” she says.

Danielle suffered complications with skin grafts following surgery and recovery was slow. And then after almost a year, as she was thinking of going back to work, she started to get short of breath.

“I thought I was unfit from a long period of being sick,” she says. “Then one evening I had enormous chest pain and couldn’t breathe.”

Doctors said she had huge clots in her legs that had moved to her lungs and told her she was “all but dead”.

“I was so short of breath that I

INDEX Arts & Entertainment 19-21 Cinema 20 Crossword 23 Dining 21 Gardening 22 Holiday What’s On 9 Letters 18 News 3-18 Politics 8 The Gadfly 6

couldn’t eat with my mouth open or finish a sentence and, after treatment, I was back to total bed rest,” she says.

“I hated being a patient, I’m always busy and organised and things are happening, so to lose that control again was tough,” she says.

Danielle says it was at this point that she thought maybe she wasn’t meant to go back to work.

“The kids loved me being at home, they weren’t used to it as I’d always been a working mum,” she says.

“I began to feel I didn’t want to go back to a job where I was spending 80

hours a week at work.

“I knew I was capable of getting to where I’d wanted in my career, but I also knew what it would take. And I thought, what for? There are other things that make me happy. And that’s what I did.”

Danielle started her gemmology diploma by correspondence and says she was studying in bed, not being able to breathe well but still reading through her notes.

“I’d loved gems as a child but I’d never had time to pursue it with family and work,” she says.

“I started acquiring gems and mak-

ing things for family and friends, and Plumery grew over that next year. My husband Brendan encouraged me to take it further, and we set up the studio in 2017 by fitting out part of his medical practice next door.

“I’m having fun. I love the reveal at the end of the design process, when you’ve created something from a drawing or a painting and you finally get to see it. People have such different ideas about what they love and I can never predict what they will want.”

Danielle still works part-time as a doctor and surgical assistant with her husband, and has annual check-ups for her health.

“There’s always a silver lining in change, sometimes you don’t end up where you think you will. And that can be a good thing. You’ve got to look past that sometimes, and not get caught up in the loss,” she says.

“I’d never have imagined I’d end up where I am but I’m very happy.

“Maybe you don’t have to get cancer and nearly die to make a change.

I wouldn’t have changed direction without it, so for me that’s what it took.

Cancer was a new chapter, a sense of what’s next?

“And sometimes the next chapter is really sparkly.”

Plumery is open by appointment only.

Level 1, Equinox Building 1, 70 Kent Street, Deakin; plumery.com.au

Since 1993: Volume 24, Number 48

Arts editor Helen Musa’s top five shows for 2018.

Story Page 21.

Well written, well read

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365 DAYS

That was the year that was, Seven Days at a time ‘Seven Days’ columnist MIKE WELSH looks back at the highlights of a year of news in Canberra EMBOLDENED by a record “Yes” same-sex vote, 2018 loomed like a piece of rainbow cake for Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

Without an effective opposition, Barr could have expected to stroll unmolested through the year, triumphantly riding a shiny red tram down Northbourne Avenue at year’s end, the cherry on top.

But inexplicably he blotted his copybook, berating a mature demographic for its “small-town, 1940s, backwards mindset” attitude to skyscrapers around the city. Then got offside with the Fourth Estate with his “I hate journalists” and “I’m over mainstream media” confession.

MAINTAINING our mantle of a jurisdiction at the vanguard of change, we tested pills at music festivals, began to further relax our already loose marijuana laws and scored a big brownie badge as “early adopters” by allowing drones to ferry fast food and pharmaceuticals across our skies.

We also

remained ahead of the social media curve as the highest Twitter users in the land. And we smashed a record, giving the ANU the “Guinness Book of World Records” title of “the most people simultaneously looking at the sky”. The jury is still out on dock-less hire bikes despite a clear judgement by the starlings of Civic.

FEW cities can boast a genuine Royal doppelganger. Belconnen waitress and Meghan Markle look-alike Stephanie Murray scored two shots of global fame thanks to the May nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan and a successful downunder October trip. Still on copycats and Belco’s Owl (penis) has competition. Locals in Kikinda, Serbia, snigger at the phallus-like statue in their town but another – in the Welsh village of Pengam – apparently trumps both.

OUR trusty Federal reps stumbled through the year. Senator Zed Seselja as numbers man, miscalculated prime ministerial aspirant Peter Dutton’s support in yet another leadership coup and Katy Gallagher fell foul of Section 44 of the Constitution. In the “other place” Gai Brodtmann retired and Andrew Leigh was mocked by a shock jock.

Up went the fences at Parliament House.

Photo by Mike Welsh The starlings of Civic have spoken on dock-less hire bikes. Photo by Mike Welsh OUR institutions held their own. An “inconspicuous” 2.6-metre-high steel fence erected to keep undesirables off the roof of our seat of democracy was unveiled without fanfare as the house below celebrated 30 years.

GREYHOUND racing in the capital was “put down” but not before People’s Choice, a greyhound once known as Nugget won a string of races.

THE Australian War Memorial continued to stun, winning high praise and generous funding, peaking with the brilliant centenary of the 1918 Armistice poppy display.

THE PM’s XI failed to draw a crowd, but to be fair, the new captain probably had other things occupying the space under his baggy green.

FOR Raiders’ mentor Ricky Stuart, 2018 was “the most frustrating period of my career”. Not a complete loss: the dual international was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame and Mal Meninga was elevated to Legend status.

OUR on/off relationship with tennis brat Nick Kyrgios ended the year back ON after he returned home to conduct clinics with local youngsters.

THE man who did his darndest to drain the capital of public servants, Barnaby Joyce, confessed to doing some of his best work “carousing Canberra bars” and on “sleepless nights praying to a ‘special’ rock at Red Hill”.

TOP-secret documents found in a second-hand, rusty filing cabinet in Fyshwick exposed an embarrassing flaw in the system, making it “one of the biggest breaches of cabinet security in our history”.

The War Memorial’s brilliant poppy display marking the centenary of the 1918 Armistice.

Photo by Mike Welsh THE National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse brought closure for thousands, including Canberra man Chris who’d suffered almost daily for 60 years after being raped as an eight-year-old.

WITH a question mark hovering over which problematic and controversial public transport initiative will launch first, the much-revised school-bus timetable or the light rail project, Andrew Barr might want to bone up on Mussolini. A canny politician, even he knows he has fallen short of the Italian dictator’s (alleged) shameless political refuge of at least “making the trains run on time”.

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THE GADFLY

It’s time women ran the whole show THE suggestion for a women’s caucus among our female Members and Senators is a good one; but it’s only the beginning. The time has come to face the simple fact that men are uniquely unsuited to the business of politics. It should be an occupation reserved for women.

I’m not joking. Politics is far too important to be left to the fragile egos and testosterone-fuelled pomposities of men. They cannot be trusted to govern nations. They can’t even govern their own flailing vanities. And what’s worse, they conflate their own fortune with that of their country: “Après moi le deluge” (“After us, the flood”).

They have built our political systems in their own psychological image – as competitions with all prizes to the winner. They have divided themselves into teams with “captain’s calls” and parliamentary gamesmanship with little room for sensible compromise.

Worst of all, they have accepted the Clausewitz principle that “war is politics by other means”.

In fact, war is the abandonment of politics for a descent into savagery. But the male politicians speak of “glory” and “heroism” and “patriotism” to disguise the horror of war’s barbarity, its terrible inhumanity.

Consider the 20th century. The

I’m not joking. Politics is far too important to be left to the fragile egos and testosterone-fuelled pomposities of men. They cannot be trusted to govern nations. They can’t even govern their own flailing vanities. early decades were dominated by what men call the “great” war. Yet it was an appalling bloodbath over the German pique that others were enslaving more “colonies” than they. Kaiser Wilhelm’s uncle, Britain’s Edward VII wrote: “Through his unbelievable vanity, my nephew falls in with all the nationalistic toadies of his entourage who continually assure him that he is the greatest sovereign in the world.

“But because his cowardice is even greater than his vanity, he will cower before [the] pressure of the general staff. When they dare him to draw the sword, he will not have the courage to bring them to reason. Abjectly he will be dominated by them. He will unleash war not through his own initiative and not with militant élan, but through weakness.”

Unleash it he did. And 60,000 young Australians were

slaughtered. When the Allies declared “victory”, their leading men so scorned and humiliated by the defeated Germany that they laid the foundation for the next “glorious” war that slaughtered no fewer than 70 million people. And the maps they drew in the Middle East set the scene for the “terrorism” that infects the world today.

Does anyone really believe that women would have caused such horrors if they had been the guiding hands on the helms of state?

But enough of history. We need look no further than the two biggest countries on the globe today where China is in the thrall of a throw-back to its imperial past where the dynastic emperor demanded unquestioning allegiance from “his” people and tribute from “his” neighbours. And America?

Well… Donald J Trump.

Here at home we have watched in horrified fascination as male plotting has given us six changes of leader in eight years, including one woman urged on by the ambitious, ruthless men around her. And truth be told, hers was the only prime ministership that will be remembered – as it exposed the horror of twisted men preying on the children in their charge.

So, as 2019 beckons, let’s hear it for the Women’s Caucus. If only they could loosen the fierce grip that male politicians have on the levers of power, we could start a movement that brings the sanity of compromise and the greater good into the world. Goodness knows, the world needs it. robert@robertmacklin.com

MY SUMMER...

Canberra Liberal leader Alistair Coe is looking forward to...

• Joining my kids on the trampoline and jumping with them for endless hours.

• Getting things done around the house, but the item on the top this summer is to build a deck.

• Looking forward to watching many Big Bash games.

• Walking to Gold Creek with the kids as much as possible this summer.

Author Craig Cormick’s summer loves include...

• Sitting in the backyard and catching up on all the books that have piled up around the house over the year waiting to be read.

• Hanging out with family and catching up with friends; there’s a special warmth to summers around Canberra with the late afternoon light that lends itself to hanging out with all those people who have piled up around the house over the year. (Hang on, I’ve mixed up people and books).

• I really love that limbo period between Christmas and New Year where all the clocks and calendars seem to stop and one day just blends into the next with nothing special to do, except maybe catching up with people (and maybe reading a good book).

• Did I mention reading books?

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OPINION / ACT Planning Strategy 2018

Strategy signals end of hope for young families THE singular local public policy issue to capture my attention over the past year has been housing policy and land supply.

In some senses the recent and polar-opposite remarks of Mr Nick Georgalis, of Geocon, which dominates the construction industry in Canberra, and Chief Minister Andrew Barr are a metaphor for the incoherence of the ACT government’s housing and land policy.

On November 18, Mr Georgalis, who most Canberrans have come to see as the ACT’s de facto chief planning officer, waxed lyrical about the splendour and transformative impact of the towering blocks of flats with which he is endowing Canberra, and declared that as a consequence of the increasing dominance of high rise, the incremental densification of the city and the gentrification of the inner north and south that “the bush capital is dead”.

On December 5, Chief Minister Andrew Barr, in foreshadowing the release of a revised ACT planning strategy said: “You can’t sprawl outwards forever” and declared his determination to increase the level of in-fill in the city by reducing even further the piddling amount of land he has been releasing for detached and affordable housing, in favour of more towering blocks of flats, greater densification and the continuing social cleansing and gentrification of the in-

The strategy ignores almost everything that the community has told the government about its housing choices and will in fact deliver the exact opposite of what the community asked for. ner north and south in order, he said, to keep the bush capital ideal alive.

So there we have it. The ACT’s major developer and most senior politician are in furious agreement about current planning policy but claim diametrically opposed outcomes from its implementation.

I fear that when it comes to explaining the current intent and direction of planning and development in Canberra, which many of us have already concluded is the level of profit to be gleaned, that Mr Georgalis is a tad more convincing than the government.

For example, every time the Chief Minister talks about containing “the sprawl” of Canberra I can’t help wondering how Labor and the Greens rationalise their decision to build a massive housing estate, of more than 5000 houses, in NSW as part of the Ginninderry development.

To be fair, the Chief Minister would probably respond by explaining that he intends to resolve the obvious contradiction between the government’s decision to begin building thousands of houses on the other side of the ACT border, and its determination to con-

strain “the sprawl” of the city towards the border, by the simple expedient of moving the border. I can’t imagine how the Greens justify supporting the ACT government’s decision to extend the Canberra urban area into remnant lowland woodland in NSW but, whatever the explanation, it is sure to be a hoot.

It would, of course, have been wise before signing up to the Ginninderry deal, to resolve the question of moving the border through a comprehensive planning process involving the Commonwealth as well as NSW. Heaven forbid, if NSW or the Commonwealth decide, in the negotiations with the ACT which I understand are currently underway, to not agree to move the border to accommodate the Ginninderry deal. If NSW also declines to grant planning approval for the development, then the ACT will probably have blown a few hundred million dollars. In any event one would hope that any serious plan for managing the future of Canberra would involve a genuine and open inquiry and a rigorous exploration of all of the issues, including a change to the ACT border.

In this regard and more generally the just released ACT Planning Strategy 2018 is disappointing. The strategy unfortunately contains no detailed analysis or modelling of any of the social, environmental or economic implications or costs of the newly declared strategy of 70 per cent infill or indeed of its implications for the ACT Budget.

The last time the ACT Treasury undertook any detailed modelling on the range of scenarios thrown up by different land planning options was in the development of the Taxation Review report in 2012. The review found, following financial analysis and modelling of the economy under various scenarios, including where there are high levels of cross-border development in response to the cost of housing in Canberra, that there are significant impacts on the economy through decrease in output and consumption as well as net costs to the Territory’s Budget.

The strategy also ignores almost everything that the community has told the government about its housing choices and will in fact deliver the exact opposite of what the community asked for. Comprehensive surveys undertaken on the govern-

ment’s behalf by Winton Sustainable Research in 2015 reveal that 91 per cent of ACT households expecting to move house within the ACT would prefer to move to a standalone dwelling. Of the 9 per cent of people expecting to move to an attached dwelling none expressed any interest in a unit or flat above three storeys.

The new planning strategy will inevitably exacerbate the existing housing affordability crisis in Canberra.

It will widen the already yawning gap in equality and will likely have major negative implications for the environment. The strategy virtually guarantees a further large increase in the median price of detached housing and signals the end of hope for Canberra families who are not in the housing market and who are in the bottom two and a half income quintiles, or their children, from ever owning a detached house in Canberra.

Jon Stanhope was chief minister from 2001 to 2011 and represented Ginninderra for the Labor Party from 1998.

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WHAT’S ON / holidays

MY SUMMER...

The “CityNews” holiday guide to happenings and attractions around Canberra as compiled

by DANIELLE NOHRA

Labor member for Canberra Gai Brodtmann plans to...

EVENTS DECK the halls as jazz duo, The Old Married Couple, presents a “Very Vaudeville Xmas Variety Show” full of Christmas burlesque, live music and comedy. At Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Civic, 7.30pm-10pm, December 22. Costs $22.

Bookings to smithsalternative.com “LAST Minute Christmas Wine Market” is a one-stop-shop for wines, spirits, chocolates, books, plants and fresh produce – all from the Canberra region. On the Nishi Grand Stair, 25 Edinburgh Avenue, NewActon, 3pm-6pm, December 22. Email connect@dionysus.events IN the lead up to Christmas, City Walk, Petrie Plaza and Garema Place are alive with street art, decorations, festive lighting, a trackless train and a live Christmas tree forest. Until December 24. Visit merryandbrightcbr.com.au

EXHIBITIONS NATIONAL Gallery of Australia’s collection “Art Deco” features examples of Australian vitalism, capturing Art Deco’s fascination with the meeting of art, architecture and technology. At Parkes Place West, Parkes, 10am-5pm, until December 31. Free. Information at nga.gov.au “ROME: City and Empire” features more than 200 of the British Museum’s most engaging and beautiful Roman objects each

• Do my early walk around the lake when it is already 20C; no coat, no hat, no gloves, no thermals!

• Eat hot food on hot nights at Kopi Tiam.

• Take time out to smell the roses at the Old Parliament House gardens.

• Fire up the barbecue every night for dinner at home and eat outside in bare feet and sun frocks.

• Catch up with all the great exhibitions at our national institutions.

telling the story of how Rome grew from a series of small villages to become a mighty empire. At National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton, until February 3.

Information at nma.gov.au NATIONAL Portrait Gallery is celebrating 20 years, with 20 new portraits in its exhibition “20/20”. At King Edward Terrace, Parkes, until February 10. Free. Information at portrait.gov.au THE National Library of Australia’s major exhibition “Cook and the Pacific” revisits the extraordinary Pacific voyages of Capt James Cook, between 1768 and 1780. At Parkes Place, Canberra, 10am-5pm, until February 10. Visit nla.gov.au FROM Aboriginal times through to the establishment of the village of Hall in 1881, “A Tale of Two Villages” tells the story of the Hall-Ginninderra district. At Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Victoria Street, Hall, until June 13. Free. Information at museum.hall.act.au “AFTER the War” explores the personal stories of hope, loss and love of ordinary Australians whose lives have been altered by war. At the Australian War Memorial, Treloar Crescent, Campbell, 10am-5pm, until July 11.

Free. Information at awm.gov.au

FAMILY THE National Portrait Gallery has three free programs for children and families

over the summer such as its “Drawn In” program on December 26 where people can come and chill out, listen to the band Humbug and draw. At King Edward Terrace, Parkes, visit portrait.gov.au THE National Library of Australia invites families to drop in to read stories from the Dreaming, explore the science of Cook’s voyages and create their own story of adventure at the “WordPlay” room for children aged four and over. National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra, until February 3. Information at nla.gov.au EVERY Saturday at 2pm visitors can take a short walk with a ranger at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve who will teach them about potoroos and other important inhabitants of the Eucalypt Forest. After,

at 2.45pm, guests can join another walk to search for koalas and hear some stories about them. At Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River. Normal entry fees to Tidbinbilla apply. Visit tidbinbilla.act.gov.au

SPORT CANBERRA United is looking for a late Christmas present when it plays Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park, Walkley Place, McKellar, 7.30pm-9pm, December 27. Information at canberraunited.com.au WATCH the UC Capitals take on the Townsville Fire in Round 12 of the Women’s National Basketball League Championship at the National Convention Centre, 31 Constitution Avenue, 7pm-9pm, December 28. Information at wnbl.com.au

Singer to headline New Year’s Eve PACES, the singer who recently released his second album “Zag”, which features collaborations with well-known artists such as Guy Sebastian, is this year’s headliner at the free New Year’s Eve celebrations in Civic Square.

Starting at 6pm, Canberrans can see live music from family-friendly performers such as the Monica Moore Duo, Zackerbilks and The Po Boys.

There will also be pop-up performers and food stalls in the lead up to the 9pm firework display.

For people sticking around to watch the midnight fireworks, Transport Canberra has rapid services running until 2am.

PACES… playing at Civic Square on New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve in the City, Civic Square, 6pm-midnight, December 31.

Information at events.act.gov.au/nye

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This is Hit 104.7 announcer Gemma Maddox’s first Canberra summer and she has a list of things she can’t wait to do over the holidays…

• Ride around Lake Burley Griffin on the airbike, you feel so refreshed after exploring, it’s the best feeling.

• It wouldn’t be summer without ice cream, especially from Frugii Dessert Laboratory.

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• After a busy time, there’s nothing like catching up with the girls for a cheeky cocktail at Kokomo’s.

• Hiking on Mount Ainslie, it’s best to go early morning because it’s too hot later.

• Sunset Cinema, snacks and movies under the stars, what would be more magical?

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Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Making the most of downsizing Ken and Denise came to see me concerned that they may not have enough in superannuation and unsure they can contribute further funds.

"We have some assets but not much cash and we aren’t sure what to do so we would appreciate your advice so we can use our money better,” Denise said.

I confirmed with them that Ken and Denise were both over 65 and drawing superannuation.

"Your home is worth $1.5 million and is too big for you, so you are thinking of selling and downsizing into something more suitable and without stairs.

"Denise, your Commonwealth super is valued at $650,000 and Ken your Australian Super is worth about $600,000. You also have a rental property that you'd like to continue to rent out and a house at the coast, which it is your intention to leave to your children after your deaths.”

Ken said: “Yes, that’s right. We bought the house in 1990 as well as the coast house. Then our children won’t have to pay capital gains tax as they will receive the coast house on our deaths.”

I said: “the first thing you need to know is that the coast house will pass to the children capital gains tax free but if they sell or otherwise dispose of that property then they will pay capital gains tax based on the price your purchased it for.”

Denise asked: "Are you saying that as we paid $200,000 when we bought it and it is now worth $800,000 that there is a $600,000 taxable gain which tax will need to be paid on?”

"Exactly right and, of course, if it happens at some time in the future when the property has gone up in value then the amount will be even higher,” I said.

Denise wondered if it would be better to sell the coast house now as her children weren't that keen on it anyway.

"That's up to you," I said. "But the real opportunity is in the new 'downsizer contribution', which you both can make to superannuation and increase your superannuation annual drawdowns by about $36,000 tax free a year between you.

"You could then live in your new home without stairs and have additional money in your superannuation fund.”

"The downsizer contribution is limited to people over 65 who are selling their home, which they have lived in for at least 10 years.

The property sold must be your main residence and be eligible for the main-residence exemption for capital gains tax.

"Each partner can put in up to $300,000 from the proceeds.

There are no age limits as there are for making non-concessional contributions usually nor do you have to satisfy the work test.

"The superannuation contribution must be made within 90 days of the date of receipt of the sale proceeds. You only have the opportunity to do this on one property. As your super balances are both well below the magic figure of $1.6 million I believe that this would be a good option for you both.”

Ken said: “Thank you, Gail, that's a great option and fits in perfectly with our plans.”

YOUNG & RESTLESS / fast rail

Faster growth follows fast trains THE fastest European train travels at 400km/h, and the most cutting-edge technology from Japan reaches just over 600km/h, yet it still takes close to five hours to get from Canberra to Sydney by rail, a distance just under 300 kilometres.

Over the past five decades for the people of Europe and Asia, the sight of vast tunnels and viaducts are a part of everyday life. However, we in Australia are only beginning to use tunnelling and construction technology that will revolutionise our highways and rail.

We mustn’t settle for a network that takes 20 or 30 years to plan and construct, nor a network that runs at mediocre speeds of 200 to 300km/h, nor a network that runs along lengthy routes through every country town. No, we must settle only for an efficient, world-leading, high-speed rail network; with each stage planned and constructed over three or four years and trains that should be global front runners, travelling at maximum speeds of nearly 650km/h.

I believe that the first stage should be from Canberra to Sydney with a travel time of between 45 and 60 minutes, with train interiors designed like planes and

With political promises of faster rail travel time to Sydney in the air, columnist JOHN-PAUL ROMANO reckons its time for Australia to go even faster with hi-tech, high-speed trains fares sitting between taking the bus or flying.

The route would begin at Canberra’s future transport hub, the airport. It makes sense that the airport ultimately becomes the station and connection between air travel, conventional rail, interstate buses, light rail, high-speed rail and freight.

From Canberra Airport the next destination is Goulburn (78km), then Nowra (80km), Wollongong (60km), south Sydney (45km), Sydney Airport (20km) and Sydney Central (7km). At about 295 kilometres, this route may seem to cause difficulty, however, with well-engineered construction; tunnels, bridges and viaducts, as well as strategic development and growth along the rail corridor, the route would allow people comfortably to work in Sydney and live in Canberra or vice-versa.

Undeniably, the network will cost hundreds of billions of dollars to build.

In 2012 the government estimated the

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10 CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019

John-Paul Romano (@johnpauldromano) is the founder of The PURE Network (thepurenetwork.com)

SERVICES

Churches welcome Christmas worshippers AMID the chaos of Christmas, local churches offer services to remind us of its real meaning. Here are a couple welcoming worshippers with open arms.

Palmerston, on Christmas Day is a “special start to the day”.

“This one-hour, family service centres on everything Christmas is about, and what the coming of Jesus represents,” he says. “It is contemporary in feel and family friendly.”

Senior pastor Matt McGaw, of Fusion City WHILE Christmas is a holiday filled with wonChurch, is inviting all Canberrans to join in on its der and possibility, when it comes to the story of Christmas services.

Jesus’ birth, archdeacon Wayne Brighton, of the “Christmas is all about the hope, joy and purpose Holy Covenant Anglican Church in Cook, says that is found in the coming of Jesus,” he says. it’s a celebration of grace.

Fusion City Church’s one-hour 9am service at “Grace is a gift that can’t be bought but which is given to us by God,” he says.

Palmerston Primary School, Kosciuszko Avenue,

“By gazing into the manger, we experience joy as we remember how God’s presence has enriched our lives.

“Just as shepherds came to a lonely stable in the dead of night, we discover that we are loved passionately by God with all our imperfections.”

Wayne says Christmas is a time to remember the story of Jesus’ birth and to celebrate how grace changes everything.

The Holy Covenant Anglican Church, at 89 Dexter Street, Cook, is holding a traditional service at 8am and a family service at 10am on Christmas Day.

Sunday December 23 10am Sunday Family Service

If you need advice on the downsizer contribution, superannuation or any tax matter contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman.

6295 2844

network would cost $110 billion and highspeed rail projects overseas have cost $20 million to $70 million per kilometre.

Overwhelmingly, the project’s viability relies on its ownership and funding, which I believe, should be spread as 50.5 per cent to an Australian public/ private consortium and 49.5 per cent to an international consortium.

The introduction of fast rail in the next five years would revolutionise the growth of our nation and our great city; our town centres will become more vibrant, our businesses will thrive and our opportunity for new work will increase tenfold.

However, we need all political parties to pledge not for a viability study, but that they will get on and build it. Let’s shake things up and get on with creating a better future for Canberra and Australia!

christmas Day Service SUNDAY 23RD BLUE CHRISTMAS - 5PM

FOR THOSE FACING SADNESS AND LOSS

MONDAY 24TH KIDS & FAMILY - 4.30PM CANDLES & CAROLS - 11PM TUESDAY 25TH TRADITIONAL SERVICE - 8AM FAMILY SERVICE - 10AM

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(02) 6156 2497 admin@fusioncitychurch.com.au www.fusioncitychurch.com.au

CANBERRA MATTERS / urban development

When the government is poacher and gamekeeper DESPITE promises at the last local elections, urban development decisions by the ACT Greens/Labor coalition government remain very problematic.

Which brings me to the massive suburban development underway west of Belconnen alongside the Murrumbidgee River and across the border into NSW. Welcome to Ginninderry.

The project is promoted as an outstanding example of environmentally sound development. And that’s what it seems if you ignore its closeness to the Murrumbidgee, a key national waterway.

Before anything was built, Ginninderry was awarded Green Building Council six stars. I have never been impressed with this rating system, but you have to admire the developer’s efforts to improve environmental outcomes within urban developments.

This government has been terrible at ensuring environmental issues are addressed in the enormous amount of urban infill underway.

There are a lot of good things being done by the developer at Ginninderry. But it is hard not to notice issues around the ACT government’s involvement as a partner.

Most of what is built is scandalous environmentally as well as boring.

Given that the ACT government is a partner in Ginninderry, why aren’t similar levels of environmental standards required for all Canberra’s developments and urban renewals?

Only a month ago a developer was asked if solar-power panels were to be built on to towers for Woden. Nope.

Double-glazing? Nope.

There are a lot of good things being done by the developer at Ginninderry.

But it is hard not to notice issues around the ACT government’s involvement as a partner. This means that the government has the dual role as a developer dealing with well-informed and evidence-based opposition voices (largely by ignoring them) as well as the regulatory agent making the decisions on environmental issues and the planning and development approvals. No conflict there?

The list of questionable issues is

long. Was the development initiated as part of the long-term, urban-development strategy or simply a developer being very smart in bringing a sale to a government looking for cash? Why are we building across the border when the Chief Minister and his obedient ministers constantly talk up making the city more compact? Then there’s the deal whereby having paid for the land, the government joined with the seller to be joint developers and share the profits. Full marks to the developer for being clever.

The questions that stand out are the potential risks to future residents from fire as well as the environmental impacts to the river catchment through housing being built close to the river.

It is this final matter that is murky.

There are materials available to explain how there will be a buffer and friendly reports to back this up. The puzzle is that these questionable decisions have been made by the ACT’s coalition Labor/Greens government.

When the ACT Liberal senator, Zed Seselja, proposed urban development close to the Murrumbidgee catchment area in Tuggeranong all hell broke

Construction of the first stage of Ginninderry. loose and the progressives within government scorned him. And so they should have. So how is it now acceptable to have this development straddling the NSW border, impinging on the same river catchment system and impacting the Ginninderra Creek and the Ginninderra Falls area?

There are so many good things being done for the environment by this ACT coalition government – many of which the Greens have obviously pushed for. Yet when it comes to urban developments more often than not the same levels of care for the environment and climate become hazy.

Here’s a suggestion for any environmental-thinking politicians; there is still an opportunity to do the right thing for the future of the

Photo by Paul Costigan

Murrumbidgee catchment.

The developments on the NSW side nearer to the Murrumbidgee and Ginninderra Falls are not due for many years. This later stage could be cleverly restructured so that the buffer with the river system is significantly increased and no houses built out on ridges, thus lessening the fire risks.

It is highly recommended that you visit the Ginninderry showroom to see all this for yourself and then support the arts with a coffee and meal at the nearby Strathnairn Gallery.

Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the visual arts, photography, urban design, environmental issues and everyday matters.

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CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019 11

VILLAGE BUILDING COMPANY / 30 yea

Proud Travis says there’ ALMOST three years into his role as CEO of Village Building Company, Travis Doherty says he’s proud to lead a company that’s been in Canberra since 1988 and excited about the future of Canberra, “a place I am happy to call home”.

In its 30 years of operation, Village has created more than 15,300 dwellings and 4,155 homes across Australia’s eastern capital cities and surrounding regional areas.

“As a northern Victorian country boy, former accountant and banker, not a builder, planner nor a Canberran, it’s fair to say I was an unusual choice for the CEO job,” he says.

“But it became obvious in my first meeting with founding CEO Bob Winnel that there is more to Village than just ‘bricks and mortar’.

“A strong social conscience and belief in the inherent human and economic value of home ownership have been at the heart of the Village Building Company since it was founded by Bob Winnel back in 1988.

“And this remains the essence of Village as we work to modernise the business and respond to new and developing customer needs and lifestyles.

“Practically speaking, this is about creating places of value that connect people with their communities, building homes where people live and love, grow, entertain and celebrate life.”

He says the company’s 30th year campaign is about thanking the Canberra community for its support in the past and setting the scene for Village in the future.

“For us, the emphasis is on building foundations that stand the test of time, creating connections that grow with families and future generations,” he says.

“For our clients, whatever their lifestyle or life stage, we want to create a place where they feel safe; a place they can proudly call home.”

He says that in a “milestone year”, some things stand out: • Good things come to those who wait – in the property sector you have to be patient but one of our developments has pushed the business to new levels. South Jerrabomberra has faced almost every issue a development could face over the past 16 years.

In 2016, we had to go back to the drawing

board, rescind sales contracts and make some fundamental changes to the original development plan to get it approved.

So, it was extremely satisfying to finally get a DA in August, 2018, and commence land sales in November. We were particularly pleased to be able to offer those people who had purchased in the original subdivision the pre-release opportunity to buy into the new, restructured South Jerrabomberra. The first stage of South Jerrabomberra was launched to the public in late November.

• Community engagement is not a box ticking exercise – we learnt some important lessons about the value of community engagement in the pre-DA stage of the development of the former AFP training site in Weston.

Working with the Weston Creek Community Council in the initial stage of community engagement, the process identified some key concerns of the local community that have allowed us to amend draft plans accordingly.

• Self-awareness is a powerful tool – we took the opportunity in our 30th year in business to host a round of meetings with a range of our stakeholders – government, suppliers, partners and investors.

We explored perceptions of the market, issues, challenges and opportunities and their perceptions of us.

The feedback was mostly good but all very informative. We won’t wait another 30 years to do the next round of stakeholder meetings.

• Cautious optimism – The state of the property market is the subject of daily commentary – mostly on the negative side of the argument.

We remain optimistic about our position having a diversified portfolio across the country but also importantly within the ACT market, being one of only three states to record an increase in property values over the past 12 months.

What’s relevant now, however, is the market that lies ahead and with so much uncertainty despite the sound ACT market fundamentals, it’s anyone’s guess as to what’s going to happen.

Building the homes that connect our community.

Since 1988 we’ve built more than 18,300 dwellings, but to us it’s so much more than that. We have been creating communities where people live, work, laugh, play and simply spend quality time together. We’re looking forward to the next 30 years of connecting people. villagebuilding.com.au

12 CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019

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advertising feature

’s more to Village than just ‘bricks and mortar’ For our clients, whatever their lifestyle or life stage, we want to create a place where they feel safe; a place they can proudly call home.

– CEO Travis Doherty

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CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019 13

NEWS / popular on citynews.com.au

Speed-van secrets lead the year’s top five clicks 1

2

Revealed: secrets of the speedcamera vans JULY: When “CityNews” published an exclusive Q&A with one of Canberra’s unpopular mobile speed vans, readers were surprised to find out what exactly these vans can do. Did you know mobile speed vans can monitor six lanes at a time?

3

Obituary / Local artist with an international following FEBRUARY: Arts communities near and far mourned the death of Canberra sculptor Matthew Harding. He was 53. Mr Harding created many works of public art around the world and in Canberra, such as “The Cushion and the Wedge” in Garema Place, Civic.

4

5

Ad man Pawl Cubbin dead at 57

Ageing artists face increased poverty

Man stabbed at Macquarie market

APRIL: Another death, this time of Pawl Cubbin, raised the interest of “CityNews” readers when the advertising pioneer and founder of Zoo advertising agency suddenly died. He was 57. His death came a week after he told “CityNews” that Zoo would close its doors in Kingston.

AUGUST: John Wood was among the many who backed Melbourne arts and entertainment solicitor and author, Mark Williams, when he came to Canberra to argue that government industry services discriminate against artists who devote their lives to perfect their craft.

AUGUST: Jamison’s Trash ‘n’ Treasure Market, which is usually described as a popular family-friendly event, saw a violent turn when a man was stabbed. Police reported he was fighting with another man and later attended hospital.

TOP OF THE ARTS

REVIEWS

Here are the year’s best-read arts stories:

Best read reviews this year:

1. Danilo to walk the (Serbian) talk

2. Jess dances her way to Miami… and further

3. Dutton and Abbott star in this year’s Bald Archy

1. ‘Superstar’ engages the senses

2. Roll up for joyous night at the theatre

3. Lucy let down by unprepared youth orchestra

FEBRUARY: Born and bred in Canberra Danilo Jankovic was one of hundreds to cross Kings Avenue Bridge to celebrate his family language (Serbian) in this year’s annual Mother Language Walk.

FEBRUARY: Earlier in the year locals were proud of Jess Haynes, a young Canberra-raised dancer who was catapulted into a professional career with the Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, the second largest cruise operation in the world.

FEBRUARY: Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton were the stars of this year’s Bald Archy Prize, featuring in several entries. One, by artist Wendy Barling shows Mr Abbott as Gollum from “The Lord of the Rings”.

MARCH: “Dazzling” and “highly entertaining” was how “CityNews” reviewer Len Power described Jim McMullen’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”, saying: “Performances by the whole cast are committed and of a very high standard.”

AUGUST: Characters were lost in the gloom and, at times, the singers were overwhelmed by the band, but technical blemishes aside, Bill Stephens described “Barnum” as a superbly performed and joyous theatre production.

SEPTEMBER: The unprepared Canberra Youth Orchestra left reviewer Judith Crispin disappointed. Without singer Lucy Sugerman’s strong performance Crispin said the concert would have been disastrous. “She deserved better,” she said.

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AUSTRALASIAN BEAUTY THERAPY ACADEMY

ABTA offers more opportunities as they are the only beauty academy in Canberra to teach at international standard, and that was a definite drawcard for me. I love my course, it is challenging but the teachers are here for us and can give us lots of focus and attention.”

“I have a passion for teaching and love seeing my students learn

A decade on, Ping’s still helping A WORLD-class education in beauty and make-up awaits students at the Australasian Beauty Therapy Academy (ABTA), says owner and principal Ping Gan, who is celebrating 10 years since taking the ownership of the established beauty academy.

– Lara Connor, 18, beauty apprenticeship student

I am really enjoying studying at ABTA. The teachers are so helpful and encouraging! When I complete my Diploma of Beauty Therapy, I am planning on working on a cruise ship as I really want to travel with my job.”

– Arianna Venus, 21, student

Ping and her dedicated teaching team are proud to have taken ABTA to exciting new heights in industry best practice and globally recognised qualifications.

ABTA is the ACT’s first and only beauty institute that offers international qualifications, so graduates are assured of a globally recognised education with local or international career opportunities.

The state-of-the-art academy at Phillip has two levels of practical classrooms, including a make-up studio and a unique beauty treatment clinic open to the public for students to refine their skills in a supervised, professional setting.

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info@abtaedu.com.au 16 CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019

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The internationally recognised qualifications that ABTA offers provide students with the world’s best training, says Ping. The CIDESCO and ITEC qualifications are the world’s most prestigious qualifications in the industry and offer the highest level of training, says Ping who is also a CIDESCO examiner.

“The reason it is so prestigious is the examiner comes from overseas to assess the students. It is a strict but fair process.

“When employers see the qualification on the students’ resume they know they have done the hard yards to earn it,” says Ping.

Ping says that it was a dream-cometrue moving to Canberra from Sydney to own her own business – and she’s never looked back.

“I have a passion for teaching and love seeing my students learn new skills. I approach my teaching with commitment and care,” she says.

And Ping finds that many of her students come to her academy with the passion to follow their dreams.

And for those not 100 per cent sure, Ping encourages anyone curious about

a career in beauty – be that beauty treatments, make-up artistry for events or for film and TV, or nail technology to come and visit the academy.

Ping knows first hand, having started her career in electrical engineering, the importance of finding out what a person’s passion is.

The ABTA is accredited to offer apprenticeships through the ACT government’s program and is holding an information night on January 21 for school teachers, students, parents as well as salon business owners interested in beauty traineeships with government assistances and incentives.

Above all, Ping encourages young people to try and find out what they love to do.

“We are honest with our students and tell them that study can be hard and we will teach them a lot. But if I can do it, they can, too.”

ABTA offers diploma-level courses to short courses held during the day or evening classes. They include a Diploma in Beauty Therapy, Diploma of Screen and Media, certificate or short courses in nail technology, spa therapy

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advertising feature new skills. I approach my teaching with commitment and care.”

students to follow their dreams and advanced skin care.

The diversity of career paths available for graduates makes for an exciting future, says Ping.

International cruise ship recruiters annually visit ABTA to hire graduates for their luxury, five-star spas.

Other graduates have also gone on to start their own businesses locally and interstate, work in make-up and hairstyling for international fashion weeks and on the set of film and TV shows.

The teaching staff are leaders in their fields and ABTA is passionate about providing students with work experience, to ensure they are ready to join the industry on graduation, says Ping.

Often Ping receives messages from her former students saying “Thank you for making my dream come true”.

“Don’t hesitate to chase your dreams, you can achieve it,” she says.

Enrolments for 2019 are open. Visit abtaedu.com.au for more information.

Australasian Beauty Therapy Academy, Unit 2/32-36 Colbee Court, Phillip, email info@abtaedu.com.au or call 6285 4255.

We pride ourselves on giving our students the most realistic and professional learning experience so they know what to expect in the industry and how to build rapport with clients.”

Australasian Beauty Therapy Academy owner and principal Ping Gan… “We are honest with our students and tell them that study can be hard and we will teach them a lot.”

AUSTRALASIAN BEAUTY THERAPY ACADEMY

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Where: ABTA- 2-4 / 32-36 Colbee Ct. Phillip 2606 RSVP: Via email by 16 Jan. to loughnanA@sarinarusso.com.com.au @abtaedu

CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019 17

dose of dorin

WE’VE GOT ALL THE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS WHOLISTIC FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS F

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Puzzle on Page 23

LETTERS

Thank you, Paul and Michael URBAN development and renewal in a city the size and age of Canberra should be innovative, creative, exciting, visually and physically appealing, high quality and a source of pride for years to come.

It should be a beacon for others to follow and be envied by those living in large and harder-to-manage metropolises. But it isn’t.

Thank you, columnists Paul Costigan and Michael Moore for distilling the planning, development and renewal issues that have been causing so much despair and disappointment across many parts of Canberra this year.

Most of these issues should never have had to be written about, let alone have required, time and time again, various inputs and statements about “the bleeding obvious” by numerous individuals and community associations.

So many do care very much about the quality, design and adherence to standards that should be aiming to improve the changing environment in which we live, work and welcome others, in far more transparent and integrated ways.

Hopefully, by early 2019 the two responsible ministers will take the opportunity to lead the charge and bring about a discernible and lasting change to the culture, approach and vision that is needed to turn around the “here and now” development that is occurring across our city with little evidence of adequate attention being paid to the longer-term impacts on current and future residents.

Sue Dyer, Downer

The article’s author Sophie Heizer said: “Don’t you deserve the credit for buying all the presents” and psychologist Ameneh Shahaeian said: ”You bought those presents; you should take the kudos”. The idea is not for kudos to be sought by the parents but to see the delight on the kids’ faces when they get a present from Santa.

Vi Evans via email

‘Apologist’ for glyphosate I WAS disappointed to read another letter from Matthew Cossey, from CropLife (CN, December 13). This man is like the apologists for tobacco companies who argued for years that smoking was not hazardous to health! He is trying to do the same with glyphosate.

In his previous letter he claimed that “not one country around the world has a ban on the use of glyphosate” yet a quick internet search will show that at least 13 countries have such bans in place, and others are contemplating doing the same. He lauds the US for not having banned it but 17 states, including California, have done so independently of their national regulatory agency.

At least he almost acknowledges that use of glyphosate may be hazardous when he writes that “well-managed hazards do not become risks”. Is he angling to be able to say in the future that we advised users of the risks but if they chose not to use it properly, then it’s not our fault?

David Hobson, via email

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Cancelled: Christmas in Civic Ask the Europeans

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18 CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019

THREE years ago it took two months to build a Christmas tree outside the Canberra Centre.

Two years ago they made a permanent hole for it… shorter set-up time.

Last year it moved to Glebe Park.

This year… zip… not a Christmas decoration in sight in City Walk.

Who cancelled Christmas in Civic?

I HOPE that the assertion by Collis Parrett (CN, letters, December 6) that voters aren’t interested in slowing the growth of government expenditure and getting the Budget back in balance is not true.

The one “crime” that any democratically elected government can commit is failure to balance the Budget and subjecting future generations to an unacceptable debt burden – ask any current European leader.

Robert Smith, Kambah

Peter Claughton, Farrer

All kids have fantasies!

Smokin’ out of Space

Re “The Santa myth: do you tell them lies or not?” (CN, December 13): if these are the experts from any field I worry what is happening in this world.

I remember going to visit Santa when I was little and he was very special and I have absolutely no adverse effects from believing in him.

All kids have fantasies whether it’s an invisible friend or pet. It encourages their imagination. Sometimes they imagine a ghost or ghoul in their wardrobe, explaining this away with a nice fantasy is better than telling them it is in their imagination.

LOCATING the Space Agency in SA instead of Canberra is eminently sensible.

The troposphere starts at the Earth’s surface and is the densest of the spheres. The Space authorities realise that before very long the ACT government will move to legalise marijuana use. As dense as the troposphere may be, the increasing clouds of cannabis smoke and the honey-pot effect in coming years will make driving to work too hazardous, let alone achieving reliable space information!

Colliss Parrett, Barton

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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spend summer by the water with the best view in Canberra

National Motor Museum curator Michelangelo Bolognese with a 1962 EJ Holden station wagon from the first series of “Bush Mechanics”.

Photo by Andrew Castellucci

Bonnet up on bush mechanics

OPEN 7 DAYS

MONDAY - FRIDAY 9AM - 5PM

By Helen Musa

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 9AM - 4PM

MICHELANGELO Bolognese loves Ferraris, but never managed to get a job with the prestigious car firm.

So the logical career move was to become a curator with the National Motor Museum in SA. That’s exactly what happened and he’s brought a unique exhibition to the National Museum of Australia over summer.

It celebrates the ingenuity and imagination seen in the TV series, “Bush Mechanics”, first aired on ABC TV in 2001 and reaching more than three million viewers. It is credited with having been one of the first media programs to be in an Aboriginal language and much of the dialogue is in Warlpiri and Kriol.

The series, an indigenous take on motor mechanics, was directed by David Batty and produced by the Warlpiri Media Association, which follows a bunch of Aboriginal people from Yuendumu fixing cars as they cross the desert in their clapped-out vehicles.

Bush mechanics make do with what they have and audiences watched them solving various car problems with wild and wacky bush-repair techniques, turning branches, spinifex and sand into tools and spare parts to get cars back on the road.

Bolognese first saw it as a boy and was hooked. “‘Bush Mechanics’ was one of the first TV shows I saw in Australia,” he tells “CityNews”.

“I was completely blown away, as a young Italian suburbanite, I’d never seen anything like it… then it lay dormant in my mind for a decade or so.”

His own love affair with Australia is complicated.

Born here while his father lectured in languages at Flinders University, he repatriated with his family to the mediaeval city of Altamura in Southern Italy, where he did his basic education. He returned, but says he is the only one among his six siblings to set up a permanent base in Australia.

“I’ve Aussified very well and it helps that I’m quite good at languages,” he explains.

Like a good Italian boy, he was passionate

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Filming the 1962 EJ Holden station wagon in the first series of “Bush Mechanics”. about cars, devoured car magazines and yearned to work at Ferrari. To that end, he later took out a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Adelaide.

Although he still had Ferrari lights in his eyes, his talent for tinkering around with cars was ordinary, so he enrolled in a history degree at the same university and looked around for jobs that might combine his passions.

“After I began working in museums, I got an interview at the National Motor Museum and it was then I suggested to them that they do a show based on ‘Bush Mechanics’,” he says.

The rest is history. “Bush Mechanics: The Exhibition” was developed by the museum in collaboration with the Warlpiri community in the NT and PAW Media, which had produced the TV series.

In Bolognese’s view, the show will appeal to city people and younger people who’ve never heard of the show.

The process involved a steep learning curve.

“We Australians who live in the city don’t have any contact with Aboriginal people and how they live, but I found that in the Territory it’s great, there are a lot of welcoming, friendly and outgoing people to help,” he says.

It’s an interactive show, featuring original

footage from the series, figurines from the “Bush Mechanics” Claymation collection and, above all, vehicles.

An amazing 1962 EJ Holden station wagon is on show at the NMA, which serendipitously had acquired it in 2003 from Francis Jupurrurla Kelly, the owner of the car and the co-director of the series.

In Episode One, the decrepit EJ, with the Yuendumu band’s instruments on its roof, fell apart. The bush mechanics chopped the roof off with an axe and turned it into a trailer.

Then there’s the 1972 ZF Fairlane which has the Warlpiri “Ngapa tjukurpa” sacred water dreaming image all over it.

“A strong element of the story was to do with Warlpiri culture, as the journeys replicated the ancient trading route from the desert to Broome, so an elder from Yuendumu came up with the water dreaming drawing,” Bolognese says.

Bolognese still tinkers a bit, despite derisive snorts from his friends.

“I’ve been restoring a 1970 Vespa and just sent it off to the paint shop,” he says, “I suppose the bush mechanics inspired a bit of jealousy in me.”

“Bush Mechanics: The Exhibition”, National Museum of Australia, until February 24. Free.

www.ruthdoddartist.com

12 DECEMBER 2018 to 13 JANUARY 2019 ANBG VISITOR CENTRE GALLERY Open: 7 Days 9:30am to 4:30pm (Closed Xmas Day)

Clunies Ross St, Acton, ACT. Ph: 02 6250 9540 CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019 19

CINEMA

All no-holds-barred, holiday escapist action “Peppermint” (MA) EMERGING from seeing Pierre Morel’s no-holds-barred actioner about revenge regardless of moral or ethical justification, I vox-popped a pair of sprightly ladies who clearly fitted into the certain age cohort about which no gentleman inquires.

“What did you think of it?”

“We enjoyed it.”

That was an agreeable surprise. I, too, liked it. Chad St John’s third screenplay augurs promisingly as it unfolds a large-scale demonstration of the proverb about revenge being a dish best served (some versions say enjoyed) cold.

In the me-too era, it’s agreeable to have a violent story that invites its audience to cheer for a female principal character while wondering about the ethics of her actions.

Jennifer Garner plays wife and mother Riley North who, while enjoying a family visit to a Los Angeles amusement park to celebrate her daughter’s tenth birthday just before Christmas five years ago, survives a murderous gangland attack.

The cops ask her to ID the shooters who go on trial before a judge who’s clearly been got at by a defence attorney with access to big money.

Fast-forward to

Jennifer Garner, who plays wife and mother Riley North, in “Peppermint”. five years later, during which nobody knows where Riley is or what she’s been doing. The two LAPD detectives originally assigned to the case (John Gallagher Jr and John Ortiz) know there’s criminality lurking in the department but not the culprit’s name. They and we in the audience must wait while they beaver away trying fruitlessly to solve the case. Riley is not under any such restraints.

About two-thirds of “Peppermint” involves Riley’s campaign to get justice. It’s tough stuff, taking no prisoners as it moves among Skid Row’s paupers and the mansions

of Malibu where criminal big-shot (Juan Pablo Raba) commands the loyalty of a phalanx of goons all willing to die at his behest.

The film delivers Riley’s campaign for justice vigorously and with loads of style. Their boss pays for the bullets that the goons spread copiously around wherever their targets happen to be. Buying her own ammo, Riley’s mostly a one-shot-per-goon lady. In his house she braces the judge who acquitted the original trio of shooters, nails his hands to his desk and ties him to a chair with yellow cord. I recognised the cord’s real function. It’s a real blast!

“Peppermint” is effective summer holiday escapist cinema, making few

demands of its audience, which it reimburses in satisfactions calculated at compound rates.

At Dendy, Capitol 6 and Hoyts

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (PG) DRAT! I forgot to pick up the spray-can of insecticide before leaving home to see joint directors Bob Persichetti and Peter Ramsay’s foray into fantasyland in search of a serious message delivered by an arachnid with human form.

Purists may cavil or quibble with the word “insecticide” in connection with spiders.

Spiders are not insects. But insecticides work

as efficiently on spiders as they do on insects.

The target audience for Spider-Man movies rather depends on the viewer’s movie-going experience and tastes. Its live-action Spidery predecessors are straight-out actioners in which a human, having been bitten by a spider, learns to morph into a comic-book hero whose penchant is to run around the city confronting and destroying wickedness. Comic-book heroes can do anything their creators want, on either paper or film. Credibility isn’t a problem.

When comic-book users grow up, hopefully they will discover real books that tell stories with words, not pictures, and live happily ever after. People, for whom translating all those words into narrative is difficult, find it easier to get their stories from pictures. Persichetti and Ramsay have crafted an animated thriller that takes 117-minutes to deliver the kind of movie with which members of that group feel comfortable.

If that’s you, don’t be embarrassed. Enjoy the movie, as the box-office person routinely implores you to do as she or he takes your money and delivers your ticket. I spoke with such a person as I moved from the cinema showing this Spider-Man to the one screening the day’s next movie. We agreed that we’d found animated Spider-Man to be tedious, even soporific.

At all cinemas

Follow DOUGAL MACDONALD’s reviews of the best in new movies all over the holidays at citynews.com.au

ARTS IN THE CITY

Opera’s fireworks offstage

By Helen

MUSA OPERA Australia tells us there are still seats available for “The Opera Gala”, featuring favourites

by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and more, in Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall, 7.45pm, on December 31. Interval is timed for the 9pm fireworks. Book at opera.org.au THE Canberra Comedy Festival will run March 18-24 with more than 60 shows and a long-overdue return visit from Irish comedian Jimeoin, returning to town for the first time in years. Associate director James Stevenson advises early bookings, as it packs out quickly to canberratheatecentre.com.au “MUSICAL Mania”, Budding Theatre’s five-day holiday program, January 21-25, for ages 8-14, will see performers create a musical variety show featuring songs from popular musicals such as “The Sound of Music”, “Mary Poppins”, “The Wizard of Oz” and “High School Musical”.

Book at buddingtheatre.com GLOBE-trotting, Canberra-raised dancer and choreographer James Batchelor tells us he’s looking forward to being home more in Canberra next year and sharing 20 CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019

Irish comedian Jimeoin… back for the Comedy Festival. his new creations, including “Hyperspace” made in 2018 during residencies in Nottingham, UK, and Bassano del Grappa, Italy, and a new, full-length creation for Quantum Leap at The Playhouse with the full ensemble, premiering in August.

ENTRIES are now open for River of Art Festival running down at the coast from May 17 to 27. The event opens with an exhibition at the new Basil Sellers art space near Eurobodalla Council Chambers and ends with the Busking Championships in Narooma. Arts organisa-

tions and individuals can register at riverofart.com.au THE National Institute of Dramatic Art is bringing “NIDA Open” short courses for children, youth and adults, to Canberra. Ages seven and up can build on-screen confidence, develop improvisation skills and explore wacky characters with guidance from professionals. Adults can develop basic acting skills such as improvisation, voice and movement, or even learn Stanislavski acting basics. At Canberra College Performing Arts Centre, January 19–25, book at nida.edu.au/summer

MY SUMMER...

2018 / THE CRITICS’ CHOICE

The arts editor’s top picks for 2018 Arts editor HELEN MUSA shares her five “knock-yer-socks-off” arts happenings for 2018.

THERE’S nothing tame about any of these electrifying arts events, yet nothing selfaggrandising. All were created by artists at the very peak of their practice, these exhibitions, concerts and shows thrilled, shocked and, above all, engaged with viewers and listeners. They all really meant something.

• “Another Day in Paradise”, paintings by Myuran Sukumaran, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, March-April.

Myuran Sukumaran, one of the “Bali Nine”, had been long-executed by the time his poignant and provocative exhibition was hung, evoking a sense of hope and reconciliation along with the sense of futility at a life wasted.

• “RED”, Liz Lea, at QL2 Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre, March.

“CityNews” Artist of the Year 2017, dancer Liz Lea performed works by herself and other choreographers to illuminate through comedy and burlesque a painful medical condition.

• “Tao Po: is anybody home?” The Street Theatre, September.

In “Tao Po”, Filipina political satirist and stand-up comedienne Mae Paner left the audience dumbstruck by her close-up and personal portrayal of victims and one perpetrator of what all Filipinos know as “EJK” – Extra Judicial Killings.

• Summer in Canberra is a mix between staying in Canberra with friends, leaving for day trips to the coast and family tours.

• However, this summer will have me trying to capture on camera an elusive rainbow as the subjects of my film “Family” walk past Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet on Lake Burley Griffin while pushing baby Eva (the star of the film) in her pram.

• As well as working on “Family”, I’ll be spending time with my own family.

• Summer is an opportunity to try and further my children’s cricket skills, endless lawn mowing and running through water fountains in the backyard.

• What I enjoy most of all is the drawn-out weekend afternoons sitting on the deck enjoying a beer and talking through every crazy idea I have in my head with my wife.

ABC radio presenter and TV news anchor Dan Bourchier’s summer priorities are...

• “Beowulf”, Benjamin Bagby, Fitters’ Workshop, for Canberra International Music Festival, May. English bard Benjamin Bagby showed us, in AngloSaxon (with surtitles) of all things, what storytelling could be, reaching deep into our collective unconscious with his terrifying account of the hero who slaughters a monstrous cannibal.

• “The Diggers’ Requiem”, Llewellyn Hall, October.

Grandiose in scale, Christopher Latham’s musical tribute to the Aussie Diggers of World War I brought six composers, solo and choral singers and instrumentalists together to create a profoundly moving concert.

Wendy’s top eateries of the year FOR 14 years I’ve been munching my way through Canberra’s food scene. It’s just as well I don’t suffer from indigestion. Now, as 2018 draws to a close, it’s time to dish up my top five picks for the year.

Two take us out of town, two are newbies and one has been around for a bit. Here they are, in no special order. Remember, menus may have changed since my visit.

Momoda, Northbourne Avenue, hit the dining scene with a bang this year.

A sister establishment to fine-dining Wild Duck, Kingston, Momoda serves casual Chinese street food served with affection (Momoda means “kiss-kiss”). Start with a liquid-adventure cocktail and then share dishes for the full Momoda experience. The Mongolian kangaroo spring rolls were sensational and the crunchy Taiwanese chicken wings with salty egg yolk and hundredspice salt addicting.

Another place that burst on to the scene is Baby Su, No Name Lane precinct, Civic. This is also a sister restaurant to Braddon’s Lazy Su. The baby version offers great gins and whiskeys and the service is uber quick. Chow down on the Korean fried chicken burger with spicy gochujang glaze, cheese, lettuce, ssäm mayo, and Japanese barbecue sauce. The wafflecut fries are a must and you can’t go wrong with the slow-cooked beef short rib rice bowl.

When in Watson, dine at Lolo and Lola, a Filipino eatery. Lolo means “grandfather” in Filipino and lola “grandmother”. The food celebrates

“CityNews” artist of the year, filmmaker Kim Beamish says…

One of Canberra’s most-experienced food critics and this paper’s longest-serving columnist, WENDY JOHNSON indulges herself with her five top eating experiences for 2018 family, tradition and the unique flavours and colours that showcase Filipino cuisine, including purple chiffon yam cake. The beef curry is fragrant and loaded with meat, capsicum, peas and secret spices. Our tastebuds boogied over the pork bagnet, super crispy outside and beautifully tender inside.

Braddon’s Baked is a sister restaurant to Les Bistronomes (lots of families grew on the restaurant scene this year).

Bragels, a food invention created and trademarked in Canberra are on the menu, a cross between a bagel and a brioche. Baked isn’t a full-on bakery or full-on bistro but it’s fun and relaxed with amazing food. The pork rillettes are to die for, the parfait super creamy, the Atlantic salmon with ponzu, soy and sesame a melt-in-the-mouth dish.

Don’t forget the pork terrine and duck French crepes with an Asian twist.

If you’re at the south coast, book in to The Sandbar, an award-winning French-Japanese inspired restaurant owned by local David Tinker

and his Japanese wife, Tomoyo. It’s on top of the renovated Quay Hotel across from the Marina, Batemans Bay. They serve a sensational six-course degustation. Every dish is artfully plated and truly inspirational. Think courses such as the octopus course, which featured daikon, ginger wine fermented strawberry, fresh peas, spring asparagus and lemon thyme. Dessert was divine with a tofu parfait with rhubarb and crystallised black olive, featuring liquorice tones.

My reviews begin again mid-February. You’d think eating out every single week, all year round, would see me taking a break from the food scene. Nope. Shall continue to enjoy. Merry feasting everyone.

• Long runs around the lake.

• I’ve got a pile of books on my bedside table that I’ve been keen to read – and I hope to sit outdoors and devour as many as I can.

• We often have family visiting and I love taking them to Old Parliament House to sit on the benches in the chambers and talk about our system of democracy.

• I hope to get out and about to so many beautiful bushwalks around Canberra.

• My partner is a mad gardener and I know I’ll be getting out to help in the garden.

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GARDENING

Lazy days of summer gardening FOR the next few weeks it’s a quiet time in the garden and, with the welcome rain of the last few weeks, most are looking decidedly better with an abundance of summer flowers.

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PATI S • Extensions • Patios • Decks

Forget about the weeds, they can keep for a few weeks, although if you mulched in spring there will be very few.

This quiet time means no heavy gardening work is necessary but if you haven’t already done so, remove any leaves from the spring bulbs.

Leaving them to rot down unfortunately provides a great haven for slugs and snails.

All these leaves can go on to the compost heap.

A more upright job is that of regularly deadheading the roses to encourage another burst of flowers.

The ever expanding clematis vines will need constant tying on to wires or lattice. Its huge flowers make others in the garden pale into insignificance. I can’t help but boast about two of our clematis; magnificent in their boldness: there’s Clematis “Romantika”, one of the darkest purple cultivars available, with such a profusion of flowers that one can hardly see the leaves and, likewise, “General Sikorski”, bred originally in Estonia, with its mauve to mid-blue flowers 15-20cm across.

They grow under the rich, red leaves of the stunning maple Acer “Bloodgood”, combined with a lower backdrop of Daphne “Eternal Fragrance”, which is now in flower.

Different varieties of daphne provide months of wonderful fragrance and just a few sprigs can fill a whole room with the sweet aroma.

Another gentle holiday task is cutting back by half michaelmas daisies and chrysanthemums over the next few weeks. This seemingly severe pruning doubles and triples the number of flowers in autumn, their main flowering time.

PICKING veggies in the garden requires no effort, at the same time tie some of them up such as peas and tomatoes as they shoot skywards.

TAKE time out for a relaxing walk through our Botanic Gardens to enjoy the native flowers and birds. It’s a perfect place to take visitors,

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Roses... in all their glory at Old Parliament House. especially those from overseas. Alternatively, walk through the Old Parliament House Rose Gardens where the sheer volume of flowers is always a photographer’s dream.

autumn-flowering perennials, for example, Anemone hupehensis or Japanese wind flowers, nerines, sedums, salvias and lobelia.

PART of the relaxing holiday time for the stayat-homers is to plan an autumn garden that’s more than just spring bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. The large range of autumn-flowering bulbs gives a continuity of colour in the garden, many flowering well into winter.

And don’t forget the wonderful range of

IF it’s too hot in the middle of the day, relax with a good book. Our libraries have an extensive range of garden books you can browse at no cost.

AND, finally for this year, a thank you to all my readers for the comments and helpful suggestions. Wishing everyone a happy New Year with time to enjoy gardens wherever you are.

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22 CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019

HOLIDAY JUMBO CROSSWORD

Solution on Page 18

ACROSS 1 Sweetened 6 Slumber 9 Cry loudly 11 Twists 15 Crude remarks 19 Perch 20 Single time 22 Loved symbol 24 Large claw 25 Golfer’s mound 26 Bring on oneself 27 Assistant 28 Bury 29 By way of 30 Metal stud 31 Snare 32 Main part of story 33 Miserable 34 With less weight 35 Method of work 36 Type of falcon 37 Piercing tool 38 Make bigger 39 Raise 40 Praise 41 Wanted badly 44 Hand weapons 47 Sorrow 50 As well 52 Influenza 54 Gathers after harvest 57 Walked proudly 59 Cut of beef 60 Monies outlaid 62 The lower trunk 65 Anger 68 Small drink 69 This month 70 Dressing hair 71 Added on 74 Copy 75 Wild goat 76 Bring out 78 Tend the sick 79 Betting price 80 Regards 82 Possesses 83 Heavenly beings 85 Plunderer 87 Took notice of 89 Small error 90 Inner meats 91 River mouth 92 Betting pool 93 Medium’s meeting 95 Cut off a member 96 Sudden dashes 99 Bellow 100 Tools for widening 104 Eagerly 106 Oppressively hot 107 Religious group 109 Substitute doctor 110 Act of concession 113 Famous composer 114 Clever manoeuvres 118 Allusion 120 Without any facts 121 Onlooker 123 Heart trouble 124 Moderate 126 Representative 127 Casual run 129 Wine holder 131 In a mad rush 135 Least rough

139 Encourage 140 Small cat 142 Contrite 143 Make-or-break times 144 Pull jerkily 145 Quickly 146 Ointment 147 Honeyed drink 148 Outdoor activities 151 Olden stronghold 155 Uncouth 157 Christmas 158 Oxidises 161 Lift with effort 162 Cook in oven 163 Not showing emotion 165 Type of haircut 166 Yield to one’s whims

167 In decay 168 Go backward 169 Large crowd 170 Part of body 171 Place of education (abb) 172 Original 174 Parts of horse’s feet 176 Infected 177 Informed of 179 Scatters water 182 River mouth (Sp) 183 Was seated 184 Catching sight of 189 Covert 192 Shallow water areas 196 Foot disease 197 Mental pain 198 Dream of

199 To tidy 200 Sketched again 201 A meal 204 Referee 205 Stoneworker 206 Leak slowly 207 Landed 208 Different one 209 Sick 210 Make very glad 211 Sewing tool 212 Door lock 213 Large bird 214 Mistake 215 On sheltered side 216 The rim 217 Cast out 218 Small flags

219 A fibre 220 Pretence 221 More coy 222 Leave hanging

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Frightening Startle into action Given a scare Clears river beds Huge thing Mixed up Of great worth Carriers In crying fits Lord’s servant Meshed wool

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 21 23 42 43 45 46 48 49 50 51 52

Without changes Cricket shots Happy Turned inward Horse stalls Type of rock Coarse woven material Pursues Illegal actions Store stockfood Small creature Grizzle Feared greatly Settled on roost Delicate Clothing Lowers oneself Starve

53 Game arbiter 55 Very garrulous 56 Gave evidence 58 A memento 61 Most tidy 63 One on a mission 64 Bringing esteem 66 Damage 67 German river 72 Church music 73 Turns outwards 77 A brownish colour 81 Resinous substance 84 From this district 86 Sky blue 88 Sent from school 93 Recording for film 94 Mixed lot 97 Tapes of music 98 Helpful people 101 Protect from damage 102 Discontinue meetings 103 Greatly increase 105 Inanimate 107 Convivial 108 From that place 110 Middle Eastern person 111 Clinging plant 112 Frozen 115 Sporting group 116 Music passage 117 Identical 119 Having least bumps 122 Greatly desired (7,3) 125 Without stopping 128 Climbing aid 130 Rubbish collector 131 Height to ceiling 132 Unspoken 133 Act properly 134 Agreement 136 Weird behaviour 137 Smallest amount 138 Mortarboard 141 Hampers 149 Type of car (coll) 150 Girl’s name 151 Become dull 152 Hide away 153 A religious solitary 154 Satisfy fully 155 Thongs 156 Quick answer 159 Weighing devices 160 Easily 163 Workroom 164 A prayer 172 Type of play 173 Maladies 175 Ways around cities 178 Without worrying 180 A vegetable 181 Aided 184 Working for 185 Muddy pools 186 Copying art 187 Male geese 188 Shuffle incorrectly 189 Place of worship 190 Named 191 Wars 192 Cured hide 193 A turkey 194 Vents 195 Shoots 202 Fencing weapons 203 Place of witches

CityNews December 20, 2018-January 2, 2019 23

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