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Canberra Today 13°/16° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Canberra Confidential: The member for sexy T-shirts

Chic Henry
YOU can take Chic Henry out of the Summernats, but it seems you can’t take the Summernats out of the candidate for Ginninderra, even during an election campaign.

The Australian Motorist Party’s star candidate’s daughter took to Facebook to seek some “lovely ladies” to help with Chic’s political campaign, promising to provide “sexy T-shirts, two hours of cocktails and lots of fun!”

While “CC” well understands the demographic appeal of “sexy T-shirts” (ie, the male vote), we’re left wondering what particular points Chic is using them to illustrate.

Huffing and puffing

LEADING defamation lawyer Ric Lucas offers a practical twist on Wikileaks hideaway founder Julian Assange’s highly publicised threat from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to sue Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

“What no-one has mentioned is that since he is abroad indefinitely, he could only sue if he provided security for costs,” he says.

“A plaintiff who is resident in a foreign country will normally be ordered to provide security. Given he has been granted asylum in Ecuador, I think Mr Assange must surely be regarded as resident there, despite appearing regularly at a window in Knightsbridge!”

Now that the people who provided the bail money for him have been ordered to pay up, who will provide security for costs, he wonders?

Jon’s gone without a vote

LABOR will be one big vote down in Ginninderra this election with the seat’s former vote magnet and veteran Chief Minister Jon Stanhope leaving town the very day ACT absentee voting opened. Not that he’s an absent voter. He was off to take up his two-year job as administrator of Christmas Island.

Tony’s a big stayer

THIS must be a world record of some sort. First, “CC” was informed the Australia Indonesia Association’s treasurer Tony Eastaway has been a committee member for all of 41 years, which we thought was a pretty impressive effort on its own.

But after contacting Tony, “CC” discovered it didn’t end there – he retired last year from a 60-year stint as a real estate agent at LJ Hooker, at age 78!

Tony Eastaway
He told “CC” he never really got bored of the job in the 60 years he was there, and every day was different.

“When I first started out in 1951, there were only two real estate agents in Canberra. The city was a lot quieter back then; the only two buildings in the city were the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings.”

“CC” was glad to hear Tony was eventually awarded for his outstanding contribution to the industry – he received a lifetime award at the Real Estate Institute of the ACT Awards for Excellence last year.

The ‘failour’ of spelling

LAST week we had the word “manure” misspelt in a sign as “manuar”. This week’s cracker is from a closed shop door at the Tuggeranong Hyperdome. The unfortunate note attracted the attention of more than a few bemused and confused passers-by – and we’re guessing the poor staff member behind this “failour” to spell failure won’t be entering any “spelling bees” anytime soon.

Salvonista vanista

FASHIONISTA, we know, means someone with a flair for combining current and vintage fashion trends, but “Salvonista” has “CC” stumped.

But not the Salvos (who made it up, anyway). It’s someone who prides themselves not only on how they look on the outside but also on the inside – helping the community and others around them.

Salvonistas are urged to get to Gungahlin Place, 10am-5pm, on Saturday, October 20 to grab a bargain at the Salvonista Mobile Boutique (a converted van that transforms into a funky fashion store). The event promises fashion tips from stylists and the chance to hunt for pre-loved fashion treasures.

Information at www.salvonista.com.au

Gone but not forgotten

THE Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, bless her, acted swiftly to the “CityNews” story last week of the demise of the heritage-listed Starlight Drive-In sign, dispatching a night-time crane to lift and transport the fallen icon to a Government depot to ensure it is refurbished.

Photo by Col Ellis, of Col Ellis Fine Photography
The cover story reminded local photographer Col Ellis (“I read your article on the Starlight Drive-In sign and find it unbelievable that it wasn’t preserved for heritage value”).

It reminded him of a splendid photo he took in 1993 when it was closing down.

“I thought I’d best get a photo just in case, and I’m glad I did!” he says.

“I had a work acquaintance take his historic ‘50s Ford Customline out there for an added look of authenticity.”


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