JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED say the ACT government has taken a cowardly and callous position against the ‘Mr Fluffy’ homeowners holding out.
Well written, well read
Labor paid $160m to fix a problem that didn’t exist
MICHAEL MOORE
KEEPING UP THE ACT
Chief minister finds times at Lyneham High have changed – the kids want the old boy to deliver an election promise!
SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
MAN OF THE TREES
Unsung Charles Weston planted three million trees in Canberra. ROBERT MACKLIN’s new book charts his amazing story.
Labor paid $160m to fix a problem that didn’t exist
You may not be aware of it, but the healthcare outcomes of Canberrans have improved no end following the purchase of Calvary Hospital by the ACT government…
Well, that is the impression created by the ACT government’s media release in early September.
It is a release so heavily laden with spin that the centrifugal forces are likely to leave the smell of its disingenuity spread across the territory.
Now that Calvary Hospital is part of Canberra Health Services “there have been many achievements as staff have worked together across our hospitals to build a single, integrated public health system”. So claims Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith.
The achievements were not listed. No doubt some Canberrans feel that the health services have improved since the forced takeover by the ACT government. I have not met any of them – but Ms Stephen-Smith implies many!
Orthopaedic surgeons were not resigning from Calvary because of the way the administration was undermining their work. It was not Calvary that received a letter signed by 15 orthopaedic surgeons expressing a vote of no confidence in their administration.
Arts & Entertainment 23-26
Crossword & Sudoku 27
Dining & Wine 25
Gardening 22
Keeping Up the ACT 9 Letters 11 News 3-12
Politics 3, 5, 7
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No! The letter expressed no confidence in ACT Health and the Canberra Hospital. The same dissatisfaction was followed by the resignations of some anaesthetists. The integration of Calvary Hospital by the ACT government was supposed to improve services.
It was not Calvary that suffered criticism from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). This resulted in a temporary accreditation for six months for training in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit of the Centenary Hospital for Mothers and Babies while the management sorted the “challenges”. The concern was that patients were being put at risk.
The final bill for the purchase
It is a release so heavily laden with spin that the centrifugal forces are likely to leave the smell of its disingenuity spread across the territory
of Calvary Hospital has been paid thanks to a deed of settlement and release has been reached between Calvary and the Canberra Health Services. Was the money spent in vain? How much money was it?
According to Minister StephenSmith, the “settlement includes the payment of $65 million (including interest) in addition to the $23.2 million the territory previously paid to Calvary in early compensation to enable Calvary to cover payments which became due as a result of the acquisition”.
Well, that is the first $88.2million dollars paid for what was a viable and effective service outsourced to Calvary Health Care (ACT). However, it is not the whole financial story. There was also a liability of $46.5 million in compensation for employee entitlements. Then there were legal costs incurred in the order of $30 million for the process.
In 2023 the ACT government spent more than $160 million dollars to fix
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Charles Weston and wife Minimia pictured in 1925. Story Page 6.
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a problem that did not exist. This was the same year the ACT lost its AAA+ credit rating.
A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that Canberra Health Services had failed to meet all but one of its emergency wait-time targets in the year 2023-24. This was in the time immediately following the transfer of the Northside Hospital management from Calvary to the Canberra Health Services.
At the same time, it was reported that the service also “continued to struggle with elective surgeries, with just under 9 per cent of the people on waiting lists having to wait for over a year”. These were the longest waits in Australia.
Calvary Private is still operating in Canberra. The minister argues that “Calvary will also continue to be an important partner in delivering health care in Bruce and across the ACT through its private hospitals and aged care facilities”.
Moving the focus away from the performance of her own departmental responsibilities, Minister StephenSmith stoops to more spin in the form of a meaningless motherhood
statement that is intended to make Canberrans feel better about the acquisition and progress being made by the ACT Government.
“The acquisition was made to facilitate planning and delivery of the more than $1 billion new northside hospital” she explained as “a long-term investment in our public health system that is progressing well with the announcement in March of Multiplex as our early delivery partner”.
Many believe the purchase of Calvary was ideological. At this stage, there is no evidence that the transition has improved health care. What is needed for better health care is strong, caring leadership that listens to staff, encourages them and facilitates their extraordinary work.
Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.
Facade of the former Calvary public hospital. Photo: Lily Pass
Pain and how it influences the future
University of Canberra researchers are investigating how people with endometriosis experience and process pain – and this ongoing study could lead to a new treatment for the debilitating chronic condition, reports SUZANNE LAZAROO.
A lab-based study running at the University of Canberra, takes participants – with and without endometriosis – through a series of stimuli, to see how they react to pain.
Affecting almost a million Australian women, endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body. Symptoms are variable and commonly include significant pelvic pain.
Tino Toufexis, UC Research Institute for Sport and Exercise PhD candidate, is leading the study, as part of his larger body of research into how people who suffer chronic pain think about the future.
Mr Toufexis’ thinking posits pain beyond its physiological parameters and looks into the psychological and cognitive aspects of pain.
“There’s a lot of research into how pain influences psychology, but comparatively little understanding as to how pain might influence someone’s
thoughts around their personal future,” he said.
“In turn, this may impact vari ous behaviours and activities that they may engage with in the future.
“Bridging this knowledge gap of how people expe rience pain, and how that affects how they think about the future, will mean better evidence-based, informed strategies and therapies to mitigate pain.
brain, as well as on cognitive pathways that relate to how we think about the future – in this way, we have the potential to manipulate both their pain and future thinking,” he said.
Brain stimulation is a technique for influencing pain processing, which has been investigated on various pain disorders. However, there is currently no research into how it may help those with endometriosis, making this study the first of its kind.
Study participant Kira Robertson has had to deal with debilitating pain and other endometriosis symptoms since she was 14; in 2021, a laparoscopic diagnosis confirmed the condition.
Now 23, Kira initially signed up for the study because of its focus on endometriosis, and her desire to help further understanding of the condition in any way she could.
“As I went through the study and learned more, my interest in the cognitive aspect of pain really grew,” she says.
Last chance for a beanie
It’s the last chance to buy beanies, gloves and scarves at the Harmonie German Club, 9am-1pm, September 14, before the Bold Bandannas Relay for Life Team puts them away for the year. In raising funds for cancer research, they’re also selling jams, pickles, chutneys, marmalades and lemon butter.
Model ships on display
The Canberra Model Shipwrights Society is hosting an exhibition of model ships at the Mount Rogers Primary School, Melba, 10am-4pm over the weekend of September 13-14.
All-things-craft market
Yarralumla Craft Destash Market – a trash and treasure market for craft materials – is at the Yarralumla Uniting Church Centre, Denman Street, 10am-1pm, September 13. They’re selling fabric, wool, papercraft, buttons, embellishments, ribbons and craft magazines.
Senior lecturer Dr Andrew Flood said: “In our team’s previous painrelated studies, Tino included measures around thinking about the future – and there seemed to be a difference in the way that people with endometriosis experienced pain and perceived the future.
“By working with participants in a laboratory setting, we’re able to more accurately measure and understand participants’ pain.”
After assessing their responses to the pain stimuli, Mr Toufexis then takes the participants with endometriosis through additional targeted sessions of brain stimulation.
“Brain stimulation can manipulate descending pain pathways within the
“While my pain reduced somewhat for four years, it has started returning in the last year… and I think that this work to help understand chronic pain faced by so many people is really crucial.”
The research team is looking for more participants for the study. To participate email APSresearch@canberra.edu.au.
Suzanne Lazaroo is the UC communications manager.
Buddies’ magical night
Bosom Buddies ACT is marking its 30th year with an evening of community and magic at the 59 Cameron Ave Conference and Meeting Room (above The Mercure), Belconnen, 6pm-9pm on September 18. All funds raised will continue the support of those affected by breast cancer. Tickets are $66 and can be booked at 0406 376500 or at bosombuddies.org.au
JAMES CRABB & ANTHONY MARWOOD
Tino Toufexis with study participant Kira Robertson… “As I went through the study and learned more, my interest in the cognitive aspect of pain really grew,” she says. Photo: Liam Budge
‘Significant financial loss by homeowners was not an unintended consequence, but was in fact designed into the scheme’
Government waits for ‘Mr Fluffy’ holdouts to die
“Holdout families have nowhere to go because the government has taken a cowardly and callous position, waiting for the affected homeowners to die.”
JON STANHOPE & homeowners were pushed into a corner.
In part three in this series we highlighted the alleged behaviour of the Asbestos Response Taskforce officials, as documented in a report prepared for the ACT government.
If the behaviour of the officials implementing the scheme could rightly be classified as atrocious, the scheme design was fatuous – seem ingly thoughtful but deeply flawed. This could surely not have been accidental, noting the consider able scrutiny of it by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the more than 50 submissions from individuals and professional organisations raising concerns about a range of issues.
It must be said that it is difficult to not conclude that there was a degree of cynicism in the design of the scheme.
Its salient features were:
1. The scheme was voluntary. The transaction being between a will ing seller and a willing buyer.
2. An eligible homeowner would receive:
a. the value of the affected block (house and land) as at October 28, 2014;
b. an additional $1000 (inclusive of GST) to cover or contribute to legal fees incurred in attending to the surrender, and a right to a waiver of stamp duty on a residential property purchased in the ACT; and
c. a first right of refusal to purchase the affected block (at full market value, to be determined at the time of purchase) after it is remediated.
3. In exchange for this package, the homeowner was required to surrender their interest in the affected block.
4. The homeowner was also expected to waive their right to pursue legal action against the territory and the Commonwealth in relation to any financial loss because of purchasing, living in or any other interest in the affected block.
For space considerations, we have not provided a detailed analysis of the scheme here, but highlight the significant design problems, relating to an information imbalance; hidden and increasing costs for homeowners; planned government gains at a homeowner’s expense; and policy “dead ends”.
The Standing Committee noted that there appeared to be little information about options available to homeowners who did not sign up to the Scheme – in particular, for the longer term.
“Yes, it is vague. My hope is that people take up the offer of the buyback and do not take it up under the feeling that they are being threatened with an inferior offer. That was the reason behind having 30 June next year as the cut-off point. In a way, that will clearly show how many people are in and how many are out.
“In a sense, we can deal with that issue then. But I accept that people want to know what the options are. We have not taken any decision other than that all of these homes need to be demolished.
“That is the clear advice. There is no other way. There is no other way to make these homes safe. That even goes for the homes that have very little contamination. Because what they continue to have is contamination. Yes, it might be a little, but they are contaminated.
“They therefore are worth less than the market value and at some point in time someone else is going to have to deal with it, and they have ‘Mr Fluffy’ well and truly stamped all over their file.
“That is a problem for any member of the ACT community. That is the decision we have taken. Every house has to come down. The buyback scheme provides the voluntary opportunity to come in and realise the financial investment.”
–Standing Committee on Public Accounts Inquiry Report (2014)
The three main takeaways from Ms Gallagher’s summary of the options available to the owners of Mr Fluffy houses were: Firstly, she acknowledges that the
government’s position was vague. That was by design – the government wanted to see how many people would take up its preferred scheme before disclosing any other option(s). However, homeowners, as the Committee rightly noted, could not make an informed decision if they did not know what the alternatives were.
Complicating the decision making was a requirement that homeowners electing to participate in the scheme obtain a certificate of legal advice.
The Law Society of the ACT highlighted a fundamental problem arising from the government withholding information, stating that “if legal practitioners are to properly advise their clients, it is important that the ACT government disclose exactly what it intends to do in the future should owners decide not to opt in to the buyback scheme” and that “it is not reasonable to expect affected homeowners to make an informed decision on whether to opt into the scheme in the absence of knowing what the effects will be should they decide not to do so”
In a truly Kafkaesque move, the government next required affected households to provide a certificate that could not be produced because the government withheld the necessary information to produce the certificate.
Relevantly the government also resolved that the affected houses
were uninhabitable and posed a serious public health risk that could only be ameliorated by demolishing the dwellings and thus justifying a regulatory response.
Developing a scheme based on a voluntary opt-in would thus become a false choice and a “game” between the government and homeowners.
The chief minister also acknowledged that the contaminated houses were worth less than the apparent market value. The key question then was who wears that loss, as well as the cost of remediation including the value of the standing dwelling, its demolition, the clean-up of the block, and a replacement dwelling?
As is evident from the comments of affected homeowners, they incurred significant financial losses. We will provide an estimate of the costs transferred to the affected homeowners in a subsequent article. It is notable, however, that this was not a mere unintended consequence but was in fact designed into the scheme.
The price offered to homeowners was based on valuations as at October 2014, while the actual handover was much later. The remediated blocks were offered years later at the market value at that time. Homeowners were advised that their land would be offered at a 25 per cent mark-up, which was consistent with the financial modelling provided
responsibility in situations in which an affected homeowner believed that they were not being fairly compensated.
Homeowners faced the threat of compulsory acquisition if they did not join the scheme and were allegedly advised that the compensation would likely be much less.
In our view, compulsory acquisition would have provided a fairer and more just financial outcome, compared to one determined by valuers instructed in secret, in a manipulated market, and paid by the government.
This brings us to the policy dead end: while the government has repeatedly said that it reserves the right to compulsorily acquire the remaining dwellings, it has not done so knowing that the costs (ie, compensation payable) would be much higher than its “voluntary” scheme. That would open it to claims of unfair treatment and inadequate compensation by those who were forced to join the “voluntary” scheme. This is a dead end by design – the Carvalhos (who we referenced in our first article) and families like them have nowhere to go, because the government is loath to wield the compulsory acquisition “stick”.
The government has apparently, therefore, taken a cowardly and, we believe, callous position, and is simply waiting for the affected homeowners to die.
Jon Stanhope is a former chief minister of the ACT and Dr Khalid Ahmed a former senior ACT Treasury official.
Lorraine and Leo Carvalho, who did not sign up to the eradication scheme for their Lyons home because it was not on “just terms”, and other holdout families have nowhere to go, because the government is loath to wield the compulsory acquisition “stick”.
Photo: Andrew Campbell
Then Chief Minister Katy Gallagher… The buyback scheme provides the voluntary opportunity to come in and realise the financial investment.”
The man of Canberra trees, three million of them
By Helen Musa
Graced with a clever title, The Man Who Planted Canberra is a new book about the life of Charles Weston MBE (1866-1935) and likely to be snaffled by horticulturists and proud Canberrans alike.
The 240-page work by Canberra writer and CityNews columnist Robert Macklin pays tribute to the British horticulturist and arborist who was responsible for the planting of at least
three million trees in the nation’s capital.
The book partly deals with the way that, albeit memorialised in the naming of Weston Park, Charles Weston has been relegated to the backrooms of history, in contrast to his muchlauded, contemporaries Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion.
The idea of the book was first pitched to Macklin by local heritage researchers, who alerted him to the doctorate by the late John Gray, undertaken at the University of Canberra under Prof Ken Taylor, on the life and work of Weston.
His curiosity piqued, he read the whole
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thesis, which focused on Weston’s scientific achievements rather than his personal life. It was an invaluable resource for Macklin who, although the author of 25 non-fiction books, is on his own admission no horticulturist.
His challenge, he thought, would be to have readers turn the pages on a story of at least 65,000 words, so he would need to undertake his own extensive research into the political and social milieu of Weston’s time.
He introduces us to the young Weston working at Drumlanrig Castle in the Scot tish borderlands under influential British gardener David Thomson, who appointed him at merely 26 to be in charge of around 79 staff.
We learn of his work in afforestation in Scotland and his rigorous apprenticeship before migrating to Australia in 1896, eventu ally becoming officer-in-charge of afforesta tion in Canberra in May 1913, a position he held until 1926.
From the narrative perspective, this move to the fledgling capital yielded Macklin a cavalcade of colourful characters, not least the wily Billy Hughes and the American-born politician, King O’Malley – “a cheat, liar, and possibly even a murderer,” Macklin says.
Then there were the local bureaucrats to deal with, some of them accessible but others far less so, leading to dramatic chapter titles such as Frontal Attack, Daggers Drawn and Leadership, Canberra-style.
Macklin was shocked to find how little talent Weston had to work with.
“When I looked, I saw the biggest problem was the fact that a whole generation of people were sent away from Australia to be killed in World War I,” he says, alerting me to a part of Geoff Page’s poem The Forester published in the book, which reads:
Your propagation shed has shoots from half the countries in the world.
In northern France they’re planting out their sixty thousand dead Australians.
But it was the character of Weston himself that would provide Macklin the greatest opportunities for storytelling.
A man of humble requirements, he lived for eight years in a little, two-room hut where it took him three years to get a stove and a similar time to get his windows stopped-up.
Because he’d been deprived of an education, Weston and his English-born wife Minimia were determined that their children would get a good education. So she spent many years with them in Macquarie Street, Sydney, while they were schooled, only later coming to Canberra.
But it was a happy married life, Macklin says: “You read about them getting together again and again and there are two letters at the
qualifications.
Another letter from Minimia to the family describes how Weston himself made the floral tributes for the visiting Duchess of York in 1927, sourcing flowers from his own garden.
Of course, not everything was perfect, but it wasn’t always his fault. Griffin wrongly predicted that the cork industry was about to take off in Australia, leading to the disastrous planting of a cork oak plantation.
But there are examples of his prescience, as, with an eye to Canberra’s drought-prone environment, he advised against excessive planting of lawns.
Every good book needs a strong ending and Macklin hopes he’s achieved that by publishing a message conveyed posthumously to his children – “I should like you all to keep in loving and peace”.
It moves and consoles Macklin that both Charles, who died in 1935, and Minimia two years after him, had their ashes spread on the Parliament House gardens.
Man who Planted Canberra:
The
Charles Weston & His Three Million Trees, by Robert Macklin (NLA Publishing).
Fledgling trees for a fledgling city… a panoramic view of Yarralula Nursery and Weston’s living quarters, 1916.
Photo: ACT Heritage Library
Charles Weston and wife Minimia pictured in 1925… a happy married life.
OPINION / the Jumbunna reviews
Reports brutally expose depths of disadvantage
The extent and depth of disadvantage endured by the Aboriginal community of the ACT has been brutally exposed by two recently released reports prepared by the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research.
The reports expose the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prison and in touch with the criminal justice system.
The first of the two reports is a detailed 120-page analysis of the ACT government’s response, or lack thereof, to a report issued by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) in 2017, titled Pathways to Justice-Inquiry into the Incarceration Rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Jumbunna has reported that of the 37 individual recommendations in the ALRC report, the government has, in the eight years since its release, only bothered to implement 14 of them and, of those 14 recommendations, Jumbunna advises that the assessment that the recommendation has been implemented is subject to a caveat.
Jumbunna has also reported: “The level of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander over-representation in the ACT justice system has grown significantly, by 27 per cent since 2017 and is much higher than the national average.”
In a raft of commentary related to community satisfaction with police and police integrity, the ACT has the second lowest proportion (after the NT) of adults who reported they were satisfied with the services provided by police.
The level of satisfaction has in fact fallen by 10 per cent since 2017. In relation to the question of whether “police treated people fairly and equally” the ACT has the second lowest proportion of adults in Australia (after the NT) who agreed with the statement.
Jumbunna also reported that in 2023, the ACT had the lowest proportional use of youth diversion for all
Jumbunna has identified systemic racism and the lack of cultural safety in government as significant drivers of the over-representation of Aboriginal peoples in the criminal justice system.
young people in Australia and that for Aboriginal young people in the ACT the situation was particularly worrying with only 10 per cent of Aboriginal youth diverted compared to 30 per cent of non-Aboriginal youth (the lowest rate in Australia –it is three times lower than in NSW, Victoria, WA and the NT).
In a deeply disturbing revelation Jumbunna also reports: “It is important to recognise that there was no explicit response by the ACT government to the ALRC report, nor any explicit undertaking or commitment to implement all or in part any of the ALRC recommendations.
“There is no comprehensive government plan or other document related to the ALRC report against which the implementation of recommendations might be measured, other than the recommendations themselves.”
The concerns expressed by Jumbunna about the ACT government’s apparent lack of commitment to and tardiness in the implementation of the recommendations of the ALRC report raise, inevitably and concerningly, the question of the degree of its commitment to the recommendations and findings of the Jumbunna review into the over-representation of First Nations People in the ACT criminal justice system.
The Jumbunna Review is more than 400 pages and contains around 100 recommendations for change. It is without doubt the most comprehensive and important inquiry into any aspect of the ACT criminal justice system ever undertaken.
It is imperative that the ACT government make an unambiguous commitment to the implementation of all of the report recommendations and that this report not suffer the same fate as the ALRC report.
Jumbunna has identified systemic racism and the lack of cultural safety in government as significant drivers of the over-representation of Aboriginal peoples in the criminal justice system.
This finding is followed by a
recommendation that the ACT government conduct and publish, with First Nations input and oversight, an initial independent targeted systemic review of JACS and its agencies, including ACT Policing and ACT Corrective Services.
The recommendation further provides that other directorates that influence or impact First Nations justice outcomes including, but not limited to, CSD, Education, Health and Housing should be similarly subjected to detailed and exhaustive review.
This recommendation, indeed, along with the remaining 100 or so should be adopted without delay.
Julie Tongs, CEO of the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.
FORBES NATIONAL BBQ CHAMPIONSHIPS
A section of art from the cover of the Jumbunna Review.
Put simply, planning in the ACT is in disarray PLANNING
The Barr government’s transport and land use planning is in disarray.
The disarray echoes the environment of neglect and disorganisation of post-war Canberra described in the 1955 Senate Select Committee Report.
Peter Harrison, advising the committee, described the dilemma of Canberra: it was a city moving into the second half of the 20th century with a plan prepared in 1911.
A major part of the response was the establishment of the National Capital Development Commission to plan, develop and construct Canberra as the national capital.
In 1970 the commission released, after extensive analysis, its polycentric city strategy with growth to be accommodated by the development of new towns. The plan was widely recognised as best practice city development.
In the early 1990s, in response to social and economic changes, a greater awareness of the environmental impacts of development and a reduced ability to influence employment location, the strategy was adjusted with the emphasis changing to increasing housing in areas with employment, facilities and services and along major transport corridors.
The “compact city” policy was seen as widening housing choice and
reducing travel, car use, infrastructure expenditure and the environmental impacts of development.
The themes in its latest iteration, the 2018 Planning Strategy, are a city that is compact, efficient, diverse, sustainable, resilient, liveable and accessible.
But have the benefits from the implementation of these themes been substantial?
The policy has contributed to substantially increased housing (and associated benefits) in areas of high accessibility, particularly inner Canberra and in and adjacent town centres.
However, the strategy has not been translated into effective policy as reflected in the reduced supply of social housing, ongoing high car use, inadequate public transport services, the construction of light rail, poor quality redevelopment and infrastructure shortfalls in new and established areas.
The government’s arrogant and paternalistic approach (we know what’s best for you) often ignores or dismisses community concerns and is oblivious to its policy deficiencies.
Policy superficiality is apparent in the decision to increase the consolidation share of housing supply to more than 70 per cent. The decision failed to consider housing preferences, especially the strong demand for detached dwellings.
Consequences have included a far higher increase in the relative price of detached houses and an undersupply of social housing. The environmental benefits of a compact city are being offset by increased car-dependent development in surrounding NSW and reduced environmental amenity in established areas.
Similarly, the ACT transport strategy floundered on an inadequate understanding of the factors determining mode choice.
The strategy targeted an increase in the use of public transport, walking and cycling on the journey to work from 15 per cent in 2006 to 30 per cent by 2026. In 2021, 13 per cent of work trips were made by these modes. In
2022, some 75 per cent of all trips in Canberra were by car, reflecting the advantages cars offer in providing access to many urban activities.
The decision to extend light rail from Civic to Woden was not informed by an assessment of potentially more effective alternatives.
Its claimed sustainability benefits could be overstated as it has considerable CO2 emissions in its construction with improving electric bus technology possibly eliminating any environmental advantage.
Furthermore, the high cost of light rail diverts funds from health, education and social housing making it less socially and financially sustainable than alternatives.
Increased working from home and the likely introduction of autonomous vehicles could indicate the city is moving from the polycentric paradigm to a city where jobs and activities are more widely spread.
Such a city could require greatly modified transport infrastructure, with high-cost projects, such as light rail, becoming an extreme financial risk.
Infrastructure projects need to be evaluated to establish they deliver the
benefits claimed and include consideration of alternative ways to address an identified need.
The government has failed to inform the community of the relative tradeoffs involved with decisions about how the city should grow. Its arrogant and paternalistic approach (we know what’s best for you) often ignores or dismisses community concerns and is oblivious to its policy deficiencies.
It continually fails to base policy on evidence, which is resulting in a far-from-optimal use of funds.
Is the government’s obfuscation and poor decision-making a result of it not being subject to sufficient scrutiny, an inadequate resourcing of agencies or a product of a predetermined ideological view of how the city should grow?
The Legislative Assembly needs to pressure the government to undertake an independent review of its planning and transport strategies to ensure the city is being planned for the mid-21st century not the late 20th century.
Mike Quirk is a former NCDC and ACT govern ment planner.
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Rhinolight is a gentle
treatment
ease airborne allergy symptoms.
The “heart” of Canberra in 1965.
Photo: National Capital Development Commission
Planning thumbs a nose at independent views
“Surely, for a project like that of the extension of light rail to Woden, the public has the right to hear from a truly independent expert about the extensive impact this project has upon their life,” writes BEATRICE BODART-BAILEY.
My article, “’Independent’ tram team ignores the benefits of buses” (CN September 4), revealed the lack of an independent review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the light rail extension to Woden.
In trying to locate the prescribed independent review, the Statutory Planning section of the ACT government said that the Draft EIS (bearing the name of a company that had received a $93 million design contract for stage 2 of the light rail extension to Woden) was in fact the independent review I was looking for, since it was authored by independent experts listed in Appendix G.
An internet search revealed that 20 of the 25-member team were present or past employees of the above company, in whose name the document was published, and hence in no way “independent”.
I went back with the simple question whether Planning was aware of this fact. After a week I received
a response, politely apologising for the delay, explaining: “The intention behind requiring an independent consultant is to address instances where a proponent chooses to prepare an Environment Impacts [sic] Statement (EIS) themselves. In these instances, we would require an independent person to verify the outcomes.
“In accordance with section 110(2) (a) of the Planning Act 2023 (the Act), the Territory Panning [sic] Authority (TPA) may, in the scoping document for a development proposal, require the proponent to engage a consultant to help prepare an EIS for the proposal. In this section of the Act, a consultant means a person who satisfies the criteria prescribed by regulation.
“Section 17 of the Planning (General) Regulation 2023 defines the definition of consultant relevant to section 110 of the Act, which states:
‘The criteria are that the territory planning authority is satisfied the person holds relevant professional qualifications in relation to preparing an EIS and has— (a) experience in
an “independent review”.
preparing an EIS; or (b) the capacity to prepare an EIS.’”
In other words, the last paragraph claims that a regulation of 2023 only requires that they, the planning authority, are satisfied that consultants hold suitable professional credentials. No doubt it was hoped that this would answer my question.
However, the scoping document makes reference not just to consultants but emphasises the need for an “independent consultant” and an “independent review”.
Consequently, the present Draft EIS, arranged by a financially conflicted company that got together a team consisting mainly of present and past employees, in no way fits the bill.
Surely, for a project with the magnitude like that of the extension of the light rail to Woden, the public has the right to hear from a truly independent expert about the extensive impact this project has upon their life.
How can anybody suggest that a team can be called independent where at least 20 out of 25 members are present or past employees of a company that will incur a substantial financial loss if the impact statement were to show that a different kind of public transport would be of greater benefit and cause less destruction of the iconic environment for which our Bush Capital is famous?
Further, the argument that an earlier document defining the
nature of a consultant merely as “(a) experience in preparing an EIS; or (b) the capacity to prepare an EIS” nullifies the express demand of the scoping document in question for an “independent reviewer” lacks logic in the common sense of the word.
The skill of replying to an uncomfortable question with a plethora of words that skirt the issue, no doubt public servants have to acquire when representing politicians who mostly excel in this art.
However, just two days before I received the unsatisfactory reply, our valiant Treasurer Chris Steel was caught out, according to the Assembly minutes, when he attempted to rid himself of an uncomfortable question with this trick.
He was dressed down like a delinquent schoolboy by his teacher when the Assembly’s Speaker, Mark Parton, “pursuant to standing order 118AA(a), determined that an answer to a question without notice from Mr Cocks to Mr Steel (Treasurer) was not responsive to the question, and directed the Treasurer to provide a written response to the question and lodge it with the Clerk by 1.45 pm the next business day.”
Long live standing order 118AA(a)!
Historian Beatrice Bodart-Bailey is an honorary professor at the ANU School of Culture, History and Language.
Don’t take our support for granted, vice-chancellor
The ANU’s vice-chancellor recently advised the public about how the university’s change management program has now met a few interim turning points via a necessary “delicate dance”.
The announcements lacked clarity and showed that the university is still resisting calls for the retention of delivery of wellestablished and high-standard knowledge and skills outcomes across the humanities and particularly in the performing arts.
The vice-chancellor’s subsequent chatty follow up with the public about the major restructuring and cost-cutting program would not have reassured many who have been following this lengthy institutional saga.
There was no substantive enlightenment about future discipline offerings, or insights about how the depleted and realigned staff who remain will develop, juggle and deliver curriculum transitions for 2026 and thereafter.
ANU’s chancellor, vice-chancellor and dean of arts do not communicate well with the broader public.
More transparency, less snappy managerialist mumbo jumbo, and concrete evidence of far better treatment of staff and students would help to counteract the current loss of trust and belief in the functioning and reputation of Australia’s
national and federally legislated university.
Nor should ANU’s still floundering leadership underestimate this local community’s well-honed ability to suss out spin, halftruths, information gaps and misleading statements that deliver vague rationales in the numerous change plans and proposals that have already been dumped on busy and under-resourced campus staff for “consultation”.
Given all this, the full leadership team should not blithely assume, as the vice-chancellor did in her statements, that the broader Canberra community, which includes many very concerned and watchful ANU donors too, will remain committed to
A matter for the integrity
Readers would have (or should have) been gobsmacked by Beatrice Bodart-Bailey’s revelations regarding the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the light rail stage 2b extension to Woden (CN September 4).
Rather than meeting the requirement for an independent consultant to prepare an EIS, or for an independent review of the draft EIS, the actual draft EIS was apparently prepared by a company with a $93 million contract for the stage 2b design, with 20 of the 25 members of the “EIS delivery team” being current or former employees of this company.
Why is action not being taken — such as a referral to the ACT Integrity Commission – in relation to this as a clear case of serious maladministration?
Karina Morris, Weetangera Richer we are, the more damage
It’s welcome that Dave Jeffrey agrees “we can and must” combat climate change (“Climate change is about population”, CN August 4). But framing population as the main driver is misleading. There are populations, and there are populations. The most populous country, India, with 18 per cent of the world’s people, produces just 7 per cent
of global greenhouse gases. The US, with only 4 per cent of the population, pumps out 13 per cent. Both wealth and population drive emissions.
Oxfam recently found, for example, the world’s richest 1 per cent emit more carbon than the poorest 66 per cent.
The richer we are, the more energy and embodied carbon we consume – and the more climate damage we cause. Australia proves the point: 55th in population, yet 16th in emissions. In sporting terms, we punch (or rather, emit) well above our weight. And while climate impacts hit everywhere – rising seas, hotter oceans, extreme weather – we still dither. The answer is clear: no new coal and gas projects, and a rapid shift to renewable energy with storage. The transition is underway, but far too slowly. Why is Australia still approving new fossil fuel projects when the clock is running down?
Anne O’Hara, Wanniassa
No kidding, they’re Nazis
I’m curious. Media reports on the recent sovereign citizen protests make reference to their black clothing, implying that it is intimidating. I’m sure that’s their intention, but when you look around our state and federal police forces, some of them have also adopted black as the uniform colour of choice (the most recently visible
rials and “ship sunshine” as green hydrogen, steel, aluminium and fertiliser. He argues Australia is well placed to become one.
Ms Lauder’s story on China can be found in the ABC’s News Daily podcast (August 18). As Macklin suggests, it deserves wide coverage. Australians still tend to associate China with coal, air pollution and soaring greenhouse gas emissions. Yet today it leads the world in renewables, with 180GW of new utility-scale solar and 159GW of wind under construction – more than double the rest of the world combined. By contrast, less than 100GW of new coal-fired power is underway in China, and signs suggest its emissions may already have peaked.
Good news – and a counter to those who use China as an excuse for inaction.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria
to.
Sue Dyer, Downer
China leads the way in renewables
Thanks to Robert Macklin for sharing Jo Lauder’s story about China becoming the world’s first “electrostate” (“Jo’s seriously big solar story disappears in a day”, CN August 28).
But what does that mean? In his book Powering Up, former chief scientist Alan Finkel writes: “Yesterday’s powerful petrostates will be replaced by emerging electrostates” – countries that supply energy transition mate-
commission?
being the Victorian Chief Police Commissioner, who usually fronts the media in a black uniform, with matching black shirt and tie). Why is this grim combination considered helpful to the police image?
Of course, some of us older citizens might remember Germany of the ‘30s, when all black, with matching jackboots, was the totally frightening look presented, quite deliberately, by the Gestapo.
Of course, there’s no comparison between the genocidal Gestapo and our Australian police, but I do wonder if that was in the minds of those who thought all-black was a suitable colour for a democratic law enforcement body in the 21st century.
Are we that stupid to ignore smart countries?
Letter writer Ray Peck (CN August 6) quotes Dr Alan Finkel, but leaves out the bit where the former chief scientist says there is no better source of zero emissions electricity than nuclear power.
Dr Finkel also said that he would like to see nuclear power introduced in support of electricity in the 2040s as our population expands, but said it was not a feasible option in the short term.
Public opinion towards nuclear power in Australia has shifted over time. This year, in response to a new question, six in 10
Australians (61 per cent) say they “somewhat” or “strongly support” Australia using nuclear power to generate electricity (Lowy Institute Poll).
Contrary to Mr Peck’s suggestion I am more than happy to listen to Australia’s new chief scientist Prof Tony Haymet rather than former ones who are still living in the 1980s in regard to nuclear power. Prof Haymet has stated he is open to the prospect of nuclear power playing a role in the country’s energy mix.
Are we that stupid that we are going to ignore 32 smart countries around the world that are already using nuclear power and investing more or are we going to follow Australia’s worst politician Chris Bowen with his nuclear scaremongering? Seriously if not now, when?
Ian
Pilsner, Weston
Oh that we should be so lucky!
No-one in the ACT can escape noticing the infrastructure spend this place is managing. We need to be thankful we have an economically astute Legislative Assembly focusing on this.
I’m so overcome with joy I feel we should adopt Liverpool FC’s You’ll Never Walk Alone anthem and teach it to the kiddies, with an enhanced acceptance of our light-rail treasured gift from the heavens. We should be so lucky!
John Lawrence via email
This brings me to another, not unconnected, issue – the euphemistically named ”Neo-Nazis” who are behind the “Sovereign Citizens movement”. Let’s not kid ourselves – there’s nothing new about this rising movement. They’re simply “Nazis” and if they had their way they’d introduce a similarly restrictive form of authoritarian government here. And there are further dangerous signs coming out of America with influential media personality Tucker Carlson pushing for a “rehabilitation” of Hitler. Hate to think what that might mean.
Eric Hunter, Cook
supporting ANU getting to wherever it is being driven
dose of dorin
WHIMSY / on a wing and a prayer…
Heavensent parallels of Christianity and Islam
“Some people say there is a God. Others say there is no God. The answer probably lies somewhere in-between.” –WB Yeats
Christianity and Islam are the world’s two major monotheistic religions.
They’ve had a complex relationship for 14 centuries – but there seem to be many parallels between the two.
I thought the differences and parallels between the two religions were something I needed to know more about, so I did a bit of research. The result is as follows:
• Christianity and Islam both have sacred texts that guide their beliefs and practices. Christianity primarily relies on the Bible, which consists of the Old Testament and New Testament, while Islam’s sacred text is the Koran. Both religious traditions also include supplementary texts that provide additional guidance, such as the Hadith in Islam and various Christian theological writings.
• The Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible, is considered sacred by both Jews and Christians. It contains history, laws, prophecies, and poetry that lay the foundation for Jewish
and Christian beliefs. Many of the figures and stories in the Old Testament have direct parallels in the Koran.
• Both the Bible (Genesis 1-2) and the Koran (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:30-34) describe the creation of the world and the story of Adam and Eve. While both texts mention their disobedience in the Garden, the Koran does not include the concept of original sin, which is central to Christian theology.
• The Koran acknowledges many biblical prophets, such as Noah (Nuh), Abraham (Ibrahim), Moses (Musa), and David (Dawood). Their roles and stories often align closely, though with variations.
For example, Moses is a key figure in both traditions, leading the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus in the Bible; Surah Taha 20 in the Koran).
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) have counterparts in Islamic teachings. The Koran emphasises similar moral principles, such as monotheism, honouring parents, and prohibiting murder, theft, and adultery (Surah Al-Isra 17:23-39).
The New Testament is the central text of Christianity, particularly because it details the life, teachings, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Koran also speaks about Jesus (Isa), though it differs in key theological aspects.
• In the New Testament, Jesus is the Son of God, the divine saviour who dies for humanity’s sins and resurrects (Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). In contrast, the Koran recognises Jesus as a great prophet but denies his divinity and crucifixion, stating instead that he was raised to heaven (Surah An-Nisa 4:157-158).
• Mary (Maryam), the Virgin Mary is highly revered in both Christianity and Islam. The Koran has an entire chapter named after her (Surah Maryam 19) which describes the miraculous birth of Jesus, similar to the accounts in the Gospels (Luke 1-2).
• The moral teachings of Jesus, especially in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), share similarities with Islamic principles in the Koran. Both emphasise humility, charity and devotion to God.
Just as Muslims refer to the Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad) for further guidance, Christians have early church writings, theological works, and church traditions that shape their faith.
Early Christian theologians such as Augustine and Aquinas helped define Christian doctrines, much like Islamic scholars who compiled the Hadith and wrote legal interpretations. The Hadith, though not comprising divine revelation like the Koran, plays a role similar to the Gospels in preserving the words and actions of a central figure –Muhammad for Islam, and Jesus for Christianity.
While the Christian Bible and the Koran differ in theology and specific narratives, they share significant common ground in moral teachings, reverence for prophets, and belief in one God. The Old Testament’s
laws and stories parallel many Koranic accounts, while the New Testament’s focus on Jesus finds both agreement and divergence with Islamic teachings.
Over the centuries it’s estimated that fighting between Christians and Moslems has resulted in 15-20 million deaths, and between Catholics and Protestants more than 10 million deaths, while between Sunni and Shia it’s at least several million deaths.
When you look at the parallels between the two main religions, and what the main protagonists have in common, that’s an awful lot of seemingly pointless deaths when all parties concerned believe in one similar god. The animosities seem to be mainly due to competing religious bureaucracies.
On a lighter note: Charles pulled a nose hair out today to see if it hurt. Judging by the scream of the man sleeping next to him on the bus, it certainly did.
Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist
An 18th century Persian depiction of Jesus on a donkey and Muhammad on a camel riding together. Illustration: New York Public Library
CELEBRATING SENIORS
The expo that’s changing the narrative on ageing
Ageing is also about embracing new opportunities, exploring fresh passions and staying connected to the community, says Council on the Ageing ACT CEO Jenny Mobbs.
It’s this spirit, Jenny says, that will propel COTA’s free ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo, which returns to the Old Bus Depot, Kingston, on Wednesday, September 24.
“The Expo is about showing people that ageing can be a time of growth and joy,” she says.
“We have brought together a wide range of exhibitors so you can find practical help, as well as get excited about the possibilities ahead.”
Drawing thousands of older Canberrans, their families and carers into the event, Jenny says the bigger venue allows more exhibitors than ever before.
“The Expo promises a day of discovery, learning and fun for people at every stage of life,” she says. “At its heart, it’s about empowering older people to live well.”
Within the Expo, attendees can find a range of stallholders showcasing products, services and opportunities designed to support healthy, fulfilling ageing.
“From retirement living options and home modifications to wellness programs, hobbies, volunteering pathways and the latest in assistive technologies, the Expo is a
one-stop shop for practical information and inspiration,” says Jenny.
will also be able to enjoy presentations, performances and creative workshops designed to “spark curiosity and connection”.
also be on show.
advice, considering a lifestyle change, or simply seeking a fun day out, the Expo has something for everyone,” says Jenny.
heading to the event,” says Jenny.
“With limited parking available, we encourage visitors to use public transport or carpool with friends.”
Jenny says what sets the Expo apart from others is their strong community spirit.
“It’s a space where older Canberrans can discover new ideas, share experiences and build connections,” she says.
“Many visitors leave not just with brochures and resources, but with new friendships, hobbies and a sense of what’s
Showcasing more than 150 exhibitors featuring their services, programs, advice, and products in the active ageing, wellness, and lifestyle space. Enjoy interactive performances and demonstrations, local food and coffee vendors and more!
possible in the years ahead.
“By bringing together organisations, businesses and community groups, COTA ACT is helping older people access the tools they need to thrive.”
Registrations at cotaact.org.au/event/ act-seniors-and-better-ageing-expo
ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo, Kingston Old Bus Depot, 21 Wentworth Avenue, 10am-3pm, Wednesday, September 24. Call 6282 3777 or visit cotaact.org.au
Ph: 6282 3777
Email: contact@cotaact.org.au cotaact.org.au
Thanks to our supporters:
More information and free tickets: https://cotaact.org.au/ events/act-seniors-andbetter-ageing-expo/ or via the QR code.
A fun day out awaits visitors to the ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo… “We have brought together a wide range of exhibitors so you can find practical help, as well as get excited about the possibilities ahead,” says Council on the Ageing ACT CEO Jenny Mobbs.
Goodwin Prepares for Aged Care Overhaul
Canberra’s aged care provider, Goodwin, is proactively preparing for a significant federal government-mandated overhaul of the sector, with a new Aged Care Act and Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards coming into effect on November 1, 2025.
These comprehensive reforms are designed to empower older Australians by placing them at the forefront of their care and giving them greater choice and control. Goodwin’s readiness for these changes ensures a seamless and supportive transition for its clients and residents.
A central pillar of this transformation is the new Support at Home program, which will replace the current Home Care Packages. This program aims to provide a more flexible and personalised approach, enabling older Canberrans to live independently in their homes for longer. The change is intended to streamline services and reduce the bureaucratic hurdles often associated with accessing care. Goodwin is focused on ensuring a smooth transition for its clients, with an emphasis on seamless service delivery under the new model.
Jamie Fillingham, Executive Manager Home Care and Business Transformation, stated that the organisation is “fully
equipped” for the changes. He added that clients can expect a broader range of services, including more flexible care and nursing, and a wider selection of allied
Aged Care Quality Standards Lead, commented that these new standards build upon Goodwin’s existing foundation of excellence. “The core principles of
to change but actively leading the way in empowering older Canberrans to live their best possible lives. The successful implementation of these reforms will be a crucial step in modernising aged care and ensuring it meets the evolving needs of
Goodwin Aged Care. Caring for Canberra since 1954. Call 6175 5650, email community@goodwin.org.au or visit
Stephen Holmes, Goodwin CEO.
Goodwin provides Home Care services in Canberra and Batemans Bay where the Goodwin team regularly interacts with the community.
Thinking about funeral pre-planning doesn’t have to be a solitary event, says Tender Funerals Canberra Region general manager, Catherine Prosser.
“End-of-life planning can be done with friends and acquaintances as a social event,” she says.
“More seniors are embracing opportunities to explore their options together.”
Recently welcoming the public to their facility for an open day to ask questions and understand their choices, Catherine says they were grateful to have received more than 120 visitors asking thoughtful and insightful questions.
“Attending an information session at a local library or seniors centre, or even inviting guest speakers to a social group, can be a great way to start feeling more comfort
A not-for-profit, community-led funeral service, Tender Funerals Canberra Region has presented more than 20 community events over the past 12 months.
“We find that when people have these conversations as a group, they are surprised by how enjoyable and positive the experience is,” she says.
“Everyone has the same questions, so it makes people feel much more confident about their own end-of-life planning when they know they’re not on their own.”
Talk and tour requests are available by phone or email.
“As we get older, it’s natural to start thinking about how we want our future to look, and how to best plan for it,” says KJB Law principal Jo Twible.
“This might mean understanding aged-care options, considering changes to your will or powers of attorney, or exploring ways to fund care without putting unnecessary pressure on family.
“With the new aged-care reforms due to begin from November 1, it’s more important than ever to be informed.”
Jo says aged care options don’t just mean residential aged care.
Running free seminars twice yearly, KJB Law in conjunction with Phillips Wealth Partners, helps seniors gain a concise view of downsizing, estate planning and aged-care issues.
The next free seminar is at the Hellenic Club, Phillip, from 10am on Wednesday, November 12.
“We want to give people a clear, practical understanding of how these reforms affect them, whether they’re staying at home, entering care or looking at different solutions for their changing needs,” says Jo.
The seminar will cover the pros and cons of staying at home and various downsizing options; in-home care and residential/hybrid options; considerations for reviewing a will; power of attorney and advance care directive when looking at care options and understanding costs/funding strategies.
“Whether you’re planning for yourself or supporting a loved one, this seminar is designed to give you an understanding of the fundamentals to help you make informed decisions,” says Jo.
KJB Law draws on decades of experience, helping you create a Will and Estate plan that stipulates all your wishes and concerns.
We are able to assist with:
• Wills and Testamentary Wills
• Power of Attorney
• Self-managed super funds
• Advice on potential claims against estates
• Advice for blended families
Retirement village contracts are often difficult to navigate. Jo Twible will simplify the process, explaining the details of your contract, to help you with a smooth transition.
Jo Twible’s services include:
• Retirement village entry & exit
• Aged care entry
• Residential & Commercial Conveyancing
• Commercial Leasing
• Sale and purchase of businesses
KJB Law principal Jo Twible.
CELEBRATING SENIORS
Protecting seniors from discrimination
“Senior Canberrans are protected from discrimination and unfair treatment under ACT law,” says Discrimina tion, Health Services, Disability and Community Services Commissioner Karen Toohey.
“This means that you or someone you care for doesn’t have to put up with discrimination or unfair treatment because of age, where you live, disability or family and carer responsibilities,” she says.
The ACT Human Rights Commission can help seniors with matters relating to discrimination in employment, housing and accommodation, provision of health services, issues with retirement villages, issues with residential aged care providers or in-home aged care services, physical or psychological abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
“We are told that some older people do not want to report abuse or exploitation because they are concerned about the impact on family relationships or the care and support they receive,” says Commissioner Toohey.
“The benefit of our process is that it can be anony mous. We work towards the outcome the older person is seeking – that might be the return of money or assets, or for a person to move out of their home so they feel safe.
“Where the older person wants the relationship maintained we work with them, and the other people involved, to make arrangements for the ongoing relationship.”
Commissioner Toohey also says that people sometimes think their issue is too small or too individual to make a complaint.
“Or they think a matter would need to go to court or involve the police, so they may prefer not to raise their concerns,” she says.
“We know these types of issues impact on people’s health and wellbeing and their participation in public life, so we encourage people to give us a call and talk
Discrimination, Health Services, Disability and Community Services Commissioner Karen Toohey… people sometimes think their issue is too small or too individual to make a complaint.
about their options.” All services are free and confidential.
ACT Human Rights Commission at the ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo, Kingston Old Bus Depot, 21 Wentworth Avenue, 10am to 3pm on Wednesday, September 24. Call 6205 2222, email human.rights@act.gov.au, make an online complaint at hrc.act.gov.au/complaints or visit hrc.act.gov.au
ments available, it can ease the burden left on family in the event of a beloved member passing,” she says.
In comparison to funeral insurances, Guardian Plans don’t have any premiums attached and are exempt from the asset test for age pension
Tobin Brothers Funerals at the ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo, Kingston Old Bus Depot, 21 Wentworth Avenue, 10am to 3pm on Wednesday, September 24. Call 6295 2799, or visit tobinscanberrafunerals.com.au
Experts in stress-free renovations
At Renovation Matters, the priority is making home renovations simple, efficient and stress-free, especially for seniors who want safe, comfortable and stylish homes, says owner Kim Persson.
Kim and her team have delivered more than 100 successful renovations, including more than 50 renovate-to-sell projects that have helped clients improve their property value and achieve quicker sales.
“We understand that renovating can feel overwhelming, particularly later in life,” Kim says.
“That’s why we manage the entire process, from planning and
budgeting to completion, with honesty, clear communication and genuine care.”
Kim says Renovation Matters works with trusted local trades and suppliers to ensure high-quality workmanship and timely results.
“Whether it’s updating for safety, improving accessibility or refreshing a much-loved home, the focus is always on creating spaces that improve comfort, confidence and lifestyle,” she says.
“When you choose us, you’re choosing a team that treats your home as if it were our own, with quality, trust and heart at the centre of everything we do.” Kim Persson.
Advice and advocacy for retirement living
The ACT Retirement Village Residents Association (ACT RVRA) will have a booth at the COTA Seniors and Better Ageing Expo, Kingston Old Bus Depot, on Wednesday, September 24.
“The ACT RVRA exists to inform, represent and support residents, as well as prospective residents, of ACT retirement villages,” says secretary, Anne Caine.
“As an organisation, we are focused on all aspects of retirement village living, including transitioning to village and retirement living in a changing world.”
Providing independent information, advice and advocacy for existing and prospective residents, Anne says they work with the ACT government to ensure the regulatory framework for ACT retirement villages is “fit for purpose”.
“We would love to see you at the expo to hear about
your experiences at your retire ment village, and to let you know about our experiences,” she says.
“We are also very inter ested to talk with you if you are considering moving into one of the 41 retirement villages within the ACT.
“We have an up-to-date list of the current villages for you to review if you are looking for a village in your area.
“We will also have some useful information for you to take away with you.”
ACT RVRA at the ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo, at Kingston Old Bus Depot, 21 Wentworth Avenue, 10am to 3pm, Wednesday, September 24. Call 6179 6003 or visit actrvra.org.au
Visit our booth at the Expo to talk to us about your plans to move into a retirement village or your experience living in a village. Also, collect some information that you may find useful when considering entry to a retirement village or addressing issues that arise while you are a resident.
For information about the ACT RVRA see: actrvra.org.au
CELEBRATING SENIORS advertising
Program helps reduce need for hip replacements
Osteoporosis is a serious skeletal disease where bones can leave density, becoming fragile, with some people requiring joint replacements.
Holding two educational sessions and 12 super vised exercise classes over a six-week period, Arthritis ACT’s GLA:D program is designed to reduce the need for a hip replacement or to reduce the symptoms of hip and/or knee osteoporosis, which is prevalent in those aged over 65.
Initially introduced in Denmark based on research for people with osteoarthritis, GLA:D collects research data from participants to improve access to care.
“This program is a conservative management of osteoporosis that can be used as both a prevention and prehabilitation method of exercise to reduce pain and increase mobility,” says Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey.
Targeting joint stability, muscle strength and confi dence with movement, Rebecca says the program also offers helpful tips, tricks and education from their physios who run the sessions.
“These exercises could stave off a hip replacement, which is a very big deal,” she says.
Arthritis ACT has also recently welcomed a new hydrotherapy pool in Tuggeranong that Rebecca says will immensely benefit the community by expanding their services to the southside of Canberra.
“The health benefits of hydrotherapy aren’t just limited to what the pool can offer,” she says.
“Many people attending any of our classes have become close friends and bond over shared experiences.”
Street, Canberra City. Call 0404 857242, or visit davidlukeplanning.com.au
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• Centrelink advice and implementation.
• Is a redundancy right for you at this time?
Allara
Director David Luke.
Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey.
Our team of physiotherapists can support you with:
• GLA:D® Program for hip and knee osteoarthritis
• Education on self-management and joint health
• Supervised group sessions to build strength and confidence
• Pain management and strategies to reduce medication use
• Tailored support to prepare for or avoid joint replacement surgery
• Ongoing care with our exercise physiologists and exercise scientists
Our physiotherapists work closely with our exercise physiologists and excercise scientists so if you need hydrotherapy or other exercise supports, you can keep your care all in the hands of one practice.
Jacqui Couldrick – Physiotherapist
Jacqui Couldrick is a physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience in sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions, including work with the Australian Defence Force. She has a PhD on exercise therapy for knee osteoarthritis and delivers programs such as GLA:D® and PEAK at Arthritis ACT. Jacqui is passionate about nonsurgical, evidence-based interventions and teaches the GLA:D® course nationally.
Emil Terbio - Physiotherapist
Emil has come to Arthritis ACT highly recommended by clients he has worked with previously.
With experience in the hospital system and private practice, Emil has interests in neurology, chronic pain and sports injury management and prevention. Emil is soccer fan and assists local clubs in his spare time on weekends.
CELEBRATING SENIORS
The health professionals keeping you on top of diabetes
The effects of diabetes on adults over the age of 65 can differ vastly from younger people due to physiological, psychological and social changes associated with ageing, says credentialed diabetes educator at the Diabetes Australia Telehealth Clinic, Karen Jameson.
“Your GP is the best source of information for medical advice,” she says.
“They understand your situation and can help prioritise personal medical needs, they can also help you navigate the pathways and refer you to trustworthy health care providers.”
The risk of diabetes increases with age, but Karen says risk factors can be understood and tested through online surveys and blood tests.
Recently launching their new preventative health service, 1800PREVENT, which helps people take proactive steps to improve health, Karen says Diabetes Australia has a range of information and services that support people living with diabetes, as well as their families and carers.
Treatment goals should be tailored to personal needs to ensure quality of life is maintained, says Karen.
“You can do this by working with a diabetes care team to ensure your blood glucose levels are right to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia or impair quality of life.
“I recommend regular check-ups every three to six months, including annual review with other health professionals to prevent complications.
Diabetes Australia at the ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo, Kingston Old Bus Depot, 21 Wentworth Avenue, 10am to 3pm, Wednesday, September 24. Call 1800 177055 or visit diabetesaustralia.com.au
Recently going through a restructure and new refurbishments, Villaggio Sant’ Antonia’s interim independent living villa (ILV) operations manager, Michael Giugni, says their aged-care services and accommodation continues to keep residents at the forefront of their actions.
“Our priority is always on our residents, whether they are in our residential aged-care facility or in our retirement-living homes,” he says.
To keep their community feeling like “home”, many of the places within the village have been renamed after Italian streets and cities.
“We’ve also expanded our lifestyle team and are on the lookout for volunteers,” says Michael.
From assisting with group activities, playing Scrabble or even working with transport, Michael says the volunteers are doing so much more than setting up
Living with type 2 diabetes or pre‑diabetes?
We’re here to support you. Diabetes Australia has a range of programs and services to help you stay well and healthy.
From telehealth consultations to exercise and nutrition programs, to joining our free Diabetes YOUnited membership program and education sessions, Diabetes Australia is there for you.
Discover how we can support you today.
Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider for primary care and before making any health-related decisions.
an activity or two.
Another shake up to their system is the recent introduction of in-house cooking, which Michael says will assist in the flexibility required to adjust to what residents need and want in their meals.
“We’ve also restructured our board to ensure we have a strong skill mix that caters to the needs of the community,” he says.
“Ultimately, it’s all about giving our residents more choice, flexibility and freedom.
“We want them to be able to decide how they live and will find a way to help them achieve whatever it is that they are after.”
Our facilities will enable you to enjoy a relaxed and caring community environment with 24hr care. Located within a beautiful garden setting in Page, Villaggio Sant’ Antonio offers safe and secure living in both our Aged Care Facility and our Independent Living Retirement Villas. For all enquires please contact us on 62551794 or reception@villaggio.com.au www.villaggio.com.au
Credentialed diabetes educator at the Diabetes Australia Telehealth Clinic, Karen Jameson.
Dale’s dance classes are good for all ages
From a waltz to a samba, Dale’s Ballroom Dancing has been offering dance classes for more than 25 years.
With more than 30 years of experience, Dale Harris says dancing is for everyone.
“Our adult classes are open to anyone and we are happy to adapt to suit the needs of our audience,” she says.
Currently, Dale offers two levels of expertise in her adult classes on Wednesday nights.
puzzle at the table or taking the dog for a walk,” she says.
“It keeps your brain and body active while you think about the steps and move.
Moving to the Weston Neighbourhood Hall to host her adult beginner classes, Dale offers seven-week courses, although she says it’s also okay to “just turn up”.
Dale’s next seven-week course starts on September
independence and activities
Adria Care combines access to important facilities with a feel of privacy, making it the perfect place for retirement, says village spokesperson Malia Taione.
“There’s close access to Cooleman Court and Woden Westfield, but we are surrounded by reserves and parklands making it a very peaceful atmosphere for residents,” says Malia.
Located in the heart of Weston Creek, Adria Care, which has two dedicated respite rooms and a special care unit, offers residential care for 42 residents. The village also contains 36 independent living units.
It offers residents a wide range of things to do, and that they can get involved as little or as much as they’d like.
Professional, fun tuition in Ballroom Dancing
• PRIVATE DANCING LESSONS
– Individuals or Groups
– Perfect for Wedding Parties BY APPOINTMENT
• KIDS MEDAL CLASSES
Thursdays from 5pm at the Pearce Community Centre, building 2, Collett Place Pearce.
“We have an active residents’ committee who organise lots of get-togethers. Residents can play cards, go to morning teas and happy hours, enjoy exercise, and much more,” says Malia.
Established in 1994 by volunteers of the Croatian community of Canberra and Queanbeyan, the village is home to a multicultural group of people.
“We have residents [from] Australia, Croatia, China, France, Macedonia, Hungary and more,” says Malia.
“There are great residents and great staff committed to the best outcomes for the community.”
Adria Care, 89 Fremantle Drive, Stirling. Call 6288 0198, or visit adria.org.au
INDIVIDUAL LIVING VILLAS & RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE ROOMS AVAILABLE
Set amongst beautiful grounds, Adria Care in Stirling is a warm and welcoming community. Cultural diversity is celebrated providing care for Croatian and all other nationalities. We offer a range of activities to cater for all cultures and interests.
Fostering individuality and independence, we offer care and support for residents to live comfortably and securely.
Adria Care offers:
• 42 residential care single rooms with ensuite
• 2 respite single rooms with special care with ensuite
• 36 independent two bedroom villas including courtyard & garden
Come & enjoy a peaceful and welcoming home-like atmosphere!
The Horticultural Society’s upcoming spring bulb and camellia show is always worth a visit to see the different varieties of camellias that grow well in our region.
The society will also have displays and sales of plants, flowers and anything garden related.
There will also be special bulbs on display, you might be surprised at how many daffodils are available to grow.
There’ll be many Canberra
gardeners with a lot of knowledge there, so always be someone nearby to answer gardeners’ questions.
It’s at Fitzroy Pavilion, Exhibition Park, September 20-21. Entry $5, members free. More at hsoc.org.au
NOW’S the best time to divide and propagate cranesbill geraniums, a long-flowering, low-growing groundcover.
Its flowers range from pinks, purples and whites from late summer to autumn.
They’re a hard-working perennial that can fill a tricky spot in the sun or in the gravel garden and a nectar for the pollinators. They soften hard surfaces and can gracefully spill over a wall.
Most cranesbill have a pungency when their leaves are crushed,
which is a terrific deterrent for rabbits, rats or mice.
They can take a little bit to get going, but once established they form a low-growing, carefree groundcover that keeps the weeds away. They are a hard-working perennial that can fill a tricky spot in the sun or in the gravel garden and a nectar for the pollinators.
From the annual prune, use the clippings to make more plants. Remove the lower leaves from the clippings, dip them into honey and place them into a propagation mix of 50 per cent compost and 50 per cent sand.
Use a dibble stick to make a good hole and drop the sprig into the hole, press potting media down and water with a seaweed solution and place in the shade.
WITH the weather warming, ponds will need an annual clean out of winter debris, algae and a refresh of plants in the water.
An imbalance of nutrients can start an algae bloom, which can be hard to rid the pond of. There are additives that can be used, or a complete drain might be required.
Always keep ponds clean and clear of leaves so the fish can
breathe better and the water will stay clear. A trickle of movement in the water helps keep mosquitoes at bay.
Ponds can take a little maintenance but adding one to the garden encourages different insects and wildlife to the garden.
WITH more warmth in the soil, direct sowing of beetroot, carrots, lettuce, peas can be done. Lightly cover with shade cloth overnight to keep bugs at bay, but remove when growth is strong.
Once seeds have emerged, don’t let them dry out and feed with a weak solution of Seasol.
jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
Jottings…
• Feed the garden with flower- ing food a few weeks before harvest.
• Remove old fruit from citrus to encourage flowering and fruiting.
• Prune camellias that have finished flowering.
• Liquid feed the whole garden every fortnight.
Cranesbill geraniums… long-flowering, low-growing ground cover with many uses.
Photos: Jackie Warburton
Ponds need an annual clean out of winter debris, algae and a refresh of plants in the water.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Nigel goes to water in ‘play of spoken-word songs’
By Helen MUSA
With a gestation period of almost six years, Nigel Featherstone’s first full-length play, The Story of The Oars is bound to have been worth the wait.
Developed through the Street Theatre’s dramaturgical program and directed by Shelly Higgs, it will be performed by Craig Alexander, Louise Bennet, Sally Marett and Callum Doherty.
It’s a 90-minute “play with spoken-word songs”, but most definitely not a musical, as I find when I catch up with Featherstone and the composer, Jay Cameron.
Briefly, the play, divided into two parts, is set somewhere on the east of Australia during a summer in the mid-1980s, when four teenagers drown on a mysterious body of water that comes and goes.
Sounds familiar? Well maybe, but the lake is never named.
“I drive by that place,” Featherstone says of Lake George. “It’s not about that place, but it is about a body of water that comes and goes.”
In the second half, 30 years later, with the lake now dry, four strangers gather to com -
memorate the tragedy – and truths emerge.
Featherstone, the 2022 Canberra CityNews Artist of the Year, is notable for his exceeding modesty. For his 2018 foray into musical theatre, The Weight of Light, about an Australian soldier’s return from
Afghanistan, he consulted the eminent poet Melinda Smith to help him ensure that the language was poetic enough to match the music by James Humberstone.
But he is not without a musical background, so at around the time of covid, he
had a go at writing a full score.
“I ended up writing the whole thing,” he says, “but then Caroline [Stacey, the director of the Street Theatre] said it was a good start, but that I needed to get a music director and that’s when they went to Jay.”
Besides, he was fearful that it was heading towards musical theatre, a different art form altogether.
“I said, ‘no, it’s a narrative base with poetic language and music,’ but then I attended a workshop with the New York composer David Sisco, who showed me it would be possible to do something with more subtle emotions, and when Jay came on board, he took it in a different direction.”
Cameron looks like an inspired choice. A Scot with a masters in composition from the University of Edinburgh, he met his Australian wife, Kim there and headed south.
They first set foot in Canberra, where he worked as a piano tuner and salesman while composing music for Lakespeare and for Peter Wilkins’ play, The Deadly Game of Marbles, before the pair eventually settled in Perth.
Unusually, Cameron now combines his musical career with a day job meeting bereaved families and organising memorials at the Pinaroo Memorial Park, a cemetery that integrates burial plots with nature.
He was told Featherstone had written both words and music, but that a decision had been made to redo the music, so he
embarked on his own version after a few meetings with director Higgs and before a live development period at The Street.
“But just two days out from the end of our development process, almost the entire score was put to one side,” he says.
“I said, this isn’t working, so I came up with an idea to open the piano up and explore all the crazy sounds the instrument can make. I pulled it apart and started to recreate the world of Nigel‘s piece by working from the inside.
“When the inspiration came to me to look inside the piano, the music became quite ‘out there’, definitely matching the play.”
That involved scraping the strings, hitting the boards and in short, using the piano as a percussion and a stringed instrument to create the very distinctive sounds of the completed work.
“Of course, when I’m playing I’m using it as a keyboard, too,” he says, “I’m pretty excited to be going back on stage into a live environment.”
Featherstone won’t tell us too much more about his play, except that “there’s a mystery element but also a political element as well… I ask the question as to whether Australians are good at telling the truth.”
“I’ve put all the bad stuff in the boat,” he says.
The Story of The Oars, The Street Theatre, September 19-21.
Jay Cameron, left, and Nigel Featherstone at rehearsal for The Story of The Oars.
Photo: Nathan Smith
STREAMING In the tight grip of a couple of gritty crime thrillers
The creator of Binge’s streaming hit Mare of Easttown has released his newest show on Max this month.
Called Task, this follow up is a gritty crime thriller that features Mark Ruffalo in the lead role.
Ruffalo plays Tom, a widowed FBI agent in Philadelphia whose loneliness feeds an addiction to work that involves obsessively chasing elusive crooks.
The seven-episode series follows his hunt for a seemingly unassuming garbage man (played by Tom Pelphrey) who’s secretly working a second job as the leader of a gang that carries out violent robberies.
Tom soon learns though this culprit is far more clever and cunning than the many he’s caught before. The show’s intriguing tagline teases the thrilling cat-and-mouse game that ensues: “every force has its equal”.
Like Mare of Easttown, Task has a fascination with its setting of Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania city’s crime-plagued streets once again form the setting for the drama that unfolds.
It’s also a mini-series meaning the story is set to wrap within the one story arc. It’s always refreshing to see a crime drama that has a conclusion locked in to catapult its audience towards. There are just too many to keep up with these days and so not wasting the viewer’s time is essential.
Most of all it’s Ruffalo that seals the deal on this one.
Like Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown, a gripping lead performance to make the character at the centre of this story pop is what’s needed and Ruffalo absolutely delivers it.
The show may be named Task, but watching this one is anything but.
STAYING on the theme of gritty thrillers, Netflix has got its own glossy miniseries set to compete with Max’s.
Less criminal but more political this one is called Hostage and it’s a British import that’s already doing numbers on the platform.
Hostage follows a fictional prime minister named Abigail Dalton whose leadership is
thrown into disarray when her husband is kidnapped.
Those who have taken him from her have one simple ransom request: the PM must resign or her husband will die.
Yes, all that is admittedly a little contrived, but that doesn’t stop the ultimatum from making for some cracking TV.
Things get even more tense when the French president becomes caught in a blackmail scandal, forcing both leaders to work together to untangle a globe-spanning plot that threatens their countries.
Don’t expect any groundbreaking geopolitical commentary here. Hostage is a thrilling yarn first and a political observation piece second but that doesn’t make it any less worth watching.
It’s Suranne
Jones who takes on the lead role here with a performance that’s hard to look away from.
Some may recognise Jones from the 2015 psychological thriller series Doctor Foster (on Stan), in which she played a wife who uncovers disturbing revelations about her husband while investigating what she suspects to be an extramarital affair.
In Hostage though, Jones might just have topped it, maybe even delivering her best performance to date.
Where better to do it than in a tensionfuelled 10 Downing Street?
IT’S a rare film that fits into the so-bad-it’good category, but a new adaptation of War
of the Worlds streaming on Amazon Prime Video has catapulted itself in the hall of fame for absolute flops.
I couldn’t resist mentioning this one after scenes went rabidly viral on the internet through just how amusingly bad they were.
The famous sci-fi story about an alien invasion is based on the 1898 book by HG Wells but this new take on the story features none other than US rapper Ice Cube in the lead role.
He plays a security analyst who’s able to tap into a surveillance program that can monitor anyone on Earth. When aliens invade, he not only has to find out what their motive is, but also must help his teenage kids get to safety.
That essentially means the whole story is told from behind a computer screen. It’s like the creators were going for War of the Worlds in the Zoom age but the idea is just so poorly executed that it transcends bad to become hilarious.
That’s not to mention an eye-watering amount of Amazon product placement that is so blatant it borders on parody. Conveniently the same company that owns the platform it streams on.
I can’t say much, except that it has to be seen to be believed. This is a film so bad it’s truly out of this world.
Mark Ruffalo as Tom, a widowed FBI agent in Task. Suranne Jones as PM Abigail Dalton in Hostage.
Bold tastes in combining cuisines
When Mexican and Spanish cuisines combine, the result can be exciting, including at breakfast.
If the idea intrigues, head to Illuka, Narrabun dah shops. Sure the all-day menu features usual suspects, such as bacon and egg roll ($12), and a “benny egg” ($24), but bold flavours also feature in some dishes.
With spice in mind, I opted for the smoked chorizo tostadas ($24.50), which hit the spot.
Thick slices of perfectly pan-fried chorizo served with cubes of cooked potato and a wedge of creamy avo.
The dish didn’t stop there, however. Two perfectly cooked poached eggs (not too runny, not too hard, which is how I love them) were served on top of crispy tortilla and accompanied by a substantial drizzle of punchy rosa salsa. I squirted fresh lime on top before digging in.
Another flavoursome dish is Mexican-style eggs ($25) with slow-cooked pulled beef.
My friend, a massive mushroom lover, selected the mushroom medley ($23). The mushrooms were beautifully sauteed, the garlic butter not too strong, and the poached egg once again perfectly cooked. For some vitamins, a good serve of broccolini was presented on the side.
Those with a sweet tooth might consider the brûlée French toast ($22) with a cinnamon and vanilla-soaked brioche that sounds wonderful.
This brekkie dish features fresh fruits, brûlée and all-berries compote.
Lunch-type menus served all day include a health halloumi and broccolini salad ($20) with organic brown rice, tomato, edamame beans, beetroot and baby spinach. Also, a grilled sweet potato salad ($20), a couple of burgers and a curry of the day ($25).
Both dishes were artfully presented on large,
crisp white plates.
Illuka has protected the expensive fit-out installed by a previous restaurant, and this was a wise decision. The interior design is calm, cool, collected and classy, with wooden features comforting.
Breakfast/lunch is available seven days a week and dinner Wednesday to Saturday. We’ll be back to give dinner a go, including for the recommendation of a friend I encountered, who was in hospitality for years. She puts her hand on her heart and reports that the gnocchi at Illuka is one of the best she’s ever had.
We got off to a slow start, waiting some time before our coffee order was taken, but it was service-with-a-smile and a welcoming approach. The full range of coffees is on the menu, as are specialty teas, fresh juices ($11.50 each) and smoothies (also $11.50).
The location has been home to various restaurants and cafés over the years… those who live in Narrabundah are lucky to have such an inviting local.
WINE / Rutherglen in the City
Tasting beyond the madding crowd
By Richard CALVER
In the morning, misanthropy ruled my day: I crossed Canberra Avenue near the Manuka shops at the pedestrian lights when the lead car slammed on its brakes to stop in sync with the red light.
As I crossed on the green “go”, I turned my head towards the fellow who had come to a sudden halt and, surprisingly, he shook his fist at me in anger.
I stood there and pointed at the lights and mouthed: “It’s a bloody pedestrian crossing!” I received a vulgar gesticulation in return.
The afternoon was hopefully to be a respite from the Jean-Paul Sartre “Hell is Other People” world of curmudgeonly behaviour.
I was attending the Rutherglen in the City event where the mountain had come to Mohammed: 14 wineries from northeast Victoria showcased their wines in the members’ dining room of Old Parliament House and, for a nudge over $50 a head, we were able to taste a full array of wines from the Rutherglen region.
Mate Tom and I attended the afternoon session from 2.30pm to 5.30pm along with 428 other people
It was a crowd and a crowd intent on getting their share of the wines on taste. I’m not sure what level of hell this particular foray represented
with people five deep pushing for their share of the goodies, but I believe that I’m becoming a social vegan: I’ll try to avoid meet in the future. I initially felt like a mate who, after a blonde he married turned into a brunette, sued for bleach of promise.
But as always, with some excellent wine under the belt, love of humanity inched back into the picture. This was particularly the case after interacting with Andrew Sutherland Smith, the winemaker for Warrabilla, a warm and knowledgeable bloke.
The surprise from this house of big reds was a fiano. The 2025 Small Batch Fiano was not a fruit salad bomb like some of this varietal, but more nuanced with light stone fruit characteristics and a clean finish that surprised me because some
fianos I’ve tasted fade at the back.
The Smithy’s Blend 11 was on taste, offering up the winemaker’s skills for excellent value for money, with durif and shiraz dominating a bold 15.5 per cent alcohol by volume wine. That’s on the list for future purchase.
Old favourite Anderson’s were present with my preference of their offering on the day being the 2021 Petit Verdot. This varietal is often blended with other wines as it is thick skinned and can be heavily tannic.
The Anderson wine is rich and mouth filling with dark fruit in the finish and a touch of spice. It would go very well with a venison stew.
One of the most interesting wines from the afternoon was from John Gehrig wines. It was a 2018 Riesling produced from grapes grown not in Rutherglen but from the cooler King Valley.
It had a great vivid yellow colour and the bouquet had a hint of petroleum that you get with some aged rieslings.
On taste it was complex and the hint of petrol was enhancing rather than detracting. The younger riesling, 2022, was fresh and light and the comparison showed how age can really deepen the complexity of riesling.
There were a number of wineries offering fortifieds, a style of wine that exemplifies the Rutherglen experience.
I particularly liked the Old Vine Muscat from Chambers and I bought a bottle for $30.
This wine is classic Rutherglen with a luscious raisin-infused palate and a nose redolent of raisins and rose petals. I’m looking forward to having this with a rich chocolate mousse that I may even share with others… well, maybe.
cooked potato with two poached eggs.
Old Vine Muscat from Chambers... classic Rutherglen with a luscious raisin-infused palate and a nose redolent of raisins and rose petals.
The Weir and wonderful world of Tudor history
Alison Weir is the biggestselling female historian in the UK since records began in 1997.
She has published 32 titles and sold more than three million books worldwide. Her historical novels bring into focus the lives of England’s Queens, particularly from the Tudor period, including the Tudor Rose Trilogy and her critically acclaimed Six Tudor Queens series about the wives of Henry VIII.
Her latest historical novel, The Cardinal. The Secret Life of Thomas Wolsey, (Headline) explores the extraordinary rise and fall of Wolsey.
Weir says in her author’s note that her aim is “to show Wolsey as a statesman with an international, or European vision, and a player and peacebroker on a world stage”, while at the same time revealing his hidden private life.
Although Weir keeps close to the contemporary sources in her portrayal of Wolsey, particularly George Cavendish’s The Life of the Cardinal (1641), she has had to imaginatively reconstruct the story of Joan Larke, Wolsey’s mistress from 1509-1520, a woman who was hidden away to avoid scandal.
Weir’s story begins in 1482 with an 11-year-old Tom Wolsey, the intelligent, gifted son of a Suffolk tradesman, at school in Oxford, becoming a fellow at Magdalen College before being ordained and appointed as chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
while he hunts and plans indulgent pursuits. They form a close bond with Weir suggesting Wolsey “regarded this golden young man as a son”.
Once the Pope makes Wolsey a cardinal, his power is confirmed in both church and state.
At the same time, he has installed Joan Larke as his mistress and while his public life is extravagant and ostentatious, his other secret life is as important until he has to choose between the two.
His diligence and organisational skills bring him to the attention of Henry VII. He becomes the King’s Chaplain and Almoner. It’s the beginning of his rise to power. However, it’s when Henry VIII becomes King in 1491 that, through a series of promotions, Wolsey becomes the most powerful man in England. Henry realises he can leave matters of state to Wolsey,
Weir argues that when Wolsey arranged an advantageous marriage for the king’s mistress Elizabeth Blount, the mother of Henry’s bastard son, a furious Henry, orders Wolsey to give up Joan.
Wolsey had made many enemies during his time at court, in particular Anne Boleyn and her family. It will be the King’s Great Matter and pressure from Anne Boleyn that bring about his downfall.
The Cardinal is not the equal of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, nor has Weir the
elegance of her prose but she does bring the world of the past to life with skilful story telling.
THREE centuries later in 1788, on the other side of the world, in the new colony of New South Wales, another powerful man takes a mistress and Sue Williams tells their story in her latest novel, The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress (Allen & Unwin).
Williams is a journalist and travel writer and, until 2021, she wrote mainly nonfiction. However, her first two historical novels, Elizabeth and Elizabeth (2021) and The Bligh Girl (2023) were best sellers.
Her third novel is a prequel to her series on the early days of colonial Australia. Her aim, in all three novels is “to give a voice to some of the most fascinating characters, usually women, who have been the most unheard until now”.
Philip Gidley King, who sailed on the First Fleet, second lieutenant on the Sirius, was chosen by Arthur Philip to establish a second penal colony on Norfolk Island, describing him as “an officer of merit… whose perseverance may be depended upon”.
As commandant of the colony, he was allowed to choose a housekeeper from the female convicts and he chose Ann Innett.
ARTS IN THE CITY
Ann has been transported to Botany Bay for seven years for theft. Forced to abandon her two small children, she survives the sea journey but is reluctant to become King’s housekeeper knowing all that it implies. But King is kind and eventually she bears him two sons.
However, when Phillip sends King back to England in 1790 to report on the problems facing the new settlement, he returns with a wife. Ann is devastated.
Apart from the harrowing descriptions of conditions on the female convict ship, this is a rather sanitised version of life in the early colony. However, Williams, like Weir, does bring into focus two women overshadowed in history by powerful men.
A burst of ‘delicious nonsense’
By Helen MUSA
“A delicious piece of nonsense” is how Free Rain Theatre describes its spring production, Lend Me a Tenor, coming in a production by Cate Clelland at ACT Hub, Kingston, September 17-27. In the play, by Ken Ludwig, a provincial opera company has secured a world-famous tenor to sing the starring role in Pagliacci for one evening. What could possibly go wrong?
The feathers, they promise, will fly as Brisbane physical theatre company Circa present Duckpond presents its take on Swan Lake, complete with a sequinned flipperwearing duck army and a burlesque black swan. The Playhouse, September 18-20.
The Bendigo Bank Braidwood and Bungendore have chipped in $590,000 to make sure Stage 1 of the Braidwood Heritage Centre is completed, joining QueanbeyanPalerang Regional Council, which has already donated $188,945 to cover the development application fees and section 64 contributions for the project.
It’s the second week of the Festival of New Works at The Courtyard Studio, September 19-21. First up is
I Watched Someone Die on TikTok, a 60-minute live dissection of what happens when we’re not able to be left to our own devices. That’s followed by Takatāpui, in which Māori “anti-disciplinary artist” Daley Rangi dons a killer pair of heels and takes to the mic to grapple with the complexities of identity with levity, asking how microaggressions turn macro.
Senior policy-maker Greg Smith will speak on The Australian State in the 21st Century, asking whether it is “match fit” to meet the likely challenges of the 21st century. Manning Clark House, Tasmania Circle, Forrest, September 18.
The woodwinds group from the Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon will showcase all the RMC Band’s woodwind ensembles performing a variety of contemporary and classical works. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, September 17.
Artist Elliott Fox’s exhibition of sculptures, paintings and prints, Saint Grey, pays tribute to the world’s second fastest land mammal, the greyhound, asking how the animal’s sensitivity has made it susceptible to exploitation and abuse, especially by the racing industry. The Q Gallery, Ainslie shops, September 12-25.
Author Alison Weir… published 32 titles and sold more than three million books worldwide.
The Cardinal. The Secret Life of Thomas Wolsey.
Lend Me a Tenor… ACT Hub, Kingston, September 17-27.
HOROSCOPE PUZZLES
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Tuesday is the best day of the week, as the Venus/Mars link boosts romance, flirting, friendship and creativity. Then Wednesday through to Sunday looks tricky, as Saturn puts stress on a work relationship or Neptune confuses a personal partnership. Life will be easier if you communicate clearly and accept personal responsibilities with a smile. Your motto is from movie star (and birthday great) Sophia Loren: “Always be surrounded by people that you like.”
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Are you stuck in a rut? Uranus shakes up your comfort zone… which could make you feel confused and uncomfortable! Try to view any upset constructively, as it forces you to view a current situation from a totally different perspective. And you may find a financial matter or a domestic project requires much more planning than you originally thought. That’s okay. Concentrate on enjoying the long and winding journey, rather than just focusing on the destination.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
From Monday to Thursday, you could feel doubtful or disappointed as Saturn and Neptune dull motivation and confuse communication. Then your confidence starts to return, as Friday’s Mercury/Uranus and Mercury/Pluto trines boost innovative thinking and creative ideas. Personal projects, holidays and friendships are also highlighted. Your motto comes from movie icon (and birthday great) Lauren Bacall: “Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.”
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
It’s going to be a confusing week so try to keep your Crab cool. Avoid spreading unsubstantiated gossip and blurting out things that you’ll later regret. Take the time to check the facts thoroughly. The more discreet and diplomatic you are, the better the week will be, but it’s definitely a delicate balancing act. If you are too obliging and say ‘yes’ to everyone and everything, then you’ll be overwhelmed and find you’ve bitten off more than you can comfortably chew!
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
The week leads up to the Sun/Saturn square on Sunday, so motivation will be low and impatience high. And the more you try to assert your authority and independence, the more stressful and frustrating things will be. Just remember –you can’t be the boss all of the time. Calm down and recalibrate, Lions! If you are more consultative, then the week will run more smoothly. Tuesday is the best day to catch up with like-minded folk in your local community.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Friday looks lively, as the Mercury/Uranus/Pluto links propel you into an exciting new world of possibilities. You’re pursuing a challenging personal project with extra creativity, passion and purpose, but a partnership or friendship requires more clarity. Avoiding complex issues won’t make them magically disappear, so it’s important to communicate your intentions clearly. Especially when it comes to a romantic relationship or a joint venture.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
The overall message is patience, as the Sun and Venus visit your solitude zone. Rest, relaxation, reflection and rejuvenation are just what the doctor ordered. If you look to the future with a positive attitude, then fabulous opportunities will manifest – eventually. With Mars and Mercury in your sign, you must stand up for what you believe in. Be inspired by actress Jada Pinkett Smith (who turns 54 on Thursday): “Don’t allow anyone to dictate who you are.”
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
With Mars hibernating in your seclusion zone, do you feel as if you’re going nowhere? The stars are testing your stamina and patience, so don’t give up. Friday’s Mercury/Pluto trine helps you tap into your bountiful reserves of inner strength as you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and set a new course (especially involving home and family). Your motto is from birthday great, Leonard Cohen: “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Most Archers are adventurous, free-wheeling folk. But life will be a bit more restrictive this week (especially at home and/or work) as disciplined Saturn opposes Mercury and the Sun. So smart Sagittarians will think before they speak, and plan before they act! Tuesday is the most social day of the week, as you visit a friend or catch up with your extended peer group. And then Friday favours innovative joint ventures and local community connections.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Tuesday’s Venus/Mars vibes favour researching a topic that has always fascinated you and socialising with work colleagues. On Wednesday and Thursday, Saturn (your ruling planet) opposes Mercury, and then on Saturday, Saturn opposes the Sun. So you’re in for a challenging time and extra responsibilities, especially involving family, education, travel and/or communication. Clever Capricorns will roll up their sleeves, put their heads down, and get to work.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
This week Saturn puts stress on financial matters, so it’s not a good time to borrow funds, invest, go on a shopping spree or lend money to others. You’re liable to make financial decisions based on your emotions, which are fluctuating wildly. Especially on the weekend, when the Venus/Uranus square boosts your tempestuous side and you do something surprising involving marriage, family or friendships. Whatever happens, expect the unexpected!
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
An unreliable friend or a questionable acquaintance could lead you astray, so keep your realism radar set on high and avoid getting caught up in dubious schemes (especially involving finances). Only accept the advice of people who you know well and can really trust. Venus visits your relationship zone from Friday until October 13. Attached Fish – find special ways to romance your sweetheart. Singles – look for love with a versatile Virgo or a caring Cancer.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore
2025
crossword No. 1029
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Finding the right time to correct tax errors
Ming and Mei Lan discovered a mistake in a business tax return and came to see me, wanting to know how to correct it.
"Recently, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) extended the amendment period for income tax returns for small and medium businesses to four years," I told them.
"The time for making an amendment starts from the day on which the Commissioner gives a notice of assessment to you.
"This four-year period applies to income years that start on or after July 1 2024. To take advantage of the four-year amendment period, you need to be a small or medium business entity.
as? (6) 8 To be rich is to be what? (8)
items
used by gymnasts? (8)
18 Name the seventh major planet in order from the sun. (6)
19 What might we call one who mimics? (8)
Name a town in the Murrumbidge Irrigation Area. (6)
Which term describes dampness? (8)
1 Which drawing symbolises some subject or person? (7)
2 Name a renowned English novelist; Charles ... (7)
3 What first name is sometimes shortened to Chas? (7)
4 Which large sailing vessel was formerly used by Spain? (7)
5 Name the 26th book of the Old Testament. (7)
6 What are breeds of long-haired hunting dogs? (7)
11 Which large two-toed swift-footed flightless bird is the largest of existing birds? (7)
12 Which metallic element is the basis of the atomic bomb? (7)
13 Name a rare green variety of beryl highly valued as a gem. (7)
14 To not be churlishly rude is to be what? (7)
15 What is another term for a corpse? (7)
16 Name the former monetary units of Portugal. (7)
"In order to satisfy this requirement, you must carry on a business during the income year and either the aggregated turnover in the previous year was less than $50 million and/or the aggregated turnover for the current year is likely to be less than $50 million." I said they could amend the return, either online, using an accountant or you by completing a paper form.
"The ATO has said that if you complete the paper form, the amendment will be processed in 20 days," I said.
"It's worth mentioning that the ATO can decline your amendment request if they believe the requested amendment will result in the assessment not correctly reflecting your taxable income.
"There is also no change to the length of time you are required to keep your business records, so that you need to keep the records for five years from the date on which the record was prepared or obtained or from the time the transaction was completed, whichever is the later.”
Mei Lan said that while that was good to know, they needed help understanding how to correct GST, which was also wrong.
I replied that they also had a four year period to amend their GST return from the day after they were required to lodge the GST return for the relevant period.
"If you do not make the amendment within this four-year period, you lose your entitlement to claim input tax credits," I said.
"So timing is absolutely critical. This is an area where the Commissioner has no discretion to extend the time limit except where s/he believes that there is fraud or evasion where no time limit applies.
"There was a recent case where this matter was considered and it was determined that input tax credits cannot be claimed outside the period of four years after their due date. Therefore, it is important that all business activity statements are lodged on time.” For the sake of completeness, I also mentioned to them that individuals had only a period of two years to lodge an amendment. That date starts from the date of the notice of assessment.
"So it is important to know the entity for which you are requesting an amendment.
"And also whether it is for GST or income tax and whether you satisfy the requirements for being a small or medium business to allow you the extended four-year period for an income tax assessment. Like everything else in tax, this is not straightforward,” I said.
Ming said they hadn't realised that different time limits applied to different amendments.
"However, we think it is better that you do these amendments for us than that we try to do them ourselves,” she said.
If you need help with amending your business, personal or superannuation return contact the expert team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 6295 2844. Disclaimer
