“Confidential” has heard the pair will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on September 30 – definitely a not-so-miniature milestone!

Spending half a century with someone is rare these days, but Doug says it’s easy when you’re right for each other.

“I could tell you it’s because I’m such an easy-going bloke, so easy to live with… they broke the mould when they made me,” he laughs.

“But seriously, it just happens if you’re right for each other,” Doug says. “Sure we’ve had our disagreements, but we’ve never had to work at it, it’s easy when you find someone special.”

The couple were married in Ballarat on grand final day in 1961, but lucky for Doug, Collingwood weren’t playing. “I’m hoping the Pies make it this year; what a great weekend it would be – a golden anniversary and a back-to-back premiership,” he laughs.

“It’s going to be a special weekend. Friends are coming from all over and we just can’t believe it. We thought they’d all either be dead or too busy to come!”

Opened to the public in 1979, four generations have been involved in Cockington Green’s operation over the past 30 years, making it one of Canberra’s award-winning landmark attractions.

Alleyway whispers

IF you love Melbourne’s cafe culture, you may be excited to hear Canberra is following suit.

“Confidential’s” heard whispers the Melbourne Building’s alleyway, known as Odgers Lane, is about to get a facelift.

Apparently, the lane will be partially closed off to vehicles, giving cafes and restaurants front-of-house and back-of-house access. The plan is to create an alfresco dining area in the alleyway where people can laze about in the sun and enjoy a coffee or meal. And word has it trials could start as early as November!

Are you on Alistair’s list?

THERE aren’t many people who own little black books containing postal addresses for friends and relatives these days. Many of us have ditched snail-mail for e-mail. And if it weren’t for the daily Facebook reminder many of us would forget even our closest friends’ birthdays!

Not Liberal MLA Alistair Coe. “Confidential” has learnt the 27-year-old uses the electoral role to post 21st birthday cards to his constituents.

“It would be nice to send everyone in Ginninderra a card, but unfortunately I can’t send out 100,000 cards each year, so I chose 21 because it’s a significant milestone,” he says.

Coe turned 21 in January 2005 and while many of us barely remember our celebrations, he says he had a great night. “I celebrated my 21st with about 40 friends and family,” he says.  “We had dinner and drinks in the city and I still catch up with the vast majority of the people who went.”

On average three to four people turn 21 in Coe’s electorate each day, all of whom receive a personally signed card.

Tradies up for auction!

CALLING all tradies! Are you a plumber, painter, electrician or mechanic? If you know a trade or know someone who does – Sids and Kids needs your help.

Just be willing to give yourself up for auction at the “Tradies Galore” night Friday, October 28. Party-goers will bid for your service with all proceeds helping families in the ACT and surrounding area.

More information at 6287 4255 or email fundraising@sidsandkidsact.org

Tulips, tulips everywhere

MOST people can’t wait to retire. It’s the chance to kick back and relax, maybe even buy a caravan and travel around Oz. Not for Bill and Pat Rhodin. “Confidential” can reveal the Canberra couple has just finished hand-planting more than half a million tulip bulbs in preparation for Floriade.

But what makes this story even more amazing is that you won’t find the Rhodin’s garden anywhere near Commonwealth Park. The pair created Tulip Top Gardens on their own property 15 minutes from Canberra on the Federal Highway.

And Bill says he loves every minute of it. “I need the exercise, it keeps me fit,” he laughs.

“We do it because we love the result when we’re finished.”

The magnificent gardens are spread across four hectares and include tulips, daffodils, hundreds of blossom trees, waterways and pathways.

“In order to get this show ready, you’ve got to work into the night,” he says. “But we won’t talk about that… it’s a lot of work.”

The Rhodins have a history of prize-winning gardens including Canberra Garden of the Year 1978 and the ACT Bicentennial Garden Competition 1988.

The Tulip Top Gardens will be open from September 17 with proceeds going to Galilee Foster Care.

More information at www.tuliptopgardens.com.au

Man in the kitchen

NOT many chefs can lay claim to cooking dinner for the Governor General, but “Confidential” can reveal Andrew Haskins (pictured) and his wife Catherine can.

Add to the list High Court chief justices, celebrity chefs Pete Evans and Paul Mercurio and that’s one heck of a list.

The couple own and operate 3seeds Cooking School and Gourmet Store Cafe, but Catherine’s told “Confidential” it’s her husband who does all the work in the kitchen.

“Andrew’s been in fine dining for 30 years, he was trained in Melbourne, but he just loves teaching,” she says.

“We’ve been doing classes for 15 years now and they’re so popular.”

The dynamic duo has recently relocated the school and the cafe from Majura Park to the Fyshwick Markets.

“We really love being back in the inner south, it’s where all the foodies are and we just love being surrounded by like-minded people,” says Catherine.

More information at www.3seeds.com.au