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Canberra Today 13°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Canberra Confidential / Things dads do #27

Dan Backhouse and daughter Bella… “If ever there is a time she feels tested or unsure, I am hoping that she can draw strength from her dad.”
Dan Backhouse and daughter Bella… “If ever there is a time she feels tested or unsure, I am hoping that she can draw strength from her dad.”
WHAT is Dan Backhouse doing with a distinctive tattoo of a Cochlear hearing implant on his head?

At two weeks of age, Dan’s daughter Bella was diagnosed with profound hearing loss in both ears.

“Bella was our first child and my wife Rachel and I didn’t have any experience with hearing loss, so it was a really difficult time,” says Dan. At eight months, Bella received Cochlear implants in both ears by Canberra surgeon Dr Peter Chapman. Bella started kindy this year, says Dan, and she’s “doing brilliantly”.

“I got this tattoo in order to support Bella in feeling comfortable with her Cochlear implants. She is very confident in herself, but if ever there is a time she feels tested or unsure, I am hoping that she can draw strength from her dad who will always be proud to wear his.

“It also provides me the opportunity to advocate for the wonderful technology and support from SCIC (Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre) and RIDBC (Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children).”

By George, it’s Bond in Goulburn!

George Lazenby pictured in 2008… home for SPYfest.
George Lazenby pictured in 2008… home for SPYfest.
AUSTRALIA’S only James Bond, George Lazenby, is coming home from Los Angeles to Goulburn later this month to attend the inaugural SPYfest.

He was born in Goulburn in 1939 and moved with his family at the age of 14 to Queanbeyan. The former car dealer, model and actor shot to international fame when he was cast as Bond in the 1969 film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.

Organisers say George inspired the festival and is looking forward to being there.

The “epicentre of espionage” will be the Special Agents Gala Dinner, at the Veolia Arena, on September 26.

SPYfest events feature spy demonstrations, a parade, an author forum and city-wide game of “iSPY”.

Dinner tickets from spyfestgoulburn.com.au

 

IMG_1407Naturally synthetic

SPOTTED at Bunnings, “Natural synthetic” grass matting. “I suppose it’s organic, too,” sniffed our sardonic Greenway snout.

One-man bookshelf

IT took “CityNews” columnist and (day job) author Robert Macklin’s latest book launch (of “Warrior Elite”, a compelling account of Australia’s Special Forces and intelligence operations) the other night to discover it’s his 27th burst into print. He’s becoming a one-man bookshelf.

 

Angela Parragi’s portrait of Chrissie Shaw.
Angela Parragi’s portrait of Chrissie Shaw.
Every picture tells a story

YOUNG Canberra artist Angela Parragi’s portrait of local actor Chrissie Shaw as her character “Bijou” has been shortlisted for the $50,000 Black Swan Prize for Portraiture. The 40 finalists will be on display in Perth, September 24-October 4.

Angela, who studied at the Julian Ashton Art School, has just returned from studies in Europe and, coincidentally, Chrissie’s show “Bijou – a Cabaret of Secrets and Seduction” is having a reprise season at The Street Theatre on September 16.

Soiree of silliness

IS this art impersonating real life or the opposite? Lyneham’s Front Café & Gallery is the location for an upcoming “comedy of food, wine and petty grudges” over three Wednesdays in October called “The Dinner Party”.

Tagged a “soiree of extreme silliness”, guests are implored to come in, enjoy a drink and be a fly on the wall.

Creator and director, Ben Crowley says: “Audiences can expect a comedic dinner-party disaster that they can relate to and simmering relationships where hidden attitudes and feelings are waiting to bubble over.

“The choice of improvisation to present this piece will mean the actors can tailor each show to the interests of that night’s audience. The audience will be asked a few questions at the start of the show that will influence the narrative and relationships between the partygoers, and then they can sit back and watch it all unravel.”

It stars Crowley, Susan O’Reilly, Hannah Gissane, Gregory Thomas, Louise Walsh, Scott Bowcher and Laura Griffin, plays October 7, 14 and 21, and tickets via trybooking.com or at the door.

Kenny’s old chum snubbed

Leading Senior Constable Kenny!THE fuzz was abuzz with Constable Kenny Koala’s 40th birthday. There were press releases, a giant birthday cake was despatched to the kids’ ward of Canberra Hospital and top cop Rudi Lammers grandly planted a tree at the Botanic Gardens to commemorate the hand-puppet’s contribution to educating Canberra children on how to stay safe.

CC was startled by the sad missive on citynews.com.au from retired senior seargent Bill Mackey aka Kenny’s original Sergeant Bully, who wrote: “I made Kenny a local TV and radio legend. Did my invitation to his 40th get lost?”

 

 

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