Duncan Doing It For Sisters

Sun Herald

Sunday June 3, 2007

William Petley

AS a schoolgirl, Carmen Duncan admired Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor and their work helping the squad that slips through society's cracks. Duncan, tossing aside her gym slip, attended NIDA, enjoyed success in the US soap Another World, dined with ex-kings, and, since a brush with cancer, serves as an ambassador for the Royal Hospital for Women's Breast Care Centre, but she never forgot the Brown Nurses. On Thursday Duncan checked out their new Glebe premises, blessed by Cardinal Clancy on Friday. The donation-reliant ministry provides practical assistance, without discrimination, to those incapable - through mental illness, drink or drugs - to access mainstream services. They make visits to places you couldn't imagine. Chuck them a cheque, why don't you?

Papering the town red

TREES are the planet's lungs, habitat of endangered beasts, and, importantly, a place to swing upside down from; there's trouble without them and they're paper, which we mustn't waste. This week delivered up four envelopes: the first three containing slips messaging: "How far would you go for love?"; "UNICEF"; and "June 8, 2007, Cartier International Love Day, supporting UNICEF in Australia". The last was a card, picturing Tara Moss (no tree but a non-vascular plant) and Cartier's $730 Love bracelet, 20 per cent of money from those sold on Friday going to the charity, plus there's a celebratory black-tie dinner on Wednesday. A fine bowl of hype and toodle-loo to a couple of trees: National Tree Day is on July 29.

In the spotlight

PHOTOGRAPHER Benjamin Storrier hankered to exhibit, but it wasn't until Chalk Horse gallery director Oliver Watts offered a show that it happened. Not that Storrier has been sitting on his butt: studied photography at Sydney Institute of Technology, Ultimo; assisted Grant Matthews (they and Alice Cook have created two new photographic studios in Waterloo called Mondo); and turned 30 last week. At Thursday's opening of Drawn To The Light he explained the work started as calligraphic exercise - drawing in light with a feather - but while snapping away themes of death and reanimation developed, hence "drawn to the light". Storrier's dream commission: working with architects on photographic murals for specific places.

Porpoise-ful

ALTONA'S former chatelaine, Fiona Campbell, attended last week's Cannes Film Festival in her capacity as an investor in Julian Lennon's Whale Dreamers, which shows the connection between the magnificent mammals and man. (Campbell was also at Lennon's table at Sharon Stone's big bash for AIDS research; Lennon closed the party with Stand By Me.) Japan aside, Norway, Iceland and Greenland - a Danish territory - have a long tradition of eating whale meat, primarily minke, and apparently kill over 4000 narwhals, beluga, killer and pilot whales and harbour porpoises annually. Someone needs to petition Princess Mary.

Sailing siblings

YOU'LL hear the name James "Squalo" Spithill constantly as he surges at the helm of America's Cup challenger Luna Rossa during the Louis Vuitton Cup finals in Valencia. Ian Kortlang, there briefly last weekend, said it was sensational seeing the confident but unaffected Spithill competing in his third cup. Sir James Hardy left for Spain on Wednesday and Spithill's American-born wife, Jen, is there, too. As are, schedules permitting, sister Katie, currently in Annapolis defending her Santa Maria Cup title and Italy-based brother, Tom, in the Med for maxi-regattas crewing on Wild Oats. Parents Arthur (he teaches at North Sydney TAFE) and Jenny credit Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, second home to their kids, as a significant factor in their pursuit of the sport.

In the drink with Maggie T

METICULOUS is Maggie Tabberer's middle name (it's actually May, but mess doesn't stand a chance). Rising the other morning at 6am to prepare breakfast for her house guest, grandson Marco Bella, she spied a few frangipani leaves fouling her pool. Intent on scooping them out, she pitched forward, top to toe in navy, a new season Maggie T sweater ($199.95) around her shoulders, and into the drink she went. Bella, who recently turned 16, appeared, asking, "Nana, what are you doing?" Brekkie now included a large serve of laughter. Filming of the next series of Foxtel's At Home With Maggie is scheduled for July following Tabberer's return from Italy, until then, you'll have to be satisfied with repeats.

NOW YOU KNOW

IF you spot an Armani-dapper chap strolling about Woolloomooloo's Blue hotel anytime over the next 10 weeks, it's highly likely it's Harry M. Miller. Miller, having sold his Horizon eyrie - and while waiting for his Manar, Macleay Street, apartment to be customised - is there putting up his feet in a harbour-view suite. On June 27, you too can walk the wharf at the Variety Wharfie's Lunch, in aid of Variety, the children's charity; phone (02) 9819 1014.

ON THE RISE

SPRINGWOOD Toy Hospital repairs preloved toys sourcedfrom donation; once the toy box fills, it's dispatched to children in rural, drought-ravaged NSW. Springwood needs more of everything in good condition including books but not soft toys as they get a little too much love (and, as often happens with too much love, germs). The appeal is called Toys for Towns, runs until Friday, and the drop-off point is the Waverley Library foyer, Denison Street, Bondi Junction.

© 2007 Sun Herald

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