Four female climate strikers in full private-school uniform proudly held this placard, which took the “make-love-not-war” mantra of their grandparents’ era to a new level. Photo: Mike Welsh
Seven Days columnist MIKE WELSH wonders about the propriety of the climate protest by girls from a northside private school.
MOST students attending Canberra’s Global Climate Strike rally skipped classes with their schools’ blessing. But should those in charge at one northside private, Christian school be more engaged in students attending future protests?
Mike Welsh.
In a sea of provocative signs, including one featuring Scott Morrison holding a lump of coal, captioned “Old King Coal was a Merry Arsehole”, four female students from the faith-based school in full uniform proudly held a placard which took the “make-love-not-war” mantra of their grandparents’ era to a new level.
FROM an oversharing generation to a member of one who should know better comes this pre-Midwinter Ball overshare story. Former ABC breakfast TV host Virginia Trioli tweeted: “Travelling from Melbourne to Canberra with a thousand yards of tulle on a nail-bitingly tight flight for the Parliament #midwinter ball. Hair and make-up will be done in the lav: Apologies to all on board”.
Within an hour “The Australian” was reporting an in-flight tantrum, alleging one ball guest had their knickers in a bunch en route about the placement of her $5000 dress. The paper later retracted its reportage and made a personal apology to Trioli.
THERE’S a booze ban at Bruce. As the city turns greener, Raiders players got “on the wagon” from Mal Meninga Medal night onwards in order to be clear headed for Friday’s preliminary final against South Sydney.
A “Sydney Morning Herald” piece on coaches’ eccentricities: “The traits that make the NRL’S coaching kingpins a cut above”, attempts to psychoanalyse Raiders’ coach Ricky Stuart. The article, by Phil Lutton, also speculates on Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy and Des Hasler, suggesting many “are deeply eccentric. Some are superstitious, others make a point of dispensing with the mystical and building their empires on relentless work and dedication”.
According to Lutton, Stuart falls into the paranoia group: “His team v the world when Ricky Stuart, master of the siege mentality, is on deck”.
IT’S been a busy week on the hill with all manner of visitors, including a Peregrine falcon called Floyd. The bird came to the rescue of Parliament House horticulturalists who are again drowning in duck droppings and ducking dive-bombing magpies. Federal Parliament’s pristine gardens and forecourt are under attack and Floyd has been tasked with dispersing the menacing Maggies and ducks with diarrhoea.
Three days walking from Collector to protest press freedom… 77-year-old Adrienne Carpenter and her dog Phoebe. Photo: Mike Welsh
A 77-year-old Collector woman and her dog had a message for Canberra on press freedoms and walked from her home to deliver it. Adrienne Carpenter says: “When I heard about [lawyer] Bernard Collaery, I just had to do something”.
Adrienne and Phoebe pushed her “Freedom of the Press” baby pram 70 kilometres over three days, camping overnight in the snow at Lake George.
LAST September Falun Gong practitioners assembled on Parliament House lawns highlighting the widespread practice of human organ harvesting in China. But their protest was thwarted as inside, political practitioners including senators Derryn Hinch and Pauline Hanson, were slobbering over visiting superstar Olivia Newton-John.
Ditto this week, only this time starstruck pollies were fawning over the likes of Hugo Weaving and Rhys Muldoon in town, again, to lobby for more local content in the local film industry, as the Falun Gong, again, lobbied on the lawns in silence.
SEEMINGLY the country’s first human rights compliant correctional facility, the Alexander Maconochie Centre unofficially goes the extra mile on conjugal visits, with reports of male inmates penetrating the wall between them and the girls since 2017. An internal probe found a male prisoner had jumped into the women’s section in April and attempted to have sex with a female inmate but the action was scuttled after male prisoners watching became overly excited.
THE ABC journalist reporting snow blocking the Hume Highway at Goulburn didn’t put much thought into his piece to camera after Tuesday’s unseasonal weather event. The young man confidently told his audience the “spring dump caused truckies to be severely backed up”!
SCOTT Morrison was frank, when quizzed at a news conference during his state visit to Washington, on whether he would be seeking to travel to China in the next year.
Michelle Grattan
“Well, you have to be invited to go,” he said.
With Australia-China relations at a low point – due to Australia’s foreign interference legislation, the banning of Huawei from 5G network and other issues – there’s no indication when an invitation might come.
Not that the Prime Minister wants to seem anxious.
He referred to his encounters with the Chinese leadership in the margins of summits, as well as senior level meetings in the areas of foreign affairs, defence and trade.
Pressed on whether he would like to be invited, Morrison said: “Well of course we would go if there was an invitation to attend.
“But it’s not something that is overly vexing us because we have this partnership. We continue to work closely with China,” he said. “So it’s not an issue that’s troubling me at all.”
Amid the glamour and glitter and the mutually admiring exchanges of rhetorical hype between Donald Trump and Morrison, China and Iran were the central policy issues of interest.
Morrison made clear that Australia and the United States brought differing economic perspectives on China. He was keen to encourage a deal to end the US-China trade war, but also to show understanding of Trump position.
He praised Trump’s “natural instinct of restraint” on Iran, despite the President making reference to his nuclear arsenal. Morrison also stressed Australia’s present commitment was strictly limited to the protection of the sea lanes.
He did not explicitly rule out further involvement if the situation escalated, rather saying nothing like that had been asked and people should not get ahead of themselves.
The theme of the Morrison visit is repeated over and over – renewing and modernising the deep connection between the two countries, which is now cast as looking from one century of “mateship” to a second century of it. Leaders of more powerful nations would visit, Morrison said, “but you won’t find a more sure and steadfast friend, a better mate, than Australia”.
From where Trump sits, Australia and its PM could hardly tick any more boxes.
The US has a trade surplus with Australia. Australia, as Morrison emphasised, would be spending 2% of GDP on defence – that is, an ally putting its weight. And, as Trump emphasised, it is buying a great deal of defence equipment from the US.
Then there is the fact that Morrison is right up Trump’s alley as a leader – a conservative who has won an election against the odds.
No wonder Trump had a ready reply when reminded of George W Bush dubbing Howard “a man of steel” – Morrison is “a man of titanium”.
On China, the President dwelt on the pain the US was imposing. “They’re having a very bad year, worst year in 57 years. … We’re taking in billions and billions of dollars of tariffs. … They’ve lost over three million jobs there. Supply chain is crashing. And they have a lot of problems. And I can tell you, they want to make a deal.”
Morrison highlighted Australia’s strategic partnership with China. “We have a great relationship with China. China’s growth has been great for Australia.
“But we need to make sure that we all compete on the same playing field,” he said.
On the Middle East, when asked “are you open to further military action against Iran or is the Australian commitment solely contained to a freedom of navigation patrol exercise?” Morrison replied: “As the President said … there are no further activities planned or requested for assistance from Australia, so the question to that extent is moot”.
He praised the “calibrated, I think very measured response” of the US, as the administration announced further sanctions.
“Obviously at any time when issues are raised with us as an ally, we consider them on their merits at the time in Australia’s national interests,” Morrison said at their joint news conference.
Speaking at his news conference for the travelling media Morrison said there were no discussion of anything beyond the present commitment.
“I think people need to be careful about getting ahead of themselves and in running off on where these things might go. I mean these matters … are dealt with I think in a very iterative way, and I think that’s what you’re seeing.”
Morrison announced a five year $150 million investment for the Australian Space Agency to “foster the new ideas and hi-tech skilled jobs that will make Australian businesses a partner of choice to fit out NASA missions” to return to the Moon and travel to Mars.
He said the investment would bring more jobs, new technologies and more investment.
“We’re backing Australian businesses to the moon, and even Mars, and back,” he said.
“We’re getting behind Australian businesses so they can take advantage of the pipeline of work NASA has committed to. There is enormous opportunity for Australia’s space sector which is why we want to triple its size to $12 billion to create around 20,000 extra jobs by 2030.”
The announcement prompted Malcolm Turnbull to tweet:
Congratulations @ScottMorrisonMP – the Australian Space Agency was announced in 2017 and established in 2018, one of my government’s many enduring commitments to science, industry & innovation. Glad to see its flourishing under your leadership. https://t.co/O6JIejqSoB
Morrison repeatedly dismissed as “gossip” – but did not deny – a Wall Street Journal report that he had wanted his close associate Hillsong founder Brian Houston invited to the state dinner but the Americans had vetoed him.
Houston said: “I have had no invitation to the White House and I have had no discussion with the prime minister or anyone else about this”.
Houston received an adverse finding from the royal commission into child sexual abuse. It found that “in 1999 and 2000, Pastor Brian Houston and the National Executive of the Assemblies of God in Australia did not refer the allegations of child sexual abuse against Mr Frank Houston [ Brian’s father] to the police”.
EIGHT Canberrans will head overseas and explore some of the most most pressing and emerging challenges Australia is facing after being awarded the Churchill Fellowship today (September 23).
A further 107 people from across Australian were awarded, with 24 people awarded in NSW, 22 from Victoria, 20 from QLD, 14 from WA, 10 from SA, 10 from Tasmania and seven from the NT.
Amongst the local winners is Braddon’s FARZANA CHOUDHURY, who was on the cover of “CityNews” on September 12 after she was names “Young Lawyer of the Year” in the ACT.
As part of the Churchill Fellowship, Farzana will head to New Zealand, US, Canada and the UK to research how other countries empower people facing poverty through their social and housing status rights-based models.
Lyneham’s TIMOTHY BEVITT was awarded the “Gilbert Spottiswood Churchill Fellowship” to investigate how intergenerational play and creativity can be used to build cohesive communities. He’ll head to New Zealand, US, UK and Finland.
JOEL DIGNAM, also from Lyneham, will learn how to best build an organisation to grow the power of renters to advocate for social change. He’ll research in the UK, US and New Zealand.
Yarralumla’s ARNAGRETTA HUNTER was awarded “The Bob and June Prickett Churchill Fellowship” and will travel to the UK, USA and the Netherlands to learn skills in narrative medicine for education of medical students, doctors, patients and families.
ALI AKBAR KHAN of Kaleen will head to the UK and US to research how to enhance support for gay male survivors of domestic violence.
The winner of the “Dr Dorothea Sandars Churchill Fellowship” went to Dr LAURA MACFARLANE-BERRY aura Macfarlane-Berry. She will investigate veterinary field epidemiology training programs for improved animal and public health in Thailand, China, Mauritius, Madagascar, Italy, US and Canada.
Kington’s SEYI ONITIRI will evaluate the suitability of programs for self-represented litigants for Australian courts in the US.
And Campbell’s NICOLA PALFREY will travel to US and the UK to understand how to make exposure to trauma and adversity in childhood a public health issue.
Churchill Trust CEO Adam Davey says the Churchill Fellowships recognise people with passion and drive, providing an unrivalled opportunity and freedom for people to experience world’s best practice on issues that matter to Australian communities.
“Each and every one of the 115 Churchill Fellows will return to Australia armed with the practical knowledge and experience needed to advance their projects and create new opportunities in Australia,” he says.
UPDATE: POLICE say Simon has been located safe and well.
SIMON John Gray hasn’t been seen since yesterday (September 23) afternoon and now police and his family are concerned for his welfare.
Missing person Simon Gray
The 44-year-old, who is described by police as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm (5’11”) in height, slim build with brown eyes and brown hair, was last seen in the Holder area.
Simon is known to visit the areas of Belconnen and Weston Creek and is believed to be driving a 2007 Silver Ford Falcon sedan with ACT registration YMX53Y.
Anyone with information about Simon’s whereabouts is urged to contact Police on 131 444.
L’Heure Exquise (The Exquisite Hour). The José Carbó Trio. Photo: Peter Hislop
Music / “L’Heure exquise” (The exquisite hour), the José Carbó Trio, Wesley Uniting Church, September 22. Reviewed by HELEN MUSA.
ART Song Canberra’s “Season of Song” took a rare turn over the weekend with the appearance of the José Carbó Trio, in which the vocalist was joined on the platform not by a pianist by two refined classical guitarists.
Operatic baritone Carbó, whose fan base was evident from the large turnout, told “CityNews” he had, in a vision following Canberra’s 2015 Voices in the Forest concert, seen himself joining guitarists Andrew Blanch and Ariel Nurhadi, both star graduates of the ANU School of Music. And from that the trio was born.
They have been working hard over the past four years translating instrumental music to guitar and the end results are a form of perfection.
“We truly are a trio, not just a singer with accompaniment,” Carbó said as he explained why he sat on a chair to perform, putting himself on the same level as the guitarist, and using a microphone to help modulate his sound so it did not overpower the guitars. At times he held the mike close to his mouth, at others far away.
But Carbó is no spoilsport, so for the opera buffs who had come to hear him, he tossed away the mike in the final moment of the recital to give a full-blooded account of Verdi’s aria “Cortigiani, vil razza dannata” (Courtiers, vile damnable rubble) where the venomous court jester Rigoletto begs pity from the very people he has ridiculed.
Elsewhere, almost noiseless delivery was the rule, seen in “Les Berceaux” by Faure, performed by all three with a mixture of exceptional concentration and control.
This was such an artfully contrived concert that the high point was set dead centre in the program. Introduced by Carbó as “a monster of a lied”, Schubert’s “Erlkönig” (elf or spirit king), based on Goethe’s dramatic poem of the same name, is considered fiendishly difficulty for any pianist, so it had taken “an enormity of work” to set it for guitar. The results were impressive, the percussive possibilities of the guitar revealed in the galloping sounds of a horse carrying the man and his sick child through a storm.
The lied is shocking in its depiction of an innocent children beset by force of the spirit world, perhaps death but more likely a soul-destroying evil force. Here Carbó sang four characters — narrator, father, child and Erlking — all in different vocal registers, while the guitarists added the atmosphere and the menacing sounds of the night.
A sense of quiet power dominated the second part of the program, reaching its apogee in the performance of Manuel de Falla’s six popular Spanish songs, arranged by the trio and sung by Carbó in his mother tongue, Spanish.
In “Seguidilla murcianas”, the impression of a dialogue between the singer and the two guitars was pronounced, continuing in the address to a pine tree, “Asturianas”, later used by the trio as the encore.
Making it clear that this recital was more than a vehicle for a great baritone, Carbó left the stage on several occasions so that Blanch in the lead and Nuriadi could performed purely instrumental works by Rameau, Gnattali, de Falla, and in homage to Carbó’s Argentine origins, Piazzolla.
But it was in their performance of “Erlkönig” that the José Carbó Trio showed just how magnificent a trio can be.
THE Queanbeyan Art Society’s twelfth annual city art show, “In the Heart of Canberra”, is now in full swing in a big tent in Civic – and paintings are going like hot cakes.
Open for nine days over Floriade, the show sees local artists descend on a large tent in City Walk to exhibit and sell their art. As paintings are sold, they walk away with their new owners and are replaced by others.
The art tent in City Walk.
Society president Barry Cranston told “CityNews” that this year’s event had been heavily patronised.
He said the first sale will be going to America. Margaret Carr’s image, “Magpie”, reminded the visitors of their birds at home, he said.
“In The Heart of Canberra”, City Walk, Canberra, daily 8.30am to 4.30pm. All welcome, all art for sale.
CANBERRA’S annual “Come Alive” museum theatre festival for schools is coming up this week in the Courtyard Studio of the Canberra Theatre Centre.
While over the past 10 years the festival has been staged in various cultural institutions around the nation’s capital, it is now hosted and staged by Canberra Theatre in collaboration with institutions such as, this year, the National Library.
Founder-director of the event, Peter Wilkins, says that while the onus of providing a venue and the technical back-up so essential for staging plays is borne by Canberra Theatre, the cultural institutions are responsible for access to their collections, also providing resource assistance and marketing.
The idea is for participating schools to create theatre pieces inspired by the chosen collection for the year, with original mini-plays written by students and their teachers around object, people and stories researched in the museums, galleries and collecting bodies.
Some schools will choose an object, as with Telopea School’s “The Curse of the Convict Jacket”.
Others may focus on an individual, as Canberra Girls Grammar School does with “The Crocodile” about serial killer Ivan Milat.
Even more look at historical events, as in Orana Steiner School’s “Rebellion Down Under”.
The 2019 Come Alive! Festival of Museum Theatre, Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, 6pm-7pm, September 24-28. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The full program
Tuesday, September 24
Canberra Girls Grammar School, “The Crocodile” and “In My House”.
Daramalan College, video screening of “Querelle des Femmes”. The live production will be staged on Friday, September 27.
Wednesday, September 25
Ulladulla High School, “Suffragette Sash” and “HMAS Kooper”.
Radford College, “Whose Story?”.
Batemans Bay High School, “The Great Emu War”.
Thursday, September 26
St Clare’s College, “Story Time. Morris Gleitzman and Mem Fox”.
Telopea School, “The Curse of the Convict Jacket”.
Merici College, “The Death of a Daisy.”
Friday, September 27
Orana Steiner School, “Rebellion Down Under”.
Daramalan College, “Querelles des Femmes” (The Woman Question).
NEW anti wage theft laws passed today (September 24) in the ACT Assembly will support Canberra workers whose wages have been stolen by employers, says UnionsACT.
The new “Courts (Fair Work and Work Safety) Act 2019” will allow state and territory magistrates courts to hear small claims (wage theft) matters.
UnionsACT secretary Alex White says the new laws restore workers’ rights to access quick, simple and inexpensive justice in the specialised Industrial Magistrates Court.
UnionsACT secretary Alex White.
Before, he says the system was time-consuming and expensive, and he says the biggest contributing factor to the wage theft crisis was that unscrupulous employers know that in the unlikely event they are caught, it will be many months, even years, before they must pay back the money they stole from their workers.
“Working people in the ACT are facing a wage theft crisis, with more than 40 per cent of businesses deciding to break one or more of the Fair Work Act requirements,” Mr White says.
“These new laws introduce a simpler, fairer and less expensive system that allows workers and their unions to hold to account unscrupulous bosses who steal wages.”
Currently, more than 45,000 workers in Canberra have had an average of $3400 in superannuation stolen by their employer, according to Industry Super Australia.
And, according to UnionsACT, more than half of all young workers experience wage theft at the hands of their adult employer each year.
WELL-known corporate and charity dynamo Ivan Slavich makes his return to the national capital as CEO of military veterans support charity Soldier On.
Starting on Monday (September 30), he brings considerable experience in the corporate world, charity fundraising and military service.
Ivan has previously been employed in various CEO positions, namely with; TransACT Communications, PARASOL and Energy Action. He has been the MD of his own company Trident Corporate Services since 2013 and was previously the Head of Retail for ActewAGL.
His charity fundraising is legendary in Canberra and he was responsible for raising more than $2 million for charity; was the highest individual worldwide fundraiser for Movember and three times the highest fundraiser in Australia; raised significant amounts for Camp Quality, including the Camp Quality Classic Cruise, and was on the inaugural committee to establish Ronald McDonald House in Canberra.
Less known, perhaps is his military service. Ivan was a commissioned officer of the Australian Army Reserve and served for six years with OCTU and 23 Field Regiment.
NURSE practitioners are now equal to a doctor, dentist or eligible midwife when it comes to being reviewed and credentialed for clinical privileges, says Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith.
The changes come after new legislation was passed in the Legislative Assembly today (September 24). The Health Amendment Bill embeds the term “nurse practitioner” into the Health Act, broadening the workforce opportunities for nurse practitioners in the public and private health and aged care sectors.
Ms Stephen-Smith says this amendment is in recognition of the advanced clinical role nurse practitioners play in the health system.
With more than 45 nurse practitioners registered in the ACT, which is about 10 nurse practitioners for every 100,000 people in the ACT, Ms Stephen-Smith says Canberra’s nurse practitioners represent the highest uptake of nurse practitioners in Australia.
Canberra Friends of Dili worked with Ego Lemos to create the garden at Bidau Masau school. Photo: Friends of Dili
A PERMACULTURE garden has been established at a school in Dili, with support from fundraising by the Canberra Friends of Dili (CFD) group and an ACT government grant.
Dr Stephen Utick, president of CFD, says the garden, located in the poor eastern suburb of Bidau Masau, is more than a vegetable patch – it’s a “living classroom”, where the kids can learn biology, maths, horticulture, cooking, nutrition, sustainability and traditional culture.
Permaculture is included in all school curriculums in Timor-Leste, thanks to permaculturist and Timorese singer-songwriter Ego Lemos. Photo: Friends of Dili
“These are core living skills in a country where food security will be vital to its future,” he says.
“An extraordinary amount of the population in Timor-Leste are children, and our aim is that they learn to feed themselves and their families as part of an educational program.”
The garden was established to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Australian intervention in Timor-Leste as part of Interfet in 1999.
“This is such a wonderful benefit to the schoolchildren of Bidau Masau,” says Stephen.
“We see it as a portal for connections and a focus for the community. It’s Canberra’s garden in Dili, our Friendship City, and our commitment to people-to-people connection.”
Permaculture is included in all school curriculums in Timor-Leste, thanks to permaculturist and Timorese singer-songwriter Ego Lemos, who founded the NGO Permaculture Timor-Leste (Permatil).
Permatil has taken programs such as this to around 200 schools in Timor-Leste, and CFD worked with the group to make this garden happen.
Stephen says CFD visited the school in August, met with Ego Lemos, principal José Gusenão, and schoolchildren who are using the garden.
Already thriving are crops of beans, lettuce, parsley, onions, chili, bok choy, water spinach (or kangkung), hummingbird tree (with edible flowers) and amaranth.
Principal José Gusenão, and schoolchildren. Photo: Friends of Dili
He says they began raising money for the project in 2018, with support from Rotary, Kingston Baptist Church and the Horticultural Society of Canberra.
More than half the funds were raised within nine months, and the rest was made up by a one-off grant through Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
Stephen says the school has 200 students, as well as a network of three other schools in the vicinity with access to the garden.
“It’s our hope that the garden will inspire collaborative critical thinking and problem solving toward real outcomes, with better relationships between teachers and students,” he says.
A fundraising cocktail party for the garden and other CFD projects in Timor-Leste will be held at the Embassy of Timor-Leste at 7 Beale Crescent, Deakin, on Friday, November 1. For more information, please contact CFD Secretary Robert Altamore on altmr@bigpond.com
Students at Bidau Masau school. Photo: Friends of Dili
“IT is apparent that the ACT fuel market is not meeting consumer expectations”. Damn right, says political columnist MICHAEL MOORE in his pasting of a "spineless" Assembly committee's weak response to petrol-price gouging.
THE Canberra Liberals are calling on the ACT government to urgently address the lack of one-on-one mental health services for Canberra’s deaf and deafblind community.
Deputy opposition leader Nicole Lawder
According to deputy opposition leader Nicole Lawder, the deaf and deafblind community have, for more than 12 months, has not had access to one-on-one mental health services.
“Members of the deaf and deafblind community are struggling to gain access to mental health services that can transcend cultural and language barriers,” says Ms Lawder, who is describing the lack of services as a major health failure.
“For many of them, Auslan is their first language, and it’s crucial to be able to communicate in that language.
“The lack of Auslan interpreters makes it very difficult to respond to a crisis mental health incident.
“There have been occasions where vulnerable members of the deaf and deafblind community seeking mental health support have been turned away because of the communication barrier.
“This is a significant failure in the ACT’s mental health system.
“The government needs to take action now to prevent this worrying situation from getting worse. We need to learn the best ways to provide mental health support to vulnerable members of our community.”
Snapper ceviche… silk texture with fennel and radish. Photo: Wendy Johnson
“Rizla’s food is amazing, or ‘ridiculously amazing’ as one of our party pronounced. And everything on the compact but impressive menu looked interesting.” WENDY JOHNSON is one very happy dining reviewer this week.
EVERY so often a dining establishment/bar bursts on to the Canberra dining scene that truly stands out in the field. Such as Rizla.
Wendy Johnson.
We landed on its third day of operation and walked away mightily impressed.
Share plates are the name of the game. If you want Rizla to select a full dining experience for you, it’s $60 a person. Or you can meander through the menu, like we did.
Riesling is Rizla’s specialty – Canberra’s best, new vintage and cellared rieslings but also iconic Australian and international producers.
The food is amazing, or “ridiculously amazing” as one of our party pronounced. And everything on the compact but impressive menu looked interesting.
The snapper ceviche was sensational (we would have loved slightly more chilli, but that’s total preference). The texture was silky, and fennel and radish made the dish super special ($16).
The skewered chicken thigh was moist and the plum and Japanese togarashi (spice mixture) an interesting combo ($6 each).
Fig lovers should not go past the pickled figs on toast with walnuts and gorgonzola ($8 each). This is a classic example of simple ingredients that work perfectly together.
Larger share plates range from $30 to $36. Our fave was the melt-in-the-mouth pepper pork loin with perky pickled apple and beets served alongside ($30). The half spatchcock came with polenta, which we debated; some like it creamy and smooth and some more textured ($30).
We indulged with the parmesan fries (thin cut) that are best eaten piping hot ($9) and worshipped the brussels sprouts ($12), made with crunchy pepitas and kecap manis (sweet soy sauce popular in Indonesia).
We washed all the yummy food down with a bottle of Canberra district Yarrh 2018 Riesling.
Rizla has introduced something new to Canberra – “Cellar to City”, a partnership with local wineries. One winery is featured each Sunday and Rizla has free tastings to showcase its wines. Customers can complete an order form that Rizla sends off to the winery. Then, bingo, the wine is delivered to your door.
It’s a magical idea. Wineries get to showcase wines in the city. Rizla gets to offer free tastings. Customers get to try new drops and have the convenience of ordering on the spot. On our visit, Lark Hill Winery was the cellar of choice (and, yes, we ordered).
Rizla holds a prime position on Lonsdale and Eloura Streets. The inside is small but Rizla has creatively made maximum use of every square centimetre.
It was a clever move to create enclosed garden-like settings at the front and side. The music was fabulous – right style, volume and variety. And guess what? Rizla has been smart enough to install bag hooks on its outdoor tables.
This week “CityNews” speaks to just some of the many businesses located in Woden Valley. This is a sponsored post.
LOCATED 10 minutes from the centre of Canberra, the development of Woden Valley began in 1962, a year before its first residents arrived in 1963.
Planned as a series of 10 suburbs (there’s now 12), Hughes, Curtin, Chifley and Lyons were among the first built.
At the time it was estimated that 90,000 people would eventually live in the area but by 2016 the population had only reached 34,760, according to the census.
Separate from Civic, Woden Valley was planned as a satellite city, with its own shopping centre, employment opportunities and suburbs located around the town centre in Woden.
But that doesn’t stop residents from outside of the Woden Valley coming to explore the many experts spread across the region.
Studio nurtures art enthusiasts
SINCE Lavender Art Studios opened in Phillip 20 years ago, it’s built a non-competitive and relaxing environment for people wanting to learn creative art techniques in a caring space, says art studio manager Elita Mackay.
“The stable, reliable and relaxing environment is a safe place for all artists who wish to learn creative art techniques in a peaceful, supported and caring setting,” Elita says.
Located above the Hansel and Gretel Coffee Shop on Townshend Street, the studio has class programs for adults, young people and children.
In theses programs, Elita says students are able to explore a variety of art mediums such as charcoal, soft chalk pastels, pencils, oils, acrylic painting, mixed media and watercolour mediums.
“The art studio is completely resourced and presents a wide range of subject matter such as portraiture, still life arrangements, reproduction work and landscape painting,” she says.
“Owner Greg Devenny-Mackay gives an extensive art demonstration at the beginning of each art class/art workshop and also extends one-on-one support to all students.
“Greg is assisted by a team of very skilled art class assistants. These accomplished studio aids have been trained for at least five years by Greg’s art program.”
Lavender Art Studios also offers specialised art workshops such as its “Adult High Country Art Retreat Program” and its children’s fun thematic holiday art workshops.
CAPITAL Rehabilitation Professionals are passionate about the positive effects of using exercise as medicine, says the owner, Lea McKaskill.
“We believe that exercise is the most underutilised and highly effective treatment that can make an extraordinarily positive impact on both our physical and mental health,” Lea says.
Located in the Stellar Canberra building, Lea says they pride themselves on their safe and non-intimidating environment, which houses state of the art facilities for exercise prescription.
“We design, implement and monitor each program specific to the client’s fitness level, medical conditions, injuries and goals,” she says.
With a team of accredited exercise physiologists, the expert health service provides support in areas such as hydrotherapy, pre and post rehabilitation of all medical and orthopaedic surgeries, ante and post-natal fitness, cardiac rehabilitation and management of chronic conditions.
Capital Rehabilitation Professionals are proud of being the preferred providers for Defence and Department of Veteran Affairs’ injured or unwell clientele, and their affiliation with the national FearLess conversation on post-traumatic stress disorder.
Capital Rehabilitation Professionals, Stellar, Health and Wellness Building, 50 Launceston Street, Phillip. Call Lea on 0418 811156 or Hayley on 0421 759844 or visit capitalrehabprofessionals.com.au
Orthopaedists ‘fast track’ trauma patients
ORTHOPAEDICS ACT is the single largest group of orthopaedic surgeons in the ACT, covering all orthopaedic subspecialty areas including management of trauma, says practice manager Deborah Henry.
Located opposite Westfield Woden, Deborah says Woden is a central hub in Canberra and a convenient location for patients.
Bringing together the expertise of seven orthopaedic surgeons at the practice, as well as sports and exercise physician Dr Lari Trease, Deobrah says they’re committed to providing surgical excellence and care.
“We treat every part of the body, head to toe. We deal with sports injuries, trauma and joint replacements,” she says.
Due to the unpredictable timing of trauma and fractures and the need to treat with some expediency, Deborah says Orthopaedics ACT offers a “Fast Track Fracture and Trauma Clinic”. And, their trauma phone line is open between 9am to 5pm every day of the week to manage trauma injuries that don’t require a visit to the emergency department.
Orthopaedics ACT, Woden Specialist Medical Centre, Level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6221 9320 or visit orthoact.com.au
Plant and paint sale celebrates spring
HOME Timber and Hardware in Phillip is celebrating spring by holding a charity fundraising barbecue and discounting 20 per cent off all plants and paints on Saturday (September 28), says store manager Sandy George.
The fundraising barbecue, which Sandy hopes will be the start of many more community fundraising events, will support the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
“We want to be involved in our local community and help where we can,” she says.
“[We also want to] help support our customers as they support us.”
As for Home Timber and Hardware’s sale on paints and plants, Sandy says they’ve been popular with customers since the arrival of spring.
She says the store has been busy with customers keen to get jobs done in their homes and gardens.
“We specialise in paints and have a large nursery in addition to basic general hardware and tools,” she says.
Staff members Darren and Michael look after the nursery and stock fruit trees, natives, roses and indoor plants, as well as the popular “potted colour”.
Carrying Wattyl and Dulux paints, Sandy says that on September 28, a Wattyl representative will be in store all day giving demonstrations and answering questions.
Home Timber and Hardware Phillip, 101-103 Hindmarsh Drive, Phillip. Call 6281 1744 or visit homehardware.com.au
New home for ‘clowning around’
SETTLED into a new location in Phillip, Just Clowning Around’s co-owners Brendan and Alison are excited to be launching a bigger, brighter and refreshed store to mark 24 years in operation.
What started out as a “gorilla-gram” business in the early days, now sees Just Clowning Around offering about 20,000 unique products such as party supplies, decorations and dress ups.
“We carry a large range of fancy dress costumes and accessories,” Brendan says.
“If a customer has something in mind and we don’t have it in stock, we can work with our supplier to get what they need, with some advance notice.”
With Halloween coming up next month, Just Clowning Around has a wide selection of dress ups, decorations, face paint and prosthetics to transform people into their favourite witch, ghoul or vampire, says Brendan.
He says balloons are also a popular item and the friendly team can arrange customised bouquets or table decorations, starting from $12 with hundreds of designs to choose from.
“We are also increasing our offering of party supplies,” says Brendan.
“Our customers are important to us and what sets us apart is our customer service and availability to let people see and touch their costume rather than purchasing it on the internet.”
IN an ever-changing industry, Duratone Hi-Fi has survived more than 50 years by treating each customer as an individual with different priorities, says owner Fay Cull.
“When people shop at most major hi-fi stores they leave with the same system as their neighbour,” says Fay, who believes their service gives unique results to their customers.
Located in Phillip, Duratone Hi-Fi brings high-end audio systems and equipment, surround-sound systems and televisions to the Canberra region.
And, with a wide array of skills and expertise from staff coming from technical and electronic backgrounds, Fay says customers are assisted by a team with a strong passion for sound.
As well as fitting homes with hi-fi needs, Fay says they offer trade-ins for older equipment and refurbishment services, too.
While new technologies generally appeal to the public, Fay says those after retro items such as turntables, amplifiers, speakers and a great assortment of vinyls can find it all at Duratone Hi-Fi.
“We have the best part of 100,000 vinyls, with everything from nursery rhymes to Russian melodia,” Fay says.
Even international records that may not be available in other countries can be found among the abundance on offer, she says.
Duratone Hi-Fi, on the corner of Botany Street and Altree Court, Phillip. Call 6282 1333 or visit duratone.com.au
Optometrists go an extra step for clients
Curtin Optical owner Corey Nicholls.
FOR more than 20 years, the independently owned business Curtin Optical has differed from large chain stores by giving the Canberra community a personalised service, says owner Corey Nicholls.
“We go that extra step to be helpful and provide excellent product knowledge,” Corey says.
From Tuesday to Saturday, Corey says the team of three experienced optometrists cater to all optometry needs, from general optometry services to express spectacle services and optical dispensing.
And, he says they offer a mobile optical dispensing service providing selection and delivery to those who are unable to get to the store due to age or disability.
This also includes spectacle repairs and adjustments and an after-hours service.
As a full workshop facility, Corey says Curtin Optical has a same-day turnaround for in-store services and a 24-hour turnaround for mobile jobs.
Stocking a wide assortment of eyewear, contact lenses and accessories, Corey says they cater to all tastes, offering affordable brands and well-known, more expensive brands, too.
And, as providers to the ACT pension scheme and the Department of Veteran Affairs, Corey says Curtin Optical can help a broad range of Canberrans.
ARTHRITIS ACT is Canberra’s leader in helping with musculoskeletal and chronic pain conditions, says CEO Rebecca Davey.
“We are a key provider of affordable hydrotherapy in the ACT and in particular, we have a huge focus on the Woden area with our key pool being at the Canberra Hospital,” she says.
With a current local government debacle on the closure of the pool at the Canberra Hospital, Rebecca says Arthritis ACT is pushing to keep facilities available there, while also running classes out of its second home at the University of Canberra hospital pool.
Taking a holistic approach to treating pain, Rebecca says Arthritis ACT has a range of programs available such as hydrotherapy, tai chi, yoga, and strength and balance classes, to assist in an easier and worthwhile journey to living better with chronic conditions.
Rebecca says they’re also concerned about the mental health impacts of people living with these conditions.
“We have support available through our peer mentors and our trained allied health staff,” says Rebecca, who invites anyone from the community to drop in to the Bruce or Pearce office during the week to discuss how a more comfortable life with chronic conditions can be achieved.
And, in Woden and Weston, the most rapidly ageing regions of Canberra, Arthritis ACT has joined forces with Nordic Stride for Life, a community group aiming to utilise the benefits of Nordic walking to enhance quality of life, functional mobility and balance.
WITH two practices at Woden and Manuka, physiotherapist Greg Nash is bringing a holistic approach to as many Canberrans as possible.
His experience goes back 35 years and as the principal of Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, Greg’s special interest areas are in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports injuries and occupational health and safety.
The Woden practice is located in the heart of Woden, alongside neighbouring specialists and health professionals that Greg says he regularly consults with to ensure patients receive holistic care.
“When I see a need I can cross refer and consult with others to treat the patient’s whole needs,” says Greg.
“We see clients who injure themselves through sport, work and car accidents, too.
“My job is to help people get back to normal and increase their exercise tolerance.”
To help support as many people as possible through physiotherapy, Greg says the Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic is open long hours, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and by appointment on weekends and public holidays, to accommodate workers and students.
“We have a 24-hour number people can call for urgent requests or if they need to change an appointment,” he says.
Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, 3/48 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6281 1382 or visit manukawodenphysio.com.au
Lawyers take discomfort out of wills
Lawyer Ashilpa Khanna of Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators.
WHILE death can be hard to think about, Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators help take the discomfort out of making a will, says wills and estate planning lawyer Ashilpa Khanna.
When death occurs, a common misconception, according to Ashilpa, is the spouse takes control of the estate and its assets, which is not generally the case.
“If you don’t make a will, the state’s law effectively does it for you,” says Ashilpa, who urges people to create a will to secure a plan for the future.
“For families, a relative dying without a will causes significant strife, since a will names the legal guardians of the person’s children.
“The last thing you want to have if you die is a fight over who’s going to raise your children.”
But to better cushion any sudden tragedies, Ashilpa firmly believes everyone should have an estate plan and it all starts with a will.
At Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators, Ashilpa says great care is taken into providing expert and honest advice, ensuring each client is aware of the legal process and disclosing any upfront fees.
“Our staff are experienced in their fields and we take pride in knowing our clients,” she says.
“We will always use common sense, respect, courtesy and good judgement when dealing with clients.”
Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators, First Floor, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip. Email enquiries@chsol.com.au, call 6152 9203 or visit chsol.com.au
Sisters thread a space for creation
WANTING to bring something new and different to Canberra, sisters Emma Mason and Clare Lovell established The Stitching Room, a boutique sewing, knitting, crochet and quilting retail shop, with a dedicated space for classes.
Clare, The Stitching Room’s sewer and knitter, sees sewing as an opportunity to be creative and spend time with like-minded souls.
Emma agrees with Clare and says they want to inspire their customers with their classes, whether it’s in giving people assistance who have already started a project, or whether it’s one of their specialist classes, which teaches people new skills.
“We want them to know that when they come into the store, they are our focus,” Emma says.
“We look after the little things so [our customers] can enjoy the time they spend with us.”
Emma says that The Stitching Room’s bright, inviting classrooms, combined with the hand-blended teas and gourmet snacks, reflect the care they take to ensure the boutique offers the creative escape Clare strives for.
“There are spaces to sit and sew or knit, and spaces to spread out and lay fabrics together and gather together,” Emma says.
The Stitching Room, 53 Colbee Court, Phillip. Call 6282 4880, email shop@thestitchingroomcanberra.com.au or visit their Facebook page @thestitchingroomcanberra.
‘Revolutionary’ training keeps riders safe
LEADING road safety training company Ascent Training Services, based in Phillip, has recently launched “Revolution Rider Training”, a new motorcycle training provider in the ACT, says CEO Stephen Lake.
“Priding ourselves on respectful and quality training, our ultimate goal is for riders to enjoy their motorbikes and be safe,” Stephen says.
“All our instructors hold a certificate IV in riding instruction and bring a high level of knowledge, quality and service.”
Stephen says people seeking to get their motorcycle licence can attend the eight-hour pre-learners and pre-provisional licence course and sit their written tests either on a weekday or weekend.
He says Revolution Rider Training also offers a practice course for those wanting extra help to prepare for their provisional licence test. Revolution Rider Training. Call 6109 0154, email info@revolutionridertraining.com.au or visit revolutionridertraining.com.au
An artist’s impression of Doma’s plan for the brickworks.
AFTER a long wait, the ACT government has today (September 25) confirmed that the Doma Group will head the restoration and redevelopment of the old Yarralumla brickworks, its quarry and railway remnants.
The Canberra developers also won the rights to rights to build 380 homes as part of the surrounding residential development, according to Urban Renewal Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith.
“The proposal for an onsite museum, new recreational uses and a mix of stand-alone houses, terraces and apartments will be sympathetic to the historic landscape and continue to tell the story of the brickworks,” Ms Stephen-Smith says.
The brickworks played an important role in the development of early Canberra and the new development preserves its heritage for future generations, which is why a community panel was formed in late 2015 to help create precinct objectives in the tender process.
The ACT government has agreed that Doma will deliver the project and are responsible for delivering the desired and approved heritage outcome within the next five years.
Doma’s priority now is to prepare a new Conservation Management Plan and present its tender concepts to community and regulatory agencies including ACT Heritage.
TWO builders have been hit with a fine from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) after Lyneham and Kingston residents complained about noise coming from nearby building sites.
Each builder was fined $1000 for working outside of permitted hours, and now the EPA is reminding other builders of their responsibilities to operate within the law or risk a fine.
The ACT is divided into noise zones based on land uses listed in the Territory Plan, according to the EPA, who says the noise standards permit the highest noise levels in industrial areas and the lowest levels in residential areas.
In industrial, city and town centres the EPA says high noise levels are allowed between 6am and 8pm from Monday to Sunday and on public holidays. At other times the noise from building work must not be above the noise standard.
Noise from building work in all other areas is permitted within 7am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday. At other times, including public holidays, the noise from building work must not be above the noise standard.
More information about noise standards is available atact.gov.au/noise
Orthopaedists ‘fast track’ trauma patients
Plant and paint sale celebrates spring
‘Revolutionary’ training keeps riders safe