HEALTH Minister Tanya Plibersek will have a horde of David Hasselhoff lookalikes to contend with this morning.
The faux Hoffs are Sydneysiders and Friends of the Earth members dressed to resemble the man they call a beach safety icon, in order to raise their concerns with Plibersek about nanoparticles in sunscreen.
The Hoffs will be in Hoff masks and will also wear red and white, lifeguard badging and will carry surfboard and beach paraphernalia. The Hoffs plan to present 1000 signed postcards to Plibersek at her office in a bid for nano-sunscreen regulation and labelling.
Nanotechnology campaigner Gregory Crocetti said nanoparticles had been used in Australian sunscreen for years because they helped the sunscreens rub on more transparently.
''We are worried the free radicals from the nanoparticles could cause cancer,'' he said.
Mia's Miu Miu
CANBERRA girl turned Hollywood star Mia Wasikowska is the new face of luxury label Miu Miu, a sister brand to Prada. Wasikowska, photographed by David Sims, stars in the label's spring-summer 2012 campaign bedecked in the fashion label's latest pieces such as oversized capes and chunky cameos.
As a star advertising Miu Miu, she follows in the footsteps of actors such as Vanessa Paradis and Hailee Steinfeld.
Library's night life
THE Handwritten exhibition at the National Library has proven so popular that a special night program has been planned from tomorrow. The free exhibition will stay open on Thursday nights to 9pm. To mark the start of the late-night openings, the Handwritten Ensemble will present a program of German classical music tomorrow from 6pm in the library's foyer. There will also be a special free screening of The Brothers Grimm film in the Theatre from 7pm.
Bookings are essential for the exhibition: 62621271 or profile.eventarc.com/profile/handwritten.
Number crunchers
VOLUNTEERS are sought to help with Australia's biggest bike count in March. The largest visual bike count, Super Tuesday, is planned for the nation's regional and metropolitan areas on March 6. The event collects data to help local councils provide better cycling infrastructure.
The event has grown from four municipalities in 2007 to 46 council participants in five states. Each volunteer who takes part in the event can nominate a bicycle group, school or club to receive $50. It's estimated about 1200 counters around the country will be required.
In Canberra, counting is to take place in more than 40 locations. See www.supertuesday.com.au for more information.
Cleaning up Q town
QUEANBEYAN Landcare has had a boost in the form of funding through the Raymond Borland Bequest grants program, launched last year by Landcare Australia. It is among the 13 community groups and other organisations in NSW sharing in $300,000 for projects that will repair and restore the natural environment. The sizeable bequest comes from Sydney businessman, Raymond Borland. Queanbeyan Landcare received $4000 to remove a metal dump at White Rocks on the bank of the Queanbeyan River. Cleaning up the metal is a difficult task as it lies at the foot of a cliff and a crane will be required to remove it, along with the help of senior scouts and rock climbers.
Broulee calls in the Chief
A CREW of tradies and good mates, led by rugby league identity Paul ''Chief'' Harragon, will spend Australia Day lending a hand to the Broulee Surfers Life Saving Club. They'll be fixing problems with a deck and viewing platform. Having done so, they'll host an Australia Day beach bash at the club, complete with market stalls, an afternoon barbecue and surf lifesaving and beach activities. If you're older than 18 and would like to volunteer to help on January 25-26, contact Wendy Law on 0438740779. The gang, known as the Tooheys New Crew, is a group that completes building projects as favours to communities nationwide. Anyone can request the crew visit their town and finish a job at no cost to the local community. They're up for any building projects that will make a difference. Favours can be anything from renovating a sporting facility to sprucing up a community centre or improving a rundown recreational area.
See the Tooheys New Facebook page to ask the crew for a building favour.
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