CityNews 200130

Government neglect makes hospitals sick

JON STANHOPE

Fighting fire with financial fairness

MICHAEL MOORE

The minister for ‘something stupid’

PAUL COSTIGAN

JANUARY 30, 2020

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POLITICS / volunteer firefighters

Why we should fight fire with financial fairness THE chorus of praise for Australia’s professional and volunteer firefighters has been loud and clear. Appreciation and accolades are important.

Volunteers have been protecting our community by fighting fires for months. Some have had little respite.

However, it is time to consider if there is a better way. Are we treating all of them fairly?

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has floated the idea of a Royal Commission to examine fire issues. As Kevin Tolhurst points out in “The Conversation”, there have been at least 57 serious inquiries into bushfires over the last eight decades. He questions what a new one would offer?

The most obvious answer is that a Royal Commission could provide the Prime Minister with the clear evidence to sway the conservative members of his party room to the role played by climate change. However, the already overwhelming evidence has had little impact. It would be an expensive way to provide the Prime Minister

Surely, it’s time to consider whether or not Australia would be better served by extrapolating from the reservists’ model and applying it to our Rural Fire Service. with some persuasive political weight for his colleagues.

Another aspect would be to ask an inquiry to define the role of the federal government in what has largely been a state and territory issue. The announcement of a compulsory call up of our military reservists by the federal government to fight fires has precipitated a major change in statefederal relations.

This federal action could be seen as interference in state and territory responsibilities. More likely, most people will say, “at last”.

Compulsory call up of this kind has not taken place since World War II. Even during the National Service ballot “call-up” for the Vietnam War, the army reserve (then called the Citizen

INDEX Arts & Entertainment 23-25 Cinema 25 Canberra Matters 10 Crossword 27 Gardening 26 Horoscopes 27 News 3-16 Politics 3 The Gadfly 14

dose of dorin

Military Forces – CMF) continued to serve as a voluntary force.

The principle behind the Army, Air Force and Navy reserves is to have a ready response to protect our community in times of increased need or outside military threat.

In addition to a force that can protect us in times of need, Australia has also been in a position to provide trained personnel as volunteer peacekeepers in places such as the Solomon Islands and East Timor as well as providing support to regular forces in the Middle East.

There are some interesting parallels between our firefight-

ing volunteers and our military reservists. Both are there to respond in times of particular threats and greater than normal need. Both maintain readiness specific and ongoing training. Both groups are volunteers.

Two differences are notable. The volunteer firefighters cannot be forcefully called up in time of need such as over the last few months. However, a more important difference is that our military forces are paid to complete their training and to maintain skill levels. The pay is largely tax free. The military also supports workplaces that lose reservists during the times they are on duty.

There are good reasons for the sort of support offered to our reservists.

However, the same reasons also apply to our volunteer firefighters. They are also volunteers. They are also part time. They, too, have careers, jobs and families that are their prime focus.

They, too, protect our community in times of need. Never has this been clearer than following the onset of the fiercest and longest-lasting fire season seen in Australia.

Allow me to reiterate others: this season has been horrific and unprecedented. This is why Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds provided assistance through the military. Surely, it is time to consider whether or not Australia would be better served by extrapolating from the reservists’ model and applying it to our Rural Fire Service.

Just as the army maintains regular soldiers to administer the army reserve, the administration of the Rural Fire Service could be maintained.

How much fairer would it be, however, if our volunteer firefighters were also paid for four weeks of training a year and paid when called upon to prepare our defences and, in the case of out-of-control bushfires, to defend our community.

Funding for such a situation would be far better value for the Australian people than yet another highly expensive Royal Commission.

Since 1993: Volume 26, Number 4 Managing Director: James Anderson, 0404 077605, james@citynews.com.au Director: Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656 Advertising account executive: Damien Klemke, 0439 139001 Tim Rutherford, 0412 933150 Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au Assistant editor: Danielle Nohra, danielle@citynews.com.au Journalist: Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au; Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au Production manager/graphic design: Janet Ewen Graphic designer: Karl Speller Proof reader: Glenda Anderson Accounts: accounts@citynews.com.au

Cover: Principal fairies Kat Smalley, left, Helen Way and Heidi Silberman.

Photo: Holly Treadaway.

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CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020 3

SEVEN DAYS

Wake up, Georgy gal... another disaster’s here!

GEORGEINA Whelan must live in fear of her alarm clock. Every morning it seems to drag the ESA commissioner into a daily nightmare of new problems.

Especially this past week.

Let’s try a list: hailstorm, emergency level bushfire, dust storm, total fire ban, howling wind and more fire, all topped by a renewed State of Alert. And that just got her to Thursday. Some wag in the office suggested we only had locusts to go!

What a week and what a first summer for the commissioner – or more precisely as she is known in State-of-Alert circles ACT Emergency Controller – since her August, first-woman appointment to the top job.

But our Georgy gal is well primed for what she faces with an army background, a rank of brigadier and front-line experience in international disaster management operations, including the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Banda Aceh.

On the “CityNews Sunday Roast” radio program on 2CC late last year she was poised and reassuring when I asked if the ACT was ready and (gotcha warning) if she had a bushfire plan? We were and she did. We are blessed to have her leadership at the helm.

The close shave of the fearful Beard Fire set a tense community mood of nail-biting menace as the fire rating yo-yoed and the Canberra Airport closed its runways, but it was Monday’s shocking hailstorm that set everyone off.

Not mushrooms… this peaceful scene of nestling hailstones was taken in the shredded garden at the Australian Academy of Science’s Acton HQ in the quiet aftermath of the storm that smashed windows, threatened archives and dented its Shine Dome.

It cut a sudden, brutal swathe across the city, hammering cars, smashing windows and sending social media into a tornado of photos and woe. Players at a Fyshwick bridge club lost at more than cards as the write-off rate spiralled in the streets around them.

Public servants were sitting ducks in the Parliamentary Triangle on foot or in the open car parks. Then there was the story of the woman, photographed beside a battered, shattered car, who had only picked it up new two hours before the hail.

That floating ball, so much a signature art piece outside the National Gallery, looked like it had holes shot in it and the iconic copper-top of the Shine Dome wore the indents of a golf ball once the storm had got through beating it.

Every cloud has one, and doubtless there isn’t an unhappy panel beater or car dealer in Canberra at the moment.

Not much else seemed to much matter beyond the vagaries of our weird weather patterns.

There were a few government “nannystate” initiatives that slipped through. Police minister Mick Gentleman was pleased to be ushering in new, 360-degree, Big Brother CCTV cameras down by the LBG lake at Henry Rolland Park. Priced at $100,000 for four, Mick says they’ll “strengthen public safety and asset protection at this wonderful location”. Until they start building flats around them, one supposes.

Then Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury had a couple of media moments. He’s going to allow cyclists (not motorcyclists) exemption from wearing safety lids if your religion precludes you (ie Sikhs who wear turbans).

This brought an almost immediate practical rebuke from former chief minister (an ex lawyer) Jon Stanhope who growled on citynews.com.au: “I assume, however that the necessary legislative amendments provide that any cyclist not wearing a helmet because of this exemption who suffers a head injury or brain damage as a result of an accident or collision will not be eligible for compensation and that the driver of any car involved in a collision with a cyclist not wearing a helmet who suffers a head injury or brain damage or who dies and was not wearing a helmet because of this exemption will not be charged with an offence.”

His week still incomplete, Shane an-

nounced that people putting rude words or offensive slogans on vans and cars would be deregistered. Not the people, the vehicles. I need to get out more, but I have no memory of ever being offended in that way. So I went to the website of one of Ratters’ targets, Wicked Campers. Some of their vans would certainly make a sailor blush, but couldn’t a consumer boycott campaign do a better job?

And, finally, something local to rival Tourism Australia’s much-lampooned $38 million global campaign “Philausophy”.

The publicly funded Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s creative theme for 2020 is “Solastalgia”.

CEO Rauny Worm says it was coined by Australian environmental philosopher Dr Glenn Albrecht in 2005 and apparently describes the sense of loss or nostalgia we feel when our homes or environments change irreconcilably in the face of climate change or natural disaster. Or “a form of homesickness one gets when one is still at home,” says Albrecht.

Which is probably how Georgeina Whelan feels when that bloody alarm goes off. Roll over, Georgy, you’ve earned a sleep in.

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OPINION / health

Government neglect makes the hospitals sick MY colleague Dr Khalid Ahmed and I have recently published on the “Policy Space” blog at the University of Canberra a paper titled “ACT Public Hospitals Hit by Predicted Health Tsunami”.

In it we explore the validity of the valiant attempts by ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith to explain away the increasingly poor outcomes being achieved by ACT public hospitals as simply a consequence of increased and unprecedented presentations and more complex patients.

Dr Ahmed and I looked closely at the latest publicly available data on patient complexity and unexpected or unplanned for growth in population and, hence, in demand.

Our analysis, of the government’s own data, reveals that a high level comparison of relative stay and average cost weight indicate that, as a whole, the ACT’s hospital system does not experience any higher level of complexity than the states.

We also note that in any event it is hardly a valid excuse for failing to treat patients, in the urgent and emergency categories, in a clinically appropriate time.

We also compared the annual rate of population growth, as reported by the ABS, during the period 2011-12 to 2017-18 with that of the years 2008-09 to 2011-12. The data reveals that population growth in the ACT

If you are one of the 40 per cent or so of Canberrans without private health insurance, given the government’s clear disdain for you and your health care needs, do you ever wonder why you would vote for them ever again? over the six years to 2018 was in fact relatively lower than it was in the preceding four years.

There is simply no evidence, that we could find, to support the minister’s assertions that the poor performance of our public hospitals is related to complexity or an unexpected and unplanned for surge in demand.

The so called unprecedented and, hence, unplanned for growth in demand for health care which Minister Stephen-Smith blames for our public hospitals’ ailing reputations was anticipated and planned for as early as 2008 by then Minister for Health Katy Gallagher.

Gallagher not only developed, with the full support of then-cabinet and government, a detailed plan to meet the ACT’s future health needs but also secured an initial $300 million through the 2008-09 Budget as the first tranche of a $1 billion program of investment in hospital and health infrastructure.

In a media release on June 15, 2008, Ms Gallagher said: “Detailed modelling work by ACT Health has confirmed that with one of the fastest ageing populations in the country, the ACT

community is facing a ‘health tsunami’ in the next decade, unless detailed and brave investment is made now.”

Ms Gallagher further announced that: “The 2008-09 Budget included a $300 million investment in health infrastructure including a Women’s and Children’s hospital and a new suite of mental health facilities”.

She further noted that this was only the first stage of the plan for meeting the “future needs of the community”.

In February, 2011, Ms Gallagher released a paper titled “Expanding hospital services in the ACT: an additional 400 Hospital Beds.” That paper included the following statement: “The existing ACT public health care system is at capacity and needs to expand to meet future health demand created by an ageing and growing population, changing technology and consumer expectations… The pressure on acute beds will continue with projections estimating a 50 per cent increase in admissions up to 2022.”

The $300 million first tranche of the $1 billion Capital Asset Development Plan (CADP) provided funding for the planning and design work for a

range of projects in the second tranche including the full redevelopment of the Canberra Hospital site and the delivery of an additional 400 hospital beds.

However, it is clear following Katy Gallagher’s resignation as Chief Minister in late 2014 that decisions were taken by incoming Chief Minister Andrew Barr and his Labor and Greens colleagues to not only abandon the commitment to deliver the additional 400 public hospital beds but to also dramatically reduce funding for health, in real terms, which actually resulted in beds that had been delivered being closed.

Dr Ahmed and I estimate that as a result of these decisions there was, as at June 2018, a shortfall of 126 beds against the target determined through the rigorous CADP planning processes undertaken under the supervision of Gallagher and committed to in every Budget between 2008-09 and 2014-15.

The CADP redevelopment plan was based on a master plan that provided for the full redevelopment of the Canberra Hospital site.

However, the identified projects were abandoned by Labor and the Greens after Gallagher departed.

They decided instead to proceed with

a significantly watered down proposal known as the Surgical Procedures, Interventional Radiology and Emergency Centre (SPIRE) for the Canberra Hospital.

SPIRE will include only 148 beds, about one third of the number planned for, a decade ago, under the CADP. On the basis of current growth estimates, by the time SPIRE is eventually completed in 2024, an additional two projects of similar scope will need to be completed to meet the forecast demand.

If you are one of the 40 per cent or so of Canberrans who do not have private health insurance, particularly if you simply cannot afford it, do you ever wonder, in light of the current government’s clear disdain for you and your health care needs, why you would vote for the Labor or Greens parties ever again?

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

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NEWS

Gillian’s overwhelmed by bra donations

Elita’s book of memories and messages

By Kathryn

VUKOVLJAK AUTHOR Elizabeth Anne Thompson, known as Elita Mackay, has woven early childhood memories from growing up in Bombala into a work of fiction in her debut novel “The Wind Queen”.

Recollections include her grandmother cooking at an old stove, a doll loved as a small child and a lemon-coloured dress sewn with a silver lurex thread.

“It’s fiction through and through, but there are elements in the book that come from those early memories,” Elita says.

The book is also about the strength of women against all odds, she says.

Set in the Snowy Mountains between the 1950s and 1970s, the main character Elspeth Abney is close to death and reflecting on different times in her life.

Driven by a love of language and finding new ways to express ideas, Elita says she initially wrote the book in large sections of poetry.

“I love spiritual poetry and I’m thrilled the book retains that poetic,

8 CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020

directly from Canberra.”

When Gillian was last in Fiji she spent SINCE Gillian Horton told “CityNews” the day with the Fiji Cancer Society and in August about her journey collecting saw a woman who she had fitted with a and donating breast forms and postpost-surgical bra on a previous trip. mastectomy bras to women who need “When she saw me she threw her them in Fiji, she’s been overwhelmed by arms around me and said: ‘You are an donations. angel, I just feel so normal and want to Just last week, she says two women thank the women of Australia’,” she says. came into her Garran lingerie shop to During that trip, Gillian also saw a donate bras inspired need for maternity bras by the article. And aland is now calling on though she’s amassed locals to donate used four large boxes of and new maternity bras donated post-surgery so she can send them to and normal bras, she Fiji, too. says she wants to “So many women in keep sending more Fiji don’t have bras that to Fiji. fit, so when you have “I’ll be asking a clean up, it’s great to for donations for as know they’re going to long as there’s still a someone who really Gillian Horton need,” she says. appreciates it,” she says. on the August 22 cover.

Gillian says the Gillian is hoping to return phenomenal response she’s received to Fiji in February which, as long as the from women around the region has need for post-surgical bras remains, meant a lot for the women in Fiji. won’t be her last.

“I’ve had so many women coming in “I’m just really passionate to continue to donate their bras and women coming the service however I can,” she says. in to purchase post-surgery bras and “At the moment the Fiji Cancer then donate them,” she says.

Council would like to be able to purchase “Ladies would come in and say: ‘I radiation equipment but until that time don’t have bras to donate’ and would women will continue to have mastectobuy some to donate. mies and therefore will still need breast “It’s really making a huge difference, forms and post-surgery bras.”

By Danielle Nohra

Author Elita Mackay... “Language is a journey and I’ve used it to express different styles of speech and to bring fantasy elements into the story.”

Photo: Holly Treadaway flowing narrative,” she says.

“For me, language is a journey and I’ve used it to express different styles of speech and to bring fantasy elements into the story.”

Elita describes her book, published

by William Webster from Inspiring Publishers, as “a beautifying pictorial display of nature; highlighting the magnificence of living in the high bushlands of Australia”.

“It also hits upon modern themes such as sexuality, divorce, addiction, societal disparity and power within relationships,” she says.

Elita and her husband, artist Greg

Devenny-Mackay are the directors and owners of Lavender Art Studios in Phillip, and Greg painted the novel’s cover image.

Elita says “The Wind Queen” title refers to the strong winds in the Snowy region, with the word “queen” demonstrating the power of women.

“The story is about a strong woman living her truth and prevailing over evil,” Elita says.

“I wanted to reach out to women who may need to rise up and overcome obstacles in their own lives.”

“The Wind Queen” ($26.95) is available at Paperchain bookshop in Manuka.

CANBERRA MATTERS / Cotter Road

How the minister kicked problem down the road A MEDIA statement by an ACT Minister would surely be fact checked and at least have someone cast their eye over it for a reality check.

This may not have been done for the media release recently by the Roads and Active Travel Minister Chris Steel.

The issues under scrutiny are that each work day when cars try to merge into Adelaide Avenue from the Cotter Road, the traffic becomes grid-locked.

To solve this, the minister proudly announced that for one kilometre, the right-hand bus and carpool lane will merge with the other traffic and for the same distance, the left lane will be extended to assist the entering traffic to merge with the peak-hour traffic coming up Yarra Glen from Woden. What could be wrong with that?

Where to start? As indicated in the media release there is a major problem with morning traffic coming into the city from Weston/ Molonglo and joining Yarra Glen/Adelaide

This minister, who happens to be a local member, has tried to look as if he is doing something. Agreed, he has done something. Just that it is very stupid.

Avenue from Cotter Road.

This traffic problem has been there ever since Molonglo filled with residents. It was a problem that should not have happened. The planning for the new suburbs should have included sufficient exit roads and much better public transport to cope with the rapid expansion of residents that were to add to the high numbers already making their exits north from Weston Creek.

The planning minister back then, Andrew Barr, should have seen to this. He didn’t.

So now we have the latest roads minister offering a very naive solution as dreamt up by his traffic and roads bureaucracy.

Surely no planner seriously thinks this will work. A kilometre of extra lane will mean that the surge in vehicles each work day will have to merge a little further up. The problem will simply be moved up the road.

Not to forget that Molonglo is

continuing to grow so additional cars will be arriving regularly to share that single-lane entrance road. Sadly, the minister has not come up with any appropriate change to public transport to address this growing commuter issue. So much for his public transport and climate policies.

But wait, attend any Woden meeting and you will often hear the call not to mess with their rapid bus services – those that use the bus lane in question. What did the minister announce? Yes, the bus lane is to be cut for a kilometre. The rapid bus from Woden will join the merging and stalled traffic for a kilometre.

The minister bravely stated that this would only add seconds. At this point anyone reading the minister’s statement may have fallen off their chair laughing. Or if you were a traveller from Woden, you would have been shouting very nasty things.

In short, this minister for roads, who happens to be a local member, has tried to look as if he is doing something. Agreed, he has done something. Just that it is very stupid.

You have to ask, did the minister actually read and agree to the nonsen-

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A new world awaits… the Cotter Road on-ramp sign warns of the line changes ahead on Adelaide Avenue. sical words in the media statement that would have been written by his bureaucrats?

I am sure some people coming in from Molonglo and Weston will be happy that at least the problem has been recognised. Hopefully, they will not have been fooled into thinking this is a real solution. As for the bus commuters from Woden and beyond who till now have been able to rely on their rapid bus to get them to work on time, they must be furious as this certainty has been eliminated for the near future.

If one steps back from the im-

mediate mess being made here, it is obvious that this ad hoc thinking is the latest of so many bad decisions being made in the name of road, traffic, transport and suburban planning.

This ACT government does not do planning – it just knows how to mess around and completely annoy residents and commuters. Is there anyone offering a sensible alternative?

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

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RASCALS TREATS

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‘We did a lot of testing and research, and refined the recipes until we knew we had an amazing product.’

Good treats that have dogs coming back for more WITH such big love for the cheeky doggos in their lives, long-time friends and co-founders of Rascals Treats, Susie and Ben Hanns and Clare Guest naturally wanted to feed their pups the most delicious, nutritious food they could.

Amid fears of pet-food contamination and unhealthy, unregulated dog food, plus their desire to feed their dogs what they preferred to eat themselves – whole, healthy, cruelty-free food with a low environmental impact – Susie and Ben started experimenting a few years ago with making their own dog treats at home.

“We started making homemade treats, just for fun as a healthier option and for something different,” says Susie.

“We love chickpeas so that was the starting point, and we experimented from there.”

The friends have four dogs between them.

Clare has Labrador-cross Harlow and an Old

“Owners will often try the samples at markets themselves!” says Clare.

English sheepdog called Morris, and Susie and Ben have Gilbert, a German Shepherd cross, and the newest family member Ruby, a red heeler.

“We are passionate about our dogs! And we have always wanted them to be as happy and healthy as possible,” Clare says.

The cooking experimentation progressed to using roasted veggies, chia seeds and herbs, and the friends would share recipes, eventually buying a dehydrator and making bigger batches of the colourful, crunchy treats.

Susie said they would give out samples whenever they had friends with dogs visit, and had such a great response that in 2019, they decided to open a business selling the plant-based treats.

“Our friends’ dogs absolutely devoured the treats and the owners loved that they were plant-based and nasties-free,” says Susie.

“We did a lot of testing and research, and refined the recipes until we knew we had an amazing product.”

Rascals Treats launched officially in June with the friends taking a break from the public service and jumping wholeheartedly into business ownership.

All three business partners enjoy the hands-on aspect of cooking their unique product, as well as learning all the exciting and challenging elements of running a small business.

“We’re happy we did this, it’s amazing to be involved in the decision-making from start to finish, to believe in our product and express our creative sides,” says Clare.

With a passion for the environment,

Susie, Clare and Ben with labrador-cross Harlow... “We are passionate about our dogs! And we have always wanted them to be as happy and healthy as possible,” Clare says.

Photos: Senthan Thani they wanted to have as low an impact as possible and to be sustainable, so they chose compostable packaging to enable them to be plastic-free.

“We create so much compost through Rascals Treats and barely anything goes into landfill, so the whole business sits well with what’s important to us,” says Ben. “This year we became an accredited ACT Government Actsmart business recycler, which recognises that our company is actively recycling, reducing waste and making sustainable decisions.

“We’re also an Australian owned and made company, and it’s important to us that

we support local.

“We all know the time is now to be aware of the environment, to consider what we’re creating in the world and to waste as little as possible in the process. We’re proud to be part of a smart, sustainable business.”

Ben, Susie and Clare all follow a plantbased diet and share a passion for animals and the environment, promoting positive animal welfare.

Ben says a goal of their business is to influence change across the entire pet food industry to produce high-quality, healthy and ethical pet food to improve animal welfare, environmental outcomes and the

wellbeing of pets.

“Our dog treats are real, human-grade food, with only fruit, veggies, pulses and herbs and are free from nuts, oil, grains, artificial colours and flavours,” he says.

“In fact, the funny thing is,” says Clare, “owners will often try the samples at markets themselves, before giving them to their dogs!”

The Rascals’ range includes four dog-treat varieties, Bitch Peas, Pump It Up, On the Beet and Date Night (date, blueberry and banana for sweet-toothed pups), as well as a meal booster to supplement whatever your pooch loves to eat, and a new carrot and capsicum flavour that’s in the trial stage.

“The treats are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and we know the positive benefits veggies have on dogs’ digestion,” says Susie.

“Rascals is vet-endorsed on our website, and we’ve heard anecdotally some amazing stories of dogs with digestive issues that love our treats. It’s so good to hear from happy customers and get positive feedback.”

Ultimately, the three love dogs and their antics, and feature stories of cheeky puppies on every pack.

“Dogs just make us smile, there’s nothing better than getting to pat and play and meet as many doggos as we can through our work!”

Rascals Treats are available in Canberra and Australia-wide, and can be found at the Handmade Markets (next one is 21-22 March) and select IGAs across Canberra.

Visit rascalstreats.com.au, find them on Instagram @rascals_treats or Facebook @rascalsdogtreats for more info.

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THE GADFLY

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Our chickens come home to… roast

Hospital appointment for winning author

THIS is the year when our chickens come home to roost… or should that be roast?

I guess that’s up to us since we’ve already turned on the oven from the inside and the temperature’s rising. Sounds simple, doesn’t it.

We turned it on, so we can turn it off. Ah, if only...

Trouble is, it turns out that we have a kink in our mental makeup that complicates everything.

It’s the reason we have risen from the status of prey in the great savannahs of Africa to the very top of the planetary food chain.

But it also contains the key to our undoing and perhaps even that of our earthly home. It’s this perpetual mental itch that demands we seek patterns from the phenomena that surrounds us.

All our fellow creatures have it in some degree.

You only have to

We know science works because the evidence is all around us. But some of the supernatural stories have become so embedded in our society that we get confused between fact and fiction. watch a bird building a nest, a line of ants exploiting a food source, or even a mob of cows gathering in the shade of a Coolabah tree at noon, to see it displayed in all its varied wonderments.

But ours, it seems, is of a more refined nature. In the last half million years it has led us on an amazing journey of discovery.

By any measure our achievements have been astonishing, not least in the remarkable instrument I’m using to tell this story, first to our local readership, but potentially to billions around the world. And the speed of technological progress is itself increasing.

Indeed, I understand that the computing power in our mobile phones is at least as great as that which supported the entire moon

landing in 1969.

Advances in food production, medical care and globalisation have raised life expectancy to unheard of heights. All of this comes under the rubric of science.

It flows from that wonderful quest for patterns, tempered only by what we call “the scientific method”, which requires every such advance to be accepted only when all other researchers in the field try and fail to prove it wrong.

This is the true genius of humanity.

However, there is another element at work in our cerebellum.

This one looks to the most fearful element of our existence – death – and tries desperately to find a pattern that can calm our fears.

Since all the evidence of our personal knowledge refuses to

yield such an outcome we tell ourselves stories of the “supernatural”. And instead of encouraging folk to prove them wrong, we make laws of “blasphemy” to punish those who dare to do so and laud those who believe the stories.

We call that “faith”.

This is where the problem arises. We know science works because the evidence is all around us. But some of the supernatural stories have become so embedded in our society that we get confused between fact and fiction.

And lots of us live in that in-between world of “faction”. So when we’re faced with a threat to our very existence – one we have manufactured ourselves – it’s very difficult to get everyone working together to fix it.

Even when, say, much of an entire continent is either burning or drying to dust, still we have those among us – in the oven, that is – who refuse to turn it off.

But here’s the really sad part.

We elected one of them to be our leader – good old “Scotty from Marketing” in his baseball cap.

Now there’s a man who could roast a chicken. robert@robertmacklin.com

14 CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020

AWARD-winning author Karen Viggers, pictured, is the guest speaker at the Calvary Hospital Auxiliary’s first meeting for 2020 at Bruce, 12.30pm on Monday, February 3. New members and visitors welcome.

Lantern-making class...

THE Australia China Friendship Society will hold its annual lantern-making workshop 1.30pm-3.30pm at Cook Community Hub, 41 Templeton Street, on Sunday, February 2.

Suitable for adults and children. Instructions and materials are provided, but please bring cutting board, scissors, a ruler and a pencil. Cost is $3 a person. Pre-register at acfsevent@gmail.com or call 6254 7732.

… for a lantern festival TO mark the end of Chinese New Year celebrations, the Australia China Friendship Society will hold the Lantern Festival on Saturday, February 8, 6.15pm-9pm at the Beijing Garden, Flynn Drive, Yarralumla. There will be performances of Chinese music, dancing, martial arts and a lantern parade along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

More information email acfsevent@gmail.com or call 6247 8231.

Country music muster THE Bungendore Country Music Muster will feature a “Gala Showcase Concert” over eight hours of continuous country music on Sunday, February 2. The muster is at the Bungendore Showground over the weekend of February 1-2. Tickets are $30 for each of the Saturday and Sunday.

Under 15s are free. More at 0458 896180 or email bungendorecountrymusicmuster@outlook.com and bcmm.com.au

Kids are more likely to eat their lunch if they’ve helped pack it

? w o n k u o y d i D

Get your kids to choose what they want in their lunchbox using our Grab ‘n Go School Lunchbox Shopping List Fresh vegies

Baby cucumbers Baby carrots Snow peas Raw green beans Sugar snap peas Cherry tomatoes Baby spinach Salad mix

Fresh fruit

Canned goodies Fruits in natural juice Baby corn Corn kernels Vegetable soup (reduced salt)* Baked beans (reduced salt)

Celery* Carrots* Cucumbers* Capsicums* Tomatoes* Corn on the cob* Lettuce*

Bananas Apples Mandarin Pears Peaches Nectarines Kiwi fruit Grapes Blackberries

Strawberries Raspberries Blueberries Mango* Oranges* Watermelon* Rockmelon* Honeydew melon*

Fridge and deli Tuna (in spring water) Salmon (in spring water) Tuna and bean mix Chickpeas Kidney beans 4 bean mix

Plain or flavoured yoghurt tubs Cheese sticks Cheese slices Cream cheese Plain or flavoured milk

Hummus Lean sliced meat* Eggs* BBQ chicken (no skin)

Tips Pantry and bakery Long life plain or flavoured milk poppers Plain air-popped popcorn* Sultana packs (single serve) Diced fruit cups Precooked plain rice packets

»

Wholemeal/ wholegrain bread or wraps Raisin bread Pikelets English muffins Wholegrain rice crackers / crispbreads

» » » »

Choose vegies and fruit in season, and those with natural packaging e.g. bananas, mandarins, baby cucumbers Frozen fruits and vegies are just as nutritious as fresh Help the environment and save money - buy products in bulk when on sale Add a frozen water bottle / ice block to keep lunchbox cool Look for the Healthier Choices Canberra logo while you’re out

*These items require minimal preparation Fresh Tastes is a free ACT Government service helping schools make healthy food and drinks a bigger part of everyday life for Canberra’s kids. More ideas at act.gov.au/freshtastes

AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS

Hurley salutes the power of ‘ordinary’ people CELEBRATED Canberra architect Dr Enrico Taglietti, who died in May, was posthumously appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day honours.

His citation says his award is for: “Distinguished service to architecture, particularly in the ACT to education, and to professional organisations.”

Other well-known Canberrans recognised include the director of the National Museum Mathew Trinca, who was appointed a Member of the Order. And an OAM medal went to Richard Griffiths, founding co-ordinator of Safe Shelter, a nightly refuge for men in winter, who was recognised for his service to the community through social welfare organisations.

Though based in Sydney, but well known to Canberrans as the artistic director of the Canberra International Music Festival, Roland Peelman has been appointed a Member (AM) for his service to music.

Governor-General David Hurley announced 1099 awards nationally in the Australia Day 2020 Honours List that included 837 recipients of awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

“Behind every medal and citation is a story. Whether through their service, sacrifice or significant achievement, these people help others and make our towns, communities and nation better,” the Governor-General says.

“They’re extraordinary but also, in the best possible way, ordinary. The fantastic thing, the inspirational thing, is that we all know people like those who have been recognised today – people who look out for each other and, day-in-day-out, serve their communities in ways big and small. We have seen countless examples of this sort of service during the bushfire crisis.

“It’s a diverse list – with the percentage of women recipients in the Order of Australia above 41 per cent

service to science, particularly to ecosystem ecology and research, and to professional scientific bodies.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Mathew Trinca AM.

The late Dr Enrico Taglietti AO.

– but could be even more so. Over the course of my term as Governor-General I want to ensure that as many outstanding Australians as possible, from all backgrounds, are nominated.”

The oldest recipient in the list is 97 years old, the youngest 19 years old.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia at gg.gov.au Here are the Canberrans recognised:

OFFICER (AO) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION Distinguished Professor Genevieve BELL, ACT, for distinguished service to education, particularly to the social sciences and cultural anthropology.

Prof Hal Christopher HILL, Aranda, for distinguished service to education in the field of economic policy development, and to Australia-Indonesia relations.

The late Dr Enrico TAGLIETTI, late of Griffith, for distinguished service to architecture, particularly in the ACT to education, and to professional organisations.

Dr Brian Harrison WALKER, Aranda, for distinguished

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Prof Raelene FRANCES, Aranda, for significant service to history studies as a teacher, researcher and author.

Mr Geoffrey Ian HUSTON, Red Hill, for significant service to science, and through pioneering roles with the internet.

Dr Miles Gareth JAKEMAN, Deakin, for significant service to business, to national security, and to the community.

Prof Margaret Anne JOLLY, Hackett, for significant service to education, particularly to gender and Pacific studies.

Mr Duncan Antony MARSHALL, Chapman, for significant service to heritage conservation.

Ms Cathi MOORE, Narrabundah, for significant service to young women, and to the community.

Emeritus Prof John Frederick O’CALLAGHAN, Yarralumla, for significant service to information technology, and to education.

Dr Peter Andreas PEDERSEN, Campbell, for significant service to military history as an author and researcher.

Dr Mathew Ansel TRINCA TALALIN, ACT, for significant service to the museums and galleries sector.

Dr Graeme Leonard WORBOYS, Gilmore, for significant service to conservation and the environment, and to the community.

MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA Dr Adele CHYNOWETH, Braddon, for service to public history.

Mr Simun FRANJIC, Duffy, for service to the Croatian community of the ACT. Mr Richard David GRIFFITHS, Lyneham, for service to the community through social welfare organisations.

Dr Joseph Vaughan JOHNSON CSC AAM RFD ED, Garran, for service to veterans, and to the community.

Mr Matthew Alan LUTHER, Gordon, for service to nursing.

Ms Elizabeth NIELD, Griffith, for service to the performing and visual arts.

Mrs Meryl Joy PACKER, Kingston, for service to the Lutheran Church of Australia.

Mr Rex William PACKER, Kingston, for service to the Lutheran Church of Australia.

Mr Craig Robert PURDAM, O’Connor, for service to sports administration, and to physiotherapy.

Mr Edward Peter RALSTON, Kaleen, for service to sport for people who are blind or have low vision.

Mr Adrian John RUMORE, Lyneham, for service to homeless youth, and to physiotherapy.

Ms Wendy Anne SACLIER, Curtin, for service to the creative arts, and to women.

Dr Andrew James TRIDGELL, Griffith, for service to information technology.

The late Mrs Jacqueline WARNER, ACT, for service to youth through Scouts.

Mr Edmund John WHEELER, Flynn, for service to the community through road safety initiatives.

Dr Peter George WILLIAMS, Campbell, for service to community health, and to medical education.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION Royal Australian Navy Capt Warren James BAIRSTOW CSC RAN, ACT, for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in the field of command and leadership.

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing Phone: 02 6296 4009 | Mobile: 0407 066 110 Email: dale_harris@bigpond.com Web: dalesballroomdancing.com.au | Principal: Dale Harris 16 CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020

Australian Army Brig. Michael Charles ASHLEIGH, ACT, for exceptional service as director logistics – Army, Director General Strategic Logistics and Commander Australian Army Cadets.

Maj-Gen Andrew William FREEMAN, ACT, for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force as commander 17th Brigade, director general Land Operations, and director Logistics – Army.

Royal Australian Air Force Air Commodore Wendy BLYTH, ACT, for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in C-130J Super Hercules sustainment reform; and in P-8A Poseidon capability development and system sustainment.

Air Commodore Philip Stephen GORDON, ACT, for exceptional service in aerospace capability development, air combat preparedness and operations management and control for the Australian Defence Force.

Air Commodore Gerald Anthony van LEEUWEN CSM, ACT, for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in aerospace capability development, major capital acquisition, and air combat sustainment.

MEDAL (OAM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION Royal Australian Navy CPO Raechelle Nadine HENDERSON, ACT, for meritorious service in leadership, and advancement of the service as a Naval Police coxswain.

Australian Army WO1 Joshua Paul ANDREWS, ACT, for meritorious service in achievement and exceptional commitment to the continuous advancement of Army’s Geospatial Intelligence capability.

WO1 Andrew Peter SHORE CSM, ACT, for meritorious service as the regimental sergeant major of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment; and the Royal Military College – Duntroon, and as a career advisor in the Directorate of Soldier Career Management – Army.

Royal Australian Air Force WO Benjamin Robert WRIGHT, ACT, for meritorious service in personnel recognition administration, major public relations initiatives, and organisational development in the Royal Australian Air Force.

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM) Federal Ms Karen Jacqueline BINNEKAMP, Chifley, for outstanding public service to health, particularly through improvements to listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and subsidy of breakthrough medical treatments.

Mr David Roland FREDERICKS, Narrabundah, for outstanding public service through supporting the government in achieving fiscal and budget policy objectives, and significant reforms in the AttorneyGeneral’s Department.

Dr Adam LEWIS, Higgins, for outstanding public service through the application of geospatial information.

Ms Helen Maree McDEVITT, O’Connor, for outstanding public service through social policy innovation to improve the lives of disadvantaged Australians, particularly young persons and people with a disability.

Mr Nico PADOVAN, ACT for outstanding public service in program and policy delivery, including supporting the recovery and reconstruction of the livestock industry in North Queensland.

Ms Julie Anne ROBERTS, Giralang, for outstanding public service through exceptional delivery of executive support services to the national security community.

Dr Albin Frank SMRDEL, Hughes, for outstanding public service in reforming the corporate arrangements of the federal courts, and structural reform for the Australian family courts system.

Mr Robert STURGISS, O’Connor, for outstanding public service through the development of a world class inventory for greenhouse gases, and to accurate measuring and reporting of emissions for Australian companies.

Ms Lesley WATSON, Isaacs, for outstanding public service through contributions to agency organisation and functioning, and to Australia’s national security.

Australian Capital Territory Mr George Abram CILLIERS, ACT, for outstanding public service to planning and development in the ACT. Mr John Desmond PURCELL, Kambah, for outstanding public service to federal financial relations, and to the development of self-government in the ACT.

TRAVEL MAKERS 21st TRAVEL FAIR

advertising feature

‘The experts at the fair will make sure every client receives the best advice and has the best possible travel experience.’

Get the top travel advice, whatever the destination IN its 21st year, the Travel Makers Travel Fair will be held at the Alliance Française Language School in Turner on Saturday, February 8, giving visitors a chance to interact with expert travel consultants.

“The Travel Fair is designed to give travellers a unique opportunity to interact with our valued suppliers and our own expert travel consultants,” says Travel Makers’ managing director, Phil Dalley.

It is indeed rare that a travel agency has the knowledge of such a wide range of worldwide destinations. The consultants at Travel Makers have consistently travelled far and wide and have many years’ experience, in fact between them they have more than 175 years of worldwide travel experience.

He says the travel fair will have a big line-up of suppliers, with 18 suppliers confirmed for the day. Representatives from Viking Ocean and River Cruising, APT and Travel Marvel, Intrepid Travel and Peregrine Adventures to name a few, plus the two airlines that fly out of Canberra internationally – Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

There will also be specialist destination operators such as African specialists The African Safari Co; Back Roads Touring; NZ specialists Grand Pacific Tours; Insight Vaca-

Travel companies available on the day:

Rüdesheim am Rhein, Rhine Gorge, Germany. tions, Uniworld boutique cruising, small-tour specialist Bunnik Tours and Albatross Tours.

“There will be something for every traveller from independent journeys to smallgroup tours, cruising, as well as a selection of specialised cultural tours, rail advice and car/ lease options,” says Phil.

Michael Perrone, manager of the Italian Travel Bureau, which operates out of Travel Makers, will propose new walking, cruising and boutique packages for 2020, as well as

many small-group tours.

Michael says that “the astounding treasures of Italy should be experienced by all”, and that’s why he’s always working on various options and budgets to suit everyone.

Phil says that no matter the destination, Travel Makers and the experts at the fair will make sure every client receives the best advice and has the best possible travel experience.

For anyone who can’t make the fair, Phil has an invitation to aspiring travellers to call by his bright, comfortable office on the Kingston Foreshore for a chat.

Travel Makers Travel Fair, Alliance Française Language School, 66 McCaughey Street, Turner, 11am-2.30pm, Saturday, February 8 Free entry. Visit travelmakers.com.au, call 02 62232780 or email travmake@travelmakers.com.au

• African Safari Co • Albatross Travel and Tours • APT Travel Group • Bunnik Tours • Backroads Touring Co • Covermore insurance • Driveaway Holidays • Grand Pacific Tours New Zealand • Insight Vacations • Intrepid • Italian Travel Bureau • Peregrine Adventures • Platinum Journeys • Qatar Airways • Rail Europe • Singapore Airlines • Travel Makers • Uniworld River Cruising • Wendy Wu • Viking River Cruising • Viva Holidays

Our boutique travel fair is back for its 21st year, so come along and see the experts!

Travel companies present on the day:

FREE ENTRY

TRAVEL FAIR

When: Saturday 8th February Where: Alliance Francaise, 66 McCaughey Street, Turner ACT Time: 11.00am-2.30pm For more information email ann@travelmakers.com.au

On the day you will have the chance to speak to airlines, tour companies, cruise lines and car hire companies about your plans and there will be exclusive travel offers available.

CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020 17

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

advertising feature

Now’s the perfect time to make a positive change Welcome to 2020! Whether it’s embarking on a new exercise regime or taking better care of our general health, a new decade is the perfect time to create positive changes that go the distance.

“CityNews” speaks to a few experts to get their tips on creating a new you in 2020.

Personal trainer is a good start MANY of us make new year’s resolutions to get fit and healthy, according to EVO Health Club manager Cindy Hansen, and engaging a personal trainer can be a good place to start.

“Exercise is something we can and should make time for, and can change someone’s life,” says Cindy.

Bodies are made to move, according to Evo Health Club, and going to the gym should bring people life satisfaction beyond fitness goals, extending into an active life and a sharper, fitter mind.

Goals to get fit and tone up can be supported by a personal trainer, says Cindy.

“We have five personal trainers who can help clients meet their fitness goals. One is a pro boxer, so she’s very experienced in the area,” she says.

Clients can receive a full assessment of their physical, mental and life strengths and

Helping babies make a splash

needs, before implementing a training program.

Located at Hotel Realm, EVO Health Club uses Technogym equipment, has a 25-metre heated pool, sauna, steam room and spa.

“Our expert personal trainers and strength and conditioning coaches are engaged, knowledgeable and

ready to guide you along,” the club says.

“We focus on your abilities and take account of where you need development.”

EVO Health Club, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton.

Call 6162 0808, email workout@ evohealthclub.com.au or visit evohealthclub.com.au

SWIM-school operators Aquatots is overhauling its programs and heading into 2020 with refreshed classes and a new pool at Forde, says Alena Sarri, the founding director.

“We’re so excited about the new pool at Forde, which has an area that’s specially designed for babies,” she says.

“It has different depths, with a teaching ledge and a splash section.

Babies learn and retain information so much better when they can explore for themselves, and this pool was designed with them in mind.”

Alena says Aquatots is updating its additional needs and baby lessons following the latest recommendations from a recent conference.

“We want to continually provide the latest information and be on top of the world game,” she says.

The 25-metre pool and splash park at Googong has also proved popular over the summer.

All Aquatots’ classes are led by highly qualified teachers who mostly hold AUSTSWIM and Swim Australia awards.

“We also offer special-needs programs, aqua aerobics, teenage classes and an all-women’s class,” she says.

Aquatots specialises in teaching infants to swim and caters for all children aged from six weeks through to swim squad level.

Classes are held in four locations, including Club Googong, Black Mountain School in O’Connor, Gold Creek Country Club and its own facility in Forde.

Aquatots Swim Centre, Beltana Avenue, Googong. Call 6162 0507 or visit aquatots.com.au

Now open in Googong

NOW ENROLLING

for Term 1 2020 Starting at 6 weeks of age 18 CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020

FORDE | GOLD CREEK | BLACK MOUNTAIN | GOOGONG

02 6162 0507 www.aquatots.com.au

WHERE WILL YOU TAKE IT

How will you exceed your limits if they’ve never been tested? Drop your comfort zone and discover who you really are.

18 NATIONAL CIRCUIT BARTON ACT 2600 WWW.EVOHEALTHCLUB.COM.AU • (02) 61620808 • FIND US ON

An experience as luxurious as it is unforgettable Discover true luxury at Mudd The Spa Our exclusive 5 star treatments will enhance, invigorate and revitalise your mind, body and soul.

Select from our carefully curated Spa packages and treatments or customise your own perfect combination.

Through our philosophical vision of beauty we have created therapies that are absolute indulgence with instant visible results.

World Luxury Spa Award Winner 2019 To book your experience phone 6162 0909 • www.mudd.com.au Located at 18 National Circuit ACT 2600 • Open 7 Days CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020 19

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Quality care and the time to listen IT’S important to take care of yourself, and to have an awareness and understanding of your baseline health, say Holt Medical Centre owners Dr Natalie Boulton and Dr Richard Evans.

They say the centre offers quality GP health care to all patients, including baby health checks, immunisation, women’s and men’s health, GP shared pregnancy care, mental health care, skin checks, minor surgical procedures, travel health and vaccination, veteran health care, DVA claims, and bulk billing for children up to age 16 and DVA card holders.

Reduced rates are available to Health Care and Pensioners Card holders.

The Holt Medical Centre has a family focus, with each appointment having a holistic, personal and friendly feel.

“The team at reception enjoys getting to know our patients,” says practice manager Stephanie Sjollema.

“We have an in-house nurse able to check blood pressure and carry out other health assessments as needed.”

Through their practice, Dr Boulton and Dr Evans are invested in staying in the suburb of Holt long term.

They describe it as a private-billing practice with traditional values and quality care.

Both Dr Evans and Dr Boulton completed their studies at the

Dr Natalie Boulton and Dr Richard Evans of Holt Medical Centre.

Australian National University while serving in the military.

The practice works with Defence families, with an understanding of the needs and requirements of service life and being a service person’s spouse.

Dr Boulton, who is backed with 25 years’ experience in the Navy, and Dr Evans, who has 30 years’ experience in the Army, are able to navigate the Department of Veterans’ Affairs system with ease, as well as assist with all general practice issues.

The key focus for the practice is having a face-to-face relationship with patients and taking the time to listen.

Holt Medical Centre, 8 Holt Place, Holt.

Call 6254 3324 or visit holtmedicalcentre.com

advertising feature When exercise is all about the New ME ARTHRITIS ACT has launched a new program called New ME, says CEO Rebecca Davey – with the ME standing for My Exercise.

“We recognise that exercise isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that people all have different requirements,” says Rebecca.

“We all need help with tackling problem areas but everyone has their own goals and health needs.

“That’s why we created this program, where participants can come in, get assessed by either a physiotherapist or an exercise physiologist and receive a program to follow that suits them.”

Rebecca says the program is for anyone who wants to look after their health, and is open to all ages, whether they have arthritis or not. It’s a continuous, ongoing program designed to suit the individual.

“Some people will want classes, others will be self-led and some will see our practitioners several times,” Rebecca says.

Arthritis ACT runs hydrotherapy classes out of two pools at the University of Canberra, as well as other classes north and southside, some of which are subsidised.

Rebecca says the team provides up-to-date and extra information pertinent to those who need it and encourages people to give the Arthritis ACT team a call.

“The New ME program is flexible and saves people having to locate different providers,” says Rebecca.

“Whether you have back, shoulder, neck pain or sore hands and feet, or just want to be healthier, this program covers everyone.”

Arthritis ACT, Building 18, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041, email info@arthritisact. org.au or visit arthritisact.org.au

Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie of Pilates Centre Canberra.

Pilates teaches confident movers PILATES can be considered a crosspartner with any body conditioning modality, says Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie of Pilates Centre Canberra.

“It can support any other exercises, makes people feel good and gets the body working, whether they are fit already or deconditioned from lack of exercise,” Felicia says.

Felicia has been teaching Pilates for 13 years and says she discovered a love for it at a point in her life when she was fit and keen to have a go at any new exercise.

“I discovered that when you have a properly trained instructor you get very skilful teaching, backed with reasons why you are doing a particular exercise.

“With Pilates, you should always be

able to ask your instructor why and learn the reasons, it’s so important to get the exercises right.”

Felicia says she loves the sense of achievement she gets when meeting the physical challenges.

“It’s physically hard, so when you get it right it’s a huge personal accomplishment,” she says.

The Pilates Centre Canberra is also a host site for BASI, the world-leading Pilates instructor training school.

“The course is very personally rewarding, but not nearly as rewarding as working in the industry!”

The Pilates Centre Canberra, 58 Colbee Court, Phillip. Call 6162 1793.

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CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020 21

FULL PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Do you suffer with pain?

Resistance training to stay strong

We offer a suite of programs to physically and emotionally assist you with the impact of chronic pain.

Programs held in Southside Visit us at SHOUT in Pearce

Services available: Hydrotherapy at locations across Canberra Exercise Physiology group classes and individual consultations GLA:D Physiotherapy program for hip and knee osteoarthritis Dietitian consultations for weight loss/gain and pain relief Occupational therapy to improve daily living challenges Individual counselling and health education Pain Support programs, seminars and support groups

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CANBERRA’S largest orthopaedic practice, Orthopaedics ACT, has been helping people live an active life since 2013, says practice manager Deborah Henry.

One way to help people maintain strength and mobility is resistance training, advises sport and exercise physician Dr Lari Trease and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Phil Aubin.

“It’s helpful to do resistance or strength-based exercises twice a week, like circuit or balance classes,” says Dr Trease.

“The Australian movement guidelines include ideally moving for 30 minutes, five days a week, but this can be in efforts as short as 10 minutes at a time.

“It could be gardening, housework, taking the stairs instead of the lift or getting off the bus one stop early.”

According to Deborah, Orthopaedics ACT brings together the skills and expertise of seven surgeons, one sport and exercise physician as well as a clinical nurse who work as a team with a number of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy providers to keep patients as active as possible.

For people with early arthritis, Dr Aubin and Dr Trease say Orthopaedics ACT recommends an exercise program called GLA:D, which is run by physiotherapists and strengthens the knees and hips, and can reduce pain and medication requirements.

When necessary, whether due to age, trauma or sporting injuries, Orthopaedics ACT can improve quality of life through surgical intervention.

“Whether minor or major surgery, it’s aimed at allowing our patients to resume a healthy, active lifestyle,” says Dr Aubin.

“Having seven surgeons means we have all parts of the body covered, head to toe. We don’t just fix bones, we fix people.”

Orthopaedics ACT, Woden Specialist Medical Centre, Level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6221 9320 or visit orthoact.com.au

Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Phil Aubin.

All programs can be incorporated into NDIS, DVA and My Aged Care We accept GP Referrals for Medicare funded allied health services How else we can help you: Most chronic pain conditions respond to exercise and weight loss Hydrotherapy is proven to lead to reduction in many kinds of chronic pain People living with pain often suffer from being isolated and we have programs that will lessen this impact Mild depression and anxiety will significantly increase perceptions of pain and our counselling, support groups and exercise groups will help reduce this impact

Join online at: www.arthritisact.org.au info@arthritisact.org.au or Contact Arthritis ACT on 1800 011 041 22 CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020

www.orthoACT.com.au

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE

Terrifying prejudice of justice DOUGAL MACDONALD

All Bard, but fairies have a different kind of magic COVER STORY

By Helen Musa

IT’S a sad but true fact that most Canberrans don’t believe in fairies.

That’s a problem the director of Lakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Tim Sekuless has been grappling with as he works to make the world’s most famous fairy play credible for Canberra audiences in the coming “Shakespeare by the Lakes” season, free to the public.

Generations of schoolchildren have been willing enough to suspend their belief as the warring spirits, Oberon and Titania, battle it out in the netherworld while down on the ground two pairs of mortal lovers do exactly the same thing. And even cynical Aussie schoolkids “get” the rustic Mechanicals of Athens, who are rehearsing the tragic play-within-a-play, “Pyramus and Thisbe”.

But Sekuless is keen to have audiences genuinely believing what’s going on in Shakespeare’s “Dream”, even though the tight cast of eight will double roles, meaning that all the subsidiary fairies will go, along with Duke Theseus and his consort Hippolyta.

“I don’t want the audience to see the fairies as a part of the real world,” he says.

Sekuless has been delving into books about Tír na hÓige, the Celtic or Saxon otherworld, and is well aware that in Shakespeare’s time, the

spirit world was considered real. In an animistic world, for instance, Robin Goodfellow, or Puck, was commonly blamed if the milk curdled, if women miscarried or if some climatic disaster occurred and Shakespeare’s play makes it clear that changes in the seasons are the result of marital dissension in the spirit world.

“But our fairies have a magic of a different flavour,” he explains. “Magic becomes the subtle psychological forces in modern life.”

The highlight of “the season” will be the big Athenian fashion show, for which the tradespeople, here seen as backstage workers, are preparing. It’s a challenge that costume designer Fiona Hopkins is relishing.

Sekuless has taken a good look at Shakespeare’s text and while he says he’s not riding roughshod over it, he’s tightened it to 90 minutes, all with the agreement of his producer and sister Lexi Sekuless, known as a ferocious adherent to all things Shakespearean.

He’s also having Oberon, normally male, played by a woman as a woman, but still powerful and still the master of shadows.

It’s a comedy, sure, but he acknowledges the nasty aspects of the plot. Because Titania refuses to yield up a little Indian boy she’s adopted, she is drugged and made to sleep with a donkey, funny in Shakespeare’s time but not now. Likewise, Hermia is rejected by Lysander after she refuses to sleep with him. When they come out of the forest the lovers are totally baffled about their relationships, addressing their other halves as “mine own, but not mine own”.

Sekuless has been dwelling on the loss of choice and loss of identity in both the play and modern life, also seen when the Mechanicals struggle to take on other identities in their rehearsals.

Purists can breathe a sigh of relief. Even though Sekuless has cut the opening scene involving Hermia’s father and the Duke, it’s pretty much the Bard, with a few pronouns changed to fit the gender.

And for those fearful that the poetry will be gone in this outdoor Shakespearean dream – certainly not.

If you want an apt metaphor for the imagination, go no further than Theseus’ last great monologue, now spoken by Oberon: “The lunatic, the lover, and the poet/Are of imagination all compact.”

“I hope it makes everyone think,” Sekuless says.

Lakespeare III “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Tuggeranong Town Park, 6.30pm, FridaySaturday February 14-15; Kambri at ANU, 6.30pm, Sunday, February 16; Glebe Park, 6.30pm, Friday, February 21; and Patrick White Lawns, near National Library, 4.30pm, Saturday-Sunday, February 22-23.

FREE, but bookings essential at eventbrite.com.au and enter “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

A ticketed dinner and show version of the production, “Shakespeare by the Vines” will be held at Pialligo Estate from February 27-28. All details at lakespeare.com

Principal fairies Heidi Silberman as Oberon, Helen Way as Puck, and Kat Smalley as Titania.

Photo: Holly Treadaway

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Firefighters.

Photo: Nick Moir Bushfire in Orangeville, west of Campbelltown.

Storm-chaser captures raw energy

By Helen Musa

WHEN photographer Nick Moir found himself trying to get into Duffy during the 2003 Canberra bushfires and took what he thought was a shortcut through smoke, a fire swept up on him and in panic he drove off the road into a paddock.

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Photo: Nick Moir

“It was a really dumb decision,” he says in retrospect, “to put myself in danger unnecessarily. I don’t do that sort of stuff now. I should’ve moved around the back or got in earlier, but I was younger and more inexperienced.”

Even so, he received a World Press Photo award for his coverage of that fire season.

A searing exhibition of Moir’s fire photographs, “The Burning”, is about to go on show at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, whose visual arts program manager, Karena Keys, heard him talking at Campbelltown Arts Centre last year and snaffled him up for what now emerges as a “here and now” show.

This is the first time these photographs have been exhibited.

“All the images,” Moir tells me by phone from halfway between Forbes and West Wyalong where he’s chasing storms, “are literally two and a half months old – some from December and a couple from November, mostly taken around Sydney and the Taree region.”

The images, he says, will be accompanied by a description of the

extremes he encountered, especially at a bushfire west of Campbelltown, where the bush exploded into raw energy.

A veteran snapper of nature’s extremes, his photo essay, “Last Day on Earth” documented the storms he chased during 2006 in America’s Tornado Alley. Then in 2009 he was named International Environmental Photographer of the Year in the Changing Climates category for his image of a bushfire bearing down on a town in south-east NSW, and he’s recently been commissioned by GEO to photograph storms in Australia’s tropical north.

The son of the political cartoonist Alan Moir, he was raised in journalism and art, he is now the lead news photographer for “The Sydney Morning Herald” and a founding member of the Oculi Photographic Collective.

A father of four, he lives in Newport but grew up in the Blue Mountains which, he says, is “how I got to know about firestorms and stuff like that”.

He doesn’t mind being called an adrenaline junkie but says, “It has to be pointed out that I put a lot of thought into what I do, certainly there is some storm-chasing but there is a whole other level to this.

It has to be a steady, calm thing and a lot of preparation goes into what to do. You don’t just turn up and photograph, you have to prepare to capture the intensity of those moments.”

“The Burning”, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, until March 14.

Aceh, after Boxing Day tsunami.

Photo: Nick Moir

Bilpin, NSW.

Photo: Nick Moir

Firefighters, flames and embers at the bushfire in Orangeville.

Photo: Nick Moir

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CINEMA

Terrifying prejudice of justice “Just Mercy” (M) THIS is straight-forward telling of an actual story, based on a book written by the central character.

You might feel cautious about the risk of its becoming a self-praising paean. But on viewing its dramatising of a corner of the American legal process, you are likely, as were some people who spoke with me after the screening, to come away impressed by its merits and accepting of its authenticity.

The film’s foundation is Bryan Stevenson’s account of the legal battle he fought on behalf of black man Walter McMillian on death row in Alabama after a court found him guilty of murdering a young white woman.

In the film, Jamie Foxx plays McMillian. It’s a solid performance. So, too, is Michael B Jordan’s portrayal of Stevenson, a Harvard Law School graduate who, together with Eva Ansley (Brie Larson) established the Equal Justice Initiative that has so fiercely opposed the racial prejudice that still pervades some of the former Confederate States.

The title “Just Mercy” neatly summarises the film’s two dominant themes. Its depiction of prejudice among police, jurors and judges in early 1990s Alabama is terrifying yet credible. Its plea for mercy is subtle, exemplified in a powerful portrayal of a possibly innocent man about to be electrocuted after decades on death row. The

store, financially incompetent although their products are good. Which is what beauty-aids tycooness Claire Luna (Salma Hayek) covets enough to offer to buy them out.

That’s the guts of a movie that has made reviewers smile, not because it’s funny ‘cos it’s not, but for the opportunities it gives for creative similes. For example, “flat loaf, which isn’t just flavourless but half-baked” (“Washington Post”); “comedy on life support, with Haddish and Byrne valiantly performing futile acts of resuscitation.

Sorry to report: the patient died” (“Rolling Stone”).

It’s not so much a failure of the cast to Michael B. Jordan as lawyer Bryan Stevenson, deliver. The cause of the film’s wide dissatisfacleft, and Jamie Foxx as McMillan in “Just Mercy”. tion among the reviewing fraternity is its dopey perverse panoply of execution is revolting, terrible, screenplay, which fails to mould the basics of the shooting script into any kind of cogent profound in its message. understanding of what it’s about. Mia’s happy Writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton deftly manages each sequence in the film in delivering its about accepting the invitation to sell. Mel isn’t. message, verity uglamourised by dramatic excess. Fair enough.

But “Like a Boss” lacks any sense of ethics His actors rise to the occasion. The effect of their or political awareness. It peddles sisterhood combined efforts is memorable. on the basis that there’s something inherently At all cinemas funny about women cursing, having sex and getting stoned, behaving like male stereotypes.

“Like A Boss” (M) Its jokes are coarse – no problem with that. Its sight gags do the performing talent no respect.

DIRECTOR Miguel Arteta’s chick-flick promises a The studio bosses who green-lit production comedy. The screenplay by Sam Pitman and Adam of “Like A Boss”‘ are as responsible for its fiasco Cole-Kelly breaks that promise. as are the folk behind the camera who might Rose Byrne and Tiffany Haddish play Mel and have adjusted its shortcomings on set during Mia, chums since college, living, working and the shoot – unaware of the reality that women partying as one, now running a beauty aids are as human as men with the same complexities, habits and feelings.

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ARTS IN THE CITY

Tognetti’s epic Beethoven RICHARD Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra will get off to a cracking start for 2020 with an epic Beethoven celebration, starting with Beethoven’s Symphonies No. 1 and 2 then climaxing in the exhilarating “Eroica” Symphony.

Llewellyn Hall, 8pm, Saturday February 8, book at aco.com.au BUDDING Theatre has spent the summer going potty with its themed “Harry Potter” theatre holiday program, followed by the “Greatest Showman Parody” and “DC Versus Marvel”. Toning down slightly, they’re now embarking on drama production courses for school-aged children, “Little Women”, “The Little Lion King”, “Romeo & Juliet” and “Heathers Meets Hamilton Meets High School Musical”. More information at buddingtheatre.com

Richard Tognetti and Australian Chamber Orchestra… performing Beethoven at Llewellyn Hall, February 8.

Photo: Nic Walker

A NEW collaborative jazz band formed by Mike Nock, Jonathan Swartz, Julien Wilson and Hamish Stuart, is promoting the new album “This World” and will appear at The Street Theatre, 4pm, Sunday February 9, book at thestreet.org. au or 6247 1223. The band will then move on to bushfire-ravaged Braidwood, whose music lovers have noted the titles on the bill, “We Shall Rise Again” and “And In The Night Comes Rain”. St Andrews Anglican Church, 47 Elrington St,

CANBERRA choreographer James Batchelor is taking his show “Redshift” to the Artdanthé dance and theatre festival in Paris this month, which will bring together 53 theatre and dance troupes. Batchelor and visual artist Annalise Rees were part of an expedition to the sub-Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands in 2017, and this is the second work in a trilogy based on their experience.

Also performing in France will be Canberra-raised dance artists, Chloe Chignell and Jack Riley.

Braidwood, 7pm, Monday, February 10, tickets at the door.

QUEANBEYAN-Palerang Regional Council is to provide the newly-named Australian Wind Symphony (formerly Canberra Wind Symphony) with a new home in the Bicentennial Hall, now in the final stages of a $1.5m upgrade to become a professional performance space. Symphony director Geoff Grey says they’re calling it “The B”, since it’ll be right next door to “The Q”.

OPERATIC tenor Andrew Goodwin, a familiar figure at the International Music Festival, will appear with Canberra-raised piano virtuoso Daniel de Borah

performing “Fragrance in the Air”, songs from Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov.

Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 4pm, Sunday, February 2, book at trybooking.com or at the door.

CityNews January 30-February 5, 2020 25

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Rosemary has been renamed… it’s in the Salvia family.

The summer of our discontent WHAT a battle we gardeners are experiencing this summer.

There was the rain, ranging from little or none to torrential downpours, the fires, then last week’s massive hailstorm that stripped trees and brought down, almost exclusively, eucalypts.

Generally shrubs bounce back after, dare I say it, a form of pruning.

The water table is so low that, even with the advantage of drip irrigation, it’s taking a long time to reach the root zone.

In December I installed an extra 4000-litre rainwater tank; obviously it’s no use until rain arrives, although I did suggest to the installers that part of the guarantee besides the actual tank and pump was that they guaranteed 25 millimetres of rain within a day of installation.

They didn’t go along with that!

WHILE I admit to having had a few losses in the garden, the really tough plants survive with a minimum of water.

For example Escallonia bifida, an evergreen native to Brazil and Uruguay is in full flower in our garden.

Reaching up to four metres high with a 2.5-metre spread, it can be grown as an individual shrub or it makes an ideal hedge. It is an accredited RHS Award of Garden Merit plant.

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Blossom end rot on tomatoes… not a disease but a soil problem caused by a calcium deficiency.

its cerise flowers appear from late spring to autumn and it makes a perfect pot specimen.

Although the 41C-plus heat did (as for most plants) knock the flowers about.

THE botanists are at it again renaming plants. Now Rosemary has been renamed. But the Royal Horticultural Society has accepted that this is actually in the Salvia family to be now known as Saliva rosmarinus. These name changes may not be well received, but we cannot ignore the scientists with their modern DNA testing.

Blossom end rot, which shows up as a large blob on the bottom of the fruit even when green, seems to be a problem this year for tomato, capsicum and even potato growers.

It isn’t a disease but a soil problem caused by a calcium deficiency, which can be corrected by the addition of gypsum or dolomite to the soil, preferably before planting.

The problem is what to do if your tomatoes are showing the problem after planting?

Adding these soil conditioners in powder form takes a long time to absorb into the soil.

The liquid alternatives are registered organic soil improvers such as Eco-flo gypsum, Eco-flo

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WITH 500,000 members, the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society is the world’s largest gardening organisation. It has four magnificent gardens with a fifth due to open this year and each has an extensive garden centre.

This year, the society will no longer sell glyphosate-based weedkiller products in its plant centres. It will offer alternate organic formulations to glyphosate (Round-up). Readily available here is the organic weed killer Slasher product made by Eco Organic Crop Protectants.

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Your week in the stars – February 3-9, 2020

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY WEEK!

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Contradictions reign this week! Saturn cautions you to approach a career move or a relationship problem in a slow and steady way. But then on Wednesday, Uranus revs up your tendency to make hasty remarks and unintentional blunders.

Remember Rams – it takes a short time to burn bridges and a lot longer to mend them. The weekend Full Moon fires up your restless and spontaneous side. So you’re definitely in the mood for fun, creativity and lashings of love and romance.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

With the fiery Full Moon heating up your home zone, tread carefully with fragile family members. It will be oh-so-easy to say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. So aim to be a super tactful Taurus! Courtesy of Saturn, karma also plays an important role in proceedings this week. The more generous you are, the more the Universe will bless you in return. A friend or lover from the past could re-enter your life… but do you really want to travel down that bumpy road again?

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

The stars favour communicating from the heart and saying what’s on your mind.

But – with Uranus and the Full Moon loosening your tongue – resist the urge to tell tall tales and spread salacious gossip. Slow down, think things through and try to speak as tactfully as possible. It’s a wonderful week to promote a joint venture, catch up with a friend or organise a romantic rendezvous. Unhappily single?

Sparks could fly with a dynamic person from a different country or culture.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Cash-strapped Crabs – avoid going on a spontaneous spending spree or lending money to dubious people. You’re liable to make impulsive decisions based purely on your emotions (which are fluctuating wildly, courtesy of the volatile Full Moon). You’ll find reading, writing, research, kindness, cooperation and convivial conversation are particularly favoured this week. In the words of the Dalai Lama (who is a fellow Cancerian): “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Prepare to dazzle like the Diva you truly are! This week’s fiery Full Moon in Leo boosts your confidence, charisma and chutzpah. It’s also time to give your undivided attention to others. Communication is favoured as you converse with an eclectic range of family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Attached Lions – strive to get the balance right between personal projects and cosy companionship. Single Cats – long-term love is likely with someone who is smart and sexy.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Your days are often organised with military precision as you try to get everything 100% right. But this week there’s a fiery Full Moon, plus Mercury (your ruling planet) moves into adaptable Pisces and then connects with unpredictable Uranus. So strive to be more spontaneous, as you toss your usual timetable out the window and stretch your adaptability muscles in unfamiliar directions. It’s also a terrific time to learn something new. Whatever happens… expect the unexpected!

Across

4 Which royal house reigned in Britain from 1714 to 1901? (7) 8 Name a bitter colourless alkaloid, used to treat malaria. (7) 9 What is another name for the white of an egg?

(7) 10 Quito is the capital of which South American republic? (7) 11 Which cinema films with soundtracks were introduced in 1927? (7) 12 Which term designates dividends on investments? (6) 14 What is a colloquial word for barristers? (6) 18 Which term describes the diameter of a bullet? (7) 21 What is a fixed or regular pay? (7) 22 Name an outdoor game played by knocking wooden balls through iron arches. (7) 23 What is otalgia more commonly known as? (7) 24 Which was the eighth month of the early Roman year? (7)

Down

Solution next edition

1 Name a representative of the sovereign, such as a State Governor. (7) 2 What is an infective agent called? (5) 3 What is a body of persons related to one another? (7) 4 Which term refers to the fireside? (6) 5 Who invented dynamite, Alfred ...?(5) 6 Which preternatural being is said to suck blood from sleeping persons at night? (7) 7 What are sheets of ice, for skating? (5) 13 Who won Olympic gold for the 1500m in 1960, Herb ...?

(7) 15 Name a popular resort region on the Mediterranean coast. (7) 16 What is a very small quantity of something? (7) 17 What do we call one who is given to witticisms, jokes, and pranks? (6) 18 The seeds of which small evergreen tree are the source of chocolate? (5) 19 What is an effusively laudatory announcement called? (5) 20 Name a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods. (5)

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

The Full Moon highlights your hopes and wishes zone so it’s a wonderful week to expand (or re-visit) your goals for 2020. Don’t be half-hearted. Go for gold and make your dreams as big and beautiful as you possibly can! For some loyal Librans, a romance that’s been rocky (or a friendship that’s been floundering) could head off in a promising new direction. As birthday great Bob Marley reminds us: “True friends are like stars; you can only recognise them when it’s dark around you.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

It doesn’t matter where you sit in the political spectrum, there is a positive future for Australia with so many Greta Thunbergs out there and young indigenous leaders who are waiting in the wings, ready to vote and eager to shape our country. Can’t wait for them to turn 18 and start helping us shape the next decade.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

With restless Mars moving through your sign and the fiery Full Moon activating your adventure zone, it’s a terrific week to travel or plan an exotic escape for some time soon. However if you blurt out something when you’re in a rush or feeling stressed, then you’ll regret it later on! So think things through before you speak (especially with family members and work colleagues) and realise that the first thought that jumps into your head isn’t necessarily the best one.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

You’ve got so many serious responsibilities, commitments and must-do-tasks that the last thing you need is a financial drama. But that’s what you could end up with, as the fiery Full Moon heats up your money zones. Your ruler Saturn (which is moving through your sign) encourages you to be cautious and conservative in the way you spend cash and communicate with others. When it comes to love, money, personal projects and family matters, slow and steady wins the race this week!

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Solution next edition

Prepare for a wacky, weird and wonderful week as the Sun sashays through your avant-garde sign Aquarius. Plus expressive Mercury links up with your unconventional ruler Uranus. So it’s the perfect time to tap into your Gypsy Soul and channel your Inner Bohemian! You’re also impatient to make some snappy decisions but resist the urge to be too blunt. With the Full Moon revving up your relationship zone, consider the effects your words and actions will have on those around you.

Sudoku medium No. 259

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2020

In closing: for businesses out there please start to think about having an Acknowledgement of Country in your corporate literature and running the text past the elders. Not as a tokenistic tick-abox, but as a genuine acknowledgement. After all, it is about paying respect – and isn’t that just basic courtesy?

FREE SUDOKU EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

Crossword No. 717

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

On Sunday 26th January, at 6am, we watched NITV’s Sunrise Ceremony from Sydney, a collaboration with NITV and SBS – and this year Annabelle Herd and her team at Network 10/WIN are to be applauded for joining the simulcast, understanding the national importance of spreading the message to a wider audience. Wouldn’t it be brilliant if this starts a trend that NITV is not just seen as a channel for our indigenous friends to watch – we should all be tuning into to NITV to educate ourselves (we white fellas need a lot of that education). Do you know our indigenous friends were the first map makers on this planet? They were the first astronomers on this planet?

For 2021, wouldn’t it be great to have a gathering place in Canberra on a big screen to watch the Sunrise Ceremony at 6am next year? Dan Bourchier is supportive of anything that helps us to have a place and conversation where we can come together as a nation. So let’s see who we can lobby to get this happening.

Sudoku hard No. 259

This week’s Full Moon sees you swing between being sexy and secretive; and being passionate and possessive. You could also be thrust into the public spotlight, so make sure you’re putting on a good show. But are you stuck in a Scorpio career slump? If you resist changes at work, then you’ll just be left behind in the backwash. Look for exciting ways to inject fresh ideas into your professional life.

And make sure you consult with colleagues and include them in your plans.

On Monday, Mercury shifts into your sign. So you’ll be at your quintessential Piscean best as your creative, compassionate and spiritual sides kick into top gear. Then the weekend Full Moon highlights your ‘being of service’ and ‘helping others’ zones, so concentrate on the pressing needs of those around you. You’re also keen to get involved with a project from behind-the-scenes but be careful you don’t retreat into a permanent fantasy world. Keep your feet firmly planted on the ground.

While this column will be seen on Thursday 30th January, it’s still not too late to have a conversation. Australia Day is our time to sit and reflect and consider who we are as individuals, who we are as a nation and where we sit as a citizen in this global village called Earth, and how our continent (the size of the USA) sits. It shouldn’t be a one day conversation, as we need to learn about our history for longer than 24 hours.

Everyone has a different interpretation of Australia Day, but from what Canberra’s own John Paul Janke from NITV said on ABC Radio with Adrienne Francis on Saturday 25th, many of our indigenous friends can feel excluded on the day. As Nova Peris Kneebone OAM has said, by embracing our First Nation friends, we don’t lose anything – we actually gain so much. So much knowledge, so much exposure to a different way of thinking, stretching our brains. It’s what brings us together, not divides us – and aren’t we the luckiest country to have the freedom of having the conversation. In a practical sense, we have all witnessed that our indigenous friends have had a bushfire strategy for tens of thousands of years, that in recent months has value-added to policy as well as operational aspects on the national stage.

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