July 2008 Publication - The Word Ezyzine by John Hancock

THE

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www.theword.com.au ISSUE 38

written entirly by the community

Community Business Health & Lifestyle

Art & Entertainment

Education GreenKulture

Kids

Aussie legends join the celebrations for the

Volunteer this 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch Relay year for24SIDS Canberra - Thursday April and Kids Red Nose Day 2008 is fast approaching and SIDS and Kids are in desperate need for volunteers to help with selling Red Nose Day product on 14 &15 and 21 & 22 June in Canberra. Anyone who would like to volunteer their time to help SIDS and Kids should contact the ofﬁce on 02 6287 4255, or email Canberra@sidsandkids.org Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Burma cyclone - stand with the people The cyclone that ripped through Burma left tens of thousands dead and a million homeless--a natural disaster made much worse by the failure of the military junta to warn or evacuate its people. Now, the government has slowed the urgent process of providing humanitarian relief--so Avaaz is raising funds for the International Burmese Monks Organization and related groups, which will transmit funds directly to monasteries in affected areas.

In many of the worst-hit areas, the monasteries are the only source of shelter and food for Burma’s poorest people. They have been on the front lines of the aid effort since the storm struck. Other forms of aid Petria Thomas, Rob de Castella and Ian Thorpe are looking forward to being part of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay in Canberra on 24 April could be delayed, diverted or manipulated by the Burmese government--but the monks are the most trusted andand reliable institution thecheer on our Australian heroes as they run with an Thorpe, Trickett Lenton Lee Australia,inand of one of the biggest events Canberra has ever hosted. Come Kernaghan will be running, hot air the torch through Canberra. along and enjoy a free community breakfast and balloon country.

balloons will be flying and Shannon As the event falls during school holidays, children have a great Noll will rock Stage 88 at a huge, free opportunity to see the torch and their heroes close up, get an Ton donate online, clicke here. We cannot accept cheques--for donation finale concert on the day the Beijing autograph, and to experience the colour and excitement of by Switch, Maestro orOlympic other questions for donation FAQ. relay also passes by major business areas and Torch Relayclick comeshere to Canberra the event.The on Thursday 24 April. government departments, so those who are working on the day Canberra — as sister city of Beijing — is exceptionally proud to are encouraged To see an update of how the money got transfered and is being spent goto come out of their offices and see the torch as host the Aid only Australian leg ofwww.avaaz.org/en/burma_aid_report the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. it moves past their places of work. to our Report page: The day offers Canberrans and visitors to our city a truly unique Each stage of the relay has been planned to provide maximum opportunity to experience the excitement of the torch relay in opportunity for the community to get involved and be a part

spectacular, set yourself up at any of the great vantage points along the route, and enjoy the free ﬁnale concert at Stage 88 with Shannon Noll, Brian Cadd and Russel Morris. “The occasion is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the beauty of our city to a worldwide audience, and to show off the spirit of our home,” Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said.

Continued on pg3

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Admin Bandit Steals the show at Canberra BusinessPoint Awards The future looks bright for local Canberra accounting software developer Admin Bandit after the company won the Business Plan category at the inaugural Canberra BusinessPoint Gala and Awards supported by the ACT government.

product that can be used by people with minimal financial knowledge has meant that Admin Bandit is now used by sporting groups, school parent associations, scout and groups of all shapes and sizes” Nerida said.

“Winning the Canberra Business Point award confirms our belief that business is only as strong as its planning. To have ours publicly acknowledged as the best in Canberra for a startup business confirms we are on the right track.” said company director Nerida Gill

“We are now working on the final stages of the latest online version of Admin Bandit and are on track for a release in early September.

“Our product was originally designed to support volunteer treasurers in preschools across Canberra. After the positive response to the first release of the program we further developed the program to support volunteer treasurers across all community organisations in Australia. “Designing a financial software

Admin Bandit is a software package tailored specifically to the needs of volunteer treasurers in community and non-profit groups. It was developed by Nerida Gill after her first hand experience as a volunteer treasurer in Canberra and experiencing the challenges that come with the job. Admin Bandit has been previously recognised in the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships in the small business category (ACT) in both 2006 and 2007 for its woirk

with and support of Canberra Pre School society. The Canberra Business Point awards awards are run as part of the Canberra BusinessPoint program, an ACT government initiative presented in partnership by Deloitte. The business plan category of the awards was eligible for entry by businesses less than twoyears-old. It’s Gala and Awards

night is an independently-judged program that recognises and rewards the significant achievements of small businesses in the region. More information on Admin Bandit is available online www.adminbandit.com.au Media Contact: For more information on Admin Bandit contact Nerida Gill - director Admin Bandit 02 61760030 / 0412 226753

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Yarralumla Arts & Craft Show This will be held from Friday 27th to Sunday the 29th of June, i.e. the last week-end of June. Demonstrations of Lace Making are featured on both Saturday and Sunday. Concerts featuring local musicians, choirs and school groups are held on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Entry is by donation. Exhibited is a wide variety of Art of all types of handicraft. Sales are on commission. The exhibitors are all paid the day after the show closes, when they collect any unsold items. A general charge is made for admission and the proceeds are distributed to community organizations. Refreshments are available. Musical performances are held on each afternoon as an extra attraction. For further information contact Val or Dennis Harding at 6281-4497 to indicate interest in exhibiting.

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This column answers questions I’m frequently asked about investing in property. Should I wait until interest rates settle

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The PCYC of Canberra invites all primary school age children to a Blue Light Dance Party to raise funds for the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program. Hayley Jensen will be performing, there will be a whole range of fun activities including rock climbing and a giant slide, fantastic DJs and VJs plus loads of giveaways! When: Saturday the 28th of June, from 6:30pm to 9:00pm for primary school age children only. Venue: Exhibition Pavilion at Thoroughbred Park off Randwick Rd. Lyhenam Cost: $15 per child. Family discounts and pre purchase discounts are available. Please contact PCYC on 6101 6937 for more information.

Volunteers Needed!!! Do relationships conducted via the internet differ from relationships in the face-to-face world? The researchers of the University of Sydney are currently investigating how relationships formed over the internet differ from those formed offline. Our study requires participants to engage in interactions either online or offline for approximately one hour a week over the duration of 5 weeks. We are seeking individuals to participate in the study. They must: • Be aged 18 years and over to participate in the study • Be native English speakers or early bilinguals (having spoken English by the age of 5 years). • Have normal or corrected-to-normal vision • Have reasonable confidence in typing. More information is available on our research website at: http://www.prometheus.net.au/onlineinteractions. Please feel free to visit the website and to make others aware of the project. Contact Ms Melanie Nguyen at the University of Sydney on (02) 9351 9390, or by email at melanien@usyd.edu.au.

before buying? Low interest rates don’t make up for a bad investment—just the same as higher interest rates shouldn’t stop you from buying a property promising excellent capital growth and solid rental returns. Interest rates are important, but they are only one factor when looking for an attractive investment. What if I can’t rent my property? This isn’t proving to be a problem in SEQ overall. The area is experiencing unprecedented demand for housing, combined with low levels of stock and high rental returns which can make for excellent buying. The experts continue to say Queensland has all the strong economic fundamentals, including growth in employment and retail sales and improving business conﬁdence. Growth may slow in 2008 because of interest rate rises, but rents are forecasted to rise by more than 15%, making for a strong, competitive rental market. Fewer housing starts will drop the undersupply further—to below 20% of demand. Should I wait a bit longer to save more for my deposit? Everyone’s circumstances are different. You can start by looking for stock requiring a small deposit now and a longer construction timeframe so you earn capital growth along the way. We have properties, for example, that won’t be ﬁnished for another 10 to 18 months, which enables you to access the market with time up your sleeve to save further if you need to. And if it’s the right buy you’ll watch your property go up in value.

ant to learn more about great investment properties in Queensland? We have relationships with developers and access to excellent properties before they’re publicly promoted. Call 6257 3368 to set up an obligation-free chat or visit: www.propertytoprosper.com.au

www.theword.com.au Health & Lifestyle

One in five Australians is affected by some form of mental illness.

Depression is the most common. There is a lack of awareness in the general community about the difference between feeling sad and clinical depression. Clinical depression is a medical condition that has a significant impact on a person’s life. It not only affects the way a person feels but also interferes with how they function. Symptoms can include prolonged feelings of extreme sadness, loss of motivation and interest in activities that previously brought joy, changes in appetite, sleeping patterns or weight, feeling worthless or guilty, impaired thinking or concentration and physical aches and pains. There is no single cause for depression. Some of the more common factors that may contribute to someone experiencing depression include traumatic or stressful experiences such as the death of a loved one or loss of a job, hormonal changes such as occur during puberty or following childbirth, problematic use of alcohol and other drugs, or a family predisposition to depression. Depression can also occur as part of another

mental illness such as bi-polar disorder. Despite its prevalence, there are many misunderstandings about depression. The most common is that people with depression could change their lot if they just tried. They may be urged to ‘cheer up’ or told to ‘snap out of it’. These sorts of mistaken beliefs can make it harder for people living with depression to seek help and thereby contribute towards unnecessarily prolonging their distress. It is about as realistic to expect a person living with depression to snap out of their illness as it is to expect a diabetic to snap out of having diabetes. Stigma around mental illness is a serious problem. Stigma means people are made to feel ashamed of their illness or that they aren’t as good as everyone else. Apart from being socially debilitating, stigma prevents people from getting the help they need to manage living with their illness. Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT) is a local not for

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profit organisation, with a unique approach to mental health promotion. MIEACT recruits and trains volunteer educators who have either experienced living with a mental illness, or cared for a loved one who has a mental illness. MIEACT volunteers conduct interactive education seminars on the topic of mental health in Canberra’s schools, workplaces and within the community. All of our education sessions incorporate each volunteer’s real life story of living with a mental illness, including the factors contributing towards their illness, its effects on family and friends and effective treatment. The emphasis on personal narrative is not only incredibly powerful, but it is also very effective in increasing the audiences understanding of mental illness while simultaneously reducing the stigma that continues to surround mental illness.

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Life Line 13 14 11 SANE Australia 1800 18 7263 Mental Health ACT Triage 1800 629 354 If you need an education session about mental illness for your school, workplace or community group; or want to channel your experience of mental illness in a positive way, contact MIEACT on 6257 1195 or go to www.mieact.org.au

Story telling for Community Development

‘Stories Changing Minds’ is the MIEACT motto. Storytelling has been a highly effective tool for MIEACT in delivering health promotion, both in educating the public and empowering people living with or caring for someone with a mental illness., To demonstrate these dual benefits, MIEACT will be hosting a panel discussion at the ACT Writers Research from the University of Canberra reveals that not only do Festival at 1.30pm Saturday June the seminars increase participants’ 21 entitled ‘Storytelling for community development’. understanding of mental illness but that volunteer educators For community service agencies, benefit greatly from being we hope to show how storytellinvolved with MIEACT’s ing can be used as a core element programs. Having the of projects. For ACT writers, platform to speak openly we hope to show how storytellabout living with a mental ing skills can be used for social illness is empowering and justice. The panel will consist of is an important step on the road to recovery. Improved MIEACT’s Youth Projects coself esteem, confidence and ordinator, Jenni Savigny; AIDS Action Council Community Edumaking new friends are cation Manager, David Mills; and other positive outcomes Anecdote storytelling consultant from being involved with Mark Schenk. Light refreshMIEACT. ments will be offered at the end of the discussion. Please contact If you think you might Pip Blackwood on 6257 1195 be experiencing depression, contact your or pip@mieact.org.au for more information. GP or

B u s i n e s s www.theword.com.au

Taxpayers gouged to bail out banks The Government must come clean about which Australian banks are in danger of collapsing, instead of using taxpayer money to prop them up behind the scenes. The Federal Government’s $62 billion Future Fund, comprised of three years of budget surpluses (taxpayer funds gouged by the rising GST charge on skyrocketing prices for food and fuel, but not spent on hospitals, schools or infrastructure), and chaired by former banker David Murray, injected $2 billion into Australia’s ailing banks between January and April. It has now poured another $500 million into the deeply troubled ANZ Bank—the bank which lost nearly $1 billion on margin lender Opes Prime, and whose credit crisis has forced it to rethink financing for major projects like the Tasmanian pulp mill. The Australian public deserve to know what the Government knows about which banks are in danger of collapse, before those banks go under and take the hardearned savings of Australians with them. Add this blatant taxpayer bailout via the Future Fund, to the recent announcement by Commonwealth Treasurer Wayne Swan of a scheme to establish a government-guarantee for up to $20,000 in depositors’ funds in banks, and Rabobank advertising itself as “Australia’s safest bank”—you know the banks are in crisis. Instead of allowing the banking fraternity to coordinate their own secret bailout using taxpayers’ money in the Future Fund, the Government should implement the CEC’s Homeowners and Bank Protection Bill (HBPB). The HBPB will stop homeowners, farmers and tenants from losing their homes, and protect depositors by stopping any banks from collapsing, by putting those

banks under federal protection and regulation, and reorganising their toxic balance sheets through massive write-downs of their unpayable debt and inflated assets.

millions of families are losing their homes, and the world food shortage underscores the severity of the world’s physical economic breakdown crisis.

It is modelled on the Homeowners and Bank Protection Act put forward by Lyndon LaRouche in the United States, and supported by numerous local and state governments, which itself is based on measures used by US President Franklin Roosevelt in the Great Depression to stop a banking collapse.

The issue is whether the Government will act in the interests of the people, in a transparent way, through the HBPB, or continue to be an agent for private banking interests to use taxpayers’ funds to bail themselves out.

LaRouche is the world’s most accurate economic forecaster. His forecast of a 1923 Weimar Germany-style hyperinflationary blowout of the world’s monetary system is unfolding in front of our eyes: banks in America, Britain and Australia are failing,

Join the CEC’s campaign for the HBPB, to make sure the common good of the people prevails. Click here http:// www.cecaust.com.au/hbpa/ for more detail.

www.theword.com.au B u s i n e s s

Call for local businesses to take part in Family Business Expo The National Zoo & Aquarium will be the place for family businesses this November, Family Business Australia (FBA) ACT Chairman, Mick Burgess said today. “The FBA Family Expo will showcase family businesses and increase awareness of their contribution to the Canberra commu-

nity”, said Mr Burgess. The National Zoo & Aquarium, also a family business, provides the perfect venue for a family Expo. In addition to the Zoo’s attractions, there will be a full entertainment program, including the African drumming band, Drumassault and a demonstration by the modern jive group, Ceroc

Canberra. An abundance of children’s activities will ensure that mums and dads will have an opportunity to explore the 83 family business stands scattered throughout the Zoo. The Expo Deli will showcase the region’s finest local produce and gourmet delights. “The FBA Family Expo is an initiative of Family Business Australia, the not-for-profit peak body for family businesses and private industry. The ACT Chapter has members from multi-generational family businesses, sole traders and sibling owned companies. The sizes of the businesses involved in the chapter range from well established companies with over 100 employees to those that have only been in business for one or two years”, said Mr Burgess. Local businesses interested in exhibiting at the Expo on Sunday 9 November can contact Candice Edye on 6292-1573 or send an email to fbaact@fambiz.com.au. Additional information is also available on the website at www.fbafamilyexpo.com.au.

Outstanding Service award winner mortgaged her house to keep club afloat Burns Club President Eunice Stewart’s 42 years of service has been recognised at the 2008 ClubsACT excellence awards taking out the award for outstanding service. Financial difficulties struck the Burns Club in the late seventies/early eighties in a time when new Clubs were springing up in the new Suburbs. This resulted in the Burns club suffering due to members not wanting to drive all the way to the Burns Club when they could join a local Club in their Suburb. “Drink driving laws were now in force and it was too costly for taxis” Mrs Stewart said. At this time negotiations had started to move the Burns

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uding a formal qualiﬁcation, and over can apply to join the d spare time will be essential. a two-year commitment, to Club to a more populated suburb. g and to regularly participate overbut a six-week “The debts owed by the club were not place great, enoughperiod ivered by experts, including to stall any further plans for a new Club” Mrsa ﬁStewart nts and nal exam but the and knowledge to pass these said. pon successful completion of Mrs Stewart who worked at the club and strong heir having uniform and badge and

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feelings for the Scottish heritage and Club history was Interpreter is encouraged to prepared to cover the debt by taking a small be heldmortgage regularly until the r, Paula on (02) 6247 over her house. “This was done knowing thatBanks, the club com.au for details. Be quick did have assets and should be able to repay the loan and n February 1st and places are indeed it was” Mrs Stewart said. r just to visit, we hope to see

Hear It Now! Your hearing health questions answered.

Eunice worked in the club as a volunteer when the club anged my life was financially unstable and has dedicated her time to Canberra’s oldest licensed club. “I did work when it was going through a bad spell financially, I worked for a couple of years just part time to help them out, I’ve been a member and a strong supporter” said Mrs Stewart

This column is about hearing health care. As trained audiometrists, we invite you to ask about your hearing issues. We’ll answer your questions monthly.

What types of hearing aids are on the market today? There’s a full range of high-tech hearing aids available, including behind-the-ear instruments, in-the-ear instruments and discreet completely in-the-canal instruments.

As current club president Mrs Stewart has been involved in a number of areas over her 42 years, beginning in 1966 as an associate member in a time when women weren’t allowed to be full members of clubs “It was about the 1970’s that they let the lady’s come into their own and gave them full membership” Mrs Stewart said.

There’s one for every type and level of

Mrs Stewart’s other passion is the Burns Club pipe band who she regularly escorts to her home land in Scotland. “We have won the Australian championships, when we went to Scotland we won two championships and came second in a couple as well” Mrs Stewart

There are many brands on the market

hearing problem.

What’s involved with a hearing test? You listen to a series of sounds and different frequencies to determine if you’re experiencing hearing loss, and to what degree. We then discuss the technology available and products appropriate to retraining your brain to hear well again. Then we arrange to review your progress and make ﬁne tuning adjustments.

Are some brands better than others? today. We only sell quality products made by reputable companies that have been in the industry over a long time, including WIDEX, Starkey, Siemens, Bernafon, Phonak, GN Resound, and Oticon.

Have a question about your health care? Mail it to Hear It Now! 1/45 Wentworth Ave Kingston, 2604 or email: enquiries@helenkinghearing.com.au

said. “They did exceptionally well for a little band from Australia” Mrs Stewart said.

If you suspect you may have a hearing problem, act now. Hearing tests are quick and easy. For further details please call Helen King Hearing Centres on 02 6239 4944.

The Burns Club in the ACT was formed in 1924 and remains the oldest licensed club in Canberra, originally located in Forest the club is know located in Kambah where it has established itself as a profitable well ran community based club. The Burns Club also won the Community Assistance Award, medium division, and the

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www.theword.com.au Health & Lifestyle

One in five Australians is affected by some form of mental illness.

can also occur as part of another mental illness such as bi-polar disorder. Despite its prevalence, there are many misunderstandings about depression. The most common is that people with depression could change their lot if they just tried. They may be urged to ‘cheer up’ or told to ‘snap out of it’. These sorts of mistaken beliefs can make it harder for people living with depression to seek help and thereby contribute towards unnecessarily prolonging their distress. It is about as realistic to expect a person living with depression to snap out of their illness as it is to expect a diabetic to snap out of having diabetes. Stigma around mental illness is a serious problem. Stigma means people are made to feel ashamed of their illness or that they aren’t as good as everyone else. Apart from being socially debilitating, stigma prevents people from getting the help they need to manage living with their illness. Mental Illness Education ACT

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MIEACT volunteers conduct interactive education seminars on the topic of mental health in Canberra’s schools, workplaces and within the community. All of our education sessions incorporate each volunteer’s real life story of living with a mental illness, including the factors contributing towards their illness, its effects on family and friends and effective treatment. The emphasis on personal narrative is not only incredibly powerful, but it is also very effective in increasing the audiences understanding of mental illness while simultaneously reducing the stigma that continues to surround mental illness. Research from the University of Canberra reveals that not only do the seminars increase participants’ understanding of mental illness but that volunteer educators benefit greatly from being involved with MIEACT’s programs. Having the platform to speak openly about living with a mental illness is empowering and is an important step on the road to recovery. Improved self esteem, confidence and making new friends are other positive outcomes from being involved with MIEACT. If you think you might be experiencing depression, contact your GP or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

For more information visit:

www.ccusa.com Or call:

1300 859 040

(MIEACT) is a local not for profit organisation, with a unique approach to mental health promotion. MIEACT recruits and trains volunteer educators who have either experienced living with a mental illness, or cared for a loved one who has a mental illness.

™

Life Line 13 14 11 SANE Australia 1800 18 7263 Mental Health ACT Triage 1800 629 354 If you need an education session about mental illness for your school, workplace or community group; or want to channel your experience of mental illness in a positive way, contact MIEACT on 6257 1195 or go to www.mieact.org.au Story telling for Community Development ‘Stories Changing Minds’ is the MIEACT motto. Storytelling has been a highly effective tool for MIEACT in delivering health promotion, both in educating the public and empowering people living with or caring for someone with a mental illness., To demonstrate these dual benefits, MIEACT will be hosting a panel discussion at the ACT Writers Festival at 1.30pm Saturday June 21 entitled ‘Storytelling for community development’. For community service agencies, we hope to show how storytelling can be used as a core element of projects. For ACT writers, we hope to show how storytelling skills can be used for social justice. The panel will consist of MIEACT’s Youth Projects coordinator, Jenni Savigny; AIDS Action Council Community Education Manager, David Mills; and Anecdote storytelling consultant Mark Schenk. Light refreshments will be offered at the end of the discussion. Please contact Pip Blackwood on 6257 1195 or pip@mieact.org.au for more information.

At your Capital Chemist, we know what matters.

Saving money on your medicines Nevertheless, successive Australian Governments have maintained policies which have ensured we have access to the least expensive medicines in the world - certainly for medicines proven to be both safe and effective. And there are ways we can reduce the cost of medicines even further. Each year on 1 January there is an increase in the cost of Pharmaceutical Benefit (PBS) prescriptions. In fact, the total cost of the prescription item may not have increased; it’s actually the so-called patient co-payment which increases – generally in line with the CPI (consumer price index). Even at the maximum of now $31.30 per item, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme still offers us pretty good value for money. Some medicines actually cost many hundreds (occasionally even thousands) of dollars more than the co-payment. The full cost of PBS medicines is now printed on the dispensed label, so an indication of the real cost of each medicine is there for us all to see. And $31.30 is the maximum you should have to pay. Many medicines cost less than this; and if you have a concession card issued by Centrelink (Department of Social Security) or the Department of Veterans Affairs, the maximum amount payable is $5.00 per prescription item. It is now well known that some brands of medicines cost more than others and the government subsidises up to the cost of only the lowest-priced brand. A doctor or pharmacist can give more advice about this brand price premium and how to avoid any extra charge. At your request the pharmacist can often substitute a less expensive brand. Remember all medicines in Australia are required to meet the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s high standards of quality, safety and effectiveness. The standards are exactly the same for the less expensive and the more expensive brands. In any event, another way of curbing the cost of prescription medicines is for you to keep a record of spending on PBS prescriptions on a Prescription Record Form (PRF). If you have all or most of your prescriptions dispensed at the same pharmacy, the pharmacist will be able to keep a computer record of these transactions. You can use the PRF to keep a record of items occasionally dispensed elsewhere. Your regular pharmacist can then add items to the computer list. When you have a record of spending $1141.80 on PBS medicines for yourself and your dependents in a calendar year, the cost of all subsequent items during the year comes back to $5.00 each. This is called the PBS Safety Net. It gives reasonable financial protection for patients and their families if they require a large number of medicines.

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CURTIN Mon to Fri 8.30am–7pm Sat 8.30am–4pm Closed Sun & Public Hols

DICKSON Mon to Fri 8.30am–8pm Sat 8.30am–7pm Sun & Public Hols 9am–7pm Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day & New Years Day Ph: 6248 7684

Wattle Street Mon to Sat 9am–7pm Closed Sun & Public Hols Ph: 6247 7004

O’CONNOR Sargood Street Mon to Fri 8.30am–11pm Sat, Sun & Public Hols 9am–11pm Ph: 6248 7050

PALMERSTON Mon to Fri 9am–7pm Sat 9am–1pm Closed Sun & Public Hols Ph: 6241 9710

SOUTHLANDS Mon to Fri 9am–7pm Sat, Sun & Public Hols 9am–6pm Closed Christmas Day & Good Fri Ph: 6286 3644

TUGGERANONG Hyperdome Mon to Thu 8.30am–6pm Fri 8.30am–9pm Sat 9am–5pm Sun & Public Hols 10am–4pm Ph: 6293 1166

HUGHES Mon to Fri 8.30am–6pm Sat 8.30am–12 noon Closed Sun & Public Hols Ph: 6281 2581

WANNIASSA

KAMBAH

WODEN PLAZA

Mon to Fri 9am–7pm Sat 9am–5pm Closed Sun & Public Hols Ph: 6231 7014

Mon to Thu 9am–5.30pm Fri 9am–9pm Sat 9am–5pm Sun & Public Hols 10am–4pm Ph: 6282 3960

Mon to Fri 8.30am–9pm Sat, Sun & Public Hols 9am–9pm Closed Christmas Day Ph: 6231 6446

WARAMANGA Mon to Fri 9am - 7pm Sat 9am - 5pm Closed Sun & Public Hols PH: 6288 1334

For concession card holders, the Safety Net threshold is $290.00 – equivalent to 58 items at $5.00 each – after which there is no charge for any PBS item, provided one of the lowestpriced brands is dispensed. 10176

g money y Saving

Often the need to take medicines is unexpected; so we don’t anticipate what the cost of medicines might be and make some allowance in our budget. For those of us required to take medicines regularly - perhaps for a chronic condition like arthritis, asthma, depression, diabetes, epilepsy or heart disease - the costs might seem overwhelming.

Capital Chemists care for the community in many different ways. Of course, we care for our customers but our involvement in the Canberra community goes further. That’s why we have allocated more than $200,000 this year to a variety of community groups and worthwhile causes. Find your Capital Chemist at:

www.theword.com.au Health & Lifestyle

ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Breaking Free of a Debilitating Illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) also known as, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), affects 140,000 Australians. This poorly understood illness, not only by the general public but unfortunately by

some within the medical community as well, places severe limitations on the daily lives of those affected by it. It is estimated that 25% of people affected by it are permanently bed or house-bound. Currently there is no known cause

for ME/CFS and no cure. May is International ME/CFS Awareness Month. The ACT ME/CFS Society is encouraging the ACT community to break the isolation of those affected by ME/CFS through an awareness campaign and fundraising for support and research. This year we are promoting the Canadian medical treatment guidelines (the Canadian consensus document) in the ACT. These guidelines provide a clinical case definition and guidelines for medical practitioners that are regarded as a benchmark for best practice treatment of the illness. “Everyone knows, directly or indirectly, someone who has ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is important that we, as their friends, family and community, reach out to these people and break the isolation and disability of their disease” said Ms Mary Campbell, President of the ACT ME/CFS Society. People with ME/CFS have symptoms such as profound

exhaustion, memory and concentration impairment, muscle pain, sleep disturbance headaches and other flu-like symptoms. In some cases the illness causes persistent disability while others it follows a relapse and remitting course. “Many sufferers of ME/CFS not only face months of tests for diagnosis and a life of daily limitations but a world of stigma and misunderstanding.” Ms Campbell said. Help us show support for those affected by ME/CFS. Donate by calling 6290 1984 or put someone you know in touch with the ACT ME/CFS Society. ACT ME/CFS Society provides support, information and advocacy for people affected by the illness. It provides support services to its members such as selfhelp courses and support groups as well as access to a support worker and telephone information support service. The Society also provides information to patients, medical practitioners and the public; and promotes research. For more information visit the website at www.mecfscanberra. org.au or email the centre at admin@mecfscanberra.org.au.

August 2007 Issue No. 32

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www.theword.com.au Health & Lifestyle

Help celebrate national Premmie Day July 25th 2008 The National Premmie Foundation announces the 2nd Annual National Premmie Day with celebrations occurring Australia wide for the births of our smallest and most vulnerable newborns. Each year approximately 42,000 newborns are admitted to Special and Intensive Care Nurseries across Australia and you can be their voice this year. July 25th, 2008 is the day to celebrate with our Little Aussie Battlers - Our premature or seriously ill infants as well as remember those special babies who did not survive their journey. The day coincides with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season,

a common virus that causes cold like symptoms. For prematurely born and seriously ill infants, RSV is a serious health threat often resulting in re hospitalisation or forced isolation to families. By the age of 2 all children will have been infected with RSV at least once and we want to make parents aware of the signs and symptoms of RSV. The National Premmie Foundation invites parents of premature and sick newborns to hold a National Premmie Day event in their local community. Support and information for families, carers and health pro-

fessionals is available at www.prembaby.org.au or by calling 1300 PREMBABY 1300 773 622. Please contact Amanda Lonergan on 0407 522 877 or info@prembaby.org.au

August 2007 Issue No. 32

Myall Creek Decade Milestone

28 Aboriginal children, women and old men were brutally massacred whilst the able bodied men of their families were working for the property owner, Henry Dangar, at Myall Creek Station near Bingara, north west New South Wales.

over grazing by introduced sheep, cattle, horses, rabbits, donkeys, goats, deer, the list goes on, let alone the introduction of foxes, foreign bird species, mice and rats. The mass extinction of flora, fauna and human species - FOR WHAT?

This callus, calculated and cowardly act is the only massacre of Indigenous People on this continent for which anyone has been tried and convicted. There have been numerous such massacres, larger and smaller, all part of a recipe to rid the continent of everything Indigenous, by a British Empire on which the sun never set on such barbaric brutality.

STOP & THINK

Spare a thought for their poor soles and think of the implications of their deaths, because it directly effects you. The arrival of the first fleet wrought devastation, destruction and disease on the Australian continent, on a scale that today has global implications. The landscape was transformed by greed and today we are paying the price. The Indigenous people lived with the land, they were of the earth, not ruling it. The waters flowed, the country was for the most part wooded grassland and the grass put carbon into the ground and a layer of fresh water across the landscape with a salt layer well beneath. Australia had sufficient Indigenous grass land to reverse the effects of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;global warmingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; we are experiencing today and it was cared for and nurtured by Indigenous people who were part of the landscape. Acknowledge the Indigenous People of this continent who were the victims of systematic genocide on the 10th of June by learning something about Indigenous grasses. Our grasses put carbon into the ground in their first season, more carbon per acre into the ground than trees. We have enough Indigenous grassland in Australia, if properly nurtured and managed, to reverse the effects of global warming for the entire planet. A fact borne out by science. The displacement of Indigenous People on this continent by European savagery, disease, murder, slaughter of their animal resources,

What if these were your family members? What if this was the land you belonged to? How would you react to your family and friends being purposely infected with smallpox only to die an excruciating death or rounded up and brutally massacred? The subjects of British genocide. The photograph attached is of Indigenous people not much different to the people massacred at Myall Creek. Children, women and old men, Ngambri People. The people Canberra was named after - after they were displaced off their land - after every emu was shot - after the yam daisies were over grazed - after the goannas were eliminated - after the possums were blasted out of the trees - after their habitat was destroyed - after religion was forced upon them - after they were banished to an Aboriginal camp outside their land - after their children were taken. These are my family. On the 10th of June, remember the families of the Kamilaroi people of the Myall Creek Station massacre, remember ALL the Indigenous People and Indigenous elements of this country that have been displaced and destroyed, by reinstating the Indigenous grasslands for your own sake and everyone else in the world. Since European settlement, Australia has imported around 28,000 alien plants - more than the total number of native plant species - and one in 10 of these imports has established with adverse impact. We cannot bring back the dead or reverse the wrongs of the past, but we can restore the landscape and reverse the effects of global warming in their honor by something as simple as spreading some native wildflower seeds or sewing some Indigenous grasses. Shane Mortimer - Ngambri Person

Canberra Battery World launches recycling program Each year 8,000 tonnes of hazardous battery waste ends up in landfill. In a bid to preserve the environment, Canberra Battery World has launched a recycling program to encourage the community to stop throwing out this hazardous waste in the normal garbage. A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics report stated that batteries were the most common form of hazardous waste disposed of in Australian households and that 97 per cent disposed of batteries via their usual rubbish collection. Canberra Battery World franchisee Mark Roberts said as society became more dependent on portable power, batteries were an increasing environmental problem and a long-term plan was needed to limit the amount of battery waste entering landfill. “The chemicals in batteries are toxic and can contaminate soil

will ultimately harm our environment.” Canberra Battery World provides this service to consumers free of charge and not only sorts all batteries collected to ensure they go to the correct recycling plants but also arranges delivery of them to the plants. Battery World is Australia’s largest and most comprehensive retail battery chain which has access to more than 10,000 batteries and accessories. Along with many other items, Battery World can power a range of household, industrial, recreational, marine, technical and cosmetic items and is the most convenient place for customers to obtain all their portable needs.

and harm wildlife so we don’t want them going into landfill,” Mr Roberts said. “Most batteries can be recycled so we urge the community to be responsible and bring their used batteries to our store so they can

be disposed of safely. “Our store is conveniently located and has parking so it just a matter or quickly popping in and dumping old batteries in the purple-and-yellow Battery World recycling bins, rather than dumping them into the trash which

To locate your local Battery World store please go to www.batteryworld.com.au or call 13 17 60.

www.theword.com.au Arts & Entertainment

TRAVEL FOR YOUR ART $10 000 SIGANTO TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP MORE TRAVEL FOR YOU ART - SIGANTO SCHOLARSHIP NOW $10 000! Dreaming of attending the 2009 Venice Biennale? Is there a residency overseas you’d love to be a part of? Wanting to exhibit at the New York International Art and Design Fair? Well here’s your chance! The Siganto Travel Scholarship is a biennial bursary providing professional development opportunities through travel, open to emerging practitioners in the fields of visual arts, craft and design. Awarded every two years, the Scholarship provides funds for the purpose of undertaking travel that will support an individual’s career development. Examples of projects funded by the Scholarship include attendance at international conferences, residencies and master classes, and international research projects required

to access resources unavailable in Australia. Applications close 5pm, Friday 8 August 2008. To download the application form visit www. artworkers.org

Lucy Baker is the Suburban Shaman The Steve Irwin of Spirituality

Lucy Baker is Canberra’s very own Suburban Shaman, and she’s on a mission. Like Steve Irwin before her, she’s on a trajectory to introduce a new way of thinking about and interacting with the world. This time, it’s our connection to the spirit world that will be demystified and explored, giving those in

the audience a glimpse of their own subconscious connection to the other side, and to their own innate spiritual wisdom. A former Indigo child, Lucy is renowned for her grounded and humorous ability to connect with spirit energies and share knowledge in shamanic ways that allows others to reclaim their own inner shaman. Join Lucy on an evening of adventure, and discover the keys to deepened intuition and how to advance to the easiest, most progressive part of your life. Join Lucy at her Canberra evening of The Suburban Shaman series of nationwide presentations on Thursday 3rd July, 2008, Albert Hall. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased by calling 6160 8690.

The Vikings Group leads the way in supporting our community* Thank you for supporting us

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

DELICIOUS DINING

and more... *Source: 2006/07 Community Contributions Made By Gaming Machine Licensees - 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 - ACT Gambling & Racing Commission. For the information of members and their guests

1 MEMBERSHIP - 5 GREAT VIKINGS CLUBS ERINDALE Ricardo Street Wanniassa 6121 2100 CHISHOLM Benham Street Chisholm 6209 0200 TOWN CENTRE Cnr. Athllon Drive & Rowland Rees Cres Greenway 6208 6300 LANYON Heidelberg Street Conder 6200 8400 CAPITAL GOLF Jerrabomberra Ave Narrabundah 6295 8048 www.vikings.com.au

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Tea for Tots childhood favourites come alive as the storyteller enthrals your children with tales of Winnie the Pooh, Mother Goose and all the other classics.

Looking for something to do with the kids? Tulips on Tuesdays offers a fun line up of hands-on activities for the little ones. Teddy Bear Tea Parties, Gardening Adventures, Cooking with Kids and Story Time - there’s a different activity every Tuesday. Story Time provides parents with a wonderful opportunity to introduce young children to the joys of reading. Winter Story Time is a cute and cosy experience; sitting by the fireside sipping big frothy cappuccinos and listening to your

It’s great when your kids want to help out in the kitchen, but sometimes the mess just makes it all too hard. Cooking with Kids provides all the fun associated with kitchen adventures, but you don’t have to do the cleaning. It’s a great activity for the little ones as they decorate cupcakes, make cookie cutter gingerbread men and mix pudding paint. And the best bit – they get to eat their creations afterwards! Teddy Bear Tea Parties are fun for boys and girls. Teddy Bear songs, fingerplays, fairy dough and craft activities – bring a teddy and play hide ‘n seek in the enclosed children’s playground.

Our Gardening Adventure program changes with the season and is hosted by Bliss Gardening and Giftware. Learning through doing, children exercise a range of skills as they explore a variety of gardening projects. From developing fine-motor skills through planting seeds, gross-motor skills through digging, social skills through cooperating and sharing and new vocabulary through discussions about what to plant and where to plant it. Gardening Adventures is not only entertaining, but educational too.

leafy confines of Tulips Café and garden. If you would like to ensure your little one has a spot for next week’s Tulips on Tuesdays then make a booking on 6249-6118 or 0409-630-118. Mother’s Groups and Playgroups are welcome to reserve a table for mums, grandparents and carers.

Tulips on Tuesdays runs every Tuesday from 10am to 12pm at Tulips Café, 8 Beltana Road, Pialligo. It costs $7.50 per child and this includes morning tea and all craft supplies. While the kids are exploring new horizons in cooking, craft and gardening, the adults can indulge in glorious cakes and homemade delights in the

Paradise Resort Gold Coast Heaven for Kids…Paradise for Parents! Home to the

Million Dollar Zone 4 Kids With magical themed play spaces & free sessions daily for babies & toddlers through to 12 year olds!

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138

* per room per night

With 4 pools, restaurants, bar, free daily activities, day spa, there’s no better time to escape with the family!

Phone now: 1800 074 111 or visit: www.paradiseresort.com.au *Conditions – Valid for stays 20 June – 25 Dec 07, subject to availability, seasonal surcharges apply. Rates based on a Resort Room for 2 adults & 2 children (0-12yrs).

122 Ferny Avenue Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 Australia MER076401_TW

Finland and As a 20 year old who had never left Australia, the prospect of my first overseas trip was a little daunting. Especially considering that it was to Scandinavia, which is almost as far away from Australia as you can get. But I grit my teeth and I went, because I knew it was time to expand my travel experiences to include somewhere beyond the distant corners of NSW. Our itinerary took us through south and mid Finland, and also through the fjords of Norway. Luckily I had my family with me for company. The first obvious difference that I noticed on arrival was that the plants were actually green! They get real rain over in Finland. There are no water restrictions either, so I didn’t feel bad having a long hot shower as soon as I could. It was strange to see people letting taps run and not think twice about it. If people acted like that over here they would have their heads bitten off!

2, 4, 5 & 7 night winter packages include:

experience

relax

indulge

explore

a spectacular 150 acre oasis bordering the National Park located at the base of Thredbo and Perisher Blue

in your own luxury mountain abode

in regionally inspired waterfront dining

Harro’s Snowboard Hire FREE courtesy shuttle bus to Skitube Day Spa • 9 Hole Golf Course Kids Club • Mountain Bikes Skills Course • Walking Trails Suspension Bridge • T ennis Indoor pool • Gym • Sauna Steam Room • Trampolines Low Ropes Course • Archery

Winter packages and bookings contact our dedicated team

1800 020 524 02 6451 3000 reservations@lakecrackenback.com.au www.lakecrackenbackresort.com.au Located on the Alpine Way, 15 mins from Thredbo and Perisher Blue Ski Resorts. Private resort driveway 800m to Skitube via courtesy shuttle bus.

• Luxury self contained accommodation • Snowsports hire • Lift tickets for Thredbo or Perisher Blue • Dinner • Hot breakfast • Complimentary use of all resort activities

Norway in a Nutshell Finland is a very friendly, very beautiful country but it is not particularly spectacular. After a few weeks of travelling by train past green fields, it got a bit, well, boring. Also as we headed toward Lapland there were many, many gigantic mosquitoes. We were excited to visit the real Santa in his village in Rovianiemi (also the hometown of the Eurovision band Lordi, if anyone remembers them? Scary men in monster-masks playing heavy metal?), but Santa was more concerned with being payed an unreasonable amount for photographs than I had imagined when I was a child. If it had been winter we could have gone for a sleigh ride, but we saw many reindeer wandering beside the roads anyway. We were also able to purchase from a large range of reindeer products, including reindeer leather and antler. This seemed a bit gross to me, but I suppose people feel the same way when they come to Australia and find things made of kangaroo. As it was summer in Scandinavia the sun didn’t set until about 10pm, and it didn’t stay set for long. Our body clocks were officially confused for the whole time we were there. In fact, in Norway we got so close to the Arctic Circle that for a few nights around the summer solstice it didn’t set at all! Norway is spectacularly beautiful – the parts we went to anyway. Allow me to describe it as best I can – cold lakes edged by green green forests, surrounded on all sides by snow covered mountains, with the snow melting as waterfalls into the lakes every few hundred metres. I was lucky enough to spend my birthday in such a place. We were also in Norway during “Extreme Sports Week”, and witnessed dare-devil skateboarders zooming off down the steepest mountain road known to man, as well as basejumpers pelting off the sides of a cliff towards the rocky crevices below. It was a fluke that we got to see this, and just watching it from below was more than enough excitement for us. Some things I noticed that are different in Scandinavia; shops stay open until late in the evening – about 8 pm. Time is always referred to in 24 hour format. Supermarkets have poker machines! Shower taps are ridiculously complicated to use. There is no such thing as a loaf of bread – it is sold in strange packets. There are a lot more (naturally) blond-haired people. Also it rains pretty much every day in some way or form. The highlights were: the train ride between and though Norwegian mountain ranges, called the Flöm railway; my birthday in permanent sunlight; and the friendly people of Finland. The low-lights: the prices in Norway.

Do your kids want to see snow this year?

If any readers of this article are planning to travel in Europe, please do not miss out on Scandinavia. There are so many beautiful churches and so much amazing landscape. The scenery in Norway is the most breathtaking thing I have ever seen. It may seem out of the way, and not a part of Classic Europe, but I promise if you take the time to go you will not be disappointed. I am already looking forward to going again one day.

You can afford a family ski holiday in 2007!

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Great early bird packages and special discounts available. Call 1800 641 064 or book online at www.smhc.com.au

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Four-share accommodation available in cabins from just $80 per night and holiday houses from just $130 per night.

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Ski Selwyn Snowfields in Value Season* from as little as $42 per day for adults, $23 per day for kids 7 to 14 and just $5 per day for kids under 7 based on 5 day lift passes.

r ou ow . com. a u Y

/NE OF THE THINGS WE OFTEN EXPECT OF CHILDREN IS THAT THEIR NATURAL INQUISITIVENESS WILL DEVELOP INTO LEARNING HABITS AND SKILLS THAT WILL TAKE THEM HAPPILY THROUGH SCHOOL AND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES "UT IN REALITY THIS IS A PROCESS THAT NEEDS AS MUCH NURTURING AS MOST AREAS OF A CHILD S DEVELOPMENT !ND THIS IS HOW THE +UMON METHOD OF LEARNING WAS BORN +UMON ENCOURAGES EACH CHILD TO LEARN AT A PACE WITH WHICH THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE 5SING MATHEMATICS AND %NGLISH AS A BASE PROGRESS IS ACHIEVED AS YOUR CHILD FEELS CONFIDENT TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN A TIME FRAME THAT SUITS THEM 4HIS BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND PROVIDES A GENUINE FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT n THE KEYS TO DEVELOPING A LOVE OF LEARNING THEY WILL CARRY THROUGH SCHOOL INTO THE FUTURE #ONTACT A +UMON #ANBERRA %DUCATION #ENTRE NEAR YOU TODAY "%,#/..%. '5.'!(,). -!.5+! ./24( #!."%22! 0%!2#% 45''%2!./.'

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Volunteers are needed to help out at Floriade 21: Films that shaped our nation, which will be the annual festival’s 21st birthday. A range of positions are available including entry usher, marquee information assistant, program seller, roving information, volunteer support crew and gnomes assistant—which involves helping out with the famous gnome painting onsite. Volunteering at Floriade is a great way to get involved with

the Canberra community and comes with exclusive benefits like reserved parking close to the festival gates and participating in the bulb dig—which means taking home bulbs from the Floriade garden beds at the end of the festival. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to be involved with the inaugural Floriade NightFest from 24–28 September. This is an ideal opportunity for anyone who is a gardening enthusiast, enjoys meeting new people and likes being outdoors. This year’s festival will run from Saturday 13 September to Sunday 12 October and volunteers are required to complete a minimum of six shifts. To fill out an application form visit www.floriadeaustralia.com. au or for more information phone 6207 2294 or email floriadevolunteers@act.gov.au

15531 _WD

Calling all budding and established volunteers

Ways to Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity . 1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down. 2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don’t Disguise Your Voice. 3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with that. 4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It “In.” 5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso. 6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write “ For Smuggling Diamonds” 7. Finish All Your sentences with “In Accordance With The Prophecy.” 8 . Don’t use any punctuation 9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk. 10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face. 11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is “To Go.” 12. Sing Along At The Opera. 13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don’t Rhyme? 14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play tropical Sounds All Day. 15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can’t Attend Their Party Because You’re Not In The Mood. 16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom. 17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream “I Won!, I Won!” 18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot, Yelling “Run For Your Lives, They’re Loose!!” 19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. “Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go.” 20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......

The Royal Australian Mint The Mint Gift shop is the place to purchase unique Christmas presents (and all year round gifts and souvenirs). Themed coin sets for new born babies, coin collectors, wedding sets, even starter kits for the budding collector, with gifts for Mum, Dad and all the kids.

Coin Collection • Make their own coin • Take a virtual tour of the new Mint in our theatre • Have a BBQ on our grounds The Mint Gift Shop and Gallery is open

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, oﬃcially opened the Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, on Monday 22nd February 1965. The Mint was commissioned to produce Australia’s decimal coinage, which was to be introduced into circulation on 14th February 1966. Since 1965 the Mint has produced over eleven billion circulating coins, with the capacity to produce over two million coins per day, or over six hundred million coins per year. Visitors to the Mint can also: • See the treasures of the National

Need More Money? The Mint Shop is open late for Christmas Shopping.

It was the day of the big sale.

Pythagorean Theorem - 24 words. Lord’s Prayer - 66 words. Archimedes’ Principle - 67 words. 10 Commandments - 179 words. Gettysburg Address - 286 words. Declaration of Independence - 1,300 words. US Government regulations on the sale of cabbage - 26,911 words.

Fridays 9am – 7.30pm

RAMTW0701

Rumors of the sale (and some advertising in the local paper) were the main reason for the long line that formed by 8:30, the store’s opening time, in front of the store. A small man pushed his way to the front of the line, only to be pushed back, amid loud and colourful curse. On the man’s second attempt, he was punched square in the jaw, and knocked around a bit, and then thrown at the end of the line again. As he got up, he said to the person at the end of the line, “That does it! If they hit me one more time, I won’t open the store!”

everyday leading up to Christmas, with extended trading hours every Friday. (We are closed Christmas day). Visit the Mint Gift Shop today; Denison Street Deakin or shop online www.ramint.gov.au

We sell memories you can hold on to. Denison Street, Deakin

1300 652 020

Star Signs AR E : March 20th - April 20th What a magical month! So many places to see, and so little time! You’ll need to FIND the time! Five heavenly bodies will be brightening your long-distance travel sector, all in ﬁre signs like yours, and you will have the enthusiasm, time, and even the money to pack and go. You’ll be restless to experience something new, so there’s no reason to hold back. Go any time after the new moon December 9. Can’t get away? Then people may come to you, by phone or in person!

AURU : April 20th - May 21st You have sharpened your pencil and have a good idea of the money you need to make certain dreams come true. What would that be, dear Taurus? Do you want to buy a house or condo? Pay for grad school? Start or expand your own business? Live abroad? This month, the world is your oyster! If you can dream it, you can do it!

GE N : May 21st - June 21st

AN ER: June 21st - July 22nd This will be a busy month at your workplace, perhaps because the nature of your job is seasonal. Whatever you do for a living, it appears that throngs of customers will appear at your door or that your boss will have piles of work for you to do or manage. Prepare to be busier than Lucille Ball and her friend Ethel in the chocolate factory, as you try keep up with the ever-faster roll of the assembly line.

EO: July 22nd - August 23rd This month is simply bursting with romantic potential! With FIVE super-friendly power planets ﬁlling your house of true love in the ﬁrst half of December, you are about to embark on an enchanting phase, much like the Owl and the Pussycat who alighted their own pea-green boat of love. Jupiter, the planet of happiness and expansion, will see to it that you have a sensational phase to remember this month.

V RGO: August 23rd - September 22nd Even though the holidays are upon you, December shines for all sorts of favourable domestic and real estate decisions. You may buy or sell property, acquire beautiful new furniture, or decide to remodel the kitchen. Holiday time could be a hard time to think about these things, but if you can address these and other domestic needs from December 9 to 17, you’ll ﬁnd options, bargains, and ideal solutions that you would never dream possible. This is literally the best time in over a decade to address these matters, but you will have to hurry! The door is closing!

RA: September 23rd - October 23rd Get ready for a ﬂurry of communication and more than just a few visits from friends, neighbours, and family. Quick, short travel will certainly be part of the picture too this month, so to maximize your holiday experience, you’ll need to be super-organized. There will be lots of details to keep in mind, so promise yourself that you won’t write anything on the back of an envelope but rather in a notebook where you can access the data when you need it.

ORP O: October 23rd - November 22nd Scorpio is known to be savvy about money, but this month you prove the point in a big way. Five celestial bodies will crowd in your earned income sector, so it’s clear you’ll be raking in cash faster than a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas. The diﬀerence is that you won’t win your stash but will get it the old fashioned way - by earning it. You’ll prove you have all the know-how to bring in the bacon, giving you plenty of reason to be proud of all that you accomplish now.

AG AR U : Nov 22nd - Dec 21st What a glorious month! Sometimes everything comes together to create a near-perfect set of conditions for achieving a dream - this is precisely that kind of month for you! The headline news this month is that on December 11, Jupiter will conjoin Pluto, a rare, once in 13-year event that always spells wild ﬁnancial success. Remarkably, this time these two luminary powerhouse planets will link in your sign of Sagittarius.

APR ORN: Dec 21st - Jan 20th Have you ever watched a gold medal Olympic athlete just prior to putting on her performance? Winners are never distracted. They tend to spend time alone, centering themselves, going through their upcoming performance in their mind, imagining every detail of their routine or race so that they can recreate in real life that perfect performance that exists in their mind. Preparation matters, for gold medals are won by millimeters.

AQUAR U : Jan 20th - Feb 19th Do wishes come true at this magical time of the year? I say yes, especially if you are an Aquarian. If you could only see your chart at the start of the month! Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, is about to leave Sagittarius after a year’s visit to your 11th house of your deeply held hopes and wishes. To wish him well as he plans to leave on December 18, other planets have raced to this constellation to create a gorgeous celebration and series of beautiful ﬁreworks. You can have lasting beneﬁts from this cosmic party, so listen up.

P E : February 19th - March 20th In this magical month, you will see your career explode with all kinds of amazingly good news! You’ve worked long and hard, and now, as reward, everything appears to reach critical mass, allowing you to rise to a whole new level of inﬂuence. Respect and admiration will follow you. Dear Pisces, you’re on your way - and all this will come with a vastly improved ﬁnancial picture, too. Look your best, because all eyes will be on YOU. You may even be asked to meet the press!

A grandmother is giving directions to her grown grandson, who is coming to visit for Christmas. “You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I am in apartment 14T. There is a big panel at the door. With your elbow, push button 14T. I will buzz you in. Come inside, the elevator is on the right. Get in, and with your elbow, hit 14. When you get out I am on the left. With your elbow, hit my doorbell.” “Grandma, that sounds easy, but why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow?” “You’re coming empty handed?”

Newﬁe goes to ﬁ A

to seek his fortune, and after a couple of years is doing very well for himself. His brother calls from Sydney to tell him their father is very ill and probably won’t survive. “Well, if he dies I’ll pay for the funeral; the best of everything, spare no expense, just send me the bill,” says Newfie. Two weeks later he gets a bill in the mail for $7500.00 He sends the cheque off to his brother. The following week he gets a bill for $75.00 He sends the cheque off to his brother.

Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.

This month, one relationship may turn out to be downright life changing. With a plethora of planets building in your seventh house of serious commitments, you are about to have a “coming together” of major proportions. You may get engaged or married, or you may sign papers with a business partner (whether that is an individual or a company). This partner will be so special that your life could be radically transformed by this relationship. Working together, you will be able to create the solid ﬁnancial future you’ve craved

How to tell if you’re Mum’s favourite!

The following week he gets another bill for $75.00 He sends the cheque oﬀ to his brother. The following week he gets yet another bill for $75.00 He sends the cheque oﬀ to his brother. The following week he gets a bill for $75.00 He calls his brother and says, “What the hell is going on; why do you keep sending me a bill for $75.00 every week?” His brother tells him, “Well, you said spare no expense, so we rented Dad a tux.”

In the cafeteria of a Catholic school, the children were lined up for lunch. At the head of the line was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note and she had placed it in front of the apples. The note read: “Take only one, God is watching.” Further down the cafeteria line was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies... One of the boys had written a note of his own. The note he placed in front of the cookies read: “Take all you want, God is watching the apples.” My memory’s not as sharp as it used to be. mind you, my memory’s not as sharp as it used to be.

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