MCN, November 2010 Issue by MC News

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NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

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Melbourne City Newspaper

Website: www.mc-news.com.au • Postal Address: PO Box 582, Collins Street West, Vic 8007 • Toll Free: 1300 80 40 33 • E-mail: info@mc-news.com.au

Red Kangaroos from Circus Oz. See page 6

City housing costs too much By Chiara Macfarlane

elfare and citizen housing advocacy groups are calling on the State Government to put housing affordability and homelessness on the political agenda for the State election. Welfare group Mission Australia and housing advo-

cacy group City is Ours say the government must address the causes not just the symptoms of homelessness, and take direct action to find sustainable housing solutions instead of pursuing the current ‘BandAid’ approach. Mission Australia’s research last month paints a disturbing picture of deprivation, inequal-

inside

ity and social exclusion faced by those relying on community agencies for support. The report, released as part of Anti-Poverty Week 2010, shows that more than 40 per cent of people seeking emergency or crisis accommodation are turned away each day because of a lack of available stock and no funding to find al-

Ned Kelly remains an enigma

ternative housing solutions. Mission Australia’s executive director Paul Bird believes Australia has a long way to go before we reach a ‘Fair Australia.’ “At a time when Australia is patting itself on the back for avoiding the worst of the global financial crisis, our research is a wakeup call that poverty is still very real in this country,”

The rise of burlesque

Mr Bird said. Mr Bird believes the common perception of a homeless person as the stereotypical elderly man who sleeps on a park bench is wrong, and needs to be re-examined. “The biggest underlying factor to homelessness is family breakdown,” he said. Mr Bird said 40 per cent of people

New horizons for Australian filmmakers

applying for emergency housing and crisis accommodation were those who had, for various reasons, to leave their own rental property or home.”

Continued page 4

Melbourne Design Awards

CHRISTMAS IS EMPTY WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING Christmas is empty when you can’t afford to buy your family presents. Or even lunch. Please give to the Salvos, so they can give to those who can’t afford a Christmas. For credit card donations go to salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS.

MCN COVER STORY

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

City Is Ours Rally outside Housing Minister Richard Wynne’s office

MCN Melbourne City Newspaper

Editor-in-Chief: Paul McLane Features Editor: Chiara Macfarlane Assistant Editor: Doug Button Journalist: Rebecca Ponsford Editorial Assistant: Kimberly Yu Designer: Matt Hocking Advertising: Shannon R Walker Webmaster: Ryoko Morimore Marketing: Pummi Sooden Photographer: AP Guru Production Manager: Lisa Stathakis Publisher: Paras Australia Pty Ltd Distributors: Ryan Gunn, Fermax

CONTACT Toll free: 1300 80 40 33 Next Issue on: 17 December, 2010 Advertising: shannon@mc-news.com.au Freelance submissions: mail@mc-news.com.au General inquiries/feedback: info@mc-news.com.au

Disclaimer MC NEWS and web MC-NEWS. com.au due care in the preparation of the publication but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes, omissions or misprints. MC NEWS prints advertisements provided to the publisher, but gives no warranty and makes no representation as to the truth or accuracy of any description and accepts no liability for any loss suffered by any person who relies on any statement contained herein. MC NEWS reserves the right to refuse, abbreviate or delete any advertisement at any time. Advertisements are responsible for advertising copy by virtue of the Trades Practices Act and advertisements are published in good faith. All logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Images are for illustrative purposes only.

Photo: Mission Australia

Photo: Virginia McKinnon

Mission Australia executive director Paul Bird

City housing too costly From page 1; “These people present for various reasons,” he said. “Victims of domestic violence obviously create a large part of the demand group, but we have also seen an increase in people who have lost their job to the economic climate and are unable to meet their rental or mortgage payments, requiring emergency accommodation.” The welfare sector divides homelessness into three categories, each specifying the different types of accommodation issues that fall under a ‘homeless’ category. Primary homelessness is where people have nowhere to stay; secondary homelessness is where individuals or families are couch surfing. These people usually have a network of family and friends they can stay with for short periods of time. However, Mr Bird said that after three months or so the goodwill usually started to wear off. Tertiary Homelessness defined those in insecure or inappropriate housing, who were in need of safe and permanent accommodation to enable them to put down roots and focus on employment, training and community engagement. More homeless Melburnians fit into the last two categories as the continued lack of affordable housing, increased mortgage interest rates and high rental rates meant that most families paid more than 30 per cent of their weekly income on housing. According to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria the state has recorded the most significant changes in housing affordability over the past year, with most residents feeling ‘housing stress’ – where the cost of providing housing is causing undue hardship.

The REIV March Housing Affordability Report states that the underlying reason for the worsening affordability in Victoria is a lack of homes to meet the needs of our growing population. The National

“The Government is creating ghettos by building public housing in outer urban areas which have low employment prospects, limited infrastructure and public transport. Inner city accommodation should be available for all – not just the rich.” City is Ours spokesperson, Virginia McKinnon

Housing Supply Council said Victoria had more than 22,700 fewer homes than was required in 2009, and the problem of diminishing affordability was unlikely to change until supply either equals or exceeds demand. Melbourne-based housing advocacy group City is Ours has begun a high profile campaign to highlight the issues, and get a more consultative approach from Housing Minister Richard Wynne. Virginia McKinnon, spokesperson for the City is Ours group said: “We believe access to housing is a basic human right. The fact that there is ongoing research which highlights the ‘housing crisis’ demonstrates the current system is not working.” Formed in May, the group

is a diverse mix of concerned homeowners, renters, local employees and social and housing workers. “We are not just advocating for the homeless, we have the interests of all Melbourne residents in mind,” Ms McKinnon said. “The population in Melbourne is exploding, and the Government has not done enough planning nor created the necessary infrastructure.” The group is asking for a more consultative approach from the Government, which they don’t believe Mr Wynne has provided. The list of demands include expanded investment in public housing, legislation to limit rent increases, increased funding for housing cooperatives, support for green housing, research into sustainable infrastructure improvement and alternative living options (such as housing cooperatives). Ms McKinnon said: “Corporatisation in partnership with government is not the answer. We want to see the Government address the root causes of homelessness rather than providing ‘stop gap’ solution.” Mr Wynne denies the City is Ours claim that he does not consult with key stakeholders. “I consult with every peak body responsible for housing in the state on a regular basis. “From the community housing sector, the co-operative sector, to the Victorian Public Tenant’s Association and the building industry, as Housing Minister I ensure concerns are heard and noted. “Therefore I reject this accusation (of not consulting with the community) completely,” he said. However, the Victorian Council of Social Service believes that although the Government claimed to have de-

livered a record investment of $510 million over four years for homelessness, and had continued to invest in the community housing sector while maintaing a commitment to public housing, it had limited its vision to that type of investment. Mission Australia’s Paul Bird said the emphasis must be on the causes, not the symptoms of homelessness. While he applauds the Government’s recent injection of funds and programs through the A Fairer Victoria and the Victorian Homelessness Strategy, he believes more emphasis should be placed on linkages – where people at risk of homeless are linked in with services to address the causes which bring them to such agencies. “We need more resources to ensure that those who find themselves without housing because they have lost their job are given maximum assistance finding employment, or re-training to gain skills to

enter the workforce.” A workforce strategy for the homeless addressing recruitment and retention issues, service partnerships between homelessness services and mainstream or other human services providers and initiatives are essential. Enhanced access to health systems, particularly mental health, drug and alcohol services and support during this transition should be a priority. “The goal should be to create opportunities for growth and wellbeing – not just placing people into public housing areas – which are often in low income areas without opportunity.” Ms McKinnon agrees. “The Government is creating ghettos by building public housing in outer urban areas which have low employment prospects, limited infrastructure and public transport. Inner city accommodation should be available for all – not just the rich.”

Minister for Housing, Richard Wynne, at the launch of the Richmond community garden

NEWS FEATURE MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

ictims of crime advocate Noel McNamara reckons Ned Kelly got exactly what he deserved. According to Mr McNamara the Australian bushranger, who swung from the gallows of the Old Melbourne Gaol 130 years ago, was no hero and should not be portrayed as such. As a boy Mr McNamara remembers playing with a Ned Kelly toy gun and the esteem with which the murderer was held among his Irish relatives. “He was something of a Robin Hood figure - the Irish loved him - but on the other hand the people descended from the English thought he was a rogue and a villain and got what he deserved,” Mr McNamara said. He said Kelly’s crimes were now ancient history but as an advocate for victims of crime he did not condone killing police. “That’s what he did and that’s why he was hanged,” Mr McNamara said. Forensic investigations to try to identify the remains of Kelly dug up from unmarked graves with other executed prisoners at the old Pentridge prison site continue as commemorations are held to remember his death 130 years ago. Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls said the identification of the remains of Kelly, who was hanged on November 11, 1880 for killing three policemen, was a matter of historical significance for Victoria. He has asked the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

to continue testing for the next six to 12 months. Former Pentridge jail chaplain and Melbourne University Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow Peter Norden said if the remains could be identified they should either be given to Kelly’s descendants or reinterred at Pentridge with other executed prisoners accompanied by a memorial. Although a famous, or infamous Australian, Kelly remains an invisible man in Melbourne with the only acknowledgment of his life to be found at the Old Melbourne Gaol. His body, believed to have been buried in the grounds of the prison in Russell Street then disinterred in 1929 when it was closed and reburied at Pentridge, was dissected with his head removed. It has never been recovered. There have been films, books, songs, a television series - even postage stamps - detailing the life of Kelly, who was just 25 when he met his end at the Old Melbourne Gaol gallows after his capture at Glenrowan. Mick Jagger, Heath Ledger and Yahoo Serious have played Kelly in film roles, Peter Carey won the Booker Prize for his True History of the Kelly Gang while Johnny Cash and Australian songwriter Paul Kelly have put him to music. At the gaol you can buy Ned Kelly dolls complete with his iconic iron mask and bearing arms while a life-size statue of the judge that sentenced him to death - Sir Redmond Barry

- guards the doors of the State Library. On Sir Redmond’s plaque is the sentiment that he was a great man who gave valuable service to Victoria. He died 12 days after sentencing Kelly to death - from the effects of a carbuncle. Mr Norden said Australians should not regard Kelly as a hero because he was a convicted criminal who killed three policeman in a shootout at Stringybark Creek in northeast Victoria. “But there’s no doubt about it - he has some infamy both nationally and internationally and regardless of how he is perceived he has to be acknowledged as a significant Australian figure,” Mr Norden said. He said there was social conflict in Kelly’s era between the Irish and English descendants and Kelly represented a beacon for the unrest in his defiance of British authority. “Given the prominence of Ned Kelly to Australia’s history I do think the government - not make a hero out of him - but acknowledge the fact that he is a significant Australian historical figure. “There should be some place where his remains are recognised.” Mr McNamara dreads the thought that underworld figures like Carl Williams and other characters involved in Melbourne’s gangland war might be elevated to folk hero status 100 years from now. “Everyone likes to have a rogue and that’s why Kelly

Photo: Getty Images

130 years on, Ned Kelly remains an enigma

The Ned Kelly statue at Glenrowan, the location of his final stand.

came to be a hero for a lot of people in Australia,” Mr McNamara said. “But he lost all his rights for what he did and to try to put him up as a hero is ridiculous.” Beechworth-based Ned Kelly historian and author Ian

Jones says Kelly wasn’t a thug but a man who made some tragic mistakes. In a 2007 interview Mr Jones said Kelly got into “terrible trouble, and overall undertook himself with extraordinary courage and dignity”.

“Ned Kelly was a man who should have hanged - it was inevitable that a man who admitted to killing police as he did, very happily and directly, should hang - but the man had amazing qualities,” Mr Jones said. AAP

Sexy Brown parades before soldiers O n the face of it, this was conduct quite unbecoming of a regimental sergeant major, one of the army’s finest. Standing ramrod straight and swagger stick under his arm at the farewell parade for the departure of Mentoring

Task Force 1 from Afghanistan, Warrant Officer Class One Brett Brown sported the curious nametag “Sexy Brown”. Asked to explain, the Defence Department speedily withdrew the picture from its website, suggesting this may have been a practical joke.

But all was revealed in the latest edition of the Army newspaper. A pair of clerks had made up their own nametags - Cpl Excellent and Sgt Outstanding. Inspired by the pair, Regimental Sergeant Major Brown made a bet - if the task force

could get through its final weeks without losing another soldier, he would conduct the farewell parade in his underwear. This came after a difficult period, with the death of six soldiers in just over 10 weeks. As it turned out, the task

force lost no more lives. Cpl Excellent and Sgt Outstanding decided they could not really expect their regimental sergeant major to parade before visiting VIPs in just his undies and came up with another plan. It was with much pride

that the task force RSM paraded before his soldiers and the commander of Combined Team Oruzgan, US colonel Jim Creighton, wearing the AAP nametag Sexy Brown.

MCN NEWS FEATURE

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

hemisphere, with social and cultural benefits for the local community. Mike Finch, Circus Oz’s artistic director, said that while the company desperately needed the extra space the new site provides to rehearse and simulate the conditions of a circus ‘Big Top,’ the members are most excited about plans to create a circus hub which encourage community interaction.

Photo: Rob Blackburn

he Grand Daddy of the Australian circus and physical theatre industry, Circus Oz, has a new home. Funding from the Victorian Government has financed the development of the architectural plans and designs for the group’s new home on the site

of the former TAFE complex in Johnston Street, Collingwood. A recent injection of $10 million has enabled Stage Two of the development to begin, with the goal to complete the project by 2012. Circus Oz has become Victoria’s internationally acclaimed larrikin circus company. The group plan to develop the site into the most exciting circus arts centre in the southern

Look Ma! No hands!

“The vision for our new home incorporates the idea of using circus skills to enliven the local area, and provide a creative and engaging space where local residents can become involved in the circus community,” Mr Finch said. Circus Oz relies on the financial input that the existing circus classes provide to enable it to create innovative and unique performances. “While we already conduct a range of classes for children, adults and corporate teams, the new building will incorporate an outdoor Circus piazza, with a courtyard Spiegeltent that will provide a space for us to host a range of public events for the local community,” Mr Finch said. This interaction with the community would extend to youth of the area who need a ‘leg up.’ “We really want to provide local community members who are disadvantaged, underprivileged, indigenous or experiencing dysfunction or emotional difficulties with a creative space to direct their energies” he said. The proximity of the circus’ new home to the Collingwood public housing estates would provide residents with a place where they had increased access to cultural and creative pursuits. Mr Finch claimed that Ted Baillieu, the Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, and Shadow Minister for the Arts was a driving force behind the move. “Baillieu and Richard Wynne, Labor member for

Circus Oz’s high flying duo Rowan and Paul

Richmond and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Aboriginal Affairs, were incredible champions of the project. They were keen to assist a project which will enhance the synergy of the community and improve cultural access.” Mr Finch believed the abundance of artistic and creative organisations in the area and the way Collingwood embraces this culture would ensure Circus Oz’s move to their new home was the beginning of a new era of creative innovation for the group.

Photo: Rob Blackburn

By Chiara Macfarlane

Photo: Rob Blackburn

Circus Oz Flying High

Rola Bola act, Mason West and Bec Matthews

Film industry boost in city A vibrant film and television hub in the CBD By Chiara Macfarlane

he Victorian Government has demonstrated a renewed commitment to the Victorian film and television industry by investing $10 million into the Docklands Studios Melbourne. As part of the long term Future Directions Master Plan Project for the Docklands, the funding will provide the studios with new infrastructure and modifications to the existing facility to boost domestic production levels, and attract major domestic and international film projects. The investment has prompted the rebranding of the Melbourne City Studios, which will now be called Docklands Studios Melbourne, a name that has been used within the industry for some time. The rebranding is part of the new vision for the studio. Chief executive officer of Docklands Studios Melbourne, Rod Allen, said

the Government’s commitment to the studio, along with the ongoing development of the Docklands area had prompted the organisation to embark on its rebranding campaign. “It seemed like the right time to formally adopt a name which has been commonly used within the industry for some time. Docklands Studio is easy to remember and emphasises our unique and highly attractive location,” he said. “The entire Docklands district has become reenergised, and is a vibrant part of Melbourne.” Mr Allen believed Melbourne’s unique character was an asset to the film industry. ”Melbourne and Victoria have such a diverse range of locations and architectural influences that international production companies can film an outdoor scene in Melbourne which looks like it’s set in Boston.”

In addition, he believed the strong talent pool of film cast and crew in Melbourne, as well as the city’s excellent post production facilities, showed Melbourne as a very ‘film friendly’ city. “The film industry is well serviced by Film Victoria,” Mr Allen said. “It provides excellent services for facilitating film production.” He said that while the Docklands Studios supported OZ Film who were lobbying the Federal Government to improve incentives for overseas companies to consider filming in Australia, the domestic film industry needed to be recognised and supported as it was the bedrock of the Victorian film and TV industry. “Many of the improvements at the Docklands Studios will ensure the Studios provide enhanced capacity for fast turnaround television production,” he said. “By making sound

The new home of the Victorian film industry

stage 5 more user friendly, we can have more than one client using the stage in any given week.” The changes would also enhance the studios’ ability to cater to the needs of live television and audience participation for shows such as The Footy Show or Hey Hey, It’s Saturday. The Nine Network’s decision to move its production to the Docklands facility demonstrated the industry’s confidence in the upgrades and future of the studio.

‘When the upgrades to Sound Stage 5 are complete, Nine will move to Stage 5 for live audience and live-to-air productions,” Nine Network CEO David Gyngell said. Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said: “Victoria’s screen industry has been revitalised over the past 10 years, with production activity of $172 million, and directly created 5164 full-time equivalent jobs.” Mr Allen said the Docklands Studios were an economic asset for Melbourne, with the injection of money into the

Victorian economy from film productions filtering right through the community. “From the businesses that supply timber for sets, to the hospitality industry employees, Victoria benefits from a productive film and television industry.” “The revitalised Docklands Studios are a first step in realising an even more vibrant Victorian screen industry.” http://www.dsmelbourne.com/

Photo: AAP

Photo: Liberal Party

Name: Luke Martin Age: 28 Occupation: Accountant Lives: West Melbourne Party: Liberal

Photo: Greens

NEWS FEATURE MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Name: Bronwyn Pike Age: 54 Occupation: MP Lives: North Melbourne Party: Labor

Name: Brian Walters Age: 56 Occupation: Barrister Lives: Eaglemont Party: Greens

Liberal preferences will hurt Greens M

OST interest at this state election will focus on the seat of Melbourne where the Greens still have a chance of making history by having a candidate in the Legislative Assembly, even though the Liberals have decided their preferences will go to the ALP. The Greens will try to emulate their federal colleagues who secured a seat in the House of Representatives for the first time, at the elections three months ago, when Adam Bandt won the (federal) seat of Melbourne on preferences. Polls are indicating a tight result in Victoria. In this article we focus on the major parties, the ALP, Liberals and Greens, in the electorate of Melbourne. Primary support for the Brumby Government in recent weeks has dropped, the Coalition’s primary vote has jumped while most significantly the Greens have soared in popularity. Melbourne’s Greens candidate is Brian Walters, SC, a prominent city barrister of 20 years standing who has been involved in several environmental and human rights cases. An adviser for Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, Mr Walters is a past president of Liberty Victoria whose other interests include asylum seekers, terror laws and police powers. He’s also an avid bushwalker who founded the magazine “”Wild’’ 25 years ago. The Minister for Education, Skills and Workforce Participa-

tion Bronwyn Pike, has held the seat for Labor since 1999. She is one of the longest serving female Ministers in Victoria’s parliamentary history but now the Greens need only a 2 per cent swing to topple her. If they are successful they will bring to an end one of the nation’s safest electorates, at least up until the end of the 1990s. Indeed, Melbourne has been a Labor seat since 1908. Former MLAs include popular Labor stalwart Barry Jones (1972-77) before he moved to federal politics. The pressure on Ms Pike to hold the seat, previously intense, has eased considerably now that she will receieve Liberal preferences. At one time she was looking a the toughest fight of her political life. She is a former secondary school teacher and social and environmental activist whose jobs in the past also include union official and director of social justice and responsibility for the Uniting Church where she was outspoken on another hot issue, the expansion of gambling. Born in South Australia and now married with three children, Ms Pike, 54, taught in secondary schools in Adelaide and Darwin and is a former board director of Greenpeace Australia. To the Victorian parliament she has brought a long history of advocating for social change, equality and the disadvantaged. In her 11 years as a state MP she has always served as a Minister. Soon after her election in

1999 she was given the portfolio of Aged Care and Housing. Three years later she moved to Community Services and Housing. After she was re-elected in 2002 Ms Pike was promoted into the important portfolio of Health which she held onto after the 2006 election. In a reshuffle in 2007 Ms Pike swapped Health for Education and last January Skills and Workforce Participation were added to her responsibilities.

Polls are indicating a tight result in Victoria. Primary support for the Brumby Government in recent weeks has dropped, the Coalition’s primary vote has jumped while most significantly the Greens have soared in popularity She has fought off challenges from the Greens twice in recent years but many political commentators believe the battle is getting harder. The Greens have come close to victory twice just recently, in 2002 and 2006, on Liberal Party preferences. The Liberal candidate is a young chartered accountant, Luke Martin who moved into the electorate from Seymour to attend the University of Mel-

bourne where he completed a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce. Mr Martin, 28, now lives in West Melbourne with his wife Lucy. They are expecting their first child in January. He has lived in the electorate all his adult life, previously in Parkville, Carlton and North Melbourne. Mr Martin has worked in the city for international accounting firms since he left university and is now a financial controller. He sees the important issues for Melbourne as safety on the streets, health services, public transport and Docklands infrastructure. “It’s time for a fresh approach and new ideas to make our community safe again,’’ Mr Martin said. “Everyone in the Melbourne district deserves to feel safe again. That’s why it’s time to take a hardline approach to crime, violence and anti-social behaviour,’’ he said. The Liberals’ tough action plan to clean up the streets and make the community safer included more police, banning the sale of knives to minors, abolishing suspended sentences and home detention and stricter laws for hoons and violent drunks. Mr Martin said there was also growing community concern over regular failures in the health and public transport systems. Melburnians had been hit hard by high state taxes and charges and skyrocketing utility bills which put family bud-

gets under pressure. Public transport was overcrowded, unsafe and rarely on time. The health system was under severe stress with secret “waiting lists’’ and an ambulance service in crisis. He said roads were congested and poorly maintained while billions of dollars were being wasted on advertising and cost blow-outs for major projects. Mr Walters, 56, is married to school teacher Sally. They live at Eaglemont, near Heidelberg with their two daughters who are now both at university. He said he was standing as the Greens candidate for Melbourne because “I want to make positive changes on issues like water, planning, transport, parks and sustainable climate.’’ He identified the following local issues: • Fixing trains (he campaigned at Kensington and South Kensington stations) • Building community, citing the Kathleen Syme Centre, Carlton • Yarra Park car parking • Westlink freeway and the road tunnel project • Proposed Lombard Tower at Travancore, near Flemington • A Hoddle Street highway

• Logging in Melbourne’s catchment • Windsor Hotel renovation

Mr Walters said: “Voters across the electorate have expressed their despair with public transport that runs late and is uncoordinated and overcrowded. “Melburnians deserve frequent and reliable services run by a single transport authority.’’ He said it was his aim to make Melbourne a more bikefriendly city and work towards a high speed rail system and encourage smart green companies. The 30 sq km electorate covers the CBD and includes the suburbs of Newmarket, East Melbourne, Carlton, North Melbourne, Flemington, Parkville, Kensington, parts of Ascot Vale and Docklands. Melbourne is a rather unique electorate in many respects. There are more renters (63.8 per cent) than anywhere else in Victoria, more recent migrant arrivals (19 per cent), the second highest number of flats and apartments and one of the highest proportion of people living alone. As well, there are fewer families with children and, as you might expect, by far the highest percentage of 15-24 year olds, reflecting the number of universities and other tertiary institutions.

For more information on these candidates: www.liberalvictoria.org.au www.bronwynpike.com www.brianwalters.com.au

MCN OUT & ABOUT

Kid-Friendly

Charity CharityEvents Events

Children’s Cinema Nights at Piazza Italia

Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight

November 6 to December 11, 2010 7:30pm - 10pm

• Free screening of children’s movies every Saturday night from November to December • Outdoor theatre in the heart of Lygon Street’s Piazza Italia Screenings: November 20 - Ice Age 2 November 27 - WALL E December 4 Horton Hears a Who December 11 - Ratatouille Piazza Italia, Argyle Square Carlton 3053 www.thatsmelbourne.com. au

Dreams Come True: The Art of Disney’s Classic Fairy Tales November 18, 2010 to April 26 2011 Open daily 10am - 6pm

• Exhibit explores Disney’s 70 year history in transforming traditional European fairy tales into timeless animated films • Features original concept artworks, story sketches, animation drawings, models, and final frame cells from some of Disney’s most celebrated films Australian Centre for the Moving Image Alfred Deakin Building, Federation Square 2 Swanston Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Ph: :03 8663 2200 www.acmi.net.au

December 24, 2010 Entertainment from 5:30pm

• Feel the spirit of Christmas at the annual Carols by Candlelight at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl • Proceeds from the event go towards Vision Australia’s Children’s Services. Bookings available via www.theartscentre.com.au or 1300 182 183

Seeing Eye Dogs Australia Open Day November 21, 2010 11am - 3pm

• SEDA is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year • Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA)’s annual Open Day at its headquarters in Kensington. • Packed with lots of activities and attractions to entertain the whole family, including dog demonstrations, veterinary health checks, entertainment, and food. Seeing Eye Dogs Australia 17 Barrett Street Kensington 3031 Ph: 9864 9349 www.seda.org.au Cost: gold coin donation

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Arts Theatre Arts&and Theatre Girls’ Day in the Park November 21, 2010 12pm - 3:30pm

• Grab your girlfriends, sisters, mums and daughters for a great cause • Free event featuring group training, Zumba lessons and high-heel race, and other exciting events throughout the day • All profits go to the Cancer Council, so dress in your pink best! Fawkner Park 24-88 Commercial Road, South Yarra 3141 Ph: 0415959228 ruth@fitforeverything.com. au Cost: Free; all donations go to the Cancer Council

Yet to Ascertain the Nature of the Crime November 23 to November 28, 2010 7:30pm - 9pm

Endless Present: Robert Rooney and Conceptual Art November 12, 2010 to March 27, 2011

• Melbourne Workers Theatre Production explores life in Melbourne within the context of recent attacks against Indian students • The show is structured around a compilation of perspectives from Indian students to politicians and social commentators

• The exhibition presents a selection of conceptual photographs and artists’ books produced in Melbourne and internationally during the 1960s and 1970s • Features the works of Robert Rooney, Ed Ruscha, Sol LeWitt and other international artists

Arts House 521 Queensberry Street North Melbourne 3051 Ph: 03 9347 6142 Bookings available via Ph: 03 9347 6142 www.lamama.com.au

NGV International 180 St Kilda Road Cost: Free

Gustave Moreau and the Eternal Feminine December 10, 2010 to April 10, 2011

• This exhibition will explore the artist’s fascination with heroines and queens, goddesses and temptresses. • Features salon oil paintings, presentation drawings and pen and ink sketches. NGV International 180 St Kilda Road Bookings available via www.ngv.vic.gov.au

Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema December 16, 2010 to March 20, 2011

• Set up your picnic gear and enjoy a movie with friends at the Royal Botanic Gardens this summer • Features cult classics and new releases • BYO food and drinks or available from on-site caterer Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra Bookings available via www.moonlightcinema. com.au

Cultural Tianjin Melbourne Cultural Festival November 6 to 21, 2010 10am - 5pm

• Come celebrate the 30th anniversary of the sistercity relationship between Melbourne and Tianjin. • Features acrobats, magicians and craftspeople from Tianjin, China and Melbourne The Chinese Museum 22 Cohen Place Between Exhibition and Russell Streets Melbourne 3000 Ph: 9662 2888 info@chinesemuseum.com. au Cost: $20 per adult, $10 per child/concession. Price includes admission to the museum.

Mulana: Spirit

November 20, 2010 to April 10, 2011 9am - 5pm • Exhibition featuring a series of works by Victorian Aboriginal artist Megan Cadd that revolve around key events in her life over the last few years. • Features installations, paintings and prints that explore the notion of Megan claiming back her spirit while living a “colonised life” Melbourne Museum 11 Nicholson Street Carlton VIC 3053 Ph: 131 102 www.museumvictoria.com. au/bunjilaka Cost: Adults $8, children and concessions free

Bookings available via Tel: 03 8663 2583 www.acmi.net.au/ticketing. html

Melbourne Nov/Dec Events Calendar

OUT & ABOUT MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Eat, drink and be merry in the heart of the city No matter what your taste there’s food and entertainment on tap at the Suzuki Night Market at the Queen Victoria Market

he Suzuki Night Market is off and running for another year and it’s offering more than ever before. Open until 10pm every Wednesday until March 2011 the market focuses on those things we all crave: great food, good wine and some of the best in world music Melbourne has to offer. With more than 35 stalls offering fresh food prepared on-site, visitors can sample taste sensations from India, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Spain, The

Netherlands and the Middle East. Local produce features strongly with a vast array of Victorian chutneys, mustards, olive oils, and fudges on sale. Four wine bars offer the best of regional wines by the bottle or the glass and three stages host free live music ranging from blues and jazz to Latin American and conga. For only $25, groups of friends can book a table for 10 under the stars for a truly memorable summer feast. While you might have trouble dragging yourself away

from the food, you might also be tempted by some of the 150 stalls offering unique clothing and jewellery, original prints, and exotic plants. For a little mid-week pampering, massage therapists and reflexology and iridology practitioners are on hand from 5.30pm. The market is at the Queen Victoria Market with pedestrian entry from the corner of Queen and Therry Streets and Peel Street. Entry is free. Table bookings call 03 9320 5822.

Photo: QVM

By Rebecca Ponsford

The market offers taste sensations from India, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Spain, The Netherlands and the Middle East

Watch classic movies and relax under the stars

World class jumping competition

Equine spree at the Showgrounds By Rebecca Ponsford

Equitana, the largest multidisciplinary equine event in the southern hemisphere, the Open will pit champions of dressage, reining, cutting, jumping and campdrafting against each other in an event offering $300,000 in prizes.

Photo: Equitana Melbourne

our days of world class competition and entertainment from superstars of the equestrian world will be on offer this weekend at the inaugural Equitana Australian Open. As the new hightlight of

The competition, which is expected to draw 50,000 spectators to each event, is only one aspect of the “equine spree” now in its 11th year. American dressage legend Steffen Peters, talented horseman Ian Francis and world leading eventer, William FoxPitt are among the international and Australian equine experts who will provide a nonstop schedule of presentations, demonstrations, seminars and displays throughout the four days of Equitana. With Aussie cowboys, stunt riders, and demonstrations from Olympic gold medal equestrians, Equitana’s entertainment program offers something to appeal to horse lovers of all ages.

Roof Top Cinema Sixth Floor, Curtin House 252 Swanston Street (03) 9663 3596 www.rooftopcinema.com.au

They’ll be screening some of the best from this year’s Sundance Festival, along with cult favourites like the 1976 classic, Rocky.

St Kilda Openair: listen to live music as the sun goes down

St Kilda Openair St Kilda Sea Baths 10-18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda www.stkildaopenair.com.au

Photo: Rooftop Cinema

Photo: Equitana Melbourne

wo Melbourne venues are offering outdoor film seasons to help us through the summer nights ahead. The Rooftop Cinema at Curtin House kicks off again this month and St Kilda Openair at the St Kilda Seabaths has its first screening on December 9. Rooftop Bar owner Barrie Barton started his cinema season in 2005 and every year he strives to outdo himself in his quest for imaginative ways to present film, food and drinks. Patrons love Barrie’s “back yard high in the sky” and come back year after year to feel the synthetic grass between their toes and recline on comfortable deck chairs while enjoying great cult classics and some of the best of the latest art house offerings. St Kilda Openair is present-

ing a 12-week season of live bands at sunset followed by feature films on an oversized screen on the roof of the St Kilda Sea Baths.

Photo: St Kilda Openair

By Rebecca Ponsford

Melbourne Showgrounds 400 Epsom Road, Ascot Vale 9.30am to 7.00pm, Nov 18 to Nov 21 Bookings: 1300765929 Entertainment for horse lovers of all ages

www.equitana.com.au

Rooftop Cinema: deckchairs, fresh food and drinks, great films

MCN ENTERTAINMENT

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

The rise of burlesque By Chiara Macfarlane

burlesque performers. These multi-skilled, passionate artists are part of a global burlesque revival. Like fashion, dance trends often return – reinvigorated and interpreted to suit modern tastes. The past decade has seen a rise in the popularity of many vintage dance styles. From rock‘n’roll, salsa and swing to ballroom, flamenco and belly dancing, thousands of Melburnians are taking up dance as a way getting fit, socialising and providing authentic and engaging entertainment.

Photo: Andrew K

or decades the mention of burlesque has conjured up images of bawdy striptease artists bumping and grinding to crowds of randy men. However, contemporary burlesque performers such as Melbourne’s Miss Sapphira and Minsky Malone are quickly changing this out-dated view - with highly stylised, skilled and show-stopping routines reminiscent of the original burlesque acts of the 19th century. Sapphira and Malone are the vanguard of a new wave of

Owner of House of Burlesque, Minsky Malone

The success of television shows such as the X-Factor and So You Think You Can Dance, rests on the audiences continued desire to view live dance performance. As one of Australia’s leading burlesque performers, Miss Sapphira believes modern audiences are returning to burlesque shows for the “glamour, style and seduction of the performance, just as they did in the 19th century.” “Held in classy venues, burlesque themed nights provide a chance for audiences to dress up, eat great food, listen to live music while watching sensuous, live dance performance,” she said. “The combination of wit, irony, sensuality and suggestiveness is hard to resist.” Miss Sapphira said modern audiences were beginning to see burlesque as it was performed before the 1920s, when the closure of the burlesque and vaudeville circuit forced desperate theatre owners to introduce the strip tease in a bid to stay open. “There has been a lot of confusion as what burlesque is,” Miss Sapphira said. Originally used to describe a wide range of comic plays, including non-musicals in the 19th century, the term ‘burlesque’ meant to ‘make fun of.’ These shows used comedy and music to challenge the established way of looking at thing. From the 1840s, burlesque shows entertained the lower and middle classes of Great Britain by making fun of (burlesquing) the operas, plays and social habits of the upper classes. As the art form evolved, suggestive clothing and feminine wit appealed to audiences of the Victorian age - where women went to great lengths to hide their physical form beneath bustles, corsets and frills. However, as male managers took over feminine wit was

gradually replaced with a determination to reveal as much of the feminine form as local laws allowed. “But obscenity and vulgarity were always avoided – the point was to spoof – and to a limited extent to titillate- not offend,” Sapphira said. Charlie Robinson, owner of The House of Burlesque and performer under the stage name of Minsky Malone is also happy to see a return to a more professional approach to burlesque. “Having performed throughout Europe for 17 years, I have had the honour of working with, and being inspired by, super artistic geniuses such as Dita Von Teese,” Malone said. On the Australian circuit Malone is beginning to see some excellent performers that hold their own against European standards. “I have seen some excellent Australian performers, with highly stylised, sensual performances that still include the parody and social commentary that defines burlesque” she said. “At the same time, I have seen a so-called ‘burlesque’ performer who was little more than a stripper with a cucumber. That’s definitely not burlesque – burlesque is about being a lady.” Malone is passionate about seeing burlesque performed correctly. At the House of Burlesque, Malone offers a range of burlesque and vaudeville classes for women who wish to explore their sensual side. “The club has a wonderful French Boudoir environment.

Miss Sapphira

We teach women the art of being sexy – including the visual and psychological elements. It’s not just about taking off your clothes.” Miss Sapphira declares burlesque is an empowering and liberating art form. “It doesn’t matter what size or shape you are – burlesque dance enables every woman to feel desired and sensual.” Miss Sapphira’s dance classes have become so successful she has taught at mainstream gyms such as Fitness First. As the founder of the Australian burlesque festival, which was sold out in its first year, Miss Sapphira said “it has become recognised that Australian burlesque is unique and

world class in every way. It is exciting, bold and artistic. Burlesque influence has permeated Australian fashion, music and culture.” “The burlesque revival has taken the world by storm and shows no sign of slowing down.” For more information on upcoming burlesque nights and classes contact: Miss Sapphira www.misssapphira.com “Shimmy like no-one’s watching” Minsky Malone House of Burlesque www.houseofburlesque.com

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NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09 Advertisement

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MCN INDULGENCE

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Time to boost your makeup intelligence

ustralian makeup prodigy Napoleon Perdis launched his new Sheer Genius Foundation and the Mighty Concealer Pen at an exclusive in-store appearance at David Jones on Bourke Street Mall on October 22. The LA-based make-up artist was met with rapturous applause by hundreds of women who attended the VIP makeover event. Coinciding with his 15th year in the cosmetics industry, Perdis said the new products “communicate [the concept of] Australian freshness to the world.” While the new products have been created specifically to enhance a woman’s natural beauty, the advanced technology in both products fuse the wonders of makeup with the benefits of skincare. The advanced Hydrogel technology in both formulas work on two levels, illuminating the complexion while restoring youth and reviving stressed-out skin with powerful anti-ageing ingredients. An exclusive brightening complex reflects light for a soft-focus effect, evening out the skin tone and resulting in a radiant ‘justkissed’ glow.

“We’ve worked hard to create these two singular products that are tantamount to beauty lifesavers for busy lives,” Perdis said. Both the Sheer Genius Foundation ($69) and the Mighty Concealer Pen ($35) are small enough to fit in the average purse, perfect for a quick midday or evening touch-up.

Napolean Perdis at David Jones

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Myer champagne bar

ecadence at new look Myer with the opening of The Salon by Louis Roederer The days of old world glamour and personalised customer service are back at the Melbourne Myer store, with the $300 million refurbishment reviving old fashioned decadence and glamorous elements of VIP shopping, with the introduction of of The Salon by Louis Roederer - a champagne salon where tired shoppers can refresh in ultimate luxury. Monsieur Fredric Rouzaud, the managing director of the prestigious champagne house Louis Roederer joined in the opening celebrations. The clink of crystal heralded a new era for Myer, as it meets standards set in overseas luxury department stores, Harrods and Harvey Nichols in London. The Salon by Louis Roederer is the first champagne salon to exist in an Australian department store. Renowned Melbourne restaurateur Andrew Blake and his daughter Neredah Blake (right) are the force behind the venture. “Around the world in landmark destinations, department stores have champagne bars,” Ms Blake said. “The ability to retreat into a den of elegance away from the frenetic pace of shopping is an attrac-

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tive concept to both men and women.” At the high end of women’s apparel, the Salon decor demonstrates the Blake’s commitment to high end design, with

champagne coloured décor providing a warm atmosphere,” Ms Blake said. “It creates an inviting space where consumers can come in and indulge in a bit of luxury.”

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FASHION MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Gallery a great success

Photo: Kimberly Yu

able out there.” For jewellery makers Shabana Jacobson and Ally Parker, in.cube8r was a godsend. “It can be hard [to stand out] when there is so much [handmade jewellery] these days. It’s also difficult trying to compete with mass produced stuff in the market that is always at a way lower price,” Ms Jacobson said. “It’s one of the only places in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney that allows us artists the outlet to display our works and present them to the public the way we want to and allows us the freedom to sell works and manage our own stock, Ms Jacobson said. Since the store opened three years ago with nine cubes, in.cube8r has 100 display spaces including 70 cubes, and two franchises have opened in Brisbane and Sydney to cope with demand locally and interstate. Ms Galey eventually wants to have an in.cube8r in every state.

Photo: Kimberly Yu

Jewelry galore at in.cube8r

Wall art at in.cube8r

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Photo: Shabana Jacobson

Wooden frame pendants by Shabana Jacobson

Frame pendants by Shabana Jacobson

“A lot of people have found their feet here. About 60 per cent of the designers have been here since day one,” she said. Ms Parker was one of the first artists to rent out an in.cube8r cube, in 2007. “When I first heard about Isy’s concept for the gallery, I thought that she had come up with something unique and very special. in.cube8r has been a great medium for me. It has allowed me to present my work to a larger audience and has provided some great opportunities for me,” she said. Ms Jacobson credited in.cube8r for encouraging her to keep coming out with handmade pieces. “Everyone loved my first range so much that I had to keep making them to keep up with demand, then when I had time I would make something new and I kept expanding my ranges and they were really popular. Incube8r (sic) is also a great way to test out new ranges to see how they go.” In spite of designs coming from every direction in the country, the original in.cube8r has managed to retain a uniquely Melbourne style. “Melbourne’s the best place. Melbourne crafters have a contemporary edge and a really fun idea of homemade. What you see here is an evolving process, by people who have found their feet [over the years],” Ms Galey said.

Photo: Shabana Jacobson

andmade items have experienced a boost in popularity in recent years, perhaps as a reaction to mass produced goods flooding the shops. In Melbourne, weekend markets have become common with special artists’ or makers’ markets popping up in the inner city. The biggest indicator of the demand for handicraft is the great success of the in.cube8r gallery. in.cube8r founder Isy Galey saw a hole in the retail market and filled it with more than 100 glass cases overflowing with beautiful hand-crafted items. Inspired by the online hand-

made store etsy.com and shops overseas, Ms Galey decided to bite the bullet and set up her own “walk-in etsy” in Fitzroy in 2007. In trendy Smith Street and surrounded by cafes, in.cube8r has been a roaring success. The concept is similar to a gallery where designers can rent out a space from $22 a month. The only difference is that this one doesn’t charge commission, so 100 per cent of the sales go to the artists. “[in.cube8r] gives artists the power back in what they can display and in what they can afford,” Ms Galey said. “It’s fun and interactive, we’re open to new ideas and it’s totally different to what’s avail-

Silver pendant ring by Shabana Jacobson

Photo: Ally Parker

By Kimberly Yu

Jewelry by Ally Parker

in.cube8r 321 Smith Street Fitzroy 3065 03 8415 0321 www.incube8r.com.au

Opening Hours: Tuesday 11 - 5 Wednesday-Saturday 11 - 6 Sunday 12 - 4 Closed Mondays

MCN ON STAGE

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Raging against the dying of the light Melbourne premiere of Daniel Keene’s The Nightwatchman

TC’s production of Daniel Keene’s moving and very funny Life Without Me is coming to a close this weekend and next week sees the Melbourne premiere of his 2005 play, The Nightwatchman, at Theatre Works. For prominent local director, Matt Scholten, The Nightwatchman will mark his seventh realisation of a script from one of Australia’s leading playwrights. “If I can do at least one play a year with Daniel for the rest of my career I’ll be very happy,” Scholten said during a break in rehearsals. Keene’s distinctive voice has made him one of the most widely produced playwrights in France, where audiences can see up to 12 of his plays in any given year.

Scholten is proud the playwright asked him to bring The Nightwatchman, which helped cement Keene’s reputation in France, to Melbourne audiences for the first time. “It’s a delicate piece: a very personal story about family and parents and I guess he felt I had the right style to handle it,” Scholten said. The play introduces us to the blind, raging Bill (Roger Oakley) as he prepares to quit the family home in the face of age and incapacity. The audience shares his hope and bitterness and fury as he deals with the efforts of his adult children (Zoe EllertonAshley and Brad Williams) to “help” with the transition. Keene is a task master at exploring the complex relationship between the past, memory, identity and the role they play when mere mortals confront

life’s inevitable challenges. Whereas some writers seem to condemn their species for its foibles, Keene’s work has been elevated by the enormous compassion that underlies his observations. “This gigantic heart is at the centre at all of this work and he has an understanding of human relationships that is unparalleled,” Scholten said. “He has this beautiful grasp of language. His style is very economical – it’s lyrical and poetic but at the same time it’s also very, very truthful and very honest.” Keene also has a very warm sense of humour. “Even in this piece there are quite a few moments that are very funny, because they’re about the way we can be so open with people we are so close to,” Scholten said.

Photo: If Theatre

By Rebecca Ponsford

Cast of The Nightwatchman, Zoe Ellerton-Ashley, Brad Williams and Roger Oakley

Ellerton-Ashley and Williams both performed in Scholten’s 2008 production of Christopher Shinn’s Dying City and the playwright suggested them for The Nightwatchman. “I also feel very blessed and lucky to have Roger (Oakley) in the show. I’ve admired him for a very long time.” The cast is at the core of a powerful ensemble that includes 2010 George Fair-

fax Award winner Halcyon McLeod as assistant director, Ben Keene as composer and

Kat Chan as designer.

The Night Watchman Theatre Works 14 Acland St, St Kilda November 24 to December 11 Wed to Sat; 8pm, Sat; 2pm Ph: (03) 9534 3388 www.theatreworks.org.au

Life Without Me is playing at the Sumner Theatre until November 21 MTC Theatre Box Office Ph: (03) 8688 0800 www.mtc.com.au

Bernadette Robinson triumphs at MTC By Rebecca Ponsford

Photo: Earl Carter

Bernadette Robinson

he Sydney Morning Herald recently described Bernadette Robinson as “liquid silver” and MTC artistic director, Simon Phillips calls her talent “miraculous”. But it was more than the sheer beauty and versatility of her remarkable voice that inspired the standing ovation on the opening night of Songs for Nobodies at the Fairfax Studio. Her evocations of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas

Red Stitch, seeking out the best from around the world

minutes, women we would all enjoy meeting. The poignant characterisations, interwoven with Robinson’s heart wrenching vocal performance make Songs for Nobodies a rich and vivid theatrical experience. Arts Centre, Fairfax Studio November 5 to December 23 MTC Theatre Box Office (03) 8688 0800 or www.mtc.com.au

“Theatre’s always

Kat Stewart, Dion Mills and Brett Cousins in Red Stitch’s Creditors

Today, Stewart said, we can see her as “an open-hearted, honest and forgiving” woman trying to express her own interests. It’s Strindberg’s deeper, underlying insights into the fragility of human relations that give Creditors its contemporary feel. “It shows what can go wrong: the jealousies and the petty thoughts that come into a relationship it can destroy something good,” Stewart said. Few artists capture the devolution of human relation-

ships with the elegance and artistry of Strindberg and by all accounts Grieg’s translation captures his gift for making “domestic drama” more suspenseful and enthralling than the average thriller. Red Stitch Actors Theatre Rear, 2 Chapel St, St Kilda 8pm, Nov 19 to Dec 18 Sundays at 6.30pm Ph: (03) 9533 8083 www.redstitch.net

By Rebecca Ponsford

er performance in the 1976 film Caddie won her an AFI award for Best Actress and Helen Morse has been one of the country’s most admired actors ever since. Next year she will appear in Fred Schepisi’s film adaption of Patrick White’s Nobel Prize winning novel, The Eye of the Storm. Morse joins a cast that includes Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis, Charlotte Rampling and Colin Friels in the first Australian film from the director since 1988’s Evil Angels. Meanwhile, Melbourne audiences see her on stage in Duets for Lovers and Dreamers. She plays several roles in the

Photo: MT Publicity

Photo: Red Stitch

been my first love”

By Rebecca Ponsford

a block from Carnegie Hall, an unmarried librarian in Dorset, a young Irish drifter deck handing on the Onassis yacht – these are some of the anonymous, intriguing women whose lives are changed forever after brief encounters with some of the most fragile and influential artists of the 20th Century. Murray-Smith has created insightful, funny three-dimensional characters. Each has her own vernacular, her own cadence and in Robinson’s hands they become, in the space of

Duets for Lovers & Dreamers

“We started as a group of actors (wanting) to work on the best scripts. We were interested in all these terrific plays we read about but that we didn’t get to see in Australia.”

at Stewart, a long-time member of Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre will play Tekla in an acclaimed new translation of August Strindberg’s Creditors. Like Miss Julie, written in the same year, the play was informed by the playwright’s traumatic marriage breakdown, and UK playwright David Grieg has remained true to the spirit of the original text. “It’s a clean, clever, funny adaptation,” Stewart said. On a conscious level Strindberg probably intended the traditional view of Tekla as “a vampire feeding off men’s talent”.

are undeniably brilliant. Alone on stage for 90 minutes, Robinson reaches out and touches the heart of every member of the audience with virtuoso renditions of songs as varied as Willie Nelson’s Crazy, Lewis Allen’s Strange Fruit, and Puccini’s Vissi dárte. In this one-woman show by Joanna Murray-Smith the focus is not on the great stars but rather on the “nobodies” who, like us, draw strength and comfort from their art. A waitress in a cocktail bar

Helen Morse and Katherine Tonkin in Duets for Lovers and Dreamers

series of evocative vingnettes incorporating movement, music and the spoken word to explore life’s most intimate moments. “Theatre’s always been my first love,” Morse said. She said she was drawn to this new work from Melbourne writer Sandra Fiona Long by “the originality of her voice.” “She lets her imagination fly and her ideas go in all sorts of directions.

“But it’s also very firmly grounded in reality. The form is very unusual but there’s that strong core of lived experience at the centre,” she said. Duets for Lovers and Dreamers fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 7.30pm, Tue to Sat, Nov 19 to Dec 5 (03) 9662 9966 or info@ fortyfivedownstairs.com.au

ON SCREEN MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

New horizons for Australian filmmakers In his directorial debut, celebrated Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriter Stuart Beattie scored eight AFI nominations for Tomorrow, When the War Began, including nods for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing.

Photo: Paramount Australia

In what many regard as a particularly strong year for Australian film, Tomorrow, When the War Began vies with Animal Kingdom, Beneath Hill 60, Bran Nue Dae, Bright Star and The Boys Are Back for the Best Film award. From his base in Los Angeles, Beattie shared his thoughts on the film, his introduction to directing, and the differences between the Australian and US industries in a Q & A with MCN. Stuart Beattie on set for Tomorrow, When the War Began

MCN: Firstly, congratulations on your directorial debut having earned eight AFI nominations in a very competitive year. Stuart Beattie: Thank you so much. On behalf of the cast and crew, we are all extremely grateful to have been recognized like this by the AFI. MCN: Had you been considering directing for a while? SB: I had always wanted to direct. Writing for me was a means to directing. But I wanted to wait until I felt I was ready personally and it had to be the right movie professionally.

MCN: Even though you’ve had enormous success as a screen-

“If you make a movie just because it’s based on popular source material, fans will see through you. You have to love the source material and then just make the best movie you can as a fan.” writer, were you in any way daunted by the challenge of adapting such a well-known work for the screen? SB: Making a movie based on

popular source material is a double-edged sword. You have a built-in fan base, but that fan base has its own preconceptions on what the movie should be. So you have to satisfy them as well as satisfying all the nonfans. So it’s an extremely tricky tight rope to walk. It was incredibly daunting, but I felt I was as much of a fan as any other person and I think that’s the key. If you make a movie just because it’s based on popular source material, fans will see through you. You have to love the source material and then just make the best movie you can as a fan. MCN: Did you and Marsden collaborate closely on the adaption? SB: John was extremely gracious and trusting. I think he could tell I was a fan and felt like he was in good hands. He liked the script and let me make the movie the way I wanted to which was the absolute best I

could have ever hoped for and I will always be grateful to him for that. MCN: Do you want to continue to direct your own scripts from now on? SB: Ideally, yes. I think it’s crucial that a director understand his/her script inside and out and that usually only comes

“The skill of the (Australian) crews and post-production artists are on par with the best in the world.” from writing it. But I always keep my door open and read other people’s scripts. You never know where the best stories are going to come from. MCN: How would you compare

Photo: Paramount Australia

MCN: What led to the John Marsden novels being your choice for your first film as a director? SB: It was everything I was looking for: Australian setting, Australian characters, universal story, action, thrills, romance,

humour. And it was based on a best-selling book series which I loved..

Ashleigh Cummings, Caitlin Stasey, Deniz Akdeniz and Lincoln Lewis in Tomorrow, When the War Began

the experiences of filmmaking for major international studios with the local industry? SB: It’s much more intimate here. It feels less like you’re one cog on the factory floor and more like you’re this special thing that everyone is working extra hard for because they believe in it. The skill of the crews and post-production artists are on par with the best in the world. And there’s not the senseless waste of money that you see so often on big Hollywood films. MCN: What do you think of the range of local films exhibited in this year’s AFI nominations? SB: I think there are some amazing Australian films this year and I’m just thrilled to be a part of them. We have comedies, romantic comedies, romances, dramas, period, horrors, musicals, and action. We have not had such a wide range of Australian films in many years. MCN: You’ve successfully created screenplays across a wide variety of genres, from intimate, almost art house pieces to widescreen blockbusters. Is there any concern that you may lose this sort of freedom as you become increasingly renowned? SB: I think it’s always hard to get movies made. And the movie business is primarily a business so you have to make movies that are commercial if you want true creative freedom in this industry. Fortunately, I like commercial movies so I love making them. I think the more you are known, the more people trust you to make the creative decisions you want to make. MCN: Speaking of flexibility and audacity – Pirates of the Caribbean single-handedly resurrected the “pirate movie” genre. Were you conscious when you were writing the script that you were dealing with the type of

film a lot of studios might have considered “old hat”? SB: Yes, that was the entire point: to make a kind of film that we have not seen in a long time. I believe audiences are starved for originality. I know I am. So I deliberately set out to write a pirate movie because there had been very few in recent years. I believe in genre. I don’t think genre goes in and

“We have not had such a wide range of Australian films in many years.” out, I think it all comes down to story. Good stories have always been in and always will be, no matter what the genre. MCN: Two generations of young people have drawn inspiration from Tomorrow When the War Began, and now more will be drawn to the film series. Is there anything you’d like to say to budding Australian screenwriters? SB: That it’s possible. You can come with an idea, write it, get it made, and get is seen. But it’s not easy. It takes a whole lot of work. If you’re only on your fifth draft of your script, you have not even begun to make it worthy of being a film. Good writing is rewriting. Keep at it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you to stop. If you write, you are a writer. Say it to yourself. Say, “I am a writer.” Say it out loud. Say it like you believe it. If you don’t, nobody else will.

The 2010 AFI Industry Awards will take place at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne on Friday December 10, with the AFI Awards Ceremony on Saturday December 11.

MCN FOOD & WINE NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09 Help Melbourne’s homeless while you eat and drink 16

Photo: Luke Stringer

Throughout Greater Melbourne, nearly 80 restaurants are assisting the project that raised $350,000 last year. The initiative of small, grassroots charity organisation StreetSmart, Dine Out, Help Out provides diners at participating restaurants the opportunity help the homeless just by adding $2 to their bill. Sponsorship partners cover StreetSmart’s operational

The 2010 StreetSmart All Stars Dinner: Adam Cash (Cutler and Co), Luke Stringer (Mezzo Bar and Grill), Sean Kierce (Ladro), Sam Christie (Longrain) and Alice Heath (Montalto). Front, Simon Denton (Verge)

expenses so 100 per cent of donations go directly to local, grass roots aid organisations. The tiny organisation that began with the support of 35 local restaurants in 2003 now has branches in Sydney and Brisbane and has raised and distributed $1,180,000 to organisations providing food and shelter for those most in need. StreetSmart director Adam Robinson attributes a lot of success to the simplicity of the “micro-donation” concept. “The amount generated every year is remarkable, given that the campaign only runs for six weeks,” he said. “We’ve found that diners are proud to be part of this grassroots movement, adding $2 or more onto a meal they have already enjoyed and helping to support the homeless on their doorstep.” Eva Duong, who along with chef husband Vincent runs lunch and dinner spot Eat Drink Bento in Hardware Lane

The winning team from Red Spice Road

has watched the program grow over the years. “Customers are really happy to support it – we don’t have to do a lot of explaining. Because the whole $2 goes directly to the charities, very few opted out and a lot of people were happy to give a little bit more.” Luke Stringer, manager of Mezzo Bar and Grill in Little Bourke Street, is another longtime supporter of the project. “It’s such a great, simple idea at the time of year when people are feeling the most generous,

the idea of giving a dollar a head or two a table is so easy,” Mr Stringer said. The annual success of Dine Out, Help Out, which runs until December 24 every year, inspired Stringer’s Front of House All Stars Dinner where six of Melbourne’s best restaurateurs and front-ofhouse managers joined forces to help raise $20,000 for StreetSmart during this year’s Food and Wine Festival.

Go to: www.streetsmartaustralia.org to find a participating restaurant.

Photo: Vincent Duong

local charity is making it easy to enjoy the holiday season and help the homeless at the same time Red Spice Road, Eat Drink Bento, Ladro, Longrain, Montalto, Cutler and Co, Verge and the Mezzo Bar and Grill are among the 23 CBD restaurants lending their support to the eighth annual Dine Out, Help Out campaign to assist Melbourne’s homeless community.

Photo: StreetSmart

By Rebecca Ponsford

Eva and Vincent Duong of Eat Drink Bento

Getting the most out of a local favourite By Rebecca Ponsford

Photo: QVM

ianne Vickers has been guiding the Queen Victoria Market’s Foodies Tours for four years and sees no mystery in their ongoing popularity with locals and visitors alike. “We’re all foodies, aren’t we? We’ve all got to shop; we’ve all got to cook; and we’ve all got to eat,” she said. “We get everyone from locals who’ve been coming here for years who suddenly decide they want to find out about anything they’ve missed to tourists straight off the plane who don’t

know anything about Melbourne, let alone the market.” QVM’s 130-year history, the heritage-listed architecture, and the combination of quality and value that flows from gathering so many specialist suppliers under one roof make the market a priority destination for millions of food lovers every year. The tour is one way to come to grips with the almost overwhelming array of staples and delicacies on offer. Erik and Sheela Linstrum from San Francisco took the tour on the last day of their visit to Melbourne.

More than half the market is devoted to fresh produce

“I wish we’d done this on our first day here,” Mr Linstrum said, “then we could have come back every day!” Housed in the original 1929 art deco “Butter and Cheese Market”, stores in the presentday Dairy Hall offer a huge variety of dips, pates, terrines, cured and preserved meats and one of the most extensive arrays of local and imported cheeses in Melbourne. Besides dressed poultry and rotisserie chicken, poultry shops have game meats such as crocodile, rabbit, venison, delicious ostrich sausages, and marinated, ready to cook kangaroo. These are producers who bank their reputations on half a dozen really well-made products – whether they be fresh, filler-free dips or first-rate charcuterie, so customers can be assured of the quality. Dianne’s advice for dealing with the wealth of choices: “Find the place that does your

Pho Hien Saigon 3/284 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine Phone: 9311 9532 Sunshine’s Pho Hien Saigon is a straight-up uncompromising pho joint. Its lineup is precisely what you’d expect – spring rolls, rice paper rolls, a handful of rice dishes and pho, pho and more pho. The only sign of the unorthodox is the regular

Photo: Kenny Weir

Consider the Sauce

“Pho Hien Saigon vermicelli is bigger, brighter, bitier, more colourful and lip-smkackingly fine than I’ve found anywhere else”

Sunday special of the stuffed pancake. I’ve had it a few times,

but always find that particular dish turns to a handful of mush no matter where I have it. I’m quite sure I’ve had pho and rice dishes at Pho Hien Saigon, but all that’s little more than a fading memory, for it’s been years and years since I’ve ordered anything but the vermicelli. The vemicelli comes in six flavours – grilled pork, grilled chicken, sugar cane prawn, shredded pork, spring rolls and combination, all $9.50, 50 cents

favourite the best.” That’s a rule of thumb that applies to any section of the market. In the Seafood Hall you can find specialists in everything from whole fish to octopus, all collected directly from the Footscray wholesale markets at 5.30am every market day. “If it’s available, it’s here,” Dianne said, “and 70 per cent of the seafood is sourced locally.” The Meat Fish and Rabbit hall has been operating since rabbits were “1/6d a pair” and today vendors from traditional family butchers to specialists in wagu, organics and goat provide the freshest meat products available from the 22 stalls within the gold rush vintage Italianate structure. The staff at Duy Duy can tell you the best pork to use for stir fry and Jayco’s can provide everything the family needs for a week’s worth of meals. “Everyone who works

Photo: QVM

Queen Victoria Market tours provide a feast for all the senses

The heritage-listed art deco building that houses the Dairy Hall

here is knowledgeable about their product. Some of them specialise in finding the finest quality available and others focus on great buys when

you’re on a budget. Find a butcher who suits your needs and they’ll look after you”, Dianne said.

10.00 am to 12.00pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (excludes public holidays) $35 includes generous samplings, a coffee and an environmentally friendly shopping bag. Bookings essential. 69 Victoria Street Phone: 9320 5822 Email: tours@qvm.com.au

Vibrant, cosmopolitan, and only 10 minutes from the CBD, the inner west is fast becoming Melbourne’s next hot spot. Veteran journalist and proud Yarraville resident, Kenny Weir reports regularly on the wide variety and excellent value available in the area on his food blog at www.considerthesauce.net That’s where you can look forward to his reports as he works through the many fantastic “single-dish restaurants” around the Footscray Market. For starters, though, he’s introducing MCN readers to Pho Hien Saigon in nearby Sunshine.

more for the prawns. I always go for the grilled chicken more commonly served with rice. Atop the big bowl placed on my table is a big white pillow of vermicelli on which sits many strands of sweetly pickled carrot, spring onion, the crunchiest of chopped peanuts and a delicious slab of grilled

chicken thigh. I tip the entire contents of the bowl of accompanying sauce (fish sauce, garlic, sugar, lemon, chilli and more carrot) on to my meal and begin to mix it up. And – lo! – underneath the vermicelli is more delicious crunchiness in the form of lettuce, bean sprouts, mint and other herbs.

Jumbled altogether, this is a manifest triumph – it’s difficult to think of anything that is more tasty, healthy and affordable all at the same time. Aside from pho! Pho Hien Saigon vermicelli is bigger, brighter, bitier, more colourful and lip-smackingly fine than I’ve found anywhere else.

LIFESTYLE MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Dream Pedlar took out the top prize

Record crowds for Bendigo Jayco Cup Melburnians are heading for the relaxed atmosphere of regional Victoria By Rebecca Ponsford

he lush scent of freshgrown grass filled the air as record crowds turned up for the Jayco Bendigo Cup at the end of October. Lady of the Day took out the 2010 Cup at the climax of an exciting day of racing, but, as is usual at this time of year, the style and colour off the track attracted just as much attention. Myer hosted Fashion of the Field and local businesses ensured the day was a spectacular success. Judges and guests in the Myer Pavilion were refreshed with sparkling shiraz from Farraday’s Sheer Drop Winery. Steward Lauren Woodman, whose cousins Jo Clifford and Garth Doolan own the estate,

was a picture of festive elegance in a design from innovative Castlemaine-based couturier, Ulrike ‘Uli’ Barbara von Radichevich. The Austrian-born costumer served on the judging panel. Uli’s been selling her creations from her Rike Design store in Fashion Central for two years and wasn’t surprised at the quality of fashion on display. “Coming from Europe I really notice how fresh and colourful it is here – so full of ideas,” she said. “It’s so wonderful to see young people coming back to fashion and to see events like this where they can enjoy it.” “I hear them in my shop all the time. They say, ‘I love it – but I’ll have to wait for a wedding’!”

Melburnians are also discovering the beauty of the local fashion scene. “A lot of people come up from the city. They like being able to shop without the pressure, and they love the chance to find those unique items – something their friends won’t have.” The Lady of the Day award was won by former Sydney jockey, Chantel Johnson. The 23-year-old, who still trains track-side most mornings, found her one-off outfit the old-fashioned way. “My mother made everything I’m wearing from the hat to the flower on my bag,” she said. The season inspires creation everywhere. Personal assistant Nicha Asana from Carlton “discovered” horse racing when she emigrated from Thailand three years ago. She makes her own equisite hats and never misses a chance to show them off at

meets from Flemington to Geelong. Melbourne sports administrator, 25-year-old Aaron O’Meara was awarded the prize for Best Dressed Male. A frequent visitor to the metro racetracks, he said the Bendigo event was, “... much more relaxed, more enjoyable”. “The people are friendly and happy and they look great. Sometimes in Melbourne they look like they’ve been up all night trying to get ready,” he said. More and more people are opting for the low-stress option of grabbing a train and heading for the fresh air and picnic atmosphere of the country race meets. For the ever-popular Hanging Rock races in January, VLine is providing special packages for couples and families travelling from Melbourne to Woodend.

Myer Lady of the Day, former jockey Chantel Johnson

Melbourne’s Aaron O’Meara won the men’s fashion prize

Nicha Asana sporting her own creation

V-Line Trackside Packages: www.vline.com.au/racing Country Race Meetings: www.countryracing.com.au

The joys of sailing on Albert Park Lake By Amanda Mihalakopoulos

Photo: National School Photography

Sailing on Albert Park Lake

f you’ve ever caught a glimpse of Albert Park Lake on a Sunday afternoon and admired the sails gliding along the water you may have been watching the beginner adult program. Unlike sailing a keel yacht in the ocean, the small boat program on the lake is perfect for beginners because you don’t have to contest with tides, currents or a large crew. So what better way to gain experience or hone your skills than on our lake in the city? Rod Austin, who manages the Boatshed and the small boat

sailing course on the lake, said: “People have been starting here for about 120 years. It’s always been an easy and popular place. A lot of people say it’s the first place they experience sailing.” Albert Park Lake is the only place in Melbourne that provides sailing lessons on enclosed water, making it a good way to learn the fundamentals before heading out to the open sea, whether you’re planning a unique trip cruising the Mediterranean or wanting to race on Port Philip Bay. By the end of the course you will be able to impress your friends with your knowledge of knots, weather patterns and

Three Boutiques, Chocolate Shop, Haberdashery, Wine Bar and More

wind, jibes and tacks, broad and beam reaches, and contribute to any crew. Those with an adventurous streak will enjoy the dynamics of the small boats and the way they respond to wind and movement. You may even find a bit of friendly competition among fellow students. If you plan on taking a course on Albert Park Lake expect to get wet. Make sure you bring a water-proof jacket to keep your upper body warm, a towel, change of clothes and an old pair of runners. The Boatshed supply life vests, sunscreen, Yachting Australiaapproved boats and fully quali-

fied instructors. And don’t forget your sense of fun and adventure, especially on those windy days. As Austin said, “On a very windy day one group will probably fall in, but it’s all part of capsize practice.” The Boatshed runs accredited courses approved by Yachting Australia, so all safety measures are covered. Available programs include corporate team building and racing and the tackers course for children from the age of seven. Visit www.boatshed.com.au

4 Templeton Street Castlemaine Open Thursday to Sunday 10am - 5pm

MCN RED CARPET

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Brendan Day and Raphael Bonachela

Leggy, Emmet and James

Singha beer full moon party The Palmz @ The Carlton was the perfect setting for a Full Moon Party, with the crowd basking in the afternoon sun on the quirky rooftop bar for the first Melbourne Singha beer full moon party. The event captured the spirit of the Thai full moon parties famous to Koh Phangan, with punters kept in the party spirit

in true Singha style with fire eaters, henna tattooists, delicious Thai food and plenty of complimentary ice cold Singha beer. DJ Mr Jeffrey’s music, pumping alongside a special bongo performance, kept the crowd on their feet well into the night. Photos: James Cooley

Jackie Quist with daughter Mia

we unfold premiere

Kate Aurel Smith, Tania Donohue, Fiona Millen

Jannick Zester and Jessica Head

From November 9 to 13, the Sydney Dance Company enthralled Melbourne audiences with the powerful production we unfold. Performed at the Arts Centre, we unfold was inspired by the commissioned score Symphony No. 1 by Italian composer Ezio Bosso. The theme and inspiration of the work reflects Sydney Dance Company artistic director Raphael Bonachela’s vision: the music is

vibrant and evocative, and the choreography perfectly reflects a balance between rigour and freedom. Hundreds of media personalities and celebrities attended the much-anticipated opening night. They weren’t disappointed, with delighted applause echoing throughout the Art Centre’s Playhouse theatre. Photos: John Englezos www.johnephotography.com

Phoebe, Brian, Hannah and Vee

Fiona, Cain, Danni and Alex

Claire Hooper and Ansuya Nathan

David Francis and Jane Turner

TRAVEL MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Get out into the community in Fiji By Nicky Park

he last time I was in Nadi in Fiji I drove with my father out of the usual tourist comfort zone on Denarau island. But after a couple of hours cruising, sans aircon, on unsealed coastal roads around Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, Dad made the call to turn back. My curiosity was thwarted and I returned home disappointed. So when I returned to Nadi six years later, I was determined to visit communities, sample the local fare and meet the people who lived there. I met Aussie expat Jay Whyte, who now runs the Sigatoka River Safarai, who felt the same when he came to Fiji as a teenager almost 20 years ago. At 13, Whyte met Pita, a security guard, who was working at the resort he was staying in with his parents. They were invited to visit Pita’s family, and the experi-

ence sparked Whyte’s passion for the country. “I just fell in love with the people,” Whyte said. “I said to myself then that other people should see that part of Fiji.” So, after liaising with the chiefs at a number of villages, Whyte opened the safari, which takes tourists on jet boats to an isolated community to sip kava, eat taro and talk to the people. As I walk curiously around the small village of Toga, grinning kids wave, parting their fingers to make the peace sign, asking me to take their photograph. A woman sits cross-legged in one of the 35 houses on the side of the river, peeling a kumera while a man outside repairs a long fishing net. About 180 people live a subsistence life here, surviving off the land. While my curiosity is totally well-intentioned, I can’t help but feel like it’s voyeurism as I take photographs of the cheeky children and am led through

people’s homes. But villager Emosi Matabau, 38, reassures me the people living in these isolated communities welcome tourists “to come and learn how we live in our world”. Visitors, mostly from Australia and New Zealand, learn a lot from the opportunity but on the flip side the villagers are learning just as much, Matabau says. Plus, Whyte injects 10 per cent of his earnings back into the 15 villages he visits, building footpaths, providing showers, buying water filters and sourcing lifejackets for the kids so they can walk to school when the river floods. An overnight stay on a Captain Cook Cruise takes me to a different village, where the feedback from locals is the same. “This is the only place our children are exposed in public speaking,” says Jope Leano, the principal of the school on Yawa Sewa.

Dancers perform a traditional welcoming dance

“It’s the only way they can interact with others.” The playful children embrace the visitors, singing, dancing, posing and leading them around the school where the cruise company has funded books, buildings and generators. During this same trip, the staff at the Sofitel Resort & Spa, where I’m staying in Nadi, lead me to a project they’ve recently completed there. Just weeks before, the Sofi-

tel staff had witnessed women at the maternity ward at Nadi Hospital standing, sweating for hours waiting to give birth in run-down rooms. The folk at Accor - the parent company of Sofitel - raised nearly $FJ400,000 ($A223,299) and repaired the wards - making it a comfortable and clean space for women to give birth and care for their newborns. When Tupou Raqona, the senior medical officer for the obstetrics unit at the hospital,

saw the renovations she said: “It just blew my mind away.” “They have a better environment, it’s cleaner, it’s more soothing for childbirth,” Dr Raqona said. “With the equipment that we have we’re able to provide efficient care ... babies will be less sick.” * The writer was a guest of Sofitel Resort and Spa, Captain Cook Cruises and Sigatoka River Safari. AAP

Fishing trips for adventurers Love food, fishing and outback adventure? Celebrity chef Peter Evans, owner of the Hugos Group of restaurants and star of Channel Seven’s My Kitchen Rules, is hosting two exclusive Food and Fishing Safaris in the Northern Territory. Bamurru Plains has nine, exclusive wild bush luxury safari suites overlooking the lush Mary River floodplains near Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. In February, Evans will take two limited-capacity trips into the Top End for three and a half days to fish for the prized barramundi that frequent the thriving plains. The safari is designed to cater for anglers as well as those

who prefer their barramundi ready-caught, but for those not keen on fishing, there is a comprehensive parallel program. Fishing “widows and widowers” can head out on wildlife drives to spot buffalo, birds and other native wildlife, and enjoy airboat tours across the wetlands to explore the beautiful and eerie world of the flooded melaleuca forests. Both fishing and non-fishing guests will enjoy Evans’ interactive Fish Cooking Master Class, which covers preparation, cooking techniques and recipes. Evans will host a dinner party using the fresh catch and treat everyone to cocktails recipes included, of course.

There are two departures for the Peter Evans Bamurru Plains Food and Fishing Safaris, limited to 14 participants per trip. Each is for four nights, from February 15-19, or February 19-23, 2011. Safaris cost $4950 per person twin share, including all meals, guided fishing with expert local guides and accompanied by Evans, excursions, classes, activities and return charter flights from Darwin to Bamurru. AAP

Details: 1300 790 561 or www.bamurruplains.com.

Anbangbang Billabong in the Kakadu National Park

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MCN DAY TRIPPING

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Photo: Graeme Wilkie Photo: Visions of Victoria, photographer Rob Blackwell

Japanese-inspired luxury

Erskine Falls

Mornings near the tree-tops

status in his native Western Australia. Qdos is also a natural starting point for any exploration of the region’s natural beauty. The location not only ensures moderate weather all year round, it also provides easy access to the charms of both the forest and the beach. One of the most popular walks heading out from Qdos tracks along Cherry Tree Creek and then along the beach into the township. It’s only about 8km from Erskine Falls where well constructed pathways and multiple viewing platforms provide easy views of the spectacular 30m cascade. Of course, if visitors feel the sudden urge for activity, they are only 10 minutes from Lorne. Experiences as simple as exploring the rockpools or as adventurous as a helicopter ride along the coast are all only a short drive or phone call away. Mountainbike hire, kayaks, paddleboats and snorkeling equipment are also available from a number of outlets in the town.

Photo: Graeme Wilkie

and gallery, each one bedroom cabin provides a perfect haven for two, featuring tatami matting, shoji screens, polished timbers, light drenched ensuite, a selection of art books, private deck, and glass walls affording an unparalleled view of the surrounding treetops. This is the perfect romantic getaway spot for couples craving stillness and silence. There is no radio, and no television. The night is filled with the relaxing sounds of rustling leaves, hints of the distant surf, and intermittent calls from the owls, possums, koalas and wallabies of the forest. Food coordinator Glynis Buckle oversees the sumptuous breakfasts served in the cafe. Offerings from Gravlax with scrambled eggs or organic oat porridge to Eggs Benedict are included in the nightly tarrif. But Qdos Gallery is the centrepiece of this complex that has been described as the epicentre of the thriving local arts scene. Wilkie established Qdos as the town’s first gallery down on Mountjoy Parade in 1987 and it’s only grown in reputation since its relocation to Allanvale Road 12 years ago. With seven exhibits a year, a stockroom laden with the work of some of Australia’s leading artists and a commitment to indigenous and emerging artists, the gallery alone is worth a drive down the coast. Early in 2011 the gallery will host the first Victorian exhibition in 15 years from one of the art world’s elder statesmen, Robert Juniper. Juniper is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Wynne Prize and his evocative and lyrical interpretations of the Australian landscape have earned him “Living Treasure”

A focus on local produce and fine wines

Qdos Arts Gallery, Functions, Cafe, Accommodation & Studio 35 Allenvale Road, Lorne (03) 5289 1989 9.30am to 5.30pm, seven days (closed Tue & Wed outside holiday periods)

www.qdosarts.com qdos@iprimus.com.au The Robert Juniper exhibition at Qdos Arts will run from Sunday, January 9 to Sunday, January 29, 2011

Photo: Visions of Victoria, photographer Rob Blackwell

ummer is finally here and once again Lorne is about to become one of the most popular destinations on the Great Ocean Road. The cafes on Mountjoy Parade will spill over with diners basking in the coastal breeze late into the hot December nights. Throughout the day, the whole town will bustle with surfers, backpackers and children as thousands of holidaymakers flock to the spectacular Main Beach foreshore. Just 10 minutes’ drive up the hill, in the midst of the Angahook-Lorne State Park, sits a self-contained, always tranquil, year-round haven from both city life and tourist bustle. Qdos Arts is an integrated, Zen-inspired combination of gallery, cafe, ceramics workshop, sculpture garden and unique getaway for two.

Buildings of timber, glass and stone nestle into gullies and snake along ridges so the entire complex in enveloped by the towering eucalypts and sculptures that cover the 1.25 hectare property. Guests can look over the ornamental pond through the glass walls of the cafe as they enjoy fresh baked sourdough and a range of fresh, wholesome food prepared from local ingredients and served on the pottery creations of owner Graeme Wilkie. The ceramic artist’s “aesthetics matters” philosophy permeates every corner of Qdos, where living amidst simplicity and beauty has been elevated to an art form. His sculptures, fired in Qdos’s 9m anagama cave kiln, provide the finishing touch to the extraordinary “Treehouse” accommodation. Blending organically into the rise overlooking Wilkie’s studio

Photo: Graeme Wilkie

By Rebecca Ponsford

Photo: Graeme Wilkie

Lorne a summer must

Organically intergrated into the environment

Lorne on the Great Ocean Road

EDUCATION MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Gappers have academic edge: study

bigail Blenkin spent half of her gap year living on a African sugarcane plantation teaching English to Tanzanian kids. It was the adventure of a lifetime for the arts student and helped her get in the study frame of mind again after the Higher School Certificate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am really glad that I did it, a lot of my friends just did the Contiki tour sort of thing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of cool to say `hey I climbed Mt Kilimanjaroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as opposed to `I got drunk in Pragueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Blenkin, 20, is now nearly one year into her degree at university. While she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come back with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;great epiphanyâ&#x20AC;? about what she wanted to do with her life it did give her a break from study and helped her prepare for uni. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it made coming to uni easier... having a bit of time out meant that I was able to change my perspective.â&#x20AC;? Having a â&#x20AC;&#x153;constructiveâ&#x20AC;? gap year like Ms Blenkin has positive effects personally, vo-

cationally and educationally, a recent study has found. A gap year can help some students prepare for university life and figure out what they want to do, Professor Andrew Martin said. He was behind the study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those that had taken a gap year were more academically motivated than those who hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;tâ&#x20AC;? he said. The study, which involved 2500 school students and 340 university students, found youngsters were more likely to take a gap year if they were uncertain about what they wanted to do or were less academically motivated. Taking a gap year, however, helped them gain an academic edge, Professor Martin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the year out develops a greater clarity and I guess part of that is re-energising and confirming in your own head that `this is where I want to beâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just year 13.â&#x20AC;? Gap years are not for everyone.

Making friends and making a difference

The study found students who know what they want to do or are academically motivated to continue their studies are less likely to have a gap year as are students from non-English speaking backgrounds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it sort of a western concept where you `find yourself â&#x20AC;&#x2122; or `this year is for meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I think it is a bit of a concept that is culturally specific,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am not saying that it is a bad thing, you can see the advantages for it in university, but I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a concept that might mystify some generations and also possibly some cultural groups.â&#x20AC;? Young men are also a little less likely to want a gap year, the study found.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was told by some male students that they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to take a gap year because they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to have to cook their own meals and wash their own clothes,â&#x20AC;? Professor Martin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Female students tended to have a more can do attitude.â&#x20AC;? While the number of students deferring their first year of university has increased from around 4 per cent in the 1970s to 10-11 per cent by the early 2000s it is hard to know how many of those students are actually gappers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know is what students had a gap year and never came back,â&#x20AC;? Professor Martin said. AAP

Work and holiday meet in Tanzania

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MCN BUSINESS

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Telstra 2010 National Business Women’s Awards Victorian finalist: Janet Matton, IBM negative experience at a legal office, she completed a degree in business-based computing at Swinburne University and then joined IBM. “There was no career guidance at [my] school. I have had a rich and rewarding career with a lot of opportunities for growth, even though people’s impression of IT is that it’s a bit anti-social and geeky.” Ms Matton didn’t believe her work affected her life. “It has enhanced my personal life. [My career] has given me confidence and a sense of worldliness, though I’ve sacrificed some things to go after opportunities.” She said that just before she moved to the US where she worked at the IBM headquarters for seven years her mother underwent a cancer operation. “[My mother] said, ‘I don’t want you to sacrifice your career’, and essentially set me free.” Ms Matton said she managed any guilt she felt by looking at her decision through a different perspective. “I’m fulfilling [my mother’s] wishes,” she said. Several years later, her fa-

ther’s illness brought her back to Australia. “I felt I needed to play a stronger role in caring for him. I don’t see it as com-

“Women’s work tends to go unnoticed because we don’t blow our own horn. The glass ceiling exists because women are not forthright enough and have different career challenges” promising, but as making a specific decision.” Last month Ms Matton won the state-wide Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award, a category of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. Ms Matton humbly credits her success to a “thoughtful, caring, and respectful” approach to people, as well as the patented “Matton stare”. “The Telstra Business Women’s Awards showcase the [positive] aspects of women in

For more information on the awards or finalist please visit: www.telstrabusinesswomens awards.com/

By Kimberly Yu

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career in IT. As well, she thinks corporations are under-utilising the female workforce. “[They] need to find ways to hang on to more great women,” she said.

Debby Maziarz: Winner of the 2010 Telstra Women’s Community and Government Award

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business.” “I was overwhelmed with the responses from colleagues. It was gratifying that my winning [in the Victorian Telstra Women’s Business Awards] has touched other people. I’m humbled…that my career has been recognised.” Ms Matton sees this achievement as a way to give her more leverage in encouraging discussion within different companies and organisations about diversity programs. “The field of diversity…is not met purely through today’s diversity programs.” She named five points of intervention, from broadening curriculum choice for female students, career coaching during the early and middle stages of their careers, to giving them the opportunity to apply themselves in senior executive roles. She has used her personal experiences and high profile to speak to women’s groups and connect them with the IT industry. She wants to speak to school principals to try to help them reform their curriculum so young women are encouraged to study maths and science and be able to take up a

stint with the Women’s Circus years ago inspired Debby Maziarz to teach young people to juggle as a way to give them a sense of belonging. Ms Maziarz, a nominee in this year’s Telstra Business Women’s Awards, later founded the non-profit community group, Westside Circus. She started in 1995 by teaching circus tricks to young women at Sunshine Juvenile Justice Unit. “They wouldn’t even do it,” she laughed. “They were like, ‘who are you’, [but] I made an effort to get them into it and didn’t force them.” Ms Maziarz’s enthusiasm eventually won the women over. She was encouraged to expand her activities to involve more young people and began to hold regular weekly classes that cost each participant $3. Ms Maziarz was inspired to teach others about circus performances from her own experience of using them to find her own identity. “The Women’s Circus was my first experience of being part of a community. I had a big imagination but felt repressed. [The Women’s Circus] encouraged me to be

“The Women’s Circus was my first experience of being part of a community. I had a big imagination but felt repressed. [The Women’s Circus] encouraged me to be bigger and louder.”

bigger and louder.” Ms Maziarz believes Westside Circus encouraged many women to be comfortable with their bodies. Her initiative has inspired other young people to change the lives of their peers. Members of Westside Circus who she once taught are now circus trainers who run classes within the organisation. What started as a big idea financed by a $5000 government grant now has an annual turnover of $950,000. “I never thought it would become this big,” Ms Maziarz said. She left Westside Circus in June this year, but remains a stakeholder in the program. She sounded content as she reflected on the fruits of her

Photo: Lighthouse Communications

ANET Matton has been named a finalist in this year’s Telstra Women’s National Awards on the strength of her role in promoting diversity in the corporate sector. As Vice President of Sales Operations and Enablement at IBM Australia and New Zealand, she leads the Australia and New Zealand Diversity Council. Her many positions in more than 30 years at IBM have taught her the importance of encouraging workplace diversity. Ms Matton has strong views about what she sees as holding women back from achieving more. “Women’s work tends to go unnoticed because we don’t blow our own horn. The glass ceiling exists because women are not forthright enough and have different career challenges,’’ she said. “Women in senior levels are a bit invisible. They bring a lot of innovation and change that go unnoticed.” Ms Matton has made a career out of self determination and an uncompromising attitude to her career. After a

Photo: Lighthouse Communications

By Kimberly Yu

Debby Maziarz, Westside Circus, 2010 nominee for White Pages Community and Government Award

labour. “My biggest challenge [during my time at Westside Circus] was being ready for whatever challenges and to be able to deal with it. I’m proud of our collective personal achievements.” Her passion for what she was doing and determination to succeed led her to nominate herself for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, although it was her leadership coach and her mum who suggested she apply. “I wanted to get as far as I could and [send the message that] if you have a dream, follow it and it will come true.”

BUSINESS: LOCAL MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Melbourne: Cutting edge design

orget New York, Paris and Stockholm. When it comes to cutting-edge design, Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at. The Melbourne Design Awards is a new program that recognises both producers and supporters of unique design projects. A Thinking Company and the Design Institute of Australia have launched the program. Entries are open to students, designers, design companies and design commissioners active in the Melbourne market. Entrants can nominate for any one of 50 design categories ranging from advertising, fashion, architecture, landscape and interior design. The awards are the first to recognise all aspects of the design process, from planning, to funding, construction and dis-

tribution. The public will have the opportunity to vote for the finalists in each category.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Melbourne is a great environment for design and culture. New and innovative ideas always come out of [this city]â&#x20AC;? The creative director of MDA, Mark Bergin said he hoped the awards would elevate the profile of the entire design process, not just the end result. The MDA would help form stronger links between designers and the broader public. â&#x20AC;&#x153;MDA is about engaging industry and the public in all stages of design. By honouring the best of Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design,

we elevate the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position as a design hotspot globally,â&#x20AC;? Mr Bergin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The awards are unique because they address the two halves of the design processthe client who invests in it, and the creative designer in their studio.â&#x20AC;? Melbourne is the inaugural city for the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parent association, the City Design Awards, which has plans for Design Awards in Paris, New York, Stockholm, Helsinki and Taipei. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Melbourne is a great environment for design and culture. New and innovative ideas always come out of [this city],â&#x20AC;? Mr Bergin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The awards will create a stronger marriage between a great local market and a great local culture.â&#x20AC;? Industry peers and the design-loving public will judge the entries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the winning designs will be both beau-

tiful and useful, but the voting process will make for interesting results,â&#x20AC;? he said. MDA organisers are expecting more than 600 entries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Designers are the kind of people who embrace new things and want to see something new come out of the process,â&#x20AC;? Mr Bergin said. To enter, go to: www.melbournedesignawards. com.au and submit your nomination by November 28. The public can vote online to determine the finalists in each category from December 1 to January 22 next year. Panels of industry professionals will choose the category winners. Winners will be announced at the Melbourne Design Awards Evening on February 17 and will be promoted with a publicity campaign.

Photo: Carolyn Czapp

By Kimberly Yu

Model: Casey @ FRM, MUA/Hair: Megan Harrison

Student fashion profile: Alexis Belcher

By Kimberly Yu

Photo: Carolyn Czapp

Model: Casey @ FRM, MUA/Hair: Megan Harrison

oung fashionista Alexis Belcher is set to take part in the Melbourne Design Awards. The RMIT fashion design graduate was noticed when her pieces went on show as part of the RMIT Fashion Graduate Collection. This led to her showing at the Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oreal

natural world and the built-up environment, structured and draped. She talked of creating a â&#x20AC;&#x153;modern laceâ&#x20AC;?, where the traditional fabric is given an edgy makeover. In spite of being chosen as one of the most promising young designers, Ms Belcher remained modest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[The fashion industry] is not as easy to get into as [students] are led to believe. It gets easier, but you need that first start.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lots of competition around, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good because your name gets out there and it might generate enough interest around you.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seeing Australian designers like Willow doing well internationally is inspiring. It makes me think â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;you can do it!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great that Australians can get a [good] reputation.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the Melbourne Design Awards is really

interesting. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great that ordinary people can vote, too, because more people will recognise your work.â&#x20AC;?

Photo: Carolyn Czapp

Alexis Belcher

Melbourne Fashion Festival, and her interpretation of â&#x20AC;&#x153;the little black dressâ&#x20AC;? shown off in a fashion flash mob (an attention-grabbing scene where models stand frozen), outside Flinders St Station. In her most recent project, she produced customised laser print head pieces for the spring races. What started as an experiment with perspex at the RMIT laser centre turned into a successful enterprise of perspex jewellery and custom-designed fascinators. Ms Belcher and fellow design student Michelle Czech sold their pieces at a kiosk in Melbourne Central over six weeks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People were [initially] hesitant and only showed an interest in the jewellery, but they had some time to think about it and they eventually warmed to the idea.â&#x20AC;? Alexisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; designs were inspired by contrasts - hard and soft, the

Model: Casey @ FRM, MUA/Hair: Megan Harrison

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MCN TECHNOLOGY

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Some violent games may have benefits

tealing cars, assassinating people and fending off waves of human zombies is what Philip Watt does for relaxtion. Mr Watt, 22, spends at least a couple of hours a week playing games like Grand Theft Auto 4, Assassin’s Creed and Left 4 Dead. In the first two games put the player in the shoes of a killer, who is tasked with navigating their way around a city in pursuit of human targets. “There’s a cathartic element to violence,” the biomechanist said. “Frustrations from work etc can be forgotten if you shoot enough zombies!” Despite his penchant for violent games Mr Watt doesn’t consider himself an aggressive person. “I’m still disgusted by open wounds on real people ... I’m not an aggressive person, and I feel that’s true regardless of gaming habits,” he says. “I enjoy games in general

probably because of challenge and interactivity, you dont get those in movies or books. “Violent games, in particular, tend to have a serious premise - the game world is affected more by the outcome of your actions - so I guess there’s a satisfaction in doing well.” Mr Watt’s experiences aren’t unusual for adult gamers, Jeffrey Brand, associate dean at Queenslands Bond University said. Brand has spent a decade exploring the effects of electronic media, including games, on young people. He says games may also help some players get violence out of their system. “I am guessing that there is catharsis as a result of playing games... my gut instinct, being a gamer myself and talking to gamers, is that interactivity, if anything, gets it out of their system,” said Mr Brand. He plans to begin a study on the topic next year. “My next major project will

be to run an experiment on comparing interactive and noninteractive stories and working out whether the interactivity has a pro-violence effect or indeed a cathartic effect.” But Chris Johnson, an information technology lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, said it’s “ludicrous” to describe violent games as cathartic. “I think the whole concept of violence or X rated games is pandering to the lowest common denominator,” he said. “As for the ludicrous idea that playing a violent game is cathartic, common sense would say doing some exercise ... is far more cathartic in a positive manner personally and socially.” Mr Johnson said there was no place for violent games. “We are talking about games, for fun, enjoyment, not practising to kill or main human beings ... let’s keep games (as) entertainment... if we want to go further, then let make

Gamers line up for the midnight launch of the latest installment of the Call of Duty franchise

them educational,” he said. The debate over violent games comes as the federal government considers making them subject to an R18 classi-

Wi-Fi networks wired for spying

he local java joint or airport terminal might seem like the perfect location to log onto Facebook or troll Amazon for a deal. But for anyone who has accepted the convenience of unsecured internet access, here’s another reminder to be cautious about what information you share online. When you use a wireless network - or even many wired ones - your communications are sent to every other computer on the network, Seth Schoen, senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit group that defends civil rights in the digital world, said. For years, there have been readily available programs known as “packet sniffers” that intercept those communications. Mr Schoen said he’s given

demonstrations where he’s shown intercepted email and instant messages as well as Google search terms. Until recently, it required a little bit of internet know-how. But now a programmer has released a browser modification called Firesheep that makes spying on certain information much, much easier - causing quite a stir in the computer world. Some sites such as Facebook encrypt your information when you’re entering your password to log on - denoted by the padlock at the bottom of the browser. But afterward, it saves a credential on your computer that indicates you’re currently logged on and reverts to its unencrypted version. A nefarious user could then intercept and copy that credential into another browser to impersonate you on that site, Mr

Schoen said. Some sites, such as Amazon, encrypt payment and shipping steps, but not clicks through pages of books or other products. Financial sites usually encrypt your entire session, he said. Mr Schoen said he believed many popular sites such as Twitter also should be encrypted. Encrypted sites are denoted by the “https” in the URL line of your web browser. To protect yourself, you could bookmark https links to your favourite websites on your computer and smart phone. If you use the Firefox browser, you could also install the “HTTPS Everywhere” extension developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Tor Project, dedicated to improving web privacy. That automatically directs you to the encrypted version of

WiFi security is a growing problem as more and more devices use the technology

every site that offers one. Even some areas of sites that support encryption may be vulnerable, he said, but he believes the situation will improve in the long term. “Some of these sites have more engineering work that they have to do in order to protect users,” Mr Schoen said. Mike O’Leary, director of the Centre for Applied Information Technology at Towson University in the US, said consumers should be wary of free Wi-Fi hotspots they don’t have a reason to trust. Those who use Wi-Fi may have noticed at times a network called “Free Public WiFi.” This wasn’t actually a network at all, O’Leary warned. When a computer running Windows XP that hasn’t had certain upgrades can’t find a Wi-Fi network, it offers itself up. It wouldn’t give you internet access, but it could give another user access to your computer. “If an evildoer wanted to get access to your credentials, an incredibly easy way is for them to put an access point somewhere,” Mr O’Leary said. As this operating system is phased out, consumers will likely see this glitch less and less frequently, he said. But criminals may try to set up rogue access points. “Regardless of how you’re connecting to the internet, you have to trust all of the intermediary nodes along that path,” Mr O’Leary said. “You’re placing trust in these organisations.” AAP

fication. The topic was set to be discussed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General in December, a government spokeswoman said in a statement. John Lenarcic, an IT lecturer at RMIT, says commentators should guard against moral panic over violent games. “There is a moral panic that is associated with any kind of new technology that is introduced into society,” he says.

“If you look back in history ... people said that comic books were evil and there were all kinds of instances of people burning comic books. People shouldn’t automatically “tar and feather” a new technology, he says. Brand says there will always be a demand for violent games, jus as there is for violent movies. And banning them wouldn’t achieve anything given their availablity over the internet. AAP

Open your hotel room with a mobile phone

heck-in and check-out and even opening the door to your room - a mobile phone is the only key you need at a Stockholm hotel conducting a pilot project of new mobile applications, the participating companies said on Tuesday. Starting this week, a number of guests at the Clarion Hotel Stockholm will be provided with telephones equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The chosen clients will not only be able to reserve their rooms and receive confirmation on the devices, they will have the option of checking in even before arriving at the hotel and have their electronic room key ready in the phone when they get there. No need to stop by the reception. Guests can go straight to their room and place their phone in front of the lock and the door opens. When they leave, they check out using their phone, and the electronic key is automatically cancelled. “At TeliaSonera, we are looking at many ways of using the mobile phone to make our

customers’ lives easier,” Johan Wickman, who heads up the Nordic telecom giant’s research and innovation division, said in a statement. “The NFC technology, along with other inbuilt technologies, brings a new dimension to the mobile device which opens new growth opportunities,” he added. TeliaSonera, which partnered with among others the Clarion hotel and Swedish lock maker Assa Abloy on the project, said the pilot test began on November 1 and would last for four months. Over time, the telecom company said it aimed for the technology to be deployed at other hotels as well as at commercial and residential buildings. Assa Abloy meanwhile said the project was a world first and the goal was “to get feedback from guests and employees using the NFC phones for a variety of services”. NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology standard that enables the exchange of data between devices over up to a distance of 10cm. AAP

ENVIRONMENT MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

By Kimberly Yu Green spaces are popping up amidst the drab greys of Melbourne’s concrete jungle. At Docklands, a community-based organisation called Urban Reforestation is seeking to create the camaraderie and concept of a neighbourhood often lost in a sea of apartment blocks with few shared social spaces. “[Urban Reforestation is the result of] international and local research into how to create a sustainable demo project scenario. It’s a learning process, co-designed with businesses and residents,” Emily Ballantyne-Brodie, Urban Reforestation’s director, said. Urban Reforestation emphasises the importance of place-making and community. Residents from Dockland’s four residential apartments are

involved in the growing and harvesting of a communal herb and vegetable garden, and regular workshops are held on the subject of sustainable activities. Different groups also use the space to hold meetings and workshops. “[The project] inspires and enables social innovation. The garden has provided the structure and platform to create projects. They can come anytime they like,” Ms Ballantyne-Brodie said. “We hope to be a part of making Docklands a destination point through this model. We are also open to collaboration with other groups to set up a similar initiative elsewhere.” Meanwhile, a group of young business leaders have spearheaded a project to encourage the construction of rooftop gardens on CBD

buildings. The Growing Up project started as a competition in 2009 to design and construct a rooftop garden on one of the city’s existing commercial buildings. The project team, led by participants of the Committee for Melbourne’s Future Focus Group, selected a 10 storey office tower on 131 Queen Street. The green roof was completed in July this year. It features a herb garden, lemon and olive trees, as well as hardy native plants. There’s also a spot for researchers from the University of Melbourne, who are studying the best plant and soil combinations for green roofs. All the produce harvested from the garden is available to the building’s tenants. The Growing Up project aims to encourage the construction of rooftop gardens in the CBD.

Big challenge for this greenie

By Kimberly Yu (above) I’ve always considered myself to be a bit of a greenie. I don’t own a car, I believe in climate change, and I recycle everything, even those little plastic bread clips. I thought my lifestyle was pretty sustainable until I took on the Ethical Consumer Guide’s Household Action Challenge. The communitybased organisation aims to motivate individuals and households to reflect on their lifestyles and consumption habits. They run ‘shopping with a conscience’ tours and workshops, and hold an annual Household Challenge for No-Impact November. For one week in November an individual or household can set itself a challenge with the aim of consuming less and living more sustainably. After a short brainstorming session, I decided my challenge would centre on cooking and eating. Like most people, my partner and I are heavily reliant on supermarkets and takeaway places for nutrition. We’re also proud meat-eaters. So for one week, we would buy only Victorian produce from local markets. We would also make our own food, so no takeaway or processed foods. On top of all that, we would also have one vegetarian meal everyday. To prepare for the week of ethical consumption, we planned out all our meals, mostly pasta, soups and stews. We headed to Prahran and

Queen Victoria Markets armed with a shopping list of goodies. I didn’t anticipate that the biggest challenge was to figure out where the produce all came from. I suppose it’s a by-product of globalisation that we rarely think about the country, or even the specific region, that our apples and mushrooms come from. Who would have thought most pine nuts came from China and that the majority of the olive oil on the shelves are Spanish? These are the things consumers rarely consider. I quickly realised this when my “Is this from Victoria?” query was met with bemused stares and a harried attempt at naming a Victorian town. The fact that quite a

I started getting mood swings from a lack of chips, chocolate and energy drinks. My partner and I briefly considered growing guarana berries in our yard, but we forged on. few shopkeepers didn’t seem to know where their goods came from was more than a little disturbing. After a weekend spent trawling through markets, we were left quite surprised by how much money we had spent and how little it was compared to if we ever bothered to add up how much we spend on takeaway meals every week. With a pile of food in the refrigerator, the most challenging part of the week was preparing all our meals from scratch. I once found myself preparing three meals in one evening. It took four hours and left me wanting nothing more than the convenience of a pizza

delivery. It might have been the sleep deprivation or the copious amounts of spinach I was eating, but I found myself becoming increasingly grumpy and anti-social towards the middle of the week. I didn’t realise how much I relied on artificial energy boosters until I started getting mood swings from a lack of chips, chocolate and energy drinks. My partner and I briefly considered growing guarana berries in our yard, but we forged on. Ethical Consumer Guide’s founder Nick Ray pointed out the importance of doing the challenges in a communal environment. I appreciate that bit of advice a lot more now, looking back on that week. After we completed our challenge week, my partner and I had dinner with some of the other participants who had yet to start their challenges. It was amazing how much we learned about all the new sustainable products available and where to get them. In the end, my week taught me to be more open to a vegetarian lifestyle. It also made me more aware of unnecessary packaging and the importance of bringing your own bag. One couple at the dinner brought a month’s worth of their non-recyclable rubbish, the equivalent of two days of landfill waste that my partner and I produce.. The experience made me realise how important having the support of a community actually was. Being around the wonderful people from the Ethical Consumer Guide and the frazzled shoppers at the market made me feel a lot more human. It’s a bit of a strange statement, but this sensation is often lost in a world of unquestioning consumerism and self-service checkouts. For more information, visit www.ethical.org.au

Photo: Urban Reforestation

CBD rooftop gardens

Digging at Urban Reforestation’s community garden

“It’s an education tool for other building owners and the general public. It shows that spaces are available either in new buildings or in retrofitting [existing ones],” Growing Up team member Simon Strahan said. “We chose a relatively low high-rise to showcase the project. It’s visually fantastic, and we’ve received a lot of interest from neighbouring buildings who want to use [the space] for functions.” Rooftop gardens have various environmental benefits, including reducing stormwater run-off, providing natural insulation, as well as enhancing the look of the cityscape. “A Canadian study found that a green roof reduced daily energy use during summer by 75-90 per cent compared to a control roof. The installation of green roofs could therefore form an important adaptive response to climate change

DEBT

by directly and indirectly reducing the energy demands of urban buildings,” University of Melbourne researcher Dr Nick Williams said. Unfortunately, the high cost of green roofs has stood in the way of widespread implementation. “[Green roofs] haven’t quite caught on, but I think it’s the sort of thing that will have a roll-on effect. We have received fantastic feedback from industry sponsors and business owners,” Mr Strahan said. “Melbourne is in such a good position to lead the way internationally,” Ethan Kent, vice president of the New Yorkbased Project for Public Spaces, said at the recent Place-Making conference in Melbourne. This statement rings true. Perhaps responding to the above community initiatives, the Victorian Parliament recently passed an amendment to the City of Melbourne

Act to help local building owners obtain finance for environmental retrofit works. This means commercial building owners can receive advance funds from financial institutions for retrofitting that will reduce water and energy consumption and lower carbon emissions through the 1200 Buildings Program. “This legislation was introduced to accelerate the pace of change in the commercial building sector and equip Victoria to take the lead in establishing and building its green jobs sector. It addresses a major obstacle to the uptake of sustainable practices which is access to funding to undertake work,” Planning Minister Justin Madden said. Perhaps Melbourne will be seeing more community spaces and rooftop gardens as a result of this new financial incentive and the motivation sustainable projects like these inspire.

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MCN MOTORING

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Suzuki Kizashi Sport AWD

By Mark Di Iorio

s it just me or does everybody who buys an IPhone seem to be in some weird imaginary relationship with Steve Jobs and thinks the sun shines out of his IPod? Because I’m surrounded by white-shoe wearing graphic designers who swear to me that buying apple products will revolutionise my entire life, I went off and bought myself an IPhone 4 to replace my aging Nokia. I was expecting a revolution, like perhaps it would be able to trim my nose hair or sound an alarm when attractive woman are within a 20m radius. But no. Instead, it doesn’t have profiles or a separate alarm volume or video calling to non-IPhones or....the list goes on. What’s all the fuss about then? Yes, it looks pretty damn cool but it’s NOT a revolution. It’s built for the masses.

However, it is super stylish, simple and easy to use. A lot like the Suzuki Kizashi. After the nerdophiles have recovered from the heartattack I’ve just caused them by likening an IPhone to a Suzuki, they’ll soon realise that this is not a bad thing. The Kizashi is a good piece of kit designed for one of the toughest segments of the market. You’ve got the Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty as class leaders, both of which are brilliant but both of which look like a half eaten pastie. The Suzuki on the other hand is by far the best looking of the bunch, although it could do without the Snoop-Dog chrome side trimmings. Besides that, from all angles it’s rather attractive, modern and sporty. The good news continues inside as well. For $39,990, the top of the range AWD Sport gets electric leather seats with

The interior of the Kizashi Sport AWD

built in bum toasters, sunroof, Bluetooth mobile and audio and a 5 billion watt stereo. Unfortunately though, there is no option for Sat Nav and

A CVT is basically a continuously variable gear that keeps the engine in its ideal power band. The downside of this, is that in the Suzuki, this is fairly high in the rev range so when you stomp on the gas, it feels like you’re doing a quarter mile run at Calder Park. that’s mainly because the centre console looks like a 1990s calculator display. Thankfully, the instrument panel is much more modern and 2010. The rest of the interior is nicely finished and quasi-european, the boot is well sized and there is plenty of space for 5. On the road, the Suzuki also ranks well. The suspension is well sorted and it manages to provide both grip and comfort. The steering is overly light but still manages to be communicative and the AWD system provides an abundance of grip. Trust me, I drove to Phillip Island on a typical Melbourne spring day which consisted of

cyclone-style cross winds and hail the size of beach balls, and the Kizashi didn’t put a foot wrong. In fact, I question whether the Kizashi needs the AWD system at all because there is plenty of grip in 2WD and the extra weight only burdens acceleration. To compensate for this, Suzuki has fitted a CVT transmission. A CVT is basically a continuously variable gear that keeps the engine in its ideal power band. The downside of this, is that in the Suzuki, this is fairly high in the rev range so when you stomp on the gas, it feels like you’re doing a quarter mile run at Calder Park. Take off at the lights with some spirit, and you’re guaranteed to look like a major loser trying to out-drag the grandma alongside you in her Honda Jazz. Luckily, Suzuki have fitted shift paddles that correspond to 6 fixed ratios so you don’t always need to look like a goose when feeling frisky. Under the bonnet, The 2.4 litre, 4 cylinder engine produces a modest 131 Kilowatts and is responsible for lugging around a hefty 1600kg. That means 0-100 is achieved in 8.8 seconds which isn’t exactly sporting although that’s quicker than the Subey and about the same as the Mazda. Still, you wouldn’t date Julia Gillard because she’s slightly sexier than a lamp post would you, so the Suzuki doesn’t get any praise for being

The Kizashi Sport AWD, attractive, modern and sporty

fastest of a slow bunch. Because of the AWD system, the Sports model has to lug a Matt Preston amount of weight around with it which you’d imagine would dampen acceleration and ideally, it should have an extra 15 Kilowatts to compensate. Overall, I was impressed

with the Suzuki. Significantly, it’s a fair bit cheaper than the equivalent Mazda6 and Liberty and it does everything just as good. You should consider it as a real alternative and compare specifications. I did. I checked them using my IPhone.

At a glance Type

Suzuki Kizashi Sport AWD

Transmission

Automatic CVT

Drive

All Wheel Drive

Seats

Tare Mass

(kg) 1600

Engine Size

(cc) 2393

Cylinders

Power

131kW @ 6500rpm

Torque

230Nm @ 4000rpm

Airbags

Front, Side & Curtain

NCAP Safety Rating

5 Star

Fuel Consumption (Combined)

(L/100km) 8.4

Price

$39,990 + charges

115-131 Bell Street, Heidelberg Heights 3081 Phone: 9458 8855 Web: www.makinandlubysuzuki.com.au

SPORTS MCN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

Rafter beats his idol McEnroe, 51, in final On the seniors’ tour most players cannot be serious, but for 51-year-old John McEnroe winning is still as important as ever. In the doubles and third place play-off at the Champions Down Under tennis tournament it was nothing but entertainment and antics but when it came down to the final between the American seven-time grand slam winner and Pat Rafter, it was all business. Ask any player on the Champions Tour who the most fierce competitor is and the answer will undoubtedly be the same - John McEnroe. The former world No.1 got through the group stage of the competition, in which he’s the oldest player, as the only man to not drop a set. And while his famous oneliner wasn’t heard this tournament McEnroe was still as intimidating as ever with his vintage outbursts. But in the end, youth prevailed over experience with Rafter beating the man he calls his idol 6-2 6-2. It was rare display of two serve-volleyers of different eras battling it out on court and while McEnroe still displays flashes of brilliance, Rafter was just too quick, too strong. Rafter, who can still cover the net like a blanket, got the early break and raced to a 5-1 lead in

In brief MOTOR PRIX WINNER (ABU DHABI) IRed Bull’s German driver SEBASTIAN VETTEL has become Formula One’s youngest ever world champion after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Pre-race series leader and two-time champion FERNANDO ALONSO of Ferrari and Vettel’s Australian teammate MARK WEBBER fell out of contention when they emerged down the field after early pit-stops.

GOLF AUST WINNER (MELBOURNE) Victorian STUART APPLEBY fired a six-under-par final round of 65 to claim victory in the Australian Masters at Melbourne’s Victoria Golf Club. APPLEBY started the day seven shots from the lead, but came from the clouds to finish on 10 under par, a shot clear of South Australia’s ADAM BLAND. TIGER WOODS also made a late charge, matching APPLEBY’s 65 to finish in fourth place.

CRICKET NZ (HYDERABAD)

John McEnroe

“If I’m his hero I’d hate to see what he’d do to me if he didn’t like me,” McEnroe joked after the match. both sets. He played smart, not giving McEnroe any pace knowing the American, who is 14 years his senior, can’t create it on his own any more. But Rafter wasn’t about to get

too cocky considering their last meeting in Florida in February was not so easy for him, only just managing to edge out McEnroe 7-6 7-6. “You always feel like you can’t really let your guard down with John McEnroe,” Rafter said after the match. “He can always turn it round, so I just didn’t want to let him get back into that match at all.” Rafter credits the tennis legend for wanting to adopt the servevolley style. “Yeah, it’s a lost art,” Rafter said.

“I had Johnny Mac posters all over my walls as a little kid so to actually play him here today it’s such a privilege, I grew up idolising him.” But the respect is mutual for McEnroe admires the Aussie for playing their brand of tennis in a time when it becoming out-of-fashion. “If I’m his hero I’d hate to see what he’d do to me if he didn’t like me,” McEnroe joked after the match. “But if I had to beaten by someone, Pat Rafter is a class act.” AAP

Shaun Marsh to miss Australia A game in Hobart Opener SHAUN MARSH will miss Australia A’s four-day game against England in Hobart starting this week after the West Australian failed to overcome a back injury. Tasmania’s ED COWAN comes in for MARSH while Queensland pace bowler RYAN HARRIS is looming as a possible replacement for injured NSW left-armer MITCHELL STARC. CAMERON WHITE’S Australia A

squad and the ANDREW STRAUSSled England side are scheduled to train at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval. There is speculation England will rest some of their key pace bowlers such as JAMES ANDERSON and STUART BROAD for this week’s match ahead of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane starting on November 25. AAP

ROBBIE FOWLER completed a dream hat-trick as Perth Glory snapped their 10-game winless run with a 3-1 A-League triumph over Melbourne Victory at nib Stadium. FOWLER, benched in recent weeks and under pressure to perform, scored in the 13th, 54th and 61st minutes to inspire Perth to their first win since September 5. “It’s nice scoring goals (but) ultimately the most important thing is the three points,” Fowler said. “Today we’ve come out and took it to Melbourne

Indian off-spinner HARBHAJAN SINGH frustrated New Zealand with the bat once again, smashing 85 runs off 82 balls on the third day of the second Test. HARBHAJAN hammered five sixes and seven fours to add an unbeaten 69 runs for last wicket with SHANTHAKUMARAN SREESANTH to have India nine for 436 in reply to New Zealand’s first-innings of 350.

RUGBY AUST MUNSTER (LONDON) Star hooker TATAFU POLOTA-NAU made his return for the Wallabies from the bench in the clash with Irish side Munster in Limerick. POLOTA-NAU was named to play his first game for Australia this year after he was flown over as back-up for the Wallabies’ injury-hit hookers. BERRICK BARNES again captained the midweek side from five-eighth.

SOCCER ENGLISH ARSENAL (LIVERPOOL) A TIM CAHILL goal wasn’t enough to stop Arsenal climbing into second place on the Premier League ladder with a 2-1 win over Everton. Socceroos star CAHILL found the net in the 88th minute to set up a tense finish, but the Gunners held on thanks to goals from BACARY SAGNA and skipper CESC FABREGAS.

SOCCER ALL HEART (MELBOURNE) A last-gasp JEAN CARLOS SOLORZANO goal gave Brisbane Roar a thrilling 2-1 win over Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park. The win extends their lead atop the A-League to four points.

MOTOR V8 (SYMMONS PLAINS, Tas)

Shaun Marsh

Fowler hat-trick sinks Glory=2

Robbie Fowler

and we deserved the win. “From the ‘keeper to Michael Baird up front everyone played their part. “It’s a great win, but it’s one win in 10 so let’s not get carried away.” Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick was baffled by his team’s sub-standard performance. “It was a pretty poor performance all around,” Merrick said. “We just couldn’t get in the game. It was one of the few games where all around we just didn’t play well, whether it be defence, midfield or attack.” AAP

Ford star MARK WINTERBOTTOM has won the V8 Supercar race in Tasmania. WINTERBOTTOM finished the 200km race at Symmons Plains ahead of Ford Performance Racing teammate PAUL DUMBRELL with Holden’s JASON BRIGHT coming in third. Championship contenders JAMES COURTNEY and JAMIE WHINCUP were 12th and 15th respectively.

Selectors cover all Ashes bases Australia have picked a 17-man squad for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba starting on Thursday week, including new faces XAVIER DOHERTY, USMAN KHAWAJA, STEVE SMITH, RYAN HARRIS and CALLUM FERGUSON. Tasmanian left-arm spinner DOHERTY is one of three slow bowlers named, along with NATHAN HAURITZ and SMITH. Young NSW batsman KHAWAJA and South Australian FERGUSON were chosen with vice-captain MICHAEL CLARKE and opener SIMON KATICH under injury clouds. The squad, which includes one more player than England’s tour party, will be whittled down to 12 or 13 next week. AAP

MCN Cricket: England V south australia The new Western Grand Stand development at Adelaide Oval is seen during the West End Redbacks v England cricket match at Adelaide Oval

Englishmen in Full Swing England’s Stuart Broad (right) attempts to slice the ball but is caught by South Australia’s James Smith

England’s Greame Swann on one knee off a delivery from South Australia’s Aaron O’Brien (not pictured)

England’s James Anderson delivers to South Australia’s Daniel Harris (not pictured)

South Australia’s Daniel Harris dodges a fast delivery from England’s Stuart Broad (not pictured)

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09 photos: AAP England’s Paul Collingwood leaves the oval after being dismissed for 99 by South Australia’s Jake Haberfield (not pictured)

England’s Ian Bell looks up at the replay after being dismissed for 61 runs by South Australia’s Ben Edmondson (not pictured)

England’s Stuart Broad bowls during the West End Redbacks v England cricket match at Adelaide Oval

England’s Ian Bell (left) is congratulated by team mate Matt Prior after reaching his half century

England’s Greame Swann bats against South Australia at Adelaide Oval

MCN BRAIN TRAIN

NOVEMBER 2010 • VOL 1, ISSUE 09

CROSSWORD 1

Horoscope

10 10

11 12

26 25

21 22

ACROSS: 1. Worrying problem, 5. Held for trial, on ..., 9. Jumped for joy, 10. One by one, 12. Social events, 13. Join up, 14. Shortly, 16. Colourful garden annual, 19. Porch, 21. Candle string, 24. Untruthful people, 25. Wandered leisurely, 27. Native leaders, ... elders, 28. Middle Easterner, 29. Awaits with horror, 30. Sit astride DOWN: 1. Bombed base, Pearl ..., 2. Pitiful, 3. Corrosive substances, 4. Country dance, 6. Person suffering convulsions, 7. Enraging, 8. Clean with solvents (3-5), 11. Pronto (1,1,1,1), 15. Magazine booth, 17. Adored, 18. Fiery, 20. Root vegetables, 21. Feeblest, 22. Buddy, 23. Hold fast (to), 26. Tense situation

CITY NEWS 5A andyblank.pdf ations 2010

THE PUZZLE THAT MAKES YOU SMARTER !

EASY 9+ 1

3÷

12x

+÷x3

1. Fill in the numbers without repeating a number in any row or column.

2. For a 4x4 puzzle use the numbers 1-4. 3. The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares (cages) must combine to equal the number in the top corner using the arithmetic sign indicated. 4. Cages with just one square can be filled in straight away with the target number in the top corner. 5. A number may be repeated in a cage but not in a row or column.

Rating:

Across: 8. Chekhov play (5,5), 9. South Park character voiced by Isaac Hayes (4), 10. First person to patent the telephone, Alexander ... Bell (6), 11. Pre-medieval period (4,4), 12. Highland garment (4), 13. South African currency (4), 15. Prince Andrew's ex (5), 16. Breathing disorder (6), 18. What goes pop after half a pound each of tuppenny rice and treacle (6), 20. Blood vessels which may become varicose (5), 22. Snow-capped Swiss mountains (4), 23. Animals which were more equal than the others, according to Orwell (4), 25. Dagger or high heel (8), 27. German city once split by the Wall (6), 28. Coloured, numbered balls are sunk in the correct order in this billiards-like game (4), 29. Anonymous missives sent on February 14 each year (10) Down: 1. The film Blade Runner was based on the Philip K Dick story about human-like robots, Do ... Dream Of Electric Sheep? (8), 2. As passé as a cloche, pillbox or sailor? (3,3), 3. Shirley Bassey had a 1962 hit with this famous hymn meaning Hail Mary (3,5), 4. The Chalk Garden author, ... Bagnold (4), 5. In 1971 President Mobutu changed his Congo nation’s name to this (5), 6. Australian tennis player McNamee’s long-time doubles partner (8), 7. Wimbledon champion, ... Williams (6), 14. Racing driver, ... Mansell (5), 17. Hawaii’s capital (8), 18. Occupied area of Palestine (4,4), 19. Hourglass for the kitchen (3,5), 21. System that allows electronic payment for goods & services (6), 23. The quality of mercy was not strained in this character's famous speech from The Merchant Of Venice (6), 24. Crocodile-hunting Irwin (5), 26. Medium for artists Pioneered by the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck (4)

MCN QUIZ 008 1. In banking terms what does PIN stand for? 2. From which country is the trainer of Americain, the winner of the 2010 Melbourne Cup? 3. How many British popes have there been? 4. On the animated TV series Ren And Stimpy, what breed of dog is Ren? 5. In geometry, an 'acute angle' is what? 6. What is the name of the professor in the popular board game Cluedo? 7. Which Melbourne Victory player has been out injured since last season’s grand final against Sydney FC? 8. According to legend, what will happen if a visitor throws a coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain? 9. Against which side did Australia play its first One Day International in 1971? 10.Vilnius is the capital of which European country, situated in the Baltics?

Fill the grid so that every column, every row, every 3x3 box & the two shaded diagonal lines contain the digits 1 to 9.

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

5 7 3 9 1 4 6 2 4 6 7 8 8 6 7 4 3 8 1 7 9 6 6

7 6 9 5 8 9 6 2 4 6 4 1

Rating:

4 6

7 1

4 7

4 2 9 6 4 4 8

7 2

7 8

Taurus April 21 - May 21

Gemini May 22 - June 21

Cancer June 22 - July 23

Leo July 24 - August 23

Virgo August 24 - September 23

Libra September 24 - October 23

Scorpio October 24 - November 22

Sagittarius November 23-December 21

Capricorn December 22 - January 20

Aquarius January 21 - February 19

Pisces February 20 - March 20

If we are what we eat, then who’d be ordering cabbage? While we’re on the physical, this is an appropriate time to be hitting the health trail. We’re not only talking better nutrition, and exercise, but also addressing any health issues that you’ve conveniently swept under the carpet. Even to the point of considering the well-being rating attached to the work you do. Feeling better means changing the routines.

Creativity needs tools like an artist needs a paintbrush, or a musician an instrument. You want to do something that ultimately showcases your self-expression, but you require the right resources to make it a reality. But for you now, life can be a work of art, and it is your creative spirit that your labor is honoring. You don’t have to be doing a Picasso here, just be true to your own style.

Financial gain comes via real-estate, home improvements or working from the home. The Sun and Moon hook in with expansive Jupiter in the house of gain via others. Family members can also be helpful here, and pooling your resources can help you secure, what you may have been unable to achieve alone. Physical recreation, exercise and sports, especially involving children are especially favored.

Communication channels are opening up around you. It all suits short courses, educational pursuits, or finding a tutor. People around you now have useful information with plenty of “intellectual” moments. A positive period for purchasing communication equipment, software, or updating the mobile plan. Strangely when it comes to close family the opposite can apply, where constructive criticism may not be seen as it is intended.

You are beginning to be rewarded for your patience from the 19th onward. Personal initiatives that have been blocked over the last month can finally get the go ahead, or you begin to the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The over riding message is don’t give up on what you have already put the hard yards in on. Time and changing circumstance are moving in your direction.

Self-belief is important now, as is marching very much to the beat of your own drum. Birthdays around the 16th have their Sun superbly aligned with the planet of expansion and opportunity in Jupiter. That promises a year of enormous potential providing you have faith and take the plunge. Birthdays around the 18/9th are the ones who need to be a little more wary and look for proof rather than go ahead on blind faith.

The planets of intellect (Mercury) and action (Mars) are firing up your sign. A little bit of directness can get you right to the target in a hurry. The Sun in a favorable position to your ruler Jupiter suggests people behind the scenes are working for you early. Also the messages that you are getting through feeling or intuition can be right on the money. Plenty of forward momentum concerning family matters and domestic concerns.

The paparazzi may not be exactly on our tail yet, but chances are everyone else could be. Isn’t it nice to be wanted – providing your face isn’t in the posters with the rewards underneath. I hope you think so, because this can get to be a busy time. My advice – look the part for starters. And if you can do the job you’ll be the one claiming the reward. If you can’t well you’re in for quite a ride, which can be good experience anyway. .

Jupiter, your traditional planetary ruler, also has a connection with your professional affairs. Its backward movement may have had you feeling like you’ve been treading water professionally. Plans, or promises, put on hold can suddenly manifest. The giant planet lumbers forward from the 19th suggesting whatever went off the rails can be now heading back on track. Mercury and Mars fire up your workzone – meaning getting busy on the job. Aborted travel plans also may now reverse toward distinct possibility.

By Ed Tamplin | (02) 95341081 | www.edtamplin.com

For solutions, visit our webpage www.mc-news.com.au

5 9 6 1 2 8 3 4 7

Have you caught up with those old buddies yet? And have you seen how some have changed – and the unhappy ones haven’t? Some people are standing still on the station of life. Don’t let yourself be among them. You can be getting some positive feedback, from feelers you put out over a month ago. It’s time to be chasing the new carrot – not to be walking in ever decreasing circles around the same issues.

8 9 2 5 2

Aries March 21 - April 20

Other people can certainly motivate you now. And it may happen in strange ways – a bit like your worst enemy becoming your best buddy for achieving goals. Not a friend in the normal sense of the word, but inadvertently pushing you in the right direction, even if through conflict. Competitors bring out the best in you. In relationships you’re attracted to the physical as much as the intellectual – which means partners getting into shape.

28 28

With your sign ruler Mars now in the fellow fire sign of Sagittarius, plans should begin unfolding easier for you. Your partnership ruler Venus is now moving forward your relationship zone, bringing people back into your life. Resolutions around relationship matters that have been on your mind since early October are possible. People can be literally coming out off the shadows.

19 November19 December 2010

2 4 6 3 5 7 9 1 8

ADVERTORIAL

Cancer Council Relay for Life Cancer has a ripple effect through the local community: Survivor’s and Carers walk

ocal residents who have experienced cancer are invited to join in the Cancer Council Victoria’s Melbourne Relay for Life Survivors and Carers Walk on the 20 & 21 November. Those who have either experienced cancer directly, or cared for someone during their cancer journey are invited to participate in the special Survivors and Carers Walk. This event has become an important part of the ritual, which includes a lap of honour that opens The Relay for Life event. The Survivors and Carers Walk is an opportunity to reflect upon individual journeys with cancer, but also is an opportunity to raise awareness of the local impact of the disease.

“Each year, more than 277 City of Melbourne residents are diagnosed with cancer,” says Maisi Ahuja, the Relay for Life’s Volunteer Committee Co-Chair manager. For each one of the 277 cancer sufferers in the City of Melbourne, there are hundreds of community members that are impacted by the disease - as family and friends cope with the devastating effects of cancer and the treatments that afflict their loved ones. Ms Ahuja had to relocate her family to Melbourne when she was diagnosed with cancer, in order to receive much needed physical and emotional support. “The lack of medical facilities and social supports in remote rural areas in Australia makes the fight against cancer so much more traumatic,” she says. “The invasive and aggressive treatments that are currently available (such as chemotherapy) leave you

in such a vulnerable state. You digress to being a child again.”. Without the care of her mother, Ms Ahuja believes she wouldn’t have successfully beaten the disease. The sense of community that the Relay for Life events provide are an essential part of the recovery. “By participating in the Survivors and Carers Walk, you can share cancer experiences with others who truly understand, and at the same time help inspire the hundreds of local Relay for Life participants who are raising funds to fight this disease.” Melbourne’s Relay for Life begins at 4pm on Saturday 20 November, and will be held at the Alexandra Gardens. The Survivors and Carers Walk will commence at 3.45pm on Saturday 20 November. For more information call 1300 65 65 85 or visit www. relayforlife.org.au

Product offers end 31/12/10