Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - Page 103
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www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Observer Showbiz Every Week in the Melbourne Observer
Radio: Community radio leads way ................ Page 104 Veritas: Melbourne’s critic, without fear or favour . Page 105 The Spoiler: Advance plotlines for TV soapies .......... Page 105 Jim and Aaron: Top 10, best movies and DVDs ............ Page 106 Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions ........... Page 107 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
SPRING AWAKENING Stephen Schwartz to visit Melbourne
By CHERYL THREADGOLD
● Ellen Akers, Mattie McLeod, Tess Walsh and Hannah Morrison in Altona City Theatre's production of Spring Awakening. ■ Altona City Theatre presents Spring Awakening: A New Musical, until July 20 at Altona Theatre, 115 Civic Pde, Altona. With book and lyrics by Steven Sater, and music by Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening is a daring depiction of teenage selfdiscovery, originally banned from the stage for nearly 100 years. This electrifying fusion of morality, rebellion, sexual awakening and rock 'n roll is directed by Patt Ryan, with musical direction by Dave Barclay and choreography by Stephanie Johns. Tickets: $30/$25 . Bookings: www.altonacitytheatre.com.au or 0425 705 550. Please note: This production contains coarse language, simulated sex scenes, partial nudity and mature themes. This show may not be suitable for children under 15 years of age.
Big party night at Theatre Works, St Kilda ● Stephen Schwartz ■ If you discovered music theatre in the 1970s, then chances are that you also fell in love with Stephen Schwartz. If the name doesn't immediately ring a bell, how about the shows Godspell, Pippin and Children Of Eden ? And the songs Day By Day and Corner Of The Sky , to name just a couple of Stephen Schwartz hits. Schwartz is the mastermind of these and many other shows - he is truly a Broadway legend and he is coming to Australia in September. The innovative Australian theatre company Magnormos is bringing Schwartz out here and producing a special Schwartz triptych of Godspell, Pippin and Children Of Eden. And while Schwartz was the composer of the 1970s for many of us, he's still a Broadway legend - today's generation of young theatergoers know him better as the creator of Wicked , which is returning to Melbourne for another season. The Stephen Schwartz Celebration will take the form of the three shows being presented in concert format at Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at Melbourne Recital Centre. Godspell is first cab off the rank, on Monday September 9, with Pippin following on Monday September 16 and Children Of Eden' finishing the season on Monday, September 23. Pippin ran for five years on Broadway with 1944 performances, while Godspell was recently revived on Broadway. In addition to the Triptych, those people who buy seats to all three shows will be able to secure a seat to the night of a lifetime - Stephen Schwartz In Conversation on Saturday, September 21. Given the popularity of Schwartz musicals in Melbourne, booking tickets earlier rather than later is probably a good idea. Icons like this don't visit every day, and having the chance to see three Schwartz shows is a precious one. www.melbournerecital.com.au or 9699 3333 - Julie Houghton
■ Theatre Works extends an invitation to all theatre supporters to attend Abundance - a fundraising party for Independent Theatre at 14 Acland St, St Kilda, on Saturday, July 27 from 7pm until midnight Join in celebrating the growing community that is Theatre Works, with live music, DJs, original performances, laughs, canapés, an auction and glass of bubbly on arrival. The MC will be Nicola Gunn, and artists who have already come forward to support this event include Laura Imbruglia, Beau Heartbreaker, Willow J, Present Tense Ensemble, Rosie Westbrook, David Woods and Stella J Young. Bookings: www.theatreworks.org.au or call 9534 3388. Also visit the website if wishing to make tax deductable donations to support this fundraiser.
Circa returns
● Nathan Boyle, Alice Muntz, Daniel Crisp ■ After sell-out seasons across the world, Australia’s ground-breaking Circa returns to Melbourne with a breathless cocktail of new circus, cabaret and vaudeville Wunderkammer. Circa is world-renowned for creating startling new ways to experience circus. Combining seemingly impossible physical feats with a poetic sensibility, its creations move, amaze and astonish. In Wunderkammer, an exquisite cabaret of the senses, a diva melts into a rope, balloons and bubble wrap discover their artistic souls while bodies twist and fly. Seven performers of unbelievable ability bend the fabric of reality. Hailing from Brisbane, Circa is responsible for a bold new vision of contemporary circus. Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz and his talented company are a dynamic force in circus. Wunderkammer is a blending of bodies, light, sound and skills, a place where acrobatics and movement meld into a seamless whole, a celebration of the expressive possibilities of the human body at its extremes. Since 2006 Circa has toured to 24 countries across five continents and its work has been well-received by audiences, presenters and critics around the world. In 2012 Circa was honoured with a Helpmann Award for Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production, and has again been nominated for this year’s awards in the Best Regional Touring Production category. It recently won a Brighton Festival award in the UK for How Like An Angel and Circa’s newest production, Opus, had its premiere in Lyon, France in June. Circa also runs a training centre with an impressive workshop program in Brisbane at its professional studio, in schools and with partners throughout Queensland and beyond. Featuring fresh, contemporary soundscapes, a young and gifted ensemble, and produced under the artistic direction of Yaron Lifschitz, Circa provides a rare opportunity to see one of Australia’s most successful contemporary performance exports up close and personal. Performances: August 14 – September 1 Venue: Malthouse Theatre, 113 Sturt St, Southbank Bookings: malthousetheatre.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold
Open gathering at La Mama ■ Theatre-makers and supporters gathered in Carlton this week to celebrate La Mama Theatre’s Winter Season Launch and enjoy hospitality from the La Mama BBQ and Soup Kitchen. Details of La Mama’s exciting line-up of plays, creative teams and performers can be found on www.lamama.com.au La Mama founder Betty Burstall will be honoured at a gathering on Saturday, July 27 at 2pm in the La Mama Forecourt, to celebrate all that she so generously contributed to people’s lives. Artist, homemaker and teacher, Betty established La Mama Theatre in the elegant Victorian warehouse at 205 Faraday St, Carlton, in 1967, where it is still located today, 46 years later. The theatre’s survival is a tribute to the far sightedness of Betty’s creative vision, as her artistic policy remains one of the most enlightened and creative initiatives in our theatre history. In 1976, Betty relinquished the role of Artistic Director, but continued an active association with La Mama as inaugural Chair of the Committee of Management and as script advisor, a role she continued until 2004.
Sadly, Betty passed away on June 14, aged 87. If wishing to attend the open gathering at La Mama Theatre on July 27 at 2pm, please RSVP via rsvp@lamama.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold
Page 104 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Observer Radio Confidential Showbiz News from stations from around Victoria Showbiz Briefs Premiere for Wolverine ■ The Australian premiere charity screening of The Wolverine in 3D, starring Hugh Jackman will be on the eve of the international launch on Wednesday July 24. The Wolverine world premiere was held last night (Tues.) at Leicester Square Theatre in London. The exclusive Melbourne screening will be held on Wednesday, July 24, at Rivoli Cinemas in Camberwell the day before The Wolverine will open to the public nationally.
‘100 Bloody Acres’ Q&A ■ A ‘Q&A’ session for the new Australian film, 100 Bloody Acres, will be held at Cinema Nova at 7pm on Tuesday, July 23. The Q&A will feature Colin and Cameron Cairnes, Damon Herriman and Angus Sampson. It wil be hosted by filmmaker Mark Hartley
RAISE THE PLATFORM
■ A radio program produced by people with disabilities is starting this Saturday at 11am on SYN 90.7 FM - Casey. Raise The Platform is embracing the theme “Different Not Less”. The show will allow young people to advocate for, and share experiences of people with disabilities.
SYN MEDIA SUPPORTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Bon voyage Bruce
■ 3AW Nightline and Remember When co-host Bruce Mansfield will be away from July 23 until August 11 on a trans-Atlantic cruise aboard Queen Mary 2. His tour, through Travelrite, is taking in New York, London and Paris, with seven nights aboard the Cunard liner. Simon Owens will be on air with Philip Brady.
Prizes on Sugar, Spice
Pleasure House tour ■ Entertainer Jimmy Barnes is undertaking a national tour with the Victorian gig to be at Bendigo (Sept. 7). Special guests include Diesel, Mahalia Barnes and Evil J & Saint Cecilia.
Visiting LA
● SYN Radio’s Raise The Platform team
Huggy’s radio find
Powerplay 21 ■ Moonee Valley Racecourse will be the venue for the Pwerplay 21 night of kickboxing, Muay Thai and pro boxing. Fighters include Aaron Goodson, Michael Zeraffa, Haysem Abdullah, Sam Abdulrahim, Steve Baldachino, Cobie Brigham, Alexi Petroulas, Craig Clarke, Erik Miskle, Simon Coutsouvelis, Ben White and Albert Xavier. The event will take place on Saturday, July 27.
Stella night at Eltham ■ Stella Prize inaugural winner Carrie Tiffany and shortlisted local author Lisa Jacobson with be in conversation with Jacinta Halloran at 6.30pm on Monday (July 22) at the Eltham Bookshop, 970 Main Rd, Eltham. Cost: $25 include a glass of wine, nibbles and a gift voucher to spend on one of the Stella Prize shortlisted books.
Couch potato declared dead ■ Vegging out in front of the television is close to extinction according to new research released today by the Nine Network’s TV app Jump-in. The national survey found that Australians’ use of mobiles, tablets and laptops is killing off the ‘couch potato’ as zoning out in front of the television is becoming a dying pastime. Research by Ninemsn reveals that while 66 per cent of Australians think they watch more television than theirr parents, at an average of three hours and six minutes a day, 77 per cent no longer classify themselves as a ‘couch potato’. Almost 69 per cent of Australians now “view and do” concurrently engaging in some other activity while watching TV.
● Judy Banks-Phillips and Bob Phillips ■ Radio 3RPP, on the Mornington Peninsula, has boosted its prizes for listeners. The station, broadcasting on 98.7 offered an accommodation package at Limoncello Holiday House Sorrento. Judy Banks-Phillips and Bob Phillips, presenters of the Thursday morning Sugar And Spice program, announced that listener Renee Gibb of Frankston will enjoy accommodation at Limoncello, wine, coffee vouchers and priority passes at Peninsula Hot Springs.
● Darren James ■ 3AW weekend morning host Darren James and wife Kathy are visiting Los Angeles, staying at the Ramada Plaza operated by Melbourne expat Alan Johnson. News of Darren meeting with Observer columnist Gavin Wood is on Page 15 of this week’s edition.
3CR aims for $220,000
MBS winners ■ Community radio station 3MBS FM Fine Music has announced prize winners from this year's Radiothon. Major winners were: 1. Trip to Munich and Ring Cycle tickets: Arnold Richard Clarke 2. Sofitel weekend: Josephine Ridge
● Gold 104.3 FM morning presenter Craig Huggins is an Op Shop fossicker, and found this old book on British radio personalities in his past week’s shopping.
■ Melbourne’s original community radio station, 3CR 855 AM, is still aiming to raise $220,000, even though its radiothon month is over. The June appeal fell short of the target needed to run the station over the coming 12 months.
r Observbei z Show
On This Day
Wednesday, July 17
Thursday, July 18
Friday, July 19
Saturday, July 20
Sunday, July 21
Monday, July 22
Tuesday, July 23
■ Comedian Red Skelton was born in Indiana in 1913. He died aged 84 in 1997. Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918 (94). Athlete Shirley De La Hunty (nee Strickland) was born in 1925. She died aged 78 in 2004. Cricketer Dennis Lillee is 64 (1949).
■ Author A J Cronin was born in Scotland in 1896. Died aged 84 in 1981. Brian May, guitarist with Queen, was born in London in 1947 (66). Australian TV preseneter Catriona Rowntree is 42. She is now also a wool farmer. Actress Nikki Osborne is 32 (1981).
■ Australian actress Vivean Gray was born in England in 1924 (89). She played Mrs Jessop in The Sullivans. American actress Natalie Wood was born in 1938. She died aged 43 in 1981. Radio-TV man Ken Sparkes was born in Sydney in 1940. He is 73 today. He hosts Jukebox Sat. Night.
■ US author Ernest Hemingway was norn in 1899. He died aged 61 in 1961. Comic author Don Knotts was born in 1924. He died aged 81 in 2006. Australian actor Michael Caton was born in Queensland in 1943 (70). He played Uncle Harry in The Sullivans.
■ Comedian Dan Rowan was born in 1922. He died aged 65 in 1987. He was one of the co-hosts of the popular Laugh-In show of the 1960s. English actor Terence Stamp was born in London in 1939 (74). US actress Selena Gomez was born in Texas in 1992 (21). She was in Wizards of Waverly Place.
■ Bert Newton was born in North Fitzroy in 1938 (75). Actress Abigail (Rogan) was born in London in 1946 (66). Collingwood football legend Tony Shaw is 53. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is 46 (1967). Australian actress Bec Cartwright was born in Sydney in 1983 (30).
■ US actor James Cagney was born in New York in 1899. He died aged 86 in 1986. Art Linkletter (Gordon Arthur Kelly) was born in Canada in 1912. He died aged 97 in 2010. Actress Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy) and Desi Arnzax, was born in 1951 (62).
Melbourne
Observer
Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of the Birthday Bulletin for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates. Find out more at www.birthdaybulletin.com.au
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - Page 105
Observer TV, Radio, Theatre Showbiz Latest Melbourne show business news - without fear or favour The Spoiler CURIOSITY PIQUED Media Flashes
ShowBiz!
For Those Who Have Lost The Plot
Neighbours ■ 6.30pm. Weeknights. Eleven ■ Monday, July 22. Kate struggles to come to terms with her illness; Lucas is feeling the heat of his financial woes; the Kennedys realise that Holly has a problem with Izzy, not Susan. ■ Tuesday, July 23. Kate struggles to deal with the balance between keeping a secret from her loved ones and her illness; Chris rejects Hudson but he won't take no for an answer. ■ Wednesday, July 24. Chris opens the door to a new start with Hudson; Robbo sabotages Mason and Imogen's car; Matt's attempt to turn Amber away from Robbo backfires. ■ Thursday, July 25. Kate gets the support she needs from Georgia; Mason learns the breakdown was his fault; Robbo's intimidation tactics get the better of Sonya. ■ Friday, July 26. Robbo is driving Sonya to breaking point; Karl decides to be a better father to Holly; Bite Club turns into a fight club between Matt, Lucas and Robbo.
Home and Away ■ Monday, July 22. Brax wants Casey to give positive testimony for Ricky. Indi and Dex decide to throw a party. Dex asks April to move in. Indi tries to help Casey. ■ Tuesday, July 23. Casey is faced with an embarrassing day after drunkenly kissing Indi. Irene is overworked at the Diner. Tamara tries to ignore the fact her memories are returning. ■ Wednesday, July 24. Maddy tries to rekindle her friendship with a reluctant Spencer. Kyle and Tamara worry what the return of her memories mean for them. ■ Thursday, July 25. Double Episode. Maddy's friendship with Spencer is threatened by an unexpected twist. Bianca expects Heath to take her to the Principal's Dinner. Pippa starts her first day at school and Zac tries to convince Heath to be there for Bianca.
Star Bursts
★
Derryn Hinch faced Judge Forrest of the Supreme Court of Victoria yesterday (Tues.) in a matter relating to alleged contempt of Court. Hinch is due to return to Court on September 23 to face two charges. He will plead not guilty.
★
Network Ten’s sales boss Barry O’Brien has quit after only 13 months in the job. He finishes on July 31. Louise Barrett will take over running the department.
★
Sydney’s Daily Telegraph has released its list of the 10 worst presenters on Australian television: Doug Mulray, Ben Elton, Shan Warne, Mick Molloy, Ian Thorpe, Paul Henry, Matt Newton, Kyle Sandilands, Derryn Hinch and Molly Meldrum.
■ The Adelaide-based children’s show The Curiosity Show has returned to a new generation of viewers, reports the Television.AU website. “The show’s original presenters Dr Deane Hutton and Dr Rob Morrison have always owned a half-share of the rights but the remainder was tied up with producers Banksia Productions which has been in liquidation. “Hutton and Morrison have bought out Banksia’s share of the rights and now have access to around 500 episodes of the program — with segments to be uploaded to their new YouTube channel which launched on Friday.”
TV Mayor on way to Aust.
Don’t worry about Mel
Veritas
Melbourne’s Best TV-Radio Critic
● If you were worried about Melissa Doyle leaving as host of Sunrise, don’t. Mel is pictured enjoying a meal with Hugh Jackman this week in London. She is too not unhappy. ● From Page 12
Di Rolle’s TV selection
● Deanne Hutton and Rob Morrison Melbourne publicist Prue Bassett says that Johnson will deliver the Opening Night Keynote Address for the Melbourne Writers Festival on Thursday, August 22. He will discuss his literary influences, the craft of writing, and his belief in the power of literature to transform, inspire and de● Denise Scott light. On Friday August 23, ■ For the second week in political commentator a row, Melbourne radio Annabel Crabb will ex- station 3AW has been airplore Johnson’s journey ing incorrect commercials from scholar to journalist for the Seven Network to political icon, in an inti- program, Winners And mate event, An Audience Losers. Last week, the adverwith Boris Johnson at the Sofitel Melbourne on tisements had the ‘station voice’ announce W&L as Collins. Tickets for these two being shown at 7.30pm on exclusive events are on sale Tuesday. This week, ads after the with the full festival pro3AW half-hourly news bulgram from Friday. letins on Monday morning had the show promoted as airing on Monday at 8.45pm.
Losers
● Boris Johnson ■ TV producer-Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to visit Australia for two exclusive events at the Melbourne Writers Festival. Outside of politics, Johnson, a journalist and former editor of The Spectator, has published several biographies, works of fiction and produced a TV series.
● From Page 11
Memories of 3DB
Blithe Spirit at Rosanna
● John Eden and Geoff McComas are shown in the 3DB studio in this 1968 photo. Photo: National Library of Australia
■ They are also joined by effervescent wife Mrs Bradman (Jessica Battersby). Chaos ensues when Madame Arcati accidentally summons Charles’s first wife Elvira (Clare Hayes) back from the afterlife. The Condomines’s stylish living room, designed by Wendy Drowley, effectively captures Coward’s flair for high society settings, and is beautifully complimented by Diane Brennan’s superb era-appropriate costumes and hairstyles. Drowley has assembled a good cast to present Coward’s fast-paced, witty text, and special mention should be made of Cate Dowling Trask’s (Madame Arcati) well-projected and clear enunciation of every word in her dialogue. Expressive Madeleine McKinley has a delightful stage presence in her cameo role of Edith the maid. Blithe Spirit is a long play, and hopefully scene changes will tighten during the season and cast energies regenerate to sustain the pacey dialogue flow. Noel Coward enthusiasts in particular will thoroughly enjoy this show – it can be seen until July 27. Venue: Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna. Tickets: $25/$22. Bookings: 9457 4117 or www.htc.org - Review by Cheryl Threadgold
Golden Days
★
The newspaper said the top 10 Aussie TV personalities were Graham Kennedy, Clive James, Bert Newton, Ray Martin, Mike Walsh, Jana Wendt, Andrew Denton, Rove McManus, Leigh Sales and Julia Zemiro
★
The films of Chantal Akerman will fea ture at The Melbourne Cinémathèque from August 21 to September 4.
★
Australia’s run chase in the first Ashes Test took the Nine Network’s GEM channel to the highest audience since OzTAM started multichannel ratings. Day five had an average audience of 761,000.
● Inside Combat Rescue ■ I was interested to see that National Geographic Channel has a series called Inside Combat Rescue premiering on Thursday August 1 at 8.30pm.. For the first time in history, cameras follow the US Air Forces rescue warriors to the front lines of Afghanistan. I think it’s good to see documentaries like this. It brings things home. See the team performing advanced medical procedures in the cramped confines of a helicopter flying at full throttle. Feel the pain and raw emotion of an injured soldier holding on to life after stepping on an improvised explosive device. Watch as pilots, surrounded by gunshots and explosions, fly fast and low to evade Taliban gunners and rocket launchers. This heart-pounding six-part series puts you side by side with the men that brave Afghanistan’s fiercest battles and risk their own lives to save a comrade in arms. - Di Rolle
■ Melbourne’s Golden Days Radio is continuing to grow its online listenership. Station Manager Alex Hehr says people are tuning into the station through their computers, by going to the GoldenDays Radio.com website. Although most listeners live in Melbourne, some tune in from overseas, particularly the UK. Last month saw 2056 new or unique visitors listen through the website, with 4182 total visits and 59,894 hits. The station can also be heard through more traditional means - on radios at the 95.7 FM frequency.
Page 196 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Movies, DVDs With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke
What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs
PACIFIC RIM REAWAKEN THE KID INSIDE YOU
FILM: STOLEN: Genre: Action/Thriller. Cast: Nicolas Cage, Danny Huston, Josh Lucas. Year: 2013. Rating: M. Running Time: 96 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **1/2 Verdict: Fairly pedestrian and predictable action romp of a former thief who frantically searches for his missing daughter, who has been kidnapped, and a cop out to get the missing loot from a bank job. It's pretty much a case of having seen it all before, or close enough. But it's the well staged action sequences, pacing, New Orleans locations and performances, most notably Danny Huston and the cop out to get his man with the money, that make it and effortless, stress free watch. It may not be the best of the genre, but there's a lot worse out there. FILM: THE KILLING: Genre: Crime/Drama/Sport. Cast: Sterling Hayden, Marie Windsor, Vince Edwards, Timothy Carey. Year: 1956. Rating: PG. Running Time: 85 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **** Summary: A thrilling film noir classic of a group of low life crooks looking for a big score, so they plan and execute a daring race-track robbery, this early effort from legendary director Stanley Kubrick is tense and exciting from beginning to end. Intelligently scripted, excellent performances and location filming, beautifully handled by the legendary Kubrick is an impressively shot, atmospheric and extremely rewarding experience that is highly recommended! FILM: CHARLEY VARRICK: Genre: Action/Thriller/Crime. Cast: Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, Andy Robinson. Year: 1973. Rating: M. Running Time: 109 Minutes. Format: DVD. Stars: **** Verdict: Legendary Dirty Harry director and Clint Eastwood mentor, Don Siegel, hit another bullseye with Charley Varrick, the story of a small town bank robbery that doesn't go quite as planned, especially when they find out that the money they stole belonged to the Mafia and are right on the case, the always reliable Walter Matthau is a standout in the title role, a hugely entertaining thriller filled with many tense and exciting moments. - James Sherlock
THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. DESPICABLE ME 2. 2. MAN OF STEEL. 3. THE LONE RANGER. 4. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY. 5. WORLD WAR Z. 6. EPIC. 7. THE GREAT GATSBY. 8. THE INTERNSHIP. 9. FAST AND FURIOUS 6. 10. NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: THE AUDIENCE. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: JULY 11: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, PACIFIC RIM, THE HEAT. JULY 18: BEFORE MIDNIGHT, ONLY GOD FORGIVES, THE CONJOURING, THIS IS THE END, RAMAIYA VASTAVAIYA.
● A blast from the past! The supercharged 1971 cult classic Vanishing Point starring Barry Newman with Blazing Saddles star Cleavon Little in a scene stealing performance as a blind DJ on a mission is now available on DVD and Blu-ray. FILM: VANISHING POINT: Genre: Action/Thriller. Cast: Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, Dean Jagger. Year: 1971. Rating: M. Running Time: 99 Minutes. Release: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **** Verdict: Hugely entertaining thrill ride of a delivery car driver who is assigned to deliver a 1970 Dodge Challenger cross country, and takes a bet that he can't get the car to its destination on time, and before long motorcycle cops and highway patrol start an epic chase to bring him into custody. Brimming with one exciting and memorable moment after another, and aided by a top notch early 1970's music score. A major standout is the scene stealing performance by Cleavon Little (Blazing Saddles) as a blind Radio DJ with a police radio scanner guiding him along the way to the stunning conclusion. One of the great cult classics, a blast from the past!
Top 10 Lists
● Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi suit up for battle in the big screen extravaganza Pacific Rim. ■ 3D (M). 131 minutes. Now Pentecost (Idris Elba), an imposing showing in cinemas, including officer who has been part of the Jaeger program from the very beginning. IMAX. The story may be simple, but del With a directorial career now spanning 20 years, Mexican wunderkind Toro crams so much into Pacific Rim, Guillermo del Toro (Cronos / Mimic not only reliving his (and our) cinematic / The Devil's Backbone / Blade 2 / boyhood adventures, but also pays tribHellboy 1 and 2 / Pan's Labyrinth) gets ute to numerous films, comics, and to release his inner child on a massive animated TV shows. With series such as Voltron and scale, and I mean massive. This incredibly imaginative and tal- Tetsujin 28 (known here as Gigantor), ented film-maker goes back to a time as well as all the Japanese monster when there was a genuine excitement movies from the 1950s and 60s (with a in going to see a blockbuster movie. wonderful nod to director Ishiro The thrill and awe of experiencing Honda)as major influences, del Toro big screen entertainment such as The mixes it all into a large-scale brew, 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (1958), Fantas- funnelling it through his unique, visutic Voyage (1966), Star Wars (1977), ally stunning sensibilities. His films often deal with childhood Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977), Superman : The Movie (1978), innocence, but this time he is playing and Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981) with ours, and whatever the shows or fill our minds with a nostalgic warmth movies you grew up with, del Toro successfully taps into that part of us that still holds up today. del Toro has managed to encapsu- most of us thought was long gone. Of the cast, Kikuchi (Tokyo Serlate that feeling to an astonishing degree, allowing us to revisit our child- endipity / Survive Style 5+ / Norwegian hood when watching memorable, Wood / and received an Oscar nomilarger-than-life images in a darkened nation for her work in Babel) Elba (The theatre seemed to be the most impor- Wire TV series / Thor / Prometheus), and del Toro regular Ron Perlman tant thing in the world. The film wastes no time in setting (Hellboy 1 and 2 / Blade 2 / Cronos) up its premise; a portal has opened deep stand out, but it is a pity the film-makin the ocean, allowing huge creatures ers didn't use real Australian actors to enter into our world, causing major for the roles of Herc and Chuck, as their accents take a while to get used destruction across the globe. Mankind is able to fight these fear- to. While not as richly drawn as in other some beasts by creating equally big robots, which are operated by a two- del Toro productions, the characters person team who have to connect their offer a competent framework for the minds with the machine's central com- plentiful action and mayhem that fills every inch of the screen. puter. The action has to be seen to be beAt first man wins the war against the kaiju (monsters), but soon the tables lieved. Every fight, every battle, is an are turned, and the human race looks event in itself, leaving the audience as if it will be squashed by these for- excited and exhausted in equal measure. midable opponents. The visual effects are outstanding With a base located in Hong Kong Bay, the last-stand group of robot (or (the Hong Kong base is a true eyeJaeger) pilots are made up of Raleigh opener), and the creature design, as Becket (Charlie Hunnam), whose expected with Guillermo del Toro, brother was killed during a particularly is exceptional. Along with Hugo, this is one of the ferocious battle; Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), who has yet to go into battle; best 3D experiences I have ever had, Herc Hansen (Max Martini) and again showing what a genuinely visionChuck Hansen (Robert Kaz- ary director can do with a frequently insky), two Aussies who went toe-to- mis-used format. Despite its Transformers-style martoe with a kaiju in Sydney Harbour; as well as other skilled fighters from keting, Pacific Rim is better on every countries such as Russia and China. level, with a film-maker that offers real Helping them trying to understand style and vision, as well as the added and come up with a plan to defeat the bonus of allowing you to actually see monsters are two scientists, Newton the action. Pacific Rim is the perfect film to reGeiszler (Charlie Day) and Gottlieb (Burn Gorman), who are awaken the kid inside you, and it is a always comically criticising each feeling well worth cherishing. RATING - ****. other's theories. - Aaron Rourke Overseeing everything is Stacker
THE DVD TOP RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. ZERO DARK THIRTY [Drama/ Thriller/Jessica Chastain, James Gandolfini]. 2. OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL [Fantasy/Adventure/James Franco, Mila Kunis]. 3. CLOUD ATLAS [Drama/Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent]. 4. THE LAST STAND [Action/Arnold Schwarzenegger, Peter Stormare]. 5. TOWER BLOCK [Action/Thriller/ Sheridan Smith, Ralph Brown]. 6. FLIGHT [Drama/Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Kelly Reilly]. 7. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK [Drama/Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jackie Weaver]. 8. PARANORMAN [Animated/Fantasy/Horror/Sam Fell, Chris Butler]. 9. BROKEN CITY [Crime/Drama/ Russell Crowe, Mark Wahlberg]. 10. DJANGO UNCHAINED [Western/ Drama/Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio]. Also: LINCOLN, THE PAPERBOY, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, ROMAN POLANSKI: A FILM MEMOIR, THE HOBBIT: An Unexpected Journey, SIDE EFFECTS, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS, THE IMPOSSIBLE, ANNA KARENINA. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: PARKER [Action/Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez]. THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE [Comedy/Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell]. PERFORMANCE [Drama/Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken]. GODDESS [Comedy/Magda Szubanski, Ronan Keating]. THE NUMBERS STATION [Thriller/ John Cusack, Liam Cunningham]. COMPULSION [Thriller/Kevin Dillon, Heather Graham]. NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: NONE LISTED FOR THIS WEEK. NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: THE IMPOSTER [Documentary]. WILFRED: Season 2. WIZARDS VS ALIENS: Season One. DOCTOR WHO: Spearhead from Space. TOP BLU-RAY RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. ZERO DARK THIRTY [Drama/ Thriller/Jessica Chastain, James Gandolfini]. Turn To Page 111
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - Page 107
Observer Local Theatre Showbiz With Cheryl Threadgold Observer Melbourne
REVIEW: WAKE IN FRIGHT
‘RENT’ STAGED AT BAYSWATER SHOWS
● James Harvey (John Grant) in Wake In Fright at La Mama Courthouse until July 28. Photo: Melanie Audrey ■ La Mama this month presents a brave but wanting adaptation of Kenneth Cook's disturbing novel, Wake In Fright. Adapted by writer, director and actor Bob Pavlich, Wake In Fright was first performed in Australia in 2010, and the United Kingdom in 2012 for the International Student Theatre Festival in Sheffield. The current production at La Mama Courthouse Theatre, directed by Renee Palmer, is based on Pavlich's original production direction. Wake In Fright tells the story of John Grant who is travelling to Sydney but finds himself lost in a remote town. The people of Bundanyabba appear from the outset to be simply rough, rude country folk that live a life far different to that in "the city". As John is drawn into their lives, pubs, and homes, he discovers there's a sinister lawlessness about this town and its people, and there's no escaping it. The best part of this production is the way the audience is set up around the action and how the lighting and the actors interact with them. This was highly effective in creating the sense of terrible discomfort being experienced by the main character. The play recounts events as flashes in time. It shows mostly what happened and not much of how that then affected the characters, not quite allowing the audience to see John's decline towards his final state of mind. By skipping over this, John's final actions seem unjustified and a little extreme; yes, we saw what horrible things happened but where was the emotional journey that leads to such desperation and resignation? Equally, James Harvey as John Grant was somewhat rigid and gave little nuance to the character, so his jumpiness seemed rash and unwarranted. He had wonderful moments, though, particularly the scene with Jeanette (Sophie Petridis). As an ensemble, the actors did a terrific job of making John Grant look and feel like an outsider. In particular, Phil Roberts as Tim Hines, Kurt Mottershead as Jock Crawford, and Stu Duffield as Joe were outstanding. Performance Season: Until July 28 Times: Wed and Sun 6:30pm; Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30pm Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St, Carlton Bookings: www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6142 - Deborah Marinaro
AUDITIONS ■ Viola Theatre Group: Maiden Ladies (a comedy) Directed by David Keane. Audition any Sunday from 7.00pm at the Campbell Turner Library, or call 9384 1277 or email matilda03@optusnet.com.au ■ Mooroolbark Theatre Group: Agatha Crusty: The Village Hall Murders July 18 at 7.30pm at the Mooroolbark Community Centre, 125 Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark. Director: Val Campbell-Hirst. Audition bookings: 9735 1885. ■ Peridot Theatre: Easy Virtue (by Noel Coward) July 21 at 7.00pm at the Unicorn Theatre, Mt Waverley Secondary College, Lechte Road, Mt Waverley. Director: Horrie Leek. Audition bookings: 9808 8438.
■ SLAMS: Rent August 2 - 17 at 8.00pm at the Knox Community Arts Centre, Corner Scoresby Road and Mountain Highway, Bayswater. Director/Musical Director: Tyson Legg. Tickets: $32,$28/Group 10 or more $25. Bookings: www.trybooking.com/ DBUER or 9720 3205. ■ Aspect Theatre Company: Hairspray Until July 20 at the Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Road, Parkdale. Director: Lyn Laister: Musical Director: Emma McGeorge; Choreographer: Kim Annette. Bookings: www.aspecttheatre.com Enquiries" 9580 8415. ■ PLOS Musical Productions: Little Shop of Horrors July 19, 20, 25, 26 at 8.00pm, July 21, 27 at 2.00pm at the Frankston Arts Centre. Director: Danny Ginsberg; Musical Director: Sue Fletcher; Choreographer: Steve Rostron. Bookings: 9784 1060. www.plos.asn.au ■ Mornington CEF Players: Songs for a New World July 19 28 at the Bellamy Hall, Albert Street, Mornington. Directors: Daniel Jow and Tim Blencowe. Tickets: $22/$18/$14. Bookings: 0467 185 176 or email info@cefplayers.com.au ■ Sherbrooke Theatre Company: Agatha Crispie (Written and directed by Cenarth Fox) July 26 - August 10 at 8.15pm, Sunday at 5.15pm at the Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Road, Doncaster. Tickets: $25/$23. Bookings: 1300 650 209 www.sherbrooketc.org.au ■ Frankston Theatre Group: Eric's Homecoming (Written and directed by Roy Thompson) July 26 - August 4 at the Mount Eliza Community Centre, Canadian Bay Road, Mount Eliza. Tickets: $26.50/$24.50. Bookings: 1300 665 www.frankstontheatregroup. org.au ■ Peridot Theatre Inc: The Wisdom of Eve August 9 - 24 at 8.00pm, August 11, 17 at 2.15pm and August 18 at 4.00pm at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Road, Mount Waverley. Director: Annette deBoer. Tickets: $23/$20. Bookings: 1300 138 645 or email peridotboxoffice@yahoo.com.au ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): Laying the Ghost August 15 - 25 at the Strathmore Community Theatre, Loeman Street, Strathmore. Director: Robert Harsley. Tickets: $20/ $15. Bookings: 9382 6284 www.stagtheatre.org. ■ The Basin Theatre Group: Kid Stakes (by Ray Lawler) August 16 - September 8 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Road, The Basin. Director: Christine Grant. Tickets: $25 all performances. Book online at www.thebasintheatre.org.au or call 1300 784 668. ■ Cardinia Performing Arts Company (CPAC): Oliver August 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 at 8.00pm, Sun. 2.00pm, Thurs. 7.00pm at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Boulevard, Pakenham. Director: Lee Moulton. Bookings: 0407 090 354 or www.trybooking.com
The Club
● Tim Byron (left), Greg Barison, Matt Revin, Geoff Arnold and Scott Broadfoot in Encore Theatre's production of The Club at the Clayton Community Centre Theatrette until July 27. Photo: Kevin Trask ■ Encore Theatre presents the classic Australian play The Club by David Williamson on July 19, 20 (gala Night with supper), 25, 26, 27 at 8pm and July 21, 27 at 2.15pm at the Clayton Community Centre Theatrette, Cooke St, Clayton. Directed by Keith Hutton and featuring a fine cast, this is one of David Williamson's best known plays. It is set in the club rooms of a Melbourne football club and explores the clashes between the club personalities and management. The play is topical today and very timely as we are in the middle of the 2013 AFL season. Tickets: $20/$18. Gala Night $24. Bookings: 1300 739 099 (9am-9pm).
AUDITIONS
■ Strathmore Theatrical Amateur Group (STAG): Funny Money (by Ray Cooney) August 18 at 5.30pm, August 19 at 7.30pm at the Strathmore Community Theatre. Director: Jonne Finnemore. Audition bookings: jonne2@optusnet.com.au ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum August 24, 25. Director: Barbara Hughes; Musical Director: Janet Provan; Choreographer: Jenny VincentGreen. Audition bookings: 9397 3054.
MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE
SONGS TONIGHT AT MRC
■ Melbourne Recital Centre is the place to be in July if you want some innovative and beautiful performances that will delight the ear. Tonight (Wed., July 17) at 6pm sees the ensemble Songmakers Australia in the intimate surroundings of The Salon, with their concert entitled Clarinet Romance. Guest clarinetist David Griffiths will join the Songmakers' usual performers soprano Merlyn Quaife and pianist Andrea Katz in a program of Mozart, Spohr, Sutherland and Schubert's The Shepherd On The Rock. Clarinet, soprano and piano is an accessible combination, and these three artists are some of Australia's best. As an Australian-based group, Songmakers Australia is delighted to be presenting music by Australian composer Margaret Sutherland. Jump forward a couple of weeks and it's time for a visit from Australia's baroque ensemble, the Brandenburg Orchestra. This time the Brandenburgs are welcoming a guest baroque violinist from Italy, the motorbike enthusiast Stefano Montanari, who will be guest director. The deal to invite Stefano to come to Australia was sealed over a coffee in
● Merlyn Quaife with Andrea Katz Bergamo, near Milan, in 2012, when Veracini and Brescianello in a concert Brandenburg's artistic director, Paul entitled Celebrazione!, at 7 pm on Saturday Dyer, saw Stefano roaring up on his mo- July 27 and 5 pm on Sunday July 28. torbike to greet him. And Stefano has promised to leave his As Paul says, “this will be a concert motor bike at the stage door. experience born form a passionate converwww.melbournerecital.com.au and sation - and un buono caffe” The concert will include works by Ital- www.brandenburg.com.au - Julie Houghton ian baroque masters Geminiani,
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au y y g
Page 108 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013 Melbourne
Observer Lovatts Crossword No 1
Across
Across
Down
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1. Pony competition 6. Meddler 11. Large NZ city 15. Drinking glasses 20. Moose 21. Drizzles 22. Married title 23. Nudism 24. Armed conflict within nation (5,3) 25. Family favouritism 27. Segregated 28. Roman robe 29. Hungry 31. Slightly open 32. Skin eruptions 36. Staining 37. Room 38. Painter of The Queen's latest portrait, Rolf ... 41. Length unit 44. Hair dye 45. Touchy 48. Metal extraction plant 49. Cupboard 52. Banked (on) 56. Gets 57. Form of prayer 58. Futile 61. More affluent 62. Bring honour to 63. Gladden, ... up 64. Japan's capital 65. Shillyshallies 66. Greed 67. Withdraws from position (5,4) 71. Fertile desert spot 73. TV personality, ... McGuire 75. Aid financially 80. Pistols 82. Intervening time 83. Jog 85. Definitions 86. Old Spanish money unit 88. Split in church 90. Slays (5,3) 91. Biting insects 93. Wise biblical king 94. Tossing 95. Fragile & airy 96. Suit-makers 97. Jot 99. Charlotte Bronte novel, Jane ... 100. Concludes 104. Of kidneys 105. Taco sauce 106. Sing monotonously 107. Revolved 111. Deserve 113. Fah, soh, ... 114. Inflatable vest, ... west 115. Serving platters 117. Irrational fear 118. Kitchen strainer 121. Saturate (with colour) 122. The Hunchback Of ... Dame 125. Harpoon hunter 126. Formerly Persia 127. Garden of Creation 129. In place, in ... 131. Actress, ... Thompson 132. Stellar 135. Kuwaiti ruler 136. Eternal 139. Siamese 140. Up-to-date 144. Physicist, ... Newton
145. Excel 146. Castle water barriers 147. Elaborately 148. Cattle-farmers 149. Mad (dog) 150. Tied (shoes) 152. Surprise victory 154. Labelled 157. Chinese gooseberry, ... fruit 158. Of the side 162. Grieg opera, Peer ... 163. SOS 166. Wig material 167. Speaks 169. Kind 171. Door frame post 172. Resistant to disease 173. Start (of ailment) 175. Primp 176. Encouraged 179. Tutsi country 180. Ranted 182. Hawaiian garland 183. Belonging to us 184. Spindly 186. Took in (child) 189. Last Greek letter 190. Wallabies or Springboks sport 191. Synagogue scholar 192. Stimulating 196. Disable 197. Canadian province, ... Scotia 198. Kenya's capital 199. Exhilarating 201. Caught 202. Ridicule 203. Departing 204. Fibre-spinning rods 205. Writer, ... Hemingway 208. Journalist's credit (2-4) 210. Cheap ship fare 211. Fertiliser ingredient 212. Redder 213. Bobs head 215. Firebugs 219. Signalling flame 221. Cruel men 223. Searches out scandal 227. From Brussels 228. Mummifies (corpse) 230. Judge's hammer 231. Democratic Republic of Congo 232. Threatened 233. Slip by 234. Gist 238. Tennis ace, ... Edberg 239. Indianapolis state 240. Splatter 243. Arrival 246. Annulled 247. Dressy 250. Woodwind instruments 251. Fools 253. Paltry 256. Helicopter's landing place 257. More hefty 258. Grills 262. Labyrinth 263. Reverie 266. Honey liquor 268. Peacemaker 269. Central Asian republic 270. Lovely women 271. Miniature toy, ... car 272. Banned pesticide (1,1,1) 273. Downy duck 274. Naval exercises 275. Makes stable 276. Perceived wrongly 277. Aerobics outfits 278. Abbreviates
1. Doomed person 2. Legends 3. Equine 4. Cosy home 5. Nearly 7. A few 8. Persecutes 9. Checkers game 10. Thread 11. Henry VIII's ... Boleyn 12. Second-hand vehicles (4,4) 13. Smart aleck (4-3) 14. Friendly 15. Tests 16. Former Soviet region (1,1,1,1) 17. Lightweight timber 18. Go in 19. Mixer drinks 24. Appeared 26. Trading centre 30. Last-minute 33. Pungent cleaning fluid 34. Small hill 35. Sniffed 38. Cross-breeds 39. Made contact with 40. Takes no notice of 42. Canadian lake 43. Bringing up 46. Stud (with jewels) 47. Conformed, ... the line 49. Hurricane 50. Follows orders 51. Europe/Asia 53. Regards highly 54. Riled 55. Aussie sheep herders 59. Very demanding 60. Settle overseas 67. Bewildered 68. Moved on hands & knees 69. Of earthquakes 70. Run (event) 72. Aplomb 74. Travelling worker 76. Gusty 77. Leave impression 78. Smooth over (4,3) 79. Gushed 81. Brash newcomers 84. Egg dish 87. Dried with cloth 89. Moon shape 91. Grinding (teeth) 92. British royal court, ... Palace (2,5'1) 98. Worldwide 101. Group value system 102. Shade of brown 103. Sends via Internet 108. Alleged assassin, Lee Harvey ... 109. Stop! (nautical) 110. Odds or ... 112. Emerging again from sleep 116. Protective shielding (6,5) 119. Act of dunking 120. Say 123. Canoe with attached float 124. Set out differently 128. Enthusiastically 130. From Tel Aviv 132. Allow inside 133. Banjo sound 134. Gangway 137. Cleopatra's land
138. Famous Swiss mountain 141. Main artery 142. Flowed away 143. Yesterday, ..., tomorrow 151. Cling (to) 153. Early fetus 155. Directed 156. Surly person 159. Hoping (to) 160. Vitality 161. Irritating 164. 365-day periods 165. Cosmetics boss, Elizabeth ... 168. Legendary Atlantic continent 170. Money 173. Car distance clock 174. Mideast waterway (4,5) 177. Raincoat fabric 178. Gradually diminished 181. Devotees 185. Thrilling 186. Loss of memory 187. Beginnings 188. Trampled 193. Obscure 194. Sports injury remedy (3,4) 195. Hot springs 200. Venetian boats 201. Conceive of 206. Havens 207. Increases threefold 208. Sun-tanned 209. Most inquisitive 211. Coup organiser 214. Cigarette users 216. Affair of the heart 217. Giving green light to 218. Huge 220. Blacksmith's block 222. German wine, ... Riesling 224. Most avid 225. US cotton state 226. Giant Himalayan peak 229. Criticise harshly 232. Lion's neck hair 235. Poorer quality 236. Wear down 237. Soft goat wool 241. Fence planks 242. Authorise 244. Bridge over gorge 245. Louder 248. Trophies 249. Those ones 251. Weaponry 252. Bogs 253. Office circulars 254. Grand Slam winner, ... Agassi 255. Writer, ... Dahl 259. Happen 260. Prized fur 261. Genders 262. Method 264. Sudden attack 265. Son of Adam & Eve 267. Sprint Solution - Page 30
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - Page 109
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Page 110 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport Racing Briefs
First win in 14 months ■ Melton trainer Danny Mullan's tough Kiwi bred 7-Y-0 Artiscape/Eileen Monica gelding Artoc notched up his first victory since April 2012, when registering a meritorious victory in the Imagination Play Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2150 metres at ‘The Valley’ in a mile rate of 1-58.6. Driven hard by Daryl Douglas from gate two to retain the front running when pressured by Public Persuasion, Artoc then had to be revved up to hold out several other challengers including Gumdrops, Charlotte Two and Discrimination. Holding a slender margin on the final bend, Artoc kept on giving and giving all the way up the running to score by a half neck over Mister Clooney along the sprint lane after trailing, with Gumdrops (four wide home turn) a further half neck away in third place.
Took honours at Ballarat ■ On what's been a quiet week for the Macedon Ranges area, Monegeetta part-owner/breeder/ trainer Marty Miles was in the winners stall when 7-Y-0 Jet Laag/Indi Khan mare Flying Indi Air chalked up her ninth victory in 119 outings by taking the Harness Breeders (Vic) Pace for C1 & C2 class (mares) over 2200 metres at Bray Raceway Ballarat on Thursday July 11. With son David in the sulky, Flying Indi Air was driven forward from gate six to park outside the pole line leader Gimme A Hug (a term that following the race would have been relevant to the winner), before outstaying her rivals to score from neighbour Paul Males' Real Performer after trailing Gimme A Hug who finished third. The mile rate 2-02.2.
Dash in the sprint lane ■ As is usually the case at Shepparton meetings, the Goulburn Valley and Bendigo played a big hand in the results on Thursday when Shepparton held an afternoon fixture. Wahring trainer Daniel Jack combined with brother Nathan aboard smart Kiwi bred Attorney General/Eastwood Jean gelding Owen John in the Saddleworld 3-Y-0 Pace over 2190 metres. Leading out from gate four, Owen John was restrained to take a trail on another local in Brett Bunfield's Yerrington Bob to receive the run of the race. Always travelling kindly, Owen John dashed home along the sprint lane to score by 1.9 metres over the pacemaker in a rate of 2-00.9, with Die Tryin (four back the markers) third for Noel Tyndall to make it a GV trifecta.
Raced clear in straight ■ Ardmona's Doc Wilson has 5-Y-0 D M Dilinger/Nora Barnacle gelding Indi Bapu going great guns at present, bringing up two wins in succession when greeting the judge in the Quest Shepparton Pace for C1 class over 1690 metres. Lobbing one/one from gate four, Indi Bapu was off and running shortly after the start to stride past the leader Modern Lebron which had worked to cross the polemarker No No No No No. One at the head of affairs, Indi Bapu was allowed to bowl along, before racing clear on straightening to register a 3.1 metre margin in advance of Modern Lebron and Statelyness which followed the pair. The mile rate a slick 1-56.9.
Bounded away ■ Kialla trainer Steve O'Donoghue's beautifully bred Lombo Pocket Watch/Lombo La Fe Fe filly Lombo Mini Lamouch made a one act affair of the Elite Horse Transport 3-Y-0 Pace over 2190 metres with Kate Gath in the sulky. Scorching away from gate five, Lombo Mini Lamouch had her rivals off the bit a long way from home and bounded away on straightening to score by 8.2 metres in a rate of 2-01.2 over the rank outsider Tennaya which trailed, with Gracenator (three wide last lap from the rear) third.
100 WINS FOR BELLMAN ■ Western District racing was held at Terang on Tuesday, July 9, with surprisingly only three winners coming from the area, the highlight of the evening's racing being Ararat reinsman Michael Bellman chalking up 100 winners for the season. Driving 5-Y-0 Aces N Sevens/Chandon Princess gelding Sharkeys Ace for Stawell owner/ trainer Paul Rousch in the Terang Co-Op Vicbred Pace for C0 class over 2180 metres, Bellman after settling Sharkey's Ace four back in the running line from gate two on the second line, commenced a forward move three wide in the last lap following Mintropolitan (one/two) who was trailing the heavily supported Art Of Gold ahead of him into the race. When Mintropolitan (four wide home turn) surged clear on straightening he looked all over a winner, but started to "tippy toe" as the winning post appeared allowing Sharkeys Ace to make a last stride lunge right on the wire to gain the judges nod by a nose in a tricky finish, with Art Of Gold third. The mile rate 2-05.1.
Best form ■ Elliminyt (Colac) trainer Courtney Slater's 4-Y-0 D M Dilinger/Sailors Atom gelding Deejay Dilinger recaptured his best form to land the Terang Home Hardware Vicbred Pace for C1 class over 1680 metres in a mile rate of 1-59.2. Taking a concession for Mt Gambier's Jayson Finnis, Dee Jay Dilinger a five time winner previously, settled with most of the field ahead of him after starting from the extreme draw. Moving forward swiftly three wide uncovered in the final circuit, Deejay Dilinger swept to the front on the home turn, scoring by 17 metres in advance of The Husk which led, with Gunmetal Grey third after trailing the pacemaker and moving to the outside on the home turn.
Lovely trip ■ Ararat's Daryl Crone was successful with 5-Y-0 Jet Laag/Signing Autographs gelding Wicked Subwoofer in the Dick and Anne Box Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2180 metres. Given a lovely trip one/ one from gate three following the hot favourite William John which raced outside the leader Lovable Nick, Wicked Subwoofer was eased three
Baker’s Delight
Harness Racing
This Week’s Meetings ■ Wednesday - Melton/Nyah @ Swan Hill, ■ Thursday - Kilmore/Ballarat, ■ Friday - Melton, ■ Saturday - Shepparton, ■ Sunday - Cranbourne, ■ Monday - Stawell, ■ Tuesday - Bendigo. Melbourne
Observer
len-baker@ bigpond.com
with Len Baker
wide on the final bend and finished full of running to defeat William John which galloped in the straight under pressure, before getting going again, with Lovable Nick holding down third. The mile rate 2-08.6.
Well backed ■ Bungaree trainer/ driver Julian Jobe is no stranger to Dalvui Raceway Terang and snared the Barastoc Pace for C0 class over 1680 metres with the well backed 5-Y0 gelding Cobargo Jack in a rate of 1-59.1. Raced by wife Alison, Cobargo Jack led throughout from the pole to register a 2.9 metre victory over the border hopper Arr En Special (one/one three wide home turn) and Soho Jolie which trailed the winner. It was Cobargo Jack's first success in 15 outings.
17th win ■ Rising 13-year-old Wagon Apollo/Ritadaft gelding Master Kiesey notched up his 17th victory when making his 258th race appearance, by taking the Lilydale Instant Lawn Trotters Handicap for T0 & T1 class over 2150 metres at Yarra Valley on Monday July 8. Having last greeted the judge almost 12 months ago (July 28, 2012), Master Kiesey who had dropped back several grades after not winning, is trained at St Arnaud in Central Victoria by Brian Kiesey who also bred the old bloke. Driven by another veteran of the sport in Brian Gath, Master Kiesey began with the zest of a juvenile from a 10 metre handicap to lead, with Gath allowing him to bowl along at his leisure. Tackled strongly by both Huggers Last and Dabbsey (three wide) on the home turn with Huggers Last taking a slender lead, Master
Kiesey gained a new lease of life and kicked away on straightening to the amazement of all watching. Although sending out signs of distress as the winning post came into view, Master Kiesey held on to score by a half head over Dabbsey, with Huggers Last close up in third place. The mile rate 2-05.7. The victory would have been a boost for trainer Kiesey who doesn't keep in the best of health and travels hundreds of miles to compete all over Victoria on a regular basis.
Hot to trot ■ When you’re hot you’re hot as Hopetoun Park (Bacchus Marsh) trainer Ross Sugars and Victoria's leading reinsman - son Greg will testify and after a super night at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday winning two Vicbred Super Series Finals (La Machane and Youranut), they snared the Debbie O'Neill Flowers Pace for C1 class over 1650 metres with 3-Y-0 Bettors Delight/Forest Glory gelding Forest Fury. In a typical brilliant drive by Greg, Forest Fury from inside the second line settled three back along the markers and after never going around a runner, dashed home along the sprint lane to defeat the pacemaker Ok To Fly and Hi Tech Fury which trailed the leader before easing off the inside on the home turn. Bred and raced by Jack and Nola Munnerley who also bred and race La Machane, Forest Fury brought up four wins in succession, returning a mile rate of 1-56.7.
Harness Review ■ Listen to Len Baker on Harness Review, 8pm-10pm Mondays, on 97.9 FM, streamed in 979fm.com.au
Horses To Follow ■ A Bit Ruthless, Tere T, Desdon Murruffy, Lights And Music, Just Knew, On The Leash, Dam Lucky, Black Warrior.
Took concession ■ Huntly trainer Anthony Crossland took advantage of a concession for Ash Manton aboard 7Y-0 Artiscape/Instrumental gelding Rapid Art Beat to capture the Victorian Equine Group Pace Final for C1 class over 2190 metres in a rate of 203.1. Coming off a all of the way victory in his heat five days earlier, Rapid Art Beat repeated the dose in identical fashion, leading throughout from gate two to score from Lights And Music along the sprint lane from three back the markers, with Rojen Dream also using the sprint lane for third after trailing the winner.
Trfecta for district ■ The Ballarat fixture on Thursday belonged to the Melton area, with no less than five of the eight winners coming out of there. Beau Tindale combined with Terang's Matt Craven to land the Share The Power Of The Wish 3-Y-0 Pace over 1710 metres with Jet Laag/ Lombo Silhouette colt Soho Wonder, leading throughout from the pole to defeat Phil Chircop's A Bit Ruthless (one/one) and Big Bang Leonard (John Justice) which trailed the winner, giving the district the trifecta. The mile rate 1-56.3.
Toyed with rivals ■ Lance Justice did similar aboard 3-Y-0 Art Major/Barogue Pearl gelding Magnificent Art in the Make A Wish Come True Pace for C0 class over 1710 metres, toying with his rivals to record a 9.6 runaway victory in 1-58.4 over Hilltop Hustler (one/two - three wide last lap) at his Australian debut, with One Wise Man third after following the runner up home.
Stable double for bros. ■ Ross and Greg Sugars had another great night, chalking up a stable double with Northern Luck/ Lombo Silhouette gelding Annacondar making it three from three in the Laser Electrical 3-Y-0 Pace over 2200 metres and 4-Y-0 Art Major/ Valderee gelding Kazaree taking the Westag Pace for C1 class over 1710 metres. Annacondar which only started racing in June, once again crushed his rivals after being three back in the moving line with a circuit to go, following Cardon Merger three wide in the last lap which had moved around him at the bell. Finishing strongly, Annacondar scored from Armbro Speedstar and Faraway Man who were both given easy runs along the markers. The mile rate 1-59.3. Kazaree raced in the open from gate four, outstaying his rivals to register a half head victory from the pacemaker Kankkunen in 1-56.7, with Shifty Shivas (three wide last lap) a head away in third place. Adam Kelly's 5-Y-0 Jennas Beach Boy/Supreme Affair gelding Five Oclock Affair returned to the winners list by taking the Ballarat Make A Wish Claiming Pace over 2200 metres in 2-00.9.
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - Page 111
Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport
Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 106
Top 10 Lists
NIKOLIC WON’T BE CHARGED ■ Champion jockey Danny Nikolic will not be charged after a Police investigation into race-fixing claims. The Age yesterday (Tues.) reported Racing Victoria officials have vowed to continue their investigation into Nikolic, despite police abandoning charges. Nikolic was being investigated about his alleged involvement into the fixing of a race involving his mount Smoking Aces at Cranbourne in April, 2011. Could it be the end for Danny? Nikolic has been investigated for having allegedly threatening Steward, Wayne Hadley. If something doesn't come to fruition, it could be the end of a very successful life in the saddle for Danny, who I have always found easy to get on with, always obliging in anything you may request for media. He is going on 40 and time is ticking way, I personally hope he gets a chance to return to race riding, because he is one of the best in the land.
American champ due ■ One of America's greatest gallopers, Big Brown, now a successful stallion is due to arrive in Australia to stand at the Vinery Stud, here in Victoria, alongside the recently retired top three year-old, All Too Hard. Big Brown, a magnificent individual; has already made his stamp on his progeny and recently sired his 36th winner. Conor Phelan, the man, who handles all the publicity for the Vinery Stud Group, said he was more than impressed with the majestic type, who is due to arrive at their stud to commence duties next month. He will stand the 2013 season at $22,000 including GST, which in my opinion is a steal. One of his most recent youngster, Shades of Sugar, well named, a recent stakes winner, has added to the popular sire's record. A first crop daughter of her Vinery Shuttle Sire, Shades of Sugar, has started
Ted Ryan
● Danny Nikolic Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
odds-on at every start winning three of her four outings by huge margins, including two separate eight length walkovers at Santa Anita, on the West Coast and Finger Lakes across the continent in New York. Her near six-length victory recently in the Niagara Stakes, a listed race over 1200 metres, has positioned a genuine up and coming star filly in North America and strengthen Big Brown's reputation as one of the most acclaimed young sires on the world radar. Shades of Sugar becomes Big Brown's third first crop winner in what is fast becoming a standout crop. Shades of Sugar's heroics were backed up almost immediately by another stakes placing for Big Brown's stakes winning filly, Bella Castani, also just recently. Bella Castani has so far won two of her five outings highlighted by the Tweedside Stakes a listed event at Belmont Park last
month. Not to be outdone, Big Brown's 36th winner came at the same venue when the Kentucky bred three-year-old King Balthasar outgunned his rivals to quickly shed his maiden status whilst a double was achieved with Brown Eyes Blue scoring her second win in six starts the same day. Big Brown's unparalleled achievements on the racetrack forged him a global reputation as a racehorse, now the grandson of Danzig, is making his name as an International sire. He has already sired winners in the USA, Canada, Europe and Japan, where one of his sons, Apollo Sonic, was placed in the Group One, Japan Derby in May. Big Brown has had four starters in Japan for individual winners. Big Brown's weanlings and yearlings have always been the subject of intense interest and this was the case again, when the sole Big Brown weanling (Lot 343) was sold at the JHRA Se-
2. OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL 3D + BluRay [Fantasy/Adventure/James Franco]. 3. CLOUD ATLAS [Drama/Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent]. 4. THE LAST STAND [Action/Arnold Schwarzenegger, Peter Stormare]. 5 TOWER BLOCK [Action/Thriller/Sheridan Smith, Ralph Brown]. 6. FLIGHT [Drama/Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Kelly Reilly]. 7. BROKEN CITY [Crime/Drama/Russell Crowe, Mark Wahlberg]. 8. DJANGO UNCHAINED [Western/Drama/ Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio]. 9. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK [Drama/Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jackie Weaver]. 10. LINCOLN [Drama/Historical/Daniel DayLewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones]. Also: Paranorman 3D + 2D, The Paperboy, Great Expectations, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Side Effects, Beautiful Creatures, Anna Karenina, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Jurassic Park 3D + Blu-Ray, The Impossible. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: PARKER [Action/Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez]. THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE [Comedy/Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell]. GODDESS [Comedy/Magda Szubanski, Ronan Keating]. COMPULSION [Thriller/Kevin Dillon, Heather Graham]. - James Sherlock ■ From Page 18
Harry Beitzel’s ‘Say’
lect sale in Japan for $217, 371. Fifteen Big Brown's, were sold at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January this year, for a total $1.46 million at an average of just $100,000 each. What an acquisition he will be at Vinery. I will get onto to Conor, and go and have a look at him standing alongside our young champion threeyear-old, All Too Hard. Alongside those top two is More Than Ready. Testa Rossa, Congrats, Mossman, Myboycharlie, Onemorenomore, Pluck, Excites and Dubleo. More Than Ready is my tip as the sire who will be mated
● Big Brown Photo by Conor Phelan, Vinery Stud
● All Too Hard Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 with the mighty Black at Flemington and is coming to hand nicely. Caviar. Part trainer, Wayne As I mentioned in my column last week, Hawkes said he is I was at a network lun- coming along quickly cheon, when one of the and is filling out each part-owners of Black day. One of the partyCaviar said the partners had settled on a owners of the colt is sire, but wouldn't say Neil Werrett, who was one of the part who. Reading between owners of Black the lines I am plonking Caviar; he paid $ 1 for a fifth share. for More Than million You have to feel Ready. sorry for the New South Wales breeder, as he is also the owner of one of the best sprinting horses in Australia, Snitzerland.
Pure bloods look OK
■ The half-sister and half-brother to the champion Black Caviar are coming along nicely according to mail from the stables. The half sister to Black Caviar by her dam, Helsinge, is travelling along nicely with leading trainer, Danny O'Brien, and is not far away from strutting her stuff. The filly, named Belle Couture, was purchased for $1.5 million, and is by leading sire, Redoute's Choice. The half-brother to Black Caviar, out of Helsinge, is also by Redoute's Choice and was bought for $ 5 million and was placed with the Hawkes team
Thanks ■ Special thanks to our racing harness expert at the Observer, Len Baker, for his information on a story I wrote in last week's issue. I was referring to a trot race at Menagle in New South Wales where the drivers rode the trotters. Len has cleared up for you and me: “It is referred to as a 'Monte’. This type of event is a regular occurrence at many tracks in Europe and is a feature of harness racing in Victoria, South Australia, and now New South Wales with each state now in alliance to hold these races on a semiregular basis.”
■ Then there is the constant criticism of the priority picks, living away from home allowances and the necessity for the AFL to prop up struggling clubs with the equalisation plan. Staying positive here are my suggestions what the AFL can consider to solve these problems. Let’s start with Essendon, the drugs and Jobe Watson’s Brownlow Medal. What I would do is contact ASADA and if necessary WADA and the ACC and give them an ultimatum – their findings must be in by August 1. This has been going on for far too long and has damaged the AFL image worldwide. If these bodies come up with the excuse they cannot give the answers because they need more time for investigation then there must be some redress available to the AFL through the court system. The AFL has to now be seen by their clubs and supporters to be pro-active. Indeed it would be to the AFL’s advantage if ASADA and associated agencies said they need more time – which would tell all the critics despite months of intensive investigation there is still nothing concrete for the AFL, Essendon, its administrations and players to answer. If the agencies want to ban clubs and individuals then those clubs and individuals will have the right to challenge these rulings in a court of law. At least this action will prove to the AFL family that our leaders, Mike Fitzpatrick, Chairman and Andrew Demetriou who has been voted the best CEO in Australian sport are prepared to take action to maintain their hard earned status. It’ll be interesting if this is the path chosen by the AFL as to how the negative reporters react. It could mean some of them will be out of a job! And wouldn’t that be a shame! There is no way I would be supporting taking a Brownlow Medal off Jobe Watson or any other award winner player because distinctively we are a domestic competition played only in Australia and frankly do not have to be dictated to by agencies on how we vote our champion awards. We are the AFL – not the Olympic Games! - Harry Beitzel
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ANSWER IS STILL ‘JOHN COLEMAN’
■ A friend sent me a page of the Frankston Standard Leader headed ‘Champ rules the roost’ with a sub heading “Leaving Coleman out would have been a major blue.” The article is referring to the Hastings Football Club’s Team of the Century and its mercurial champion full-forward John Coleman. You see there was a certain criteria the nominees had to adhere to qualify. One was all players had to have played a minimum of 50 games. No matter where I go and give ‘talks’, I’m always asked who is my Greatest Player of my time. My response is quick and decisive. The answer is still John Coleman. I could narrow the period and group to ‘whom I umpired’ in my career which spanned from 1945 to end of 1960 (16 years) and included not only VFL games but also Inter-State matches, three ANFC (Australian National Football Council) Carnivals involving all the senior associations/ leagues in every state and territory. The answer is still John Coleman. Let’s be more expansive and include my radio/TV/press career from 1961 to 2013 (53 years)– but bracketed with five others. (An article for another time.) The answer is still John Coleman I umpired his first VFL game for Essendon in Round 1 against Hawthorn in 1949 – he kicked 12 goals! He played 98 games from 1949 to the eighth round in 1954 against North Melbourne when he had booted five goals before dislocating his knee and never played again with a tally of 537 goals. An average of 5.5 goals per match. I umpired him in 11 of those 98 games in which he kicked 88 goals an average of eight goals per match! So now you understand who and why is my No 1 champion? The answer is still John Coleman. But back to the Hastings FC Team of the Century and his controversial selection as confirmed in these quotes from the Frankston Standard Leader. “...the Team was announced on April 6 (my birthday!) 2013 after the selectors decided to waive the 50 games clause in John Coleman’s case. He only played in 32 games for Hastings in 1947488 booting 297 goals, 160 in 1948, played and helped win in two premierships, and won the League and Club Best and Fairest! It was a popular decision when announced at the gala function. “The selectors came up with the criteria ‘that if a player had contributed to the club on the field and then went off to play at a higher level they’d be eligible – that’s how we fitted him in!” So the great John Coleman has the honour of being named Full-Forward in the 1996 AFL ‘Team of The Century’ and now FF in Hastings Team of The Century. And he is still my ‘Uno Numero’ of all time.
$5100 fine per day for players ■ The new Federal Sports Minister Don Farrell says key legislation compelling players and officials to attend interviews with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and hand over documents will come into
Harry Beitzel www.squidoo.com/harrybeitzel effect later this month. Senator Farrell assumed the posting this month from his predecessor Kate Lundy as part of the returning Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's cabinet reshuffle, and has already met and discussed the drugs in sport scandal with sports administrators including NRL chief executive Dave Smith. Under the enhanced coercive powers granted to ASADA players can be compelled to attend interviews and pass on records of text messages and emails. If they fail to do so the matter can be referred by ASADA to the courts, with a fine of up to $5100 per day they fail to co-operate then able to be issued as a result. Speaking for the first time in the job the South Australian senator said ASADA would be in a position to begin utilising the new laws by late this month or early August. "As the new Federal Sports Minister I have received numerous enquiries regarding new powers for ASADA under legislation passed by Parliament, and regarding the investigations that are currently ongoing," Senator Farrell said. "Legislation that provides ASADA with additional powers to require people to attend interviews has passed both Houses of Parliament. “It will come into effect later this month. It is expected that ASADA will be in a position to operate under the new powers in late July or early August." While ASADA has held interviews with 113 players and coaching staff across both the NRL and AFL since the investigation began in February, interviews with the NRL club under the microscope, Cronulla, ceased almost immediately as they begun in April. Only Sharks back-rower Wade Graham was interviewed and that interrogation came to a standstill as his lawyer argued that players should not be left in a position to incriminate themselves by answering questions. That provision will still apply under the new legislation, however players and officials will have to submit appropriate documents. If they fail to comply and refuse to respond to a subsequent ASADA disclosure notice financial penalties can be meted out by the courts. Senator Farrell added: "The government remains committed to working with the major sporting codes to improve the integrity landscape of Australian sport.
"I will be meeting with State and Territory sports ministers this week and will continue this dialogue and collaboration, to make sure that Australian sport operates at the highest levels of integrity."
Crowd records surpassed ■ The AFL's official attendance figure for Round 15 of 371,212 represented the highest attendance tally for a single round in the history of the game, eclipsing the previous mark of 367,974 achieved in round 22, 1998. The previous mark was established in the former 16-team competition and the AFL acknowledges the inclusion of the GWS Giants and the Gold Coast Suns across the 2011-2012 seasons allows the AFL to now play nine matches per round, albeit the vast majority of games involving the Suns and Giants are played at smaller boutique stadiums with less capacity than the recent average AFL match attendance of 36,908 (2010 season of 176 games with 16 teams), 34,893 (2011 season of 187 games with 17 teams) and 31,509 (2012 season of 198 games with 18 teams). The best attendances for a single round in the history of the game: 371,212 - Round 15, 2013 367,974 – Round 22, 1998 367,792 – Round One, 2012 365,507 – Round One, 2013 364,544 – Round One, 2007 361,003 – Round 17, 2009 357,948 – Round 21, 2007 350,885 – Round Three, 2008 350,736 – Round Two 2013 349,489 – Round One, 2009
Penguin partners with the AFL ■ Penguin Australia has secured a partnership with the biggest game in the country, the Australian Football League, to launch a brand new series
of books appealing to supporters of all ages. The new range of officially endorsed AFL titles includes activity, colouring and sticker books for junior AFL fans, and a series of My First books for preschoolers, as well as high profile biographies and AFL reference books. The Penguin AFL program will launch this month with four junior titles: AFL Mascot Manor Colouring Book, AFL Sticker Activity Book, AFL My First Numbers Book and AFL My First Words Book, and will be supported by another four titles released in August, AFL Doodlepedia, AFL Ultimate Sticker Book, AFL My Little Library and AFL Game Day Touch and Feel – just ahead of the AFL finals season. Designed to tap into code and club loyalty each of these titles will be endorsed with the AFL logo, and include other recognisable Australian Rules images and illustrated with a variety of official team mascots and colours. Other Penguin titles released in partnership with the AFL include an updated edition of Emma Quayle’s The Draft (June), an illustrated celebration of the reigning AFL premiers, The Rise of the Swans: A Decade of Success 2003-2012 by Martin Blake (August), and a junior edition of Shane Crawford’s That’s What I am Talking About (to be released in 2014). Troy Lewis, General Manager, Penguin Brands and Licensing comments, “The biggest publisher combining with the biggest league in country is a game winning combination. “The new series has titles for supporters of all ages, recognising that AFL fans love both their team and the game and they do so from a very early age.” “The AFL has unrivalled levels of awareness and engagement within Australia and is the fourth-best attended sporting competition in the world, on a per match basis, with more than 6.7 million people attending the 2012 premiership season. “Add to this an impressive weekly average TV audience of approximately 5 million, plus an 18 club membership base excess of 700,000, and more than 180,000 children participating in NAB AFL Auskick (the AFL’s introductory participation program), and it’s a sure bet that this will be one of the most exciting, accessible and popular Penguin licensing partnerships for 2013.”
Chris, Carol talk about son Casey ■ This story about parents Chris and Carol Tutungi is both sad and inspiring. It reminds me so much of my late matem former umpire Don Jolley. ‘Jolls’ led an exciting and inspiring life after his tragic accident – so Casey give life your best shot. Good luck. ★ “Our son Casey Tutungi, player and co-coach of the South Barwon Football Club, was placed in an induced coma at the Geelong Hospital on Saturday, June 22, following a clash with an opponent during the last few minutes of the game against St Joseph’s in the Geelong Football League. “Casey was returned to full consciousness a few days later and has undergone a number of tests, scans and surgical procedures in the spinal unit of the Austin Hospital. “It has been confirmed he has suf-
Round 17 Friday, July 19 North Melbourne vs. Carlton (ES) (N) Saturday, July 20 Hawthorn vs. Western Bulldogs (AU) St Kilda vs. Port Adelaide (ES) Gold Coast Suns vs. Collingwood (MS) (T) GWS Giants vs. Essendon (SK) (N) Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions (TIO) (N) Sunday, July 21 Richmond vs. Fremantle (MCG) (E) Adelaide Crows vs. Geelong Cats (AS) West Coast Eagles vs. Sydney Swans (PS) (T)
fered severe spinal cord damage at the C4/C5 junction. “The medical staff at the hospital gave us the prognosis no parent of an active, strong, vital 27 year old wants to hear. Casey has been diagnosed as a quadriplegic. “Casey loves football. Ever since he pulled on his first pair of boots for the Lorne Football Club as a junior, he has lived for the game. “He is a former Geelong VFLlisted player, and won numerous awards during his career, playing for Lorne, Springvale, Geelong and South Barwon clubs and various representative sides. “There has been an outpouring of love and support for Casey from our local community and the wider Geelong region. “We are humbled by the response and this is testament to the respect and admiration Casey has earned. “We would like to thank all our family, friends and the many people who we have never even met - for their concern, prayers and well wishes at what is an extremely difficult time for us. “We especially wish to support Casey’s partner Bridget who is expecting our first grandchild in November. “Casey is receiving the very best of care from the experienced and dedicated staff at the Austin Hospital, Spinal Unit. He is in acute care with regular medical monitoring which means visiting hours remain strictly limited. “A website has been established together with a Facebook page to enable the many people interested, obtain current information on Casey's condition and progress. “Casey has taken the many messages of support and encouragement as a source of strength. Please keep them coming. “A trust fund has also been established for Casey's future. The fund will assist in providing Casey with the essential equipment he will require. “Anyone wishing to donate can visit caseytutungi.com or visit any branch of the Bendigo Bank and donate to the ‘Casey Tutungi Future Fund’. ■ Chris Tutungi was raised in Lorne and in 1976, Chris and wife Carol purchased a property overlooking the township of Lorne where they raised their three children, Casey, Troy and Skye. The couple built the Lorne Bush House Cottages on their property in 1996 and have enjoyed managing them and meeting local and international guests over the years. Both Carol and Chris are very active in the community.
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