canberra citynews april 15-21, 2010

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� CityNews April 15-21

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COMMUNITY groups all over the ACT are regu-larly up in arms over developments for which they claim not to have been consulted.

This is despite the Government’s comprehen-sive 2005 “Guide to Engaging with the Commu-nity”, a 2009 review of consultation methods, and the clear online presence of consultative forums and discussion papers.

This month a community group led by Sonia Owens took issue with the engagement processes of the Secure Adult Mental Health Unit develop-ment in Quamby.

“Residents who are concerned at the obvious lack of consultation had come together to support our democratic right to have our voices heard and our concerns aired regarding a government decision which will impact directly or indirectly on our local community,” Owens said.

“Imposing decisions without this process will only create ill will, uncertainty and fear.”

National Save Our Schools convener Trevor Cobbold told “CityNews” that “having an inde-pendently run consultation and not one run by government departments ensures that a commu-nity voice is heard”.

He said the 2006 ACT school closures experi-ence and the ensuing site re-purposing showed legislative change on community consultation was needed.

“An impact assessment of school closures on

educational, financial and social aspects was never properly done,” he said.

“But because it [re-purposing of the sites] was done in the lead up to 2008 election, the Govern-ment was forced to engage in a more objective and independent run process on what should be done with those sites.

“So we think there should be legislative chang-es to include full impact assessments and consul-tations run independently of government.”

Opposition Leader Zed Seselja said that while the Government had upped community engage-ment in the last term, consultation had become a token gesture to placate constituents.

“I think there’s no doubt that this Government has not handled consultation well for a number of years,” he told “CityNews”.

“They go through the motions of consulta-tion more than they used to, but I question the genuineness. They’re not acting in good faith and they’re not coming to the consultation with an open mind, they’re going thought the motions and then doing what they were always going to.”

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has rebuffed the comments saying: “That’s what the Opposition

would say, that’s what oppositions do say and, of course, it’s just political nonsense, it’s garbage.

“There’s a level of consultation and engage-ment here that would be superior to anything anywhere in Australia in terms of community decision making and government decision mak-ing.

“We still find that there are people who don’t engage early, despite the fact now that we adver-tise every consultation in ‘The Canberra Times’.

“Our advertising bill in ‘The Canberra Times’, just advertising consultations, is now at $300,000 a year. If anyone in Canberra doesn’t know about it, there’s not much we can do about that.

“We letterbox. There’s always a difficulty in the mail people choose to read and the mail that they reject.

“Just because you can’t get unanimous support

for a proposal doesn’t mean that your consulta-tion wasn’t genuine, all-embracing, all-encom-passing and sincere, it just means that at the end of the day if you disagree, the Government’s got to make decisions and its got to govern and its always going to be thus.”

Greens convener Meredith Hunter said that while consultation had improved, better resourc-es and increasingly flexible modes of engagement were needed, as communication evolved.

“Community engagement is not a simple thing, it can be quite complex and one size doesn’t fit all, there’s different types of engagement you need to do depending on the issue,” she said.

“I’m sure most Canberrans don’t know that on the Community Engagement website there’s ac-tually a way you can click on and sign up so that when a whole range of different consultations are coming up you will be informed by email.”

The ACT Community Engagement Unit points to a number of different methods used in pub-lic consultation that have directly influenced policy at the Hawker shops, Nicholl’s Mosque, new inner-south off-leash dog park site and the proposed relocation of the French-Australian Preschool.

“For shopping centre upgrades, TAMS uses a mix of public information displays, consultation sessions, letters to residents and traders, media releases, advertising and online information,” a Government spokesperson told “CityNews”.

“For policy decisions... TAMS uses letters to stakeholders, phone or online surveys, public meetings, letters to residents, print and radio advertising inviting input, presentations to com-munity groups and discussion papers, which are released for comment.”

Public consultation: Trick or treat?“Community consultation”, it’s the buzz phrase of the Legislative Assembly, sanctioning development and providing a satisfying hat-tip to the democratic processes, but what exactly does it mean? ELERI HARRIS reports

Our advertising bill in ‘The Canberra Times’, just advertising consultations, is now at $300,000 a year.

Stanhope… Superior system.

Seselja… Questioning genuineness.

CityNews April 15-21 3

news

TWO Canberra-based botanical artists, Halina Steele and Sharon Field, have had their work selected for exhibition in Sydney’s “Botanica 2010: Treasuring plants: treasur-ing our planet”.

“I was absolutely thrilled to be selected,” says Halina. “It’s quite an honour as it’s a very prestigious exhibition, and you do have to be of a certain standard to be invited.”

Halina, a member of the Florilegium Soci-ety at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, the Botanical Art Society of Australia and the American Society of Botanical Artists, says she has focused more recently on rare and en-dangered flora and fauna. She has exhibited primarily in Canberra and Sydney but also in the UK and US.

“I fell into botanical painting quite by ac-cident, attending a course and finding it not what I expected, but I haven’t looked back,” she says. “It’s very detailed, time-consuming work, but I thoroughly enjoy it.”

Sharon Field started botanical painting in 2003 and was largely a casual weekend painter until 2008 when she began to paint full-time, she says. To date, she has exhibited primarily in Sydney and Canberra. Working in water-colour and graphite, Sharon also paints on vellum (calfskin).

“Botanica” is a major exhibition of botani-cal art held annually by the Friends of The Gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Syd-ney.

This year’s theme recognises the need to preserve Australia’s heritage, according to a a spokesperson from the Botanic Garden Trust.

“Our climate and limited water supplies dictate very different gardens, garden mainte-nance and plants used than 20 years ago,” says the Trust.

“We are planning to show artists’ works that look at botanical subjects with truthful-ness and observation in a bold and modern way.

“Nature up close often reveals forms that are architectural and minimalist, with strong organic compositional elements that have a

contemporary art appeal, images that evoke what is happening now and are intended for today’s house.

“In the hands of a talented botanical art-ist, illustrations go beyond accuracy and precision, becoming works of art in their own right.”

“Botanica 2010”, until April 25, 10am-4pm daily, at Lion Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Gar-dens, Sydney. Entry is free

Beauty in the art of botanics

Halina Steele’s Grevillea iaspicula (Wee Jasper Grevillea), watercolour.

Sharon Field’s Primula sp – Primula sp. (Primula), watercolour on vellum.

brieflyVC gets longer contractUNIVERSITY of Canberra vice-chancellor Professor Stephen Parker has signed on for another five years at the university. Prof Parker’s term began in March 2007 and was due to expire in 2012. The new contract will see him continue until 2015. Chancellor Professor Ingrid Moses said: “Much more needs to be done to ensure that the University of Canberra will be a viable and in-demand institution by the time the higher education reforms are fully effective. I believe that Professor Parker, with the support of all of the dedicated University of Canberra staff and of council, will be able to position the University in such a way that it can take full advantage of the opportunities arising.”

One night with youELVIS impersonator Garry Buckley will be performing in “Elvis – One Night With You” to help raise $6000 for Friends of Brain Injured Children Canberra at the Burns Club, Kambah on Saturday, April 17. Presented by Canberra Lake Tuggeranong Lions and Leos Club and the Burns Club, all proceeds, including ticket sales, will be donated to the charity. Tickets (show only) $20 are available at 6296 2425.

Rebecca’s prizeREBECCA Stokman (pictured) has won the Canberra Institute of Technology Zonta Club prize. The prize is awarded to a female CIT student who has demonstrated a consistent effort in a field, which is a non-traditional area for women. Rebecca, who commenced an electrical fitter apprenticeship with ActewAGL in 2005, won the prize for performing consistently well throughout the technically challenging electrical trades program. She completed her qualification last year.

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INDEXFebruary April 15-21, 2010 Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 15

Arts&Entertainment 18-19,22Crossword 28Dining 22Fashion 17Horoscope 28Health&Fitness 26-27Letters 8News 2-10Politics 6Property 29-35Social Scene 12-13Sudoku 28

FRONT COVER: Model Therese O’Malley Jones in a new-season outfit by Kirstie Morris. Story Page 17. Photo by Julian Z

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4 CityNews April 15-21

I CAN distinctly remember at age 11 in WA putting together a few phantom race calls on cassette during the Melbourne Cup carnival of 1977 for the fun of it.

Just as I was about to move on to the next exciting thing, something happened which made me focus on race calling for the next four or five years. Some people told me that I couldn’t do it and I saw red; well, not red the way you see it because that’s the problem – I’m profoundly col-ourblind.

Family members, convinced they were saving me from future embarrassment, said: “There’s no way you’ll ever be able to do this racecalling thing for real because you can’t see colours.”

I nodded quietly, but in my head I said: “You just watch me.” The obsession had begun.

I started calling race replays from the TV on Sunday mornings and soon after-wards wandered along to the local harness racing trials at York where I called into a

cassette recorder. I hitched a ride with an old-timer horse trainer over to Northam every Sunday night from age 12 and I got him to park his ute adjacent to the win-ning post. I’d sit there and call the trials on to cassette trying to perfect this craft. Then at age 13, I got the chance to call the trials for real on the PA. I was so excited.

I remember my worried mother asking me if I was sure I wanted to go to Northam and do it that first night.

“What if you can’t do it ?” she said.“But mum, what if I can,” I replied. And I

could. Hard work, blind determination and self-belief combined to produce a stunning debut performance behind the microphone. Before long I was travelling the country roads of WA as a professional race caller well before I was even allowed to bet.

I was reminded of this episode in my life

by two things recently; a. For a bit of fun, I’m back calling “the trots” at Exhibition Park and b. the news that solo round-the-world sailor Jessica Watson is about to finish her epic journey.

I’m one of the naysayers who declared loudly in October that she was certain to fail. I said she won’t make it; she was too young to be embarking on such a treach-erous journey; it would all end in tragic tears.

Now, Jessica is a net-savvy teen. There’s every chance that she read my blog entry from last year, among hundreds of others, and that my words, in part, contributed to the steely resolve that has seen her come this far.

So don’t ever tell teenagers that they can’t do something because they may well prove you wrong just to spite you. As for Jessica Watson, I’m sorry for ever doubt-ing her.

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer for 2CC

THE innocent curiosity of children is something to behold. Snapper SILAS BROWN, on assignment at the recent Tidbinbilla Extravaganza open day, noticed that, while thousands of adults milled about, lots of little people took a moment to be curious.

MuM In THE CITyBy Sonya Fladun

children

DO you hover around your children in the play-ground, keeping a watchful eye on their every move? Do you find it hard to let your children out into the world and always drive or walk them eve-rywhere?

Or do you try to encourage them and tell them they are special or doing well, even when they’re struggling? Or bombard their teachers with con-cerns about their academic performance?

Do you praise them regularly and try desper-ately to build their self esteem, help them succeed and spare them from disappointment?

If the answer was yes to most of the above, you may be in danger of being a “helicopter parent’’, an overly protective parent who hovers over the chil-dren. Like the older expression “mollycoddling”, helicopter parenting has pretty negative connota-tions.

According to “experts”, the helicopter parent often has unrealistic expectations and ambitions for their child, propping them up but ultimately dooming them to failure and disappointment by not giving them the chance to develop the resilience necessary to deal with life’s disappointments.

I admit that when it comes to my children I’m

pretty risk adverse. And I’ve sometimes found it hard to let them make and learn from their own mistakes, just as it was hard to learn to stand back and let them pick themselves up after a fall in the playground.

But as children get older, life just takes over, and even the most proactive and attentive parent is forced to give their child more space, enough rope and the opportunity to develop that crucial thick skin.

Until recently, the importance of developing a child’s self esteem was deemed paramount. Now we’re being told that this can lead to false expecta-tions, underachievement and disappointment.

Personally, I have no intention of giving up praising my children’s achievements and boosting their sense of self worth. And I’ll also be keeping a watchful eye over them for a long while yet. At the same time I’m trying to take on board the advice to let them “free range”, i.e. give them more freedom and independence. Like so much in parenting it’s

all about balance, commonsense and the realisation that all chil-dren are different and one size will never fit all. Maybe that’s something worth adding in the advice that “experts” are giving.

Beware the hoverer

never say never, says MARk pARTOn

Don’t mess with young and restless


Email: [email protected]: www.paradiseshadeumbrellas.com.au

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22

ELECTORAL systems provide an excel-lent scapegoat when governments do not like the way people have voted.

In the early days of self-government in the ACT the d’Hondt system was widely blamed for the instability of the first ACT Assembly. Now the Hare-Clark system, which is used in both the ACT and Tas-mania, is being panned for the political stand-off in the Apple Isle.

The invitation by the Tasmanian Gov-ernor, Peter Underwood, for Labor to form government seems to have resolved the impasse – at least for the time being. Both the returned Premier David Barlett and the Liberal Leader Will Hodgman want a government formed without Green Party influence. They simply wish to ignore the fact that a fifth of the voters in Tasmania wanted Green representation and influ-ence in the parliament.

Such political leaders love to use the pejorative “hung parliament” rather than recognise the increased accountability of a “minority government”. For them, blam-ing the electoral system is fair game.

The problem is not the electoral system. The media has for years being bombard-ing Australians with the two-party system and presidential-style elections. Labor and

Liberal leaders dance to this tune so much so that they now believe their own music.

Forming government and retaining it is not about which major party had more votes, as the returned Premier David Bartlett has tried to argue, but who can maintain the numbers on the floor of the Tasmanian House of Assembly.

The impasse over who should take gov-ernment could not be resolved in the same way in the ACT – we have no governor nor do we have an administrator like the one in the NT. The local Assembly has to find its own resolution. The alternative is a very restricted power of intervention by the Governor-General under section 16 of the Self-Government Act to dissolve an As-sembly which is “incapable of effectively forming its functions”. That would mean another election.

In the ACT, the government is formed by the leader who can secure majority support in the Parliament. It seems the decision of the Tasmanian Governor was based on the flipside of this thinking – the leader who

will be able to maintain the numbers if there is a vote of no-confidence to check the validity of the government? Securing and maintaining support for government is the key.

The advantage of minority governments is that there is not an effective party dic-tatorship for the term of the government. Governments can get on with the job of administering the community. However, in the spirit of appropriate separation of powers each piece of legislation and each parliamentary motion will be considered on its merits. All elected members have a say instead of a party leader demanding discipline and pushing through a personal agenda.

The Labor Government in the ACT came to an agreement with the Greens to ensure the security of its minority government in this term. It does carry some protection and there are some guarantees in return. However, what has been demonstrated by comparison to the previous Labor majority government is that minority governments are simply much more accountable.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an inde-pendent minister for health in the Carnell government.

Lessons from TasmaniaBy Michael Moore

politics

ACTEWAGL has donated $1500 of the $6000 Telopea Park high school student Michael Skene needs to ship more than 250 donated, secondhand bikes to Africa. The year 10 student, who has collected and repaired the bikes, has appealed for local business support to assist in their distribution to people of all ages in southern Africa.

For more in-formation email [email protected]

Michael’s bikes need a push


Letters are invited from “CityNews” readers. Let loose to [email protected] or write to the editor at GPO Box 2448, Canberra 2601. Letters of 200 words or less stand a better chance of publication.

letters

I AM writing to complain about Robert Mack-lin’s column “Oh, Canberra, those temples to bad taste” (CN, March 25).

I hope you read his article first before print-ing it, but don’t you think it was just a little rac-ist towards the Serbian community?

Firstly, his statement about who builds and owns those “monstrosities” is all wrong. I don’t know of any Serbian that has built or owns a home in O’Malley.

Was it not bad enough to view his and only his opinion, but to go into descriptive detail about dog poo, canine appendages and references to war time was uncalled for.

Was this just a thought-provoking article? I suspect it’s just a personal attack on certain members of the community, as we have come to expect of Mr Macklin’s writing.

Or are we just seeing a hint of jealousy from him? I know if someone gave me any of those homes he has mentioned I would be happy to trade my little three-beddy.

I would love to see more feedback letters from the community and I bet there would be others who feel the same way. In the famous last words of Derryn Hinch – “shame, shame, shame”.

Shame on Mr Macklin and shame on you, editor, if you do not pull him into line and make him apologise. snezana Vujic via email

Join beef protestWE are protesting at Parliament House, Can-berra (meet at Magna Carta Place) at 9am on May 11 to say no to beef imports.

The mad cow-affected countries imports are still on the agenda and will destroy our beef in-dustry and potentially cost Australian lives via vCJD. We aim to stop the import agenda.

MC will be Mr John Carter and Mr Brad Bell-inger, from the Australian Beef Association, many groups and concerned citizens will be in attendance, all welcome to join with us. Gabby Hughes, Wagga Wagga

Seeing the light?IT’S great to see that the ALP are considering legal expert George Williams and other eminent candidates for Fraser preselection. It’s about time that ACT Labor grew up and dropped the party hacks that have made a farce of national politics. I hope the preselectors see the light! athol Henry, Bruce

Dead end for workersWITH respect to my comment in your article “Help! We need some bodies” (CN, April 1), it might be as well to mention that [Chief Minister Jon] Stanhope is not the only one to try import-ing skilled workers through a campaign like “Live in Canberra”. The Queensland Govern-ment tried a similar ploy when its Department of Main Roads spent thousands sending a mis-sion to the UK to recruit 50 road construction staff. Six months later only one foreign worker was recruited!

The ACT is a microcosm of the nation in re-spect of population growth. To try and increase population without the supporting social serv-ices, resources and infrastructure is simply bad policy with no value attributed to the advan-tages of a smaller stable population in respect of lower crime levels, better student/teacher, police/resident or doctor/patient ratios, fewer cars, more space, less traffic lights/parking meters and more time with family, etc. These items don’t figure in GDP figures but would in a well-being or happiness index. Ric Hingee, Duffy

EVERY year on April 25, millions of Austral-ians and New Zealanders commemorate the sacrifices of those who fought and died for our national freedom and security.

However as the bugle plays “The Last Post” and the nation pauses to honour the fallen, some people feel the need to go shopping.

The fact that big retailers including Kmart are pushing to keep their doors open for trade on Anzac Day and other major public holidays is totally absurd. Surely, we can have just a few hours of national reflection on the courage and sacrifice of those who fought and died over the years without big retailers trying to increase their sales.

However Kmart seems to think otherwise stating in their application to open on Boxing Day that when stores have been allowed to trade on public holidays previously their “busi-

ness has seen great success” and that shopping “provides the opportunity for families to come together... and gives them reason to spend spe-cial time with one another.”

Hopefully the opposite happens though with people boycotting Kmart and shopping instead from businesses that recognise and respect the Anzac tradition.� Steve�Dovey,�Griffith

No memorial to AnzacsTHE continued absence on Anzac Parade of a memorial dedicated to the Anzacs is to be re-gretted.

It is to be hoped that the Federal Government, with the support of all ex-service organisations and the wider community, will remedy this oversight very soon. Harold Grant, campbell

Respecting the Anzacs

Shame on Mr Macklin (and me)

brieflyHelp for metal healthPEOPLE with mental health issues, includ-ing those in crisis or acutely unwell, will now receive assessment, treatment and support in a new environment following the official opening of a new six-bed, short stay observation mental health assessment unit at Canberra Hospital. Acting director of Mental Health ACT, Dr Peter Norrie said: “The new unit will ensure that people who have a mental health condition receive the best-pos-sible care and treatment in the least restrictive environment.”

Kids and utesMORE family and children’s activities are promised for the third annual 2010 Hall Ute Competition and Family Day at the Hall Polocrosse Ground on Saturday, May 8 in aid of children’s cancer charity Camp Quality. Organ-isers says ute entries are rolling in, some from as far away as Sydney. A barbecue will run all day and there’s no gate fee. The day starts at 11am with a “cruise” from Flemington Road, Mitchell to the Polocrosse Ground arriving at noon. Entry forms and details available from the website www.hallutecomp.com


By Kathryn VukovljakTOY guru and mum of three, Cathy McLean is firmly in the parenting zone – and she says it’s given her a natural flair for finding great toys. She has a little helper with that, though.

“My son Angus will flick through my cata-logues and suggest things I should get for the shop,” she laughs. “He’s obviously destined to be a toy tester when he grows up!”

Cathy, founder of Little Sprout, says she loves educational toys that are so well-made you can pass them on to someone you love.

“I just love that idea,” she says. “Those are the kind of toys I want to provide to Canberra mums. Classic toys that hold a special place in your heart.”

Although she says she adores babies – “I’d like another one, but then they grow up!” she laughs – Cathy’s focus at the moment is on toys for kids between eight and 11.

“It’s a funny age; they’re over toys and it’s more about computer games, but they’ll still play with something if it grabs their attention and imagination,” she says. “I’ve been working out the kinds of things that will appeal, what books they’ll read, what crafts they’ll like. Girls are easier, it’s the boys that it’s hard to cater for.”

As mum to Angus, six; Maisy, four, and Finn, one, and step-mum to two teenagers, there’s no doubt Cathy knows what she’s talking about.

“I’m pretty well-placed to do this, there’s a houseful of kids at our place!” she says.

“As they’re getting older, we’re seeing first-hand what they like and don’t like and it definitely drives me in the business. I don’t think you could

run a toy shop without having kids, really.“It helps to know what they’re into and what

they’re learning at school, then we can tie in with that.”

As well as toys, Cathy’s other great love is

Canberra. “Where else would you want to raise your kids in Australia if you have a choice?” she says. “It’s perfect. I’d never live anywhere else now. I can be home in five minutes if I need to be. In Melbourne or Sydney you could easily be

an hour away and who wants that hassle with a screaming baby?”

Having moved to Canberra to be with her pharmacist husband Matt six years ago, Cathy says she wasn’t always so enamored with her adopted home.

“It was my chance to become a mum and, as you do, I became interested in kids and family,” she says. “But I felt disappointed at the limited toys for kids available in Canberra.”

“Before moving here, I ran a 500-strong fran-chise across Australia, so I was used to having a lot of choice. I didn’t want to have to go to a big city to get what I wanted.”

Cathy says she decided to create her own toy-shop that would sell everything she couldn’t find.

“For me, it’s all about educational toys that are great quality, be it plastic or wooden, as long as they will stand the test of time. I want my shops to have a traditional, friendly, local toyshop feel, where you can get that little bit of extra help.”

Cathy says she operates a strict one-toy-in, one-toy-out policy at her house. “I let my children decide what they want to get rid of,” she says. “I can predict what they’ll pick, too – it’s always the cheap, fad toys that they lose interest in quickly. While I know I can’t avoid the influences of TV and films on my children, if they want a spin-off toy I’ll get them a small version of it.”

Cathy’s experience with toys is starting to extend beyond children, though.

“I’ve become fascinated by the ‘geek’ market,” she says. “I get grown-up men coming in and buying little knight figurines. I ask them if it’s for their kids and they say, no, I’m going to put it on my desk at work!”

Cathy McLean… “I don’t think you could run a toy shop without having kids”. Photo by Silas

Toy story with an educational endingprofile

�0 CityNews April 15-21

the gadfly

CANBERRA is in great danger of losing its unique character and arboreal heritage. The myopic dunderheads at the National Capi-tal Authority are preparing us for their plan to sweep away the bush-land between our town centres. They want to turn Canberra into just another ugly, medium-sized city.

And why? Because, they say, it will make for “more viable trans-port corridors”.

The NCA, now led by a Mr Gary Rake, is organising a public forum on April 29, ostensibly to “guide a review” of the city’s future plan-ning with a “steering committee” of the usual suspects. But the truth is that Mr Rake and his cohorts have already decided the direction they want to go. They are deter-mined to “curb urban sprawl and support transport infrastructure investment”.

It is all part of the uglification of Canberra.

And it is dumb.It has a superficial attraction

for those who can think no further than next Tuesday. By “compact-ing” Canberra we would reduce travel costs and – in theory, at least – reduce the perennial losses on our bus service.

However, Mr Rake and his pur-blind associates are operating on the ridiculous presumption that essentially nothing will change in the way we go about our daily lives. But anyone with half an eye on the future can see that we are on the cusp of a revolution.

With the extraordinary commu-nications technology developments already coming on stream – begin-ning with the national broadband network – our lives will be trans-formed. The economic madness of

the daily lemming-like rush to and from places of work will be halted. The time is not far off when most of us will work from home; and that home is just as likely to be in Tuross as Canberra.

Sure, we will get together to press the flesh from time to time. But that will not be in horrible, boring office buildings but in more congenial purpose-built locations. The same general approach will apply to visits to the doctor, the accountant, the lawyer (though, alas the dentist’s torture chamber will remain unavoidable). Most of our visits will take place from the communications and entertain-ment room in our homes.

Those ridiculous big buses will be replaced (as they should be now) with a much more flexible system of minivans. They will still lose money but not nearly as much as the present system.

More and more, the nearby bushland will be an essential element in our way of life – for calming walks, for recreation and communal gathering.

But here’s the point: if we al-low Mr Rake and his clique to steamroll us into tearing down the bushland for more monstrous O’Malleys and ghastly Gordons, there’s no going back.

Walter Burley Griffin’s vision will have been trashed. Canberra will have lost its uniqueness and been uglified for no reason at all. Indeed, the horrible McMansions will stand in the way of our mak-ing the kind of thoughtful develop-ment that science and technology offers for a truly engaging and sat-isfying future.

Think again, Mr Rake.

[email protected]

Goodbye, the bush capital

MICROBATS are fattening up on insects to see them through the Canberra winter – and if they’ve taken up residence in your roof or walls, autumn is a good time to evict them before they hibernate, according to Leonie Gale, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife.

“Microbats are much more common than you may think,” she says. “Right now, bats are eating as much as 40 per cent of their own body weight in a single night or several hundred insects per hour.

“Many microbat species are hollow-dependent, which means they live during the daylight hours inside the hollows of trees or branches.

“Competition from birds, possums and gliders, along with the clearing of many old trees, means that microbats may find the roof or walls of your home the perfect roosting place,” says Leonie.

The smallest microbat weighs only three grams – about the same as a single-serve sugar sachet. These tiny bats can slip into gaps as small as 5mm and snug-gle down in your roof and walls.

There are humane ways to evict them, says Leonie – and now is the time.

“Gentle autumn eviction attempts after February and before June make certain that the young are independ-ent,” she says.

“Canberra microbats are fully protected, which might raise the issue of offences and penalties if any are harmed.”

If there are microbats in your walls or roof, www.batrescue.org.au has information on how to remove them.

Microbats... “Much more common than you may think,” says Leonie Gale.

Bats you don’t want in a roof

The ‘myopic dunderheads’ at the national Capital Authority want to turn Canberra into just another ugly, medium-sized city, says ROBERT MACkLIn

CityNews April 15-21 ��

OutInCanberra Race ‘n’ Taste Festival advertising feature

Plenty of taste in this race-day festivalTHE popular Race ‘n’ Taste event is on again at Thoroughbred Park on the Anzac Day weekend public holiday – Monday, April 26.

Sponsored by the dining and entertainment website OutInCanberra, the event will feature an eight-race program and off the track, include stalls showcasing local wineries and local gourmet food stalls allowing patrons to experience the culinary delights of what the Canberra region has to offer, plus cooking demonstra-tions and face painting and jumping castles for the children.

“Bring a picnic rug, enjoy a glass of wine and immerse yourself at the OutInCanberra Race ‘n’ Taste Festival,” says Thoroughbred Park’s sales and market-ing manager Briony Young.

“It promises to be a unique experience; the day will see a bustling atmosphere of activity with thorough-bred racing and markets all combined into one event.

This is the second year the OutInCanberra Race ‘n’ Taste Festival is to be run, after the inaugural success of 2009.

“With a strong focus on community and local industry, Race ‘n’ Taste offers an indulgent experience where local producers are connected with epicureans, enthusiasts and those with a distinct taste for good food and fine wine,” says Briony.

“With an array of tasting stalls, educational talks, cooking demonstrations and cutting-edge handmade goods, you’ll be delighted by the calibre of talent that’s on offer in our capital and its surrounding region.

“Punters are invited to talk, touch and taste with talented local and regional producers. It is a great opportunity to indulge and taste what’s on offer in and around the nation’s capital. We have tried to be as diverse as possible with the stalls from craft, food and wine producers to art and jewellery stands.

“Stalls include some local producers such as Lambert Vineyards and Kamberra Winery to the more speciality stalls, the ever-popular Hugs and Kisses and Candeli-cious Soy Candles will be in attendance to name but a few.

“People who visit the stalls can enter the People’s Choice – Best Stall award. Vote cards will be put on each stall and punters who vote will also go in the draw to win a wine hamper.

“The markets are run inside the undercover betting ring, however patrons can come and purchase a glass of wine or a snack or two and enjoy their delectables at a picnic table on the lawns of Thoroughbred Park to watch the horses gallop by.”

The day will help to raise funds for Epilepsy ACT, a local not-for-profit, self-help community service organisation formed in 1982 to provide services for people with epilepsy, their families and the com-munity.

Gates open at 11am and entry and parking are free.

• there are sites available for stallholders of all types. • Buskers and artists are more than welcome to attend the day and will need to pre-book their attendance.• table bookings in the members room are also available for $30 each (+ $15 per person members ticket) which includes a roast carvery, dessert and tea and coffee. For more information call 6241 3888.

�� CityNews April 15-21

scene More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

At the BMW X1 launch, Rolfe Classic BMW, Phillip At ‘The Walworth Farce’ opening night, Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic

Duncan Macdonald, Venessa Wawrzyniak and Anthony Martin Hayley Clarke and Adam Jones

Brenda and Phil Thompson

Bill Burnett, Brad Wilson and Nick Kerslake Peter Gibson and Rick Hambrook

Graeme Burnett and Darren Avramovic

Lyn and Dave Thorncraft with Brendan Searle Samantha Ludwig,Chad Rajapakse,Marina Maricic and Moj Nozhat

Fiona Keesing and Jude Sufi

Louiza Blomfield, Giselle and Steve Clyde-Smith and Fiona Aitkin

Duncan and Hannah Ley, Jamie O'Connell, actor Michael Glenn Murphy and Tess Phillips

Martha McEvoy with Kate and Ken Cush

CityNews April 15-21 �3

At the TransACT Capitals dinner, Realm Hotel, Bartonscene

Andre Koote, Emma Tattam and Todd Fletcher Greg and Chloe Hoitink

Jenny Pulford, Manny Notaras with Kelly and Paul Walshe

Bryan Ross and Tracy Muddle

John Mackay with Mary and John Knox

Liam and Sally Shepherd with Simon Chester

Asoka and Ramami Wijeraple with Bruce and Georgina McKenzie

Fedra and Spiro Konstantinou


Auto Italia

Fine lines…On April ��, the national Library’s patrick White Lawns will be beset by the fine lines and dangerous curves of more than �00 Italian cars and �00 Italian bikes as part of the ��th Auto Italia.

THE first Alfa Romeo is touring Australia to celebrate the 100th birthday of Alfa Romeo, including a guest appearance at the Auto Italia.

The Alfa Romeo G1, which is owned by the Australian Alfa Romeo importer, is the only one in the world.

Designed by Giuseppe Merosi, the Alfa Romeo G1 was in production from 1921 to 1923 and its single-most important innovation was its new 6.3-litre, six-cylinder engine which produced 52 kW and gave the G1 a 138 kmh top speed. Although designed as an Italian rival for Rolls Royce, it was also used in motorsport, winning the Coppa de Garda.

But it was launched into difficult economic period of rising fuel prices and its 6.3-litre engine also proved to handicap, limiting sales to just 52.

The history of the last remaining Alfa Romeo G1 is as colourful as the company that gave birth to it. Chassis 6018 was imported new in 1921 and sold, for £850, to a Queensland businessman who, soon afterwards, was declared bankrupt.

He hid the car from his creditors, but three years later died leaving the G1 hidden for 25 years, apparently holding up one corner of a shed in the Queensland outback.

Then it was discovered by a couple of young jackaroos who decided it would make a fine “paddock bomb” for rounding up cattle and chasing kangaroos. Eventually they managed to hit a tree and the damaged car was towed back to the farm where it was used to power a water pump.

In 1964 it was retired from pump duty and rescued by Alfa Romeo enthusiasts. The following year the car was bought by Ross Flewel-Smith who began to rebuild it, an exercise that took 10 years. He was helped by having a second G1, a wreck, which supplied many of the missing parts.

Flewel-Smith’s rebuild was good enough to win the 1977 Queensland Vintage Car Concours and the 1978 Australian Mile Miglia memorial run.

In 1995, Flewel-Smith sold this car he had nicknamed “Milly” to Julian Sterling who commissioned a restoration to his own exacting standards.

All worn parts were replaced with specially-made components built regardless of cost. New tyres were supplied by Michelin, made from the original 1920s moulds, costing $6000 for the set. Sterling’s sold the car to Neville Crichton, the governing director of the new Australian Alfa Romeo importer, Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd.

Crichton undertook a full restoration of the G1 to return it to full running order. The quality of this restoration was rewarded in 2005 when the car was entered in the world’s most important classic car event, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elgance and won the Third in Class Trophy, beating more than 60 classic Alfa Romeos from around the world, including seven cars entered by Alfa Romeo’s own museum.

The only surviving Alfa Romeo G1... on show in Canberra.

First Alfa thecentenary star


25th anniversary feature

WITH more than 20,000 spectators in 2009 – and more expected this year – Auto Italia is Canber-ra’s unique showcase of Italian mechanical prowess.

Auto Italia committee member Nigel Catchlove told “CityNews” attendees could expect to see more than just Ferraris, Maseratis and Lancias.

“It’s a celebration of Italian automotive machinery and it’s a great opportunity for people to talk to and mix with the owners and carers of cars and bikes and share their passion,” Mr Catchlove said.

“Anyone who owns an Italian car, bike or scooter can take part – it doesn’t need to be in prime condition.

“The passion that goes into designing Italian machinery is evident in all of those vehicles.”

While cars will no doubt hog the spotlight, Catchlove is keen to point out that Italy has famously produced bikes such as Aprilias, Moto Guzzis and, of course, Vespas.

“People know the event it is a really good day out for a picnic; it’s great family day out,” he said.

“The display goes from 10am to 2pm and there will be heaps of food and coffee – good Italian coffee – and heaps of companies display-ing their wares, from paper planes to model cars.”

This year Auto Italia will also be celebrating the centenary of the Alfa Romeo, displaying a time line of mostly post World War II Alfas – including the the Alfa G1, a very special 1921 roadster.

“It’s one of the rarest in the world,” Mr Catchlove said, “The Australian one is the only one of its kind we know about.”

Entry to Auto Italia is open to any owners of Italian automobiles for $10.

More info www.autoitaliacanberra.com

Auto Italia... “It’s a celebration of Italian automotive machinery,“ says Nigel Catchlove.

dangerous curves


CANBERRA’S Slow Food convivium is a hidden treas-ure for the region’s food lovers. The group enjoys around 40 events each year and as well as meeting with like-minded people the events, of course, all focus on taking the time to enjoy food.

But enjoying cuisine doesn’t simply mean a good meal or glass of wine (although the members are no strangers to some of the area’s vineyards), the movement is about the culture that surrounds food including its production, preparation and traditions.

Local convivium leader Warren Curry says the group provides a variety of opportunities and services to its members, and focuses on acting as a medium between local food producers and consum-ers.

The group has developed strong links with farmers at EPIC and southside markets.

“We spend a lot of time talking to producers and finding out about their production methods. And we enjoy many tours. We go to farms and talk with the farmers, we see how the animals are treated, or how things are grown. We provide opportunities for the community to ask questions and gain awareness of where their food comes from.”

The group’s most recent event was a “100-mile dinner” at Locanda restaurant at Rydges hotel. Locanda executive chef, Paolo Milanesi, is building the 100-mile theory into the entire restaurant – sourcing food in bulk from local producers, and making a lot of foods in house.

The slow-food movement, as its name suggests, is in contrast to the fast-food culture that many feel has degraded the wonderful experiences associated with food. This is one reason why “convivium” is such a good word to describe a group of slow food fans. The emphasis is on making connections with the origins of the food, the producers, and the communal tasks involved with preparing and eating food. Events also include the opportunity to learn traditional skills.

Members’ events in the past have included learning traditional preserving methods, cheese-making demonstrations, making specialised ice-creams with local gourmet ice-cream maker Rhonda Arnall, and blending tea with Lyn Blair of Glenbog fine teas.

“With around 100 members we try to offer a variety of events,” says Warren. “And anyone wishing to find out more can call me, or look at our website.” (0418 615382 www.slowfoodaustralia.com.au)

Tanya Davies is at [email protected]

all about living arts | reviews | dining | health&fitness | puzzles

Taking time to enjoy food

EnvIROnMEnTBy Tanya DaviesKirstie’s ‘Dangerous’ affair

COvER STORyBy Kathryn Vukovljak

AFTER being told by her teachers that she’d never be anything more than a seamstress – if she was lucky – 19-year-old Canberra-based fashion designer Kirstie Morris decided to leave college and make it on her own.

And make it she has – having spent last week showing her spring/sum-mer 2010/11 collection “A Dangerous Love Affair” at New Orleans Fashion Week in Bourbon Park.

“Designers can go their whole careers without having the opportu-nity to break into the US market, so I feel incredibly privileged to have had this opportunity, especially within the first year of my career,” she says.

“It looks like I’ll get a few new stockists through this experience, which is incredible.”

Kirstie got noticed when an inter-national talent scout with the Fashion Week found her website. “I was then invited to be part of the show – I couldn’t believe it!” she says.

She says that preparing for the fashion show involved six hard, long months of designing, pattern-making and sewing the collection.

“I made all the samples myself and finished my last outfit the night before I left for New Orleans,” she says. “Then began the process of going through model lookbooks and choosing the girls for the show, selecting the music that best set the mood and putting the sequence of outfits together to best tell the story of the collection.

“Then, during the utter chaos of the night, I had to restructure every-thing when models didn’t turn up and changes took longer than I allowed for. But I loved every second.”

Inspired by the infamous Italian Borgia family, Kirstie’s collection is “sexy, dark and alluring”, and also has a modern Victorian influence.

“There are coat-tail peplums on jackets and epaulettes, pleats and

trains in a handmade silk dupion, and a colour scheme of raven black, French grey, cornfield gold and am-ethyst. I also have beautiful one-of-a-kind custom top-hats and derby hats made by an Iowa-based designer, and all shoes by Brisbane designer Sugar Tease Heels,” she says.

“I don’t follow trends very often as I don’t believe in them but rather in ‘investment pieces’ that are timeless.”

Kirstie admits that leaving her course at the Metropolitian South Institute of TAFE in Brisbane after 18 months and going it alone as a full-time fashion designer might have been the hard way, but “the easy way isn’t always the best way,” she says.

“This was my first time travelling overseas completely on my own, my first time to the US and my first major fashion show. It’s been amazing. I loved everything about New Orleans!”

And what’s next? “Up until now I’ve been doing made-to-order, selling through my website and word-of-mouth, but this year I’m aiming to branch out into ready-to-wear,” she says.

Front cover: Adriana cornfield handmade silk dupion jacket with long tail peplum and epaulettes.Adriana raven handmade silk dupion waist shorts with X back braces. Model wears Juana amethyst handmade silk dupion dress with

hood. Photo by JulianZ

Fashion designer Kirstie Morris with her models backstage at New Orleans Fashion Week.


By arts editor Helen MusaIN the eyes of Harlem Gospel Choir members, we are all living in “a new era of hope and change” and their voices reflect the renaissance of Harlem’s culture.

You’ll be able to judge yourself when a 13-strong segment of the choir visits Canberra on May 8 with a concert of hope that also pays tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

Allen Bailey, an entrepreneur who was once entertainment co-ordinator for the Muhammad Ali and George Foreman “Rumble in the Jungle” fight in Zaire, founded the choir in 1986 after attending a celebration in honour of Martin Luther King at the Cotton Club in Harlem and it hasn’t looked back.

Nowadays, Bailey tells me, he has four groups touring at any one time. There are 75 performers on the road, but back in their home space at Harlem, you can regularly see a 150-voice choir perform.

They’ll be singing some of the world’s most popular gospel songs, such as “O Happy Day” and “Man From Galilee”, but this year they will also perform four to five numbers in what Bailey calls “a remembering Michael Jackson section”. So big a fan of the choir was the late pop singer, that the Jackson family invited them to perform in Times Square, New York, after his death.

Bailey is well aware that it would be cheating young Jackson fans to pretend that this segment dominates, but there will be numbers such as “We are the World” and “Billie Jean”. Audience participation is the name of the game as teddy bears are given to the five and six-year-olds in the audience. “It’s a family show,” he says.

Authenticity is the source of success for this famous choir, Bailey says with 90 per cent of the performers coming from the black churches in New Jersey, Connecticut and, most of all, from Harlem itself.

And, yes, unlike gospel singers in more secular countries such as Australia, they really do believe in God, though Bailey is quick to point out that there are “great gospel choirs in Australia”. Nonetheless, the spiritual element is what makes the Harlem Gospel choir stand out – “it’s a culture… it’s about people who suffered… it’s inspirational.”

Even in atheistic China, where the choir was performing to a crowd of 50,000, Bailey noticed one woman crying. She didn’t know the language, she didn’t know what they were singing about, but “it was the feeling”.

One relatively new focus is the tribute, especially in their rendi-tion of Richard Smallwood’s song “Total Praise”, to the American armed forces wherever they may be serving. “We pray that they come safely home.”

The Harlem Gospel Choir, Canberra Theatre, May 8. Bookings

6275 2700.

The Harlem Gospel Choir... singing some of the world’s most popular gospel songs.

Gospel according to hopearts&entertainment


Our beloved movie reviewer Dougal Macdonald is on leave for a couple of weeks so, thanks to the generosity of Dendy Cinemas, we are offering three lucky winners a book of 10 free cinema tickets (valued at $165) to be their own critics and enjoy the latest movies.

It’s easy to enter: Using the names of any popular movies, create – in up to 25 words – a sentence that captures why the prize should be yours! Humour is perfectly acceptable, though not mandatory.

Entries close midday, Monday, April 19 and the winners’ names will be published in the edition of April 22.

FREE CINEMA TICKETSSLIP INTO DOUGAL’S SEAT AND BE YOUR OWN CRITIC

Enter by logging on to www.citynews.com.au/competitions GJ4

216

THEATRE“Faces in the Street”Written and performed by Max Cullen, at the Street Theatre until April 24.Reviewed by Helen Musa

arts&entertainment

MAKE no mistake, veteran actor Max Cul-len’s salute to Henry Lawson is much more than that. He, in the theatrical parlance, IS Henry Lawson, literary genius and drunkard – and you’d be a fool to miss this gripping performance.

Written with the assistance of historian and novelist Brian Matthews, this one-man play shows Lawson on the brink of the DTs, but still capable of spinning a good yarn. This he does largely through performances from Lawson’s poetry, achieved quietly and naturally, but sometimes with pure anger.

This is a loving portrayal, with Cullen paying close attention to the physical as well as spiritual aspects of Lawson. The Street 2 auditorium reeks of tobacco as we hear of Lawson’s birth on the Grenfell goldfields, his hard-working father Nils

Larsen (later Peter Lawson), his fearsome feminist mother Louisa, who taught him to write and his fleeting encounters with love.

As Lawson begins to lose his “thunder,” Cullen generally approaches this decline with quiet irony and a hangdog look that seems to say sorry. When the famous writer really messes things up, the actor gets his laughs. The title of the play, “Faces in the Street”, apposite when you consider the venue in which this season takes place, derives from perhaps his most popular poem of the same name.

Cullen’s gripping Henry Lawson

Arts fund open for applicationsTHE ACT arts community has been urged to apply for a share of the 2011 ACT Arts Fund – and this year a new category, communities working with artists funding, will support one-off projects initiated by community groups that engage the help of profes-sional artists.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said applications were invited for one-off project funding, program funding for not-for-profit organisations, funding for key arts organisations and two creative arts fellowships valued at $45,000, for artists who have achieved excellence.

ArtsACT is holding two information sessions at the QL2 Centre for Youth Dance in the A Block, Gorman House, on Tuesday, April 20 at 12.30pm and on Wednesday, April 21 at 6pm.

Applications for key arts organisation funding closes on June 18 all others on May 31.

Forms and further information from www.arts.act.gov.au/ or to 6207 2384.

By Bill stephensDRAMA teacher and choreographer, Nick Carroll, scored his opportunity to direct his first opera when the Adelaide-based company Co-Opera decided to celebrate its 20th an-niversary with a new production of Puccini’s much-loved “La Boheme”. It invited Carroll to direct the produc-tion, which is touring all Australian mainland States, including two performances at The Street Theatre in Canberra on April 20-21.

Quite a challenge for a first-time opera director one would think, but not one to daunt Carroll, who has worked previously with Co-Opera as a choreographer for their production of “Kiss Me Kate”, seen in Canberra in 2007.

“Given the constraints of a long tour, I decided to design the production myself,” he said.

“I decided that it would not be set in any era, and would blend elements of opera, congruent with the whole contrived artform, and absurdity.”

To ensure the clarity of the story, most of the opera is sung in English, although some arias are sung in Italian – “simply because they sound better in Italian”.

He found his choreographer’s eye useful when devising groupings for the singers who include Sara Lambert as Mimi, Ernst Ens as Rodolfo, with Canberra singer, Jeremy Tatchell, as the philosophical Colline.

Director’sDIY debut...

Lynette Harris as Musetta and Nicholas Cannon as Marcello.

HUNGRYREADERSadvertise your cafe.

6262 9100* McNair Ingenuity Research 2006

advertise.


all about Kingston

Sexy, girlie frocksTHERE’S so much on offer in Kingston for girls who love to shop. Adiliya, at Sybil’s Closet by Danielle, a glamorous little boutique nestled in Andrew Arcade, tells “CityNews” that fashion that’s feminine, fun and flirty is on the agenda here.

“We’re seeing some beautifully fun designs, and a few vintage and 1980s cuts have sneaked in recently, too,” she says. “And Kingston is a fabulous place to live and work. I just love everything about it. The cafes, bars, the genuine people. Everything!”

This gorgeous shop, complete with sparkly chandelier and yummy cupcakes, if you’re lucky, is chock-full of unique, sexy and girlie frocks for daytime, cocktail parties and evening wear, says Adiliya.

Sybil’s Closet by Danielle, Shop 9, Andrew Arcade, Giles Street. Call 6260 8884

Turkish delight in the squareCOMPLETE with a sexy tent room with low tables and cushions on the floor, and belly dancers most Friday and Saturday nights, Harem Turkish Restaurant is a gorgeous place to stop for lunch, dinner or just a devilishly strong Turkish coffee and a spot of Turkish Delight.

Sinan and Sehnaz Kaniskan have been based here for nine years, and say they still enjoy Kingston as much as when they first opened the restuarant.

“It’s a great location, with a very safe family feel,” says Sehnaz. “We love the views from up here over Green Square and the trees. It’s wonderfully shaded and cool in summer. It’s nice since the square was redone, too!

“The people here are friendly and they all help each other out, it’s important as a parent to have that support,” she adds.

The couple’s sons are grown up and now work at the restaurant, which serves traditional homemade Turkish meals. Most of the entrees and more than half of the main courses are gluten-free.

Harem Turkish Restaurant, 48 Jardine Street, Green Square. Call 6295 0386

Accountancy with affinityBASED in various spots around Kingston since 1987, chartered accountant Gail Freeman says she has a real affinity with the area.

“I like the feel of Kingston,” she says. “It’s a vibrant place to be and has a differ-ent feel to other suburbs. It really has its own character.”

Gail specialises in taxation, business advice, financial planning and streamlining her clients’ finances, so that they can spend more time doing what they do best

Historic shopping precinctnAMED after Charles Cameron kingston, the former premier of SA and minister in the first Australian Commonwealth Government, kingston is the oldest and most densely populated suburb of Canberra.

Located four kilometres from Civic, Kingston contains one of the earliest shopping areas built in Canberra. Other places of note in Kingston include the Kingston Powerhouse, which opened in 1915, and the Canberra railway station. The Old Bus Depot Markets, show-ing handcrafted goods and foodstuffs, are held on the lakeside every Sunday and have become a regular destination for locals and tourists.

With development well underway at Kingston Foreshore, its ultimate use as a mixed-use waterfront precinct with a strong arts, cultural, tourism and leisure theme reflects the rejuvenation and reinvigoration of development in the ACT.

Kingston’s streets are named after Australia’s early European explorers.

Kingston shopping centre in the ‘20s. Photo courtesy of the National Archives.


advertising feature

blossoms into busy centre

– running their businesses.“I enjoy helping businesses get up and run-

ning, making sure the owners are viable and and seeing them become successful and well-known, and Kingston is a good place to do that.

“I’d hate to move elsewhere,” says Gail.Gail Freeman & Co, 9/71 Leichhardt Street,

Kingston, 6295 2844

Flowers with a smile“KINGSTON has a good crowd, a good mix of people,” says manager of Kingston Flowers and Gallery Sok-Ho Chong.

This beautiful little florist shop has been here for 10 years, although Sok-Ho took over less than a year ago.

“We get a good range of customers who appreciate what we do, which is offer flowers and pot plants for all occasions,” he says. “I like to get in some more unusual flowers, too; things that are a bit rare. I love exquisite plants, tropical flowers and roses.

“And we always aim to be friendly and offer reasonable prices.”

Kingston Flowers and Gallery delivers to all suburbs, as well as providing corporate accounts.

Artificial silk and dried flowers and plants are also available, says Sok-Ho.

Kingston Flowers and Gallery, Shop 5, Kennedy Street. Call 6262 2626.

Local business supportEXPERT business support is on its way to south Canberra businesses, thanks to a new partner-ship between Kingston’s Bolin Accountants and business coaching franchise 10X, according to Darlene Barton, 10X business coach.

“The 10X Coaching Club is a powerful group coaching model that leverages the expertise of international business leaders in conjunc-tion with local know-how and on-the-ground support from an expert accounting team and leading business coach,” she says.

“10X Coaching Club provides a professional circle of support, structure and accountability that the model offers to business owners who often feel isolated within their business.”

Bolin Accountants’ partner Wayne Bolin says he is excited at the opportunity his firm will have to provide much-needed assistance and support to local small-to-medium businesses.

“By partnering with 10X, we can really help these business owners with growth strategies, improvement tools, asset protection and succes-sion planning, to help them achieve the business success and lifestyle they’ve always dreamed of,” he says.

Contact Wayne Bolin on 6295 9800 or visit www.bolin.com.au. Call Darleen Barton on 6295 7010 or visit www.10x.com.au

Beauty on the lakeWITH the development of the Kingston Foreshore, Kingston is spreading out and becoming so much more than the shopping centre, says Marijana Coso, owner of new beauty salon Beauty of Desire.

“I love everything about Kingston, and think it’s a great place to invest in for the future with all the new development that’s happen-ing around the lake,” she says.

“At my spacious salon in the new Aspire building I have six treatment rooms, including a couples’ room with a spa,” she says.

“We offer a wide range of facials, body treatments and men’s treatments.”

Beauty of Desire also provides waxing, tinting, manicures, pedicures, spray tanning and ear piercing, in a “caring, professional environ-ment,” says Marijana.

Beauty of Desire, Shop 68/71, Giles Street. Call 6295 7072 advertise.

6262 9100

33 per cent of our readers are professional or managerial.*

* McNair Ingenuity Research 2006


ARTS In THE CITyBy Helen Musa

DININGBy Wendy Johnson

arts&entertainment

BALLET and skating fans will be happy to hear that the Imperial Ice Stars are coming back in early September with their most popular show “Swan Lake on Ice”. We last saw them here with the nerve-tingling and ice-splitting “Cinderella on Ice” in 2008. While I don’t usually think of balletic swans as mere birds, I did enjoy one critical com-ment: “‘What a show! These birds are flying high”. Bookings to www.canberratheatre.org.au THE run of success continues for Canberra-Queanbeyan playwright Tommy Murphy, whose

play “Holding The Man” will open on London’s Trafalgar Studios on April 23. The full cast will feature “Kath and Kim’s” Jane Turner. The play is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Australian writer Timothy Conigrave, and tells the

true story of his falling in love against a backdrop of the HIV epidemic in Australia. The play is directed by David Berthold and designed by Brian Thomson, who did the set for Opera Australia’s current big production of “Bliss”.

THE Gallery of Australian Design at Com-monwealth Place will present a floor talk by photographer Anthony Browell who has been documenting Glenn Murcutt’s architecture since 1974, from 1pm-2pm on April 20. PHOTOGRAPHER Barbie Robinson is showing a collection of portraits of 12 Canberrans over the age of 70 and a short video of interviews with each of these people at PhotoAccess Huw Davies Gallery until April 23. Invitation cards show a

spectacular portrait of gallery owner Joy Warren. CANBERRA’S Woden Valley Youth Choir singers

– 29 of them – have just headed off with five staff to Seoul. This reciprocal visit is being hosted by the World Vision Korea Children’s Choir who stayed here in August 2009. The singers, I am assured, have been learning to eat with thin metal Korean chopsticks and tasting kimchi. While there, they will attend the unveiling of an RAAF Korean War plaque at the National Korean War Memorial and sing at the Gapyeong Anzac and Common-wealth ceremonies.

THE annual ACT and Region Heritage Festival is back in town until April 24 with more than 75 events on offer.

“Swan Lake on Ice”... “These birds are flying high.”

Return of the popular swans on a frozen ‘Lake’

EVERY decent restaurant aims to offer customers something unique. For the new Locanda Italian Steakhouse, at Rydges Lakeside Canberra, the point of difference starts with a $6-million fitout, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets carefully filled with an extensive range of wines, as well as a traditional antipasta station and mozzarella bar.

But for chef Paolo Milanesi, who has worked in restaurants across Europe and in NZ, Locanda is all about a modern Italian food experience. Paolo’s career began in his family-owned and operated Belevue, a two-Michelin-Star restaurant in Italy’s south. Now he is thousands of kilometres away here in the nation’s capital, manag-ing a restaurant that seats around 170. I found it a somewhat intimidating space, but although massive in size, Locanda respects diners by ensuring tables are carefully placed so you can enjoy your meal in privacy.

We shared the Affettati Misti ($24), a chef’s selection of house-cured meats, other goodies and fresh Italian bread served on a wooden board. The dish got our taste buds dancing as did the lightly crumbed and fried creamy goats cheese we ordered. It was a generous portion – too much for one we agreed, but perfect when two or more want to nibble.

My black pig pork cutlet ($26) was slightly sweet, juicy and full of flavour – no surprise, given that this breed of pig has a

thicker layer of fat under its skin than do the more common white pigs bred here. As with all the non-pasta mains on Locanda’s menu, you select a sauce and a side – I went for the porcini mushroom bearnaise, recommended by the restaurant. It was very rich – too much so for the pork in my view, so I sampled and then left it to the side.

Another main was the braised veal and rabbit ravioli ($26), a feast for the eyes. The house-made pasta was cooked al dente, the ragout packed with flavour and

the toasted walnuts added a nice crunch texture. The third main –Tuscan-style spatchcock – was tender and buttery ($32).

To top off the evening, we shared a des-sert platter. The dark chocolate and roasted hazelnut cake with chocolate fondant sauce looked enticing, but was a bit dry. The rest of the treats, including the super-sweet cannoli stuffed with ricotta cheese and candied fruits, went down well.

Locanda’s wine list is well thought through, but I would recommend greater selection by the glass.

Locanda was busy on our visit. We were asked where we hailed from so we assumed many patrons were from the hotel. It’s good for guests to have a decent place to dine at Rydges Lakeside, with a passionate chef at the helm.

Locanda, open seven days – breakfast, lunch, light meals late afternoon and dinner. Call 6247 1488.

Locanda Italian Steakhouse... all about a modern Italian food experience. Photo by Silas

Food from a passionate chef

CityNews April 15-21 �3

Body Beautiful advertising feature

Great ways to getting gorgeouswinter’s just around the corner, so what better excuse to treat yourself to a self-indulgent pamper? From hair care and new looks to beauty treatments and well being massages, as well as choosing the right make-up for the new season and the best in clinical skin care, here’s the “Citynews” guide to getting gorgeous in Canberra…

WITH easy parking, Eftpos and flexible opening hours, Beauty by the Pines is the ideal place to come and be pampered, according to owner and beauty therapist Ann-Michelle.

Having trained at the Melbourne College of Hair and Beauty in 1996, Ann-Michelle ran a successful salon in Melbourne for six years before moving to Canberra and setting up her home-based business in Isaacs.

“My studio here is really peaceful,” she says. “There’s a lovely courtyard and it all feels very fresh, airy, classic and beautiful, and with no stress about where to park and how to pay, it

really is the ultimate in relaxation.”Ann-Michelle is fully trained in oxygen facials,

and offers spray-tanning, acrylic nails and biosculpture gel nail treatments.

“I’m also offering an end-of-skincare-range facial, for $50 instead of the usual $65,” she says.

Only using Australian or NZ products, Beauty by the Pines is open from 7.30am until 3pm on Monday to Saturday, with flexible times available for spray tanning.

Beauty by the Pines, 135 Julia Flynn Avenue, Isaacs. Call 6286 8178

WITH a “natural gift” for eyebrow design, owner of Complete Skincare Venesa Jovanova says she doesn’t believe in following eyebrow trends.

“At the moment, natural-looking, fuller brows are in, but the look doesn’t suit everyone,” she says. “I look closely at the shape of each client’s face, the natural shape of their brow and their age before deciding what would suit them best.

“And with our eyebrow tinting, we can add colour, shape and fullness to brows,” she adds.

Highly trained in all aspects of skincare, and with her professional team of therapists, Venesa also offers manicures, pedicures, massage, wax-ing, facials and eyelash tinting.

Having worked at Complete Skincare for six years, and been the owner for three, she says her aim is to provide the utmost care for her clients and provide them with quality treatments in a tranquil environment.

Complete Skincare, 205 Anketell Street, Tug-geranong. Call 6293 1326

THE key to looking and feeling good is to balance physical and emotional health, says Lina Prego, of Avida Wellness Clinic.

“This means eating a balanced healthy diet, exercising and keeping emotionally positive,” she says.

“Facial and body imperfections can distract you from your emotional well be-ing and appearance, no matter how healthy and young you feel.”

Many people these days prefer natural procedures to enhance their appearance, Lina says: “In recent years, a lot of research and trials have been conducted in this area and we now have non-invasive procedures with excellent long-term results.

“Whether you’d like to look younger, have a fresher, clearer complexion, remove cellulite, lose fat, tone up stubborn areas, lift sagging skin or remove unwanted hair permanently, the problem can now be treated without undergoing surgery or using injectables.

“All our makeovers are non-invasive and you can look and feel great painlessly.”

Avida Wellness Clinic, Bailey’s Corner, Civic. Call 6249 1848 or visit www.avidaclinic.com.au

Relax, be pampered

Visit the “eyebrow guru” Balance a key to beauty


Anketell Street, Tuggeranong

Canberra’s eyebrow guru

CALL NOW TO SHAPE YOUR FACE

6293 1326

Don’t be nervous about your eyebrows any longer, keep your look up to date

and fresh with Venesa Jovanova.MD0648

Body Beautiful

THE cooler months are a great time to plan your personal skin therapy and rejuvenation, according to Jenny Gibson, cosmetic nurse practitioner at Canberra Cosmetic Medicine Centre.

“I provide a range of services at Cosmetic Medicine, including complimentary skin care analysis,” she says. “Through this consultation, your skin will be assessed and a range of therapies recommended. This may include a home skin-care regime, Gen-esis pulsed-light rejuvenation and injectable wrinkle therapies.

“ProWave Hair Removal consults are also complimentary,” she adds.

The home skin care range includes Cosmedix and Results Rx, a doctor-only range.

“We believe in these products and clients love the results,” Jenny says.

Genesis is pulsed light with a gentle touch, she says. This infra-red treatment is ideal for reducing redness, smoothing skin and reducing pores and fine lines, and can target problem ares as well as being a skin revitaliser as it stimulates collagen, firms the skin and giving it back its “glow”.

Canberra Cosmetic Medicine Centre, Deakin Chambers, 1/14 Hannah Place, Deakin. Call 6282 8587

HAIR extensions are a great way to get an exciting new look, and reusable extensions don’t even damage the hair, according to Joshua Vaile, salon manager at The Hairdressing.

“We use Gadiva extensions, which are chemical-free and top-quality – when you buy them, they’re yours for life.

“They’re microbeaded to the natural hair, so there’s no glue, it’s not messy to apply and it doesn’t damage the natural hair in any way.

“Our new stylist and colourist Emma Bowerman has years of experience with these extensions,” Josh says. “She’s competent in maintaining them for our clients, too.”

Based in the city for 10 years, The Hairdressing is a boutique hair salon with an award-winning team of 12 – stylist Shannon Treloar has won Australian Colourist of the Year twice and, more recently, Samuel Kildae received judges’ recognition for Apprentice of the Year, Joshua says.

“Our team has a wide-reaching array of skills, so our clients are varied, too – we get academics, public servants and also trendy young people!”

The Hairdressing, Shop 3, 74 Northbourne Avenue. Call 6257 8484

Natural new hair for life

Taking care of skin

BEAUTY comes from within, which is why it’s so important to look after your sense of well being, says Luciana Todd, owner and principal of Om Shanti College.

“Our Wellbeing Clinic offers a range of massages, including remedial, relaxation, hot rock, Kahuna (a gorgeous Hawaiian massage), aromatherapy, pregnancy and Thai massage,” she says. “It’s a wonderful way to really relax and treat yourself.

“Cleints can learn calming breathing techniques, improve their sleep and become rebalanced and replenished with the help of highly therapeutic essential oils.”

“We also run yoga classes and provide stress consultations and life coaching, to help our clients be the best they can be.”

Each consultation takes between half an hour and two hours, depending on clients’ needs, says Luciana.

For more information, visit www.omshanticollege.com.au

Nourish your well being

LEARNING about what colours suit you and how to make the best use of the make-up products you buy is an invaluable asset to looking your best, according to Elissa Michel, from Sibu Beauty.

“We have invited Burton Yuen, a Sydney-based Napoleon Perdis make-up artist, to our salon to showcase the latest prod-ucts and share his tips and tricks with our clients,” she says. “Everyone who attends will receive a one-on-one consultation, as well as advice on how to construct the perfect look for day and night.”

Sibu Beauty also offers a wide range of beauty treatments, including Dermalogica and Alpha H facials, waxing, tinting, manicures and pedicures, hot stone and Balinese massage, spray tanning, eyelash extensions, ear piercing and biosculp-ture gel nails.

Sibu’s VIP night on May 10 costs $60 and includes $60 worth of Napoleon Perdis make-up, says Elissa. Contact the salon for more information.

Sibu Beauty, 27 Kelleway Avenue, Nicholls. Call 6241 4115

Consult the experts


Lifts hair to the palest shade of blonde without compromising on condition and shine due to shield technology and active ingredient silk protein complex.

Call Hair Spectrum to make an appointment on 02 6251 4753Shop 75, Level 2 West eld Belconnen

Silk Lift lightners

Book your Silk Lift Experience and receive a Free Viv Cap treatment and 20% off any KMS ProductsOffer valid until the end of May

Silk Lift Technology = lightening and conditioning at the same time

The Result = luminous, silky blonde and lasting shiny healthy smooth hair.

STUDY MASSAGE AT CANBERRA’S FINEST COLLEGEBecome a nationally quali ed massage therapist in as little as 12 weeks full time or longer for part time. Enrol today – call Om Shanti College 6295 2323, and discover the amazing difference you can make to your life and others.

Term 2 begins April 26, 2010.

Ask about our accredited aromatherapy courses www.omshanticollege.com.au

Imagine I Learn I Be

RTO Number: 88133

advertising feature

SLOWING down and finding time to feel calm and at peace is the key to beauty, says Khue Deighton, a qualified and experienced beauty therapist specialising in skin care services in Canberra.

Khue operates her beauty salon A Relaxed Paradise at her home in a private and tranquil environment, she says.

“We are different from larger salons and day spas that are located in busy and noisy shopping centres,” says Khue. “At A Relaxed Paradise you are treated to a peaceful haven away from the stress of everyday life.

“You will have the same trusted therapist every time, and will not feel rushed or worried about parking,” she adds.

Khue also offers great-value advanced facial and body treat-ments using 100 per cent certified organic products, she says. “My aim is to provide you with the most outstanding products and exceptional service every time,” she says.

“I also offer hair removal, spray tan and make-up to get you ready from head-to-toe for any special occasion.”

A Relaxed Paradise, 9 Birrigai Square, Ngunnawal. Call 0431 546 681

PIN-STRAIGHT hair with super gloss and shine is now eas-ily achievable, says Mary Kelly, owner and manager of Hair Spectrum.

“We’re offering our clients Schwarzkopf Professional’s Strait Therapy treatment, which is an advanced hair-rebonding system with structure balancing that gives amazingly sleek, glossy results – permanently,” she says.

Hair Spectrum has been established in Westfield Belconnen for 32 years, making it one of the earliest tenants in the mall, says Mary.

It’s family owned and run, originally by Frank Pelle and handed down to his daughters Mary and Rosa.

“With 16 staff members ranging from junior to senior hair stylists, each offers their own personal signature to the style they create,” Mary says.

“We have also just completed advanced colour techniques training with Goldwell, keeping our staff up-to-date with the latest colouring trends.”

Hair Spectrum specialises in traditional and contemporary cut-ting and colouring, colour correction, hair extensions, full-head bleaching using gentle silk-lift lightening, as well as styling for weddings and formals.

Hair Spectrum, Shop 75, Level 2 Westfield Belconnen. Call 6251 4753

NOW there’s an easy way to cleanse the blood, burn calories and break down cellulite, says Natasha Lukin, of Feel Good Studio.

“Far Infrared therapy promotes the elimination of fats, chemicals and toxins from the blood, including toxic sub-stances from food processing, subcutaneous fat associated with aging and fatigue, and uric acid which causes pain,” she says.

One hour infrared treatment in a special chamber burns over 900 calories by raising the metabolism and body temperature, according to Natasha.

It also promotes the killing of many disease-causing bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, promotes rebuilding of injured tissue, making it excellent for healing burns, scar tissue and skin problems,” she says.

The treatment can also relieve nervous tension and strengthen the immune system and cardiovascular system. It also clears depression, stress and lack of focus, Natasha says.

Feel Good Studio, McKay Gardens, Turner. Call 6247 6267

Infrared therapy Relax in ‘Paradise’

Going straight


OBESE adolescents go to bed later and sleep less than their lighter contemporaries.

This is the finding of a study published in the April issue of the “Australian and NZ Journal of Public Health”.

Professor Tim Olds and his colleagues at the University of SA explored the sleep patterns of 9-18-year-old Australians on different days of the week.

The poor sleep among obese students was particularly evident on Sundays – the night before school resumed after a weekend off.

Other findings that may help parents un-derstand their adolescent children included:• On average, girls slept more, because of earlier bedtimes.• As adolescents grow older, they sleep less.• Underweight children went to bed signifi-cantly earlier than those of normal weight.

Prof Olds said the “cause and effect” between sleep patterns and weight was unclear.

“The sleep patterns we found sit comforta-bly with the theory that short sleep duration predisposes towards obesity,” he said.

“However, there may also be some third factor that contributes to both overweight and short sleep duration.”

This third factor may be linked to the time adolescents spend in front of computer or TV screens or low physical activity.

“Sleep intervention studies examining the relationship between screen time, weight status and sleep would help to clarify these issues,” he said.

Obese kids sleep less

health&fitness

Flying high... The members of the Canberra City Mayhem cheerleading squad who are competing in Florida.

kATHRyn vukOvLJAk discovers that death-defying stunts, exciting tumbles, waving pompoms, lashings of trust and team spirit are all part of competitive cheerleading – and there’s not a football team in sight.

Cheerleaders takeoff for US challenge

“CHEERLEADING is a sport in its own right, and is getting more popular in Canberra,” says Michaela Morgan, coach of Canberra City Mayhem cheerleading squad. “I love being a part of that.”

Michaela has been invited by leading Australian coach Rosemary Sims to assist in coaching Team Australia for the International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships and the International All Star Cheerleading World Championships at Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida from April 22 to 25.

“It’s such an honour to be asked,” she says. “Rosemary is just amazing, and I really enjoy coaching. Being part of getting spectacular routines together is an awesome feeling.”

Five Canberra “Mayhems” have been chosen to compete as part of the Australian team. Gemma Carrol, Olivia Morrison, Hayley Smith, Daniel Philippa and Dave Smith will join 18 other cheerleaders from Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

Michaela, 21, has been cheerleading for 13 years, having started the sport when she lived in the UK.

“Before I moved here I made some calls to see if I could keep up my cheerleading – and after a week I was given the squad to train!” she says.

“I love the different aspects of cheerleading. It’s gymnastics mixed with dance and lifting people up is a great workout.

“There’s great skill involved in making sure the people at the top are safe.

“It’s not just for girls, either – although the guys don’t have to hold the pompoms!”

Michaela says she has suffered injuries over the years and doesn’t compete any more.

“I love coaching though, especially teaching the little ones who start off not even being able to cartwheel then pick it up so fast they’re doing hand-springs in no time!”

Michaela has both competed and coached successfully in the US, UK and Australia, and has helped Canberra City Mayhem Cheerleaders, one of five squads in Canberra, win two national titles in 2008-9.

“I’m looking forward to showing the world that there are amazing cheerleaders in Australia,” she says.


health&fitness

WHAT you eat might help alleviate debili-tating PMS symptoms, says Sharon Natoli from Food and Nutrition Australia.

“In general, the body functions more optimally when choosing small meals and snacks throughout the day, rather than eating a few large meals per day,” she says.

“This particularly applies in times of PMS, particularly if bloating is a symptom. Eating large meals can worsen bloating, so small regular meals and snacks are recommended. As a guide, aim to eat every three to four hours.”

Choosing the right carbohydrate-rich foods may be the key to alleviating PMS symptoms due to the unique effects carbohydrates have on tryptophan, serotonin and endorphin levels in the body, according to Sharon.

“Studies have shown carbohydrate eaten in the late phase of the menstrual cycle has been linked with increased serotonin levels and reduced feelings of depression, anger, tension and confusion within one to three hours of consumption.

This may explain why some women complain of carbohydrate cravings as part of their PMS symptoms, she says.

High fibre, low GI carbohydrates are preferable to ensure even blood-sugar levels, as opposed to high GI (processed and refined) foods which dump glucose into the blood.

“It’s therefore recommended that women include a source of wholegrain, high-fibre carbohydrate rich foods at each meal,” says Sharon. “Examples include wholegrain cereal or toast at breakfast, wholegrain bread or rye crackers at lunch and sweet potato, legumes or wholemeal pasta at dinner time.”

Sharon says that calcium can also help. “Another study showed a calcium carbonate supplement of 1200mg per day can lower PMS symptoms by 48 per cent,” she says. “This amount of calcium can be obtained by including three serves of low-fat dairy foods daily as part of a balanced and varied diet.

“One serve is equal to 200g low fat yoghurt, 250ml skim milk or 30g reduced fat cheese.”

A low-fat, high-carbohydrate eating pattern may be beneficial in reducing breast tenderness and swelling associated with PMS.

“There is also some evidence that essen-

tial fatty acids such as those found in oily fish, eggs, lean meat and chicken may have positive effects, so while it’s important to skip the cakes, pastries and deep-fried items at this time, try to include fish, nuts, avocado and vegetable oils to boost your intake of healthy fats,” she says.

PMS can be aggravated by a variety of factors including stress, inadequate physical activity, and possibly a high consumption of refined sugars, fat, alcohol and caffeine although research is yet to fully confirm these, says Sharon.

Foods rich in vitamin E and magnesium may also be helpful, she says. Vitamin E is found in high amounts in sunflower oil, almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts while magnesium is found in nuts, wheat-based cereals, oats, potato, spinach, baked beans and yoghurt.

“Evidence also shows exercise has a positive effect on symptoms relating to depression and that it can help reduce anxiety and improve self-esteem,” she says.

“There is also a growing body of evi-dence that suggests aerobic exercise and resistance training can improve mood.”

Eat your way out of the monthly misery


your week in the starsWith Joanne Madeline Moore

April 19 - 25general knowledge crossword No. 257

ACROSS1 Name an alternative term for bondservants.8 On which pieces of apparatus do circus performers swing?9 What is the occupation of one who makes beer?10 Name the practice of seeking the welfare of others.11 What is a ticket or paper used in voting?13 Name the direction from where the sun rises.16 A person working for another for pay, is a what?19 What is a large cage in which birds are kept?22 Name a traveller - especially on foot.24 When one provides a source of income, one does what?25 Which alternative word describes an ancestor?26Name the gastropods that have only one leg.

DOWN2 What describes the young of an insect that undergoes metamorphosis?

3 Which voiced speech sound is the opposite of a consonant?4 In other words, what is a generalship?5 What do we call the actors in a play, or the like?6 What describes something of special elegance?7 Name an alternative term for a ship.12 What is a device used as a means of illumination?14 Name the renowned 1891 Queensland strike protesting against pastoralists' attempts to use non-union labour.15 Name the capital of Latvia.17 In Britain, what is a piece of grassland used for pasture?18 To be raised above the ground is to be what?20 Which federal republic in S Asia is often called the subcontinent?21 Name the small wheel with radiating points, forming the extremity of a spur.23 What is a particular shipping hazard?

Solutionnextweek

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Do you want to avoid a financial fiasco? With Mercury reversing through your $$$ zone (until May 12) you need to stick to a strict budget; avoid get-rich-quick schemes; obtain agreements in writing – and double-check the fine print! Take on board the advice of birthday great Charlotte Bronte: “Look twice before you leap.”

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

With the Sun, Mercury and Venus all passing through your sign this week, aim to turn up your Taurean charm and sex appeal, and turn down your tendency to be stubborn and hold onto grudges. Some-times it’s a good idea to stick to your guns – but at other times it’s wise to adapt to the changing circumstances around you.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Mercury’s your ruling planet so, when it moves backwards, you can expect communication hitches, money glitches and general chaos. You love nothing better than a good old gossip but the next three weeks is a time when tactless talk could get you into hot water so think (very carefully) before you spread secrets around.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Do you feel as if you’re treading water? The next three weeks is the time to slow down and chill out as you put major projects and dreams on hold. If you can, postpone making important decisions and signing contracts until after May 12. Some enforced R & R will do you the world of good, as you relax in style in your cosy Crab cave.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

You’re keen to show off your numerous professional talents but, with mischievous Mercury causing commotion in your career zone (until May 12) you need to be extra patient at work. Don’t rush – allow yourself plenty of time to cope with missing paperwork, computer chaos, missed meetings and mixed messages.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Are you dreaming of the perfect holiday or weekend getaway? With three planets in your travel zone, chances are you have itchy feet and would love to jump on a plane ASAP. Travel looks stalled over the next three weeks though. If you are taking a trip, double-check your itinerary and be prepared for some last minute hitches and delays.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Have you lent money to others? Well, don’t be in too much of a hurry to get it back. With retro Mercury causing chaos in your joint finances zone (until May 12) delayed payments are the order of the day, so you’ll need to be patient. Romance is in the air on Saturday but are you viewing your partner through rose-coloured glasses?

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

With Mercury reversing through your relationship zone, life won’t be boring over the next three weeks. It’s definitely not the time for careless slips and thoughtless quips, as loved ones are inclined to make moun-tains out of molehills. Be patient. As birthday great Barbra Streisand reminds us: “There is nothing more important in life than love.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Watch you don’t upset colleagues with an obtuse remark or hasty decision, as Saturn and retro Mercury stir up your work zones. Egos will be easily bruised so tread (and speak) carefully. Friday is a fabulous day to approach projects with passion, purpose and Sagittarian style as your adventurous side is fired up and ready to go.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Things don’t happen quickly (or according to plan) when Mercury is in retrograde motion. So the next three weeks is not the ideal time to stick to a rigid and stressful timetable – but it is a fabulous time to revise, rehearse, re-do and research. Relationships with loved ones will be stable this weekend, so make the most of it.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

When Mercury goes retrograde (which happens for approximately three weeks, three times a year) it usually doesn’t throw you. So life is unpredictable, relationships are constantly changing, messages get mixed-up, and travel plans are disrupted at the last moment. Hey – just another normal week at chez Aquarius!

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Watch out for crossed wires in encounters with family, friends and neighbours over the next three weeks. Double-check appointment times and think carefully before sending emotionally-charged emails or confusing text messages. Make sure what you say is exactly what you mean, or it could backfire on you later.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2010.

Sudoku hard No.29 Solution next week

Solution Sudoku medium No.29Solution Crossword No.256

1

9

11

16

22

25

2

17

12

3

18

4

8

10

13

23

5

14

19

24

26

6

20

15

7

21

H B B T U M B L E RA M A T E U R A I AM N Q A N C H O V YS O J O U R N E N OT O E C U S H I O NE S E SR O B O T S W H E E L S

O S U OW H I P P E T S G NI L A R U B E L L AT H E A T R E A A TC R I A M N E S I AH A S S O C K D S S


EARLY last year Chief Minister Jon Stanhope an-nounced that he would be lobbying his Federal Labor colleagues to help create a level playing field for parking, by introducing paid parking into the Commonwealth-controlled areas, including Barton, Parkes and Russell Hill.

Now, it seems many Federal bureaucrats have been on his side all along. Interviews with 19 government agency heads, as early as 2008, showed strong dissatisfaction from those who didn’t work in the Parliamentary Triangle that their substantial remuneration packages did not include free parking as it did, by default, for their more fortunately located colleagues.

As the Chief Minister says, the existing arrangement is unfair for workers outside the triangle and inhibits sustainable transport policies. And, of course, the department heads are not the only workers who suffer from this inequity. The many thousands of public service employees, the contractors and the public who visit their departments – located outside the Parliamentary zone – also have to experience the unfairness of it all.

In defence of the current arrangement, it has been said that the town centres should have paid parking, because they have viable public transport options, but the Parliamentary zone should not because it suffers the same transport disadvantages as the rest of Canberra.

The argument encourages a simple question – Why? Why, when workers in Civic have to pay

for driving to work, should those lucky enough to have jobs in the Parliamentary zone pay nothing?

Canberra is one of the most car-dependent cities in the nation, and we need a comprehensive re-think of transport options across the city, balanced with equitable private and public choice.

Parking needs to be evenly distributed and treated in an equitable manner, so it does not favour or cannibalise different parts of the city.

The ACT Government should further review and adjust car parking prices ahead of the forthcoming ACT Budget, to encourage people to use public transport.

Additional sites also need to be released for car parking and for park-and-ride facilities in key locations. If car-park pricing is treated equitably across the Territory, this will make it viable for the private sector to provide additional car parking.

Each of these steps will all contribute to the development of a genuinely integrated sustain-able transport plan and provide real solutions and choice to enable Canberrans to collectively reduce our carbon footprint.

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

Pay to park – and put up price, Jon

By Catherine Carter

property

CityNews April 15-21 3�

3� CityNews April 15-21

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CityNews April 15-21 3�

3� CityNews April 15-21