READER Alex Craig, of Evatt, is trying to help his friend Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Coen reunite a mysterious painting with its owner.
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Several years ago Coen was driving on the Kings Highway when his passenger noticed a framed oil painting lying on the roadside.
He stopped to recover the painting, of about 38cm by 46cm. It depicts a young soldier, possibly a national serviceman, in jungle greens.
It is thought it could have been painted in Vietnam by a local artist, perhaps from a photograph. Coen is now in the Morshead Home for Veterans and Other Aged Persons, where he remains keen on reuniting the owner with the art work.
If you can help, contact Today.
Seeking answers
SPEAKING of reader-driven searches, Warren Gibbs needs your help tracking down a former Yass resident he hasn't seen for about 40 years.
The man, Ron Tonkin, would be about 60 now. Tonkin was best friends with Gibbs' older brother, Paull, who died in a parachute accident in 1970.
As Tonkin was there when Paull died, it is hoped he will be able to help Gibbs with a lot of his unanswered questions. The two friends were in the Royal Australian Air Force together.
If anyone can help Warren Gibbs with the search, they should contact ws.gibbs@bigpond.com
Teddy for combat
EVEN Defence needs teddy bears. Listed on Aus Tender, the Australian Government tender system, with a closing date of December 5, is ''supply of military teddy bears for defence community organisation''.
It seems the plush creatures must be cute but also combat-ready - they have to be dressed in appropriate ADF uniforms.
These teds are to be distributed to the children of deploying ADF members. Tenderers had to deliver sample bears - one each of the army, navy and air force - to be checked for quality.
Details on the request for tender are up on www.tenders.gov.au
Humphries in trouble?
GARY Humphries's advisers, in the process of their usual trawls online for news of the senator, were surprised to find a yarn in the Arab Tribune. Arab, Alabama, that is.
According to the Tribune, the Arab Rescue Squad had been shut down pending an investigation into allegations of misuse of funds. The squad's chief, who happens be a Gary Humphries, was also the Arab Police Department's animal control officer. He had been suspended from his job without pay.
Senator Humphries' staffer, Philip Clayton, joked, ''Is there something the boss isn't telling us?''
Liberal Senator Humphries is co-chairman of the Parliamentary Friends of the RSPCA, which, as Clayton emphasised, does not manage any funds.
Move over Movember
HAVING suffered through a month of her once-smooth hubby looking like ''a Ned Flanders wannabe'' last year, a shoe company co-director dreamed up ''Shoevember'', a campaign to get women not fond of face fuzz embracing Movember.
Shoevember is a Facebook campaign that offers shoe fans a chance to win a year's supply of free Nude Footwear if they upload an image of their man's Movember moustache.
Shoevember mastermind and Nude Footwear co-director Selina Kolthek said of the campaign, ''I thought, there has to be something in it [Movember] for the ladies.''
Women can submit photos of their man's mo via the company's Facebook page throughout the month. The 12 most popular photos go into the draw for 24 pairs of shoes.
Time for design
THERE'S still time for local artisans to dream up a nifty creation for the Centenary of Canberra - A Legacy of Good Design competition.
Artists and designers can come up with a unique, high-quality object that can be produced and sold as memorabilia for the centenary.
Ten finalists will each receive $1000 to realise their prototypes, which will go on show at Craft ACT in 2013. Four winners will score $10,000 with which to create their products.
Guidelines can be found at www.craftact.org.au and entries close on December 2.
Festival's charity spirit
LOOKING fabulous at summer festivals isn't just for the fortunate few.
Being a fashionista at this year's Foreshore festival costs just a gold coin - and it's even for a good cause. Festival organiser Kicks Entertainment has named the St Vincent de Paul Society as its charity of choice for this year - and to repay the favour, the first-ever ''Vinnies' Beauty Bar'' will have stylists on hand to fix frizzy festival hair and retouch frazzled faces at the November 26 event.
Kicks director Ryan Phillips said wardrobe malfunctions would not be a worry for revellers this year either, with funky vintage threads for sale, as well as fancy-dress options for the more fearless. Phillips said donations would be collected a number of ways, with volunteers collecting at the entrance, VIP guests ''held as a friendly hostage'' until a donation is made, and a short movie shown inside the event to remind party-goers not everyone can afford a $120 ticket to Foreshore.
Money raised goes to St Vincent de Paul's programs in the region.