Jehane Sharah

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Underwear chain slammed By JEHANE SHARAH UNDERWEAR chain Bras N Things is ‘‘inciting the fantasy of sex with minors’’ by selling a school uniform-style outfit as part of its adult dress-up range, a child advocate says. Marketed as the ‘‘teacher’s pet’’ outfit, it is available in Bras N Things stores and through the company’s website. The ensemble consists of a skimpy checked skirt and matching tie, teamed with a white

blouse branded ‘‘teacher’s pet’’. Online, the company suggests complementing the outfit with fishnet stay-up stockings. Kids Free 2B Kids founder and director Julie Gale said, ‘‘It’s not directly sexualising a child, but it’s indirectly encouraging sex with minors. ‘‘I’m not some wowser who wants to quash people’s sexual fantasies, but when it comes to sex with minors, and that’s what the teacher’s pet fantasy is about, it’s totally unacceptable.’’

Ms Gale called on the retailer to stop selling the outfit. ‘‘If you’re a chain store in family shopping centres, you need to be responsible,’’ Ms Gale said. Bras N Things did not return calls, nor did it respond to questions put to it by email. It is not the first time Kids Free 2B Kids has complained about the company. In a submission to last year’s parliamentary inquiry into the sexualisation of children, the child

advocate criticised Bras N Things for selling sexually explicit merchandise that could be easily viewed and accessed by children and teenagers. In response, the retailer informed the inquiry it was reviewing the way it packaged such products. Bras N Things has previously come under fire from the Australian Nursing Federation for selling a nurse outfit, which the union said perpetuated stereotypes about the profession.

Bras N Things’ school uniform-style outfit which ‘‘incites fastasy’’.

Charny and proud of it, bad hair day and all By MARKUS MANNHEIM CHARNWOOD has clearly moved on from cheap jokes about mullets. The suburb celebrated its community festival yesterday with a closely contested ‘‘crazy hair’’ competition. The annual Charny Carny, staged by the local government and Catholic primary schools, drew an estimated 5000 people to the local oval. Joint coordinator Michael Pilbrow said the turn-out was ‘‘definitely our biggest ever’’. ‘‘It was a fantastic day’’, he said while cleaning up after the carnival last night. ‘‘We showed we’re Charny and we’re proud of it.’’ Among the most popular events was the celebrity mascot race, won narrowly by Prime Possum ‘‘pending a stewards’ investigation’’, Mr Pilbrow said. The festival raises money for Charnwood-Dunlop Primary School, St Thomas Aquinas Primary School and the Mt Rogers Scout Group.

Savahna O’Donnell, 7, of Melba, and Chloe Davis, 7, of Dunlop, who were entrants in the crazy hair competition yesterday.

Photo: KARLEEN WILLIAMS

Mysterious wheys of ‘secret’ cheese society By LAURELLE PACEY A DELICIOUS hint of mystery surrounded the inaugural cheesemaking competition at last Sunday’s Bemboka Show, yet its success highlights a growing interest in home cheesemaking in the region. The competition was organised by the secretary of the recently formed Bemboka Secret Cheese Society who had gone to great lengths to create the right setting for the big event, complete with light white material draped from the rafters to evoke a marquee atmosphere and painting the area, white of course.

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The ‘‘no names’’ secretary explained some of the mystery. ‘‘Everyone knew someone who made cheese in the Bega Valley region but, until recently, no one knew their names, hence our name. ‘‘We have meetings, make cheese at various people’s places and talk cheese – you could say it’s a maturing network. ‘‘This is such a dairy area with a wonderful tradition of cheese, so I thought it would be great to make Bemboka the capital of the Bega Valley’s hobby cheesemaking.’’ Eleven cheesemakers from the region entered 47 home-made cheeses in the show, much to the delight of

SUNDAY CANBERRA TIMES

judge Carol Willman who is a teacher of cheesemaking around Australia. ‘‘This is absolutely fabulous – Bemboka is only the fourth country show in Australia with a home cheesemaking competition,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m astounded at the quality here, from the soft cheeses through to the camemberts and the blues. ‘‘I’ve had so much trouble trying to pick out the best, which shows there are a lot of good cheesemakers here.’’ Fred Gasson of Bermagui, formerly of Forrest, was delighted with a silver medal for his cheddar. He has been making

cheese for only five months, using cow’s milk from a local farmer. Fellow cheesemaker Megan Jordan-Jones of Buckajo won silver medals for her marinated fetta and white mould camembert, and a highly commended for her quarg which is a fresh curd. ‘‘It’s fantastic to get feedback from Carol and connect with other cheesemakers,’’ she said. ‘‘I knew a couple of cheesemakers before this but now I know a lot more.’’ So is she a member of the Bemboka Secret Cheese Society? ‘‘It’s a secret,’’ she said.

Fred Gasson of Bermagui was delighted to receive a silver medal for his cheddar from judge Carol Willman at Bemboka Show’s inaugural cheese making competition. Photo: LAURELLE PACEY www.canberratimes.com