CANBERRA Grammar School is “not sitting on a wealthy foundation, nor does it receive high levels of funding”, reveals head of school Justin Garrick in a tin-rattling, tax-deductible plea last month to the alma mater for the new CGS Foundation.

“What with its extensive grounds and ivy-laden walls, I know Canberra Grammar School can give a convincing display of age-old wealth,” he says, progressing to a pie chart that shows by the time the school’s paid for the teachers (69 per cent), academic, co-curricular, pastoral resources and support (16 per cent), technology and finance (10 per cent) and grounds and maintenance (4 per cent), there’s only a scant one per cent left to “create something extraordinary”.

Cue his endorsement of the new foundation and the need to refurb the primary facilities, which he also candidly admits are “outdated and outgrown”.

Paul paints Hill

“CITYNEWS” cartoonist  Paul Dorin has just finished painting his 21st pair of jeans in aid of the Children’s Medical Research Institute’s annual Jeans 4 Genes gala jeans art auction charity. This year he chose American actor Jonah Hill, from “Wolf of Wall Street”, “Superbad” and “22 Jump Street”.

“l have been fortunate to paint the jeans of Hollywood heavyweights David Hasselhoff, Jim Belushi, Kevin Kline and Robin Williams, and sports stars Craig Lowndes, Ricky Ponting and Jeff Fenech,” says the scribbler to the stars.

“l have, up to now, used only the two-legged jeans as my canvas, and this year I wanted to try something completely different. l decided to use the jeans as part of the painting.

“I used Jonah’s character from the movie version of ‘22 Jump Street’ as the theme of the artwork.”

Jeans donated by Hill, Eric Bana, Adam Sandler, Gene Simmons and other celebrities are painted by a select group of invited Australian artists to raise money for the CMRI, which is dedicated to discovering why one in 20 children is born with a birth defect or genetic disease.

The jeans will be auctioned at the Jeans 4 Genes gala dinner in Sydney on August 23.

Baz branches out

RICHARD Baz, operator of the popular National Portrait Gallery book and gift store, is branching out. He and his partner Melanie will open an innovative new store called The Curatoreum at the National Arboretum, opening on September 1.

Nice-guy Rich has not only run the Portrait Gallery shop with distinction, but he is the passionate force behind the annual Undercurrent Design Market, which features unique and innovative Australian arts and crafts.

Parking a problem

THERE seems some confusion on the streets about the cost of parking at the government’s new voucher machines. CC seems to recall that above the old machines there used to be a sign with the scale of charges at the cumulative hourly rate. This transparent approach has been sneakily replaced by the parking gnomes with built-in signage showing the incrementalrate per hour.

An accountant of our acquaintance, one given to fierce pragmatism and sharp intellect, sincerely believed that two hours of parking cost $2.50 on the basis that the sign says: “1st hour, $2; 2nd hour, $2.50”.

Under the pressure of lampooning, she squeaked she wasn’t alone at the machine when others also were overcome with misplaced optimism at the government’s parking largesse.

 

Hmmms…

Former “Idol” finalist Chanel Cole is keenly awaiting the homecoming of her husband, brilliant young pianist Adam Cook, who has been studying in  France. CC hears the plan is to immediately jump in a van and follow the sun by busking around Australia for three months. Busking with a Steinway?

FROM “The Chronicle” of July 8: “With Canberra’s cool-climate wines enjoying international notoriety…” CC snout Pierre the Lair thinks “‘enjoying’ is the wrong word here”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOST in translation… from the mygungahlin website, a kid’s clothing label that sensibly urges that the child be removed before washing!  

“THOUSANDS of restaurants, cafes and catering businesses are joining forces with the Fair Work Ombudsman to improve compliance with Federal workplace laws across the hospitality sector”, trumpets a wide-eyed announcement from the ombudsman. And who doesn’t love improving compliance more than the hospitality industry?