canberra citynews november 19-25, 2009

CityNews November 19-25 �

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� CityNews November 19-25


news

Seen any funny signs? Email the photo and location (in subject line) to [email protected] and we’ll publish them on our website blog.

SNAPPER Silas Brown clearly has too few Christmas parties to attend: He’s been out cruising for comical road signs. The detour signs, destined to test even the most conscientious of us, are part of Lake Burley Griffin’s R.G. Menzies Walk refurbishment, near the Carillon, the other cheeky misspelling was spotted at base of Black Mountain, in Cluines Ross Street and naughty one, below, was on Gundaroo Road, Gungahlin.

Confused? Just follow the signs

RON Cahill will now not face the scrutiny of a judicial com-mission following his dramatic resignation as Chief Magis-trate, as he lay in danger of los-ing his right foot in Canberra Hospital.

However, he remains still the subject of a police inves-tigation into whether any criminal charges will be laid against him over an allegation concerning the administration of justice.

Attorney General Simon Corbell has confirmed that the process of the judicial commis-sion will be abandoned because its conduct is “contingent on there being a judicial officer. Now that Mr Cahill has resigned from office, the provisions of the Act cannot apply”.

“Obviously, the police inves-tigation is still on going and that is matter for the police,” Mr Corbell said.

“The government will be moving promptly to fill the va-cancy.”

Mr Cahill, who suffers from

type 2 diabetes – which in his case impedes healing of sores and wounds – was admitted to hospital for the second time in a week with a post-operative infection to his foot and is on an antibiotic drip.

In his letter of resignation, Mr Cahill says that his “appear-ance and attendance at the judi-cial commission will, I believe, exacerbate my health problems even further.

“Whilst I do not accept that my conduct is such that I have been guilty of misbehavior, in all the circumstances, I believe that I

have no choice but to retire and concentrate upon surviving the serious medical problems from which I now suffer.”

His doctors have deemed him unfit for work until his official retirement on December 15.

Mr Cahill’s resignation comes a week after he was “ex-cused” from his duties by Mr Corbell following the launch of a judicial commission into a complaint from magistrates John Burn and Karen Fryar that Mr Cahill or his office pro-vided material to visiting Victo-rian magistrate Peter Lauritsen that might have interfered with a case.

With an outstanding reputa-tion as a magistrate in the ACT for around three decades, Mr Cahill has been uncompromis-ing in claiming that he has done nothing wrong.

He recently told ABC ra-dio: “My reputation has been smirched already. But I will take it to the highest court in the land if necessary because that’s something I value.”

Sick Cahill resignsfrom hospital bed

Ron Cahill… unwell. Photo ABC News.


By Michael Moore

politics

HOW often have we heard the “jobs-for-mates” accusation levelled at political parties? When governments forsake the merit principle to appoint mates either for political advantage or to level some kind of a debt there are invariably consequences.

There are provisions in ACT Legislation that were intended to prevent the appoint-ments of mates to important positions. The Statutory Appointment Act was unique legislation that was introduced and passed in 1994. In 2002, the Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, transferred the content into the Legislation Act without losing any of its features.

Unfortunately, this legislation does not provide for the scrutiny of appointments to the judiciary or of a number of the most important statutory appointments in the Territory.

An appointment to the judiciary is made by the executive, which is made up of all the ministers rather than by a single minister. It is, therefore, not covered by the Act and does not require scrutiny by the Assembly. As with regulations, the execu-tive power is exercised on the signature of any two ministers, but the normal process would be to have such appointments pass through the whole cabinet.

In the ACT, when a minister makes an appointment to a position that is defined in legislation, that minister is required to consult with the appropriate committee of the Legislative Assembly. If there is no reply within a month, the minister may go ahead with the appointment. The shame is

that the process does not apply to judicial officers and all appointments made by the executive.

It is worth considering a few examples to assess if the Act should apply with regard to judicial appointments.

Would the late Terry Connolly have been appointed as Master of the Su-preme Court and later a judge? He was an outstanding performer in the-then Labor Opposition when he was originally appointed by the then-Attorney General, Gary Humphries in the first Carnell Government. All indications are that he served the judiciary in an exemplary manner and few were surprised when the Stanhope Government appointed him a judge. However, the reality was that the Labor Party was considerably weakened by the original appointment and his links to Labor were also cited when he was pro-moted. It was a political appointment, but one that worked out well.

Had the Statutory Appointments Act or the equivalent provisions in the later Act applied, it is unlikely that he would he would have been rejected. However, following such scrutiny, neither appointment would have been seen as politically engineered or politically driven.

The appointment of Bill Stefaniak as Appeals President of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal last year was also politically motivated. It is highly unlikely that this appointment would have survived this sort of process of scrutiny. The motiva-tion was clear. Stefaniak had a consider-able personal following in the electorate of Ginninderra. Appointing him just before the October election appeared to provide an advantage for Labor (though, in the end, it was the Greens that capitalised on the gap

that was created when Stefaniak did not stand).

Transparency in these proc-esses will strengthen delivery of the principle of separation of powers to ensure that no judicial officer feels dependent for their appointment on the executive.

If Division 19.3.3 of the Leg-islation Act was amended to in-clude the executive, rather than just a minister, the Assembly

Committees and the Assembly Members would have the opportunity to scrutinise the serious appointments that are made by government.

Enough of politically motivated appoint-ments and jobs for mates; it is time to adopt better governance processes.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independ-ent minister for health in the Carnell govern-ment. He was the member responsible for the Statutory Appointments Act 1994.

How ‘mates’ get top jobsINDEX

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FRONT COVER: Miss Universe Australia 2008 Laura Dundovic, here to help judge the Canberra Cup fashions on the field. Story page 15.

Arts&Entertainment 20-22Body 26Crossword 32Dining 22Health&Fitness 23Horoscope 32Movie reviews 21News 3-13Politics 4Property 33-39Social Scene 17,19Sudoku 32

JGD

November 19-25, 2009 Since 1993: Volume 15, Number 45

Bill Stefaniak.

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CityNews November 19-25 5

6 CityNews November 19-25

CHIEF Minister Mr Jon Stanhope will an-nounce the ACT nominees for the 2010 Australian of the Year on November 25.

The local recipients will join recipients from all States and Territories as finalists for the national awards, announced on Australia Day.

Ms Tam Johnston, programs director at the National Australia Day Council, said the local finalists were people the ACT could feel proud of.

Award finalists to ‘feel proud of’

By Jorian GardnerWHILE we sincerely wish the newly hitched ACT Minister Andrew Barr a long and happy life with long-time part-ner Anthony Toms, we can’t help but wonder what his definition of privacy is.

The openly gay Education Minister couldn’t, it seems, help himself when, just days after the Assembly passed new laws in respect of same-sex unions, he pops up the picture of wedded bliss on a front page “exclusive” of the “Sunday Times”

In an interview with “CityNews” (Oc-tober 15) he said: “I won’t be sending out a press release or anything like that!”

Mr Barr laughed when discussing

how he wanted his private life to remain just that – private. “There will be no ‘Women’s Day’, double-page spreads! I suspect there might be some interest from the local media, but I want to keep it very low key.”

In further comments on the record (omitted from the article due to space restrictions), Mr Barr said that there “would be no ‘Canberra Times’ photog-raphers snapping us down the aisle” and that he would “probably issue one photograph after the event for all the media”.

“CityNews”, in respect of Mr Barr’s wish for privacy, decided to not cover the event at the National Library.

The official handout picture of Andrew Barr and partner Anthony Toms.

‘Exclusive’ face of privacynews

briefly

Notaras’ giftACT Chief Justice Terry Higgins, right, chairman of the ACT Open Family development committee and board member of Open Family Australia receives a $5000 cheque from Em-manuel Notaras on behalf of the Harry and Helen Notaras Memorial Founda-tion. Open Family has been operating in the ACT for 21 years providing outreach support and services to homeless young people at risk. The Foundation commemorates the lives of Harry and Helen Notaras, the first Greek family to settle in Canberra.

Library’s lights are outCIVIC Library is temporarily closed while a safety assessment is under-taken of its skylights following a collapse of part of one. Nobody was injured, but a structural engineer has been asked to undertake a detailed assessment of the failure of the skylight and carry out any necessary repairs to ensure the library is safe to re-open. This process is expected to take at least a week.

Benjamin and Rosalind Walcott enjoy the serenity of their beautiful Red Hill garden in anticipation of the impending open weekend as part of Australia’s Open Garden Scheme. The garden, at 10 Wickham Crescent, will be open on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, from 10am to 4.30pm each day. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens. The six-year-old garden is almost all native Australian plants. Last year it attracted more than 1100 visitors. Photo by Silas.

The ACT finalists are:ACT Australian of the Year: Dr Patricia Easteal, human rights advocate; Michelle Grattan, political journalist; Prof Tony McMichael, environmental and health visionary; Colin Slater OAM, singing sensation.ACT Senior Australian of the Year: Barry Barnes, basketball coach; Dr John Buckingham, breast cancer surgeon; Gabrielle Jarvis, teacher and volunteer; Bill Rowlings, civil libertarian.ACT Young Australian of the Year: Caroline Buchanan, BMX champion; Michael Galluzzo, indigenous leader; Pierre Johannessen, basketballer and humanitarian; Dr Thomas Ward, medical engineer.ACT Local Hero: Dr Gordon Carmichael, soccer administrator; Andrea Clifford, choir leader; Julie Grehan, disabilities volunteer; Deborah Masling, musical educator.


IT was one of those shattering moments that seem inevitable in this life of ours. We wish they would never happen; but then, just when you least expect it…

I had driven my lovely daughter-in-law, Sophia (and Elvira, her mother) to the subur-ban doctor’s office for her final check up before the birth of her first child. We knew already that it would be a little girl and that she had been perfectly healthy – so far as you could tell – throughout the pregnancy.

The appointment was for midday so I dropped her off at the surgery and headed off to get a pie for lunch. I’d brought my new book along – “The Big Fella: The Rise and Rise of BHP Billiton” – and would re-read it in the car while waiting for her consultation to finish; then I’d drive them home.

My expedition took a little longer than ex-pected and by the time I returned to the park-ing lot outside the surgery, Sophia was coming out and leaning a little on her mum. I was still unpacking my lunch when they reached the car. She opened the door just as I was taking the first bite of my pie. Then came that shattering mo-ment: It was just awful.

It was the pie from hell. It was flat. The top was hard and the bottom

was soggy. Inside, it was mostly gravy – really runny gravy – and the meat was mostly gristle.

It was a week old! I couldn’t take a second bite.

“Hop in,” I said. “This is outrageous.”Naturally, I drove to the pie shop and got my

money back – $5! – and gave the baker a piece of my mind.

In fact, it reminded me of a story in “The Big

Fella” about the dictatorial Barrier Industrial Council. For many years they ruled Broken Hill with a rod of iron. They only ever had one grass-roots rebellion – when they tried to stop the importation of good Adelaide pies in favour of the inferior local brand. They learned a cosmic truth that day: never meddle with an Aussie’s desire for a really good pie.

With my returned $5, we then drove to an-other suburb – Chifley – and bought a terrific pie for $3.50. I tossed up whether to buy one of those small cartons of chocolate-flavoured milk with the change, but decided against.

It was quite warm in its little, white paper bag, but I was so hungry by now and it smelled so good that I really couldn’t wait till I got home. In any case, it would have cooled by then and warmed up pie is never really satisfactory. So I took a bite. Absolutely delicious. And one pie was quite enough.

As I drove home, I was thinking: Isn’t it amaz-ing – you can have a shattering moment and next thing something wonderful happens and the world is a better place.

I’m sure there’s a moral in there some-where…

Oh, the doctor said everything’s fine and a few days later Sophia gave birth to Samara, the most beautiful little baby girl in the world.

[email protected]

the gadfly

By Robert Macklin

When life shatters…


briefly

POPULAR children’s performer and “Play School” favourite Monica Trapaga and Opera Australia performer Michael Martin head the entertainment at the lighting of the Christ-mas tree celebration in Civic Square from 7pm on Friday, December 4.

It is believed that Santa Claus will make a special appearance.

At nightfall, the 21-metre-high Christmas tree will be lit. Each of the LED lights that illuminate the tree are powered by ActewAGL’s Green Choice program.

The event is free and on the night families are advised to bring their own chair and their own picnic or buy food and drink on site.

For further information call Canberra Connect on 132281 or visit www.events.act.gov.au.

Lights, action, it’s Monica!

Ivan Slavich.

Ivan phones homeBUSINESS identity Ivan Slavich has assumed his principal job of chief execu-tive with communications provider TransACT on a full-time basis, stepping back from his dual role as general manager retail with Actew-AGL, where he had worked for nearly 23 years.

New role for CatrionaCATRIONA Jackson, press secretary to the Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Minister, has been appointed head of the ANU’s communication and external liaison office.

Principal resignsCANBERRA Girls’ Grammar School principal Susan Just has resigned after five years to take up the position of principal at Lauriston Girls’ School in Melbourne, from Term 3, 2010. She will finish at Canberra Girls’ Grammar School at the end of Term 2, 2010. The board will now start the process of selecting a new principal.

Special collectionSPECIAL Olympics ACT will use International Day of People with Disability events, on December 3, including a corporate bowling day and gold-coin bucket collections to support 50 ACT athletes participating in the Special Olympics Australia 2010 National Games to be held in Adelaide in April.

Community CabinetTHE ACT Government will take the Cabinet to the community from 10.30am to noon on Satur-day, November 28, at the Tuggeranong College Library in Cowlishaw Street, Tuggeranong. All welcome.

http://www.events.act.gov.au

http://www.events.act.gov.au

�0 CityNews November 19-25

TWO months after last year’s Beijing Olym-pics, I received a call from a parent who told me that her daughter, who had dropped out of cycling, had been inspired to return to the sport after watching Anna Meares win the silver medal in the women’s sprint in track cycling.

Apparently, the girl – in her early teens – had shown no inclination to do anything in recent years after crashing during a race. The image of Meares, who won a silver medal less than nine months after breaking her neck in an accident, had motivated the girl to get back on to her bike when virtually every other avenue had failed.

Her motivation could not be directly at-tributed to Federal Government funding, and therein lies the problem facing the Government.

There has been a suggestion that the Crawford Report into Federal Government funding of sport has recommended chan-nelling money into targeted sports such as swimming and cycling while phasing out funding to so-called “second tier” sports.

It is hard to quantify how much impact

success at events, such as the Olympic Games, has on the general public, but over the years, sports administrators have told me there is an immediate result in terms of increased registration when Australia does well at the Olympic Games. The same for the Socceroos qualification for next year’s World Cup.

Part of the argument for a decrease in funding is that each gold medal in Beijing cost over $16 million in government fund-ing.

I don’t think the focus should just be on how many gold medals Australia wins at the Olympics because in some sports, such as track and field, it can be argued that making the semi-finals is an achievement in itself.

Anna Meares didn’t win gold, but her per-formance was deemed to be a success.

Another factor, which is often overlooked, is the exposure the Olympics provides to women’s sport, such as hockey. Exposure increases participation rates. If there wasn’t media coverage, some sports would suffer a decrease in participation numbers putting their funding at risk. For many sports it’s a “Catch 22”.

Furthermore, if the budget gets cut to national sporting organisations it could impact on development centres such as the ACT Academy of Sport, which receives funding from the national organisations as well as the ACT Government. If the budget was cut to the national bodies, it would have a trickle-down effect on organisations such as ACTAS.

Many people believe that too much money is spent on sport when it could be spent on education and health. But there would be less pressure on health services if we were more active and, studies have shown, that physical activity improves learning and behaviour in children. Events, such as the Olympics Games, provide a stimulus for participation.

letters

opinion

sporting lifeBy Tim Gavel

A chance to lead nationPRIME Minister Kevin Rudd's recent proposal to link Federal infrastructure funding to nationally agreed benchmarks emphasises the importance of having a strategic infrastructure plan. The national criteria for funding will be drawn up in consultation with the States and Territories.

These criteria represent an opportunity for the ACT. Although the Territory Government has recently invested in several large and important infrastructure projects, they are not yet part of an overarching, long-term plan – and we need such a plan.

Now we can use the Federal criteria as a framework for our infrastructure plan. It's a chance for us, as the national capital and a planned city, to lead the way.

‘‘The goal is that our cities have strong, transparent and long-term plans for growth and high-quality urban development. That our cities are productive, liveable and sustainable," said the Prime Minister when announcing the proposal.

For example, the criteria will focus on providing for planned, sequenced and evidence-based land release to meet the housing needs of a population forecast to grow to 35 million in the first half of this century.

There will be a focus on implementing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the risks of global climate change, with such risks including coastal inundation and generally more extreme weather.

The quality of design will be implemented as will architectural integrity, and the infrastructure itself should include nationally significant developments, such as transport corridors between, through and around cities, utilities networks and communications networks.

The Prime Minister acknowledges the importance of using private capital by stressing that criteria include an effective framework for private-sector investment and innovation in the urban infrastructure.

He was careful to point out that this was not a takeo-ver plan. “But we must recognise the economic reality of the 21st century,” he said. “The national government has a clear responsibility to provide national leadership in the development of strategic planning frameworks for our largest cities."

Catherine Carter is the executive director of the Property Council of Australia (ACT).

propertyBy Catherine CarterA mean and

tricky move?EFFECTIVE November 4, Health and Ageing has increased the fees paid by people being cared for at home by $11.20 per fortnight – 12 per cent. The pretext? The recent increase in the single aged pension.

But most of us are not single aged pensioners and have received little or no increase in income. Mean and tricky says it all.

chris smith, Kingston

Powerful messageEARLY on Sunday morning there was a crowd of bemused onlookers as thousands of blue towels were strategically placed in the middle of Bondi Beach. Was it part of Sculp-tures by the Sea, I thought? No, it was a fantastic reminder of the need to “slip, slop and slap” from the Can-cer Council. Each towel represented a person who had died as a result of skin cancer last year in Australia.

It moved me to tears, the message was so powerful!

Well done! I am certain that the display served as a powerful remind-er that we must all take care, when we go out in the beautiful sun; that we are so blessed to live under, in this wonderful country of ours.

Lorraine Poulos, Dover Heights,

nsW

The gift of natureIT was my supportive husband who brought my attention to the two articles on breastfeeding (CN, November 5). "You're going to love them!" he said. And I did. They were very informative and I hope they help change the minds of some disapprovers out there. I am one of the fortunate ones that has been able to breastfeed my babies. I cannot believe in this day and age (nearly 20 years since the law was passed)

we are even having this discussion and there is such a fuss. I have been the receiver of comments and looks, but I keep on keeping on in the hope that it will become more acceptable. I am sure a hungry howling baby is worse than a happy, breastfed one in anyone's books. I find it funny that it's okay to flaunt your breasts, but as soon as you use them for their intended use you are frowned upon. Let's celebrate this wonderful gift of nature.

Vicky Miller via email

Forum a ‘farce’ON November 26, the NCA will host a forum at Parliament House on the construction of the new ASIO head-quarters on Constitution Avenue, Campbell. The forum is farce and an insult not only to Canberra residents but also the wider community.

The forum identifies the arro-gance and contempt with which the NCA treats taxpayers: discussion should precede not follow a fait ac-compli!

Harold Grant, campbell

Don’t sell hospiceI RECENTLY attended the members’ and volunteers’ meeting for the ACT Palliative Care Society, where vigor-ous discussion took place about the sale of Clare Holland House. I strong-ly disagree that this community facility should be sold to a private corporation. My mother died in the hospice. The care is now provided by an excellent team who do not want their facility sold. We lobbied hard for our hospice, we need our hospice and I believe, along with many other Canberrans, that it should stay as it is for our community.

Don’t we, as a community of tax-payers, have some say in this very important matter?

Please do not sell our hospice.

Jan Puckett, member, act Palliative care society

The price of taking part

CityNews November 19-25 ��

�� CityNews November 19-25


Iconic toyshop changes handsBy Kathryn Vukovljak

CATHY McLean, owner and founder of Little Sprout in the Canberra Centre, has acquired the iconic Phillip toyshop Little Red Engine.

Cathy plans to put her own stamp on the Colbee Court store, including changing its name.

“It was a tough call for me to change the name, as I know it means a lot to people in Canberra – the shop has been here for 30 years,” she says. “I have a huge respect for the shop and the wonderful job done by Lorraine, the previous owner. But it’s my shop now, my style, my ideas and my direction, and I have to be honest and upfront about that.”

The shop – to share the Little Sprout name with its Civic sister – will still stock premium quality toys, something mum-of-three Cathy is passionate about, but as part of the new direction, it will also include items for up to 10-year-olds.

“We can buy bigger and better now, but we will always offer a high level of service and help with any specific requests that we can.”

news

Jeweller Maureen Warner… “I like the beads to be the centre of attention.” Photo by Silas

Cathy McLean… RARE vintage beads that have been stored in base-ments and bead collections for up to 65 years have been brought “into the light” by Canberra-based jew-eller Maureen Warner.

“I use beads that were originally made in Japan, China, the bohemian regions of old Czechoslovakia and Western Germany, Venice and other parts of Italy, France and Austria,” says Maureen. “They’re all hand made and all beautiful.”

Maureen designs and creates all her jewellery using these rare, uncirculated beads, and says she prefers simple settings in silver, gold or brass. Her third "Into the Light" exhibition is at the Front Gallery, Wattle Street, Lyneham until November 23.

“I like the beads to be the centre of attention,” she says.

“Each piece tells a story, and represents a particu-lar place and moment in time.”

Maureen sells by exhibition only.

Passion for beads


Kennards Hire Canberra Cup, November 29

Winning ideas for Cup-day parties

And the upcoming Canberra Cup race meeting is great timing to sit back, relax and let the Thoroughbred Park catering staff take care of everything.

There are a variety of options, ideas and packages available to suit all budgets, large or small. Bookings close November 23.

tHoroUgHBreD park has a winning idea to make the end-of-year function or christmas get together something truly memorable – fuss-free hospitality packages designed to impress your guests, staff or colleagues.

THIS is the deluxe, race-day package provid-ing a private mar-quee adjacent to the home straight with the platinum marquee package offering your guests-to-impress track views from the 300-metre mark. Minimum number of guests is 20.

Home straight corporate marquee

THE outdoor enclosure, Picnic Place, is located on the outside of the track at the 300-metre mark below the corporate marquees. It offers racegoers a gathering and party place, while still being close to the action.

Bring a picnic and enjoy the day from your picnic table in the reserved area.

Picnic Place

LOCATED in front of the horse stalls, the “Legends Lane” public marquee offers “the thrill of it all”.

This will be the place to be seen – it’s a huge struc-ture offering the marquee experience while still being in the public arena.

Tickets can be booked singly or tables of 10 are available. There is also an outdoor picnic area with a big-screen television, ACTTAB facilities and amenities close by. The

deal includes admission and wristbands, a set lunch and access to Legends Bar with a five-hour, standard beverage package.

Legends Lane

CityNews November 19-25 �5

advertising feature

LAURA Dundovic, the 2008 Miss Universe Australia, will head the judging panel for the Myer Fashions on the Field competition at the Ken-nards Hire Canberra Cup, on Sunday, November 29.

“I am really excited to be attending the Canberra Cup this year. Every race meet has its own distinct style and I can’t wait to see what the Canberra competitors will showcase,” said Laura. Canberra Racing Club Chief Execu-tive Peter Stubbs says that Laura’s appearance at Fashions on the Field will enhance what already shapes up as a fashionable event for the city. “The competition has definitely become a glamorous event at each feature race meeting and the trip for two to Hong Kong will be well contested.

“Fashion plays an important role in the tradition of racing in Australia and I am sure that Laura is admired

by any fashionista in Canberra for her sense of style and glamour, particularly in her role as Myer Racing Ambassador.” Myer Fashions on the Field at the Kennards Hire Canberra Cup features more than $11,000 in cash and prizes in three categories – Classic Ladies Race wear, Classic Men’s Race wear and Classic Couples Race wear. “The men won’t miss out either, a 42-inch plasma screen television is up for grabs for the best-dressed man” Stubbs said.

Registrations for Fashions on the Field open at the stage at midday with judging from 1.55pm. For entry conditions see the Thoroughbred Park website. Other activities include free children’s rides and an eight-race program, including the $200,000 Canberra Cup. Admission is $25, pensioner/conces-sion $5 and children under 17 are free. Parking is $5.

Laura Dundovic, the 2008 Miss Universe Australia… “I am really excited to be attending the Canberra Cup.”

Laura heads judges for Cup fashion

A PERFECT opportunity to secure a seat for the day undercover in the Acton grandstand with track views and a bird’s eye view of the Myer Fashions on the Field stage – a designated area for ticket holders only. Please note there is a no-glass policy in the grandstand areas and only 200 seats available. So book fast!

The Acton Grandstand

Full details of all the hospitality packages are available from Thor-oughbred Park on 6241 3888 or visit www.thoroughbredpark.com.au.


scene Invite us at [email protected]

At the Canberra Theatre Centre’s subscription season launch, Civic At the charity ‘Twilight in the Jungle’ cocktail party, National Zoo

Jason Roses with Olivia and Phil Small

Annette Sidman and Jo Hodge

Jodi Shepherd, Carol Byrne and Wendy Shepherd

Lisa Dempsey and Emily O'Connor

Melissa and Jeff Michael

Nicky and Deanne Cobb

Carolyn and Todd Wilson with Katrina Howe Deshi Rahim, Melanie Goss, Natalie Caldwell and Fiona Song

Ricky Bryan, Colin Haining and Claire Latimer

Raye Richard, Kerry Staines and Auriel Barlow

Margaret McIver, Kathryn and Tony Stuart with Elizabeth Harvey

Monique Dyson and Malcolm O'Leary

Ian De Landelles, MLA Mary Porter and MLA Alistair Coe

Margaret Ellis, Pam Mackay and Helen Hordern

David Whitney, Malcolm Gray and Laura Healy

Lynden Mitchell, Adrian and Sharon Rumore with Carla Kelman and Kristina Keats

GJ3476


Westpac advertising feature

“YOU can come in and talk to me about opening an account for your new-born baby or you can come in and have a complex conversation with me about constructing your next multi- oor commercial building – that’s the spectrum of services that we offer and that I am across,” says Belinda Ayers, bank manager of Westpac Woden Plaza.

“And, of course, everything in the middle – home loans, business bank-ing, nancial services, and everything else you expect from a bank like Westpac.”

Being a local herself, Belinda says she is proud to be part of Westpac’s new local approach, where bank man-agers have been put back in charge of the decisions at the customer level.

“I was in commercial and business banking for many years, and am really enjoying being back on the retail side,” enthuses Belinda. “I am very excited about it as there are so many wonder-fully interesting people to meet.

“The brilliance of Westpac’s new local model is that we are able to have dif-ferent, face-to-face conversations with our customers because we have senior managers and bank managers actually on the ground who are accessible on a daily basis. That’s the importance of it – your customers need to know that you are available to talk at any point in time.

“Everybody has successes, chal-

lenges, and dreams and it’s a privilege to be part of that on-going dialogue with them about issues that really affect their daily lives.

“I had several customers recently in my of ce who had got themselves into a ( nancial) position that they really didn’t want to be in, and previously may have been too embarrassed to come in and see one of the branch staff.

“To be able to have the conversation with them, put a plan in place for them and have successful outcomes – is very rewarding.”

Belinda says she sees her “patch” as the whole of the Woden Valley.

“The Phillip business precinct is very important to us,” she says.

“Here at Woden, we are classed by Westpac as a full-service branch, which means we have a bank manager, assistant bank manager, and home nance manager.

“At the end of the month, a local business banker is joining us – and I am really very, very excited about that – because that’s my passion. I came to this position from business banking and I bring all my experiences and expertise with me. We have over 2000 small businesses in the Woden area so it is a crucially important part of, not just Westpac’s business, but of the wider community.

“As far as our business customers are concerned, I have a great empa-

thy with them. Sometimes they need to be able to take a step out from the business and see what’s actually happening – as they say, they are often on the dance oor, and not up on the stage. I can really help assist them with their cash ow solutions and other ideas to help keeping them moving forward.”

Belinda is keen to listen to her customers, part of the main reasons that Westpac has restructured to give their managers more autonomy over the decision taken in branches.

“I think I am very approachable and am described by my team members as good fun and good for a chat!” she says. “But I am a quick decision maker, so if you need to come in, meet and actually have something happen, then I am the person to talk to.

“I am a mum of four, a Canberran of 17 years – I think that counts as a Can-berran now, don’t you?” she laughs. “I call Canberra home and simply love it; the four seasons – the snow on the Brindies and the sweltering heat!

“I want customers to know that my door is always open to them. Everyone’s got their own story, their own challenges – but it’s not just the hard times that we are here for it’s the successful times, too.

“We are going through a truly exciting time at Westpac and I want to share that with the people who matter to us most – our customers.”

Bank manager Belinda Ayers… “I am a quick decision maker, so if you need to come in, meet and actually have something happen, then I am the person to talk to.”

Belinda loves to make things happen


sceneAt ZOO Group’s ‘Outlet – The private face of public creativity’, M16 Gallery, Fyshwick

More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

At the Australian Property Institute’s ‘Excellence in Property Awards’, The Lobby, Barton

Sally Fleming, Grant Warner and Jen Bradley Dominic Pelle, Lia Notaras and Tim Mutton

Pip Doogan and Rebecca HardingKim Sinclair, Ken Horsham and Susan Proctor

Jim Shonk, Col Alexander and Paul Powderly

Mo Bros James Tonkin, Andrew McColl, Peter Barclay and Brad Price

James Herbert, Andrew Menegazzo, Renee Pollak and Catherine Hyunh

Gumnar Sirel, Phil Green, Marcia Bowden and David Patmore

Ron Parker, Clinton Hutchinson and Theresa OrmeSandra Hofman, Marie Michaelis and Maj-Britt Classen

Sarah Addison, Tim Glendinning and Gabrielle D'Ambrosio

John Ruman, Vera Milosevic, Andrew Sinclair and Sofia Polak

Amy Jozing, Steph McKew and Natalie Caldwell

Alex Frith, Kristen Zotti and Mark Williams

Steven Craddock and Claudia Vannithone


Little star’s big dreams

ANGELINA Ballerina is a little star with big dreams of becom-ing a prima ballerina. This feisty little mouse works hard to reach her goal and along the way, always learns from her mistakes. It’s all in good fun and great for the little ones as the English Na-tional Ballet's “Angelina's Star Performance” comes to the Canberra Theatre for seven shows December 3-5. Book on 6275 2700.

A LARGE and valuable collection of personal diaries and notebooks by Aus-tralia’s first official war correspondent is now more readily available to the public following a major digitisation project by the Australian War Memorial. Charles Bean was Australia’s official correspond-ent and official historian of World War I and was also one of the founders of the memorial. The 286 diaries, notebooks and folders he created during and after the war, and which he used to write the official history, are considered to be one of the most important records created by a single Australian. Bean’s diaries can now be seen at www.awm.gov.au/col-lection/war_diaries.

THE Radiance Dance Project is an inclusive community dance and move-ment project created by women living with and without disabilities in the ACT region. They have been working all year on a show called “Intact” which will be performed on December 2 at 11.30am and December 5 at 2pm. It’s on at Belconnen Theatre and is free with no bookings required.

all about living arts | dining | cinema | body | crossword | horoscope | sudoku

By Helen Musa

“I'M really rather boring,” Tim Minchin tells me by phone from London. Minchin, of course, is the cultish “next big thing in musical theatre” who’s been barnstorm-ing Britain for the last couple of years and who has just finished a whirlwind tour of 45 dates in two months, playing his comedy show to packed houses in 1500-seat theatres.

The self-confessed bore originates from Perth. When I can't quite pin down his slightly nasal accent, he assures me that's because he comes from the western suburbs (“the posh part”) of that city and went to a private school. “It's about the least Australian Australian accent in Australia,” he says.

Minchin will be here next month and, after settling his wife and kids in Perth, he'll be zipping around on one-night stands. He has never

performed before in Canberra, but he has appeared in Queanbeyan at The School of Arts Cafe, where he accompanied Todd McKenney in his first big cabaret show. He declares himself “so glad to be coming to Canberra, at last.”

Minchin writes acidic and philo-sophical lyrics that he knows could never go down in the pop scene. Essentially a musician, he also has deep roots in the theatre. For the Perth Theatre Company he played the Zac, the drugged-out muso in “Cosi” as well as Mozart in the company's 2006 production of “Amadeus.”

On leaving school, he wrote musical scores for “Love's Labour's Lost”, “The Tempest”, “The Merchant of Venice” and “Mother Courage” and threw him-self into all aspects of the University WA theatre scene while supporting himself by playing in “shitty bands at weddings and piano bars”. Later, he worked out how to make a better living by accompanying artists such as

McKenney and Eddie Perfect.Minchin finds it hard to describe his

latest show “Ready For This?”, which he knocked up in his living room, but after 18 months “touring, touring and touring”, he believes he's fine-tuned his peculiar mix of philosophical rationalism and comedy.

“I look like a rock star, but sound

like a Perth western suburbs’ philoso-phy graduate,” he says. He is not sure how it works but “people don't walk out as you'd expect they would in a show that’s about philosophy”.

“Ready For This?”, Canberra Theatre, December 6 and 7, bookings to 6275 2700.

Tim Minchin… “I look like a rock star, but sound like a Perth western suburbs’ philosophy graduate.”

Ready for Minchin?

arts in tHe cityBy Jorian Gardner

YES! The helicopter very nearly does land on stage and it’s a wonderful moment of theatrical trickery, but it’s not the only emotionally affecting moment in this impressive production.

“Miss Saigon” is the story of an American soldier, who falls in love with a Vietnamese dance-hall hostess during the turmoil of the Vietnam conflict. Lacking the bells and whistles resources one might expect from a professional production, director Kelda McManus has cleverly placed their small-scale domestic tragedy firmly at the core of this production and assembled a superb cast to perform it.

Jacinta Le is simply gorgeous, and deeply mov-ing as Kim, the hostess. Both she and baby-faced Grant Pegg, as the American soldier, sing superbly, and give passionate, convincing performances.

Appropriately venal and sleazy, Dean Salonga brings a fine singing voice and the right combina-

tion of dignity and desperation to the central char-acter of the Engineer. Sean Ladlow, Simon Stone, Claire Watson and Mariam Grey all contribute fine performances, and on opening night, tiny Ryan Tolich stole every scene in which he appeared.

The combination of gutsy orchestra, incredible eye-and-ear popping lighting and sound design, the flexible set and careful costume design, produce one highlight after another.

More energy, attack and precision from the en-semble during their otherwise well-sung, cleverly choreographed production numbers would lift this production even further.

Chopper tops terrific ‘Saigon’ nightMUSICAL“Miss Saigon”Presented by Phoenix Players and Supa Productions, ANU Arts Centre, until November 28.Reviewed by Bill Stephens


arts&entertainment

“THE BOyS ARE BACK” (PG)

IN the hands of director Scott Hicks, Allan Cubbitt’s adaptation of Simon Carr’s novel, examining a father and a small son’s despair after a mother’s death then overcoming major emotional pressures while learning domestic survival, invites us to laugh and shed tears, sometimes both in the same moment.

Playing six-year-old Artie, whose mother Katy, second wife of peripatetic sports journalist Joe (Clive Owen) has died, Nicholas McAnulty is a total delight, energising the film with enchantment. Joe, whose qualifications for rearing a small boy are less than scant, will learn more from Artie than he will teach him, which sits uncomfortably with Katy’s mother (Julia Blake).

Joe’s son Harry from his first marriage arrives from Britain. The film focuses on how the two brothers assimilate with each other and interact with their father. Hicks tells the story with wonder-ful freshness and displays it in a sparsely beautiful corner of coastal SA.

The film contains little discomforting conflict, but Hicks keeps the plot hard at work negotiating little problems that reflect reality with wonderful understanding. It’s fair to say that “The Boys Are Back” is his most enjoyable work since “Shine”, fashioned with the same deftness and human awareness. And you have to wonder what delights McAnulty will come up with next.

At all Canberra cinemas

“DORIAN GRAy” (MA)

OLIVER Parker’s film from Oscar Wilde’s acerbic tale of hedonism, wickedness and human failure should have been better. Toby Finlay’s adaptation of the novel takes structural liberties. The loud, heavy, portentous musical score predicates the progress of the drama instead of moving beside it as is its proper function.

Dorian, a beautiful young man introduced into London society by the dissolute Lord Wotton, obsessed with the picture of himself painted by a fashionable artist which he believes will one day remind him of his beauty, pledges his soul if it bears the burden of age and infamy while he stays forever young. The story, filmed several times since its first serious screen adaptation in 1945, offers Parker good scope for semiotic invention in illustrating Wotton’s corruption of Dorian through the slums, opium dens, up-market bordellos and fashionable salons of the idle rich in London about a century ago.

Sadly, Parker’s handling of such juicy opportuni-ties falls short of expectation, ranging from frenetic to tiresome. The emotional highs and lows are so close to each other that they deny the drama’s merits and fail to convince us of their importance.

On the up side, as Lord Wotton, showing every sign of relishing the opportunities for wickedness and other bad behaviours that Wilde created for him, Colin Firth gives greater satisfaction than in any other role I have seen him play. And the dialogue does have fun with a selection of choice Wilde-isms.

At Hoyts Belconnen

“AMELIA” (M)

MIRA Nair’s film about Amelia Earhart looks handsome, especially when it’s showing aeroplanes flying above cloud or the earth beneath them.

On paper, its cast is impressive – double-Oscar winner Hilary Swank as Amelia, Richard Gere as publisher George Putnam who exploited her fame while providing the funds to feed it, Ewan McGregor as academic and aviation bureaucrat Vidal with whom Amelia had a thing while married to Putnam, and Christopher Eccleston as Noonan, the navigator who died on their circumnavigation when communications failure stopped them reach-ing their final fuelling point in the Pacific.

But the film is marred by trite dialogue, especially when declaiming Amelia’s feminism and her passion for putting women in aviation. I suspect that a dear friend, who hung a poster of Amelia on the back of her toilet door, may share my disappointment.

At all Canberra cinemas

Like old timesBy Helen Musa

WHEN Canadian director Walter Learning faced the Canberra Rep community recently at Theatre 3 to talk of “Journeys”, the 2010 subscription season, it was just like old times.

Learning is one of Rep’s most distinguished alumni, having landed in Canberra as a young Ph.D. student in the ‘60s and ended up as a theatre whiz kid and later head of theatre for the Canada Council for the Arts in his native country.

He’s in town to stage Ray Cooney’s “It Runs in the Family” this month, but took time off to outline a season of few surprises with lots of laughs and familiar directors. High on the list is a fresh season of the show that replaced Old Time Music Hall, “Jazz Garters: A New Tradition”, again to be directed by Jim McMullen. Then there will be Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy “Flatspin”, directed by Geoffrey Borny and Ken Ludwig’s farce “Moon Over Buffalo”, directed by Cathie Clelland.

Former Rep director Ross McGregor is staging of “A Voyage Round My Father” by John Mor-timer, then back to comedy with Wilde’s “Lady Windermere’s Fan”, directed by Tony Turner. The season finishes with Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” staged by Duncan Ley. For subscription packages call 6257 1950.

MEANTIME, at the Courtyard Studio, Anne Somes was busy launching the 2010 season of favourites for Free Rain Theatre, kicking off with “Singing’ in the Rain”, kids’ shows “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid,” both scripted by Canberra playwright Jodi McAlister, a Melbourne production of “Lloyd Beckmann, Beekeeper” devised by Tim Stitz and Kelly Somes, “The Importance of Being Earnest” directed by Liz Bradley, “A Streetcar Named Desire” directed by Fiona Atkins and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” directed by Cathie Clelland. Bookings to 6275 2700.

When the desert dances

“Jazz Garters: A New Tradition”, again to be directed by Jim McMullen.

VISUAL ARTS“Dancing in the Desert”By Carmel McCrow, Belconnen Arts Centre, until November 29.Reviewed by Helen Musa

FOR Weetangera artist Carmel McCrow, the desert dances.

This phenomenon is seen in her new exhibition as she conjures up swirls of dust in front of her desert panoramas, and sometimes ephemeral, or ghostly figures dancing on the landscape as in the title work “Dancing in the Desert”, further developed with the use of a mysterious light-source in the work “Beyond”.

The lively movement of the desert came as a total surprise to her.

A long-time artist from the Snowy Mountains region whose grandfather was a prospector at Kosciusko, she was already entranced with nature through “the magic of the mountains,” but she was astonished during by a painting visit to the Central Desert by the topography of the rock formation called the Sphinx,

seen in her work “Guardians of the Desert”.

McCrow employs oils, pencil, pastels, acrylics, and even a little dirt from the desert soil. She spatters, dots and stamps to achieve the mystical overlays on her softer landscapes, reserving her stronger colours for the deeper rock formations.

This exhibition represents a move away from naturalistic representa-tion for McCrow into a more surreal landscape where, though a complete definition eludes her, “there's something going on”.

Scott’s ‘Boys’ back shiningcineMaBy Dougal Macdonald


arts&entertainment

JOY Warren has sourced a large artwork for the winner of the 2009 “CityNews” Artist of the Year.

The painting, “Piazza Navona 2”, is by former senior Commonwealth public servant-turned-artist, Roger Beale. Mr Beale is in China, but a family member said he would be “delighted that it is going to an artist”.

Ms Warren, who founded the Solander Gallery 35 years ago, will present the painting at the ACT Arts Awards ceremony on November 24 in the new Belconnen Arts Centre. – Helen Musa

Joy gets the prize

IT was the rice pudding that drove me there. Yes, the rice pudding: Creamy and yummy and, if truth be told, nicer even than my grandmother’s.

I’m talking about a cute little café at North Lyneham shops that offers service with a smile, wholesome, honest food and prices that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

Café Charisma is owned by Mary Kourpanidis and her husband. Her sons and daughter-in-law work there and “a few aunts when we need them”, says Mary.

“We came here nine years ago just to make dips and sweets to sell to supermar-kets, but people started knocking on the door asking if we did food and coffee.”

We settled in at the café for lunch, surrounded by bright, cheery, but relaxing tangerine and yellow-coloured walls and cobalt-blue chairs – making us feel we were in the Mediterranean.

I ordered the Charisma sandwich – lay-ers of fresh eggplant, zucchini, artichoke, capsicum and salty fetta on fresh Turkish-style bread and served with smooth Tzatz-iki and chips ($13.50). Very soul satisfying and a sensational combo of tastes, which the Greeks do so well. My friend enjoyed the open steak sandwich, a tender piece of meat smothered with cheese, mushrooms, nicely fried up onions and also served with thicker-cut chips ($13.50).

The special’s board is tiny, but keeps the interest of regulars alive, and other options for lunch include fresh wraps, burgers, quiche and salads – all reasonably priced.

We ordered coffee (not Greek style,

although this would be our choice next time). It was too hot for both of us and not as top notch as we thought it should be. Might have been just a bit of bad luck at the espresso machine.

But back to the rice pudding: I initially discovered it at my local shops and noticed the label on the side indicating it was a Canberra product, so off I went in search of Café Charisma.

Mary makes 300 units of the pudding each week, which are sold at some major supermarkets, as well as a large range of Greek sweets you can enjoy in the café or buy in packets to take home. Think bite-sized baklava rolls (made with almond and rosemary), orange biscotti, kouloura-

kia, pecan crunch and more. And, at the café, there’s also a glass display case with decadent layered cakes and other desserts.

Café Charisma also serves breakfast (starting with cinnamon or raisin toast and moving all the way up to a “big breakfast”) and dinner. The evening menu is extensive with several enticing fish dishes, some kids’ options and banquets starting at $29.50 a person.

The café is byo and open from 7am through to when the last person finishes up their dinner. Open evenings Tuesday to Saturday and breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday.

Café Charisma, Shop 4, 2 Colville Street, North Lyneham, call 6262 5359.

Driven by a nice rice pudDiningBy Wendy Johnson

Cafe Charisma... bright, cheery but relaxing. Photos by Silas.


THE restaurant scene in Kingston has recently had a new player enter the market – and, instantly, it has gone to the top of sophisti-cated Canberra diners’ list.

The Kennedy Room, in Kennedy Street, is a massive bar restaurant, set in a large, open space and tastefully decorated to complement its interesting menu. It is not a nightclub.

Owned by Dimitri Eliopoulos, The Kennedy Room has street presence and a large, outdoor area for 50, which is already getting packed most nights as the warmer evening set in.

“The food it the most important part of this business to me,” says Dimitri. “Anybody can put a smile on their face and pour a nice cocktail, but it’s the food that customers will keep coming back for.

“The prices are not too expensive; they are just in the right range, I believe.”

Main courses are priced from $20 to $34 and the pizzas are a competitive $20 to $24.

“I am already having people say that we are serving up the best pizzas in Kingston – that’s a big call, I know, but that’s what the customers are telling me.”

The Kennedy Room advertising feature

Rooms that reflect Dimitri’s passion


THE man in the kitchen is famed Canberra chef Nick Carter, who stamped his authority on the local food scene as the chef at Anise and Artespresso.

“For me, it’s about keeping it simple,” says Nick. “I want to do something that’s interesting without being too unusual; something that people can feel familiar with.

“For instance, rather than doing just straight calamari with salt and pepper, which is fairly common, I put turmeric with it, which gives a beautiful lemon flavour, just to change it slightly and give it a bit of a twist. It’s different but accessible.

“There are lots of pizza places, and I haven’t really worked anywhere making pizzas, so it’s a new thing for me, which I am really enjoying. Again, I am doing it a little differently; not too much cheese, thin pizza’s – let the ingredients speak for themselves, I say.

“I try to give customers the best quality that’s possible combined with the best value as possible.”

The Kennedy Room


THE Kennedy Room has great acoustics with two different music zones and Dimitri promises diners won’t be violated with “doof-doof” music. Refinements are still being made, including a Japanese Garden courtyard early next year. The “pres-ence” continues indoors which, by design, features different zones: The lounge, to the left, is a comfy spot to “people watch”, as is the seating area to the right near the long bar.

“This is a 1930’s building so when we started gutting we found things out about it that you just can’t replicate like that today – the walls, the beams in the ceiling still have some of the original writing on them and we left that there – all we did was clean the dust off,” says owner Dimitri Eliopoulos. “The skylights are original – and I just love natural lighting in the dining room, and that’s complemented by the couches.”

Dimitri is well known to Canberra’s dining scene having worked and owned many establishments over the years, but this is the restaurant that he’s hoping will ensure his stamp is permanently in the minds of the town’s fussy foodies.

“My passion is the hospitality industry – good food, professional service and consistency,” he says.

Maria Filardo is the interior designer and Decca Building Group, the builder.

The Kennedy Room, 25 Kennedy Street, Kingston. Open seven days, call 6162 2318.

advertising feature

HUNGRYREADERSadvertise your cafe.


Just for the beach

WHEN shopping with young children there are some places that are best avoided: A detour into the toy department can be a recipe for meltdown, especially at this time of year.

Toys can turn a totally normal, well-balanced and pleasant child into something like a junkie in need of a fix. You need to adopt a fair-but-firm approach and make any purchases carefully, but quickly before things get out of hand. However, navigating this minefield is made much more difficult by the practices of some stores.

We all know shops put out lollies and treats near cash registers to lure the littlest consumers. Perhaps less calculated, but nevertheless totally annoying, is the practice of not clearly marking the price of toys.

I remember when everything in the shops had a price tag. Now we have bar codes and scanning, and usually that’s no problem.

But some shops just don’t seem able to get the price marking right, particularly in the toy department. All too often, items are on the wrong shelf or placed under the wrong price label (admittedly, with little people shifting things around the toy department it is prob-

ably one of the harder retail areas to maintain order in).

Of course, you can always play a round of “find the scanner” – that great family game where everyone looks frantically until a price scanner can be found behind shelving or in some distant corner of the shop.

A bit more effort in price marking would go a long way to making a toy department experience less of an ordeal. Because getting to the cash register and discovering that an item is about double the cost of what it was thought to be can be a major disappointment for the smaller, less emotionally restrained consumers among us. The resultant meltdown can be pretty spectacular and I wonder whether such experiences can lead people to “go postal” later in life.

Terror in the toy store!MUM in tHe cityBy Sonya Fladun

body

HeaDing for sun, sea and sand this weekend? Make sure these summer must-haves are in the bag!

Ray Ban sunglasses (RB3025), $189, Optical Superstore.

Le Tan’s Sheer Daily Mineral Moisturising Sunscreen Body ($14.99) and Face ($11.99).

Aveda Protective Hair Veil, $49.95.

Straw beach bag, $49.95, Honey Ocean/Earth. Frankie towel, $59.95, Rip Curl.

Aztec Rose purple bikini, $59.95, Liquid Blue.

The winner in the “CityNews” competition for a pink Vidal Sassoon Wet to Dry straightener and mini straightener set is Nicole Coates, of Gilmore. Congratulations Nicole!

Straightener winner


yarralumla advertising feature

The village with a welcoming vibeleafy yarralumla, in the inner south, with its shady corners and laid-back, welcoming vibe has a unique village-style atmosphere that the people who live and work there seem to love, writes katHryn VUkoVlJak.

LOCATED approximately 3.5 kilometres south-west of the city, Yarralumla extends along the south-west bank of Lake Burley Griffin.

Europeans first settled the area in 1828, and it was named Yarra-lumla in 1834 from the indigenous Ngunnawal people’s name for the area. It is also spelt “Yarrowlumla”

on some 19th century documents.The modern suburb of Yarralumla

was officially gazetted in 1928 and today is home to about 3000 people and many diplomatic missions. In recent years, it has become one of Canberra’s most desirable and ex-pensive suburbs because of its wide leafy streets, attractive lakeside setting and central location.

Labourers and brickies at the yarralumla brickworks, photo taken in 1924.


yarralumla

Elegant, affordable gifts

Old favourites going strong

I’M drawn to the displays outside the small, boutique shop Hungerford Gifts – cute things for kids, quirky Christmas decorations and locally designed jewellery –and before I know it, I’m shopping!

New owner Lisa Parolin tells me she aims to find items that are different, that people can’t necessarily get anywhere else nearby.

“We want to provide elegant, affordable, unique gifts,” she says. “I think we’ve found a good mix.”

Lisa says she and her husband know the area well and were excited to be purchasing an existing business here.

“It’s a pleasant place, very green and leafy, with lots of restaurants and cafes,” Lisa says. “We love meeting all the passers-by who pop in for a look, and we’ve had a good response to the new stock we’ve introduced so far.”

DELICIOUS smells waft from SukoThai restaurant and I can’t wait to head in and meet the owners.

Sisters Aye and Khin’s family took over the restaurant two years ago and Khin says they still cook the same dishes, the same way.

“Our food is very popular,” she says. “Once people try it they keep coming back, but if you’ve never been here then you’ll never know how good it is!”

After sampling the angel prawns, stir-fry chilli lamb with mint leaves and red curry duck in lychee sauce, I have to agree.

SukoThai has lunchtime specials for office workers and embassies nearby, and can also cater for functions, says Khin.


advertising feature

“WE love the family feel here,” Kay Postuma, owner of Sitting Ducks ca-tering, tells me. “We’ve really enjoyed getting to know everyone – all the business proprietors know each other by name, it’s such a friendly place.”

Kay and her husband Herman say they bought the business at the start of this year and, while it’s been a learning curve, they’re loving every minute. Kay says that Sitting Ducks is also working on its website, which will enable local customers to order online and have food delivered to their desks.

Traditional & tender

OWNER of the IGA Yvonne Dourdou-lakis says she has run the business for five years and feels very settled here.

“It was an unknown to us at first but, of course, the people in Yarra-lumla are lovely!” she says. “We’ve got to know everyone over the years.”

Yvonne says that the IGA stocks organic meat, many specialist items for those with specific dietary needs, plus an extensive liquor section that features local wines. “We can order in pretty much any grocery items our customers want – it’s part of the service we offer as a local supermar-ket,” she says.

The deli caters for functions and parties, with Yvonne offering meat, cheese and salad platters to order.

YVONNE also owns the post office next door, and tells me they have just branched into floristry. “We still offer post office services first and foremost, as well as gifts, books, photocopying and faxing,” she says.

“We just felt that a florist was missing from Yar-ralumla, as we like to look at the shopping centre as a whole. I think it’s important to keep people local, and that if someone goes to their shopping centre they should be able to get everything they need in one place.”

The post office florist makes up arrangements daily, and also does bouquets, boxes for special occasions, as well as orders and delivery.

BUTCHER Matthew, from Yarralumla Meats, says he’s proud to be working at one of the few traditional butchers left in Canberra.

“We can advise you on how to cook anything, you can ask for any cut you want and we have great, quality meat,” he says. “Our meat is Halal, which is more tender and tastes bet-ter – once you’ve tried it, you won’t go back, I guarantee!”

Owner Ugur Kocak also owns the Turkish Halal Pide House next door. I’m told that people travel across Canberra for their kebabs. “Our customers say they’re the best in Canberra,” he says. With both indoor and outdoor seating, the Turkish Halal Pide House also caters for functions and catering.

Supporting the locals

Blossoming business

Catering for locals

The Sitting Ducks team.


Around the house

CLIMATE extremes between summer and winter in Canberra can make gardening difficult, so it’s important to understand the climate in your garden, or the microclimate.

Garden microclimates can be used to improve the success of plantings by taking advantage of the varying conditions.

Use hot sunny spots to grow succulents and moister shady locations for plants requiring more water. The microclimate can also be altered by using shady trees, pergolas or windbreaks such as hedges.

When planning a garden, take note of where the sun is at various times of the day and the areas that are sheltered when hot winds are blowing. Think about whether a clever tree planting or a well-positioned windbreak might lessen the impact of the sun or wind. Make note of the sheltered and unprotected zones in the garden and seek advice from the nursery about appropriate plant choices for each area to suit your overall garden plans.

Consider staggering your planting by establishing the upper storey with shade trees

first and then planting underneath in consecutive seasons. By taking care when planning, carefully altering the microclimate and selecting plants wisely, you can improve the success of your garden and also save water.

SOIL is the most important part of a successful garden. Soil type and condition will determine:

• how much water it can hold;• how long it can retain water at the root zone;• how fast water can be absorbed when you irrigate; and

• how much water is needed to give plants in addition to rainfall.Water will be wasted on poorly conditioned soil because it runs off the soil surface or drains below the plant root zone.The two most important steps you can take to ensure that you provide just enough water for plants to stay healthy are to:• understand the soil type, structure and depth; and• improve the soil so that water infiltrates into the root zone, and is held there.Before planting, it is important to lay out garden beds and prepare the soil.

Two characteristics of soil that are essential for good garden health are: • drainage; and• organic material.

Good drainage requires a relatively deep, crumbly and uncompacted soil. Adding organic material assists with drainage and water-holding capacity. It also provides plants with essential nutrients. Once soil is improved, mulch can help keep soils moist. However, be careful that you don’t apply the mulch too thickly. More than 75 mm of mulch can remove water and nutrient from the soil.

THE type of plants you choose depends on the garden style; the soil; how sheltered the garden is and how much effort you want to put into the garden.

Water use is also a key consideration and many people are turning to waterwise plants for a vigorous, low water-use garden.

Grouping plants with similar water require-ments makes it easier to set up watering zones that ensure each plant gets only the amount of water it needs to stay healthy.

There are a range of fact sheets on soil, microclimate, mulch and online tools such as the Canberra Plant Selector and WaterRight Gardens web tools available on the on the ACT Government’s “Think water, act water” website at www.thinkwater.act.gov.au

Changing the vital microclimate

Soil... the most important part of a successful garden

http://www.thinkwater.act.gov.au



advertising feature

CANBERRA’S gardeners will have access to a new pilot program to help them with water use as the weather continues to warm up.

The IrrigationSmart pilot will focus on up to 200 households that already have an automatic drip irrigation system.

The program includes a home visit by an irrigation specialist and a $100 rebate to assist the household to improve the performance of the automatic drip irrigation system.

The irrigation specialist will assess the condition and effectiveness of a household’s

programmable irrigation system, advise how to operate and program the system efficiently and collect data to evaluate the pilot program.

The results of the pilot program will be used to assess the potential potable water savings and the behaviour change benefits of offering an automatic drip irrigation system assessment and rebate program to the wider ACT community.

For more information or to register interest in IrrigationSmart call Canberra Connect on 132281or visit www.thinkwater.act.gov.au

Smart solutions for irrigation

A FREE GardenSmart service is available to assist ACT residents maintain a healthy garden without using too much water.

With smaller lawn areas, effective use of mulch and landscaping, clever plant selection and a properly designed irrigation system, water-wise gardens often require less work than conventional gardens.

During a GardenSmart visit, a qualified horti-culturist provides practical, professional advice tailored to your garden about design, watering, maintenance, plant choice and more. To put your GardenSmart advice into action, there is also a $50 rebate on selected water-efficient garden products.

Here are a few GardenSmart tips:• Adding organic matter such as manure or compost to soil improves plant growth, increases soil water retention and needs less fertiliser.• A good soil wetting agent will encourage the water to penetrate evenly. • Before buying plants, check their water, sun, soil and maintenance needs and think about how you might group plants with similar requirements.• Consider replacing some lawn area with permeable paving, pebbles or hardy ground covers that require less water. • Mulch the garden to reduce evaporation and

run-off, discourage weed growth and keep the soil cooler in summer.• Drip irrigation systems allow water to get to the plant’s roots with minimal evaporation and run-off.• Remove weeds because they compete with other plants for water.

To register for the GardenSmart program or for more information call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 or visit www.thinkwater.act.gov.au

Free service to help save water

www.thinkwater.act.gov.au

Drip irrigation systems allow water to get the plant’s roots



your week in the starsWith Joanne Madeline Moore

November 23 - 29general knowledge crossword No. 238

ACROSS4 What do we call a person who risks money on a game of chance?8 What is profuse and idle talk?9 Which is the Latin name for Odysseus?10 Name a tablet, etc, which is used to relieve pain.11 What are important horse races?12 What do they call the fastest shearer of a group?14 Name the dissertation presented by a candidate for a postgraduate degree.18 What is another name for a bouquet?21 Who, in 1609, built the first astronomical telescope?22 What is a drawing caricaturing some subject or person?23 To elevate in degree or excellence, is to what?24 To be able to pay all just debts is to be what?

DOWN1 Name the presiding officer of the House of Representatives?

2 In cricket, what are fielders, positioned closely behind and to the offside of the batsman?3 What is an insatiable greed for riches?4 Name the Australian film and TV producer, Reg ...5 Who is the elected leader in a local government body?6 What is an alternative term for girls?7 Name some beautiful prickly-stemmed showy flowers.13 What is one of the external openings of the nose?15 Name the former gold-rush NSW town, north of Bathurst (4,3).16 Which child's two-wheeled vehicle has made a comeback?17 What is a young swan called?18 Which parts of the body lie between heads and trunks?19 Which web-footed bird is the female of the gander?20 Which term describes the common people (coll)?

Solution next week

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Restless Rams are ready for action, as the Sun and Mercury activate your adventure zone and you’re keen to escape into the great outdoors. Serious Saturn (in your relationship zone) continues to turn the commitment dial up a notch or two. Fleeting flirtations are out and committed coupling is in.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Romantic, platonic and business partnerships are favoured this week so the more you mingle with like-minded souls, the more you’ll ben-efit. Avoid being drawn into family squabbles though. If you are tactful and diplomatic, it may be enough to keep you out of the firing line!

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Are your brain cells a bit rusty? With four planets activating your learn-ing zones, it’s time to shake off the mental cobwebs and put on your thinking cap. Reading, writing, study and travel are all wonderful ways to get your marvelous mind motivated again. Thursday is the best day to say what’s really on your mind.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Love and money are your priorities at the moment. You’ll find your sex life is sizzling – or snoozing. And your finances are firing on all cylinders – or flat-lining. There’s not much in between! Friday and Sunday are romantic days, when you’ll feel like cuddling up close with someone special.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Attention all Leo live-wires! Are you fulfilling your divine destiny? Have you been channeling the creative cat within? If not, now is the time to start. With proactive Mars in your sign (and the Sun in your creativity zone) there are no excuses for not expressing yourself – ASAP!

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Home sweet home is the place to be this week. The stars highlight plenty of activity at Villa Virgo as you do a spot of domestic DIY, plus get busy in your local community. And don’t be surprised if unex-pected guests drop in and turn your carefully organised abode upside down.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Librans are born perfectionists – you hate making mistakes and can be very hard on yourself when you get things wrong. But mistakes are the main way we learn. Your quote for the week is from birthday great, C. S. Lewis: “Failures are finger posts on the road to achieve-ment.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

How secure do you feel emotionally – and financially? With the Sun and Mercury in your self-esteem and money zone, you need to reassess your core values (and revise your budget). Thursday’s not a good day to accept things at face value - take the time to look a little deeper.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Sagittarians are such spontaneous souls. It’s part of your charm – but it can also get you into trouble. This week look before you leap, especially when it comes to committing yourself to long-term projects. Making (or re-establishing) overseas contacts could lead to an overseas trip some time in 2010.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Capricorns are cautious folk, who consider all possibilities before mak-ing a move. Sometimes this approach works well – but not this week. Your motto for the next seven days is from Bruce Lee (born November 27): “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Have you been neglecting your nearest and dearest? With gung-ho Mars in your relationship zone, you need to be proactive about improving your partnerships. Singles – you won’t get anywhere by swimming in the shallow end of the love pool. It’s time to dive in the deep end!

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Don’t sit around contemplating your navel for too long Pisces, or professional opportunities will pass you by. Instead, get out there and make things happen. Creative communication will help you zoom ahead of the pack. If you are looking for a job, now’s the time to strike.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2009.

Sudoku medium No.20 Solution next week

Solution Sudoku hard No.19Solution Crossword No.237

1

8

10

12

18

22

24

2

13

3

19

4

9

11

17

21

23

14

5

15

6

20

7

16

M A N S E S S S AN U P L A T Y P U S

S T U P O R O O SE R A G R O N O M Y

A N S E T T G N RN M S A F E E I

C A P E S S Y R I AH R C R A B O DE I A U R G E R SR E V O L V E R H IU A P L A U R E LB A C T E R I A R SS Y R P O T A S H

canberra citynews november 19-25, 2009

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