canberra citynews june 21, 2012

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REVIEW. REFOCUS. REBUILD.Benefit from our experience.

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Libby Hill takes tea with the first lady of print

ITABEING

WHO’S MAKING WAVES IN CANBERRA CONFIDENTIAL THIS WEEK?

JUNE 21, 2012

Why won’t Abbott face his critics?

MICHAEL MOORE

Growing up is tough – on mums

SONYA FLADUN

Italian food in the fast lane

WENDY JOHNSON

Time to get the roses in CEDRIC BRYANT

CNC-21-June p1 1 19/06/12 4:01 PM

2 CityNews June 21-28

CityNews June 21-28 3

news / cover story

WHEN Ita Clare Buttrose AO, OBE speaks, Australia listens. As the country’s most-famous female journalist, her opinion is as relevant now as it was in the 1970s when she was breaking ground in the world of women’s magazines.

Founding editor of “Cleo” and the youngest editor of the “Australian Women’s Weekly”, the perfectly-primped media queen, businesswoman and regular motivational speaker looks at home in the tea lounge at Canberra’s Hyatt Hotel, sip-ping English breakfast tea. It’s a place she visits often as her son and his family live in the nation’s capital.

“I’ve been coming here since about 1959. I used to come here when it was the Canberra Hotel, so there’s a lot of nostalgia for me,” she says.

It’s clear she is enjoying the renewed interest in her career, probably sparked by the top-rating ABC mini-series “Paper Giants: the Birth of Cleo”. She’s a regular face on television, talking about everything from media to modern-day etiquette to the royal family.

“If you’ve got an opportunity to express a view, you should take it,” she says.

She is well aware of how powerful her voice is and she happily lends it to causes she feels strongly about.

As the national president of Alzheimer’s

Australia, patron of the Macular Degenera-tion Foundation and vice-president emeritus of Arthritis Australia, she uses her profile to help raise awareness.

“I don’t mind being used for a great cause,” she says.

“It doesn’t matter what you ask me to speak about, I will get macular degeneration, Alzhei-mer’s and often arthritis into the talk.

“I don’t take on any of these roles for any other

reason except that I can make a difference and I hope that I can alert more people to things they can do and how I can help persuade governments and private enterprise of the need for funding.”

She’ll be back in Canberra next month to speak at the National Press Club in her efforts to “open a few doors and kick down a few barriers” for Alzheimer’s Australia.

When Ita’s father was in his 80s, he was diag-nosed with vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s, and she became his principal carer.

On top of the dementia, he suffered from macu-lar degeneration and his hearing wasn’t great. Ita describes it as “a terrible trifecta of health”.

“Because my father had [macular degenera-tion], I have a 50 per cent risk of getting it, so I get my macular checked every year and so far so good,” she says.

But it’s dementia that she seems most deter-mined to fight.

“If you told me I had arthritis, I’d say ‘oh damn’. But if you said to me, ‘you know, you’ve got Alzheimer’s, I’d be so scared. It would be the most horrible thing,” she says.

THE mother of two is set to release an updated version of her autobiography, “A Passionate Life”, on July 2 – 14 years after it was first re-leased.

Revising it was a task she found surprisingly difficult and, after deciding “I don’t think I like that anymore” about the end of the book, she completely rewrote the last seven chapters.

ONE of her favourite topics is the media.“Magazines don’t seem to be in quite as much

strife as newspapers,” says the former editor of Rupert Murdoch’s Sydney “Daily Telegraph” and its Sunday sister.

“There seems to be a dedicated following and I think that’s because women in particular regard their favourite magazine as a friend. They look forward to it and want to see what it’s saying.”

But she warns that to remain successful, they will need to move towards apps for tablets.

“I think apps are the way to go. Your two most expensive costs in publishing are your printer and if you have to post. If you remove those two charges, your bottom line just takes on a whole new look.”

Her criticisms of magazines and the media in general are pointed.

“A lot of whiz kids think they know it all,” she says.

“There are a lot of companies that are not run by people that have a lot of experience in the me-dia. The media is not a place for amateurs.

“A lot of people with experience are no longer in the business. They got rid of them.”

She mentions the royal family: “I always judged what I put on the cover by the strength of the story... with the exception sometimes of the royal family. Sometimes you’d just be sent a great shot of one of the royals and you’d just use it.”

Ita returns to Canberra on Wednesday, July 11, to speak at the National Press Club. Bookings to npc.org.au and press through to “speakers”.

Ita comes through, loud and clearLIBBY HILL takes tea with Australia’s first lady of print and discovers the passions that these days drive Ita Buttrose

Ita Buttrose... “I don’t mind being used for a great cause.”

index / contacts Since 1993: Volume 18, Number 22

Editor: Ian Meikle, [email protected]: Freyla Ferguson, [email protected] Libby Hill, [email protected] Kathryn Vukovljak, [email protected] editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764 [email protected] and photography: Silas Brown, 0412 718086Graphic designer: Leonie FoxContributing photographer: Andrew FinchAccounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler [email protected] and circulation: Richard Watson, [email protected]

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FRONT COVER: Ita Buttrose. Story this page.

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Freyla Fergusonreports

“THE kind of negativity that is in Federal parliament at the moment is enough to turn any political scientist off politics, let alone a young person trying to educate themselves about the process,” says Johnathan Davis, one of the aspiring parliamentarians taking part in the YMCA’s ACT Youth Parliament.

“I would hope that a process like this could encourage a young person.”

This is the first time in 10 years that the YMCA has pulled together a group of young people, aged 15 to 25, to take part in the week-long residential program, from July 9 to 13, where participants will learn how to draft, debate and refute Bills according to parliamentary procedure and forward their de-bated Bills to the Chief Minister at the end.

As well as speaking on bills in the ACT Legislative Assembly, participants will engage with poli-ticians, policymakers and key play-

ers from industry and the union movement at Parliament House, the High Court and the National Library. Visitors will include Dr Richard Denniss, managing direc-tor of The Australia Institute; Paul Howes, national secretary of the AWU; Kim Sattler, secretary of UnionsACT; Senators Kate Lundy, John Hogg, and Gary Humphries; local MHRs Andrew Leigh and Gai Brodtmann and MLAs including Shane Rattenbury, Joy Burch, and Alistair Coe.

According to YMCA’s Jessica Adelan, the Youth Parliament is run as closely to the real thing. This included, as part of a train-ing day in May, an election to find

a government, opposition, cross-bench, including leaders, deputy leaders and whips. However, the parliament is not party aligned.

“The whole reason why I entered this debate was because I don’t like the fact that young people look at politics with disdain at times and really sometimes, to some extent, disengage,” she said.

“That is because, sometimes, they don’t think their politicians represent them adequately and properly.”

As part of the program, YMCA hopes to work on each young person’s leadership and decision-making skills, team work, public speaking, ability to construct a

clearly structured argument and advocacy skills.

However, Jessica said, it won’t be all work, there will be networking events held for the young parlia-mentarians throughout the week.

The youngest of the group in-cludes 16-year-old Canberra Girls Grammar students Lauren Kalina and Elyssa Francis.

“A lot of kids that are my age, or a little younger as well, also just take the opinion of their parents and I find that very frustrating that they don’t actually understand what they are standing up for or under-stand the background of why their parents say that,” Lauren said.

“I think that this is a great op-portunity to actually fully under-stand and grasp what people are actually for and what they believe and why they are doing that.”

For Elyssa, she hopes to gain as much knowledge about the parlia-mentary process as well as getting her opinions out there.

“I am not sure whether I want to go into politics, but I think it is really important to be informed on the issues,” she said.

“You are going to make your own opinion and not someone else’s.”

The YMCA still has some places for the week; more information at ypact.org or email [email protected]

YMCA’s ACT Youth Parliament members Jessica Adelan (24), Johnathan Davis (20), Lauren Kalina (16) and Elyssa Francis (16). Photo by Silas Brown

Seen and heard: kids in the HouseOwen’s got talentQUEANBEYAN busker and finalist in “Australia’s Got Talent”, Owen Campbell, will perform at the opening of the Crawford Street Lifestyle Precinct on Saturday, June 30. The precinct’s opening event starts at noon and activities include live music, a busking competi-tion, market stalls and free children’s activities.

Going for a songTHE Australian National Eisteddfod Choirs Division, with prize money of over $20,000, will be held on August 10-11. All school and community choirs are encouraged to enter (details at nationaleisteddfod.org.au). Entries close on July 6. Queries to Dianne Anderson on 0414 628007.

Telethon strikes goldTHE “CityNews” cover story “Saving tiny Tom” (June 7) was inspired by the Sydney Children’s Hospital’s Gold Week Telethon, broadcast locally by WIN during the Queen’s Birthday holiday. The telethon raised a record $2.61 million. Last year 383 Canberra children needed the hospital’s acute care.

Inspiring journeyCHARITY group Carpets for Communities is hosting the premiere of the documentary “Spinning Dreams Cam-bodia”, Canberra Girls Grammar Multimedia Theatre, Deakin, 7pm, on Friday, June 29. The film is an inspiring account of a 400km journey across Indo-China undertaken by nine young cyclists to raise awareness for sustainable livelihoods and development. Tickets are $10 and available from spinningdreamscanberra.eventbrite.com/



IT only took World War II and Vietnam War veteran Leigh “Laddie” Hindley, about two weeks to pen his entire life story in “The Joys and Dangers of an Aviation Pilot”.

Mr Hindley, 89, said what started as a little bit of fun “came out as a win-ner” when it won the First Prize in Literature at the 2012 RAAF Heritage Awards.

“I thought I would like to sit down

and write my life story,” he said.“It was only for my own satisfaction.

It was my daughter that entered it into the competition.”

Mr Hindley was a fighter pilot in World War II and served in the South Pacific.

After the war he returned to Goul-burn where he completed a five-year electrical course, but later returned to the Air Force, serving as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

His book traces his earliest memo-ries from growing up in Goulburn, through to his later career as a com-mercial pilot working in PNG.

“It starts from when I was a baby, the first thing I can remember, which was at four years and two months old, when my younger sister was born,” he said.

“In those days your mother had the babies at home with a midwife and I used to go in and give her a kiss on the cheek and say: ‘Get me my breakfast, mum’. I remember that vividly.”

Mr Hindley was 18 years old when he joined the Air Force; however, it wasn’t always his plan.

“I wanted to join the army, but my mother and father wouldn’t sign the papers so I badgered them,” he said.

“Mum said: ‘I’ll sign the papers if you join the Air Force, you’ll meet nice

boys in the Air Force’.“I didn’t want to be a pilot because

I knew that I would get air sick and I couldn’t join the Navy because I get motion sickness.

“But I went there because mum said so.”

Overcoming his air sickness led to a career in flying that spanned more than 45 years; 18,000 hours of flying 23 different aircraft.

In that time he also married twice; and had three children to his first wife.

“It was a different life and broad-ened my thinking, there’s no doubt about it, and how life was led by differ-

ent people,” he said.“Your thinking was very limited, I

grew up in Goulburn, and it was a very limited existence.”

Mr Hindley was also exposed to the herbicide “Agent Orange” during his time in the Vietnam War; after leav-ing the RAAF he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, accepted by the De-partment of Veteran Affairs as caused by the war.

Described by his wife Leslie as a bit of an “adventure novel”, all rights and proceeds belong to the Australian War Memorial.

“The Australian War Memorial

hoped it would be a good seller,” Mr Hindley said.

Mr Hindley said two people were the “main driving force” behind his book; World War II veteran, RAAF navigator Derick Rolland, who pressured him to write a short story for Rolland’s book “Airmen I have Met”; and ex-group captain and navigator Douglas Hurst, who wrote a book based on Mr Hind-ley’s flying experiences in “Hostage to Fortune”.

“The Joys and Dangers of an Aviation Pilot” will be added to the Heritage se-ries of publications and will be available at the Australian War Memorial.

‘Laddie’s’ adventures turn into a literary hit

“Laddie” Hindley, pictured in 1945.“Laddie”, left, climbs aboard a Mosquito in 1952.

Leigh “Laddie” Hindley... “Mum said: ‘I’ll sign the papers if you join the Air Force, you’ll meet nice boys in the Air Force’.” Photo by Silas Brown


opinionOut of (cruise) control

ARE you a cruise-control driver? I used to be, but it nearly killed me one day in the southern highlands.

We had a lot of calls to my 2CC radio program about this last week.

There are those who swear by the cruise control to simplify their driving. I was surprised to learn that many of my listeners actually use it whenever they’re driving, even in the 50km/h suburban streets of Canberra.

Geoff told me that cruise control is the only thing that stops him from getting multiple speeding fines.

Frank had a similar story about his constant travels in country NSW.

“I’d go insane if I had to sit there monitoring my speed all day,” he said.

Isn’t that what you do when you’re in charge of a motor vehicle?

My cruise control incident happened in 2002. I had just taken my foot off the pedals and stretched my legs a little somewhere between Marulan and Sutton Forrest. I’d like to think I was concentrating, but

it took me by surprise when the cars in front braked suddenly because of an earlier accident on the side of the road. I rushed to brake and instead put my foot on the accelerator.

I went so close to running up the back of the semi-trailer. I had to steer up on to the shoul-der of the road to avoid it.

That was the last day I ever activated cruise control.

I know that technology has improved dramatically in the last 10 years to the point that some of the advanced cruise-control systems can virtually steer the car for you.

I’m not interested. I will nev-er be convinced of the merits of letting the car do the driving for me.

And why do you think they paint those heavy, thick white lines on the Federal Highway in the lead up to the first Wat-son roundabout?

They’re supposed to wake you up in case you’ve drifted off on cruise control on the drive from Sydney. Doesn’t sound safe to me.

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer on 2CC

The day MARK PARTON put his foot down was the day he stopped using cruise control

Making wishesTHE Canberra Branch of Make-A-Wish is holding a trivia night with Rod and Biggzy, of Mix 106.3, to raise funds to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions at the Italian Club, Forrest, at 6.30pm on Friday, July 6. Cost, including finger food, is $35. Bookings to [email protected] by July 2.

Check matesCHESS master Andrew Brown, a 19-year-old University of Canberra student, has finished outright first in the 2012 NSW Open. Brown went into the event as the eighth seed in the 92-player field, but scored six wins and a draw to take out first place. Canberra Grammar student Tomson Qin won the second-division event.

On the cards BROTHERS Gabriele and Enrico Saccard, the top-trading Barter-card members in Canberra since 1996, have taken over the trading card’s Canberra franchise. The Saccards own La Scala restaurant in Civic. Gabriele will initially focus on sales and Enrico will handle the trading team and the financial running of the business.

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THIS month Canberra’s first television station, Southern Cross Ten, celebrates 50 years.

It has been a long and winding history for the station; starting from humble beginnings in 1962 up on Black Mountain, with 22 staff, led by broad-casting pioneer and founding general manager George Barlin, to its current Watson station, which now supplies television to more than 30 separate broadcast markets across Australia with more than 170 staff.

It’s had many name changes, start-

ing out as CTC (Canberra Television Canberra), and just as many owner-ship changes, including the “golden years” under Kerry Stokes.

It owns some of Canberra’s most important historical footage, including Gough Whitlam’s dismissal speech on the steps of Old Parliament House and the fatal Canberra Hospital demolition.

It has also been a stepping stone for many TV personalities including Steve Liebman, “Foreign Correspond-ent” journalist Mark Corcoran, sports reporter Andrew McKinlay and CNN international news anchor Rosemarie Church.

Television operations general manager Jeremy Flynn said that over the years, the station had produced many local content programs includ-ing children’s programs, live sports programs and outside broadcasts at Parliament House and at community events including Birdman Rallies at Lake Burley Griffin.

“We used to cross out to a sports reporter who would go with the Can-berra Raiders to Shark Park in Sydney because they were playing Cronulla in the afternoon,” he said.

One of the station’s lowest points was losing its news bulletin hour in 2001.

“It’s fair to say, in the time I’ve been

here, when the news bulletin was rationalised in 2001, they weren’t par-ticularly happy times,” he said.

“However, with evolution being evo-lution, it has re-evolved now to have a greater news presence in my mind, be it a different type of news, but a greater news presence across all of our assets across the entire eastern seaboard that comes out of this building than we did in 2001.”

The station now produces news content, five days a week, for about 20 markets along the eastern seaboard and Darwin; producing more than 600 news updates a week.

They also have supply agreements with Seven and Channel Nine, al-though its main agreement is with

Network Ten.For Network Ten, the Watson sta-

tion supplies programs to the entire eastern seaboard, outside capital cities, regional SA, Tasmania and Darwin.

For Seven, it supplies televison to Tasmania, regional SA, Darwin and central Australia, and for Nine it sup-plies to regional SA.

“I think the evolution of television is such that we are in some fantastic days, we are in groundbreaking new television in terms of multi-channel-ling and our business has changed

substantially over time,” Jeremy said.“While I have an enormous regard

and respect for what we used to do as a regional broadcaster, the economy scale these days simply doesn’t make that possible as much as it was back then.

“It’s one of the most exciting times for television in Australia in all time, in my view. We are a little way behind the States, Europe and the UK, they’ve been in the multi-channel space for quite a few years, however in a really short period of time Australia is going to catch up.”

news

Canberra’s first television station turns 50

How George brought TV to town

George Barlin... the transition from radio to television was “a pretty steep learning curve”.

BROADCASTING pioneer George Barlin says it was a challenge from former British media mogul Cecil Harmsworth King, that prompted him to fulfil his dream to start television in Canberra.

It was the late 1950s and Mr King, owner of the London “Daily Mirror”, had bought out the radio station 2CA, plus other regional radio sta-tions under the company Macquarie, that Mr Barlin was managing.

“King used to come out to Australia peri-odically and look at his investments here,” Mr Barlin said.

“One of these trips I had to take King and [Macquarie boss John] Patience to Yass.

“King was a very stern fellow, very economi-cal with words, monotonous tone.

“As we were going past Hall, Patience said to King something complimentary about what I had done.

“King then said: ‘That might be all very well, Mr Patience, but what has he done about television?’ and I piped up and said: ‘We could never afford television in Canberra, haven’t got enough of a population, it’s not a goer’.

“King said: ‘Are you aware of what has been going on in the United States, the United King-dom and Europe?’ and I said: ‘No, I haven’t fol-lowed it’ and he said: ‘Well I would advise you to know what you are talking about before you express an opinion in future’ or words to that effect.

“That immediately gave me the impression that he wanted me to look into television... I went to America and learnt as much as I could.”

Mr Barlin’s six-week trip took him to metro and regional television stations in San Fran-cisco, Chicago, New York, Washington, Atlanta and to the states of Texas, New Mexico and Cali-fornia, and also Toronto, Canada.

He describes the transition from radio to tel-evision as “a pretty steep learning curve”.

“Officially, my job was to see what was hap-pening to radio in the days of budding televi-sion,” he said.

“And I did a report on that and how I felt about it. But in a separate one-page sheet I said I had learnt enough about television to recommend that we go all out and learn what we could and do what we could to bring it to Canberra and other country areas in Australia.”

Mr Barlin described the establishment of television in Canberra as a “dog fight” as two commercial stations in Sydney – one owned by the Fairfax family and the other by the Packers – were looking to relay all television program-ming out of the city.

But Mr Barlin stuck to his guns. “I wanted to have a fully operational, independent station,” he said.

By June 2, 1962, it all came together, with 22 staff, Mr Barlin founded CTC – Canberra Tel-evision Canberra – a 22-person station that sat on top of Black Mountain. –Freyla Ferguson

First outside broadcast van at Old Parliament House, 1967.

“Tonight in Canberra” compere David Brice with guest star Little Pattie, 1965.

The technology… then and now.



politics

Why won’t Tony Abbott face his critics?There is a fine line between effective media management and media manipulation, says MICHAEL MOORE.

THE media forms a critical pillar of democracy and it’s unsurprising that the hair on the neck rises when it is being blatantly manipulated by one of our politicians.

The Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott’s refusal to go one-to-one for an hour on “Q&A” is just one indication that something is awry.

His approach contrasts with the recent performance of Prime Minister Julia Gillard who, with one exception, dealt with the interrogation flawlessly.

Good media management for politi-cians also means knowing when to ensure appropriate distance from the media on specific issues.

However, when the distance is care-fully orchestrated to ensure there can be as little cross-examination as pos-sible, it must be described as manipu-lation and should make the general public suspicious.

The technique adopted by Abbott warrants analysis. He is certainly regularly in the media at openings, as a “real man” on his bicycle, running or swimming, on a production line with workers or at shopping centres. There is always the brief “grab” and the standard line usually repeated a

couple of times in different ways. A negative, sharp, smart line is delivered critically focused on the Government and the Prime Minister in particular.

This is fairly standard fare for a leading politician in the media. How-ever, in a healthy democratic environ-ment it should be part of the repertoire rather than being the dominant aspect of the media interaction.

Gillard uses many of the same tech-niques to ensure that the media exam-ines her on her own ground. However, it is not the dominating technique.

Her appearance on the ABC’s “Q&A” allowing host Tony Jones and a live audience to cross-examine her and her policies reflects a much greater respect for the democratic process and the rights of the community to ques-tion her.

And, with one exception in an hour in the hot seat, she responded bril-liantly. Even for those who disagreed with her on such things as the carbon tax or policies on boat people, it would be difficult to argue that she was not frank in her responses, presenting the underlying reasons the Government has adopted and pursued particular courses of action.

Contrast this approach with some-one who organises media events as single-issue, brief doorstops or even, when in Canberra, organises shopping centre announcements away from Par-liament House in the middle of busy malls or at workplaces.

These venues leave much more power and control in the hands of the political minders than in a media room at Parliament House.

The minders know that it is rare for

senior journalists to leave a busy sit-ting schedule and lose an hour or two travelling time – better to send less-experienced colleagues.

The downside for the media and the public and the upside for Abbott is that these juniors often do not have the confidence, experience and knowledge to dig beneath the quick sound bites, the reiterated messages and the aura created by a senior politician.

Will Abbott be able to provide the

depth and insight into his own think-ing and that of his “alternative govern-ment”?

We will not know until he allows the cross-examination. Apart from economics, job cuts, health and educa-tion, Abbott will have to face difficult questions about how he will deal with his own minority view on the right of women to have affordable control of their own fertility and other moral is-sues such as gay marriage.

Ironically, it is one of these ques-tions that exposed a flaw in Julia Gil-lard’s performance. The question was on gay marriage. Her answer came across as one carefully crafted by astute minders. It was in marked con-trast to the rest of her responses which were vintage “the real Julia”.

Not many of us really believe that she does not believe in full and equi-table rights for homosexual people in-cluding gay marriage. A frank answer would have been consistent with her approach for the evening.

If democracy is genuinely important to Abbott, he must begin allowing in-depth interviews by even hostile media.

Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assem-bly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health.

dose of dorin


mum in the city

Growing up – it’s tough on mumsIT can come as a bit of a shock every now and again, when you realise you and your other half might not be singing from the same hymn book about parenting.

“Seriously, boys have to be allowed to be boys,’’ he argued. “You can’t baby him forever and that means let-ting him venture out of the nest and away from mum every now and then.”

Yep, my husband was all-too-relaxed about letting our son head off for three days to band camp, hun-dreds of kilometres away without me. “Anyway, you know how much he really, really wants to go,” was the clinching argument.

I wasn’t at all sure about this. Our boy is only nine and he’d never been away from home before. And it seems like only yesterday that he was sleeping in his baby cot at the end of our bed. I was positive he just was not ready. Certainly, I wasn’t ready for the words: “Mum I’m going on a school camp.”

The school camps I re-member as I child in SA were pretty grim. They always took place in the middle of winter, when it seemed to rain eternally. We went for hikes up muddy hillsides, but were mostly cooped up inside draughty old halls or Nissen huts, playing card games or cha-rades, watching old movies on a dodgy movie projector and crying ourselves to

sleep at night from home-sickness.

It’s not that I didn’t trust my boy’s wonderful teach-ers to look after him or know that he would behave him-self and do the right thing. The program – three days of music and band practice – looked great. And the camp site near the Hawkesbury River, carefully inspected via the internet and Google Earth, looked terrific.

I knew I had to give in gracefully and support the whole thing. Still it wasn’t easy watching that bus drive off at the crack of dawn on a cold, foggy Canberra morning. I have never been so glad as to hear the phone ring when he rang me to report he had arrived safe and sound.

Later that night, when he rang again and tear-fully told me how homesick he was and how much he missed me, I did want to jump into the car and drive up to the Hawkesbury to pick him up straight away. Then, next morning, he rang again, to say he was having a great time and that we didn’t need to worry.

I do know how important it was to go through this, to tell him that he would be okay, that we – his parents – love and trust him and know he is able to do things on his own.

But thinking about grow-ing up – there’s no doubt, it can be tough on mums.

By Sonya Fladun

brieflyYouth grantsAPPLICATIONS for Youth InterACT Grants, which are designed to get young people to develop and put into action youth-focused projects in their community, are open to young Canber-rans, aged 12-25. Grants of up to $1500 are available, to a total pool of $25,000. Applications, which close on July 14, are available from 6205 0632 or at www.youth.act.gov.au

Frog’s big award

CANBERRA music identity Brian “Frog” Harris’s store Songland Records (“home of the hard-to-find”) has been recognised nationally as the National Leading Edge Retailer of the Year. Beating tough competition from leading independent, specialist record stores in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, Frog says: “This award vindicates my decision to move Songland to Cooleman Court after 17 years in Tuggeranong. It is a fully leased, pro-active centre that mirrors Songland’s work ethic.”


Canberra Confidential Know something? / [email protected]

A shadow passes over the park“CC’s” green-fingered Deep-Throat was on the phone, trembling with concern. “I’ve heard they’re building a high-rise on Veteran’s Park, it’s a disgrace!” We’ll look straight into it, Cedric. But where’s Veteran’s Park, the geographically-challenged “CC” newsdesk wondered? It’s a popular lunchtime hang-out for inner-city workers on Bunda Street and it is now shrouded in construction barriers.

Fearing another sun-depriving skyscraper, we chased the question right to the top of the Economic Development Directorate (well, almost) and discovered (hold your breath) the news is not bad – in fact, it’s good! The park is getting a $2.2 million facelift including new foot and cycle paths flanking Bunda Street, the removal of the Northbourne Avenue slip lane into Bunda Street and new footpaths on the Mort Street axis. The park will also get a new SAS memorial and the two existing memorials are to be refurbished. Work will be completed by year’s end, just in time for the Centenary celebrations!

Rae goes radio...FORMER Federal Greens leader Bob Brown’s media adviser Marion Rae is stepping into drive-show producer Monica Masters’ (pictured) award-winning shoes at 2CC. Masters is leaving announcer Mike Welsh after two and a half years for the greenfields of public relations.

… so does Claudia!FORMER beauty queen Clau-dia Vannithone (pictured) is now a former publicist. Claudia, Miss World Australia ACT 2010, has left leading PR company Contentgroup after three years and made an unconventional move into sales as an account manager for Mix 106.3FM.

Bakers at the BarrelWHAT’S a bakery without bakers? In Parkes, the Pork Barrel Café has morphed into, what they’re calling, an “artisan bakery/eatery”

and have two European bakers to prove it. There’s Francisco, from Galicia, Spain, where his region’s bread is famous throughout Europe. And there’s Christian, from Bavaria, Germany. He makes sweet breads, brioche and pastry.

The Barrel has the bakers hard at it every day whipping up chocolate/berry brioche, marzipan brioche, chocolate and coconut sweet bread, and more.

Not cold, crisp!CASH-strapped Tourism seems to have coughed up enough coconuts to inveigle the wildly expensive Saturday “Sydney Morning Herald” into devoting four tabloid pages to a

“special report” gushingly devoted to winter in the ACT.

While “CC” cuddles an environmentally-friendly, hot-water bottle, brave Sydney visitors are being told that “the mercury may dip in the national capital, but that’s no reason to stay indoors [oh, but it is!]. Some of the ACT’s best attractions can be found out in the crisp fresh air, so rug up and get out and about”. That notwithstanding, the rest of it was full of warm glows about the Truffle Festival, the Fireside Festival and a clutch of cultural stuff going on. If we weren’t already here, we’d be there!

Poultry hand outYOUR money in action... Education Minister Chris Bourke (pictured), the number one ticket holder of the Royal Canberra National Poultry Show, revealed at its opening that the Government had granted the organisers $104,000 for 1000 new poultry cages for the event and future poultry shows at budget-deprived EPIC. While we know the Government is commendably committed to improving animal welfare, our black sense of humour couldn’t resist the irony of the champions of the non-caged egg coughing up for poultry cages!

Catch a discountTHE Fish Shack on Bunda Street is offering to halve the cost of a meal to anyone who turns up with a fishing rod. Why? We’re not sure, but we do know it’s limited to 12 anglers a day and available only until Sunday, June 24.

Out of the gloomEMBASSIES of European neighbours Poland and Ukraine are getting together at the Poles’ place in Yarralumla to host a live showing of the final match of the European Football Championship on Monday, July 2. You beauty, thinks “CC”, looking at our invitation, until we saw the start time – 4am! Those hardy Europeans will be there in the invitation’s requisite “Business Attire/Dress of Day/National Dress”. Alas, no mention of slippers and pyjamas for the locals.

Veteran’s Park... getting prettier every day. Photo by Silas Brown


scene Canberra’s only locally-owned Subaru dealerBROUGHT TO

YOU BY ROLFE SUBARU

At the ‘Gathering Place’ appeal launch, Hellenic Club At the Glitz and Glamour Charity Night, Hellenic Club

Hannah McQuiggin and Dionne Eckley

Bishop Stuart Roberson and Opposition Leader Zed Seselja

Paul Baxter, Alistair Coe MLA, Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery, Caroline Le Couteur and Brian Acworth

Georgie Hay and Jenny KitchinNeville Boston, Ray Pelham-Thorman, Joan Bostan and Jim Service

Mary Alice Palhan-Thorman and Dorothy Service

Guy Matthews, Rodney Westbury and Henry Nichol

Sarah Hubert, Ruth McGarman-Mann, Libby Myers and Chris Johnson Sally Anne Kahl, Grace Kirkland, Simone Vecchi and Nicole Edwards

Mel Wright, Courtney Evan and Deb Defrieze-Evans

Wendy Newton, Sonia and Robert Holgate with Lucy Nesci

Katy Harris, Sasha Booker, Angela Pearman and Karrin Wetzell

Kelly Thomas, Tania Kemp and Lara Fleming

Emilia D’Ambrogio, Bambi Filardo and Caterina Mangeruca

Jeff Kell and Liz Webb


scene ROLFE SUBARU AT PHILLIP & BELCONNEN

At the ‘La Dolce Vita – Spring Fashion Showcase’, Italian EmbassyAt the ACT Order of Australia Association Queen’s Birthday lunch, Boathouse by the Lake.

Dino and Dimitra Nikias and Peter Barclay

Derek Robson, Nicole Armstrong, Di Mitchell, Ken Doolan, Winice Hugonnet and Nigel Stoker

Gwenyth George and Peter Gration

Joan Buchanan and Richard Pembrey Joyce and Len Goodman Sarah Harding and Teresa Pelle

Janette McGuffog and Julieanne Horsman

Phillipa Olrick, Ashley Cox and Amy Burchell

Kate Vanhaalen, Victoria Cowlishaw and Bron Bitmead

Chris Tamvakis, Irene Pavlovic and Aidan O’Sullivan

Nicola Comi and Sarah Sloan

Ann Gration, Peter McDermott and Billie Burke

Russ Richards and Kathy Anderson Sandi O’Dea and Bernadette Cording Lisa Cargill and Kristen Wilson Joanna Pope with Elyssa and Sophie Francis


sceneAt the National Day of Russia, National Gallery At the Love Plus inSTYLE event, Cabinet Lounge, Manuka

Russian ambassador Vladimir Morozov with wife Elena

Madeleine Baldwin and acting high commissioner of Tonga Leonaitasa Kuluni

Speaker of the House of Representatives Peter Slipper with Chinese ambassador Chen Yuming and wife Bai

Snejana Karmanovskaia, Raphael Kabo and Elena Govor Linda O’Neill, host Jenna Huggett, Stella Maoudis and Fiona Gibson

Kellie Worth and Lisa Poile

Sarah MacLatchy, Sharyn Winnin and Gregoria Adamopoulos

Jenna and Sharryn Huggett

Tabitha Kempe and Connor Lynch

Kelly Eggleston and Simone Woods

Bianca Terlich, Renee Lucne, Krystle Huggett-Urbanik and Amanda Welch

Bianca Camilleri, Alicia Yandell, Michelle Beattie, Anne Dupe

Sarah Vest, Tara Ross, Madison Noble

Susan Ryan, Dianne Anderson and South Africa high commissioner Koleka Mqulwana


arts & entertainment Wendy JohnsonItalian food in the fast lane

The doggies just can’t stop dancingIT was 17 years ago that choreographer Dein Perry first created the global dance phenomenon known as “Tap Dogs”, and he’s still going strong.

But whereas in the old days, a lot of time was taken up hunting for likely “doggies”, these days the doggies will come to them.

“It’s easy to find guys now,” Perry tells me, and with the advance of technology, to audition you just post a dancing sequence to YouTube. What’s even better, Perry says, is that “Australian guys are the best tappers”.

Well, they’re pretty good in the US, but in the UK they’re scarce as hens’ teeth. “Maybe tap just isn’t in the culture,” suggests Tap Dog brother Sheldon Perry.

I’m talking to a whole pack of doggies in the foyer of the Canberra Theatre about both the blokeiness and dance skills needed for the show.

As Perry says, some of the boys would have been only three years old in 1995 when the dogs were first seen at the Sydney Festival.

That’s been no disadvantage for dancer Jesse Rasmussen (“Pretty well grew up enjoy-

ing ‘Tap Dogs’.”) or for Thomas Egan, who was “kinda pushed because my parents ran a dance school”. As Egan sees it, for blokes in dance, the “Tap Dogs” phenomenon has definitely changed things for the better.

“Dance is much more acceptable for boys… I didn’t get a bad time at school. I didn’t get bashed up,” he says.

Xander Ellis certainly didn’t. He went to Newtown High School of the Performing Arts so was heading for stage from the outset.

Nathanial Hancock, who started tap at the age of six at The Ritz Dance Studio in Brisbane, says: “It’s a different style now, very blokey and well accepted all around the world.” As for Matt Papa, the only Canberra doggie: “It’s been totally fun and the family has been accepting.”

Sheldon, the “foreman” in the show, is a professional dancer who first made his mark in “42nd Street”, but when brother Dein got an Australia Council grant for a tap workshop, he was hooked.

The Perry brothers can’t agree how many

times they’ve toured the world with “Tap Dogs”, but they do agree that the Germans and the Americans are the audiences most likely to go wild about them.

Dein says: “It’s a big advantage that there are no language barriers.”

Of course, the brothers, being boys from Newcastle, are used to a lively multicultural environment.

But best of all is the way it draws new audiences.

“There’s a feeling of connection in these

guys who would never go to the theatre, but get dragged along… there is a feeling that they’re saying to themselves: ‘I could possibly do that’,” he says.

“Tap Dogs”, Canberra Theatre, July 3-9. Bookings to 6275 2700.

Helen Musa reports

“Tap Dogs” in action... “Australian guys are the best tappers”. Photo by Silas Brown

Encounter with the abstractBy Helen Musa

YOU don’t expect artists to know precisely what nano-technology and or dark matter is but, as Canberra Museum and Gallery curator Mark Bayly sees it, they intuitively sense the enormity of such concepts.

Bayly, who arrived at CMAG after nine years as head of exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia, has been busy curating the new “Word of Mouth: encounters with abstract art” and plainly enjoys spreading his curatorial wings.

He’s been looking at a group of 19 artists, connected with the ANU School of Art, who use abstraction in their work, even if not exclusively.

Does he mean wild expressionist encounters with paint that leave ordinary punters complaining that their “kids could do better than that”?

No way, Bayly tells me, that is precisely what he’s trying to avoid, partly by extending the selection beyond just painting into glass, small sculptures and mixed media prints.

Take Ruth Waller, faculty member of the School of Art whose love of European Renaissance art is well known. A quick look at her complex structures in “Op phase (Visitation)” reveals a disciplined approach and the painting is, in fact, based on a 15th century Russian fresco.

Or Jonathan Webster, whose delicately coloured, felt-pen work “Swirl” shows discipline and refinement.

Many of the other selected works, he says, show “crystalline brilliance”, and all are carefully crafted. The art Bayly has selected “is in touch with the world around us, the built environment and the psychologi-cal world”. Richard Blackwell’s “East Village” is based in architecture and the smoked glass towers of contemporary urban renewal.

Greg Hodge’s “Magazine mystics” will be 60 sheets mounted on walls to make a five-metre wide grid and

his subject matter ranges from hallucinogenic aspects of rave culture to Islamic architecture.

Artists these days don’t operate in a vacuum. Behind the scenes at the CMAG I discover print artist Emma Beer, once of the exhibiting artists, busily framing the works of another.

Bayly is sure this is not going to be a show for the cognoscenti. On the contrary, with its look at technology, architecture and the world around us, it will appeal to a broad audience base.

“Word of Mouth: encounters with abstract art”,

Canberra Museum and Gallery, Civic, June 23-August 19.

Curator Mark Bayly with works by Marie Hagerty.


arts & entertainment

‘War’ heads to our world in October ACTOR Joe McGrail Bateup whizzed across

the foyer at Theatre 3 to warn “CityNews” that “the Martians are coming”. What I think he really meant was that Supa Productions have the rights to stage Jeff Wayne’s musical, “The War of the Worlds”, at the ANU Arts Centre in October. Early days, but then you’d need to prepare for an event like that, wouldn’t you?

SHORTIS & Simpson, the House Howlers and the Shiny Bum Singers join for their annual feast of satire, “Smart Arses, Bums and Short Arses”. Expect to learn more (in song) about cab charges, the surplus and Abbott’s athleticism in the cham-ber. At the National Press Club, 8.30pm, June 29. Bookings to www.npc.org.au or 6121 2199.

YOUTHFUL ensembles from the “Fridays @ ANU School of Music” program will make their debut at the Wesley Music Centre, 12.40pm-1.20pm, on June 27 performing works by Haydn, Beethoven, Piazzolla and Tchaikovsky. These lunchtime concerts are terrific. Two-dollar or paper-note entry, no bookings required.

MUSICA Viva is bringing the Takács Quartet, Edward Dusinberre and Károly Schranz on violin, Geraldine Walther on viola and András Fejer on

cello, performing two quartets by Britten, Ravel, Janáček and Gordon Kerry to Llewellyn Hall, 7pm, June 27, bookings to www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849.

THE choral section of the Australian National Eisteddfod is coming up in August and entries close July 6. A lively new focus is on the ACT Multicultural Choir Section, where choristers must sing two pieces in any language other than English. National dress is encouraged and the first prize is $1500. Entries to www.nationaleistedd-fod.org.au

SELBY & Friends are performing a program of formidable “Magical Miniatures” by Debussy, Schultz, Schumann, Bruch, Cage, Fauré and Brahms at the James O. Fairfax Theatre, NGA, 7.30pm July 2, bookings to 9969 7039 or 9405 5532.

BRITISH comedian Lenny Henry performs his show, “Cradle to Rave”, slanted towards his favourite music, at Canberra Theatre on July 1.

Bookings to 6275 2700 or www.canberratheatre-centre.com.au

THE 2011 Country Music Channel New Oz Artists of the Year and Golden Guitar winners for Best New Talent, Markus Meier and Tori Darke, will be at Canberra Casino, June 29, bookings to www.casinocanberra.com.au

ACTRESS and singer-songwriter Joanna Wein-berg returns to the Tuggeranong Arts Centre with her own stories and songs in “The Piano Diaries”, 8pm, on June 29-30. Bookings to 6293 1443.

Helen Musa arts in the city

Joanna Weinberg... at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, June 29-30.

University chorale struggles to delivermusicUC ChoraleSt Paul’s Anglican Church, Manuka.Reviewed by Clinton White

FOR an audience, JS Bach’s music is magnificent and intellectual. For performers it is complex and demanding. It is music that requires as much perfection as it allows free interpretation.

This concert of two cantatas (BWV 105 and BWV 39) and the Mass in G Major (BWV 236), given by the UC Chorale and directed by Andrew Koll, did not fully deliver.

The accompaniment was by a small instru-mental ensemble of 12 players, but the tuning was not true, a necessity when the players are so few in number and giving the foundation for the singing. It was particularly noticeable when they

played in unison.Each of the works started and finished with

choruses, with solo pieces in between. The choir had good expression, tone and balance. There were a few tentative entries and the overall sound could have been crisper, particularly in the faster passages when, at times, the singing was too legato. The final chorus in the Mass was lovely

though, delivering the crispness that baroque music evokes.

Six soloists were featured during the concert, but for most the demands of the works simply were beyond their capabilities. Bass Rohan Thatcher delivered strong and confident recita-tives and arias and tenor Mark Popplewell gave a commendable rendition of his quite difficult aria in BWV 105.

It would be good to hear the UC Chorale performing works that are a little less demanding, particularly ones that feature more chorus work; choir singing is such an uplifting art form.

In a world destroyedby global warming

theatre “The Underground Ark” By Bruce Hoogendoorn, directed by Fiona Fox.At the Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre, until June 23. Reviewed by Helen Musa

IN “The Underground Ark”, Canberra dramatist Bruce Hoogen-doorn has written a thoughtful and entertaining play about the implications of climate change.

Set in a world destroyed by global warming, the play sees an elite group of human beings sent underground to survive and reproduce their kind according to a set of rules and regulations.

The playwright toys with eugenics, the concept of a master race and the dangers of utopian-ism, tempered with a healthy dose of satire and dramatic conflict as the idealists, the pragmatists and humanists battle it out. In the end, Hoogendoorn plumps for humanity and hybrid vigour over social engineering.

Just when you thought the plot was wound up so tightly that he’d never be able to extricate the characters, the playwright abruptly introduces a surprise ending that sees the characters gazing into the middle distance as they imagine a more or less optimistic future.

With a new play, it is dangerous to confuse text with production, but the characters seem to be well-delineated and the script styl-ishly written, though in the earlier part perhaps a bit too speechy.

The actors do service to their roles, with a particularly fine performance by Ethan Gibson as the fanatical young medical student John.

But I was troubled by the lack of emotional ebb and flow in the directing that saw the ending very nearly fall flat. I am fairly sure this is not the script and that closer vocal work with the actors would have yielded the emotional power needed to convey Hoogendoorn’s challenging ideas.

Inspiration from the abyssCELEBRATING the centenary of Douglas Mawson’s famous expedition into the cold abyss – the mystery of Antarctica continues to stimulate excitement amongst scientific and artistic fields.

Indeed, the Canberra arts community has reveled in such engagement. In 2011, the ANU Music School held an international symposium and a series of fascinat-ing performances that musically explored the sonic dimensions of this vast remote continent.

Currently showing at the Drill Hall is “Antarctica”, an exhibit comprising a diverse array of work from seven international artists, all of whom have experienced the ex-treme climate, the remote isolation and the regulated routines entailed in living in this polar region.

Stand out pieces include “Mt Erebus” (1964), by Sidney Nolan, which strikingly captures, through wild strokes of blue and black, the scope of nature’s flux and flow, and the contours of an ambivalent ice desert terrain.

The etching “Diary and Icebergs” (1998), by local artist Jörg Schmeisser (who, sadly, recently

passed away), contrasts greatly with Nolan’s work. Through an acute poetic sensibility Schmeisser combines writing, topographical drawings, and pictures of native fauna, to document his experience while staying there.

By contrast, Chris Drury’s video installation provides a series of immersive landscapes concerned with the ranging subtleties and nuances of ice and snow.

Although “Antarctica” contrib-utes crucial scientific information regarding issues such as climate change, the sheer beauty of this world is also capable of inspiring some exciting artistic work.

As elder statesman Barry Jones suggested in his opening address, this exhibition allows one to break free from the normality of everyday life and experience. Furthermore, it enriches the deeply profound relationship Australia shares with this last epic frontier.

visual art“Antarctica”At The Drill Hall Gallery, until July 1.Reviewed by Johnny Milner

Jörg Schmeisser’s “Before dark” (2000), colour pencil, gouache, pastel and watercolour, 76.5cm x 226cm overall four sheets. Collection of the artist


Despite the script, Jacky loves to cook

“Le Chef” (M) JACKY (Michael Youn) loves to cook but can’t hold a job at fast food places where he tries to lift the standard.

He has worshipped at the altar of Alexandre (Jean Reno), whose three-star restaurant Lagarde on a prime Paris location is part of an international restaurant chain run by the Matter family whose CEO tells Alexandre that the critics are coming to review him and he will get the boot if they remove a single toque from his rating.

Writer/director Daniel Cohen’s satire of the foodie ethos hangs from that dramatic thread. Cohen sets up an uncomfortable relationship between Jacky and Alexandre who each have an overweening notion of their abilities. Jacky’s pregnant partner has told him to get a permanent job or she’ll leave him. Alexandre has been neglecting his daughter who’s about to face the assessors for her PhD thesis.

All this hurtles along at a good pace. Not all of its potshots at restaurant shibboleths hit the mark. Alas, this ill-written variation of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” lacks coherence and credibility. I wanted to admire it more than I found myself able.

At Greater Union and Dendy

“Rock of Ages” (M) I APPROACHED Adam Shankman’s film adaptation of Chris Darenzio’s Broadway musical with trepidation. It’s not my kind of music and what I’ve seen of Tom Cruise in recent years has not charmed me.

In 1987, Sherrie (Julianne Hough) arrives from Oklahoma ready to take the Sunset Strip singing business by storm. She’s fresh off the bus when a bad guy snatches her suitcase but not to worry because Drew (Diego Boneta) spots her and offers to find her a waitressing job in the Bourbon Room run by Dennis (Alec Baldwin) and his sidekick Lonny (Russell Brand).

Expectations are high because Arsenal with bad-boy lead singer Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) is booked for a gig there. And Stacee is a magnet for every wide-open groupie in the country.

“Rolling Stone” reporter Constance (Malin Akerman) wheedles out Stacee’s inner demons. Stacee’s manager (Paul Giamatti) dumps him and tries to book

Sherrie, whom Drew believes to have graced Stacee’s bed. Uptown, the mayor’s wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is whipping up the fury of the religious righteous femocracy against rock music.

The plot treads a well-travelled track. The principal cast is up to the task. Cruise sings up a storm. In the 1980’s rock environment, vocabulary, exposure of flesh and sexuality generally get a rather demure treatment.

At Greater Union and Dendy

“That’s My Boy” (MA) I TOYED with giving not more than one star for Sean Anders’ coarse, crude film lacking moral validity.

Such a decision would manifest personal prejudices needing better reasons for justification than merely finding it devoid of merit. Its satire wears hob-nailed boots to tread a path littered with middle-class behaviour that the righteous will deplore, which is probably the effect that David Caspe’s screenplay intended for it. For us normal folk not put off by rude frankness, it may be (indeed, is) silly but need not necessarily be offensive.

With Adam Sandler leading a cast of 64 credited and 87 uncredited players and being one of its seven producers, it’s okay to expect a high crassness level. Sandler plays Donny who, as a schoolboy, got the English teacher pregnant and as an adult never without a beer in his hand wants to make contact with his son Todd (Andy Samberg) who may be able to fund his overdue tax bill. Todd is about to marry his boss’s daughter Jamie (Leighton Meester), whose family from grandma down is a fun bunch with uninhibited vocabulary, energetic libidos and few inhibitions about keeping it in the family.

At Hoyts and Limelight

Dougal Macdonaldcinema

Michaël Youn, left, as Jacky Bonnot in “Le Chef”.


Wendy Johnsonreviews

arts & entertainment / dining

Italian food in the fast laneWARNING: if you don’t book, you don’t eat. That’s life in the fast lane at Italian and Sons, which is so successful it’s forced to regularly tell prospective customers they can’t have a table.

This “modern interpretation of a Roman trattoria” is small and compact and while you don’t exactly rub elbows with those sitting at the table next to you, you come pretty close.

The “experience” is what Italian and Sons is all about – an experience designed to make you feel like you’re in Italy, drinking fabulous wine, eating fabulous food and enjoying a fabulous ambience. Indeed, I’ve been told there has been opportu-nity to expand, but the owners want to keep operations intimate.

Italian and Sons specialises in

authentic regional Italian cuisine, enriched by seasonal produce, sourced as much as possible from local growers or the owners’ own farmyard. There is real commitment to quality here – real commitment.

The duck liver parfait with moscato jelly ($14) was amazing and all four of us quivered with excite-ment at the taste and texture. It’s one of 11 quality antipasti dishes. We were equally thrilled with the white bait fritters with citrus salt and garlic sauce ($16). Affettati, Italian cured meats served with fennel taralli are also showcased (three for $25).

Italian and Sons concentrates on a small range of beautifully made dishes, including the pastas ($27 or $28, but worth every cent, especially with the growing number

of Canberra eateries serving tasteless, unimaginative pasta for mid $20s).

The beautifully shaped orecchi-ette with suckling pig ragu in bianco, broccoletti and pecorino was divine, with the veal gnocchi and marjoram ragu a close second. You have to love a slow-cooked ragu, especially when the weather is a bit nippy. The big wood-fired pizza oven always gets a major workout with six pizzas on offer (all $24). And a dish of the day is also available, hovering in the mid-$30 range.

For dolci (all $12) we shared a divine tiramisu, but I found myself dreaming later about the flourless

amedei chocolate torte with orange and salted caramel gelato. Those without a sweet tooth can try the imported Italian cheeses.

But back to the warning. No doubt it’s challenging for a restaurant to turn people away when booked out, but this must always be done gently and with grace. My experience, and I’m not alone, is that Italian and Sons could refine operations somewhat on this front.

Italian and Sons, 7 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. Call 6162 4888. Open for lunch Tuesday to Friday and dinner, Monday to Saturday. Fully licensed, no BYO.

Warm date, almond and panettone “budino” with amaretto zabaglione. Photo by Silas Brown

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health & fitness

Warm up for the coldSPORTING injuries increase by more than 30 per cent over the winter months and Sports Medicine Australia says preparation is paramount to safely playing in the cold.

Exercising or playing sport in cold conditions can lead to injuries such as sprains, strains and blisters and in extreme cold conditions snow blindness, frostbite and hypothermia can occur.

Spokesman Dr David Bolzonello says wintry conditions should not be a barrier to exercising. All that is needed is good preparation.

“Exercising in cold weather no doubt places extra demands on the body, which can lead to reduced sporting performance and injuries, “ he said.

“However, this doesn’t mean you have to stop exercising in winter. Most cold-related injuries can be prevented with good preparation and the correct equipment.”

• Acclimatise yourself to exercising in colder weather and train outdoors.

• Cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are at greater risk of injury. Warm up, stretch and cool down for longer than usual.

• Be aware that sunburn can occur even on cold and cloudy days (especially when skiing or snowboarding as UV radiation is more severe in alpine regions). Apply 30+ and wear eyewear with UV protection.

• Drink water before, during and after activity.

• Don’t drink alcohol. While an alcoholic drink seems to warm you up, it actually dilates your blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the skin thereby increasing heat loss by exchange to cold air.

• Dress in layers to trap heat and prevent heat loss. Add or remove layers of clothing as necessary.

• Make sure footwear fits you properly. Footwear that is too tight or too loose will affect skin circulation and cause blisters. More information at www.sma.org.au

To help prepare for winter sports:


body

Glow for it!“CityNews” has done the research and found three of the leading products on the market right now to make you glow. The best bit is, they won’t break the bank!

THIS is a complexion corrector and illuminator that provides SPF 15 protection and moisture hydration for up to 24 hours. While evening the skin complexion, it reduces sunspots and imperfections, providing UV protection and boosting the skin’s natural glow.

Blemish balm cream in the formula helps to fight against acne, and also boasts anti-ageing properties that work to hydrate skin while lightly concealing blemishes for the perfect make-up base. Other ingredients include vitamin C and mineral pigments. Available in light and medium.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector, $13.95.

Maybelline Colour Sensational pearls lipcolour, $16.95.THIS lipstick combines crystal-pure, undiluted pigments with ultra shiny oils that bring out the colour of the pigments. Natural, cultured pearls and honey nectar are also in the formula to give lips modern iridescence, fresh tones and a creamy feel.

It is available in shades such as twinkle, rose glimmer, luminous lilac and champagne shimmer.

L’Oreal Paris Lumi Magique foundation, $33.95.NEW to the market, this is a luminous liquid foundation that includes Andersen Liquid, which ensures the skin’s surface is left smooth and reflects light.

Especially created to enhance the skin’s natural light and erase imperfections while covering them, the foundation also promises the complexion appears naturally flawless and glowing with radiance.

It provides 24-hour moisture re-plenishment, 14-hour light reflection, added radiance, reduced shine and 12 hours of hold and light reflection.

In crisis, don’t forgetyour vital medicines“PEOPLE often think about senti-mental items they would collect if they were evacuated from their homes, such as photo albums and computers, but they often forget to think about items that support their health needs,” says Jamie Ranse, University of Canberra health academic specialising in disasters.

Mr Ranse says that in the wake of a major incident emergency, services are stretched and medicines in short supply so residents should be ready to look after themselves.

During the Queensland floods, Victorian and Canberra bushfires, people were relocated to evacua-tion centres where they remained for days or weeks.

“Whilst in these centres, a num-ber of people required medications of some kind. However, during a disaster, medications become increasingly hard to access, and this

is made even harder if people don’t know what medications they take,” Mr Ranse said.

Mr Ranse said there are a few simple steps people can take to be health prepared, including prepar-ing a list of previous medical and surgical history, as well as a list and a supply of current medication.

Be prepared:• Have a current list of medica-

tions, aliments and previous medical/surgical history. Keep this list with other items you might take in an evacuation, such as photo albums or computers.

• Keep a stocked first-aid kit in your car.

• Learn first-aid and know basic first aid principles such as how to control bleeding, how to open an airway and how to do CPR.

• Get to know your neighbours.


Cedric Bryantgardening

garden

IT is that time of the year for planting roses, the world’s favourite shrub.

Roses are now in stock at garden centres with an overwhelming range.

For those with new gardens, here are a few pointers to a successful display of roses. I always recommend roses that are two-years-old with strong stems.

Some retail outlets, such as supermarkets and DIY stores, sell one-year-old packaged roses at cheaper prices. Often they are on display in arti-ficial light and air conditioning. These conditions promote new shoots that will be extremely soft and, once planted outside, the first frost can burn off the new shoots or kill the rose completely.

I strongly urge you to buy roses from your local garden centre where they are displayed outside in natural conditions. Certainly, you will pay more for quality, well-grown roses. However, investing in a shrub that may be flowering in your garden for the next 25 years or more is worth paying the extra.

Check the roots of new roses, if any are broken, trim these back with sharp secateurs. Always ensure the hole is large enough to spread the roots out evenly and plant the rose on a small mound in the bottom of the hole. Keep the bud or graft union above the ground.

At planting time, do not worry if some of the stems are a bit straggly or have not been pruned to an outward-facing bud, this can be done after the first shoots appear.

Here are some tips for a great rose display:Aspect: Roses require full sun for a minimum

of eight hours a day. They will flower in less light, however this can result in leggy growth and inferior quality blooms.

Soil: Roses will grow in most soils with good results. It is often said that roses prefer clay soils. No plants like heavy, clay soils, although roses will tolerate clay more than many other plants. The use of a liquid clay breaker such as Multicrop “Ground Breaker” will be of benefit. The addition of washed river sand, well-rotted organic matter such as composted cow manure will lighten heavy soils. Good drainage is vital. DO NOT put fresh animal manures or chemical fertilisers near the roots at planting time; these can cause severe root damage. If planting where roses have been grown previously, it is vital to remove all the existing soil, say a barrowful, and replace. This

will overcome a disease known as “rose sickness” that can remain in the soil.

Mulching: Essential for weed control and evaporation in summer,

plus keeping the root zone cool. A combination of composted cow manure combined with shredded lucerne hay is ideal (refer to my Cedfacts Garden Information Sheet “What’s so special about lucerne hay?” at www.cedricbryant.com). Alterna-tively, use Canberra Organic Mulch available from Canberra Sand and Gravel. Keep mulch 100mm away from the stems to prevent collar rot.

Fertilising: Roses with their extended flowering season need more regular feeding than most other plants. At planting time, water the roses in with Maxicrop “Seaweed Plant Nutrient”. This specifically promotes new and stronger root growth, essential for young plants. It also reduces the effect of frost. A few follow-up applications in the first season will be beneficial. Every six weeks apply Neutrog “Seamungus”, a pellet combina-tion of chook manure (from free-range hens) and seaweed. This meets AS 6000 Australian Standard for organic fertilisers. Spread around the drip line, not close to the stem.

‘I strongly urge you to buy roses from your local garden centre where they are displayed outside in natural conditions’

Time to get the roses in

• Keep a watch in this column for details on rose pruning demonstrations.

• Do not prune roses until the end of August or early September.

• Grow a thorn-less climbing rose on a north-facing wall as illustrated here in Cedric’s garden.

• Roses can be grown in contain-ers. Put a layer of charcoal in the base of the container as a soil sweetener and drainage.

• If using wooden barrels, paint the inside with a bitumen paint such as Ormonoid to preserve the timber. Available from DIY stores.

Rose mania starts here

Thornless climbing Rosa “Zephirine Drouhin” in all its glory in Cedric’s garden.

Rosa “Pristine”... a perfect name for a perfect rose, says Cedric.


garden

WINTER is a good time to start planning a veggie garden, according to Barbara Schreiner, gardening workshop co-ordinator at the Canberra Environment Centre.

Barbara’s next workshop, “Planning your garden” is on Wednesday, July 11, as part of the CEC’s Sustain Ability workshop program.

“As well as thinking about which part of the garden gets the most sun, it’s also critical to take into account your behavioural patterns,” she says. “For example, if the veggie patch is hidden away, you’re likely to forget about it.

“If it’s not accessible, or if the compost is just too far away from the kitchen door, you’re not going to be attending to it.

“It all combines together – it’s not just about what part of the garden gets the most sun. It’s not as simple as that.”

Barbara suggests doing a detailed site analysis before you start, looking carefully at the block itself, services, sun and wind.

“The advantages of doing this planning stage over winter is that there may still be leaves and grass cut-tings around, and you can start collecting this organic matter that will help to improve the quality of the soil,” she says.

It’s best to grow what you like to eat, not just what you think will grow successfully, Barbara says, and she sug-gests contacting the Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS) for advice on how to grow particular produce.

“COGS has a diary of what to grow when, which can be really useful,” Barbara says. “But it’s crucial to grow what you like, and ensure that the veggies are not too far from your kitchen for regular harvesting, or you just won’t stick to it.”

Seedlings are a good place to start for beginners, she suggests, and usually yields better results, although larger seeds, such as corn, peas and beans, can also be successful and are easier to work with than very tiny seeds.

“With the workshops, I try to make sure that everyone leaves feeling enthused about gardening,” she says. “I don’t want people to start out well, but then give up, or feel they can’t garden.

“There is a theory that people in Canberra buy their seedlings twice – because they plant too early in the spring, and the crop fails because of a frost.

“There’s no one formula to stick to, but I aim to give out information so people can apply their knowledge to their own situation.

“It’s all site-specific, so I want to help people to be able to work out what they can do in their own space.”

“Planning your garden” will be held on Wednesday, July 11, 6pm-7pm at the Canberra Environment Centre (corner of Lawson Crescent & Lennox Crossing). It costs $15. Bookings essential: contact [email protected] or 6248 0885.

Plan now for veggiesKathryn Vukovljakreports


home

De-light-ful inspiration!

CLAESSON KOLVISTO RUNE BAKLAVA FLOOR LIGHTThe Baklava’s triple-layer shade is inspired by the Turkish pastry and changes colour when the light is on, $1395.

FAVOURITE THINGS LIGHTThe inclusion of favourite miniature items makes the Favourite Things Light a unique statement piece, $495.

NORM ARCHITECTS MILK NA1 LIGHTPerfect for a kid’s bedroom, it is soft in design and made with translucent glass to produce a warm glow, $395.

FROM table lamps, to free standing and pendant lights, Great Dane’s modern Scandinavian design is a favourite. Founder and director Anton Assaad has edited a range of lights to suit every space and purpose, adding cluster, mood, soft or direct light into any contemporary room. Aesthetically striking yet functionally sound, here Anton sheds some light on Great Dane’s top illuminating pieces.

www.greatdanefurniture.com

JENNY BÄCK LEAN FLOOR

LIGHT IN BLACKThe Lean Floor

Light epitomises simple Scandinavian

design, $1750.

ARNE JACOBSON BELLEVUE AJ3 DESK LIGHT IN BLACKConstructed from lacquered aluminium and steel, the Bellevue directs light without glare, $995.


home

Tapping inspirationFunky brightsPACO Jaanson’s Batlo tapware, featuring a bold colour palette for a vibrant style twist to the bathroom is compiled of a brass top and a powder-coated finish. The range includes basin sets, wall sets and bath spouts in all three colours. The Paco Jaanson Batlo collection starts from $700. For stockists call 1800 006 260 or visit www.pacojaanson.com.au

Classic linesTHE understated lines of Kohler’s July basin taps and Forefront basin designs will suit any bathroom style. The July single-lever mixer tap has a four-star WELS rating, using only 7.5 litres of water a minute. Pair it with the Forefront basin, with softly rounded edges in square or rectangular format. Prices start from $139 for the tap and $235 for the basin. More information at www.kohler.com.au

Elegant water saverRAYMOR’S Torino and Academy basin mixers offer a wide choice of style from the striking Torino Pillar mixer with pin-lever handle to the sleek Academy mixer at 70mm high. The water savings are huge, with the WELS six-star rating ensuring the taps use just four litres of water a minute. The Torino pillar mixer is $245, and the Academy basin mixer costs $295. The Raymor range is available through Tradelink stores nationally. Visit www.tradelink.com.au

Raymor Academy basin mixer

Paco Jaanson Batlo tapware.

Kohler July tap and Forefront basin.

Raymor Torino pillar mixer.


Sudoku hard No.82

General knowledge crossword No. 365

Solution next week

Solution next week

Crossword No.364 Sudoku med No.82Solutions

puzzles pageJoanne Madeline Moore your week in the stars / June 25 - July 1 Across

3 Which Turkish city was formerly Constantinople?7 Name the Australian engineer who invented the automatic totalisator, Sir George ...8 Dealing with a disease in order to provide a cure, is what?9 Which nationality was Georges Bizet?10 What do we call the driver of a car?11 Which city was the host of the 2004 Olympic Games?14 Name another term for an account book.17 What are marinated fillets of herring, served as hors d’oeuvres?18 What is an earlier name for silver?19 Name another word for a large advertising billboard.20 Who are amongst the most caring people in hospitals?21 Name Australia’s national health scheme.

Down 1 What is a small seedless raisin?2 What do we call a woman engaged to be married?3 What is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land?4 Name a univalve marine mollusc.5 Which water makes the best cup of tea?6 Name an unpowered, flat-bottomed barge.11 In the Bible, who was the traditional founder of the Hebrew people?12 Which country is known as the Netherlands?13 To be a wandering type of person is to be what?14 What is a form of pasta cut into flat sheets?15 Which term describes Australian soldiers?16 What is a preacher of the gospel?

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)You’re keen to call the shots this week but domineering behaviour will only lead to dramas (especially on Saturday), so slip on your humility hat instead. Attached Aries – Saturn moves forwards in your relationship zone so a problem with your partner may finally be resolved. Single Rams – Cupid’s love arrows are likely to hit while you are studying or travelling.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)Bulls appreciate the finer things in life, but in the current economic climate, it would be wise to rein in your love of luxury. Thank goodness Venus (your ruling planet) moves forwards on Friday. A romantic relationship is set to improve, and you’ll feel more realistic about your financial future. Patience and persistence will get you where you want to go.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)With Venus and Jupiter both moving through your sign this week, Twins are in the mood for love and luxury. You’re also double the trouble – and twice as much fun. But too much happy hilarity (and no action) could annoy others (who are doing all the work). Mercury (your ruling planet) moves into Leo mid-week, so your creativity will really start firing and sparking.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)Cancers are feeling crabby! Expect some dramatic discussions with work colleagues or loved ones this week. You’re not in the mood to be diplomatic, and others will be surprised by the intensity of your feelings – and your reluctance to compromise. But you may need to give a little in order to get a lot. On Friday, kick up your Crab claws and have some fun.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)This week Leo livewires are in the mood to socialise and circulate, mix and mingle; as chatty Mercury visits your sign – and Venus moves forwards in your networking zone. But Saturday’s tricky Sun/Pluto/Uranus aspects will increase your desire to assert your authority and be Top Cat. So pick your battles carefully, otherwise there’ll be tears before bedtime.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)Strive to combine diplomacy and dynamism, as Venus and Jupiter light up your career zone. We all know you’re a diligent worker but make sure you lift your head from the grindstone and enjoy what you are doing. All work and no play can make virtuous Virgos very boring – and very lonely! Saturday is the day to celebrate creative new ideas and meet fabulous new people.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)With Mercury moving into your hopes and wishes zone, it’s time to articulate (and write down) your goals and dreams for the future. Then you can put them into action. Don’t allow a loved one to manipulate you on Saturday, as they try to persuade you to do something against your better judgment. Have the strength (and common sense) to stand your ground and say no.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)It’s the perfect week to research and revise, as you unearth important information that other signs miss. With the Sun and Pluto at odds on Saturday, your obsessive/compulsive side is likely to take over. Avoid forcing your strong Scorpio opinions on others. If you sweat the small stuff, you’ll just end up feeling emotional and exhausted by the end of the weekend.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)Early in the week, it may be difficult to distinguish between blind optimism and self-delusion, but do your best to separate fact from fiction. On Friday, Venus helps heal a rift in a rocky romance. Saturday is your fun day of the week, as Mercury and Jupiter make positive connections. So it’s the perfect time to play sport, socialise, study, travel or party like a pro.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)Capricorns can be incredibly conservative and risk-adverse. Which can make for a safe – but not particularly interesting – life. With dynamic Mars dashing through your travel and adventure zone, it’s time to take a few calculated risks – and a spontaneous trip somewhere special. Be inspired by Helen Keller (born on June 27): “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)It’s time to look for a new love or reboot an old relationship as Mercury, Venus and Jupiter all rev up your romance zones. The more you cooperate with others, the more affection and abundance you’ll attract. But don’t let fair-weather friends lead you astray (especially when it comes to finances). Saturday’s Sun/Uranus square stirs up your restless, rebellious side.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)Home and hearth are emphasised from Friday onwards, as Venus moves forwards in your domestic zone and you enjoy the company of loved ones, plus attend to DIY projects around the house. Friday’s aspects boost your altruistic streak, and you’re keen to help others. Be inspired by Princess Diana (born on July 1): “Everyone has the potential to give something back.”

Daily astrology updates at www.twitter.com/JoMadelineMooreCopyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2011

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C O I B A B Y L O NR E V E N U E U E OI E C L I N C O L NC A R D I F F K T GK T S R A S C A L SE O Y RT I G E R S C R E D I T

O E O UP H O E N I X O E RE D O I N S I D E RA D M I R A L T W ER A T E P E E I S TL Y N C H E D R N S

canberra citynews june 21, 2012

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