APPRENTICE Ryan Hanns topped the ACT Refrigeration and Air Conditioning section of the Regional WorldSkills competition.
A humbled Ryan was up against three third year and four second year apprentices before being names the best in the state in his field.
“I love my apprenticeship and take great pride in it. To be recognised at a state level is a significant achievement,” he says.
Ryan will compete at a national level in 2020.
ANKETELL Street in Tuggeranong is now a bus-free zone after more than 700 people called on the ACT government to re-route the buses away from the town centre, says opposition deputy leader Nicole Lawder.
City Services Minister Chris Steel announced the plans to re-route the buses from Anketell Street this morning (November 26) saying the work will start as early as January next year.
The renewed space, which Mr Steel says will be more accessible, safer and inviting, will include 40 new deciduous trees, improved pavement levels for walkers and cyclists, seating and shade structures, water permeable paving around trees, rain gardens, and irrigated grass near the lakeshore.
He says the new design also increases the space available for outdoor dining, allows for events and provides better views and improved access for walkers and cyclists.
Mr Steel says the removal of buses from Anketell Street is a response to the feedback from local residents and businesses.
“The community made it clear they wanted to see buses taken off Anketell Street so they could enjoy their newly upgraded main street with a cleaner and quieter environment, with more options for business to expand their outdoor dining facilities,” he says.
Buses will now travel into the interchange via Soward Drive, turn right along Athllon Drive, take the signalised right onto Anketell Street and into the interchange, with new bus stops being added on Athllon Drive. This will make our public transport network more accessible including for the thousands of public servants who work on Athllon Drive, he says.
“The changes to bus routes currently using Anketell Street will come into effect in April next year. This will help reduce heavy vehicle traffic along both Anketell Street and Cowlishaw Street, and make Tuggeranong’s main street a better place for people,” he says.
Ms Lawder, who led a motion in the Legislative Assembly in August with backing from residents and the Tuggeranong Community Council, says this is a win for the entire community.
“Clearly our collective efforts have paid off,” she says.
“Thousands of residents and visitors will benefit from a bus free zone on Anketell Street.
“The Anketell Street precinct is the heart of the Tuggeranong Town Centre. People want to enjoy the outdoor dining and retail opportunities, but the constant interruption of Labor’s noisy, fuming buses has inhibited the outdoor lifestyle.”
A COMMUNITY petition, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in a bid to remove any advertising depicting radio shock jock Alan Jones from Transport Canberra buses, has failed, according to the ACT Greens.
In September, ACT Greens spokesperson for women, Caroline Le Couteur, says the Greens sponsored a community petition initiated by Canberra Women in Business to ensure that Transport Canberra immediately remove all advertisements promoting people who make sexist public comments, including Alan Jones, from bus advertising, and ensure that promotion of people who make sexist public comments is added to the bans in the Transport Canberra advertising guidelines.
“Like most Canberrans, I find Mr Jones’ views appalling and harmful. His comments go beyond sexism and misogyny, he actually calls for violence against women,” Ms Le Couteur says.
“It’s disappointing that the ACT government has decided that they simply won’t update the Transport Canberra guidelines to ensure that a broadcaster with Alan Jones’ reprehensible record isn’t promoted in our public space.”
The Greens do, however, welcome the government’s commitment to ensure that there will not be any ACT government advertising during the Alan Jones program.
THIS year’s winners of the Legislative Assembly’s annual award for emerging artists are two final year students from the ANU School of Art and Design’s graduating exhibition of 2019.
Each student is awarded a $500 grant to help with the cost of materials associated with their artistic practice. They are also invited to have their works exhibited in the London Circuit corridor of the Assembly building, where they can be viewed from the street throughout 2020.
Vicki Dunne, acting-speaker of the Assembly, selected the recipients of this years’ prizes.
Kate Matthews, who has also been taking social photographs for “CityNews” this year, was singled out for “The Public Machine”, photomontage paste-up, augmented reality, and Joseph Nuttall for his oil on canvas work, “Comprehension Orange, Cream, Blue”.
Speaker of the Assembly, Joy Burch, thanked Mrs Dunne and said: “All of the artists make such a significant contribution to the visual arts. I commend their efforts and wish them all every success in their future careers.”
She said that the assembly’s Art Advisory Committee had developed a strong relationship with the ANU School of Art and Design over many years now, and that it was a privilege to have this opportunity to foster visual arts in the ACT.
POLICE will be swarming Belconnen tonight (November 26), but they’re not saying precisely where or why.
Police and partner agencies are conducting a training exercise between 7.30pm and midnight and say there will be an increased number of uniformed emergency personnel visible in Belconnen.
Police say the public should not be alarmed if they see police or other personnel carrying weapons.
“People who see the training should not be concerned that any of the locations are under any threat,” they say.
“Training such as this helps ensure that response capabilities are continually improved.”
A unique family artistic collaboration that confronts the moral and environmental implications of climate change has been taking the town by storm.
At the centre of the project are two works by painter Mandy Martin and her artist son Alexander Boynes, with son-in-law and WA cellist Tristan Parr providing an evocative soundscape to the mostly large-scale installations in “Hi-Vis Futures,” curated by Virginia Rigney for the Canberra Museum + Gallery.
Visitors to the gallery have been seen standing in awed contemplation of the landscapes which show vistas of industrial and mining operations overlaid with video imagery created by Boynes.
The two collaborative 10 metre-long installations, “Luminous relic” and Rewriting the score,” have already been shown in regional communities, but curator Rigney has incorporated new individual works by Martin and Boynes into in “Hi-Vis Futures,” saying, “Martin’s paintings are heavy with pigment… Boynes’ images flicker over them [and] Parr’s deep resonant cello hold us in this space.”
This Thursday, (November 28 ) CMAG will embark on an extended public program for the exhibition, “Art + Emotion = Action,” where Boynes and Martin will be in conversation with humanities scholar Libby Robin and social scientist Jamie Pittock, both from the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society.
Later that day, “a parallel and complementary exhibition,” “Slow Hope,” will open at Beaver Galleries. This sister show was partly prompted by an essay of the same name by German historian Christof Mauch, who put out a crisis call for ordinary people to believe in their power to make millions of small gestures to avert catastrophe.
In “Slow Hope” Boynes has created hand-drawn and solvent-washed images on an aluminium background, as his trees and shrubs stand guard against cooling towers and smoke stacks.
Boynes and Martin, one of our best-known artists who now lives in the central west of NSW, have been collaborating for six years on related projects.
We had a chance to catch up with Martin and curator Virginia Rigney recently as they were hanging “Hi-Vis Futures.” To Martin, working with her son through his digital visual overlays to render some of the scenes luminous was “phenomenal.”
“It’s time to absorb the fundamental signs in the water cooling towers, the power stations, Hazelwood, and the biggest goldmine in the Southern Hemisphere,” Martin says. But their efforts were not always appreciated as they found when setting up a tripod in Geelong.
She admits that it’s a literate and intellectually demanding show, with visual references to Brett Whiteley and the appropriation of the expression “Known unknowns” from a 2001 speech by the then UK Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld.
She doesn’t shy away from the possibilities of art practice as a kind of family reunion where the collaborators sit around the kitchen table, saying, “the process evolves organically.”
What is more, she’s noticed her grandchildren growing up with the idea of extinction, and says, “Kids understand.” Martin’s hope is that the kind of work they’re doing elicits an immediate reaction from adult viewers too.
“Art + Emotion = Action,” CMAG, 1-2pm, Thursday, November 28, all welcome.
“Collaboration in Art and Music In ‘Hi-Vis Futures’,” Composer Kim Cunio in conversation with composer and musician Tristen Parr and artists Mandy Martin and Alexander Boynes, CMAG, 1-2pm, Wednesday, December 4, all welcome.
“Hi-Vis Futures” continues at the Canberra Museum and Gallery until February 4.
“Slow Hope: Alexander Boynes & Mandy Martin, “opening at Beaver Galleries, 81 Denison St Deakin, 6PM Thursday, November 28, and then the exhibition continues until December 15.
THE community is urged to avoid Bear Place in Chisholm while firefighters tackle two garage fires.
The fires are in neighbouring yards.
Two ACTF&R pumpers, one ACTF&R Commander and two heavy Parks and Conservation tankers are on scene.
The ACT Human Rights Commission has expressed concern at the human rights issues documented by the ACT inspector of Correctional Services, in the first “Healthy Prison Review” of the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
“We are particularly concerned about the findings regarding ongoing inappropriate accommodation placement; and the lack of equality of opportunity to facilities, programs and services for female detainees at the AMC,” said Dr Helen Watchirs, president and Human Rights commissioner.
Karen Toohey, discrimination commissioner, Health Services commissioner and commissioner for Disability and Community Services said: “Our submissions highlighted our concerns about the treatment of female detainees at the AMC and it is concerning that many of those issues remain unresolved, creating barriers to female detainees reintegrating in to the ACT community.
“We reiterate that women at the AMC must be accommodated in appropriate accommodation. We are hopeful that the recently announced construction of an additional 80-bed facility will provide opportunities for this to occur.
Dr Watchirs said the latest review echoed previous recommendations made by the ACT Human Rights Commission including consideration of the introduction of a needle and syringe program and improved strip searching practices.
“We also welcome the more positive findings in the review, including the benefits of the ACT government’s ‘Building Communities not Prisons’ initiative,” she said
“The inspector’s recommendations regarding improved access to health services and programs address a range of issues impacting on detainees’ safety and prospects for rehabilitation.
“The Commission encourages the ACT government to accept the recommendations of the review and continue to work constructively with all oversight agencies on its implementation.
“The review contains several recommendations that the commission conduct further work, including reviewing dental services and the treatment of Muslim detainees. Planning for this work has commenced.”
An historic collection of bull semen will be auctioned by CSIRO to raise money for charities that help rural communities.
The genetic material from a range of rare cattle breeds offers breeding societies and producers the chance to bring back some of the older breeds whose genetic stock isn’t readily available anymore.
Nearly 5000 ‘straws’ of semen are on offer at the auction on 27-29 November, through Auctions Plus.
The samples were gathered in the 1980s and 1990s, meaning another generation of Gen X and Gen Y cattle could be born in the next few years.
CSIRO began cattle genetics and breeding research in the 1950s for the Australian beef industry, at a time when animals had to be bred to be studied. Now, these studies can take place at the genetic level.
Advances in science mean the semen is no longer required by CSIRO.
Since the completion of the cattle genome sequence in 2009, research into selective breeding and improving cattle herd genetics has moved into the digital age with observational studies, statistical imputation and machine learning replacing the much slower and more expensive traditional methods.
CSIRO livestock geneticist Dr Sigrid Lehnert said most of the samples are from hybrid species developed by crossing tropical breeds, known as Bos indicus, with the traditional British Bos taurus breeds.
“CSIRO was the first in Australia to blend multiple British and African-sourced cattle breeds to create ‘tropical composite’ cattle that were more heat tolerant and tick resistant and therefore better suited to our climates,” Dr Lehnert said.
“With the new genetics we were instrumental in helping the livestock industry improve and diversify the genetic quality of the national herd.”
Australia’s first tropical composite breed, the Belmont Red, was bred at – and named after – CSIRO’s former cattle research station at Belmont in Central Queensland.
In addition to the Belmont Red, there is semen on offer at the auction from Tuli, Brahman, Adaptaur, Red Angus, Afrikaner, Simbrah, Charbray and other breeds.
“We can’t guarantee that the semen is still viable after all this time and unfortunately we have no genetic information on the bulls,” Dr Lehnert said.
The funds raised will go to charities that help rural communities, including Drought Angels, the Queensland Country Women’s Association and Beyond Blue.
A BILL tabled by the ACT Greens in the Legislative Assembly today (November 27) could see Canberrans paying for fines in instalments rather than at once.
The Bill amends the “Magistrates Court Act 1930” and “Magistrates Court Regulation 2009” and seeks to provide Canberrans with more payment options in relation to infringement notice offences.
Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur says the amendments will support fines for offences such as not picking up after your dog, riding public transport without paying, or littering. But she says this excludes road traffic and parking offences, as these are dealt with in separate legislation.
If the bill is supported, Canberrans who receive simple offence fines could apply to:
Between July 1, 2017, and October this year, the ACT Greens say a total of 303 infringements fell within the jurisdiction of Transport Canberra and City Services were not paid. Of these, 300 were related to offences under the “Domestic Animals Act 2000”. The other three were under the “Litter Act 2004″ and were cancelled after being reviewed, and replaced with formal warning notices.
“Unfortunately it is not clear why these fines are not being paid, however, it is fair to assume that in many cases it is because people cannot pay them,” Ms Le Couteur says.
“In not paying, they risk prosecution. For those people on low incomes who do pay a fine, this will almost certainly mean sacrificing spending on something else.
“By implementing a ‘fairer fines’ system, we can avoid entrenching poverty in our city, while enforcing our laws and still changing behaviour.”
Social snapper TORI HERON files from Panama’s National Day celebrations in Weston Creek.
With wellness in mind, “CityNews” speaks to local businesses who can help Canberrans reach their health and fitness goals. This is a sponsored post.
WHETHER it’s increasing core strength, reducing pain, learning to relax, getting fit or protecting skin, Canberrans can all benefit from taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
Health and fitness extends to mind as well as body, as more experts are seeing the benefits that exercising can have on mental health.
With wellness in mind, “CityNews” speaks to local businesses who can help Canberrans reach their goals, look after themselves and become the fittest and healthiest they can be.
EXERCISE is so important for mental health as well as physical health, according to EVO Health Club manager Cindy Hansen.
“It’s something we can and should make time for,” says Cindy.
“We live in a busy world and it’s so important to take the time to look after ourselves.”
Bodies are made to move, according to Cindy, who says going to the gym should bring people life satisfaction beyond fitness goals, extending into an active life and a sharper, fitter mind.
Located at Hotel Realm, EVO Health Club takes a different approach to fitness, using sound methods and the latest technology, to help people reach their goals, Cindy says.
“We use Technogym equipment, have a 25-metre heated pool, sauna, steam room and spa,” she says.
“We also have five personal trainers who can help clients meet their fitness goals.”
Clients can receive a 360-degree assessment of their physical, mental and life strengths and needs, before implementing a training program.
“Our expert personal trainers and strength and conditioning coaches are engaged, knowledgeable and ready to guide you along,” the club says.
“More than anything we want to train your body so you have the strength to sustain your busy life.”
EVO Health Club, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. Call 6162 0808, email workout@evohealthclub.com.au or visit evohealthclub.com.au
PILATES can be considered a cross-partner with any body conditioning modality, says Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie of Pilates Centre Canberra.
“It can support any other exercises, makes people feel good and gets the body working, whether they are fit already or deconditioned from lack of exercise,” Felicia says.
Felicia has been teaching Pilates for 12 years and says she discovered a love for it at a point in her life when she was fit and keen to have a go at any new exercise.
“I discovered that when you have a properly trained instructor you get very skilful teaching, backed with reasons why you are doing a particular exercise.
“With Pilates, you should always be able to ask your instructor why and learn the reasons it’s so important to get the exercises right.”
Felicia says she loves the sense of achievement she gets when meeting the physical challenges.
“It’s physically hard, so when you get it right it’s a huge personal accomplishment,” she says.
“Being able to use movement to get out of pain is incredible.”
Felicia says it’s the thinking person’s meditation and that her clients say they come out feeling mentally and physically cared for.
“Often the true gains of Pilates aren’t seen until they realise they can reach further, feel stronger and their pain has lessened,” she says.
“It gives people confidence in how they move, which affects every part of their lives.”
The Pilates Centre Canberra, 58 Colbee Court, Phillip. Call 6162 1793
LOCATED in Phillip, Enliven Infrared Saunas is Canberra’s first and only dedicated infrared sauna studio, says owner Jill Gray, who opened in August and has already developed a tribe of health-conscious “sweaters”.
Jill discovered infrared saunas while living in Melbourne and says there are many health benefits of using infrared saunas including detoxification, weight loss, pain relief, skin rejuvenation and sleep benefits.
“People tell me how their muscle tension and joint issues feel so much better as soon as they come out of a session,” says Jill.
“Clients suffering from arthritis and inflammation also experience instant relief and walk out pain free.”
Physical exertion, work demands and stresses can impact the ability to find balance and happiness in busy lives, according to Jill, who says incorporating infrared sauna therapy into weekly health routines can help restore body and mind.
“Infrared saunas are completely different from traditional steam saunas,” she says.
“They use infrared rays to penetrate the skin on a cellular level. The heat is warm and relaxing, like walking past a window the sun is shining through, it’s not uncomfortable or overbearing at all.”
Clinical studies have shown that people’s sleep quality improves after a sauna, too, she says.
“People feel so relaxed and de-stressed after a 45-minute session. Many clients tell me how much better they sleep after they visit the studio,” says Jill.
Enliven Infrared Saunas offers three sauna sizes to choose from, including Canberra’s only lie-down infrared sauna bed.
“We also have a range of gift vouchers available which will make the perfect Christmas gift. Give the gift of wellness and spoil your loved ones,” Jill says.
Enliven Infrared Saunas, Unit 3, 61 Dundas Court, Phillip. Visit enlivensaunas.com.au or call 0404 073618.
WELLNESS is about prevention and maintaining a healthy body and mind in the long term, says owner of Wellness Empowerment Collective in Lyneham, Ebony Anderson.
“It’s about paying attention to what the body needs, not listening to what has worked for other people, and this is where empowerment comes in too,” she says.
“We need to listen to our own needs and tune into ourselves. At the Wellness Empowerment Collective, we assist people in taking charge of their own health, and encouraging them to make decisions for themselves.”
Ebony founded the Wellness Empowerment Collective last year, and offers a range of treatments including fitness sessions, yoga, cryotherapy, salt therapy, massages and float tanks.
“Toxic work or home lives can affect health, so we help people look at ways they can support themselves,” she says.
Ebony says she loves the cryotherapy treatment they offer because it helps with her pain associated with endometriosis.
“It leaves you feeling refreshed, it clears brain fog and reduces inflammation and toxins in the muscles,” she says.
“A lot of my older clients are so grateful for it and tell me it has reduced their arthritis pain, allowing for more movement in the hands. I love hearing this from my clients.”
Wellness Empowerment Collective, 2 Rigall Place, Level 1, National Hockey Centre, Lyneham. Call 0450 585569, email info@wellnessempowerment.com.au or visit wellnessempowerment.com.au
AFTER damaging her skin growing up, INSKINCare owner Tracey Newell is now on a mission to educate her clients on the dangers of sun damage, saying sunscreen is the most important product for everyone.
“I recommend sunscreen to everyone. It’s not just for the face, we need to use it on the decolletage, hands, arms, legs and the tops of our feet,” Tracey says.
“It’s so important to educate about the dangers of sun damage. Thirty years ago the education wasn’t there, or perhaps we just didn’t care! It was all about slathering on oil and getting as brown as a berry.
“I now have sun-damaged skin but I’m looking after it moving forward.”
Tracey opened the salon three years ago and believes it’s important not to take life too seriously.
“We want our clients to feel comfortable with being naturally who they are, while also feeling the best they can,” she says.
“We’ll often greet you bare-faced and in our true skin [because] our aim is to help clients feel comfortable.
“We certainly don’t look perfect and it’s more about feeling as good as we can.”
The salon uses Dermalogica products and offers waxing, lash and brow treatments, facials, spray tans, manicures and pedicures. Part-time therapist Ann-Marie and student Roath make up the team.
“We don’t categorise our facials, instead we individualise and look at our clients’ skin on the day. It’s about them and their needs,” Tracey says.
“We take into account how their skin feels today, how much time they have and their budget.
“It’s been dry, hot and windy so we’re mindful that the skin barrier may be struggling. We can help rehydrate, soothe and calm the skin.”
INSKINCare, 4/21 Heydon Place, Evatt. Call 6258 5818 or visit inskincare.com.au
FOLLOWING a decade of hard work and dedication, Define Fitness, founded by personal trainer Nathan Hitchcock, was recognised as a finalist in the Telstra Business Awards, says Nathan.
“Being a finalist in the ‘Small and Succeeding’ category has been affirming for us as a team and community,” says Nathan.
“It’s a celebration of all the hard work, strategy and dedication over the past 10 years.”
Nathan started Define Fitness in 2009 and says its aim is to help clients become the fittest and healthiest they can be.
“Our workouts are designed to suit individual needs and get results,” he says.
“Personal training has to be personal [and] adopting this focus as a fitness professional results in retention and trust being built. We then build capacity in people and make a difference to our community.”
Offering personal training sessions, partner sessions, bootcamps and corporate programs, Nathan says Define Fitness prefers to exercise in the great outdoors for fresh air and a connection with nature.
Define Fitness has an inclusive approach and works with the local community’s health and wellbeing services to assist people with mental, intellectual and physical challenges.
“We believe that assisting less able people is what we should all do,” he says.
“This is why we have a focus on giving back to the community and importantly altruistic perspectives.”
Define Fitness, 71/27 Wiseman Street, Macquarie. Call 0402 290371 or visit definefitness.com.au
FROM healthy eating to an active lifestyle, every little thing someone does to improve their health can make an impact, says owner of Capital Chemist Kingston, Sandra Ferrington.
“With a positive mindset and sense of purpose, much can be achieved and we can all move towards a healthier lifestyle,” she says
Sandra has been in the pharmacy industry for more than 30 years and says her key passion is assisting customers to have the best health outcomes possible.
“All our staff are well trained to provide information and services that are individualised for each customer,” she says.
“We have an efficient and modern dispensary for regular medication supply that uses a state-of-the-art robot.
“[And] our pharmacists are always available to advise on medication profiles and reviews.”
Sandra says the new pharmacy in Green Square is designed to make it easy for customers to chat with pharmacists.
She says private consult rooms are available to ensure the privacy of conversations and to facilitate the provision of professional services such as sleep apnoea, pre-employment health assessments, weight-loss programs, hearing assessments, cholesterol and diabetes screening and vaccinations.
“Regular health promotions on topics relevant to the Kingston community, such as heart health, dementia, asthma management and diabetes management, are a feature of the daily life of the pharmacy,” she says.
The Kingston pharmacy also regularly supports community groups and charities with fundraising and education campaigns.
“You will often see our staff promoting activities such as healthy eating, heart and lung health awareness and supporting an active lifestyle with morning walking groups,” Sandra says.
Backed by a friendly team of knowledgeable pharmacists, including Fiona, Gayanie, Yuh-Lin, Syndia and Maja, Sandra says they all work together to provide customers with an outstanding health outcome.
Capital Chemist, 62 Jardine Street, Kingston. Call 6295 9146.
A FOCUS on core strength is crucial to long-lasting health and mobility, says physiotherapist Greg Nash.
Greg owns Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic and says he loves to help people maintain and recover their health and mobility, whether it’s following an injury or surgery, or it’s helping someone with musculoskeletal issues.
“I always look at where the patient is at, assess the problem and suggest treatment,” he says.
“Staying active and having good core strength is so important.”
Greg says he sees patients who are injured through sport, car accidents, work or are recovering after surgery.
“We encourage movement, though people do need to modify what they do if they have sustained an injury,” he says.
“It’s important to be realistic about how things have changed and what they can actually do.”
With more than 35 years’ experience in the industry, Greg says he enjoys helping people get back to normal and seeing them get stronger.
“It takes time though, and I find that people think it’s going to be a much faster process,” he says.
“With manual therapy, exercise and electrotherapy like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) or ultrasound, we can help them take baby steps towards recovery.”
Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, 3/48 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6281 1382 or visit manukawodenphysio.com.au
THERE is strong evidence to support the effectiveness of acupuncture in helping with people’s health, according to Stephan Skerra, an acupuncturist at CARM Therapies.
“It can be used to treat allergic rhinitis (seasonal hay fever), chronic low back pain, tension and chronic headaches, knee osteoarthritis, migraine, post-operative pain, nausea and vomiting,” Stephan says.
As well as acupuncture, CARM Therapies offers remedial massage for pregnancy, chronic pain management, post acute injuries, muscular aches and pains, and general wellbeing.
CARM Therapies, an allied health clinic which has been focused on helping the community create better health and wellbeing for more than 12 years, has two acupuncturists, three remedial massage therapists and a pilates practitioner.
Stephan says they enjoy helping people overcome pain and educating and explaining acupuncture and how it works in a way that is easy for people to understand.
“We use a modern approach to a traditional therapy, using the latest methods based on anatomy and neuroscience,” he says.
“We focus a lot on acupuncture for chronic pain management, treatment of post acute injuries and orthopaedic sports acupuncture.
“We are also helping a lot of people with their hayfever this season, especially with all this dust in the atmosphere.”
CARM Therapies, 5 Higgins Place, Higgins. Call 6278 7302 or visit carmtherapies.com.au
CANBERRA’S largest orthopaedic practice, Orthopaedics ACT, has been helping people live an active life since 2013, says practice manager Deborah Henry.
One excellent way which will help people maintain strength and mobility is resistance training, says Deborah.
“It’s helpful to do resistance or strength-based exercises twice a week, like circuit or balance classes,” she says.
“The Australian movement guidelines include ideally moving for 30 minutes, five days a week, but this can be in efforts as short as 10 minutes at a time.
“It doesn’t have to be sport but could be gardening, housework, taking the stairs instead of the lift or getting off the bus one stop early.”
According to Deborah, Orthopaedics ACT brings together the skills and expertise of seven surgeons, one sport and exercise physician as well as a clinical nurse who work as a team with a number of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy providers to keep patients as active as possible.
For people with early arthritis, Deborah says Orthopaedics ACT’s surgeons and sports physicians recommend an exercise program called GLA:D, which is run by physiotherapists and strengthens the knees and hips, and can reduce pain and medication requirements.
When necessary, whether due to age, trauma or sporting injuries, Deborah says that Orthopaedics ACT can improve quality of life through surgical intervention.
“Whether minor or major surgery, it’s aimed at allowing our patients to resume a healthy, active lifestyle,” she says.
“Having seven surgeons means we have all parts of the body covered, head to toe. [But] we don’t just fix bones, we fix people.”
Orthopaedics ACT, Woden Specialist Medical Centre, Level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6221 9320 or visit orthoact.com.au
Cartoonist PAUL DORIN directs his wry eye at the Westpac Bank scandal.
CANBERRA Opera is to receive a $500,000 bequest and is already planning a more professional future, according to local music sources.
It is believed that the organisation will use the windfall to develop a more professional profile and that it is looking to engage as artistic director the celebrated Australian baritone Peter Coleman Wright, who, with his wife, the soprano Cheryl Barker, is familiar to Canberra audiences through performances at “Voices in the Forest”.
But while the bequest is common knowledge in the Canberra singing community and the company has been quietly engaging personnel and setting up media dates with Peter Coleman-Wright, so far Canberra Opera has remained tight-lipped, beyond a hint in its latest newsletter that “there will… be a major announcement about the company in early December following our Christmas concert”.
The newsletter also reports: “International opera singer Peter Coleman-Wright AO has expressed an interest in our company and will be in Canberra from December 10-12,” adding that the company will put on a showcase “so he can hear the talent that exists in Canberra so he might foster and grow it with us”.
Canberra Opera is an amateur organisation which was started in 2011 by David and Margot Reedy as the modest “Canberra Opera Workshop” (COW). The company incorporated in 2013 and is now run independently, often presenting opera and musical theatre to audiences in non-traditional venues.
Its productions have become more ambitious in recent years, with a very successful season of Puccini‘s “Gianni Schicchi” and Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”, in August.
Canberra Opera is not to be confused with a company of this same name that ran from 1974-1984 with many mainstage operas at the Canberra Theatre, nor with Opera ACT, which succeeded it and last performed in 1991.
THIS morning (Wednesday, November 27) saw the launch at the Australian National Botanic Gardens of the National Parks Conservation Trust, formed to connect people with conservation projects that protect Australia’s unique plants, animals and cultural heritage.
To introduce people to the new trust, Parks Trust spokesman Craig Connelly said a competition had been launched to confer a common name on a unique banksia growing in the Australian National Botanic Gardens. With pink new foliage, leaves turning deep purple in cold weather, and an irresistible attraction for birds, bees and butterflies, this unusual banksia needs a name before it can be available to home gardeners.
The trust will channel donations straight to in-the-field projects to protect the future for Australia’s natural world and cultural heritage.
Mr Connelly said: “We want the public to be confident that the projects they’re supporting are informed by the knowledge and experience of world-leading scientists, traditional owner groups, skilled park managers and indigenous communities.”
Mr Connelly added that a collaborative relationship with Parks Australia would plug them into that network.
The Parks Trust will seek support for conservation projects covering 58 Australian Marine Parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens and spectacular Commonwealth national parks including dual-World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Entries to the naming competition at parkstrust.org.au
AN ACT government motion, passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly today (November 27), is calling on the Federal Parliament to remove the subsections from the ACT’s Self-Government Act, the same subsections, which exclude the ACT from making laws around voluntary assisted dying.
The motion calls on the Federal Parliament to resolve that no Australian citizen should be disadvantaged with respect to their democratic rights on the basis of where they live; and remove subsections 23(1A) and (1B) from the “Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth)”.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the continued operation of the subsections is increasingly absurd, given states like Victoria have legislated for voluntary assisted dying, and Western Australia was in the process of doing so.
“When the Federal Parliament inserted those subsections into our Self-Government Act, it was because they did not want us to be among the first jurisdictions to legislate for voluntary assisted dying,” he says.
“Now, it’s increasingly likely we might be among the last – if the Federal Parliament ever restores our rights.”
ACT Labor and ACT Greens agreed to write to their federal party leaders before the end of 2019 requesting their commitment to removing these subsections in the 2020 parliamentary year, and the Opposition Leader Alistair Coe said he was open to writing a letter.
ACT Labor MLA Tara Cheyne says simply by living in a territory, Canberra residents have fewer rights than those who live in states.
“No Australian citizen should be disadvantaged with respect to their democratic rights on the basis of where they live,” Ms Cheyne says.
WHILE children continue to die in Australia from being left in hot cars, the ACT Children and Young People Death Review Committee and Kidsafe ACT is warning Canberrans about the fatal dangers of leaving children in cars.
“Never leave your child alone in the car, even for a minute,” says Margaret Carmody, chair of the ACT Children and Young people Death Review Committee.
“Parked cars get hot very quickly and even on the more overcast days, the temperature can rise to dangerous and even fatal levels very quickly.”
Kidsafe ACT CEO Jes Chalmers says the temperature inside a parked car, on a hot day, can be as much as 40C hotter than it is outside.
“On a cool day, the temperature can be over 20C hotter. Most of this temperature rise can happen within the first five minutes,” she says.
Most parents believe forgetting their child in a car is something that will never happen to them until it does, say ACT Children and Young People Death Review Committee.
“Younger children are particularly vulnerable,” Ms Carmody says.
“Our message is clear: never leave children alone in cars, always take children with you and when leaving the car, check to make sure that all occupants leave the vehicle or are carried out when unloading.
“Young children quickly dehydrate and are at risk of suffering serious heat distress. Leaving the window down a few centimetres has little effect and only causes a slight decrease in temperature. If you have errands to do or need to go into the servo take your child with you, or if it’s practical, make other arrangements to leave the child where they’re safer, rather than putting them at risk of being unattended in a vehicle.”
If members of the public see a child left alone in a car in the hot summer weather, the committee advises that they call 000.
THE political furore around Angus Taylor has escalated, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison having to defend his unconventional action of ringing NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller to inquire about the investigation into an alleged doctored document used by the energy minister.
Critics of Morrison’s call included former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who said while he was sure the call was “innocuous … it would have been much better had it not been made”.
“It is vitally important that that inquiry … is seen to be conducted entirely free of political influence,” he said. “Being blunt about it, it’s a call that I would not have made.”
After NSW police announced it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the document – containing highly inflated figures that Taylor used to try to discredit the City of Sydney over its travel expenses – Morrison said he would “take advice” from the police before assessing Taylor’s situation.
After ringing Fuller, he indicated Taylor would not be stood aside during the investigation.
Today, Morrison told parliament: “What I did yesterday is what I told the house I would do.”
“The purpose of my call was to fulfil my undertaking to the house and to discharge my responsibility under the statement of ministerial standards to inform myself of the nature, substance and instigation of the investigation under way,” he said.
“I do not intend to base serious assessments of my duties under the statement of ministerial standards on media reports or comments made by the Labor Party.”
Fuller, who knows Morrison personally, defended the prime minister’s action when questioned today.
“The prime minister was trying to confirm or deny whether or not there was an investigation into one of his cabinet members,” the commissioner said.
Fuller said he had received a letter from the shadow attorney-general, Mark Dreyfus, about the Taylor matter. Given the positions of Dreyfus and Taylor, “it was appropriate that we look into the matter to see if there was any criminality and to see if there was potentially a person responsible for that.”
Fuller said Morrison “didn’t ask me any questions that were inappropriate. He didn’t ask for anything that was inappropriate and I’m comfortable with the discussion that we had over a few minutes”.
The commissioner said “the allegation itself is around a complex piece of criminal law. We are unsure at this stage even if we have reached a benchmark of it being a criminal matter. Now that needs to be the first port of call. Is this a criminal matter or is it not?”
He added he wanted the matter wrapped up as quickly as possible.
Fuller also played down the closeness of his relationship with Morrison, saying the prime minister was his local member and he had met him a few times but “I have never had dinner at the Lodge”.
“I certainly don’t have a personal relationship with the prime minister.”
Fuller once told 2GB’s Ben Fordham that when Morrison was his neighbour, the then-treasurer used to bring in his rubbish bin. When asked about that on Wednesday, he said this was just a joke. “Of course, he has never brought my bins in.”
Morrison was also previously asked by Fordham about whether he’d brought Fuller’s bin in, and responded, “that’s what good neighbours do”.
In parliament, Morrison defended not requiring Taylor to stand aside during the investigation by pointing to instances where Labor figures had not stood aside.
When asked by the media whether it had been inappropriate for Morrison to ring Fuller, opposition leader Anthony Albanese said:
“I’ll tell you what Australians will be thinking today … They will think to themselves, ‘If one of my mates was under investigation, can I pick up the phone to the head of the police and ask for the details of that investigation on the day that it’s launched?’ I think not.”
Michelle Grattan is a professorial fellow at the University of Canberra. This article was originally published on The Conversation.
A STORE attendant was threatened by an armed man when he walked behind the the counter of a Queanbeyan grocery store with a knife and demanded cash and cigarettes on Monday (November 25).
The man entered the store on Donald Road at about 10.45pm, and once the attendant complied, he fled on foot along Fergus Street.
No one was injured in the incident.
Police are now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed a man in his late 30s to early 40s, about 180cm tall, with a tanned complexion, muscular build, wearing a grey/blue hooded tracksuit and sunglasses around the time of the incident.
As investigations into the robbery continue, police are urging anyone who may have information or dashcam/CCTV to contact Queanbeyan police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000.
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