“Interest costs alone for light rail Stage 2A amount to $94 million over the next four years. The health levy would just about cover those costs.” JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED lay bare the budget lies.
Fiscal expressionist
Andrew Barr unveils his latest art exhibition –DISTRACTIONS
POLITICS
Government goes to the dogs to distract from the budget
MICHAEL MOORE
WHIMSY
Australian government egotists I have known…
CLIVE WILLIAMS
GARDENING
Tricks to growing tropical trees
JACKIE WARBURTON
When it comes to taking Canberra razzle-dazzle to the world, there are few who can compete with David Bates, says arts editor HELEN MUSA
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NEWS / photography competition
Young snappers vie to capture spirit of gardens
By Elizabeth KOVACS
Returning for its 25th year, young photographers are encouraged to take part in the Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) Photographic Competition.
President of the Friends of the ANBG, Linda Beveridge, says the competition for students allows young people to be inspired by the “science and beauty of native flora and fauna.”
“Young people take the most wonderfully unexpected images,” she says.
“Their point of view is different and it’s great to see what inspires them within the gardens.”
Split into separate categories, including black and white, coloured and altered reality photography within two age groups, primary school aged children (Years 3 to 6) and secondary/college aged children (Years 7 to 12) will have the chance to win cash prizes, with a further cash prize and/or native plant for their school.
Arts & Entertainment 27-30
Crossword & Sudoku 31
Dining & Wine 30
Gardening 26
Keeping Up the ACT 12
Letters 16-17
News 3-18
Politics 4, 13
Streaming 29
Students who enter the competition must take a digital photograph within the National Botanic Gardens between August 30, 2024 and August 29, 2025.
Linda says the competition is an excellent opportunity for students to get outside and appreciate the natural beauty and value of the gardens.
When deciding on what to photograph, Linda says she has begun to see a trend forming in
Cover: Spiegelmeister David Bates. Photo: Persephone Bates-D’Arbela. Story Page 27.
the winning photographs.
“Photographing the foliage, flowers and fruit of plants is becoming popular to capture colour, shape and structure,” she says.
“[Students] also enjoy capturing images of insects and birds as they pollinate the plants.”
Linda says students should be conscious of their focus, lighting, distance, level of action and subject view when thinking about what they might want to
photograph.
“Most importantly, have fun!” she says.
“Play with different images and how you take them, feel free to experiment.
“You might see something that no one else has noticed.”
Competition entries are open and close at 5pm, August 29.
Competition details at friendsanbg. org.au/comp_2025_info
Since 1993: Volume 31, Number: 28
General manager: Tracey Avery, tracey@citynews.com.au
Journalist: Elizabeth Kovacs, elizabeth@citynews.com.au
Arts editor: Helen Musa, helen@citynews.com.au
Production manager: Janet Ewen
Distribution manager: Penny McCarroll
Commercial and Residential Conveyancing for ACT & NSW
1. Muncher by Anna Henderson, Melrose High School. First Prize Secondary Monochrome 2024. 2. Untitled by Jade Watts, Dickson College. First Prize Secondary Colour 2024.
3. Magpie’s eyes by Emily de Bono, Weetangera Primary School. First Prize Primary Monochrome 2024. 4. Flower Swirl, by Ari Matthews, Canberra College. First Prize Secondary Altered Reality 2024. 5. Pimelea physodes with leaf-like petals by Mako Takakusagi, Torrens Primary School First Prize Primary Colour 2024.
Government goes to dogs to distract from budget
For a dog owner, who is also a dog lover, the care and management of our “best friends” is of critical importance.
However, there is a balance. Whereas the ACT government has gone totally over the top in its draft Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs in the ACT.
It is a deliberate distraction from the disaster that is the ACT budget, and to cover up the poor decisions regarding light rail.
Alternatively, it might be an attempt to discourage Canberrans from having dogs as pets. The code really does talk down to people. It is lengthy, legalistic, designed for idiots and assumes no common sense.
There is ample evidence regarding the positive role that pets, and particularly our “best friends” play in improving the mental health and well-being of owners.
A code of this kind ought to be encouraging dog ownership within a sensible, easy-to-read framework. Instead, it includes issues that seem specifically designed to raise the ire of all but the most extreme animal liberationists.
The Animal Welfare Act 1992 already requires provision of appropriate food, water, exercise, housing, hygiene, health care and enrichment.
Who is going to police such a mandatory requirement of providing human contact for three hours minimum?
The draft code adds “the person in charge of a dog should provide for its physical, emotional, mental, and behavioural needs”.
However, the code cites the mandatory requirement of providing “human contact for a reasonable length of time each day, three hours minimum”. Who is going to police such a mandatory requirement? What does it mean anyway? Is having the dog in the laundry at night providing human contact?
Most Canberrans would agree with the overall objectives that attempts to ensure dogs, that are “sentient beings”, are provided with care that “maximises their health and wellbeing, and they are protected from pain, distress, danger, illness, and
The ACT government has gone totally over the top in its draft Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs in the ACT… a deliberate distraction from the disaster that is the ACT budget.
injury”. The objectives are excellent, the delivery in this draft code is a different story.
Restrictions on the use of retractable leashes makes no sense. Some dogs exercise much more when they have the flexibility to sniff, run and bounce rather than effectively being kept on a “heel” throughout a walk. And, for many, access to off-leash areas can be quite challenging.
The guideline states “a person in charge should not use retractable leashes as they may result in injury”. Then it provides a note: “A retractable leash limits control, poses risk and could be dangerous to both the dog and the walker”. Could be dangerous! Any walking “poses risks” and “could be dangerous to
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both the dog and the walker”.
The allowance doesn’t excuse this nonsense: “Retractable or flexi leashes should be selected with care and is only suitable towards well trained dogs who already have good leash behaviour and is under voice control, or for temporary situations such as a toilet break when travelling”.
Dogs need clean water. However, providing a guideline that states “access to clean drinking water should be monitored at a minimum twice daily, supplying fresh water on each occasion”. Ridiculous! There is already a legislative requirement for sufficient fresh and clean drinking water to be available. Why go to the extreme in the guidelines?
Apparently, dogs “should be trained by an accredited training provider” and they ought to be trained using positive reinforcement (treats etcetera) because these are the most effective techniques”. Good idea! However, there are so many Canberrans who are perfectly capable of training a dog to suit their needs and those of the family.
Under the heading “Vehicles”, it is mandatory that dogs that are travelling in vehicles must be secured
with a harness or within a “secured container”. It is not good enough to securely tether one of the commercially available framed canvas enclosures. The code requires “one whole end of the container must be open and covered with bars, weld mesh or smooth expanded metal securely fastened to the container”.
The draft code does seem to treat all people like idiots… and the targeted idiots are not the ones who will read it.
At least there is an opportunity for residents to have a say – assuming City Services Minister Tara Cheyne will actually pay attention to the feedback!
Now, let’s get back to the issue that we should be discussing… the appalling state of the ACT finances and the absurd budget.
Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an in dependent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.
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One law for Housing ACT, another for its tenants?
“It’s so nice to know that those who hold their tenants in contempt can in turn be held in contempt.” Columnist HUGH SELBY takes up the story of little Dion and his gran and their shabby treatment by Housing ACT. But not for much longer…
The ACT public service has put together useful information on being a tenant.
It explains that the tenants of Housing ACT are bound by the same rules as all those others who don’t have the capacity to buy, but are ineligible for public housing, and so scramble to find something in the private rental market, such as it is, which isn’t great.
Tenants of Housing ACT, says the advice, must “tell your housing manager about any damage that
information was sourced) are to be found in the Residential Tenancies Act Schedule 1.
It was interesting to find that the words in the schedule are not “as soon as practicable” but are, “as soon as necessary, having regard to the nature of the problem”.
We learn that the following, among a longer list, are urgent repairs: a broken toilet, a serious roof leak, a dangerous electrical fault, any fault of damage that makes the
How then can it be that months have gone by and these urgent repairs are not done?
Dion’s gran pays the rent on time. She has made a front garden out of a mess – but he still can’t play outside because it’s not safe.
Is it that there is one law for those who run Housing ACT and another for those who live in their housing stock?
I looked for some legislative provision that requires Housing ACT to do repairs. I found that ACAT (our local tribunal) can make an order requiring performance of the tenancy agreement.
But, so what? There are penalties for Housing ACT failing to comply, but those penalties don’t call anyone to account. They are, with respect to Housing ACT, useless.
All of which explained why nobody
Housing ignored Tribunal orders to do repairs. That was until the Tribunal said that it could refer the matter to the NSW Supreme Court to consider whether Public Housing was in contempt of the Tribunal.
The article sets out the reasons of the Tribunal: very interesting and persuasive.
That led to the head of the NSW department apologising to the Tribunal, and to the long-awaited repairs being done. That department then went further, bringing in new procedures to stop this kind of “do nothing” response.
Dion’s gran has been getting some help from lawyers to prepare a case against Housing ACT in ACAT. I doubted whether it would improve their home until I came across the NSW decision. That really improves the odds of
23 JULY, 7 PM
SJAELLA
Behind the pretty name are things they hide under the cover of night: High
Joeys are clubbed to death with wooden mallets Or decapitated while still alive.
It’s cruel. It’s unnecessary. It’s been rejected by CSIRO scientists. Canberra isn’t the ‘Bush capital’ any more. It’s the home of relentless developments where deals are more important than wildlife.
THE GADFLY / artificial intelligence
‘Transformative’ AI, but no word on the downside
Until recently, I regarded AI as just another technical assist, a natural enhancement of Google where one finds the perfect word to complete a sentence, or to expand on the broad brush of Wikipedia info.
Last month, when I returned to writing fiction after several decades of Australian history, I used its ChatGPT version when seeking the answer to a complex question about a bleeding shark. It was a very scary experience, of which more later.
I’d had a big surprise when the Australian Writers Guild told me that 17 of my non-fiction books had been plundered by the thieves of Silicon Valley to enhance their AI development.
Naturally, I joined the class action for compensation from Meta for illegal use of our copyrights. Last month a San Francisco judge ruled against one aspect of our claim. It was time, I felt, to come to grips with those two seemingly ingenuous initials: AI.
Forests have been sacrificed to arguments over their rights and wrongs, so I went directly to AI itself to see what the fuss was about. “At its core,” said Mr/Ms GPT, “AI simulates aspects of human cognition. Some systems are narrow or ‘weak’, de -
signed to perform specific tasks (like playing chess or identifying photos of cats.) Others are pushing the boundaries towards artificial general intelligence, a hypothetical form of AI that could understand, learn and apply knowledge across a broad array of tasks like a human being.”
Yes, that’s the one I wanted. They were more than happy to oblige. They’re salespersons supreme – eager and deferential. I found myself thanking them for answers and apologising for having to decline their offer to stay and chat!
(pretending to be impartial), “is simultaneously promising and challenging. On one hand it has the potential to revolutionise industries.
“In healthcare, it can help detect diseases earlier and personalise treatments. In education, it can tailor learning to each student’s pace and style. In business, it can enhance productivity, automate repetitive tasks, and generate insights from big data. It also plays a growing role in climate science, transportation, and space exploration.
I’d had a big surprise when the Australian Writers Guild told me that 17 of my non-fiction books had been plundered by the thieves of Silicon Valley to enhance their AI development.
“However, with great power comes great responsibility.” (Not only impartial but ethical, too.)
“As AI systems become more capable, concerns around ethics, privacy, bias and job displacement become more pressing. There is a global conversation underway about creating policies and standards to ensure AI development is safe, transparent and beneficial to society.
“Organisations and governments are working on frameworks to align AI with human values… Looking ahead, AI’s trajectory will likely be shaped by how well we navigate these tensions. AI could become one of the most transformative tools humanity has ever created.” (What is the downside? Not a word from Mr/ Ms GPT.)
Here’s the really scary part. Look around. If, as suggested, we “align AI with human values” we will destroy humanity and perhaps the globe itself. We are a species that has normalised war. That has refused to respond to the horrors of climate change. That profits the strong over the weak. The wrecker over the carer. The fable over the fact. The gun over the compromise. The man over the woman. Excess over moderation. And who is conducting that “global conversation”? Not the Silicon Valley thieves. Not the autocratic governments of Russia, China and Trump’s America. They are inventing and using it to become impossibly rich or to destroy the voices of democracy (or both) where they decide what’s news, who’s taxed and who goes to war with whom.
Frankly, I’d prefer to be in a pool with my fictional bleeding shark.
robert@robert macklin.com
“If, as suggested, we ‘align AI with human values’ we will destroy humanity and perhaps the globe itself,” says Robert Macklin.
Photo: Pexels
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Supporting the outdated endangers the future
“If the absurd light rail network is not stopped, how will we answer the next generation when they ask: “Why did you permit the government to shoulder us with great debt for a slow, outdated transport system?” writes BEATRICE BODART-BAILEY.
Can someone please explain to me why we should be embedding magnetic nails into our roads and rip them up to fortify them for the weight of trackless trams?
Especially when the latest buses, such as those in Brisbane, look like light rail and trackless trams and provide all the comforts of the latter two.
The big advantage of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is that – as our Rapid buses already do today – they service not only the main lines, such as Civic to Woden, but also take passengers further to where they live without having to get up from their seats.
For instance, the R4 bus continues from Woden on to Tuggeranong at one end and from Civic to Belconnen at the other and could go to further outlying suburbs if required.
With only the modest expense of providing “bus only” priority lanes throughout, this service would be even more rapid and certainly preferable to the government’s documented plan of
turning the R4 into a local bus between Lanyon and Woden, forcing commut ers from Tuggeranong to change to a slow tram at Woden, trackless or not, winding its way around the parliamen tary triangle to Civic.
Am I the only person who is amused when those supervising the endless trucking of soil for the new 1.7 kilometres of tramline justify the cost, the traffic problems and pollution the work is causing with the claim that they are laying the foundations for the transport of the next one hundred years?
provide all the comforts of the latter two.
created by the present government.
A claim made in an age where one’s car is out of date in 10 years, one’s laptop in five and one’s phone even earlier, and robotaxis are already providing efficient transport in several US cities.
By the time the government promises the first rides on the Civicto-Woden tram, robotaxis and robobuses of all sizes are likely to provide efficient door-to-door transport for the decreasing numbers of commuters elsewhere and the only long-enduring item left in Canberra is the debt
NATIONAL TRUST (ACT)
Moreover, the government could provide assurance for continued operation by furnishing stops and buses with the new Chinese fastcharging battery system that can add 400 kilometres of range in just five minutes, eliminating the cost for new bus depots and for having to keep buses out of circulation for charging.
Then there is the erroneous claim that decades of Labor rule indicates that the public loves the tram.
Certainly, those who can afford to live next to a stop love it, but that is at most 10 per cent of Canberra’s population. The rest must pay for it and is motivated to vote Labor by the
ACT Region Heritage Symposium 2025
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Saturday, 2 August 9am-3pm
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sent federal minister for finance, fail to understand that accepting to pay twice the amount for light rail than BRT for the initial line, the comprehensive Canberra transport network crossing the lake planned by the Greens would cost at least double the amount of an equivalent BRT network?
Has the present chief minister any idea how to finance the next step of this grandiose plan when the government debt per person of the ACT’s population is already a multiple of the similar per person debt of the rest of Australia’s population?
I’m not a fan of Elon Musk, but his recent statement that supporting the outdated endangers the future contains a kernel of truth.
opposition’s threat to abolish public service jobs rather than a tram, which is of no use to the majority.
The loss of the Greens at the last election, as initiator of the tram, does not support the assumption that the tram is a vote-winner, especially now that the financial cost is becoming apparent.
In fact, the construction of the tram is unlikely to have been tolerated if in 2012 the government had not deceived the public by keeping secret the comparison of light rail with BRT, which was documenting that the latter would cost half and bring twice the income plus the same development of the area.
Did the then chief minister, our pre -
fun tuition in Ballroom Dancing
For Canberrans it means that if the absurd plan of covering the ACT with a light rail network multiple the cost of BRT is not stopped now, how will we answer the next generation when they are old enough to ask “why did you permit the government to shoulder us with great debt for a slow, outdated transport system, downgrading the environment and sacrificing trees of our bush capital?”
Historian Beatrice Bodart-Bailey is an honorary professor at the ANU School of Culture, History and Language and an emeritus professor of the Department of Comparative Culture, Otsuma Women’s University, Tokyo.
Photo: Brisbane City
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‘Chris Steel’s first budget is a trainwreck, universally condemned, even by his federal colleagues’
How your health levy’s morphing into a tram tax
“Interest costs alone for light rail Stage 2A amount to $94 million over the next four years. The health levy would just about cover those costs.” JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED lay bare the budget lies.
The ACT’s finances are a shambles and Treasurer Chris Steel’s first budget is a trainwreck, universally condemned, even by his federal colleagues, and amended by the Legislative Assembly within a week.
To our knowledge, this is the first time since self-government that such a backflip has been forced on a government, notably even before the commencement of Estimates Committee hearings.
The changes, demanded by the Greens, have reduced the “Health Levy” from $250 on every residential and commercial property to $100 for residential properties.
The tax on commercial properties will remain unchanged and the revenue shortfall – an estimated $120 million over four years –will reportedly be made up by increasing the payroll tax rate to 8.5 per cent, which will be the highest in Australia.
someone or some event but most assuredly anyone other than the ACT government (eg, the Commonwealth government, Grants Commission, pandemic, the weather, global events, the Catholic Church, climate change or even the GFC!) when agencies overrun their budgets, and the actual revenue collection falls short of the imaginary numbers in the budget.
The $250 flat health levy on all residential and commercial properties may possibly have succeeded, despite being regressive in nature and contrary to the Medicare Principle in optics, since regressive taxes and breaches of some basic principles have gone unnoticed in the past.
Blame for the parlous state of the finances will, of course, fall on someone or some event but most assuredly anyone other than the ACT government.
While the government is legally required to publish the revised budget estimates, we have assumed that the changes will be in the revenue lines, rather than on the expenditure side.
The budget strategy – if it can be called that – is no different than previous budgets, being comprised of an unrealistic assumption of revenue growth and expenditure constraint along with a risible forecast of a miraculous turnaround in the operating budget, with the operating cash deficits and capital program largely consisting of unworthy and uneconomic vanity projects funded through borrowings.
Blame for the parlous state of the finances will, of course, fall on
Assuming the Treasurer is able to substantiate his claims of:
(a) health expenditure now constituting 36 per cent of the total budget; (b) growth in health costs putting the budget on “life support”; and (c) underfunding by the Commonwealth government.
Based on data from the ABS, the budget share of health expenditure in the ACT has, since 2016, remained below the weighted average share across all states and territories.
Remarkably, information published in the 2025-26 budget papers also paints an entirely different picture than contained in the Treasurer’s budget story (points a-c) above.
Table 1 details the expenditure allocations in the budget for hospitals and health services, and the corresponding Commonwealth funding.
In 2025-26 (the budget year), health expenditure will be 0.1 per cent less than the estimate for the previous
year. The budget provides for health funding growth over the forward years, to 2028-29, at an average rate of 1.5% a year.
The 2025-26 budget for hospital services (a component of the total of health services) likewise decreases from the previous year and grows at a meagre 1.5% per annum in the next four years.
The budget forecasts change in the CPI at 2½ per cent and the Wage Price Index at 3¼ per cent. Health’s share of the total budget decreases from 30.2 per cent in 2024-25, not 36 per cent as claimed by Treasurer Steel, to 28.9 per cent in 2028-29.
In stark comparison, in 2025-26, Commonwealth funding for hospitals increases by 6.5 per cent, and for total health services by 13.2 per cent. Across the forward estimates, Commonwealth funding growth for health services is 6.5 per cent annually, which is more than four times the rate of growth of the expenditure that the ACT government has provided for in the budget.
Table 1 shows, unequivocally, that neither ACT hospitals nor the health services budget generally, will receive the funding that will be raised through the now infamous health levy.
In fact, on our reading of the budget we have been unable to identify funding for health sufficient to cover inflation or growth in the wage costs of existing employees.
We are at a loss to understand the basis on which
Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Treasurer Chris Steel heaped the blame for the chronic underfunding of health and hospital services in Canberra on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher.
The budget papers include many pages of “health initiatives” which lack credibility, just as did the Labor pre-election promise to employ an additional 800 extra health staff.
A promise, the keeping of which has not been reflected in either health staff numbers or the budget.
In reality, Canberra Health Service has a massive challenge in both maintaining activity at last year’s level and paying its existing staff.
on the revenue measures once the government releases the revisions to the budget. Notably, it is naïve to think that the remnant health levy will have no impact on the cost of living, or that the increase in payroll tax will have no economic impact on employment or prices.
So, if the new money from the levy has not gone to health, what new expenditure will it cover?
Table 2 provides the financial impacts of Light Rail Stage 2A over the budget and forward estimates period.
Interest costs alone for Stage 2A amount to $94 million over the next four years. The health levy would just about cover those costs.
Immediately after the budget, local mainstream media asked its critics what they would have done differently. It has also been claimed that the territory’s financial woes should not be attributed to the tram project.
To solve the territory’s budgetary woes – a medium-term task – the treasurer would be best advised to revert to the first principles of sound financial management and sound policy that have regrettably now been abandoned by the ACT government for well over a decade. He may start by having a rethink about light rail, knowing that the health levy would not have been necessary – all else being equal – if Stage 2A had not commenced.
The revenue changes, negotiated by the Greens, do not improve the budget or make it any fairer or progressive.
The revenue changes, negotiated by the Greens, do not improve the budget or make it any fairer or progressive. There is still a “Health Levy” raising $80 million from residential dwellings over the next four years. It is still flat – the same for battlers on low-to-moderate incomes as for millionaire politicians.
It is not necessarily directed to health services. It is the same for those who use the services and those who don’t. In short, it is a blunt revenue-raising measure without regard to principle.
The Greens now “own” this budget, just as they do the past 13 Greens-Labor coalition deficit budgets.
We will provide detailed comment
The still vivid images of an electioneering Anthony Albanese, flashing his Medicare card in order to reassure Australians that it was only under a Labor government that universal access to healthcare could be guaranteed, together with the bashful voices of local ALP candidates asserting that “support for Medicare is in Labor’s DNA”, were more than a tad undermined by ACT Labor’s 2025-26 budget “strategy”.
In the meantime, “Health Levy” could be more appropriately named “Tram Levy”. That would draw less ire from Steel’s federal colleagues, some of whom, ironically, have been urging him to persist with the project.
Jon Stanhope is a former chief minister of the ACT and Dr Khalid Ahmed a former senior ACT Treasury official.
Remember this, the Labor pre-election promise to employ an additional 800 extra health staff? A promise not reflected in either health staff numbers or the budget.
Table 1: Hospitals and Health Expenditure, and Commonwealth Funding – ACT 2025-26 Budget
Family shares parents’ passion of helping islanders
In his series of stories of remarkable Canberrans, DAVID TURNBULL meets Simon Wilkins who, with his three siblings, is honouring the memory of his parents’ selfless work in the Pacific by helping educate young women.
Simon Wilkins is following in his father’s footsteps.
Darvall Wilkins grew up in Dubbo, but spent 20 years from 1957 to 1977 in the New Hebrides and Vanuatu as a British colonial administrator.
His biography is entitled An Ordinary Man Who Made an Extraordinary Difference, and his son is the same.
“Dad had none of the British formality about him. He was down-to-earth, unassuming, and the islanders loved him,” said Simon.
“So much so that they honoured him with a chiefdom and that has now come to me.
“Vanuatu honoured my father with a state funeral, and thousands of people lined the streets of Lakatoro.”
Simon was born in a mission hospital on the tiny island of Tanna in what was then the British administered New Hebrides.
“I grew up watching dad in teracting with the islanders. He established the administrative headquarters for the province that included a medical centre, a primary school, a police station and prison and was the local magistrate,” he said.
Darvall had met Simon’s mother, Ida, soon after World War II when he was studying at Cambridge. He married the girl from Mosman, and they formed a great partnership on the remote Vanuatu island of Malekula from 1963 to 1977, with Darvall working as administrator, and Ida homeschooling their four children as well as the children of island employees. Ida played an important role as the host for visiting dignitaries. She also ran women’s groups. Taught sewing and cooking .
a lemon meringue pie for a formal dinner to watch helplessly as a chief took it from the table and gave it to his kids over the back fence.
occasion and enjoyed talking to the old chief who, in his youth, had eaten a missionary. True story.”
back,” he said.
In his memoirs, Darvall shares a delightful story of how his wife was upset after baking
Simon goes further: “So many stories. One of the chiefs she hosted along with his gang all turned up in ceremonial dress, which meant mostly naked except for a penis wrapper.
“My very Victorian grandmother was present on one
After his wife died in 1998, Darvall went to Tweed Heads to live. But then one of his daughters moved back to Vanuatu, and moved back too. He died there aged 98 in 2018.
Years before, Darvall had started paying the school fees of a young girl in Malekula.
“He did it as a memorial to mum, I guess, because mum had been so passionate about ensuring the girls got a fair go, that they got a chance to get an education,” said Simon.
“That woman, Lilly Fatdal, is now a senior biosecurity officer in Port Vila.
“When dad died in 2018, I decided to do the same.”
Simon established a non-government organisation,
Relying on nothing more than what they themselves could afford, they set up a simple charity to pay school fees and mentor and tutor young girls in Vanuatu to get an education.
The selection criteria is simple: The girls need to be top 20 per cent academically, show leadership potential and they have to be seriously unprivileged.
‘We advertise in all the schools, and the girls apply. We don’t have any specific religious denomination,” said Simon.
“We get locals to help select a shortlist, and then a selection panel meets to interview the girls.
“My younger sister Sallie was living in Vanuatu when we started so she was heavily involved in getting the charity
28 girls on the books most of whom are still going through high school.
“We are only a small organisation. We only have five staff members, and three of those are volunteers,” said Simon.
“We only work in one province at present. Just three of the 77 islands. We’d love to expand, but we simply don’t have the money.
“We’re hoping the Department of Foreign Affairs may help, or some corporates. But it hasn’t happened yet.”
The foundation is helping these girls with a budget of about $30,000 a year.
They have a small but loyal group of donors from Australia, NZ and Canada, mainly people who’ve had some contact with
Joyline Bongnaim
At 17 Joyline fell pregnant and got kicked out of the French school she was attending. Her grandmother couldn’t pay her school fees. WFF was impressed with determination and went into bat for her. They financed online study and, despite the added pressure from a newborn baby, Joyline has done well at school and is currently shortlisted to begin tertiary study in medicine.
Florence Samsin
Florence’s mum tragically died giving birth to her baby sister. Florence was eight when she took on the responsibilities of helping to care for her baby sister. Florence and her family were struggling simply to survive. Continuing her education was impossible. She is now in her first year of a counselling degree with the University of the Pacific, Fiji Campus.
Simon Wilkins… “The four of us all felt the people of Vanuatu had given us a lot growing up, and we just wanted to give something back.”
For good people toiling at not being themselves
Can you make the world better while not being true to yourself? Well, yes, for a while. Perhaps for years.
Cognitive dissonance is a strange thing that happens to many of us – a good and kind person works as an at tendant in a horrific enterprise where evil is perpetrated upon innocent people.
Ultimately that person gets harmed because their values are so diametri cally opposed to what they do every day.
But think perhaps of some other examples with people who are not really being true to themselves and still do a great deal of good in the world. What about the priest who has lost her faith, but after much thought decides to keep doing her job as she considers that she is doing so much more good in this role than bad.
Perhaps the nurse who is crushed with burnout and has no compassion left and wants to scream whenever a patient sees her, but still sees them –heals their wounds and salves their pain and listens and listens. Both of these women would do great things and help their communities for years.
Eventually, of course the priest might be crushed by her guilt at her lack of authenticity. And the nurse
will become angry, cynical and run out of empathy or kindness. Both of them will be far less skilled and useful at their respective jobs. Anyway, it made me want to salute that priest and that nurse, continually trying their best when it might’ve been easier for them to say: “I’ll be true to myself” and walk away from the responsibilities that they saw they had.
I wanted to give a little shout out to those who toil away being someone they’re not – for the good of other people or at least because they think it’s the right thing to do. Unselfishness in any disguise has a worth to uncover and salute.
We spend a lot of time celebrating and discussing the people whose journeys involved being true to their
This is completely necessary and must continue, for decades at least, hopefully forever. Or at least until every single different, diverse, anxious, scared and lonely square peg of a human living in a round hole of a world feels loved and respected for who they are.
But I just wanted to give a little shout out to those who toil away being someone they’re not – for the good of other people or at least because they think it’s the right thing to do. Unselfishness in any disguise has a worth to uncover and salute.
Years ago I saw a GP who was working late – he was obviously exhausted and grumpy and did not want to be there and I suspect he had felt that
QUALITY AUSTRALIAN HEMP PRODUCTS
way for years.
But he fixed my broken bone beautifully and despite the completely empty bucket of compassion left within him through overwork and not enough breaks (as it were!) – a bucket his community had unconsciously spent decades drawing from and not letting him refill – he still had plenty enough kindness to give me a smile.
He made the world better by being there and doing what he did. And not by pursuing his bliss – whatever that may have been.
I don’t know the right answer. I recall promising I’d never become like that and, of course, I became something much worse. Hopefully, not for too long.
We celebrate and assist everyone struggling to find themselves with compassion. Let’s shower them with our support. More than that, let’s create a society like the generation of 20-somethings I love listening to, whose world view does not need an effort at patronising and kindness – it is assumed and entrenched in a way that makes me more optimistic about the planet than I’ve ever been.
But in parallel with that, let’s also thank those who, for whatever reason,
cannot reveal that all they want to do is play the clarinet, build candle holders, wax surfboards or write poems, but feel that they have other responsibilities and plug away.
Those Billy Joel real estate novelists, the lawyer dancers, the travel agents trapped inside an electrician and the sculptors living hidden inside our accountant; those who know what they want but do not pursue it because the kids need new shoes or 1000 other reasons.
Being yourself is living one of your selves, but there are others – and if you’re living one of those for whatever reason, respect. I wish you nothing but love and luck.
I’m still thinking about that career as a piano player on the Ray Martin Show – hope I haven’t left my run too late!
Antonio Di Dio is a local GP, medical leader and nerd. There is more of his Kindness on citynews.com.au
Too late? “I’m still thinking about that career as a piano player on the Ray Martin Show.”
The proof of the ABC pudding rests with Mr Marks
I never miss Clive Williams’ Whimsy column. It often features entertaining sayings, adages, axioms, etcetera that were a feature of my early learning days.
They’re also nostalgic, because, in many instances, they offered advice and encapsulated obvious truths in a few succinct words.
The trouble is, many of those old sayings have lost their strength because later iterations have been inaccurate renditions of the often more pithy and thoughtful originals.
But why have they changed? American influence, of course, has played a large role in distorting the English we were once taught – admittedly, some of it improved traditional usage but in other instances it has diminished the impact of the original.
The real fault, however, lies at our own door. We read or hear something and because we’re too “busy”, we immediately adopt (and repeat it) without bothering to check its accuracy and what it really meant.
The most recent and irksome example is, “The proof is in the pudding”. Sounds like the frantic search we used to go through in dismembering the Christmas pudding in order to find the elusive three-penny bits hidden therein.
The more profound original is, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”, which means you can’t judge something’s worth until you’ve tested and evaluated it. Pretty obvious, but too complicated it seems for many “modern” writers, including, sadly, literary compilers who seem to think both versions are synonymous.
They’re just as careless as the ABC’s managing director who used the “new” version in an interview excusing how the ABC will be judged following alleged changes made by management consequent to the Antoinette Lafouff shambles.
So what, readers might ask? Hugh Marks has no extensive journalistic experience, so it should be no surprise that he made a slip like the above.
Much worse though is the doubt he has further cast on his ability to restore ABC journalism to the highest level of professionalism it once enjoyed.
But the real blame must lie with the ABC board that appointed him. It is they who persist in thinking that managing ABC editorial standards is simply an unqualified add-on to
soggy pudding that contains no evidence of any rewards, symbolic or otherwise.
Eric Hunter, Cook
Works like a tram at a fraction of the cost
Don’t worry about Perth’s yet to be implemented “trackless tram”, Michael Moore (“Stop slugging the ratepayers, take the trackless tram”, CN July 3).
The Brisbane Metro already has 60 new bi-articulated electric buses, about twice the size of a standard bus and with decent seats!
The picture shows one at the Queensland University “station” getting a quick charge from an overhead, retractable pantograph. Looks and works like a tram, but at a fraction of the cost!
Richard Johnston, Kingston
Why no light rail rigorous analysis?
Matt Baille (letters, CN July 10) claims trackless trams, without evidence, would have a similar cost to light rail.
The EIS for the extension to Woden states trackless-trams were not considered as they were oversized and overweight vehicles that the road network is not designed for nor are the vehicles permitted to operate on them (light rail would also have such issues if operating in general traffic).
The EIS also did not analyse bus rapid transit (BRT) operating on its own right of way. Instead it considered a “minimum rapid bus augmentation project” including upgrading the fleet to electric vehicles and introducing more frequent larger-capacity buses.
option would not deliver the congestionbusting benefits of a light rail option developed wholly separated from an increasingly congested future road network.
An analysis comparing BRT, trackless trams and light rail systems separated from the road network should be undertaken. Comparative analysis was undertaken in Brisbane for its “metro” and in the City of Stirling (Perth) in the assessment of a trackless tram proposal. In Brisbane, BRT was found superior to light rail and in Perth a trackless-tram was recommended.
Substantial cost savings are possible. The ACT government’s assessment for Stage1, Civic to Gungahlin, found BRT provided similar benefits to light rail at half the cost.
Light rail is a high risk project. Rapidly developing electric bus and autonomous vehicle technology and increased working from home could undermine its performance.
Given growing unmet community needs in areas including health and social housing, it is essential the most cost-effective system is adopted on the inter-town public transport route.
The Assembly should halt the project and require, given the deficiencies in the EIS, an independent assessment of the project.
Mike Quirk, Garran
What about the stuff experts do get right?
Letter writer Ian Pilsner deserves to be entered in the 2025 Cherry Picking Award for digging up a 17-year-old CSIRO report and a 20-year-old forecast by Tim Flannery as evidence that experts aren’t always right and forecasts don’t always come true (“Not smart enough to follow yellowcake road”,
CN July 3). What about all the stuff they get right, Ian?
Mr Pilsner is also an advocate for nuclear power and believes there are “vast numbers of scientists and engineers around the world who have stated it is impossible to get to net zero without using nuclear power.” That may be true globally, but each country has different energy generation opportunities.
On a visit to Australia last year, Amory Lovins, energy adviser to major firms and governments in more than 70 countries for over 50 years, said nuclear power “has no place in Australia’s energy future. No one who understands energy markets would claim otherwise”.
Also last year, the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said: “If there is a country that has a lot of resources from other sources, such as solar and wind, I wouldn’t see nuclear as a priority option. I’m talking about Australia now.”
Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria
It’s time to action the Legge report, Tania
I was one of those who worked with Alistair Legge, the independent facilitator, of the Coronial Restorative Reform Process, which advocates had fought for to ensure the experiences of families who have navigated/are navigating the coronial system were central to shaping a stronger coronial process.
This process took 18-months and involved the courts, AFP and the voices of those with lived experience along with the coronial reform advocates. The report was handed to the attorney-general in June 2024.
One of the key recommendations was that there be an independent review to determine if having the roles of chief magistrate and chief coroner held by one person was in the best interests of a robust and effective coronial system.
Attorney-General Tara Cheyne has agreed to provide 12-month contracts for two legal advisers to assist in clearing some of the backlog of coronial matters, which is a helpful resource, it is a Band-Aid approach. Further, the attorney-general has not responded to the Legge review.
Families deserve to have their coronial matters handled both well and quickly. This is not occurring, with more delays due to deaths in custody at Canberra’s prison, which are given priority (and rightly so), in the Coroners Court queue. Delays are unconscionable and limit the making of recommendations
that could save lives in the future.
Being a good coroner is not the same as being a good magistrate. There is some overlap, however there are significant differences too, most importantly that a coroner’s inquisitorial mind set – looking for truth – is so different to what is expected of magistrates sitting in our adversarial courts, focusing on criminal justice matters. As a matter of urgency, the A-G should action the Legge report recommendations. Doing so will strengthen the delivery of justice, and it will save lives and alleviate some of the suffering of families.
Janine
Haskins, Alliance for Coronial Reform
Growing homeless ghetto in Petrie Plaza
I own a health business that is being impacted by the growing homeless ghetto on the benches in Petrie Plaza.
My staff and patients do not feel safe and cannot use this public space. Other businesses are affected as well.
The ACT law states: “Under the Public Unleased Land Act 2013 a permit is required to use public land when your activity may impact the amenity or other people’s enjoyment of the area.”
I have contacted the police, who told me that “it is not illegal to be homeless” and cannot do anything.
Access Canberra took a week to send a ranger to move the person who was sleeping against the window of the law firm next door, but did nothing about the homeless people on the benches, illegally camping there. I know that homelessness is a huge issue. The ACT government needs to house these people temporarily where they are safe also.
At a recent meeting run by the City Renewal Authority, I was told that it is “too complicated” to do anything about the homeless issue. I have sent them emails and photos of the problem seen from my reception windows.
Recently, I had a patient try to leave my business at 4pm and was not able to open the door to exit (it opens outwards) because there was a man sitting against the door injecting himself, with presumably heroin. She had to ask my receptionist to help her leave our premises. I run a Health Facility! Something needs to be done to help these poor people as well as our businesses. The numbers of homeless are steadily growing.
Janet Fabbri, via email
A Brisbane metro “tram” gets a quick charge from an overhead, retractable pantograph. Photo: Richard Johnston
Never mind the dogs, help the suffering humans
I’m incredulous when I read that our magnificent ACT government thinks that it is worth their time and money to try and dictate a minimum contact time residents should spend with their dogs!
Would it be too much to ask them to focus on the needless suffering endured by many ageing human beings who just want to die?
My beautiful 96-year-old mother is lying in her nursing home bed in her nappy, unable to move, unable to see the TV or even read as she’s almost blind and to top it off, she is now going deaf. She is tormented continuously with dry, itchy skin, she can’t smell or taste her food and her days are spent endlessly questioning how she could end up like this.
All she wants is the right to die with dignity, with her three daughters around her bed. Instead of that, she has to suffer and we have to watch, spoiling what little remains of our own lives and losing sleep while worrying about her.
We attended the debate on voluntary assisted dying and had our say, but to no avail. VAD should be available to those who feel they have no quality of life and do not wish to suffer any longer. Perhaps a threshold of 90 years old could be adopted. Please, please do something now to help our family and many others.
Alayne Richardson, Narrabundah
Green lights not long enough
I am frustrated at the seemingly increasing number of traffic-light controlled intersections in Canberra that show a green light for only three or maybe four seconds.
The average driver reaction time to traffic light changes is, I believe, one to three seconds. The number of potentially dangerous “red light runners” I have seen at these intersections is frightening.
Brian Bell, via email
Cull’s not just an exercise in brutality
Letter writers carping against the equally deemed necessary and maligned cull of our territory’s furry macropods often imply, by omission, that they would prefer to see numbers reduced by attrition via roadkill or maiming along increasingly busy thoroughfares which, as an added impost, costs thousands of dollars in vehicle repairs and personal injuries sustained in collisions when attempting to avoid the roaming animals.
Decisions to implement the cull are based on a variety of purposes and not merely as an exercise in brutality, points seemingly beyond the ken of many critics whose comments often denote a relationship to both national icons in having small brains and big bums.
And on the value of icons, we should recall that were it not for the predations of its long gone Neanderthal inhabitants, those presently governing the British Isles would now be disputing the worth of culling lions and unicorns.
John Murray, Fadden
Government hypocrisy is mind boggling
What bizarre times we are living in where the ACT Labor government proposes a new law stating dogs legally need three hours of human contact a day otherwise owners can be charged with neglect and animal cruelty.
The same government that says it is legal to rip joeys out of their mother’s pouches and decapitate or bludgeon them to death, yet these actions are not considered animal cruelty.
The hypocrisy of this government is mind boggling. Imagine the outrage if puppies could be decapitated and bludgeoned to death. Why the apathy when it is wildlife?
Whitney Anders Richardson, via email
Critique counters cancer research claims
Public health research has been known to acknowledge single, ground-breaking
studies that present new information to challenge previous evidence and assumptions, however the study that purports to show “no association between wine consumption and cancer” is not one of these (letters, CN July 3-9).
The 2023 study cited by your correspondent was the subject of a published critique in February 2024 (by Natella, Pastore and Canali in Frontiers in Nutrition).
The authors of the critique found numerous faults with the original authors’ conclusions, including the mention of “negligible quantities of compounds with presumed anti-carcinogenic action” while “forgetting to mention the presence of over 10% by volume of ethanol, classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen, that is certainly carcinogenic to humans.”
The authors of the critique note several instances of “spin and misrepresentation of study results”, culminating in a call for the article to be retracted on the basis that it is misleading.
The authors also note that all cancer prevention guidelines agree that there are no levels or quantities of consumption of any type of alcoholic beverage considered “safe” for health.
Among those who have issued recent advice that the consumption of all types of alcohol, including wine, carries cancer risks, are the Cancer Council (Australia), US Surgeon-General, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American
Institute for Cancer Research (ACIR) and the World Cancer Research Fund.
As the ACIR explains: “When your body breaks down alcohol, it makes a harmful chemical called acetaldehyde. This chemical can damage DNA, causing changes in genes that control the way cells grow and multiply. This can lead to cells growing out of control, which is what cancer is.”
Karina Morris, Weetangera
Nuclear energy and things called buses
I have never met letter writer Ian Pilsner, of Weston, but I thank him for his support regarding the desirability of nuclear electricity generation if we must reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which frankly, is arguable as CO2 is essential for crop and other plant growth, and for our skeletons. Nor have I met your columnist Michael Moore, who advocates a trackless tram in lieu of one running on costly steel and concrete tracks. But apart from being bi-directional it sounds very much like the ACTION buses that have been running between Civic and south Canberra for decades. Why not simply keep using them at no extra cost?
Anthony Hordern, Jamison Centre
Australian government egotists I have known…
“The nice thing about egoists is that they don’t talk about other people.” – Lucille S Harper
Last Whimsy I talked about egotists and the US presidency. In the course of my professional life in the Australian Public Service I came across several Australian egotists.
Most notably was APS mandarin Sir Arthur Tange (as secretary of Defence 1970-79) and Foreign Minister Gareth Evans (1988-1996).
Tange’s reputation as an egotist arose from his imperious style, with critics claiming he marginalised dissenting voices and wielded disproportionate influence over elected officials.
He was undoubtedly a brilliant bureaucrat who made transformative changes to the public service. He was also a bully who shouted at staff and threw files at them.
When Gareth visited Washington DC, I was usually delegated to look after him for calls on the intelligence community. Gareth’s Washington visits were something of a nightmare for our embassy staff because all the American principals that Gareth wanted to meet with would suddenly discover out-oftown commitments, leaving their deputies to meet with Gareth.
This led to Gareth being annoyed with Ambassador John Cook, who in turn took it out on his DFAT staff. Gareth’s visits made for an unsettling time at the Washington embassy.
Another notable egotist is Kevin Rudd,
whose tenure as prime minister highlighted a blend of intellectualism and a micromanaging leadership style. Rudd’s perceived focus on personal control and inability to delegate led to frustrations within his party, contributing to his eventual ousting in 2010.
More sage quotes on egotism:
• “Some of the greatest love affairs I have known involved one actor, unassisted.”
–Wilson Mizner
• “My chief regret in the theatre is that I could never sit in the audience and watch me.” –John Barrymore
“Pavarotti is not vain, but conscious of being unique.” –Peter Ustinov “An egotist is a person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me.”
–Ambrose Bierce
“He’s a self-made man who worships his creator.” –William Cowper
“If you had to do it all over, would you fall in love with yourself again?” –Oscar Levant to George Gershwin “His great dream is to die in his own arms.” –Irving Rudd
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” –Oscar Wilde “Modesty is the hope that other people will discover by themselves how wonderful we really are.” –Aldo Cammarota
To conclude on a humble note:
Forrest Gump has a low IQ but always seems to get by with lateral thinking. When he dies, he duly appears in front of St Peter at the Pearly Gates.
St Peter says: “Welcome, Forrest. We’ve heard a lot about you. “Unfortunately, it’s getting pretty crowded up here and we find that we now have to give people an entrance exam before we can let them in.”
“This test has only three questions – and here they are:
1 Which two days of the week begin with the letter ‘T’?
2 How many seconds are in a year?
3 What is God’s first name?”
“Well, sir,” says Forrest, “The first one is easy. Which two days of the week begin with the letter ‘T’? Today and Tomorrow.”
Saint Peter looks surprised and says: “Well, that wasn’t the answer I was looking for, but you have a point. I’ll give you credit for that answer.”
“The next question,” says Forrest, “How many seconds in a year? – Twelve.”
“Twelve?” says St Peter, surprised and confused.
“Yes, sir. January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd…”
St Peter interrupts him: “I see what you mean. I’ll have to give you credit for that one, too.”
“And the last question,” says Forrest, “What is God’s first name? Well, it’s Andy.”
“Andy?” says St Peter, in shock. “How did you come up with Andy?”
“I learned that in church. We used to sing about it.” Forrest breaks into song, “Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am His own.”
Saint Peter nervously wipes his brow and opens the gates to heaven…
Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.
Sir Arthur Tange… an imperious style that critics claimed he marginalised dissenting voices.
CONFERENCES AND TRAINING
Making the most of training opportunities
Some of the best venues and providers in training and education are right on Canberra’s doorstep.
From all kinds of training to customised event packages, check out what’s on offer when looking to upskill or organise a corporate event.
Seminars aimed at understanding
Ahead of the upcoming National Pain Week, July 22 to July 28, Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey says they will be hosting a selection of free seminars that will be open for the community to attend.
“Those living with chronic pain or a disability shouldn’t find themselves stuck without access to reliable help,” she says.
Providing support and helping people access services such as the NDIS, Rebecca says it’s a rewarding experience to know that the work they do helps people in their day-to-day lives.
“These kinds of services make such a big difference in people’s lives, and help open up doors,” she says.
“We want to provide them with the support they need so they can participate fully in the community. ”
An allied health practice with a difference, Rebecca says they have physios, exercise physiolo gists and occupational therapists available, as well as a team of peer workers, many of whom have lived experience of the conditions they support others with.
“Arthritis ACT offers ongoing programs for people who need any type of support with their chronic pain or debilitating fatigue conditions,” she says.
Equipped with modern amenities such as free wifi, portable whiteboards, a sound system, projector and a screen ensures that all presenters and attendees have the necessary tools for a successful event, says Northside Community Service Deputy CEO Todd
He says the location and amenities of their various spaces ensures that event organisers and participants have a hassle-free experience every time.
“Our easy-to-use technology supports a wide range of presentation and training methods,” he says.
“We also have a range of venue sizes and flexible venue options to suit various event formats, whether it’s a small workshop, mid-sized seminar or a larger conference.”
With disability friendly facilities and secured door access via email codes, Todd says they eliminate the need for physical keys.
“Organisers have appreciated our keyless access system,” he says.
“Our venues have been used by not-forprofit organisations, government organisations, volunteer groups and community development agencies for training, workshops, conferences, community programs, meetings and as a vaccination centre and clinic.”
Equipped with high-speed wifi, projectors and sound systems to support virtual and hybrid events, Todd says they can sit anywhere from 10 to 88 people at a time in their venues.
Northside Community Service, call 6171 8000 or visit northside.asn.au/venue-hire
“Our secure system makes it easy for organisers to access the venue without logistical challenges.” and temperature-controlled spaces, making for an efficient and relaxed atmosphere.
Rebecca Davey, CEO of Arthritis ACT.
Salthouse Community Centre, Braddon.
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Mittagong club has a venue for every event
Located two hours from Canberra and an hour from Sydney, Mittagong RSL Club is in the ideal function location, says catering manager Alan Cunynghame.
“It means that any attendees and/or family members have so many experience options outside of function and conferencing to fill in their down time,” he says.
“But when it’s time for business, the Mittagong RSL functions team are able to tailor packages to suit almost any event.”
With six function rooms, Alan says they have space for up to 450 people and can facilitate any style of event.
“Whether it’s a trade or careers expo, conference, meeting, wedding, party or celebration of life, we have a solution that will suit your needs,” he says.
With 71 rooms in the motel, Alan says they are well
suited to hosting multi-day events.
“From your first call to the final moment of your event, you will have a dedicated functions co-ordinator to make sure all of your requests and needs are dealt with in a professional manner,” he says.
General manager, Daniel Marmont, says: “Organisations that utilise our services are benefited by the years of experience that our functions and catering team apply to each and every booking.
“With a deep understanding of our offering, our functions team is always able to make informed and intelligent suggestions that will best suit your needs.”
Mittagong RSL Club. 148-150 Old Hume Highway, Mittagong NSW. Call 4872 6700 or visit mittagongrsl.com.au
Try ‘something different’ in meeting spaces
ThinkPlaceX, the design and strategy arm of Synergy Group, has meeting spaces that are “perfect for groups looking for something a little different”.
“We have meeting spaces that can accommodate anywhere from six to 60 people in spacious, lightfilled rooms,” says office and venue manager Betsy Dixon.
Featuring whiteboard walls, televisions and projectors, as well as secure wifi, Betsy says the perfect meeting space should be welcoming, friendly and have the right resources on hand.
“You should be able to concentrate on the subject of your meeting without worrying about the logistics,” she says.
array of teas to choose from, Betsy encourages attendees to enjoy breaks and meals in their cafe.
“We offer a boutique experience catering to your every need,” she says.
“When you step out from the lift and on to our open-plan floor, you will immediately feel at ease and ready to focus on your meeting.
With all rooms featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and modular set ups, Betsy says they allow individuals to configure the rooms to their needs.
“If you spend most of your days in a cubicle or windowless office, why not try something different
Meeting Spaces For Collaboration
ThinkPlaceX Design Studios — generous, light-filled spaces designed to bring people together to think, create, and collaborate.
Whether you’re hosting a strategic workshop, planning day, or co-design session, our studios have flexible layouts for groups of 6 to 60. For bookings & enquiries, email Betsy.Dixon@thinkplace.com.au
In the Heart of the Southern Highlands
Just 1 hour and 45min from Canberra, the Mittagong RSL is ready for your next conference.
Close to all the wonders the Southern Highlands has to offer, the Mittagong RSL offers Conferences, Corporate Events, Weddings, Celebrations and Commemoration packages at very competitive rates.
With the ability to cater for gatherings up to 450 people, we offer completely tailored packages to suit your every need, ensuring that your event is a success.
For more information or to make a booking, please contact our specialist function coordinators on (02) 4872 6700
Expo brings a new WorkAbility initiative
Up to 100 exhibitors will be showcasing their services at the Canberra Disability Expo at Exhibition Park on September 12 and 13.
With exhibitors ranging from allied health, government, advocacy, employment, housing and some assistive technology products, events director Kathryn Carey says this year’s expo will feature a new initiative.
“This year’s WorkAbility Expo is designed to connect you with employers and support services, provide practical workshops to get you workplace ready, and offer valuable resources to support your journey to employment,” she says.
“Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, [the WorkAbility Expo] has been designed to help people with disabilities, including those with high support needs, find meaningful employment.”
Free and open to the public, Kathryn says it is not just for those with NDIS funding, but anyone living with a disability, their carers, family and friends.
She says they will have accessible parking, volunteers onsite to help attendees and even water stations and toilet areas for service animals.
A selection of performances and presentations will take place over the two days, with Kathryn recommending attendees give themselves time to properly explore the expo.
“Events that connect people with disability to employers are valuable and most effective when deployed consistently,” she says.
Canberra Disability Expo, Exhibition Park, 9am-3pm, September 12-13. Visit canberradisabilityexpo.com.au
Host at
THE OAKS RANCH
The Oaks Ranch located on 300 acres in Mossy Point on the South Coast, 2 hours drive from Canberra and only 10 minutes from Moruya airport.
$77 half day delegate packages
$88 full day delegate packages
14 boutique bungalows
Boardroom meetings from 8 to 30 and cabaret up to 60 guests.
Dine in our Arlo restaurant, play golf on our 9 hole golf course
Book your next team building retreat or conference at the Oaks Ranch.
To enquire, contact our Events Team at events@oaksranch.com.au
Conference facility with a view
Oaks Ranch is a luxury, 14-room boutique hotel, restaurant, bar, event and conference facility and golf course, says general manager Josh Tyler.
“We are situated on the south coast, five minutes from Broulee Beach on 300 acres, flanked by the Tomago River and Candlagan Creek,” he says.
“The Oaks Ranch first opened in 1970. The current owners closed the hotel in June 2021 to renovate and
Josh says the restaurant and bar, Arlo, is a refined casual eating experience, influenced by Australian, Asian and European cuisines.
“For conferencing we offer full or half-day delegate packages, a selection of house-made sweets and savoury snacks for our morning and afternoon teas,” he says.
“Our conference lunches range from gourmet
Canberra Disabillity Expo.
SEPTEMBER 2025 Fri 12TH & Sat 13TH
9AM - 3PM
EXHIBITION
PARK
IN
CANBERRA
FREE ENTRY
THE EXPO INCLUDES
80 disability providers, products, aids & equipment and technology organisations exhibiting
A variety of guest speakers covering a range of accessible topics & sharing valuable information
Live all-ability performances on stage and a variety of all-age entertainment
Accessible facilities. All abilities, all inclusive
CONFERENCES AND TRAINING
Knowledge aimed at living more contentedly
Finding mindfulness, fulfillment, self-awareness and contentment in every day life can be a difficult task, which is where the School for Self Knowledge can help.
Operating since 1987 in Canberra, the School for Self Knowledge is run by a group of dedicated volunteer tutors, drawing from the works of Shakespeare all the way to some of history’s greatest philosophers.
Tutor John Connors started his own journey at the school in 1996 as a student, and says it was the greatest thing he’s ever done.
“It has made a positive effect on my life,” he says.
“I am given more purpose and am able to live a more authentic life.”
Providing nine-week courses, four times a year, John says the weekly sessions cover different wisdom traditions and cultures.
Not-for-profit and non-religious, material for the courses are drawn from “a broad range of related literary, artistic and scientific sources, the world’s greatest religious traditions.”
Open to all, John says no prior study is necessary, with many former students benefiting from the material so greatly they have returned to teach to the next group of students.
“It’s a practical way to think about yourself and your life,” he says.
“It’s really an opportunity to look within, and it’s something to use on a daily basis.”
School for Self Knowledge. Bailey’s Corner, Suite 9, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra. Call 0407 919436 or visit schoolforselfknowledge.org
I AM _ the ultimate fact. WHO AM I? _ the ultimate question. WHAT AM I? _ the ultimate discovery.
The School for Self Knowledge presents a nine week introductory course in Advaita Vedanta, for those seeking deeper understanding of life and a level of Self Awareness beyond transient world appearances.
Self Knowledge, being the highest form of knowledge, offers profound answers to fundamental questions of life. It integrates our inner and outer worlds, revealing Truth within, and the Unity of Existence underlying diversity. This practical course gives guidance for clear thought, mindful and effective action in life, through direct personal experience. What is the meaning and purpose of my life?
Canberra City Suite 9, 1st Floor, 131 London Circuit (Bailey’s Corner) Starts: Wed 23 July - 6:30 pm
Canberra Fair is returning to Old Parliament House on Sunday, July 27, says creative director Danielle Cleary, of Danielle Cleary Events.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, milestone birthday, corporate retreat, reunion, or romantic getaway, she says this is your one-stop destination for all things events.
Designed for anyone planning a special occasion, or simply looking for a fun day out, Danielle says they are ready to welcome the crowds.
“Whether you’re newly engaged, love food and music, or just in search of an Instaworthy indulgence, there’s something here for everyone,” she says.
“Guests will meet leaders in weddings, events and lifestyle across the fair’s beautifully curated spaces, in the comfort of the heated members’ rooms.”
Danielle says visitors can explore venues, styling ideas, fashion and beauty trends, photography, entertainment and wellness.
“Step into a world of celebration as you enter through our living carpet, greeted by gold, roving roses and mirrored ballerinas,” she says.
“Enjoy unforgettable experiences, photo opportunities, pick-your-own bouquets, wine and grazing tastings, live music and more.”
This year, the fair is partnering with Vinnies Canberra Region to showcase recycled fashion in a creative display that “proves style and social impact can go hand in hand”.
The Canberra Fair, 10am–3pm, Sunday, July 27, at Old Parliament House. Tickets at canberrafair.com.au
Over the last two decades, FERST have provided emergency response training and solutions dedicated to keeping your workplace safe. Adhering to industry standards, WHS regulations and saving lives in the event of an emergency is our passion at FERST.
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risk, and security assessments. We put people first.
NATIONAL PAIN WEEK INFORMATION SERIES
Wednesday 16 July – 12 midday
Hemp based pain relief
Meet the maker of Bunyip pain products. Find out how these products work to help treat your chronic pain. Via Zoom.
Monday 21 July – 12 midday
What’s the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?
Emil Terbio, Physiotherapist, will explain the difference and the role of this treatment modality in pain management. Via Zoom.
Wednesday 23 July – 11am
Chronic Pain and Mental Health.
Jude King from Catch the Calm will speak to us about the impact of chronic pain on your mental health and strategies you can utilise to improve both. Via Zoom.
Thursday 24 July – 11am
New Developments in Joint Pain Management –Dr Roopa Gawarikar.
Onsite at the Canberra Region Neurology & Pain Centre, this talk includes a tour of the facilities for those who have never been to a pain management centre.
Wednesday 30 July – 5-7pm
What is the Centre for Personalised Medicine?
Canberra Health Services together with ANU are implementing a personalised medicine centre in areas such as rheumatology. Come and meet the experts who will be leading this initiative to learn what it might mean for you. This session to be held in the TCH Auditorium.
All sessions free of charge. RSVP required for zoom sessions: info@arthritisact.org.au or call 1800 011 041. RSVP recommended for in person sessions to allow for notification should there be any changes to the schedule.
GARDENING
Tricks to growing tropical trees
By Jackie WARBURTON
Tropical trees can be planted close to building structures that are north facing and benefit from the warmth of the bricks in the winter.
This will increase the soil temperature below by a few degrees and can help plants just survive our tough winter climate.
A good example is the jacaranda mimosifolia I saw growing in Forrest a few years ago. This large, fourmetre tree was tucked up under the eaves and the main trunk was protected by an evergreen citrus tree in front.
This proves that anything is possible, with a little bit of ingenuity, to get plants through the hard weather.
Other tropical plants I’ve seen growing well under protection in Canberra gardens include bougainvilleas, mandivellas and geisha girls. With a little protection, a microclimate and good soils, anything is possible.
I’M growing a messy shrub, a Buddleia globosa, in the garden this year. It’s good for planting under native or deciduous trees where leaf litter is a problem. The leaves will fall through the shrub and create a mulch.
Its unusual vibrant yellow flowers are small and pom-pom-like, making the plant a must-have for a cottage garden collector of unusual plants.
While many Buddleias are
environmentally friendly, there are other varieties that are becoming invasive into bushland and need to be kept in check.
Buddleia davidii has become naturalised in some parts of NSW and has been difficult to control as it seeds when it is young and self-seeds quite quickly.
There are a few Australian-bred varieties on the market such as Wattlebird that has panicles of soft yellow flowers in spring and grows to two metres. It’s completely sterile and can be a really sweet addition to the native garden.
Buddleias are supreme pollinators for birds and butterflies and a must for any garden for long-lasting summer flowering. They flower generally on new wood, so a good chop will keep them happy. They’re easy to propagate with semihardwood cuttings in summer and autumn.
WITH spring only six weeks away, now’s the time to have a look at any seed packets left over from last season to sow for spring planting, when the soils are warmer.
To test if the stored seed is still viable, soak in water – if they sink they’re good to plant. Add a little seaweed solution to the water and
soak overnight to give seeds a good start when planted out. The seed makes its own fertiliser until it germinates, so only begin to lightly fertilise when there is sprouting. Water with tepid water in the middle of the day and allow seedings to dry before the cool evening temperatures set in.
GARDEN beds that have been left fallow over the winter can be weeded, cow manure added and lightly turned over. Keep the area well-watered by using a biological soil improver and the ground should be ready for planting when the soil warms in October.
jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
Jottings…
• Keep planting spinach, broad beans and corn salad.
• Plant asparagus and add lime to the soil, add compost and mulch.
• Put cow or horse manure around roses to increase flower colour.
• Deadhead cyclamens by twisting flower stems from the base.
The jacaranda mimosifolia growing under the eaves.
Photos: Jackie Warburton
A Buddleia globosa… a must-have for a cottage garden collector of unusual plants.
By Helen Musa
COVER STORY
Authors cop a tick for accuracy from the police BOOK REVIEWS
Police procedural novels, a popular sub-genre of crime fiction, focus on the realistic details of a police investigation, including the gathering of evidence, forensic analysis and interviewing suspects.
Australian authors Michael Row botham and Matthew Spencer, in their acknowledgements, thank members of the police force for ensuring the accuracy of the fictional investigations in their recent novels.
Robotham, in a career spanning 20 years, is the only Australian author to have twice won the UK Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel, as well as the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for When She was Good (2020).
Robotham’s latest crime novel The White Crow (Hachette) is the second in a new series featuring Philomena McCarthy (Phil), a PC in the Met, following When You are Mine (2021).
Phil is a dedicated policewoman who hopes one day to be a detective, but there’s a complication. Her father is Edward McCarthy and her uncles are the McCarthy Brothers. Together they were the most notorious criminal gang in the south-east of England. Now, however, they consider themselves property developers and “facilitators”. As a result, Phil walks a fine line between her
of a home invasion and Daisy’s mother dead. At the same time, five kilometres away, Detective Chief Inspector Brendan Keegan arrives at a jewellers in Hatton Garden, which has been burgled, with the terrified owner Russell Kemp-Lowe tied to a chair in an explosive vest.
He tells Keegan the intruders have his wife hostage not realising his wife, Daisy’s mother, has been murdered.
with vandals targeting their building sites and the bank foreclosing on loans. Another gang is trying to take over. Robotham has said that he intended When You are Mine to be standalone but he “fell in love with Phil and in particular with her father and uncles, who were old-school East End gangsters. Geezers, if you will, who made me laugh”. But there’s little to laugh at in The White Crow. It’s a violent, tense and thrilling
exploration of a world none of us will thank-
MATTHEW Spencer made an impressive debut in the world of crime writing with Black River (2022 ), which won the Danger Award for Debut Crime Fiction and was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best
In Black River, Spencer introduced homicide detective Sergeant Rose Riley and, in a story set in a private boy’s school on the Parramatta River, how she worked successfully with a journalist, Adam Bowman, to reveal hidden secrets and catch a killer.
However, the media began to focus on the husband. Riley knows that “she had Bowman if she needed to hit back… Bowman was a friend and they worked well together, combat bonded, and she could trust him in the same way she trusted Patel”, her police colleague.
Bowman is already on his way to Red Creek. He had written a book about Riley and the school murders and the royalties “had brought him autonomy and a different kind of life”. He is now freelance and that means he is constantly searching for a story.
The Red Creek district is in the middle of a tourist and development boom centred around the growing number of vineyards. Penelope owned a digital marketing company and had contracts with a number of the local winemakers.
Riley that the woman has been strangled but there’s no sign of a forced entry, no evidence of restraint or of rape. Her husband, a geologist, was interstate, discovering her body when he returned.
The investigation fails to find a motive for the murder until an interstate search reveals two similar unsolved cases and Riley realises she and her team are pursuing a serial killer. Broke Road is tense, vivid and realistic. The media frenzy, the rumours and hostility in the pub and the determination of Riley and local police to follow the few clues they have to track the killer combine in an addictive read.
Six Leipzig women here to sing ARTS IN THE CITY
Sjaella, a brilliant a cappella group of six young women from Leipzig who’ve just been on concert tours to South Africa, Belgium, Spain and Norway, will be here to perform a repertoire that includes works by Henry Purcell, David Lang, Meredi Arakelian and themselves. Snow Concert Hall, July 23.
After a two-week drought, there’s another spectacu lar theatrical traffic jam coming up in Canberra:
• The play 21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and The Nurses of the Vyner Brooke will be the first live production for the Australian War Memorial’s new theatre, July 23-August 3.
• Chaika Theatre presents the first Shakespeare production at ACT Hub in Kingston with Julius Caesar, directed by Caitlin Baker, July 23-August 2. And Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web, directed by Ylaria Rogers, will be at Canberra Rep Theatre, July 24-August 9.
• Enron, “a rollicking business thriller,” at The Mill Theatre July 23-August 9.
• The Fold, a full-length contemporary dance work by The Training Ground, Erindale Theatre, July 25-26.
• Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Illume, Canberra Theatre July 25-26.
An evening of music in this beautiful church featuring Canberra artists including:
• Dr Graham Durant-Law CSC Pipers of Distinction
• Lorraine Macknight Organist
• Demi Yu Violinist accompanied on the piano by Rowan Martin
• The Canberra Symphony Youth Chamber Orchestra
• Burgmann Anglican School Senior Choir
Meet the performers at the end of the concert over supper.
Funds raised to support these cha rities:
• Ruby’s House for Vulnerable Youth
• Blue Buddies and “Men who Talk Heal”
• Jericho Road, a Presbyterian Social Service for people in the ACT
Co-founders of Rebus Theatre, Robin Davidson and Ben Drysdale, have stepped down from the company they established in 2014 in Canberra with the aim of using theatre to promote disability awareness and address social issues. They quickly became known for their edgy interactive sessions often involving scientists and for providing paid performance opportunities for actors with disabilities. Lucien Simon now takes over the thriving company as CEO.
The Scandinavian Film Festival is back with a provocative selection from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. The centrepiece is 2025 Cannes Grand Prix winner, Sentimental
Value, a Norwegian spy drama depicting the true story of a man drawn into the resistance movement during World War II. Palace Electric, until August 10.
Gareth Carr’s new post-apocalyptic thriller movie, Life After Man, is already shot and edited. With half the cast hailing from the ACT and much of it filmed in Canberra, the feature includes one of the final screen performances of the late theatre and film personality Uncle Jack Charles. Now Carr is running a campaign at kickstarter.com to complete post-production.
Musica Viva has historical clarinettist Nicola Boud, associate principal cellist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Simon Cobcroft and artistic director of Pinchgut Opera Erin Helyard on fortepiano exploring the sounds of 18th-century Vienna, giving audiences the chance to listen to Mozart as if for the first time.
Llewellyn Hall, July 26.
Crime writer Michael Rowbotham… “Fell in love with Phil and in particular with her father and uncles, who were old-school East End gangsters.”
Sjaella… Snow Concert Hall, July 23. Photo: Lara Mueller
STREAMING Eric Bana keeps trotting out the crime thriller hits
Eric Bana continues his run of crime thriller hits with Netflix’s new series Untamed, a show that sets a grizzly murder mystery in the stunning scenery of Yosemite National Park.
But while it’s California where the action takes place, it’s from across the Pacific that the show’s stars hail.
Bana is joined by NZ Sam Neill in this sixepisode limited series that’s now streaming.
Together the duo play Kyle Turner and Paul Souter, a national parks service agent and the Yosemite chief park ranger who get caught up in the mystery when the body of a woman is discovered.
Untamed comes from the same writer as The Revenant, the film that won Leonardo DiCaprio his Oscar after he famously went toe-to-toe with a bear.
If the tension from that film is anything to go by it bodes well for Untamed delivering a killer punch.
ON a lighter note, this month Netflix has also launched the newest series from renowned writer Lena Dunham.
Dunham became known around the world for creating the series Girls, a Golden Globe winner that aimed to offer an authentic exploration of the life of young women living in New York.
The series which wrapped in 2017 was a major hit and Dunham’s newest show, called Too Much, is perhaps her biggest project for
THEATRE
the small screen since.
It follows Jessica (played by Hacks star Megan Stalter), a workaholic advertising executive, who decides to pack up her life in New York and move to London after a messy break up.
There she expects to carve out a life like a Bronte sister or Bridget Jones, but soon discovers life across the Atlantic isn’t quite as romantic as she imagined.
The culture shock and how she comes to terms with her new existence in the UK forms the basis for this 10-episode series.
As with Girls, Dunham wants to craft a
story here that is intimate in its plot but big in the emotional exploration of its characters. It’s a fine tightrope to walk when making a show that is both funny and sad, but if anyone can pull it off with effortless charm, it’s her.
ALSO doing numbers in the streaming world this week is the famous television psychopath Dexter, who’s become awfully good at killing but certainly has a hard time staying dead himself.
This month marks the return (again) of the popular character played by Michael C
Hall for what is not the first, not the second, but the third spin-off some 12 years after the original show ended.
Since then fans have got Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel series about a young version of the devious leading man in 1990s Miami.
In 2021 fans also got Dexter: New Blood, a series that brought back the popular character for one last murderous escapade,
Ripping satire unbuttons Enron scandal
By Helen Musa
American corporation Enron’s involvement with the investment bankers Lehman Brothers and its subsequent collapse in 2002 is the subject of a ripping satire by British playwright Lucy Prebble, and it’s coming to the Mill Theatre.
Described by Mill director Lexi Sekuless, as “an exhilarating business thriller”, the show features the talents of Jay James-Moody, Oliver Bailey, Andrea Close, Lexi Sekuless, Rhys Hekimian, Timmy Sekuless, and Alana Denham-Preston.
Unusually for these litigious times, the play features real life people, notably Jeffrey Skilling, the Harvard-educated president and later CEO of Enron, who did a deal and only served 12 of his 24-year sentence.
There are also Ken Lay, the founder and CEO of Enron, here played as Jen Lay by Andrea Close, chief financial officer Andrew Stuart Fastow, played by Oliver Bailey and Claudia Roe, a fictional composite of several real-life women at Enron, played by Lexi Sekuless.
Prebble, a member of the Royal Court Writers’ Program who went on to be one of the lead writers on HBO’s Succession, starts out with a deceptively realistic look at the Enron story, but quickly injects elements of Shakespearean tragedy and quirkier elements into it, so that the Skilling character has been called a “a modernday Macbeth”.
You can also expect to see the creepy Raptor played by Denham-Preston – think the velociraptor from Jurassic Park.
I caught up with James-Moody, who is
theatre company, Squabbalogic, which ran from
“I was just having a go, and there was no huge inspiration,” he says. He’s produced, directed and acted for countless shows, in recent years spending a whole year onstage in The
It was while working on Twelfth Night for Damien Ryan’s company Sport for Jove in Sydney that he met Sekuless, who was playing Malvolia. They kept in touch and when she invited him to Canberra to have a look at the play BLANK by Nassim Soleimanpour, he asked: “Can’t I be in it?” She made that happen.
At first he was daunted when Sekuless asked him to play Skilling, who carries the show.
“I was a bit reluctant… he talks so much in the play and I love little supporting roles,” he tells me, like the Friar in Romeo and Juliet. But he watched the 2005 American documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room for
spending half a week in Sydney and half a week in Canberra as he rehearses the plum part of Skilling.
He’s famous in Sydney for being a co-founder of Sydney’s Hayes Theatre Co, and co-author of The Dismissal, an Extremely Serious Musical Comedy that has won the David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre and the AWGIE for best Musical Theatre at the Australian Writers’ Guild’s annual awards.
He describes his career as “accidental”, going back to an early accidental experience performing the lead role in Rent. He decided he’d like to be in charge next time, so formed his own
With Gordon Gekko from the 1987 film Wall Street somehow lurking in the background living out the motto “greed is good”, JamesMoody believes there are very few innocent characters in the play, saying: “Almost everyone is complicit until the final pages of the show.”
“It’s a very pacy show and we barrel through it. It tells a true story, but it embraces a lot of abstract theatricality and absurdism.
“Lucy [Prebble] has been very clever in finding entertaining things so that money and finance stuff is quite clear. It’s a perfect example of taking something quite dry and making it theatrical,” he says.
set years after the original show. Spoilers ahead for those who didn’t watch it and want to, but at the end of New Blood Dexter himself was finally killed off by his own son. The iconic character was finally dead 15 years after his first appearance.
That is until Paramount Plus recently realised there’s more money to be made out
Enter Dexter: Resurrection, which reveals that by some miracle he actually survived the gunshot fired by his son and is now back
It turns out the concept of a psycho who takes out his murderous machinations on the bad guys is just a little too popular to let go but with each new installment it feels like this legend of TV is getting more watered
The problem with letting a show go on this long and reviving its character this many times is that it cheapens any future emotional blows the series tries to deliver.
Audiences can just no longer take character deaths seriously, because clearly the producers don’t.
It is ironic that a show so heavily about murder has rendered that very fascination rather meaningless.
Eric Bana in Untamed… a grizzly murder mystery in Yosemite National Park. Megan Stalter, who plays Jessica in Too Much.
Enron: The Corporate Collapse That Shook the World, Mill Theatre, Fyshwick, July 23 August 9.
Enron: The Corporate Collapse That Shook the World. Photo: Daniel Abroguena
DINING / Eating in Adelaide Adelaide, where happiness is… worth every bite
Adelaide is officially on the 2025 Happy City Index and no doubt its food scene is one reason for the ranking.
I recently visited the capital of South Australia to eat my way through as many restaurants as possible. It was worth every bite.
Osteria Oggi is a must, and so delicious we went a second time. This Italian piazza offers sensational food, attentive service, a beautiful fit-out and superior wines. There wasn’t a dish we didn’t adore, including the beef carpaccio ($28) and kingfish crudo with cucumber, fennel, chilli, dill and salmon roe ($29), both executed with precision. Love.
Love. Love.
Sophisticated through and through is French-inspired Station Road , which transcends the ordinary. The wine list is as thick as an encyclopedia, with some top drops over $1000 a bottle. True bite-sized snacks include a slow-cooked hen’s egg with leatherwood honey and smoked cream ($10) and hand-picked mud crab, preserved chilli, betel leaf and blood lime ($16).
Leighton Street Wine Room (housed in an old laundromat) offers more than 400 wines. This “hole-in-a-wall” has great food, although the service was inconsistent. We enjoyed the Bob Fiano (2024) from Clare Valley and every dish we ordered, including the creamy chicken liver parfait with plum and rhubarb jam ($18).
twinstitch.upholstery
Be sure to visit Apoteca , even if only for the fit-out. Formerly The Apothecary 1878, the restaurant is in a heritage-listed building, and 146-year-old pharmacy cabinets grace the front bar. From the “First Aid” section of the “Prescription” menu, we went over the moon and back with the kingfish, cucumber and apple ($26) and King prawns ($12 each).
Ocean Bar and Kitchen , right on beautiful Henley Beach, is stunning. Renowned restaurateur Adam Swanson and TV personality is the executive chef, bringing his food flair to dishes such as the calamari fritti ($28) and to-die-for pork and veal meatballs with sensational tomato sugo ($20). We would go back and then back again.
WINE / drones
For fun vibes, visit the famous Adelaide Markets. We hit SiSea for seafood and tapas. The place was pumping. The oysters truly tasted of the sea ($26 for six natural) and the Spanish-style mussels hit the spot ($25.50).
Enjoy a rooftop bar? 2KW is loved by locals for its vibe and has excellent views of the sunset and Government House. KW stands for King William Street and this bar and restaurant is celebrating 10 years.
Visiting Adelaide calls for a trip to a winery. At D’Arenberg in McLaren Vale, we
tasted wines in The Cube (with panoramic views), explored the Salvador Dali exhibition, and lunched at multiple awardwinning d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant Don’t skip their signature desserts. Disappointing was Ode . Although upmarket, the menu’s description of some dishes didn’t deliver what was promised, with ingredients promised even missing.
Drones taking work from tractors
It’s hard to stay with the proposition that technology should be our servant not our master.
Creeping into everyday life is the insistence of following the technology. One of my pet hates is places that say credit or debit card only for payment and then make you pay the related surcharge.
Technology can also be frighten ing: look at the way drones have changed the face of war. Ukraine was able to take out a large propor tion of Russian bomber aircraft with the use of drones.
But drones can be put to good use; they can replace machinery that is much less efficient and can save costs especially in the vineyard.
I recently met Michael MacWilliam (wrong spelling for the wine connection) who has started a business using drones for spraying and for targeted fertilising of grapevines. This saves hours on a tractor, an especially fraught process on steep country.
“Our new drone business, TechShift Aerial Solutions, is ready to innovate on vineyard management
State-of-the-art drones have been used for years in high-volume grape and orchard farms around the world. Now we’re offering these services to the high-quality vineyards in the capital region.
“These vineyards are sensitive to the cost of inputs like labour and fungicides. These farms need every tool available to push costs down so they can focus on getting their great quality wine on to shelves.
“We’re helping them apply inputs with pinpoint accuracy, keeping labour, fertiliser and chemical costs down. By keeping chemical inputs down, we’re also helping maintain
was fewer tractor passes – even the small tractors vineyards used contributed to soil compaction, crushing roots and making it harder for their vines to thrive.
“Flying overhead means no tractors trundling down vine rows, no concerns with wet ground and equipment getting bogged. Using drones provides an easy, efficient solution,” he said.
“We’re currently flying the best spraying drone available on the Australian market. It’s got an incredible ability to follow terrain, so it doesn’t matter how steep or uneven a vineyard is, it just tracks along at a consistent height above a vine row, with consistent coverage.
“We can spray
a couple of hectares an hour, so for the average Canberra region vineyard I can be finished in time to enjoy a glass of their wine for lunch.” Adding in imagery services also gave vineyards an edge, he said. “We can give early indications of leaf and vine stress, before the human eye can see it.
“Healthy leaves reflect invisible light differently from unhealthy leaves, which means we can tell when vines start to draw nutrients out of the leaf and back into the trunk and roots. They do this as a response to stress, protecting the plant and dropping leaves.
“So we can spray the 10-20 per cent of a crop that really needs treatment. It’s a powerful tool when you’re dealing with vineyards trying to get the best value off every vine.
“We’re proud to be from the Canberra region and collaborate with local businesses; from the specialty engineering firm that develops our custom fertiliser spreader in a garage in Bungendore, to the manufacturer of our hard cases in Mitchell, even the dealer from whom I bought my drones.
“My wine industry consultant lives across the road from me. At the end of the day, we prefer dealing with locals because we know what we’re going to get.”
Meanwhile, getting my mate’s drone stuck in a tree isn’t the worst thing that happened to me today. But it’s definitely up there.
Photos: Wendy Johnson
chicken liver parfait.
Apoteca kingfish, cucumber and apple.
Ocean Bar and Grill calamari.
HOROSCOPE PUZZLES
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Prepare for a topsy-turvy week! The Sun and New Moon are both visiting fellow fire sign Leo, so you’ll feel like powering ahead with creative projects. But remember Mercury is retrograde (in Leo, until August 11) so rushing around impulsively could backfire – especially involving family and friends. To reduce stress levels (and the likelihood of making mistakes) enthusiasm must be balanced with caution, and fiery haste tempered with plenty of patience.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Venus squares Mars on Wednesday, when a financial matter takes an unexpected turn or a family member could hit you with some surprising news. Talking things through with a sympathetic friend may be the healing balm you need. Then the New Moon (on Thursday night/Friday morning) is a good time for a domestic reboot as you clean and declutter your living space, and make it more beautiful via redecorating, playing music or a fresh lick of paint.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
Family relationships and close friendships look complicated, as loved ones debate a wide range of controversial topics or a relative makes an unpredictable move. If you have a problem that’s bothering you, avoid making a rash decision. Slow down and let your intuition be your guide. The New Moon (on Thursday night/Friday morning) is the perfect time to begin a course of study, start a neighbourhood project, join a community group or make a new friend.
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
You’ve been talking about saving for something big (like a car, holiday, house deposit or home renovation) for a while. With the Sun, New Moon and retrograde Mercury visiting your finance zone, resist the urge to be extravagant with cash and careless with credit. In an uncertain economic climate, aim to be a canny Crab who is cautious with money. Plus, do an inventory on your inner wealth, as you nurture your self-esteem and consolidate your core values.
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
Calling all Cats! With the Sun and New Moon in Leo, it’s your time to shine – to display your numerous creative talents and dazzle others with your fiery enthusiasm and abundant Leo charm. It’s also the best week of the year to try a new hairstyle, update your wardrobe or start an exciting personal project. But remember Mercury is reversing through your sign, so be careful you don’t upset others by behaving in an inconsistent, confusing or selfish way.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Mercury is retrograde, which can make you feel restless, stressed, disorganised and/or overwhelmed. Plus – with the Sun and New Moon also in your solitude zone – you’ll feel like being on your own. Privacy and self-reflection are paramount, so activities like meditation, contemplation, chanting and/or yoga are recommended. Your mantra comes from birthday great, psychoanalyst Carl Jung: “Solitude is for me a fount of healing which makes my life worth living.”
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
The Sun and fiery New Moon stimulate your hopes-and-wishes zone and reignite a special dream or aspiration that’s been languishing on the sidelines. But retrograde Mercury is also there so – if you are stuck in a friendship slump or a relationship rut – don’t dwell on the past. It’s time to reboot your peer group as you reacquaint yourself with a creative new crowd. Thursday favours disciplined work, ticking the to-do list and tidying up loose ends.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
There’s no denying you’re a smart Scorpio but are you making the most of your professional talents? With the Sun and New Moon in your career zone, put on your thinking cap, connect with colleagues and keep them up to date with your work plans. But retrograde Mercury is also there, so – unless you communicate clearly and concisely – expect timetable chaos, missed meetings and/or misunderstandings. Diplomacy and patience will see you through.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Are you feeling restless, Sagittarius? The Sun, New Moon and Mercury stir your gypsy gene and find you dreaming of airplane tickets, greener pastures and foreign adventures. You’re also longing for closer connections with your international friends. But Mercury is retro (until August 11) so travel plans could be delayed or cancelled, and a friendship could be turned upside down. Less haste and closer attention to details will make the week less frustrating.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Do you have a frustrating problem that needs fixing? Have you asked other people for advice but still can’t find a solution? This week the Sun, New Moon and retrograde Mercury activate your trust-and-wisdom zone. So, listen to your inner voice and pay attention to symbolic messages and intuitive insights. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great Carl Jung: “The person who looks outward dreams, the person who looks inward awakens.”
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
This week you’ll be reliably unpredictable and consistently inconsistent! Love, loyalty and compromise are the New Moon buzzwords. But one half of you wants to snuggle up close with someone special – while the other half longs to be footloose, fancy-free and spontaneously solo. Try to find the sweet spot between cosy companionship and invigorating independence. And resist the urge to be an Aquarian provocateur who is deliberately controversial.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
New Moon week is the ideal time to ditch bad daily habits and start afresh. Work, health, fitness and food choices are the main areas you need to revise and then make some long-overdue changes and adjustments. The sooner the better. Try to release pent-up Piscean frustrations via a chat with a close confidante or a trusted family member. Spending some quality time with your favourite four-legged friend (in the great outdoors) will also help to lift your spirits.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2025
4 What is the name given to five kings of Norway? (6)
7 What is severity of temper? (8)
8 What was the former name for Commonwealth Day? (6)
9 Which term describes the length of time anything continues? (8)
11 Name a North American species of reindeer. (7)
13 Which mollusc has two shells hinged together? (7)
15 Which fabric is made from a mixture of silk with cotton? (7)
17 Who wrote the war novel The Twenty Thousand Thieves, Eric ...? (7)
20 Which fibrous amphibole is used for making fireproof articles? (8)
23 Which city in southern England is famous for its university? (6)
24 What is a test in which a performer is asked to demonstrate his ability for a particular role? (8)
25 To be in jail, is to be where? (2,4)
1 What, initially, is the Australian Council of Trade Unions? (4)
2 What is the name of a loud singing male insect? (6)
3 Which person practises a Hindu religious philosophy? (4)
4 Which nocturnal carnivore feeds chiefly on carrion? (5)
5 To restore to sound condition, is to do what? (6)
6 Which musical direction suggests “in a slow and solemn manner”? (5)
9 Name an Australian artist, noted for his portraits, Sir William ... (6)
10 What are spotted, leopard-like cats? (7)
12 What were German submarines called? (1-5)
14 Name an Australian Prime Minister, Tony ... (6)
16 Who originated an Australian airline company, Sir Reginald ...? (6)
18 Which substance, in minute amounts, modifies the growth of plants? (5)
19 What is a location-determining device? (5)
21 Which English monk was known as the ”Venerable” ...? (4)
22 Name a particular woodwind instrument. (4)
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Financial changes that July brings
Here are some of the headline changes the new financial year ushered in:
• From July 1, the superannuation guarantee rate increased to 12 per cent. If you pay your super quarterly and are making a payment on or before July 28, the rate to use is 11.5 per cent and the increase is only necessary for the payment that you make in October and going forward.
If you pay late, you are subject to the super guarantee charge, which includes interest and an administration component. It is also not tax-deductible.
• From July 1, 2026, super guarantee payments will have to be made at the same time as you prepare your payroll. Many payroll systems now include this option so you can make payments now before it becomes a requirement.
• The national minimum wage has increased by 3.5 per cent from the first full pay period on or after July 1. It is now $24.95 an hour or $948 a week for a 38-hour week.
Please make sure you're paying your employees at the correct rate and that your payroll program has updated the superannuation rate to 12 per cent. There has been no change to the income tax rates. The next rate cut will apply from July 1, 2026.
• For the many people working from home, the good news is that the fixed rate you can claim has increased to 70 cents an hour from July 1, 2024. That means the rate to include in your 2025 tax return is 70 cents an hour.
• If you are a sole trader or a partner in a partnership or an individual claiming your car on the cents-per-kilometre method, the good news is that the set rate has increased to 88 cents a kilometre from July 1, 2024. So when you are lodging your 2025 tax return using the set-rate method, the rate to use is 88 cents a kilometre, this rate does not apply to fully electric cars.
This rate is limited to 5000 kilometres. Even if you travel more for work purposes, remembering that home-to-work travel cannot be claimed except under special circumstances, you can elect to only claim 5000 kilometres at the per-kilometre rate. You do not need a logbook, but if asked, you must substantiate how you arrived at the number of kilometres claimed.
• The ATO has again advised taxpayers not to lodge tax returns until late July when most information is received.
If your single touch payroll does not say “finalised” go to your employer and request that the payroll be finalised.
I have seen situations where an employer has changed payroll systems during the year and so two income statements were issued and only one was finalised. If this happens to you, talk to your employer and clarify which one is correct.
If you lodge too early, you run the risk of not all income being included. You will then have to lodge an amended return and you may end up with penalties. If you have invested in trusts, the trust distributions that you receive in August and September will probably have to be included in your return for the year ended June 30, 2025.
If you need help on any of the changes or any other tax-related matter contact the experts at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 6295 2844.
