THE FITability Tandem Cycling Group was crushed by the loss of its white Cannondale tandem bike which was stolen in a break-in earlier this month. The valuable red and white tandem had been a donation from the charity Lord's Taverners and was used in a cycling program for local vision-impaired and blind people. In addition to the tandem, another three bicycles belonging to a FITability member were stolen. Cyclist Meredyth Pettit said, ''It's heart-breaking for us''. The program was run by volunteers and survived on donations. ''I don't understand how anyone could be so cruel to do something like this.'' To take the tandem and other bicycles, the thief smashed into a security grate to access a garage where they were stored at a Reid townhouse complex on Kogarah Lane. Pettit said the tandem was favoured by younger riders because of its smaller size. It was also used in the Hartley Lifecare challenge and in races. ''It's a much-loved member of our fleet.'' The group is appealing to the community to keep an eye out for the tandem and for anyone with information to approach the police or FITability.
Spinnaker spruce up
THE CANBERRA Lakecare initiative, a newly launched partnership between RiverSmart Australia and Conservation Volunteers, has been beautifying Spinnaker Island in Lake Burley Griffin. Efforts this week involved weed control and an early Clean up Australia Day litter collection which yielded two huge bags of mostly drink bottles, a car tyre and a milk crate. With the help of the Canberra Yacht Club and the National Capital Authority, Spinnaker Island is now almost weed-free and ready for replanting with its former native vegetation in the coming weeks. On Sunday, work starts on ground-level weed control on nearby Springbank Island. Anyone interested in volunteering their Sunday morning to help out can contact RiverSmart. See www.riversmart.org.au for details.
Fooling around for dance
THE KIDS of Fraser Primary School got to hone their funky dance moves ahead of an en masse performance for Sport for Women Day. They performed at the event's launch yesterday alongside a couple of local sports stars who were also getting their groove on. Canberra United soccer star Ellie Brush and world champion cyclist Caroline Buchanan joined the kids learning the dance for the March 4 event next to Questacon. Brush said, ''We made fools of ourselves, but it was fun.'' She boasted better dance skills than Buchanan, who agreed with that assessment. Buchanan said, ''Maybe it's to do with her ball-hand-eye coordination. I just ride a bike. This was the most dancing I've ever done in my life.'' The dance on Sport for Women Day will involve about 4500 children on the lawns of Reconciliation Place. Those who would like to dance along can find a how-to video at www.sportforwomen.com.au. Sport for Women Day event manager, Keiran Gaffney, said, ''We hope the kids will influence their parents and get their mums, dads and siblings into the spirit of the day itself.'' The festival will also feature 30 demonstration sports including dragon boating, skeet shooting and archery.
Get your style on for Wan
FASHIONISTAS, brace yourselves. Celebrity stylist, television personality and author Gok Wan is coming to Canberra again as part of an autumn-winter style tour. Wan was last seen in Canberra on stage at Westfield Belconnen in April last year where he enchanted a screaming, mostly female audience with his cheeky humour. He will present another styling show, this time at Westfield Woden, on April 20 from 6pm-7pm. Wan is known for his big personality, a hands-on approach to styling and for celebrating curves on women. Other international stylists will join him on tour.
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