It traveled through the stars: the planets and the galaxies, time and space, oceans of black and bright, red and orange, heat and ice, orbits and stagnation. Only to reach the unreachable again, further and further it went, on its pathway towards our planet.
In its funny rotation it gained speed. It: A small, strange metal box from outer space seemed determined to move forward. The space monsters snapped at it. The stars shone on it, but still the box moved on, swimming in the black sea of emptiness, strangeness and divine mystery. It iced up a thousand times then defrosted as the warmth of a star shone upon it. Still, it maintained its odd rotation like an awkward waddle, towards our planet. It was the size of a cigarette packet or perhaps more like a small metal cigar box… because that’s exactly what it looked like. As it approached the Milky Way Galaxy it stopped. Light projected from inside. Then it glowed pure white light and sped down towards Earth. Flames were thrown from behind it like a rocket, helping it to penetrate Earth’s atmosphere. It hit the ocean and was washed up on the shore where a boy found it and took it home. From under the thick cover of his blankets he could see the light. Then shapes dancing and flickering, then noises that woke up his parents.
But the metal box knew that it was safe with the boy and it didn’t want to get him into trouble – so it went quiet all night. The metal box was placed in the park, the boy knew that this had to be done. Machinery appeared from out of the box and grew and grew, entwining and forming connecting monstrosities that turned into beautiful works of art that lit up the sky, challenging our world’s natural wonder. It continued until most of the planet could see the outer worldly beauty. Then it stopped.
The boy picked it up. The strange metal box flew up towards the boy’s face and embraced him with metal arms. Then, like a rocket, it sped out of the Earth’s atmosphere.
ed.
The sadness just keeps coming for some… This week it’s Burma’s turn as we reflect on how fortunate we are here.
INDEX
1. This Week in Folkus
2. Next Week in Folkus
3. Parish Notices
4. The Comics
5. Sport
1.This Week In Folkus –
The Folkus Room, (operates out of The Serbian Cultural Centre & Club) 5 Heard St. MAWSON ACT .. eastern side of Southlands Centre and just off Athllon Drive.. CHECK OUT OUR NEW MAPS PAGE….
Friday 9 May .. Doors and Bistro open from 6.00pm … Admission $15/$12, children free!
DJ Gosper’s ‘Glory Box’ (with The Blues Cowgirls and the KarismaKatz) emerging from her "Glory Box" CD which raised funds for breast cancer support group, Bosom Buddies, DJ presents a tableau celebrating her survival. The experience has added a lustre to her performance that’s the silver lining on her clouded journey. She says, "Getting up and mobile and performing again, I am performing with no fear. That’s coming through on stage. I am not thinking that next time I will do better. It’s always, ‘Now, this is it’. There’s no room for being half arsed."
This will be one to tell your grandkids about….
2. Next Week In Folkus … a restful and reflective weekend, one year on… it’s been a remarkable time!
Saturday 17 May … Saturday Arvo Jazz with The Black Mountain Jazz Band and open mic opportunities
3. Parish Notices……..
3a. The Folkus Room is offering annual subscriptions. see the web site for details
3b. The Canberra Irish Players are near to finishing rehearsals for another hit out ….Make sure you keep a night free for the Irish Community Players latest production of Bernard Farrell’s "therapeutic" comedy, "I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell", which will be on at the Canberra Irish Club, 6 Parkinson St, Weston, from 2nd to 5th June at 8 pm. Tickets cost $20 for Adults and $15 for Concessions, and bookings will be available at the club in a few week’s time on 62887451. Don’t miss the play that helped launch Liam Neeson’s career…
3c. THE ROMANTICS….
GUNNING CONCERT: 2.00pm SUNDAY 18 MAY 2008
CANBERRA CONCERT: 8.00pm SATURDAY 24 MAY 2008
The Oriana Chorale, through the power of the voice, will explore this important part of our heritage from the Romantic period.
"We are delighted once again to be directed by Tobias Cole, one of Australia’s most distinguished countertenors and who performs regularly as soloist with Opera Australia. Toby made his Canberra conducting debut to great acclaim last year in Oriana’s performance of Rautavaara’s Vigilia, following this with Oriana’s equally-acclaimed interpretation of An Australian Summer." The music spans a wide range of styles and emotions: the ecstatic reverence and penitence of Verdi and Rossini; the confident affirmation of faith by Mendelssohn, Brahms and Bruckner; the enigmatic reflections of Max Reger; and the sonorous expression of piety in the Russian Orthodox tradition by Glinka and Tchaikovsky. Underpinning many of these works is the debt owed to the musical foundations provided by JS Bach – in particular his use of the chorale. The concert too acknowledges this debt to Bach: the program starts with a famous song in its original secular form – a love song, you will recognise the tune – and ends with one of Bach’s well-known arrangements of it in chorale form….. Tickets are $25 (concessions available) at the door or from members. Oriana Chorale Inc is grateful for the support of the ACT Government…. Coming up in August, the Oriana Chorale has invited two other important Canberra Choirs – The Resonants and Igitur Nos – to join us in offering to Canberra audiences a feast of music from the Renaissance, to be conducted by Andrew Carwood, director of music at St Paul’s Cathedral in London…. Further information is available from Liz McKenzie, 0417 44 22 32; or Richard Brabin-Smith, 6249 6459 and 0404 461 450.
3d. The notice with depth & C21…. Follow The Folkus into winter. The program just keeps getting better. We are also expecting to be able to present more jazz and blues/roots stuff as aficionados of those genres become more aware of the breadth of our charter.
4. …
It was a hot Saturday evening in the summer of 1960 and Fred had a date with Peggy Sue. He arrived at her house and rang the bell. ‘Oh, come on in!’ Peggy Sue’s mother said as she welcomed Fred in. ‘Have a seat in the living room. Would you like something to drink? Lemonade? Iced tea?’ ‘Iced tea, please,’ Fred said. Mom brought the iced tea. ‘So, what are you and Peggy planning to do tonight?’ she asked. ‘Oh, probably catch a movie, then maybe grab a bite to eat at the malt shop, maybe take a walk on the beach…’ ‘Peggy likes to screw, you know,’ Mom informed him. ‘Really?’ Fred asked, eyebrows rose. ‘Oh yes,’ the mother continued. ‘When she goes out with her friends, that’s all they do!’ ‘Is that so?’ asked Fred, incredulous. ‘Yes,’ said the mother. ‘As a matter of fact, she’d screw all night if we let her!’ ‘Well, thanks for the tip!’ Fred said as he began thinking about alternate plans for the evening. A moment later, Peggy Sue came down the stairs looking pretty as a picture wearing a pink blouse and a hoop skirt, and with her hair tied back in a bouncy ponytail. She greeted Fred. ‘Have fun, kids!’ the mother said as they left. Half an hour later, a completely disheveled Peggy Sue burst into the house and slammed the front door behind her. ‘Twist, Mom!’ she angrily yelled to her mother in the kitchen. ‘The Twist, dammit!………..It’s called the Twist! ‘…….
At a Fishing Settlement
October, and a rain-blurred face,
And all the anguish of that bitter place.
It was a bare sea-battered town,
With its one street leading down
Onto a shingly beach. Sea winds
Had long picked the dark hills clean
Of everything but tussock and stones
And pines that dropped small brittle cones
Onto a soured soil. And old houses flanking
The street hung poised like driftwood planking
Blown together and could not outlast
The next window-shuddering blast
>From the storm-whitened sea.
It was bitterly cold; I could see
Where muffled against gusty spray
She walked the clinking shingle; a stray
Dog whimpered and pushed a small
Wet nose into my hand – that is all.
Yet I am haunted by that face,
That dog, and that bare bitter place. ……………. Alistair Campbell
Stay Well & Truly Silly Gentle Folk
Bill Arnett
The Folkus Room
Canberra’s Acoustic Preference
61-2-62627265
0407 434 469
"No Strangers Come Here – Just Friends We Have Not Yet Met"
Please note that this E-mail has been created in the knowledge that Internet e-mail is not a 100% secure communications medium. It is advised that you also understand and observe this when e-mailing us. Viruses: Although we have taken steps to ensure that this e-mail is free from any virus, it is advised that in keeping with good computing practice the recipient should ensure it is actually virus free.
Country-style fun for all ages is the theme of the Michelago Mayfair this Sunday (11 May, Mothers Day).
The Fair will be at the Michelago Oval from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon. The official opening of the Mayfair will be performed by the Member for Monaro, Steve Whan MP, at noon.
As well as games and entertainment, the Fair will showcase local enterprises and local produce, says Martin Hughes of the Michelago Region Community Association.
“Michelago Oval is a great community facility,” says Martin Hughes. “And being half-way between Canberra and Cooma, the ideal place to bring Mum, and meet family and friends, on Mothers Day.”
Mr Hughes says that last-minute applications are still being considered, but that so far stall-holders include crafts, handmade soaps, honey and wax, scarves, wood carvings, quilts, iced cakes and jewellery. A local grazier will give demonstrations of sheep-dog handling during the day.
“Community organisations such as Landcare will also be represented,” he says, “with the Landcare bookstall being a certain attraction.”
Children’ entertainments include a jumping castle and face painting, with games and competitions. Fire brigades from around the district will hold demonstrations and competitions, with the Rural Fire Service community education caravan there to dispense good advice.
A particular feature, says Mr Hughes, will be demonstrations by junior fire brigades.
“Some very young brigade members show just how well they can cope with living in the country,” he says. “Adults take note!”
Big-time gamblers will be interested in Cowpat Roulette, says Mr Hughes.
“This sophisticated game of skill involves numbered squares in a paddock,” he says. “Then add a cow …”
The Fair will raise funds for the Michelago Region Community Association, for improvements to local facilities such as the oval and the tennis courts.
“But the main purpose of Mayfair is to have a fun day, to meet friends, neighbours and visitors, and to show off the Michelago region,” says Mr Hughes.
President of the MRCA, Mareeca Steer, pays tribute to the main sponsor of the Mayfair, Country Energy.
“The Michelago Mayfair is the first fair that the MRCA has organised for the region,” says Ms Steer. “We want to showcase the varied businesses that thrive in our region. We also want to provide an opportunity for people from both Canberra and Cooma to come and have a fun family day in our beautiful region.
“Country Energy has given us this opportunity by providing financial support for the fair,” she says. “Without their help the fair would not have been possible.”
Other sponsors include Predator Paintball and Noel Teys Real Estate.
More information from:
Martin Hughes 6235 9093, 0405 209 685
Mareeca Steer 0439 400 129
Trish Grice 0402 487 706
Nick Goldie 6235 9190, 0417 299 586
Country-style fun for all ages is the theme of the Michelago Mayfair this Sunday (11 May, Mothers Day).
Be proactive | Learn new skills | Minimise mental illness
The Mental Health Foundation (ACT), a leading service provider and information resource on mental health in Canberra, has organised a series of public discussions for 2008. The discussions generate positive awareness around mental health and provide participants with some useful skills. For example: what symptoms to look out for; available services in our Canberra community; and treatment options available.
Popular first discussion held in Gungahlin The Foundation held its first discussion in Gungahlin, which looked at bipolar disorder. Over 30 locals or Canberrans attended and gained from hearing the life experiences from a local Canberran: they gave a powerful glimpse of what life is like with bipolar disorder. Attendees also received an information pack on available services.
Feedback received indicates that the format and concept of holding these locally based information nights were of great benefit, as illustrated below by Bob (omitted surname and permission was sought):
“Many thanks for organising the discussion group at the Gungahlin Community Centre last night. I thought it very courageous for the speaker to speak so frankly about her story and the evening was informative… Well done to all concerned.
As I attend these meetings I am surprised at just how many groups there are out there offering support and advice… I feel if I can learn more about depression and bipolar I might just be able to help someone else.”
Discussions on mental illness and health are being held throughout all regions of Canberra. They provide a unique opportunity for people to learn and to better understand what life can be like with a mental illness.
Next discussion: Depression
Depression is a common illness in Australia, the fourth most presented issue for general practitioners: it is likely that you will experience it yourself, or know someone living with this illness.
To some, depression can take away feelings of happiness and hope, leaving you feeling empty and sad. It may be caused by a singular event that shocks us and leaves us unable to cope with what had happened; it could also be ongoing build up of daily pressures, such as work and bringing up children; plus others.
There are many symptoms or bodily signs to indicate depression. Being aware of these symptoms and learning how best to maintain good mental health are some ways to stop or minimise depression.
The Mental Health Foundation (ACT) is providing you with an opportunity to learn more about this illness. Come along and discuss depression with our expert panel of: health professionals; and people who live with this illness.
Details of discussion
Date: 15th May 2008
Time: 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Location: United Pentecostal Church, Cnr Plunkett & Maclaurin Streets,
Chifley ACT 2606
Cost: FREE
This public discussion will be informative and engaging, a good opportunity for you to learn and understand. Open your mind, learn something new and hear the human experience of living with depression.
Statistics
One in five people will experience depression in their lives – one in four females and one in six males.
Six percent of the population experience depressive disorders in any one year.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported mental disorders to be the third leading cause of overall disease burden, accounting for thirteen percent of total burden.
More Information
P 02 6230 7629 | F 02 6161 8273 | E [email protected]
Being a handball parent and through my involvement in my support role in the Australian Handball Federation [AHF], I have met a number of amazing people both locally and overseas. Recently, I made a quick trip to New York to attend an impromptu get together with my university friends. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting in person someone who has been a supporter of Australian handball. This is none other than Nenad Bach, the Editor of the Croatian World Network [CROWN] website.
A few months after the 2005 World Championship held in Tunisia, one of the Australian players [Ogi Latinovic] came across the picture of Bevan Calvert included in an article published on CROWN. I sent a short email to the Editor to thank him for acknowledging an Australian player. Much to my pleasant surprise he replied and requested some information on Bevan. That marked the start of a ‘connection’ with CROWN, which has been publishing updates on the Australian handball team and Bevan. [see: http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8871/1/UPDATE-ON-AUSTRALIAN-HANDBALLER-Bevan-Calvert-A-CroWorld-FRIEND.html] Hence, CROWN has been recognised as one of AHF’s friends and a link between the two websites duly established.
It was fortunate that during my unplanned trip, Nenad was not out-of-town and was able to meet up with me. Our friendly Webmaster agreed that it would be a good idea to do an interview article on Nenad and happily helped develop questions which I emailed to Nenad after I got back home. Here are Nenad’s responses to a few questions:
VC: Is there excitement in Croatia about the upcoming WC?
NB: In a small country like Croatia, events like World Championship is front page
news. We are building a new sport hall in Zagreb for the event, plus the whole
country will be involved. As we are coming closer to January 16, 2009 you will
see more articles written about the handball and championship.
VC: Do you follow Croatian Handball closely or just the National Team?
NB: I actually didn’t pay much attention to the sport at all, except by default,
because our national team is phenomenal, considering of a small pool of
people to chose from. What triggered my attention is Australian Handball and
Croatian World Network Croatia.org connection with Bevan Calvert and your PR
Team that did an amazing job promoting its national team. Then I started to
pay more attention and now especially that we are the host of the 2009 Men’s
World Championship (January 16th – February 1st, 2009).
VC: Which team(s) do you think will do well in the 2009 WC?
NB: I am not an expert on the subject, so beside obvious choices like Croatia,
Germany, Poland, Denmark, Russia, Spain and France, there are always some
surprises and that depends on a momentum that some teams achieve by a
magic. Most of the time I remember that people who are somewhere in the last
row of the photo when our sports teams leave for Olympic games, are usually
the first one to come out of the plane with gold medal around their neck. Some
people, as well teams, are calibrated for big stages. They shine under pressure.
VC: What do you know about Australian Handball?
NB: Not much, but much more than average Croatian probably. The reason is as I
mentioned before, our connection with CROWN – Croatia.org and therefore, I
learned on a day that Australia qualified for the 2009 games the same day.
And it made me very happy that Australians are travelling to Croatia. We are
two countries that are far apart on the globe, but very well connected in human
stories and sensibilities. Many Croatians found home in Australia and always
promote their new country as the place to visit, with the words "You will love
Australia as soon as you land". Sports is a great catalyst for world peace,
because it is transparent as much as it can be, plus people connect through the
game regardless where they came from and what they do or make for a living.
At the game we are all together on the same spiritual level. It is very close to
music.
VC: What do you expect from Australia at the coming WC?
NB: Well, all I can say that I wish you well. I know that you are not in the same
league as the front runners, but all of these teams got there by participating.
And you ARE partiicipating. You have the whole organization of support that
makes your team better and better; and as we see, your players are being
accepted in the some of the best world leagues; where when they come back to
play for the national team, they will transfer the knowledge to their own team.
Croatians played all over the Europe, plus desire must be stronger than pain.
VC: What made you pick Bevan’s picture out of the hundreds [possibly thousands]of
pictures taken during 2005 WC?
NB: Destiny.
I thought I’d also mention that aside from being the Editor of CROWN, Nenad is also an accomplished singer, songwriter and film score composer. If you want to know more about his "music side", you can check out: http://www.myspace.com/nenadbach . Hopefully plans for him to tour Australia next year would materialise. He could even catch a handball comp game or two, and we could also get the chance to attend his concert. Then we can truly say that sport and music connect people.
My 71-year-old mother passed away in China on Sunday 27 April after a long illness. Sadly, I am not able to go to China to pay my respects and say a final goodbye to my mother because the Chinese Embassy has not issued me a visa simply because I practice Falun Gong.
As the eldest son I should be leading the funeral, the week-long mourning and a memorial service on the seventh day according to local traditions. I have now missed all of these without a visa, although my wife and son left Australia for China last Tuesday 29 April.
My case is the latest among many Australian citizens who practice Falun Gong, but who are unable to visit China when their parents are terminally ill or have passed away.
When a parent dies and sons and daughters wish to attend the funeral and memorial services, any government and individuals around the world will give assistance, but not the current government of China to Falun Gong practitioners. My mother’s ashes are now stored temporarily in the crematorium. I wish to spend some time beside her ashes, pay my respects and say a final goodbye to her.
My passport is still in the Chinese Embassy, waiting for a visa to be issued.
Recently, I was dumped by a man who was displeased with my identity as a woman belonging to Canberra’s “transient” community. Although I was initially shocked by his view that migration and cheap airline tickets have not become a part of our daily lives, it made me question whether there is a double standard when it comes to dating in an era of globalization.
Historically, men have traveled, went to war and explored the world, whereas women either followed or stayed at home to keep the fires burning. But what happens in a world where women have packed their bags, started frequenting international airports, and become visible members on the frontlines? Are we still expected to embody the myth of the obedient-domestic goddess who is willing to give up her hopes and dreams in order to achieve love? For women, has it always been the battle between love and herself?
Being a member of Canberra’s transient population has reminded me that there is a complex relationship between men, women and love. Women are often positioned within two conflicting categories that mutually reinforce each other. For instance, women are simplistically categorized as either the “good” or the “bad”, the “marriageable” or the “unmarriageable”, or simply the “controllable” or the “free”.
My struggle with patriarchy has occurred within the intimate confines of personal relationships with men. Within such relationships, the men who were threatened by my transient behaviour often categorized me as an un-girlfriend, an un-partner, or an un-wife because of my choice of an uncertain way of life.
I am starting to believe that these categorizations are imposed on women such as I – the transient, the educated, and the free – in order to control us. We perhaps represent a threat to the male struggle to regain security because we have failed to conform. And as a result, women immersed in the transnational space are discarded as outsiders of men’s social experiment with love because we do not represent the safe, local and devoted could-be wife.
Perhaps the predicament of uncertainty has left men searching for security by defining who is deserving of love within controllable geographical boundaries.
Although my recent encounter with love has left me wounded, the experience has made me realize that it is not uncertainty that breaks relationships, rather it is the desire to create a false sense of certainty that does. Instead of experimenting with the battles of romance, discovering alternative ways of loving, and immersing oneself in the adventure of uncertainty; we have settled on packaged solutions to finding the ideal partner. Within a period of economic and social change, many of us continue to depend on the rigid definition that love rests with marriage, 2.5 kids and a four-bedroom house in the suburbs.
However, we need to redefine love within an era of globalization where fast cars, fast computers, and fast food have changed our cultural and geographical understanding of romance and intimacy. If living a life as a woman who exists in the transnational space has taught me anything about love, it would be that the physicality of it does not last but the memory does. Even though we leave, even though we say goodbye, even if we start new lives in remote corners of the world we can rightly say that we were in love once, this person exists to us, and that love is forever because that memory is forever.
But maybe for those who live within the myth that love involves white picket fences this idea that love is transient is not enough.
Come along to the Canberra Craft & Quilt Fair and be inspired to try scrapbooking, beading, crochet, embroidery, paint a decorative artwork for your home, or any of the other creative experiences you can have at the fair. As well as inspiration, you can stock up on craft supplies from Australian and international craft retailers – it’s Australia’s biggest craft shop! Learn with experts in daily workshops and see displays of superb craftwork. Whatever your craft passion is, indulge yourself at the fair!
7-10 August 2008 10am-5pm daily
Exhibition Park In Canberra, Flemington Rd, Mitchell, ACT
Shining a spotlight on local mental health stories, a glowing experience
Imperfectly Sane Too is an exciting and highly anticipated performance of real life stories from local people who are touched by mental illness, delivered through readings, dramatic monologues, scenes and songs. It follows the sell out success of Imperfectly Sane: Delusions of Splendour, in May 2007 – Encore!
CIT Executive Director Dr. Colin Adrian, 2007 Chamber of Women in Business Outstanding Community Spirit Award winner Jean McIntyre, MLA Mick Gentleman and upcoming actor/musician/producer Ben Drysdale shine a spotlight on mental health and consciousness itself, in Imperfectly Sane Too: an eye opening, frank and funny theatre piece that shares the perspectives of those living with mental illness.
They are joined onstage by singer/songwriters Simone Penkethman and Duncan Sargent, the Rainbow Band and a team of young actors: the Imperfect Ensemble, directed by local theatre-maker Robin Davidson, with musical direction by Simone Penkethman.
You’re Imperfectly Sane Too, so come share the experience
Our theatrical piece raises awareness and reduces mental health stigma in our community. “Imperfectly Sane Too provides a unique opportunity for people to better understand mental illness by seeing and hearing the perspectives of fellow Canberrans through monologues, theatre and song.” Said Mary Gays, Executive Officer of the Mental Health Foundation (ACT).
“Our vision is to reduce stigma and raise awareness of mental health issues in our community. Imperfectly Sane Too is not only educative, it is funny, entertaining and a highly anticipated theatrical piece – don’t miss this opportunity.”
Artistic Director, Robin Davidson, sifted through dozens of contributions from the Canberra public. “These stories are moving, thoughtful, intelligent, and diverse. I’m excited to present such enriching perspectives on stage. Imperfectly Sane Too has received strong support and interest.” Said Robin.
story titles include: Pizza, Turpentine, Cabbage, The Mind is a Sewer, Pollyanna in Wonderland, Ode to a Porcelain Goddess, Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck, and Memoirs of a Fledging Angel.
Avid Supporters
Imperfectly Sane Too is funded by the ACT Government, through artsACT. The territory Government has been the principle financial contributor to both Imperfectly Sane: Delusions of Splendour and Imperfectly Sane Too. The Mental Health Foundation (ACT) is grateful for their support.
Without the assistance of volunteers this production could not be held. With thanks to prominent Canberrans: Jean McIntyre, Dr. Colin Adrian, Mick Gentleman MLA and Ben Drysdale. Below you will find information on Jean’s motivations to be part of Imperfectly Sane Too.
Jean McIntyre
Jean first came into contact with mental illness through her work in the public service. She worked for 13 years in DSS and Centrelink. In Jean’s work in Darlinghurst and other inner city offices she worked daily with homeless people, many of whom suffered mental illness and addiction.
What fascinated Jean about the people she met was that often, in the face of great sadness and adversity, they frequently shared incredible humour. “Life was never dull in Darlinghurst DSS office” Jean says.
It was her memories of these people and her interactions with them that attracted Jean to the opportunity to participate in the performance of ‘Imperfectly Sane Too’.
Jean currently works with Marketing Angels delivering outsourced marketing advice for small to medium businesses. She also serves on the board of the Exhibition Park Corporation.
Ticket Prices, Dates, Location and Booking Information
Tickets are $12 or $5 concession per person.
Thursday 22 May to Saturday 24 May at 7.30pm
Saturday 24 May at 2.00pm
Belconnen Community Theatre,
Swanson Court, Belconnen.
Bookings phone the Mental Health Foundation (ACT) on 6230 7629.
Canberra’s community music and arts radio station, ArtSound FM, is embarking on an exciting new program of live jazz broadcasts. Every Friday night, starting on May 2, audiences can tune in to hear local and national musicians playing superb jazz classics and originals.
The program will feature live performances from the ArtSound recording studios and pre-recorded concerts from venues around the Canberra region including the God’s Café, Canberra Southern Cross Club, the Street Theatre as well as some of the world’s top festivals.
Friday Night Live will be co-hosted by long-standing jazz enthusiast and broadcaster Chris Deacon and local Jazz singer Lauren Black.
“The series has attracted a great deal of interest from the local jazz community,” Mr Deacon said.
“I am especially looking forward to sharing ArtSound’s large recorded archive of local jazz performances which has been built up over the past twenty years.”
Artists appearing on the program include the Wayne Kelly Trio, Kooky Fandango, John Black, Sally Greenaway Project, Eric Ajaye, Leigh Barker Quintet, Nils Rosendahl and the Kevin Hunt trio.
ArtSound FM has been a key element of Canberra’s music and arts scene since 1983. The station broadcasts a mix of classic, jazz, blues, folk and world music including arts news interviews and reviews. It is supplying the two hours of free production and broadcast time to musicians in the hope that it will add to Canberra’s already vibrant jazz community.
ArtSound FM is a member of the Fine Music Network and the European Broadcasting Union. Each band will receive a recording of their concert and there will be opportunities for distribution of the concerts internationally.
Appearing this week on Friday Night Live is the Austin Benjamin Quartet, featuring; James LeFevre on sax, Chris Pound on bass, Hugh Deacon on drums and Austin Benjamin on piano.
Tune in every Friday night between 8pm – 10pm on FM 92.7 (90.3 Tuggeranong) to experience some of the best Australian talent on offer.
AFS is an international non-profit organisation which has been running student exchange programs for 60 years. We are seeking host families for 8 overseas students aged 15 to 17 arriving in August 2008. We’re asking the Canberra community to bring the world into your home by offering to host one of these students.
AFS was established to create peace through intercultural learning experiences, and our host families are all volunteers who welcome their hosted students into their home as part of their family. There is a local support network for all families and students involved with AFS in the Canberra and regional NSW area. It is a fantastic international community to be a part of and hosting a student proves to be a very rewarding way to make a difference in the life of a young person.
We would love to hear from you if you would like more details, to apply to become an AFS host family, or if you are interested in sending your son or daughter overseas on an AFS program. Please do not hesitate to contact Laura Frot on 0424 504 612 or email [email protected]
A Canberra health club is pumped after being named the best in Australia, the first time the ACT has picked up such a national award.
Competing against 2,500 health clubs across the country, the Southern Cross Health Club was named Fitness Facility of the Year by Fitness Australia on 20 April in Sydney, beating 11 others to take out the top accolade.
General Manager Rhys Cutifani says the Club exceeded in all five of the competition’s criteria: outstanding customer service; providing a safe and clean environment; dedication to ongoing staff development and training; making an outstanding contribution to the fitness industry; and contributing to the community.
Southern Cross Health Club has also been the recipient of the top Fitness Australia award for the ACT, which they have won twice.
In its early days, the club employed around 15 staff and handled 5000 visits a month. Today, it has over 60 staff and is visited more than 25 000 times a month, with the facility growning in size from 1200 to 2500 square metres.
Lauretta Stace, chief executive officer of Fitness Australia, said in winning this award, the Southern Cross Health Club has achieved the highest of standards within the industry.
Photographs by Sarah Lonsdale and prose by Sam (Samantha) Salvaneschi
Sarah Lonsdale photographed the Australian leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. Sam (Samantha) Salvaneschi co-convened the Goulburn-Canberra Region Organising Committee for the Global Human Rights Torch Relay.
It was 13 July 2001, when the International Olympic Committee announced Beijing as the host city of the 2008 Olympics. From that day onwards, individuals and organisations across the globe have staged different sorts of human rights protests about the State of China’s human rights record. Many people opposing these protests have made much heat and noise to deauthorise them. For example, Kevan Gosper, Australian International Olympic Committee official, characterised the protestors as “professional spoilers” who “just take their hate out on whatever the issues are at the time”.1 Zhang Rongan, of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association in Australia, called upon Chinese students in Australia and Chinese Australians to "go defend our sacred torch" against "ethnic degenerate scum and anti-China separatists".2 The statements made by these, and other opponents of the human rights protestors, did not, for the main part, address why the latter might be so agitated.
Reputable, independent organisations such as Amnesty International3, Human Rights Watch4, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture5 have long amassed evidence on the State of China’s human rights breaches. This evidence encompasses the Chinese State extensively and directly persecuting its own people6, Tibetans7, Uighurs8 , and North Koreans9, and giving financial aid and political counsel for crimes against the people of Burma10 and Darfur11.
In 2007, the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of the Falun Gong in China launched the Human Rights Torch Relay for all those humans oppressed by China’s state apparatus as well as those doing the oppressing. The Coalition is comprised of many prominent exiles from China, human rights lawyers, parliamentarians, and others from several countries.12 On 3 December, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Region Declaration affirming the humanist, globalist principles of the Human Rights Torch Relay was signed by leaders of the Coalition, the ACT Refugee Action Committee, the World Citizens Association, the Goulburn-Canberra Diocese of the Catholic Church. It was also signed by representatives of the Burmese-, Darfur-, Tibetan-, and Vietnamese-Australian communities.13
On 11 December, the Human Rights Torch arrived in Canberra, after its travels through the towns and cities of several continents. The Torch was welcomed by a large gathering.14 At this welcome, signatories to the Declaration called for the State of China to live up to its promise to comply with the Olympic Charter. The Charter requires all Member States and, particularly, States hosting the Olympics to effectively act against this devastation of humans and the environment.15 The Declaration reached people all over the world, through media outlets.16
On 8 August 2008, it will be the Beijing Olympic Games media coverage echoing throughout the world. Unfortunately, there is little to suggest that Beijing is winding down its human rights abuses, in anticipation of hosting the Games. Indeed, there is much incontrovertible evidence of the opposite.
Four days after the International Olympic Committee voted for the 2008 Olympics to be hosted by Beijing, China’s Deputy Prime Minister Li Lanqing, said that ‘China’s Olympic victory’ should encourage the country to maintain its ‘healthy life’ by combating such problems as the Falun gong spiritual movement, which had ‘stirred up violent crime’. No other organisation in the world has suggested that the Falun Gong are violent. In fact, they are known for their steadfast commitment to their deeds and words being peaceful.
Soon after the International Olympic Committee announced that Beijing would host the Olympics, the then Vice-President Hu Jintao – now China’s President – announced that the Beijing ‘triumph’ meant it was ‘crucial to fight without equivocation against the separatist forces orchestrated by the Dalai Lama and the world’s anti-China forces’. Simultaneously, the police and judicial authorities were given orders to pursue a ‘hit hard’ campaign against crime. The security officials reinvigorated their pursuit of dissidents purveying free speech through the internet, newspapers and other media.17
People throughout the world who treasure the fair go and mateship salute individuals like the ones pictured in this story’s photographs. The photographs are of protestors outside the Australian Parliament on the day the Olympic Torch passed through Canberra. It was the day before ANZAC Day. It was also the day before the anniversary of when China cracked down in 1999 on a peaceful assembly of Chinese citizens pleading to the Chinese Communist Party to release from detention their fellow Falun Gong practitioners.18 The Chinese Government continues to imprison people from this group, subjecting them to hard labour, and killing them for doing nothing other than gathering together and practising their exercises in parks, which look like Tai Chi. The same Government systematically mistreats Christians19, gays and lesbians20, journalists21, dissidents22, and others23.
Messrs Kevan Gosper and Zhang Rongan, please note well: The humans pictured in the below photographs are protesting against the State of China’s continual abrogation of rights and freedoms. They are defending the same rights and freedoms that Australian defence personnel and volunteers, and many others throughout the world, made enormous sacrifices to preserve.
6http://action.amnesty.org.au/china,http://hrw.org/englishwr2k8/docs/2008/01/31/china17604.htm, and http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/677C1943FAA14D67C12570CB0034966D 7http://www.tchrd.org/ 8http://www.harunyahya.com/e_turkestan01.php and http://www.pekingduck.org/archives/001384.php 9http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/13/china18447.htm and http://www.cecc.gov/pages/annualRpt/annualRpt05/2005_7_refugees.php 10http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=4851 and http://www.slate.com/id/2175047/
11http://www.dreamfordarfur.org/ and http://www.smh.com.au/news/general/big-australian-branded-moral-coward/2008/04/25/1208743212468.html 12http://cipfg.org 13http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-12-4/62543.html 14http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/11/2115969.htm 15http://www.olympic.org/uk/utilities/reports/level2_uk.asp?HEAD2=26&HEAD1=10 16http://www.humanrightstorch.org/news/2007/12/11/putting-torch-to-torture/, http://www.humanrightstorch.org/news/images/Canberra_Times_1.jpg, http://www.humanrightstorch.org/news/category/torch-relay-news/, http://cipfg.org/en/index.php?news=723, and http://act.greens.org.au/1229 17http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=174 18http://121blog21.blogspot.com/2008/04/april-25-ninth-anniversary.html 19http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3993857.stm and http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=7971 20http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/12/20/china12328.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_China and http://www.tibetjustice.org/reports/beijing.html 21http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=174 and http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/07/yahoo-knew-more.html 22http://www.rfa.org/english/china/china_template-20080109.html and http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/2546/china_dissidents_disappeared/ 23http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/014/2004 and http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E6DE1F3CF933A05752C0A9669C8B63
Archaeology Professor Tim Darvill of Bournemouth University, UK
Professor Tim Darvill of Bournemouth University in the UK will be in Canberra next month to deliver a lecture on Stonehenge in the Manning Clark Centre at the Australian National University on Thursday, 15th May, 7.30pm start. All are welcome to attend. The lecture is part of the tercentenary celebrations of the Society of Antiquaries of London (1707-2007) and this particular event is the 2008 Jack Golson Lecture.
Professor Darvill’s lecture is entitled Merlin’s Magic Circles: Stonehenge and the use of the Preseli Bluestones. In this lecture Professor Darvill will show that while Stonehenge’s origins as a ceremonial monument were conventional enough its later history was exceptional. Key to the transformation was the arrival of about 80 pillars of Bluestone rock brought a distance of around 250km from the Preseli Hills of southwest Wales to Salisbury Plain. But why were these stones important? And what did they mean to Neolithic people? Using archaeological evidence from Stonehenge itself and from recent work in the Preseli Hills, and folklore and oral tradition dating back to the 13th century AD, a new picture of Stonehenge is emerging in which the stones themselves can be seen to have perceived magical properties connected with healing. Their re-use in later and ever more elaborate structures at Stonehenge show something of their power and significance and illustrate how the landscape of the Preseli Hills is constructed in microcosm at Stonehenge. People were attracted to the area from continental Europe, and what started out as a local focus became a celebrated place for prehistoric pilgrimage.
This will be Professor Darvill’s first opportunity to speak publicly about the recent excavation at Stonehenge (the first on the ancient site for over 40 years) though he will stop short of revealing exactly what they’ve discovered as the radio-carbon dating of the organic material taken from the site is not yet complete.
