IF the ACT election could be decided by a cook-off, then the Liberals would be in power and MLA Nicole Lawder’s sticky date roll with butterscotch sauce would have comfortably seen off the troublesome tram. How so?

Six pollies in two teams from opposing sides of the Assembly graciously took to the kitchen during Marcus Paul’s “Canberra Live” radio program to cook dinner the other night for about 30 guests at Ronald McDonald House, at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, in support of 2CC’s impending radiothon for RMH.

Over the past four years the station’s listeners have donated almost $200,000 towards the work of staff and volunteers in providing accommodation for families with sick kids.

But once the numbers were in, RMH reports that the Libs took the diners’ popular vote, with Nicole’s dessert the first preference on the night.

2CC’s day-long radiothon in support of the work of Ronald McDonald House will be broadcast on Tuesday, February 23.

The guide to a guide

“ARE they impervious to irony?” wonders an inner-north snout, who forwarded an official missive under the heading: ‘User Guide to the Australian Government Guide to Regulation”, which advises (and you need to read this slowly): “The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) has updated a range of guidance material associated with the Australian Government Guide to Regulation to reflect changes made by the Government in late 2015.

“This User Guide is designed to be read alongside the Guide to Regulation. It provides detail on the specifics of developing your Regulation Impact Statement and having it assessed by the OBPR.”

And, after that, muses our snout, who will draft the Guide to the User Guide to the Australian Government Guide to Regulation?

Graffiti gets a co-ordinator

WE congratulate Louise Emberson on being appointed the government’s graffiti co-ordinator to help manage the ACT’s local graffiti and street art.

And while Louise, who has an admirable background in arts and working with the community, will liaise with artists, students, businesses and the public to improve how graffiti is managed, CC can’t but imagine a police sergeant might have been a more effective choice.  

Depressingly, Louise says: “One of my roles will be to review the 23 legal graffiti sites and identify new sites across the ACT.”

Lettuce have some service

“SHOCKED to discover I’d bought one of the packets of ‘salmonella lettuce’ from Coles at Curtin, I returned it today, expecting at least a ‘Sorry about that’ from them,” writes salad snout and journalist Robert Macklin.

“Alas, instead, the assistant at the counter simply muttered a surly

‘okay’, registered it electronically and passed me a two-dollar piece.

“I then bought a ‘fresh’ lettuce for $1 and returned to pay.

“She took the coin without a word. ‘Um, no apology?’ I asked.

“She just stared. Ah, the joys of the duopoly.”

Acoustics come good

ACOUSTIC Theatre Troupe, the newest theatre company on the block, made good its name when, during the premiere run of writer/director Lucy Matthews’ musical “The Last Time” at Belconnen Arts Centre, a violent storm caused an  electrical outage. Troupers all, the heavily-miked actors and musos forged on – well, acoustically.

Hannah’s in the hunt

HANNAH Wandel is the first Canberra finalist in the 16-year history of the NSW/ACT Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Rural Women’s Award.  

She got the nod for her work as the founder and CEO of non-profit organisation Country to Canberra as well as her new idea to upskill young women in rural Australian schools.  

“If I won the award I would establish Project Empower, which is a leadership workshop series for year 9 and 10 rural girls,” she says. “Project Empower would build leadership skills in young women and educate them about careers in primary industries, which would ultimately strengthen rural communities.”

Hannah is one of four finalists for a $10,000 bursary from the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The winner will be announced on March 8 in Sydney.