Canberra CityNews February 25-March 3 2010

CityNews February 25-March 3 �

� CityNews February 25-March 3

CityNews February 25-March 3 �

Editor: Ian Meikle, [email protected] reporter: Eleri Harris, 0414 618493 [email protected] editor: Kathryn Vukovljak, 6262 9100 [email protected] editor: Helen Musa, 0400 [email protected] and photography: Silas Brown, 0412 718086Designer: Joran DilucianAccounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler [email protected] and circulation: Richard Watson, 6262 [email protected]

Phone 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111 GPO Box 2448, Canberra City 2601www.citynews.com.au

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, of Suite 1, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

4�,00� copies a weekSix-month audit to September 30, 2009

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contact usINDEXFebruary 25-March 3, 2010 Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 8

FRONT COVER: ZOO managing director Clinton Hutchinson and operations manager Kate Robbins.Story Page 10.

Arts&Entertainment 11-13Crossword 18Dining 13Horoscope 18Letters 4Movie reviews 12News 3-9Politics 4Property 19-23Social Scene 15Sport 9Sudoku 18

Binge-dinking helpTHE Federal Government is providing $150,000 for a community-based project, GROG Watch, to tackle the problem of binge drinking among young people in the ACT. It will provide support and intervention to young binge drinkers referred by ACT Policing and ACT Ambulance services. The project will be run by CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn.

Safety grantsTHE NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust is inviting submissions from individuals and com-munity-based and other organisations to apply for funding for projects or activities under its 2010/2011 grant program. The Trust is seeking proposals consistent with the philosophies outlined in the Vision Zero/Safe System approach to road safety. Guidelines for applicants and the application form are at www.roadsafetytrust.org.au

Donation for researchCANBERRA builder Angelo Turcin has presented a cheque for $40,134 to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. He raised the money from the public through his company’s sponsorship of the Thoroughbred Park Melbourne Cup Race Day and from friends and associates.

Kids in the House ONE hundred Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Youth Ambassadors aged three to 30-something, all with type 1 diabetes, will meet with nearly 100 MPs in Canberra on March 18 to plead for continued Federal Gov-ernment funding for type 1 diabetes research. They represent the 140,000 children and adults in Australia with type 1 diabetes, and the tens of thousands more who care for them.

AFTER 33 years working for the Department of Finance, the department responsible for adminis-tering Commonwealth superannuation pensions, 70-year-old Gavin Ford, of Lyons, has started saving his hard-earned dollars in an attempt to combat the growing gap between his pension and the cost of living.

Mr Ford, one of about 40,000 retirees in Canber-ra living on the Commonwealth superannuation pension, is not optimistic about the Government revising indexation.

The problem of the diminishing living stand-ards of Australia’s senior citizens came to a head in 2008 with a national push to increase the aged pension, but two years on some 350,000 former pubic servants and defence force staff are still campaigning for fairer Commonwealth superan-nuation pensions.

Indexed by the CPI, a method which the Super-annuated Commonwealth Officers’ Association says inadequately reflects increasing living costs, the Commonwealth superannuation pensions have crept along with 29 per cent growth com-pared to 51 per cent for other Government-funded pensions that abandoned the CPI a decade ago.

“I think everyone expects when they retire their standard of living is going to drop because they’re not earning any money, but I think eve-ryone hopes or has the expectation that their standard of living will stay the same over time while they’re retired,” said Mr Ford.

“I don’t really think that with the indexation

arrangement that’s in place now that will be so.“So I feel the need to still save, to invest to

generate income to replace the loss of income, the loss of a standard of income to the pension.

“If I died next year it’s nothing, but death is an uncertain element in your life.”

On the ABC’s “Q&A” program this month Fi-nance Minister Lindsay Tanner was ambushed by Peter Thornton, of the Defence Force Welfare Association, demanding to know why the pen-sions of those who have volunteered their lives for our country were not being shifted to a better indexation method.

Mr Tanner said the Matthews Review of Pen-sion Indexation Arrangements in Australian Government Civilian and Military Superannua-tion Schemes released in 2008, recommended the arrangements stay the same and that the Govern-ment could not afford the “billions and billions of dollars” in costs at a time of deficit.

ACT Labor Senator Kate Lundy has been cam-paigning for different indexation since 2004 and argues that the Matthews Review over-estimated the cost of changing the indexation.

She says a change to the same indexation as the aged pension is only fair and estimates a cost of $42 million in the first year.

“I’m not impressed with the Matthews Review and not happy that the Government has support-ed the recommendations,” she told “CityNews”.

“One of the issues is extracting from the De-partment of Finance accurate costs, there’s no

doubt it would be expensive, but not as expensive as they’ve made out if you take into consideration clawbacks.”

news briefly

Retired public servant Gavin Ford... “If I died next year it’s nothing, but death is an uncertain element in your life.” Photo by Silas

Retired public servants across canberra face a grim future as their pensions fail to keep pace with the cost of living – but the Federal Government isn’t listening, reports eLeRi HaRRis

Pension pain starts to bite

4 CityNews February 25-March 3

JUST as Pauline Hanson broke through the political correctness barrier to provide a voice for those who were worried about immigra-tion, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been able to provide an outlet valve for those who have been unable to even voice their scepticism about climate change.

While I find the Abbot position as untenable as the Hanson position, the reality is that suppressing de-bate, mocking climate change scep-tics and pillorying alternative views has simply invited a backlash.

Abbot understands better than most the use of fear, uncertainty and doubt in politics. He was part of the Howard team that lifted the skill to unprecedented heights using terror-ism as a tool to implement conserva-tive policies on crime, police powers and civil liberties. He employed these skills the moment he took leadership of the conservatives to frighten Aus-tralians with his mantra of “a great big tax”.

While Climate Change Minister Penny Wong is attempting to main-tain the fear of what might happen if we do not implement a carbon emis-sion scheme, Abbott just thumps the financial fear button.

An online Newspoll conducted recently found that Rudd’s emission trading scheme was favoured by only 29.59 per cent of those participating compared to the Abbott direct action plan which drew the other 74.41 per cent. Granted, this type of polling is open to all sorts of criticism. How-ever, it does illustrate that Abbott really has given a voice to doubters.

Abbott was clever enough to look for an alternative way of dealing with the issue rather than being cornered as (God forbid) a “climate-

change denier”. His consummate political skills are now reflected in the polling that shows the rapid way the conservatives have closed in on Labor as the preferred government.

There remains the best part of a year to go before the election and there is still time for the debate to be considered sensibly. The conserva-tives will do everything they can to avoid a debate based on the science, while Labor has to contend with damaging revelations about scien-tific exaggerations and distortions.

Ten years ago the respected UK paper “The Independent” ran a headline on March 20, 2000, saying “Snowfalls are now just a thing of the past”. The prediction came from Dr David Viner, of the climatic re-search institute at the University of East Anglia, who argued that within a few years winter snowfalls will be-come a “rare and exciting event” and “children just aren’t going to know what snow is”. This sort of state-ment in the context of this year’s relentless northern winter tests the predictions of those who are seeking implementation of sensible climate change policies.

Effective policies will have to per-suade voters that they are capable of both mitigating the impacts of climate change and adapting to what is happening around us. The frus-tration for those of us who believe we are facing a major international challenge, is watching the use of exaggeration instead of evidence, politics instead of science and exploi-tation rather than implementation.

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

The trouble with using the politics of fear is that it can come back to bite, as prime Minister Kevin Rudd is finding out, says political columnist MicHaeL MooRe

When politics of fear bites back

letterspoliticsAngling is cruelSHANE Jasprizza (Letters, CN, February 18) said that the main reason people go fishing is “to catch a fish to eat”. Not according to Recfishwest’s executive director who said three months ago: “Statistics show that over 50 per cent of recreationally caught fish are now released.”

Land hunters are compelled to kill animals quickly – they are not permitted to put hooks into their faces.

Shane would do well to read a document on his own Canberra Fisherman’s Club website titled “The rising tide of animal rights”. It states: “The stupid-ity of this [fish don’t feel pain] argument is mind boggling… anyone with an ounce of common sense would realise that if a fish couldn’t feel fear, alarm and pain, it would be lacking the most basic instincts to ensure its own survival”.

Recreational angling is no more than animal cruelty. Mike o’shaughnessy, spence

Is that right?IN regard to Robert Macklin’s column “Fears for cheers” (CN, February 11-17): Have the number of drug artists now increased in the ACT to warrant 42 meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (that’s six meetings daily) for so many troubled individuals within the communiuty?

Alcohol is indeed the easy way out of accepting (and meeting) any problems that may arise during daily life. Geoff speke, Evatt

Disappointing responseIT is so disappointing when you see responses such as J. McDonald’s “Ric’s wrong” (Letters, CN, February 18). Such people have difficulty distin-guishing between “bagging Canberra” and criticising government performance. In the process they allow government mismanagement to go unpunished.

My father came to Canberra in the late 1930s to help build the place. He was an engineer on all the dams, the central basin of the lake, the Com-monwealth Bridge, the Administration Building, the Cotter Bridge, the Olympic Pool, to name a few. I and all my five siblings were born in Canberra as were most of our children. So I am not likely to “bag Canberra”, but am interested in making it a better place to live. I certainly do not like it being ruined through bad governance by any political party.

Not one item on my list of the ACT Government “failures” was invented by me.

If McDonald wants references for all the other statements I made in my letter, I would be happy to provide them for the cost of my time. Ric Hingee, Duffy

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

� CityNews February 25-March 3

These days it’s more slumdog than millionaireSOMETIMES profound changes seem to take place in the world without your realising it. Then some small incident will throw a blinding light on the transforma-tion.

For example, the other day I had to clean out my dressing room for renova-tions and in the process rediscovered my dinner suit. And a splendid piece of work it is, too – made to measure from a beautiful bolt of fabric with gleaming lapels and matching cloth buttons. Trouble is, the poor thing had been hanging in a corner gathering dust for months; nay years. Indeed, it took me several hours of trawl-ing through the memory banks before I could recall the occasion when I last wore it… to a fancy dress party!

Yet 20 years ago it – and its predeces-sors – saw service at least five or six times a year. I well remember donning it with a certain prideful panache each time I attended an opening night performance at the Canberra Theatre in the 1990s… though towards the end of the decade I do recall the then-Arts Minister Bill Wood and I seemed to be a very small minority in formal dress.

Today you’d be regarded as an eccentric if you turned up at the theatre in a black tie. You might get away with it at a dinner dance or a ball (just) but you’d have tagged yourself as a social reactionary.

But it’s not just the black tie that has fallen to the forces of aggressive informal-ity. There was a time when overseas air travel was regarded as a special occasion. You didn’t dress up exactly, but you did take the trouble to turn yourself out nicely. Indeed, as a young journalist I had an editor who used to take his kids to the airport for weekend outings. “I think it’s one of the most exciting places in the world,” he told me. “People dress up; millionaires mix with the hoi polloi; it has a wonderful sense of occasion.”

Today it’s more slumdog than mil-lionaire.

There are still a few holdouts – gentle-men’s clubs, for example – where dress rules are enforced, but they are living on borrowed time. And who’s to say it’s a bad thing... except I think it goes much deeper than the clothes we wear.

I don’t mind, for example, when trades-men call me by my first name, but I do get a little miffed when callow telemarketers and teenage bankers presume on my goodwill. They symbolise a social trend that spurns the forms and rituals of the past.

It certainly has its positive side – religious strictures with their threats of eternal hellfire have lost their power to cower and have mostly been quietly dropped. But with other institutions we used to take for granted also falling into disfavour, perhaps it’s time to take note. Marriage, for example, is becoming a thing of the past. In our family – which is probably fairly typical – both sons are in stable loving relationships (together with children) yet the “m” word simply hasn’t arisen.

Perhaps this, too, is a healthy sign. Certainly, it means fewer divorces. But what’s next, I wonder? The silly drug laws perhaps?

[email protected]

Matt, a former landscape gardener from the Blue Mountains, has been working at the intersection of North-bourne Avenue and London Circuit for two years, six hours a day, five days a week – unless it rains.

“It’s nice when the weather’s like this, beautiful, and people are happy. It’s a bit harder after it rains and that, it’s just like any business, it’s up and down.”

Matt isn’t terribly fussed about pay-ments for his services,

“I’m just happy if they give you some-thing, a dollar or two. Or sometimes people give you $20 notes or thirty or ten or five or stuff like that. It’s not as regular as coins, but it happens some-times, especially around Christmas.”

When he started out window wash-ing, Matt was homeless, he’s now stay-ing with a friend and looking for his own place while he saves for a new construc-tion licence to get him back into regular landscape gardening work.

With more than a touch of business savvy, Matt explains that both his loca-tion and innoventive use of a spray-bottle filled with water and Windex are delib-

erate strategies to create a monopoly as well as maximise and sustain profits.

“I had a mate who used to do it, Kerry, used to do it alongside me. But not late-ly. Not since I stopped leaving buckets down here and stuff. People stopped working here because I started using the spray thing with Windex and that in it,” he says.

“People are still using buckets, I just like to do a better job than everyone else so I get more money.

“I work this spot, the cops know I’m here. They know it’s illegal but they don’t hassle anyone if it doesn’t hold the traffic up or stuff like that or harass people.”

What Matt doesn’t realise is that window washing is not illegal. ACT Police and the Department of Territory and Municipal Services are happy to let the window washers of Northbourne Avenue go about their business.

And Canberra St Vincent De Paul So-ciety CEO Bob Wilson says the window washers should be encouraged.

“Anyone that shows some flair for earning their own money to lift them-selves out of poverty should be support-

ed, it’s a good thing. It builds s e l f - e s t e e m and is a good thing for peo-ple who suffer mental illness or addiction because it keeps them oc-cupied.” –Eleri Harris

newsTHe GaDFLYBy Robert Macklin

Matt Denham hard at work... “I just like to do a better job than everyone else so I get more money.” Photo by Silas

Small change, big change to MattIN the city with the highest average salary in the country, it shouldn’t come as any real surprise that our windscreen washers are also making a decent living – in the case of Matt Denham, usually $200 a day in small change.

CityNews February 25-March 3 �

� CityNews February 25-March 3

brieflyJunior recyclersACT and Queanbeyan primary school students have the chance to win one of seven $50 vouchers by telling ActewAGL about the best object that they have made from recycled materials, how they made it and provide a digital image of their creation by March 24. Winning creations will appear on the ActewAGL education website. More information at www.actewagl.com.au/education

Handicraft marketTHE next Mathilda’s Market, which sells handcrafted and limited production baby and kids goods, will be held at the Hyatt Canberra, 9am-1pm, on Sunday, February 28.

Calling all utesTHE Hall Ute Competition and Family Day is being held on Saturday, May 8 at the Hall Polocrosse Ground. After the success of last year’s event, organisers are planning an even better day with different categories in the ute competition and lots of family activities. All profits of the day will be donated to Camp Quality, which provides fun therapy for children living with cancer. Entry forms and details available from the website www.hallutecomp.com

Stunt winnersFIONA Ryans, of Yarralumla; Lauren Ogden, Aranda, and Deb Greer, Conder, are the winners of the three VIP passenger rides for one of the Toyota V6 HiLux Heroes performances at the Royal Canberra Show.

DVD winners WINNERS of the television series “Hope Springs” are: Cheryl Pech, of Campbell; Matt Tindale, Jerrabomberra, and Barry Rollings, Conder.

ACT Liberal Senator Gary Hum-phries has defended his community credentials in the wake of newly confirmed Greens candidate Lin Hatfield-Dodds’ claim to represent a citizen-centered alternative in the Senate.

“I don’t believe she could possibly bring a closer contact with the com-munity,” Senator Humphries told “City News”.

“I have to say the one thing you can never accuse anybody who represents the ACT of is not being in touch with the people. “We have a very politically liter-ate population here and politi-cians have a very high profile. “Losing contact with normal people is impossible to do if you represent the ACT.”

But the national director of Unit-ingCare Australia and 2008 ACT Australian of the Year, Hatfield-Dodds is confident that the Greens could gain a Senate spot aided by her background in community wel-fare and social justice.

“I know we’ve got a fighting chance of winning the seat,” she said. “Across the country the Green vote continues to rise, every election, every by-election, the Green vote has gone up right across the country and that’s a trend that continues.

“While the Greens have hugely and consistently strong environ-mental credentials, I think it is be-coming increasingly well known as

the party for social justice and com-munity and a party for the future and I think that I would strengthen that part of the story.

“It is important, I think, that we have people in our Australian Gov-ernment, in the State and Territory governments and at a local govern-ment level who are citizen centered.” In the 2007 Federal election Sena-tor Humphries was touted to lose his seat to popular Green Kerrie Tucker and Humphries says he is mindful of the challenge the Greens pose in 2010.

“I always regard the Greens in the ACT as a challenge because they are the third force here.

“But, that said, I have the capac-ity to add something Greens never can – representation of government or opposition of the day.”

Citizens, they both love us!news

THE excited children, pictured left, were some of the 70 people from diverse cultures and generations from around Canberra, who took part in filming a commercial for Harmony Day 2010.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s production team filmed the commercial to encourage all Aus-tralians to get involved in Harmony Day on March 21.

“The Harmony Day 2010 theme is

‘express yourself’ – children took this up with great enthusiasm, painting canvases, themselves and each other,” a department spokesperson said.

Filming occurred at a variety of city and rural locations around the ACT, with families and individuals of all ages and many different cultures participating and encapsulating one of Harmony Day’s key messages, “everyone belongs”. Among the 20

countries represented by participants were Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Turkey, Spain, Ireland, Chile, Tonga, Kazakhstan and Lebanon.

The community service announce-ments will be broadcast nationally on free-to-air and pay TV channels from early March and the clip will also be available along with supplementary videos on the department’s YouTube channel, ImmiTV.

Kids rally in the name of harmony

Lin Hatfield-Dodds... “I know we’ve got a fighting chance of winning the seat” Photo by Silas

Lin says she’s got it; Gary says he certainly has. There’s an election in the air, writes eLeRi HaRRis

CityNews February 25-March 3 �

sport

WHAT is it with the media? If you’re a sport-sperson and you don’t play the “compliant me-dia game” then watch out! The expectation is that if you are in the public eye then the media will become part of your life. Live with it as part of the consequence of success.

Should successful sportspeople comply with media requests? Must all sportspeople become media-savvy?

My comment follows the fall out from Dale Begg Smith’s reaction to winning the silver med-al in the men’s moguls at the Winter Olympics. I say reaction loosely given that he had very little reaction to his success. He has been portrayed as a sore loser because he didn’t drape himself in the Australian flag or do handstands.

Like many in my profession, I have had trou-ble getting a handle on the psyche of Begg Smith because he gives so little away about himself.

Is it a major issue? In the eyes of the media it is.

What do we know about him, apart from the fact that he moved to Australia at the age of 16 with his brother following a falling out with the Canadian Ski Association? We also know about his role in the development of computer software which has made him wealthy. Apart from that, I must admit as a journalist, he re-ally doesn’t reveal anything of himself except through the execution of his sport.

There have been times when he gives the

impression during interviews that he would rather be undergoing root canal therapy. If I was offering media advice, I would be suggest-ing that he be a little more giving in interviews to get the media off his back more than any-thing else. But I suspect that he really doesn’t cares about public sentiment. On the surface, it seems to be more an issue for the media than Dale Begg Smith. He really just doesn’t look as if he is interested in the media or what people think about him. Maybe he just likes perfecting and participating in his sport.

Of course, he is not alone: George Gregan didn’t play the game with the Sydney media and no matter how well he played, they man-aged to find fault in his performance. The more they criticised his demeanour, the greater his resistance to co-operate with them.

At times, Brumbies new recruit Rocky Elsom gives the impression that he would rather be somewhere else than undergoing a grilling by the Canberra media. He does oc-casionally provide insightful answers, but the question needs to be to his liking.

Do the media have a right to expect sportspeople to respond to their requirements or should sportspeople have the right to respond as dictated by their personality or needs? It’s a difficult question to answer. But whatever we think, to watch Dale Begg Smith in action shouts very loudly that he is a great competitor.

if a sportsperson doesn’t want media attention, there can be interesting repercussions, says TIM GAVEL

Be nice or else!

�0 CityNews February 25-March 3

Why did the agency cross the road?

Cover story: ZOO advertising feature

Managing director Clinton Hutchinson... “Our new space has freshened our approach and our thinking. People like working here and like visiting. Changing spaces has given everyone a lift.”

THERE’S a buzz around the new Kingston premises of advertising, design and digital agency ZOO.

“We’ve only moved across the road on Went-worth Avenue, but in terms of our culture and the way we operate, we’ve come quite a long way over the last six months,” says managing director, Clinton Hutchinson.

He says it’s all about a new way of doing business; the advertising agency has always had a reputation for creativity, innovation and quality, but now collaboration has joined the list. The new office has been designed to allow the ZOO team – and their clients – to work together.

Hutchinson feels the changes at ZOO are not a revolution, but an evolution.

“In our business you have to keep changing and adapting. Finding new answers to old questions. Our new space has freshened our approach and our thinking. People like working here and like visiting. Changing spaces has given everyone a lift,” he says.

The agency’s new approach is part of a two-pronged communication strategy, says Hutchinson. As well as strengthening the rapport between the agency and its clients, the team is able now to work more effectively with each other. Every aspect of the new office, from the design of the workspaces to the open-plan layout, has been conceived to make collaboration easier.

“The essence of ZOO is creativity. We work as a team to develop ideas that reach people and tell stories. Our new home in Kingston has been designed with this in mind and it’s working. We’ve

only been here for a couple of weeks and already we can see the benefits,” says Hutchinson.

He is quick to point out the role operations manager Kate Robbins has had in making the fit-out so successful. “From a process point of view, Kate has been absolutely indispensable,” he says.

Working together over the last six months, Hutchinson and Robbins have created a workspace with the simple aim of helping people to talk to each other.

“Email and phone calls save a lot of time, but there’s nothing like being able to see the person you’re working with. The walls have really come down at ZOO,” Robbins says.

With the exception of two boardrooms, two private meeting rooms – and, of, course, the bathrooms – the office overlooking Wentworth Avenue is completely open plan.

She says the result is one, single, committed team, instead of a traditional office divided by divisions and job titles. A space designed to make the ZOO team – and their clients – feel at home from the moment they walk out of the lift and into the generous reception area.

“We want our clients to think of our new home as their home, too,” Robbins says.

Hutchison agrees: “We’ve always had a lot of fun working with our clients. We like spend-ing time getting to know their businesses and

taking a more active role in our partnerships.”

Of course, ZOO’s new way of doing business isn’t all “talk”

– according to Robbins, the ultimate goal is greater productivity and an

even higher standard of work.“I suppose you can say that we’re a communi-

cations agency that has learned to communicate. This new way of doing things allows us to produce better work at a lower price.”

Hutchinson, who can’t wait to introduce clients to the new office, believes ZOO’s fresh approach will speak for itself.

“Great work is definitely on the horizon, with TV campaigns coming up for national bedding brand Sleepy’s, EPIC and the Canberra Theatre Centre. And our work on the National Gallery of Australia’s ‘Masterpieces from Paris’ campaign has helped them achieve over 220,000 visitors so far,” he says.

“It’s up to others to judge how much we’ve really changed. What I can say, though, is that we’re productive and accountable. We’ve taken it back to basics and simplified our approach; 2010 promises plenty. It’s up to all of us at ZOO to make it happen.”

OR HOW ZOO DEVISED A NEW WAY TO WORK…

“In our business you have

to keep changing and adapting. Finding new answers to old questions.”

CityNews February 25-March 3 ��

all about arts news | reviews | cinema | dining | crossword | horoscope | sudoku

aRTs iN THe ciTYBy Helen Musa

Crooning with Diana Krall

GRAMMY-winning pianist and pop-jazz female crooner extraordinaire Diana Krall will be performing from her new album “Quiet Nights” at “A Day on the Green” in Centennial Vineyards, Bowral, on March 7. It’s the first time she’s been in Australia since 2005, having since given birth to twin boys, released four albums and produced and performed on Barbra Streisand’s new album. Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot and Katie Noonan will also perform. Bookings 1300 657559.

TALKING of Noonan, she and her new band The Captains can also be seen and heard at the ANU Bar at 8pm on March 3, where they will launch her “Page One” EP, the title song of which she wrote as a wedding gift to Captains’ keyboardist Stu Hunter and his partner. Noonan recently won her fourth ARIA Award.

IT’S an annual cinematic treat, so it’s good news that the 6th Latin American Film Festival is returning to Canberra from March 1-5 at the National Museum’s Visions Theatre. Everything is free (just turn up) and there will be two films a day at 6pm and 8pm. This year’s opening film is “Manue la Sáenz” from Venezuela, a hit at Venice. There are also recent releases from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.

EVER-trendy, the National Gallery will soon sparkle with “Starry Nights”, nocturnal viewings of the French masterpieces, music, activities and art talks, funded through the ACT Government. You can tipple at the Sculpture Garden’s Pol Roger bar to Renée Geyer on March 5, The Black Sorrows on March 6, Clare Bowditch Trio on March 12 and Tim Rogers Band on March 13. Tickets at 132849.

I POPPED into the Belconnen Centre’s Arts Lounge recently to see the one-day-only exhibition of artist Martin Paull’s new suite “Death of a Swearword”. He was commissioned (anonymously to the public) to paint 14 Stations of the Cross in tiny, exquisite square canvases. He uses his experiences of the Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 as the inspiration for his innovative interpretations.

THAT army boot-wearing, punk violinist Nigel Kennedy will be at the Royal Theatre on March 4 playing Bach and Duke Ellington accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Campbell girl Caitlin Stawaruk,18, is home from Switzerland after winning one of the richest dance scholarships in the world.

Created in 1973, the Prix de Lausanne, an international competition for 15 to 18-year-old dancers saw 70 young people making it to Lausanne in January for a gruelling round of workshops and classes. The biggest contingent came from Japan and the majority of entrants were boys.

The dedicated Stawaruk was seen on YouTube smiling bravely as she joined finalists on the stage of Lausanne’s Theatre de Beaulieu to showcase works in contemporary and classical ballet. She preferred doing the classical piece because she “felt more nervous.”

Stawaruk has been home to visit her family, cats, dogs and many

friends, so it wasn’t easy to catch her. Twice Australia’s national cham-

pion in calisthenics, the former Girls’ Grammar student attended the Kim Harvey School of Dance in Canberra in Year 7 to strengthen her body, but quickly fell in love with ballet , which she realised would also provide a longer-term career than calisthenics – “more of a hobby”. She joined the Australian Ballet School in 2008 and then won a valuable scholarship and moved to the Zurich Dance Academy in 2009 after finding Melbourne too expensive.

Prizes awarded to the seven best finalists consist of scholar-ships granting the equivalent of about $16,000 towards tuition or an apprenticeship and she’s still deciding. Her ultimate aim is “definitely return to Australia – I just love Australia.”

So how did it feel to be a dance laureate, as the Swiss call a prizewinner? “Winning any prize is an honour,” she says.

–Helen Musa

By arts editor Helen Musa

WHEN you are talking to Jigsaw Theatre director Kate Shearer, you are in no doubt as to what she’s thinking – she tells you straight.

Dynamic and ebullient, Shearer has spent the last four years in Canberra writing her own scripts, adapting novels for the stage and directing 12 shows, eight of them new works, for our young audiences.

Now she’s off to Melbourne to take up the artistic directorship of the Big West Festival in Melbourne, a biennial contemporary arts festival for the western suburbs. But we’ll still be seeing plenty of her as she has professional commitments in Canberra and has it in her new three-year contract that she may continue to practice as a director and writer.

To Shearer, her new job at Big West means making “intellectual and creative challenges” and, like her Jigsaw job, it will mean working with professionals. “I want to grow,” she says.

One very serious problem that Jigsaw has had to grapple with is the loss of ACT Department of Education funding of the company – still, after a 35-year-long history, Canberra’s only full-time professional theatre

company. Shearer says Jigsaw is “a precious part of the ACT’s cultural landscape”. While it retains ArtsACT funding, she explains, it has meant a drastically reduced program and an increase in ticket prices.

She is re-staging “Walk the Fence” her award-winning collaborative production with Buzz Dance Theatre from WA.

With a cello score by singer/songwriter Melanie Robinson, Perth dancer Keira Mason-Hill and Canberra actor Chris Palframan leap, fly, rollerblade and dance in a play about a young girl called Rachel who is “so angry her feet cannot touch the ground.”

“Walk the Fence”,Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre, until March 6. Bookings to www.canberraticketing.com.au

Kate Shearer.

Director Kate always plays it straight

Swiss watch Caitlin

Dancer Caitlin Stawaruk... “Winning any prize is an honour.” Photo by Jean-Bernard Sieber.

�� CityNews February 25-March 3

ciNeMaBy Dougal Macdonald

“SHuTTER ISLAND” (MA)

arts&entertainment

DESPITE some thoughtful moral and ethical observations, this film from Dennis Lehane’s novel is below director Martin Scorsese’s best, not for its demands on our willingness to suspend disbelief in its plot but rather for the numerous assumptions it insists we make about the validity of its staging.

In too many credibility-defying plot moments, Scorsese’s direction delivers constructs screaming “contrivance” additional to those which later revelations confirm as deliberate for plot reasons.

US Marshalls Ted (Leonardo di Caprio) and Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) travel to investigate a patient’s disappearance from a Federal institution for the criminally insane on an island near Boston. Ted, a World War II veteran, was present at the liberation of Dachau. His wife (Michelle Williams) died when an arsonist fired their apartment building. The missing patient, Rachel (initially Emily Mortimer, later Patricia Clarkson), was institutionalised for murdering her three children.

Head medical officer Cawley (Ben Kingsley) and his deputy (Max von Sydow) are disinclined to help Ted and Chuck conduct their enquiries.

Are we watching reality or psychiatric delusions? The film takes the best part of 130 minutes to offer an answer. It’s a doozy, but not impossible. Limit your expectations to avoid disappointment.

At all Canberra cinemas

THE foundation for writer/director Scott Cooper’s debut feature from Thomas Cobb’s novel is a screenplay that is intelligent, literate, dramatically credible, compassionate, vigorous and, above all, deeply sentient of its duty to the human condition.

Both its leading actors are Oscar nominees. Jeff Bridges is stunning as “Bad” Blake, once a C&W star, now an alcoholic getting gigs with pickup bands in

bowling alleys and bars across the south-western states, emphysemic, overweight, but above all lonely beyond imagination, sneaking out of the motel before last night’s woman awakes. Bridges’s singing is powerful. So are the lyrics which Cooper has written Bad as having composed.

Bad falls powerfully for single mom Jean (marvellous Maggie Gyllenhaal) who comes to interview him in hope that the editor of the local paper will publish it. Late-50s and mid-30s make poignant romantic chemistry. Perhaps Jean will not be Bad’s salvation, but she becomes the guide who puts him on that path.

“Crazy Heart” is a package of goodies worth sampling.

At the Dendy

REESE (Jonathan Rhys Myers), the gofer for the US Ambassador in Paris, also performs clandestine low-grade functions for an anonymous US enforce-ment agency.

Reese loves Caroline (pronounced Caroleen) and Kasia Smutniak is very pretty in the role. One evening, Reese’s controller sends him to the airport to collect Charlie Wax and drive him around. Charlie (John Travolta) satirises every super-hero secret agent ever filmed, smart, invincible, keeping tally of his hourly kill rate.

Writer/director Luc Besson carts his audience on a frenetic ride around Paris, with Charlie joyfully terminating bad guys and showing Reese what he must become to get promoted. It’s delightfully stupid, often hilarious, occasionally quite exciting and unlikely to wear out any little grey cells.

At Hoyts

DIRECTOR-actor-choreographer Lyn Townsend, from the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society in the central west of NSW, has won the Gold Cat award at the ActewAGL Canberra Area Theatre awards ceremony.

The full list of CAT winners is: Set design, Russell Brown, Bill Deveril and David

Todd; Lighting design, Adam Boon; Magic Moment of Theatre, Lyneham High School and Kinross Wolaroi Preparatory School Orange; Community Theatre Award, SFP Productions, Wagga Wagga; Technical achievement, James McPherson; Costume design, Rebekah Cartwright, Candy Burgess and Coty Farquhar; Best original work, Joshua McHugh; Best original work for a school or youth production, Canberra Girls’ Gram-mar School; Best ensemble/play, University Theatre Ensem-ble, Wagga Wagga; Best actor/actress in a school or youth play/musical, Ben Kindon, Jessica White, Blake Appelqvist,

Lucy Ridge, Roscoe Walker, Joanna Richards, Bill Bourchier and Caitlin Dickson; Best production of a school or youth play/musical, Canberra Grammar School, also Marist College; ACT Government best contribution on or off stage by an ACT senior, Oliver Baudert; Patricia Kelson Encouragement Award, Sarah Wall; Best variety performance, Dick Goldberg and Ian Croker; Best ensemble in a musical, The Cast, Don Hillam Entertainment, Wagga Wagga; Musical director for a school or youth production, William Moxey; Best actor/ac-tress in a featured role, Ian Hart, Allyn Smith, Kiki Skountzos, Christine Forbes; Best actor/actress in a leading role, play/musical, Duncan Driver, Tony Falla, Bill Jayet, Naone Carrel, Jacinta Le and Meredith Adams; Best director of a play/musi-cal/variety, Brandon Martignago, Mark Grentell; Best musi-cal director, Lucy Bermingham; Best choreographer, Lisa Buckley; Best production of a play/variety show/ musical, Canberra Repertory Society, The Milton Ulladulla Entertainers, Don Hillam Entertainment; The ActewAGL Gold Cat Award for outstanding achievement simultaneously in many categories, Lyn Townsend, of Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society.

Island of screams

“FROM PARIS WITH LOVE” (MA)

“CRAZy HEART” (M)

Top CAT Lyn wins regional award

CityNews February 25-March 3 ��

THE Sunday blues. They can happen in Can-berra to those wishing to end their weekend with a nice meal out. Some restaurants are open as usual, but others close their doors.

So we were pleased when meandering through Kingston on a stifling hot summer’s evening to see Vasco’s on Giles Street open. A perfect option, we thought, because the restaurant offers an intriguing racion menu inspired by the owner’s travels overseas. We thought sharing a series of smaller dishes rather than ordering a heavier main each would suit.

The racion list is an interesting read, with around 18 options (ranging from $6 for the house marinated olives up to $22 for the slipper lobster, with most dishes averaging a reasonable $14).

Our request to sit outside was immediately accommodated.

Let’s start with the highlight – the 24-month aged Iberico jamon with fresh melon. The dish was simple but elegant and the cured ham a delight. Made in Spain from big, fat black Iberico hogs, the jamon deserves the reputation it has gained in many quarters of being the finest cured ham in the world. The round balls of fresh melon were pretty to look at and delicious with the ham.

We drooled over the idea of the slipper lobster (not the type with big claws), with Baltic caviar and bay leaf cream. It sounded divine but Vasco’s wasn’t serving it during our visit.

We settled for the Portuguese sardines in saffron ecabesh and found the dish disappointing. It was a large and generous serve and the sardines were strong tasting, but that wasn’t the issue. We both agreed the sardines were overcooked by a long shot and too dry as a result. We didn’t finish them.

Racion aside, Vasco’s serves a fairly large range of other dinner options (averaging mid-$20), including the flame grilled piri piri chicken the Portuguese are so famous for. Other mains include goat kid with carrot and mint ($28), whole baby snapper grilled ($35), and an interesting sounding charred lamb backstrap created with cognac and served with sweet potato chips ($28). Mixed platters and banquets are also on the menu.

Vasco’s, 46 Giles Street, Kingston, call 6232

7034.

DiNiNGBy Wendy Johnson

arts&entertainment

reviews

THERE is much to consider in this selection of oil paintings, watercolours and drawings that span the decade from 2000 to 2010. Rae is a gifted, multi-awarded artist whose portraits and still lifes are held in many private and public collections.

The oils-on-linen works are very much about the act of painting itself. The applica-tion of paint is considered and deliberate, resulting in subtle gradations of highly com-plex colour mixes. There is an economy of brushstroke that assists the perfect balancing of line, colour and form and a tremendous intellectual rigour is applied to the composi-tions throughout. Nothing is left to chance here and yet the effect is not of contrivance but of an intense meditative silence. The eye is drawn to rest, the mind to contemplate, the whole effect one of elegance and refinement.

Rae’s objects are not drawn from the fa-miliar, decorative, still-life tradition. Amongst the marvellous renditions of commonplace domestic items (the ‘50s electric jug, brown and green bottles, modernist vases), there are cubes and rectangles whose weighty ge-ometries act both to anchor the compositions and to inject a note of abstraction into the domestic. Lovingly rendered also are home

fire extinguishers and gas cylinders. In “Still Life 146”, oil on linen, 71cmx92cm, three gas cylinders of various dimensions occupy a dreamy space, meticulously placed points of paint lending metal shimmer and shine.

The four drawings show the fine draughtsmanship skills that underpin the paintings. Five deliciously fluid watercolours, from 2009, provide a marvellous and startling contrast to the structured oils.

THERE are occasions in theatre where you know from the obvious good feeling in the space on arrival that it is going to be an enjoyable experience. “Lloyd Beckmann, Beekeeper” was just such an occasion.

The character was introduced outside the theatre. Without any stage make-up Stitz used a very precise physicality and speech pattern convincingly to portray the elderly Beckmann while giving the audience a lesson in the mating habits of bees. Stitz was very comfortable in alternating between set script and responding directly with audience comment and reaction.

Once inside the theatre, the space became a home where the audience were guests. Old lounge chairs, cushions and seating of various descriptions were set amongst bookshelves, cupboards and miscel-laneous household and personal objects. Everyone was offered a drink. Wine, juice and beer (for the blokes) were distributed by members of the audience co-opted by Beckmann.

Stitz and Somes avoided sentimentality in sculpting a memorable identity who forged an understanding of life through observation of bees. The connection with nature, family and something larger than himself raised as many questions for the character in old age as it provided a sense of balance while younger. Yet no matter how hard he tries to explain things to his grandson, his own motivations and experiences become even more obscure and difficult to define in words.

The work is very engaging and entertain-ing while still allowing room for more venturing into the soul of an inspiring life.

“Still life 146” (2003), oil on linen, Artbank collection. Photo by Judy Rae

Of elegance and refinement VISuAL ART Jude Rae: “Still Lifes” CMAG, until June 6. Reviewed by Anni Doyle Wawrzynczak

THEATRE “Lloyd Beckmann, Beekeeper” Performed by Tim Stitz, directed by Kelly Somes, Courtyard Studio, season ended. Reviewed by Joe Woodward

Lloyd and thelove of bees

Beat those Sunday blues

Free passes to CMC Rocks the SnowysWIN a weekend double pass, valued at $378, to the roots and country music festival CMC Rocks the Snowys 2010. Held at Friday Flat in Thredbo, March 5-6, it features Americans Phil Vassar, Jack Ingram and Nanci Griffith, and Australians Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers and Guy Sebastian. Entry details at citynews.com.au/competitions

�4 CityNews February 25-March 3

CityNews February 25-March 3 �5

At the Pol Roger Bar, National Gallery of Australiascene More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

Phoebe Haglen, Erinn Hartshorne and Juliette MitchellJulie Lovell with baby Jasmine, Jeane Lynch, Jane Gordon and Anthea van Leent

Jon Hook, Angelique and Dimitra Angelou and Markos Lekkas

Scott Jeffery, Nicole and Stuart Martin and Craig Hill Renae Shepherd and Seya Onitiri

At the Canberra Area Theatre Awards, Civic

At Franco Calabria’s portrait unveiling, Civic

Naone Carrel and Tim FergusonNarelle Downing, Stephen Pike and Jackie McGuirk

Ross and Rose Shorney with Pat and Bill Stephens

Allan and Anne Wright with Dennis Martin

Ian de Landelles, Marie Rolfe, Lynne McLean, MLA Mary Porter and Mark Rolfe

Sam Calabria and Margaret Reid

Josh Calabria, Richard Read with Teresa, Anthony, Emily, Georgia and Tony Lopilato

Franco Calabria and Carlo Tosolini

Trish Smith, Lisa and Michael Calabria, Garry Smith and Ann Calabria

Jess Whiteside and Sam Read

�� CityNews February 25-March 3

Black Opal Stakes

“What has become a tradition chosen by some is to wear fancy dress to the races,” says Briony.

That’s not to say that classic racewear is over – quite the opposite, she tells “CityNews”.

“Ask the thousands of female racego-ers who pass through the new gates of Thoroughbred Park each year – they’ll say one of the main drawcards of attending the races is the chance to get dressed up,” she says.

Briony says a hat or fascinator is essential to enter Fashions on the Field. “For autumn, we’re seeing a shift from feathery and flowery to more structural and abstract shapes. Bows, brooches and gemstones are becoming popular as features on hats.”

Go for glamour, style and amazing accessories, says Briony. “No mini-skirts, no denim and don’t flash too much flesh.

“We’re seeing the cape reincarnated in various forms, fabrics and styles,” she says. “For the races you may want to con-sider a cropped capelet worn over a dress or suit. It’s a fashion-forward alternative to the good old pashmina.”

Briony adds that leather is back. “Consider pairing a leather pencil skirt with a cute ruffle blouse and tailored jacket,” she says. “Leather leggings and hats such as berets or pillboxes will also be chic trackside.”

For the past season, sheer fabric and lace has been a huge trend, according to Briony. “For autumn we will see a lot more sheers, mixed with contrasting textures – such as leather and lace, or organza and tweed. Don’t be afraid to mix up fabrics and textures.”

The prizes on offer in the Myer Fashions on the Field competition have raised the stakes – with a $13,000 prize pool up for grabs, including an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Dubai for the winner of the Classic Ladies Racewear competition, it’s sure to be well contested, says Briony.

The Millinery Award will be judged at the same time as the Classic Ladies Racewear category, with competitors being judged on their overall interpreta-tion of the Classic Ladies Racewear with particular attention paid to the headpiece, says Briony.

For the guys, Briony suggests going all

out with matching cufflinks, hankerchief and tie.

“A jacket and tie is vital, and guys should consider a hat or lapel flower, too,” she says. “The official lapel flower for the Black Opal Stakes Day is the white rose, so bear that in mind!

“The judges will also be looking for a high standard of overall grooming and deportment.”

All ladies, providing they are wearing a hat or fascinator, and gentlemen attend-

Classic and the crazy

Glamour, style and amazing accessories will win on the day – no mini-skirts, no denim and don’t flash too much flesh.

A crazy costume competition has been introduced as part of Fashions on the Field in time for the �0�0 kamberra wine Black Opal Stakes on March 7, says Briony Young, sales and marketing manager at Thoroughbred Park.

Free passes to CMC Rocks the SnowysWIN a weekend double pass, valued at $378, to the roots and country music festival CMC Rocks the Snowys 2010. Held at Friday Flat in Thredbo, March 5-6, it features Americans Phil Vassar, Jack Ingram and Nanci Griffith, and Australians Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers and Guy Sebastian. Entry details at citynews.com.au/competitions

CityNews February 25-March 3 ��

ing Thoroughbred Park’s race meetings, are eligible to enter the Classic categories.

Roaming fashion officials will also be inviting fashionably dressed race goers to enter the competition in all categories. Winners from Classic Mens Racewear and Classic Ladies Racewear competitions are ineligible to enter Classic Couples Racewear section.

Entrants should register between the times advised at the Fashion Stage.

Entrants will be given a numbered card for the preliminary judging, which will take place in the same area. Entrants will be asked to stand on stage with each entrant doing a catwalk while the judges make their decision.

A minimum of two heats for the Classic Ladies Racewear will take place and finalists from each heat will be called to take part in the final judging process.

Myer Fashions on the Field is open to entrants over 18 years of age. Registration is on the day.

Visit www.thoroughbredpark.com.au for the full prize list and terms and conditions of entry.

at the races“What has become a tradition chosen by some is to wear fancy dress to the races,” says Briony.

advertising feature

�� CityNews February 25-March 3

your week in the starsWith Joanne Madeline Moore

March 1 - 7general knowledge crossword No. 250

ACROSS4 Name the Australian pioneer aviator (1892-1933), Bert ...8 Which small metal cap is worn on the finger of those sewing?9 What is a thin vesicle on the skin?10 Which alternative word describes the studio of an artist?11 What is another term for foes?12 A dogman is also known as a what?14 Name the more archaic word for silver.18 One who wanders aimlessly is called a what?21 What is a hydrous copper carbonate blue mineral known as?22 What is a monolithic, tapering, four-sided shaft of stone?23 To inflict capital punishment is to what?24 What are standard-bearers?

Solution next week

DOWN1 Which other term describes an ocean liner?2 What is a two-footed animal?3 To rewrite on a smaller scale is to what?4 Name the language of Israeli Jews.5 What describes one who is unsophisticated?6 Which other word means trellis?7 What are incidents involving suspect behaviour by officials?13 Until decimal currency, what were values of 21 shillings called?15 What is one who seeks political asylum?16 Larcenists are also known as what?17 What are male ducks?18 To steer stock over long distances is to what?19 Which anagram of "night" is also an inanimate object?20 Name one of the hollow skull cavities connecting with the nasal cavities.

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Is your day-to-day routine in sync with your night-time hopes and dreams? If the answer is no, then perhaps there are creative (and innovative) ways you can bring the two closer together? Take extra care of your health as you nurture body and soul with good food and regular exercise. And are you up-to-date with your medical checks?

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Be sensitive to the moods of children and friends, as the Full Moon triggers temper tantrums or emotional meltdowns. On Thursday, Uranus jolts you out of your cosy complacency and injects spontaneity and surprises into your day. It’s time to form exciting new friendships with a totally different kind of crowd.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Get ready for domestic dramas and career chaos! This week’s Full Moon sees Gemini gadflies running around doing 10 things at once and causing havoc on the home front. With Venus and Uranus joining forces in your job zone some Twins will be surprised by unexpected changes at work – professionally and romantically.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Whether you are reading, writing or catching up with friends, it’s time to communicate and exchange ideas with others. You’re at your capricious worst on Thursday, when your moods oscillate from crabby to charming – and back again. Saturday is your pick of the week as you attract more love, success and excitement into your life.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Lions like to live in the lap of luxury but, with the Full Moon activating your $$$ zone, splashing cash around could lead to money meltdowns, especially if you are involved in a financial partnership. Don’t be too set (and stubborn) in the way you approach an intimate relationship – you’re in the mood for novelty and experimentation.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

This week’s stars urge you to be more experimental and adventurous in the way you express yourself and relate to others. Move beyond your comfort zone and try something you’ve never done before. You might surprise yourself! Singles – love is likely with someone from a totally different background.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

There may be some friction this week between your need for time out, and the unexpected demands of loved ones and workmates. Librans love to please others and can have trouble saying ‘no.’ You need to be firm and set boundaries, otherwise you’ll end up tired, emotional, overworked – and no use to anyone.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Is your social life erratic at the moment? Heaps of invitations and entertaining things to do one week; and nothing the next? Feast or famine is also the name of the game for many singles. This week’s stars promise romantic surprises as you find yourself attracted to someone who is the complete opposite of your ‘usual’ type.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

This week’s Full Moon lights up your Brilliant Career zone, so you’ll be raring to get ahead professionally. However it’s not a good time to make long-term decisions. Wait until you are more organised at work, and more settled at home. Family members won’t behave in predict-able ways this week – and neither will you!

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Have you been burning the midnight oil to complete professional projects? Too much work can make Goats grumpy – and ghastly to live with! This week favours doing less work, and having more fun and adventures. Impromptu trips are highlighted so pack your bags, jump in the car (or onto a plane) and enjoy a well-earned break.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

It will be a real juggling act this week, with money unexpectedly coming in – and just as quickly going out again. If you can discriminate between what is essential and what is superfluous, then you’ll enjoy yourself without breaking the bank. When it comes to love, hold on to your hat and enjoy the bumpy ride!

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Mercury moves into your sign (from March 1-18) so it’s the perfect time to make the most of your creative mind, fertile imagination and colourful inner life. Your quote for the week is from birthday great Dr Seuss (born on March 2): “Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living … it enables you to laugh at life’s realities.”

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2009.

Sudoku medium No.26 Solution next week

Solution Sudoku hard No.25Solution Crossword No.249

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8

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24

2

13

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19

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9

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A B S E I L F D AU P A V E R S I O N

E F F I G Y E S IF T E X C E R P T S

L A T H E R W U EL E S U V A T E

M O A T S Y I E L DU V T O M B C EM O U A G E N C YM C C U B B I N R TI A B I R I S E SF I D D L E R S N RY O E H I K I N G

CityNews February 25-March 3 ��

�0 CityNews February 25-March 3

CityNews February 25-March 3 ��

�� CityNews February 25-March 3

CityNews February 25-March 3 ��