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by GEORGIA CURRY
The dry spell that has baked Canberra this summer has left our Narrabundah peacocks wanting because their breeding and mating rituals align with the monsoon season – no rain, no chicks.
Our suburban peacocks (“blue roosters”) are a long way from their native home in monsoonal India, and Canberra’s lack of rainfall this summer (apart from last weekend’s belated dumping) has stifled the peacock’s elaborate “rain dance”.
Narrabundah resident Timothy DeWan, convenor of Save The Narrabundah Peafowl, said this mating season has been unusual.
“A very small number of chicks hatched, some sadly succumbing to foxes, illness or the heat,” Tim said. “For the first time in years, I did not see any. Also unusual was the peahens that abandoned their eggs. Charmaine, the rare white peahen, dropped five eggs in a nest she made near our front door and then left them. Another peahen did the same nearby.”
Usually at this time of year, Narrabundah residents prop up ladders against street trees for chicks to escape prowling foxes.
“Sadly, due to the rare sightings of the chicks this season, we didn’t see the need to put out the call for ladders,” Tim said. “We have been calling out for bowls of water to be left out and
community members are responding.”
Already, male peafowls have dropped their feathers even though it’s only early February. They are in preparation for winter.
“We will keep our fingers crossed for the pea-mum with her five chicks that was spotted recently by one of our followers,” Tim said.
“The chicks are at a very vulnerable stage so hopefully they will make it.”
Narrabundah’s wild colony of about 40 peacocks has inhabited the inner-south suburb for more than 30 years.
While the peacocks don’t actually dance because it’s raining, they are highly sensitive to humidity and barometric pressure, becoming more active and performing their elaborate tailspreading rituals as monsoonal rain arrives.
Summer rainfall for December and January has been well below average in the ACT, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Canberra received only 38mm in December and 14mm in January, 50% and 25% of the average for those months.
everydayAustralia is a nation of innovators, and National Archives is pleased to provide access to this history in a novel way,” Mr Froude says.
National Archives curator, Lucie Shawcross, says that the exhibition highlights inventions, designs and trademarks that have shaped the everyday lives of Australians.
From the earliest First Nations inventions to the Hills Hoist and spray-on skin, National Archives of Australia’s current exhibition, In real life: inventors, innovators and opportunists, uncovers the stories behind Australia’s most familiar, surprising and treasured inventions.
The free exhibition invites visitors to explore the history of Australian invention, from First Nations’ creativity to 150 years of patents, trademarks and design registrations, by bringing original archival records together with the real-life inventions they produced. In real life celebrates Australian creativity, determination and ingenuity through inventions that continue to shape daily life.
“Records in the national archival collection are a treasure trove of fascinating stories waiting to be
shared,” says National Archives’ Director-General Simon Froude.
“National Archives plays a key role in keeping a trusted record of the history of Australian innovation and its impact on the lives of all Australians.”
In real life features intellectual property records dating back to the 19th century and reflects the diversity of Australian society, bringing to light the contributions of First Nations’ peoples, Australia’s rich migrant history and pioneering women.
“This meticulously curated exhibition connects us to stories of imagination and daring creativity.
“It reveals how people from all walks of life have pursued their ideas in laboratories, at drafting tables and in humble backyard sheds.”
First Nations’ peoples are Australia’s first inventors. Indigenous Australian technologies such as the boomerang, the woomera, the didgeridoo and fish traps are well known, yet the sophistication of these innovations has not always been documented in o cial records.
A highlight of the exhibition is a patent submitted by Aboriginal orator, inventor and author David Ngunaitponi (Unaipon), often referred to as ‘Australia’s Leonardo’. Unaipon, who appears on the Australian $50 note in recognition of his work, took out 19 provisional patents during his lifetime. The patent featured in In real life is a sheep-shearing handpiece that transforms circular motion into linear motion — an elegant engineering solution
grounded in practical need.
Australian innovation has long been shaped by the country’s unique environment and way of life. The exhibition presents records of inventions ranging from the life-changing to the eccentric, from internationally recognised breakthroughs to Australian brands and designs that have endured.
Among the most significant is the polymer banknote, developed and patented by the Reserve Bank of Australia in collaboration with CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. Originally designed to deter counterfeiting, the polymer banknote has proven durable enough to survive Australia’s beaches — even the surf.
Other needs-based inventions reflect distinctly Australian challenges and habits. CSIRO developed the formula for Aerogard to counter the idiosyncratic ‘Australian salute’, while the dual-flush toilet addressed water scarcity, particularly during drought. The ‘goon bag’ and Splayd cutlery were designed to suit outdoor living and picnics, while the Victa lawnmower and Hills Hoist became fixtures of Australian backyards.
The exhibition also foregrounds the remarkable contributions of pioneering women. Among them is Australian librarian Mary Halls ‘Minnie’ Crabb, inventor of the first Australian braille printing press. Believed to be the only braille printing press in the Southern Hemisphere at the time, Crabb designed the machine in her role as librarian of the Braille Library of South Yarra in Victoria.
Another is the self-described ‘inventress’ Myra Juliet Farrell, who submitted dozens of patent applications across an astonishing range, from a step-in corset to a bulletproof fence.
“Australia is a nation of innovators, and National Archives is pleased to provide access to this history in a novel way.”
While In real life playfully celebrates these iconic designs, it also draws attention to inventions that have saved lives and improved wellbeing. These include the baby capsule, spray-on skin, the Cochlear implant and the PB5 audio tactile pedestrian crossing button - innovations so embedded in our lives that their origins are often forgotten.
The exhibition also uncovers lesser-known histories. Australians are familiar with poet Henry Lawson, but fewer know that his mother, Louisa Lawson, was not only a pivotal figure in the su rage movement and a campaigner for women’s rights, but also an inventor. Louisa Lawson submitted several patent applications in support of women’s right to invent and to be recognised for their ideas.
In real life: inventors, innovators and opportunists is an inspiring experience for all ages — a discovery voyage through patents, trademarks and designs that Australians regularly see, hear, use and even flush. With its mix of recognisable objects and surprising stories, the exhibition is engaging for all generations, curious about how ideas become inventions.
The exhibition is showing at National Archives’ historic East Block venue on Kings Avenue, Parkes, until 17 May 2026. Entry is free, and the exhibition is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
David Unaipon’s patent application for the ‘Improved mechanical motion device’, which underpinned his improved shears, 1909. Patent No. 1909015624
NAA: A13882, 015624/09
BILL STEFANIAK AM RFD FORMER ACT OPPOSITION LEADER
On Monday evening, I attended the Palestine Action Group’s anti-Israel/Jewish demonstration in Garema Place.
To start with, however, my congratulations to the NSW Police for arresting 27 violent anti-Israel/ Jewish demonstrators in Sydney. It seems there are a number of paid agitators in the Palestine Action Group in Sydney, and I hope ASIO and others are looking into them.
In good old sleepy Canberra, there were no violent clashes and, while the 450 or so demonstrators were vocal, they were not violent.
Indeed, I had a chat with several of them.
One guy I spoke to had some knowledge of the Middle East but selectively quoted some data and seemed at a bit of a loss when I asked why he was not protesting against the evil Iranian regime that, in the last few weeks, has killed 50,000 of its own citizens.
I asked a group of Indigenous demonstrators why they were supporting the protest when they more naturally should be supporting Israel and the Jews. After all, like our Indigenous brothers and sisters, the Jews were in Israel first and their land was stolen by “Johnny-come-latelys” too. The young bloke I put this to was just not interested in talking to me about it.
You will never have peace in the world if you don’t have dialogue. A number of protesters I spoke to just didn’t want to discuss the issue and seemed totally blinkered and ignorant, which is a pity. At least I found them polite, unlike their Sydney comrades.
There were the usual chants of “from the river to the sea”, and I think I heard “globalise the intifada”. These examples of antisemitic hate speech, now banned by the Queensland Government — well done, David Crisafulli — urge the killing of Jews in Israel (it’s Hamas policy, after all), and “globalise the intifada” suggests the same on a worldwide scale.
I asked the police attending if they could act against the protesters chanting “from the river to the sea”. I think they would have liked to, but as it’s not specifically banned in the ACT, they couldn’t. We need to follow Queensland on that score.
I don’t mind a good protest — it’s all part of democratic life, even if it’s by gullible people who have no real idea of what the issues are about. But I would have thought demonstrating against a left-wing, decent president of the only democracy in the Middle East coming to Australia to give comfort to his co-religionists after 15 of their kin were brutally slaughtered on Bondi Beach, with their bodies not yet even cold in the grave, is, at the very least, in appallingly bad taste, if not obscene — regardless of the pros and cons of the issue they are demonstrating against.
by BERNIE RYAN
If you run a community organisation in the Weston Creek or Molongolo region and are running a bit short on cash to deliver your programs this year, some help may literally be around the corner.
For the third year, the Weston Creek Community Association (WCCA) is funding a Community Grants Program (the Program) to provide financial support for projects that promote community cohesion, development and support, primarily in Weston Creek, Molonglo and surrounding suburbs.
Projects that deliver a benefit to the community, have an impact on social equity and equality, as well as community and/or individual health and wellbeing will receive high priority.
A total fund of $20,000 for the Program is available for applications from $1,000 and upwards and applications must be submitted on or before 27 February 2026.
According to Yung Tran, Manager Weston Creek Community Centre, “Previous recipients of the community grants include Stromlo Christian Church for their playground equipment, Lions Youth Haven to upgrade their animal care facilities and gardening tools, and Roundabout Canberra for car seats for lowincome families.”
“Last year, St Peter’s Anglican Church received a grant for tables and safety mats for their playgroup and Featherstone Gardens used their grant to establish their camelia garden. The School of Arms and Armour also benefited from masks, chest plates and training swords for their ‘Fight Like a Girl’, medieval martial arts program,” he said.
Weston Creek Community Association Inc. (WCCA) is a local association formed in 1972.
The WCCA administers the Weston Creek Community Centre, the Weston Neighbourhood Hall, Flynn Community Hall, Holt Neighbourhood Hall and Chifley Community Meeting Room on behalf of the ACT Government.
WCCA’s income comes from the hire fees for their facilities and WCCA’s operating surpluses are reinvested in its services and maintaining the high quality of the facilities it manages.
Any funds left over after meeting its obligations, however, can be directed to activities in line with the WCCA’s objectives, which include the community grants.
Information on the program guidelines, including the application form, can be obtained by contacting Mr Tran on 6288 0144, or 0466 726 785, or by email at info@westoncccentre.org.au.
Monday 9 March 2026
7:30am – 11:30am
Gather your friends, family and colleagues, and register today!
Give where you live and run for a cause close to your heart.
Celebrate Canberra Day at the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run on Monday 9 March 2026 at Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla, and help support local charities.
Whether you walk, jog, push a pram, or chase a PB, every step helps strengthen our community.
Choose from a 5km or 10km course along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, then stay to enjoy a morning of food, music and family activities from 7:30am to 11:30am.
Proceeds from your entry fee go to Hands Across Canberra, helping fund essential services, local charities and community projects for people doing it tough across our region.
Precinct Partners Produced by
by NICHOLAS FULLER
Senator David Pocock and independent MP Dr Helen Haines MP believe ending placement poverty for the next generation of Australia’s health workforce is within reach, according to costings from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) they commissioned.
Many professional courses require work placements to qualify for a degree and to get professional certification. Many students forego paid work to undertake unpaid placements and relocate away from home, leading to ‘placement poverty’. This results in poor early experiences in the workplace and negative perceptions of employment in the relevant industries, many of which have longstanding skills shortages.
Following strong advocacy from advocates and the crossbench, the federal Labor Government commenced the Commonwealth Prac Payment on 1 July 2025 for nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work students.
Senator Pocock and Dr Haines are pushing for the payment to be expanded in line with the recommendations of the Universities Accord Final Report.
Expanding the Commonwealth Prac Payment Scheme to include medical and allied health students would cost $290 million over the four years of the forward estimates, PBO costings the independent politicians commissioned show.
The PBO costings also modelled the cost of lifting the payment rate from the current $338.60 per week benchmarked to the single Austudy per week rate while undertaking the placement.
“Most Australians have experienced firsthand the impacts from the acute shortage of qualified professionals, from psychologists to dentists to speech pathologists,” Senator Pocock said.
“Extending Commonwealth Paid Prac to enable more Australians to qualify in the professions we so desperately need makes sense and will help ease that shortage.
“Over the longer term, it will cost the Federal Government more if they fail to support the pipeline of medical and allied health students Australians right around the country rely on.
“Investing some $80 million a year in expanding a means-tested payment to enable more people from all backgrounds — be they First Nations peoples, people with disability, single parents or singleincome households — will improve equity and make sure we are training and qualifying the medical and allied health professionals we need, not just the ones who can afford it.”
The PBO costings coincide with the release of new survey data from the Health Students Alliance showing 42 per cent of students were going hungry while on placement.
“Unpaid mandatory placements are pushing thousands of students into financial hardship at a time of acute workforce shortages and a cost-of-living crisis,” Dr Haines said.
Senator Pocock and Dr Haines have partnered with peak body Allied Health Professions Australia to launch an online petition calling on the Federal Government to expand the Prac Payment Scheme.
Skinmedics on Cohen Street Unit 2, 34-42 Cohen Street,
From the 9th March 2026 we’ll be opening our new clinic, consolidating the other sites into this single clinic, this will bring together the same expertise of Dr Damien Bezzina, plus the skill of his colleagues to offer a full skin service.
You can continue to expect the very best of care, brand new state of the art full 3D body mole imaging and of course Dr Bezzina’s expertise in skin procedures - all under one roof! We’re excited to see old and new faces alike!
Skin Checks, Spot checks, Total body photography, Skin cancer procedures (simple & complex), Lumps, bumps & mole removal, Hair Loss/thinning management (Men & women), Teeth grinding/clenching, Laser.
by BERNIE RYAN
Canberra-based not-for-profit organisation Women in ICT (WIC) empowers women to participate in information and communication technology in Australia – leading the way to remove barriers, foster
equality and provide support for them to thrive.
The organisation announced this week the appointment of Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC as their new patron.
Lieutenant General McGuinness was appointed Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator in February 2024 and leads whole-of-government coordination of the National Cyber Security Strategy.
Lieutenant General McGuinness has also served in the Australian Defence Force for more than 30 years, holding senior tactical, operational and strategic roles in Australia and internationally.
“Lieutenant General McGuinness is an exceptional leader and role model in our industry, and we’re honoured to welcome her as our Patron,” said WIC Board President Josephine Calabria.
According to a report by the Commonwealth Bank and Tech Council of Australia, ‘Women make up just
20% of the highly technical workforce in Australia, dropping to 16% after age 40’, and ‘After age 40, women leave the highly technical workforce at almost double the rate of men.’
The report notes that ‘Australia’s ability to realise the AI opportunity depends on unlocking the full potential of our nation’.
Lieutenant General McGuinness agrees.
“Strengthening and encouraging diversity in Australia’s cyber and digital workforce is critical for our nation’s capabilities.
“I am excited to support Women in ICT (WIC) as their new Patron, working alongside the organisation to encourage more women and girls to pursue pathways in ICT,” she says.
The WIC organisation was established in 2000 and is run by volunteers. It encourages all young girls and women who want to work, or who are currently working in or with technology, to become members.
One of WIC’s flagship programs is the Work Experience Connection Program, which collaborates with schools to assist students who want to undertake work experience in ICT roles.
“We are connecting young girls with organisations in Canberra.
“And when they go to get a job, they have this big network to support them,” says Ms Calabria.
by GEORGIA CURRY
Well-worn Mills & Boon romance novels were plentiful at the recent Lifeline Canberra Bookfair and with Valentine’s Day looming, CW thought it would be fun to find the most quintessential Canberra love stories.
Chapter one: Private Bin
In 1990, 19-year-old Tarra Heikkinen was a nursing student who met 29-year-old Raimo from Finland, an electrician who came to Canberra to work on the construction of new Parliament House. He’d spent the first
few winter months living in a tent at the Cotter with his father.
Tarra usually hung out upstairs at the Private Bin – the classy section – but on this particular occasion, she was downstairs when she met Raimo.
“He drove me home [from the Private Bin] that night as a real gentleman, dropped me off at the door,” Tarra said. “I said I would meet him 8pm the next day with some friends at the Kingo.”
But Tarra didn’t end up going.
“Since there were no mobile phones back then, poor Raimo got stood up but he didn’t give up, he called the next day. I keep saying he came all the way from Finland to meet me.”
What is so intrinsically Canberran about this love story is that Tarra’s maiden name is Southwell, the earliest, and probably the largest, pioneering family in the settlement of Canberra.
Chapter three: Mooseheads
It was 2014, when a visiting Scottish girl, Chamaine, met a local boy, James Blundell, who was out partying with his footy mates.
“It’s one of the biggest clichés going but the whole thing was fate,” Chamaine said. “He never went there normally, and I just happened to be out with a bunch of other au pairs. Our eyes locked in upstairs Mooseheads, had a few dances, then he bought me chips, cheese and gravy. We chatted and the rest is history.”
James up and left Canberra for Scotland, and he and Chamaine have been married for five years, with a five-year-old.
Chapter four: Old Canberra Inn It was 2010 and Rachael Turner was on an epic all-nighter with friends starting at the Old Canberra Inn, when she met the love of her life, Vijay Singh.
The same expertise, new clinic and name, bringing together colleagues for an even better service!
Proven track record in the management of Skin Cancer, lumps & bumps/ cysts/ lipomas and most things in between.
SkinMedics on Cohen Street Unit 2, 34-42 Cohen Street
Belconnen, 2617 reception@ skinmedicsACT.com.au
SKIN CHECKS (full body & spot check & total body photography)
SKIN CANCER MANAGEMENT (procedural inc. skin aps & grafts & non-surgical)
LUMPS & BUMPS MANAGEMENT (cysts, lipomas, skin tags, anal skin tags, any other lesions)
RASHES, HAIR LOSS/ALOCPECIA
TEETH GRINDING/CLENCHING/ JAW PAIN/Excess sweating/migraines management
LASER – age spots on face/hands, spider veins, cherry angiomas
Tarra and Raimo were engaged three months later and are still happily married, with three beautiful children.
Chapter two: The Moonlight Bus
It was the Canberra Day long weekend in 1996 when Kellie Evans boarded a party bus departing from Liquid Lounge.
“My next-door neighbour at the time invited me on a night out and I really didn’t want to go, but in the end, ended up going,” Kellie said.
“Many years later, my husband [Brad] said to me that he saw me walking up towards the Liquid Lounge and said to his mate, ‘I’m gonna marry that girl.’”
True story (verified by Brad’s best mate Ken).
“We just hit it off straight away, we just spent the night talking and then at the end of the night he said, ‘Can I get your number,’ and I only had my eyeliner pencil in my bag.”
A year later Brad and Kellie got engaged, they have two daughters and they’ve just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
“I still remember the first time I saw him across the room, I was like, ‘Oh my god, he’s so handsome,’” Rachael said. “I laid eyes on him, and I was like, ‘Rightio, here we go!’”
They kicked on from the Old Canberra Inn to King O’Malleys, then Mooseheads (a Canberra trifecta).
“We partied the whole night away and then the lights came on in Mooseheads, the sun was rising and it was daylight outside. I said, ‘This has been great, but I probably won’t see you again. I don’t really do dates.’”
Vijay got her number anyway and the next day he picked Rachael up for coffee – at 8:45pm on a Sunday mind you – and took her to the very romantic Canberra Labor Club.
Four years later, they eloped on the South Coast (so Canberran) and it turned out that the celebrant’s husband, who was a witness at the ceremony, was Rachael’s old high school teacher (how very Canberran).
ACT Government releases Nature Conservation Strategy
The ACT Government has opened community consultation on a new Nature Conservation Strategy that will guide how Canberra protects, restores and manages its natural environment.
Community consultation is open until Monday 23 March. All residents are encouraged to share their views on the future of nature conservation in the ACT.
The ACT Government is seeking feedback on the draft Strategy’s guiding principles, strategic targets, and how effectively it supports community participation.
Visit yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/natureconservation-strategy-2025-2035
Chief Minister Barr visits India
Chief Minister Andrew Barr has gone on a sixday trade mission to India aimed at strengthening Canberra’s education, tourism and sporting ties with one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies.
Over two days in Delhi, the Chief Minister and his entourage will host education agent events, attend a reception hosted by the Australian High
Commissioner, and lead a tourism roundtable. They will visit the Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters exhibition at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, a joint exhibition with the National Museum of Australia that showcases cooperation between Delhi and Canberra institutions.
In Bengaluru, Mr Barr will meet government and education sector representatives; speak at a Consulate-hosted reception for education, aviation and tourism agents; join school counsellors and principals at a roundtable; and help launch the 2026 University of Canberra/Cricket ACT T10 Cricket Challenge.
India is the ACT’s largest diaspora community, and the two have education, research, and economic relationships. The mission forms part of the ACT’s International Engagement Strategy, and aims to promote Canberra’s two major export industries –international education and tourism.
India is the ACT’s second largest market for international students: more than 2,500 Indian students undertook tertiary studies in the ACT last year – “A testament to the strong ties between Canberra and India,” Mr Barr said. “It makes sense to
strengthen and expand the opportunities from this relationship.”
Legislative Assembly: ACT in housing crisis
The ACT Legislative Assembly has unanimously acknowledged that Canberra is in a housing crisis, more than 1,100 homes behind what is required to meet its target of 30,000 new dwellings by 2030.
A Canberra Liberals motion noted that meeting the target would require 1,250 new dwellings each quarter, but Australian Bureau of Statistics data show completions, commencements and approvals are well below that pace: dwelling approvals are less than half their 2018 levels.
Deborah Morris MLA, Shadow Minister for Home Ownership and Housing Affordability, said: “The ACT Government is failing to provide the homes needed for a fast-growing population.
“In the middle of a housing crisis, the ACT is approving less than half the number of dwellings they were seven years ago. It’s not good enough.
“The Assembly has unanimously recognised the housing crisis is real, and that home ownership feels out of reach for many young Canberrans.
“We need more transparency of Canberra’s housing supply as this will be critical to the future of our city.”
During the last week of December, my wife and I took a stroll at the Jerrabomberra Wetland in the early morning. With luck, I may take some interesting wildlife photos. Instead, the harsh morning sun caught my eyes.
One Walk Canberra will take place on Sunday 1 March at Rond Terrace, with a 3.5km walk over Kings Avenue Bridge. One Walk is the world’s largest fundraiser for type 1 diabetes research, bringing together families, friends and the wider community to walk, connect and raise vital funds to help turn type one into type none. The event is designed to support and celebrate children and families living with type 1 diabetes. The day will include a sausage sizzle, food, snacks and drinks, BYO picnics, kids’ activities including balloon modelling, face painting, temporary tattoos and crazy hair, live music, outdoor games, a chill-out zone for teens, raffles, plus marquees and seating. Register at onewalkcanberra.org.au or via Breakthrough T1D.
Tuggeranong Day: The next lunch meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 February 2026, 11am–2pm, at the Vikings Town Centre Club, corner Athllon Drive and Rowland Rees Crescent. Guest speaker: Livia Tigwell, Secretary of the Careers Association. Cost: $36 for a two-course lunch. RSVP by Thursday 12 February to Sharron on 0422 799 913 or kupke@internode.on.net.
Yerrabi: The club will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 19 February at the Eastlake Gungahlin Club, Hinder Street, Gungahlin, commencing at 11am for an 11:30am start. All are welcome to attend; voting is open to financial members only. New members are always welcome. For details, contact Cheryl at chanily3@bigpond.com.
community noticeboard email news@newstimemedia.com.au with ‘HYH’ in the subject field
GIVIT is an ACT Government partner working with an organisation that provides accommodation and support for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. They are seeking support for a mother and her six children who had escaped domestic violence. After fleeing from domestic abuse, this family had to sleep in their car after failing to get support from housing crisis services. This mother is now staying in temporary accommodation and is finally preparing to move into a permanent home, but they need support for essentials. This organisation is requesting non-perishable grocery items or grocery vouchers to assist the family during their transition. Your donation will provide much-needed support as they move into their new home and start a new life. Generous Canberrans can donate non-perishable groceries or fund the purchase of grocery vouchers. 100% of your financial donation will be used to purchase what’s needed. To help please visit: GIVIT.org.au/what’s-needed, search; Location State: ‘ACT’, Keywords: ‘groceries – non-perishable’ and Suburb: ‘Kambah, 2902’.
The Canberra Foundations Collaborative has opened its fifth joint grant round, with $1 million available to support ACT community organisations improving outcomes across the region. Grants generally range from $5,000 to $50,000, with larger or multi-year grants considered. Expressions of Interest close 27 February 2026. Since 2021, the Collaborative has distributed more than $6.8 million to over 310 local projects. Details and eligibility at canberrafoundations.org.
The Canberra Flower Club’s first meeting for 2026 will be held on Tuesday 10 February at the Downer Community Centre, Frencham Place, Downer, from 9:30am for a 10am–12:30pm session. The meeting will feature a demonstration of a petite floral design followed by a hands-on workshop. Just bring yourself — materials will be provided.
A sidewalk mini-market will be held on Abena Avenue, Crace, on Saturday 14 February from 10am to 12:30pm. Bring cash to shop for cakes, books, trinkets and treasures, art and craft. Organised by Goodwin Crace residents, the market will raise funds to support people living with dementia and their families.
The Canberra Jung Society’s Dorothea’s Six-Week Dream Group returns for five Sunday afternoons on 15 and 22 February, and 1, 8 and 15 March. Facilitated by Jungian analyst Dorothea Wojnar, the group invites participants to share and work with dreams using active imagination. Sessions run from 2pm to 4:30pm at Wesley Uniting Church, 22 National Circuit, Forrest. Cost is $60 for the remainder of the series or $15 per session. Details at canberrajungsociety.org.au
Serves 2 | prep 10 mins | cook 20 mins
Ingredients
2 lamb forequarter chops (approx 225g each), fat trimmed
125g pearl cous cous
½ bunch baby carrots, peeled, cut into ribbons
30g baby spinach leaves
1 ½ tbsp currants
Zest and juice of ½ lemon, +extra wedges to serve
1 tbsp olive oil
50g fresh ricotta cheese
Parsley leaves, pre-made pesto, to serve
Method
Heat a lightly oiled char-grill or barbecue over medium-high heat. Season chops and cook for 4-5 minutes each side, or until cooked to your liking. Rest on a plate loosely covered with foil for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, place couscous and 1 cup (250ml) boiling water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Cover. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 8 minutes or until tender and liquid has absorbed. Remove lid. Stand for 2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly in a large bowl. Add carrots, spinach, currants, lemon zest, juice and oil. Season and toss to coat. Top salad with ricotta and sprinkle with parsley leaves.
Serve chops with pesto, cous cous salad and lemon wedges.
Tips
Lamb cutlets, loin chops or rump steaks would also work well in this recipe.
Use feta or goats cheese instead of ricotta, mint or coriander instead of parsley.
Brown rice, cauliflower rice or quinoa would be good substitutes for cous cous.
by VINCENT SAMARAS
Have you ever felt like Easter chocolate is getting a little expensive? Try this on for size. Bruno’s Truffles has handcrafted what is surely Canberra’s most expensive Easter egg, a five-kilo creation priced at $750 and standing almost half a metre tall.
The Mawson shop owner Bruno Ehrensperger says the eggstravagant treat took around two full days to make and is crafted entirely by hand in the shop.
“Everything is made in here,” he says. “It’s all done properly, using professional skills.”
The egg is made using 100 per cent couverture chocolate, which Bruno describes as the highest quality eating chocolate available.
While this monster egg is one-of-a-kind so far, Bruno is open to making more.
“We can make more if people want to order them,” he says. Bruno was reluctant to move the egg from the shelf, concerned it could break or lose its perfect finish.
While it may seem like a novelty move, Bruno says the giant egg is more about showcasing craftsmanship.
“It’s about quality,” he says. “Using the best chocolate and making everything by hand is what we’ve always done.”
The business has been part of Canberra’s chocolate scene for more than four decades, with 20 years spent in Narrabundah before relocating to Mawson, where it has now been operating for 21 years.
If you are after quality chocolate this Easter but don’t want to spend $750, Bruno’s Truffles also has a range of smaller, handmade treats on offer.
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)
As people who ruffle your confidence, it’s only because you perceive they hold power over you, which isn’t necessarily true. They may hold purse strings, permissions or status, but since those things are also available elsewhere, you needn’t be beholden to any individual
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20)
It’s helpful to observe life without always feeling you need to react to it. Indifference can be extremely useful in situations where you have very little control over an outcome. Sometimes caring less is not being careless. It’s conserving energy to apply it to what you’re responsible for.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 21)
1 Geoffrey Tozer, born in 1954, was known as an “Australian virtuoso” what?
2 The 2024 best-selling novel, James, tells the story of the companion of which famous character?
3 In relation to chocolate bars, Twix is a portmanteau of which two words?
4 Alcatraz Island is a major tourist attraction in which US state?
5 What does the R in an MMR vaccine stand for?
You bring the magic. You don’t need permission. In the past, someone benefited from you shrinking. Someone else decided what counted, and you had to go with it. But this is no longer your situation. You have the magic. You can use it without upsetting the hierarchy. You’ll be celebrated.
CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22)
You’ll be extra aware by the way you shape and are shaped by a certain someone. It’s not that one is a sculptor and one is clay. You’re both clay, working out the form of your relationship. You may not settle into one shape. It may keep changing and be fun to play with because it remains pliable.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)
As carnival performers know, wearing a mask takes energy. You may have to put on a socially acceptable face reflecting something different from what you’re feeling on the inside. At least your smile gives the rest of you a cue: it’s going to be OK. Your competence, in time, turns to confidence.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)
It’s important to have events in your future you’re looking forward to because the anticipation of pleasure is a form of pleasure, too. Days are made lighter simply because they are leading up to the exciting event. If the event lives up to the hype, that’s a bonus.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 23)
Love isn’t doing someone’s work for them. It’s doing the work of being the best human you can be, which sometimes involves helping others. This week, you will often be serving those around you, but you’re not their servant. Think of your effort as mastering your own gifts.
SCORPIO (OCT. 24-NOV. 21)
You don’t have to be pedantic about the rules because everyone involved has space to be themselves and the integrity to respect the expression of others. This is the ideal to strive for. You’ll be sensitive and observant. Outlining the boundaries will be your peacekeeping measure.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)
Your conscience has served you well. You’ve done the moral work, so improvement or vigilance is unnecessary. You need only accept that the accounting is finished. Now, grant yourself the mercy you would extend to anyone else who had learned and changed.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)
Time for an audit on your sources of relaxation, leisure and fun. Are some of them simply too expensive? It’s not just about money. Pleasure that extracts without replenishing may have too high a cost. You’ll cultivate joyful habits and nurture relationships that pay you back.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)
Your emotions are a compass. It’s safe to tune into emotional sensations without judging what comes up, whether it’s joy, irritation, tenderness or feelings that you have yet to define. There is no wrong or right way to feel, only the way you actually feel, and many ways to interpret.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)
You don’t have to make big decisions this week, so avoid jumping to conclusions. It’s more helpful to simply keep seeing, and it’s very fun to gather feedback. Ask insiders, experts and newbies alike to weigh in. There’s brilliance in a balanced picture. You’ll make a friend in the process.
by BERNIE RYAN
Canberra Repertory Society (REP) launches its 2026 season with a comic masterpiece from one of the world’s most prolific playwrights.
Alan Ayckbourn’s Bedroom Farce is a whirlwind of marital mishaps, midnight disasters, and three bedrooms that witness far more than they should.
Bedroom Farce was last performed at REP in 1981, and this return brings the classic back to the stage with new energy, sharp timing, and a director who knows Ayckbourn’s world.
Director Aarne Neeme AM, whose association with REP spans more than four decades and more than a dozen productions, describes the play as “a hectic night in which three bedrooms are presented simultaneously on stage and the action flows in and out from one to another”.
Kate are preparing a housewarming party. Nick has hurt his back and is confined to bed. All three preparations are doomed to disaster by the marital problems of Trevor and Susannah, who descend on each couple in turn, leaving chaos in their wake.”
With a career that began in the early 1960s and professional directing credits across theatre, television, and drama schools, Mr Neeme brings a wealth of experience and a deep affection for REP to this production.
His past REP credits include Just Between Ourselves, Arcadia, The Threepenny Opera, Witness for the Prosecution, A Doll’s House, and many more.
“Being part of the REP family has always been a joy,” he says. “And Bedroom Farce is a wonderful opportunity to revisit Ayckbourn’s razor sharp humour and his extraordinary understanding of human relationships.”
and the night spirals into chaos.
Mr Neeme says, “It’s a play full of movement, mischief, and emotional truth. The cast have created wonderfully inventive physical moments — including some spectacularly chaotic fight choreography — and the set is a superb creation thanks to Russell Brown.”
Antonia Kitzel, who plays the character Kate, says, “This is a comedy about relationships.”
“Because it was written in the 70’s, when you watch it now, the way we look at relationships has changed,” Ms Kitzel adds.
So what is different?
“It’s how we talk about relationships feelings and emotions and what is considered a ‘good conversation’ today … some of the lines that were written as a full-on comedy then, can seem a bit ‘mean today,” she says.
These differences between then and now, “…make if funnier but they also make you think more”, says Ms Ketzel.
Bedroom Farce runs 19 February – 7 March, for three weeks only at Canberra REP Theatre, 3 Repertory Lane, Acton, Canberra.
Mr Neeme says, “Ernest and Delia go out to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Malcolm and
Ayckbourn’s comedy is a masterclass in timing, structure, and character. With three bedrooms on stage at once, scenes collide, relationships unravel,
Bookings: canberrarep.org.au/content/book-onlinechoose-production
We Bury the Dead (MA15+)
The United States has accidentally detonated an experimental weapon off the eastern coast of Tasmania, destroying the city of Hobart and its inhabitants while leaving those not caught in the immediate blast rendered brain dead. With some of them coming back to a resemblance of life, volunteers are called upon to clean up the remnants. Soon, American physiotherapist, Ava Newman (Daisy Ridley), comes down under to search for her husband.
Hot off the back of zombie post-apocalyptic survivalist thriller 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the writer/director of the nihilistic These Final Hours (2013) serves up a surprisingly effective meditation on grief, loss and the importance of letting go. Ava quickly goes
AWOL beyond the relative safety of the quarantine zone in search of her husband, ready to deal with whatever form he may be in. Along this journey into her Heart of Darkness (1899), Ava discovers the true nature of the undead and the living alike.
The cinematography is gorgeous, patiently capturing the Australian landscape in its vast, isolating beauty. Matched with a haunting soundtrack, the movie’s strength is its consistent morbid and bittersweet tone. While zombie aficionados may be let down by the lack of overt scares and action scenes, the story is focused more on the pull of seeking closure for those lost and the associated relationships. It is a shame that some melodramatic missteps in the
Saturday
by GEORGIA CURRY
Craig McLachlan – actor, singer, musician – is known from TV’s Ramsay Street to stages across the world. You might know him as Henry, Doctor Blake, Frank n Furter, or Doctor Zuko, from his varied entertainment career over the past three decades.
Craig is in Canberra next week with his Six String Stories show and Canberra Weekly wanted to get to know the Gold Logie/ARIA-winner a bit better, away from all the paparazzi and hype.
Your show promises a “strange musical journey”, any weirder than yodelling with the Bee Gees while waiting to sing for the Queen?
Yes, it truly is an occasion where the old adage “you never know whatcha gonna get” applies. It’s tough to top yodelling with the brothers Gibb, but whether it’s a yarn about being introduced to insanely strong Egyptian coffee by Omar Sharif (who delighted in my struggle to get it down and keep it down) or being quizzed by The Queen Mother about Henry Ramsay’s short-lived garden gnome manufacturing business, it has been a strange journey.
What’s one behind-the-scenes moment from Neighbours that fans would lose their minds over?
Hmmm…perhaps the day we shot the legendary “Henry nude dash”, shot on location. No-one in production factored in that it was school holidays in the state of Victoria… let’s just say in a pre-smartphone world, the sound of clicking Kodak cameras was deafening. Yep, dozens of people sticking their heads over Mrs Mangels’ back fence, aiming their pocket brownies at yours truly in the buff!
What’s the hardest lesson fame taught you that an acting coach could never teach?
Where do I start? The big one, for me at least, a life away from “celebrity”.
Your show is called “live and intimate”, just how private/confidential are we talking?
That’s a good question. Well, the emphasis is on fun, all of us having a good time together, but it’s all quite interactive. The audience will often lead me down a particular path that can be surprising for all of us. Even my lifelong friend and musical collaborator Dave will look at me bug-eyed & say, “I didn’t know that!”
The spotlight can turn unforgiving. How do you handle that?
Ooh another good question! I learned very early on that a) don’t believe your own publicity and hype and b) be careful who you trust. And acknowledge the strange cycle of celebrity and fame and the many elements powering that strange cycle. Chances are you’re gonna be liked, loved, loathed … liked, loved, loathed, and so on. True friends, family and the occasional quality vanilla slice will get you through. Oh and sharing fun intimate nights of musical mayhem with good people is an extraordinary tonic!
Craig McLachlan performs Six String Stories at The Street Theatre on Friday 20 February at 8pm. Info: thestreet.org.au/shows/craig-mclachlan-live-intimate-0
by BERNIE RYAN
If you were fortunate enough to be exposed to the Canberra local music scene in the 1970’s you may have had some nostalgic moments since, wondering if the music from that era can still be heard anywhere?
Luckily, and thanks to musicians Peter and Sue McMahon, you can either relive or discover it at their Always Entertaining show on Saturday 28 February at Smith’s Alternative.
Peter, who performed under the name ‘Oyster’ in the 70s, was also part of the Canberra folk club Poetry, Song and Lies Club (P.S.L.), which met regularly and inspired performances of “…original song, disinhibited verse and generally untrue storytelling,” Peter says.
The touring arm of the P.S.L. club was The Culture and Anarchy Green Society and was founded by performance poet Geoff Shera and toured Armidale, Wagga Wagga, Brisbane, Sydney and beyond.
Canberra Weekly spoke with Peter last year about
the original recordings made during this era, which the McMahons later spent eight years digitising. This resulted in a 21-track album, which was played at an event at the Irish Club in 2025.
Thanks to a call out at that time by Peter, the Irish Club event became a ‘reunion’ of those who were involved in or remembered the music and poetry of that time.
“The article that ran in Canberra Weekly was extremely helpful and the interest it created led to a reunion of over 35 people who had a strong interest in the restored audio,” he says.
“Therefore, I’m back to showcase obscure songwriters from that era.”
Although this time it will be performed live by the McMahons rather than presenting the recorded album. The McMahons will bring a show that encompasses 50 years of selected songs and poems.
Sue will be playing both a 100-year-old concertina and a musical saw, and there will also be an acoustic
guitar and an Appalachian Dulcimer made by Peter used in the performance.
“The only way you’re going to hear this material is through me or my wife at the moment”, says Peter.
Sue says that the show is, “… an opportunity to be transported back to 70s and beyond, to experience songs and poems that were crafted with passion and bravery”.
“This is genuine music made by real people.
No digital backing files and a total absence of AI,” she adds.
Selling points that in the 70s would certainly have made no sense at all.
To book, smithsalternative.com/calendar
This week, Jeff Popple recommends three Australian romances for St Valentine’s Day. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Engaged, Apparently by Amy Andrews HQ, $32.99
Rural and smalltown romance is one of the leading genres in Australian popular fiction.
Bestselling author Amy Andrews provides an entertaining twist on the form, with her fake-dating story about
two old friends who return to their old hometown to find that they are engaged, apparently. When Finn and Sweeney unexpectedly return to small town Ballyshannon to attend their mothers’ joint sixtieth birthday party, they are surprised to discover that everyone has been told that they are getting married. Forced to live the lie to save their mothers from embarrassment, things quickly spin out of control for Finn and Sweeney. Lots of fun.
Character Energy by Olivia Tolich Fremantle Text, $34.99
Gertrude has been living in the shadow of her best friend Bee for as long as she can remember. After years of helping Bee through romantic missteps and being her Insta content videographer, Gertrude decides that it is time to become the main character in her own life and not just a side one. She turns to the friend of Bee’s latest beau for help, and finds herself questioning everything about her life. Side Character Energy is an enjoyable, witty story that explores the different forms of love and the importance of making your own way. A wonderful late summer weekend read.
Shailee Thompson
Atria, $34.99
Those who enjoy a darker edge to their romance reading will appreciate Shailee Thompson’s genre-blending How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. When cinephile Jamie Prescott attends a speed-dating event, she expects to meet some mediocre men and have a laugh. What she does not expect is for one of her dates to have his throat slit during a blackout, and for the body count to quickly rise thereafter. Armed with makeshift weapons and her extensive knowledge of what not to do in a slasher movie, Jamie has to survive the night and maybe meet her perfect date. A gripping and funny read.
Wonderful opportunity to ask questions and gather information
Sunday 15th & Monday 16th February 2026
On display will be the latest resort style developments as well as established villages from many different organisations, all offering a wide range of services & facilities, sizes, prices and locations. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions and gather information about many different retirement communities, all under one roof with free admission.
by GEORGIA CURRY
Whoever said Canberra was dull must have missed the evil empire of the Carillon, the killer koala straddling Telstra Tower and the vampire of Canberra’s bus/bomb shelters. Okay, so these may be fictional
creations by Canberra artist Aviva Kidd, who wanted to make Canberra’s “ordinary” a little extraordinary, but it makes for a more interesting story.
You see Aviva moved from Melbourne to Canberra six years ago and while all her city friends were regaling her with thrilling stories about city life, she felt the urge to embellish Canberra life.
Her dry response to her city friends inspired the title of her new exhibition – “Meanwhile in Canberra”.
“In the early days I remember having arrived here and basic things like the wideness of the streets here and how quiet it was,” Aviva said. “So they’d just be talking about their lives as usual and I kept starting text messages with, well meanwhile in Canberra...”
Walter Burley Griffin would never have dreamt up Aviva’s mythical merman lurking with carp in the lake’s murky depths. It sure shakes up our sedate planned city.
“That’s kind of the basic inspiration that I was imagining a world where it was something slightly more paranormal or more extraordinary than the kinds of things I was messaging my friends about,” Aviva said. “It’s just a fun revisiting of Canberra icons and public art – but I like creatures and monsters. I put my own spin on it.”
Just like the great Japanese woodblock artist Hokusai (36 Views of Mt Fuji) Aviva wants to elevate
Canberra’s icons to a higher status.
She too utilises lino print, risograph and mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock) printmaking (Aviva recently completed an artistic residency at Karuizawa Mokuhanga School in Japan). Mokuhanga requires painstaking execution but produces lustrous results that cannot be replicated digitally.
Aviva’s take on Belco’s phallic Owl, which has already reached legendary status, adds a dark and sinister side to this viral icon.
“Because you see these landmarks every other day, they become part of the furniture, but then you suddenly look at them again,” Aviva said.
“Like the National Carillion, they sometimes light it up for special events and I remember I was taking a night-time lake walk and it was bright red – it looked like something out of Star Wars, like some evil empire. It just looked so sinister and so that was the trigger.”
Even though Aviva’s relatively new to Canberra, she’s a proud defender of our fair city and her first solo exhibition here is homage to Canberra.
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of poetic licence to zhoosh up our tidy symmetrical city, like a menacing koala atop Telstra Tower attacking our beloved Canberra Balloon Spectacular.
“It makes us more exciting than perhaps we really are, which is fine because I think we feel an endearment towards these iconic landmarks and we’ll defend them to the hilt, to anyone from the outside,” Aviva said. “But between us we’re like, it’s a bit boring but that’s okay, that’s why we like it.”
“Meanwhile in Canberra” – a collection prints that find the extraordinary in a city too often dismissed by outsiders as boringly ordinary – is at Belconnen Arts Centre until 22 March.
14 MAR
Australian Pink Floyd tribute Run Like Hell returns to the Q with a new show for 2026, featuring a seven-piece band and a visceral video, lights and laser spectacular. Bask in the iconic soaring guitar solos and rainbow of keyboard colours that made Pink Floyd instantly identifiable.
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 14 March 8pm; qprc. sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/ salesevent/156242
Find more listings at canberradaily.com.au
HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP?
Contact Anand on 0432 887 457 or anand@newstimemedia.com.au
Canberra will host the second T20I cricket match at Manuka Oval when the Australian women go up against India.
Manuka Oval, Thursday 19 February; premier.ticketek.com.au
The Royal Canberra Show returns to EPIC with over 150 captivating attractions, 5,000 fascinating animals, 450 diverse trade displays, and 1,500 talented competitors.
Exhibition Park in Canberra, 20-22 February; canberrashow. org.au
Canberra Lunar New Year Festival
21 FEB
Celebrate Lunar New Year in Dickson as Woolley Street comes alive with colour, music and community spirit. Woolley Street, Dickson, 21 February, 10am to 10pm; lunarnewyearcanberra.com
27 FEB-9 MAR
One of Canberra’s favourite festivals returns, once again lighting up the nation’s capital with 11 nights of culture, creativity and after-dark discovery. Now in its 16th year, the festival will illuminate Australia’s most iconic national institutions with world-class projections, live music, immersive art and rare after-hours experiences.
Various locations, starts 27 February; enlightencanberra.com
N T R IBU
wi DR VIVIENNE LEWIS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA
As a clinical psychologist, much of my work focuses on relationships: how we connect, attach, cope, and regulate our emotions in the context of other people. Increasingly, however, clients speak to me about relationships that don’t involve humans at all. They talk about their dogs, cats, horses, and other animals, often hesitantly, as though these relationships might somehow be less valid. But they are not.
From a psychological perspective,
relationships with pets can play a significant role in emotional regulation, attachment, and mental health. For many people, pets provide a consistent, non-judgemental presence that is di cult to find elsewhere. They respond to us without evaluating our worth, productivity, appearance, or emotional performance, something many of us, particularly those who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, or perfectionism, find deeply soothing.
Research consistently shows that interacting with pets can reduce physiological markers of stress, including cortisol, while increasing oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding, safety, and calm. This is not simply a comforting idea; it is a measurable biological response. When people instinctively reach for their pet during moments of distress, their nervous system is doing exactly what it is designed to do, seeking
regulation through safe connection. Pets also provide routine and behavioural activation, both of which are foundational to good mental health. When someone is depressed or overwhelmed, motivation is often the first thing to disappear. Pets create an external structure that requires engagement regardless of mood. Feeding, walking, grooming, and caring for another living being can act as a protective factor, helping people stay connected to daily life when they might otherwise withdraw.
Importantly, pets can also play a subtle but meaningful role in supporting body image and eating disorder recovery, an area I specialise in. Animals relate to bodies in functional, rather than aesthetic, ways. They do not judge size, shape, weight, or appearance, they respond to movement, presence, energy, and care. I often see that when clients are feeding their pets regularly, walking
them, and responding to their physical cues, it becomes easier to extend some of that same care and consistency to themselves.
Pets can provide socialisation too through meeting other dog walkers, seeing familiar faces at local parks, and sharing information about our pets with others.
Pet ownership also comes with grief. Pets age, become unwell, and eventually die. The grief that follows can be profound.
It is also important to say that pets are not a substitute for human relationships or professional mental health care. They cannot meet all emotional needs, nor should they be expected to. However, they can be a powerful adjunct to psychological wellbeing, o ering comfort, routine, connection, and emotional grounding.
www.michellerichardshearing.com.au
If you’re experiencing hearing di culties or simply want to stay on top of your hearing health, Michelle Richards Hearing o ers the trusted, personalised care you’ve been looking for — right here in Canberra.
Proudly independent and locally owned, Michelle Richards Hearing is not part of a chain or franchise. That means you receive genuine advice, no sales pressure, just hearing solutions tailored to your unique lifestyle and needs.
Michelle Richards, a highly experienced Audiometrist with over 20 years of clinical expertise in adult hearing rehabilitation, is passionate about supporting people of all ages to live better through better hearing.
Michelle stays at the forefront of audiological innovation, o ering the latest hearing aid technology including discreet, rechargeable, and AI-powered options.
Whether you need a comprehensive hearing assessment, tinnitus support, hearing protection, or hearing aids, Michelle delivers expert care with a warm, community-focused approach.
Conveniently located in Dickson, Michelle Richards Hearing welcomes private, pension, DVA and Hearing Services Program (HSP) clients. Home visits are also available for those who are unable to travel.
by DR DAVID BELL
A large outbreak of hysteria occurred in the media recently, regarding a small Nipah virus outbreak in eastern India.
‘Hysteria’ is the correct word in terms of proportionality.
Ten years ago, this episode of Nipah virus disease would barely have rated a mention internationally, and certainly not stimulated airport screening and travel warnings – there have been many larger outbreaks of Nipah virus than this one, which did not.
The change over recent years is not that people have lost their minds.
It relates to the adoption of the fearpanic-profit model that has entrenched itself in international public health. Tens of billions in annual funding are on the table, and they depend – with the
thousands of salaries and exorbitant Pharma profits tied to the pandemic industry – on the maintenance of a constant sense of imminent threat.
The World Health Organization reports two cases from this Nipah outbreak, which is less than usual.
The deliberate hysteria and fearmongering these cases are being used to promote will kill lots more, because it diverts resources from programs aimed at far worse health problems.
What is Nipah virus disease?
An outbreak of encephalitis (brain inflammation) occurred in a semi-rural area of Malaysia in 1998. It was quite severe, with almost half of the early cases dying.
Initially assumed to be an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis (a more common mosquito-borne disease), it
was noted that early cases were associated with illness in nearby pigs. The initial outbreak was on a farm where pigs and an orchard were in close proximity.
Unusual characteristics noted in this 1998 outbreak raised questions as to whether this was a new disease.
This outbreak became the first recorded outbreak of Nipah virus, named after Sungai Nipah (the Nipah river) in peninsular Malaysia.
The virus is now known to be endemic in various bat species that range across much of Asia and Africa.
Why new viruses are not necessarily new
Since the Malaysian episode, recurrent outbreaks have been recorded, particularly in the northeast and southwest of the Indian subcontinent.
These have been small outbreaks, less than 110 deaths in the worst, with well under 1000 people recorded ever dying from Nipah virus globally.
The difference between now and the years before 1998 is almost certainly not that a new virus has emerged, but that we have simply developed the means to detect it.
We simply could not distinguish Nipah virus outbreaks from other causes of encephalitis.
Evidence of the virus in fruit bats across Asia and Africa means it has almost certainly been around for a very long time, perhaps many thousands of years.
None of the above stops Nipah virus being portrayed as a new and emerging threat, because when it comes to the money to be made from the pandemic industry, reality is but a minor impediment to progress.
This “emerging infection” label is common in the infectious disease and pandemic industries.
We pretend, as public health professionals, that the thing that changes when we learn how to detect a disease, and start reporting it, is the prevalence of that disease.
We completely ignore the fact that there was no way to detect and report it before someone gave us the necessary tools.
By insisting that threats are emerging rather than having always been there, public health is much more exciting, and we are far more likely to get funding for further work.
This narrative helps drive an entire industry based on the idea that these ‘rapidly emerging diseases’ constitute an existential threat to humanity.
Forty billion dollars a year in funding proposed for the pandemic and One Health agendas is based on this premise.
This money, about half intended as new money taken from hapless taxpayers globally, is to support thousands of salaries and very large potential profits for multinational corporations.
It all depends on maintaining a narrative of exponentially increasing risk.
It is silly, readily refutable, but repeated so often that even our governments are widely taken in. The depressing recurrence of stupidity
There was a time when international public health was relatively free to focus on interventions that prolong life and wellbeing.
It had more integrity and was more reliable in the information it provided.
Almost everyone who works in the field knows that most people will die not from occasional acute outbreaks like Nipah virus disease but from those diseases that offer poorer financial return on investment.
We could, surely, serve the public better.
Editor’s note: Dr David Bell is a clinical and public health physician specialising in global health technologies and infectious disease
by JENNIFER DUDLEY-NICHOLSON, AAP
Just because artificially intelligent chatbots can pass medical exams does not mean they should operate as doctors, a study warns, as they can provide deadly medical advice.
In one case, two men who asked an AI tool about a brain bleed received opposite guidance, with one urged to seek immediate medical attention while the other was told to rest in a quiet room.
Researchers from Oxford University published the warning in the Nature Medicine journal on Tuesday following a large-scale randomised trial involving 1300 participants.
The research comes one month after OpenAI announced its ChatGPT Health service and revealed the popular AI tool handled more than 230 million health-related questions every day.
The study, created by researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute and University of Oxford, tested
whether three large language models could help people identify a medical condition and the correct course of action to treat it.
Each of the 1298 participants were given one of 10 medical scenarios to pursue, with conditions ranging from the common cold and pneumonia to gallstones and a pulmonary embolism.
One group used traditional sources of information to identify their condition, such as web searches, while the other group used large language models GPT-4o used by ChatGPT, Llama 3 from Meta, and Command R+.
Using the AI tools, only 34.5 per cent of participants identified their medical condition, and 44.2 per cent found the right course of action to take, whether that was calling an ambulance or caring for themselves at home.
In one case, two participants describing the symptoms of a subarachnoid haemorrhage were given different guidance by GPT-4o, with only one told to
seek medical help immediately, while indigestion or reflux was suggested when a participant described gallstones.
The findings highlighted some of the difficulties involved in creating technology to address human problems, University of Oxford Clarendon-Reuben doctoral scholar Rebecca Payne said.
“Despite all the hype, AI just isn’t ready to take on the role of physician,” Dr Payne said.
“Patients need to be aware that asking a large language model about their symptoms can be dangerous, giving wrong diagnoses and failing to recognise when urgent help is needed.”
The AI tools made more accurate medical assessments when human participants were not involved in the questions, and correctly diagnosed conditions in 94.7 per cent of cases and provided the correct course of treatment more than half the time (56.3 per cent).
The findings suggested a communication breakdown between people and AI, Oxford Internet Institute researcher and lead author Andrew Bean said, and the need to find better ways to test software solutions.
Perched above the treetops in one of Canberra’s most sought-after Inner South suburbs, this Red Hill penthouse delivers house-like proportions with the ease of apartment living. Occupying an entire floor within the Lady Nelson Park precinct, the residence offers a rare sense of privacy alongside sweeping views across Canberra’s iconic landscape.
Inside, the home features generous open-plan living framed by floor-to-ceiling windows that capture a remarkable 270-degree outlook, stretching from Black Mountain Tower to the Captain Cook Fountain and across the Parliamentary skyline. The expansive master suite occupies its own wing of the penthouse, creating a private retreat separate from the additional bedrooms.
Outdoor living is a standout feature, with four balconies providing more than 80 square metres of space to relax, entertain, or simply take in the surrounding greenery. Owners often find themselves spending much
of their time outdoors, enjoying the peaceful vista while still having the convenience of a secure lock-andleave lifestyle.
Set within a boutique precinct of just six buildings opposite local shops and surrounded by established trees, the property combines the feeling of suburban living with the exclusivity of a one-of-a-kind sky home.
3 2 3*
EER 6
Auction: Sat 14 Feb, 9:30am On Site
Price: Over $2.7m
View: Sat 14 Feb, 9am
Agent: Christine Shaw
Mob: 0405 135 009
Christine Shaw Properties 6288 8888
*Not car spaces but a three-car garage
15 Abbott Street, Yarralumla
Buxton Street, Deakin
$3,250,000 Marq
$3,200,000 Hive 6A Stokes Street, Gri th
$1,695,000
Kambah
$1,325,000 My Morris
7B Cassia Place, Rivett
31 Phillipson Crescent, Calwell
7/37 Ipima Street, Braddon
4 Devlin Street, Gungahlin
14 Legge Street, Downer
51 Antill Street, Downer
$1,190,000 Hayman Partners
$1,175,000 Home by Holly
$1,140,000 Stone
$1,120,000 LJ Hooker
$1,115,000 Marq
50 Forsythe Street, Banks
$1,080,000 LJ Hooker
8 Hesba Brinsmead Street, Franklin $1,072,500 Stone
2 Jackie Howe Crescent, Macarthur
1 Maclurcan Street, Franklin
8 Clucas Place, Bonython
8 Lodder Place, Chisholm
42 Rochelle Street, Moncrie
2/12 Pollock Street, Chifley
48 Tregellas Crescent, Banks
5 Tanami Street, Harrison
45 Finemore Street, Coombs
325/15 Jardine Street, Kingston
19 Heydon Crescent, Evatt
11 Clermont Street, Fisher
56 Collyburl Crescent, Isabella Plains
53 Gurrang Avenue, Ngunnawal
62 Lionel Rose Street, Holt
1 Nymagee Place, Fisher
2 Dale Circuit, Kambah
$1,042,000 Christine Shaw
$1,040,000 Impact Properties
$1,010,000 Luton
$999,999 Ray White
$999,000 New Door Properties
$987,000 Hive
$975,000 Jonny Warren
$952,250 Blackshaw
$947,000 LJ Hooker
$930,000 Christine Shaw
$920,000 Ray White
$900,999 Blackshaw
$900,000 LJ Hooker
$876,000 LJ Hooker
$865,000 Suburbia
$850,000 Luton
$850,000 My Morris
A6/2 Currie Crescent, Gri th $840,000 Purnell
2/13 Frederick Street, Crestwood $830,000 Edge 3/21 Gordon Withnall Crescent, Dunlop
40 Scantlebury Crescent,
18 Hughes Crescent, Ngunnawal
1/39 Troughton Street, Banks $760,000
1 Cooney Court, Charnwood
1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments now ready to move in at The Borough, in the heart of Denman Prospect, featuring spacious floorplan and custom Flexi-Space design.
Visit our display apartments at 1 Carden Street, Denman Prospect. For more information, call LJ Hooker on 0417 668 668.
Wake up to all-day sunshine and mesmerising parkland views from this rare north-east gem. Resort-style luxury meets city convenience with total privacy. Imagine a city apartment where your view isn’t another building - it’s parkland and open sky. Perfectly positioned for seclusion, this stunning two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence o ers total privacy, abundant natural light, and uninterrupted views across Glebe Park to Mount Ainslie - no shbowl views overlooking the pool or neighbours, just serene forest-like panoramas. This is one of the most sought-after and functional oor plans in the complex, with bedrooms positioned at opposite ends for optimal privacy, comfort and air ow. High oor-to-ceiling windows ood the spacious open-plan living area with light, owing seamlessly onto a generous covered balcony - ideal for year-round alfresco dining and lounging while soaking in the views as if you are in the middle of a forest. The beautifully appointed kitchen, complete with premium Bosch appliances, stone benchtops, and an oversized island, generous double-panel pantry heights, inspires both everyday convenience and inspired cooking.
AUCTION: On Site 6pm on Friday 27 February 2026
for details
Set on a large parcel of land and enjoying a northerly aspect, absolute liveability is the phrase that comes to mind when visiting this well-designed two storey renovated ve bedroom, three bathroom family residence. Free- owing living areas feature a replace, family room and adjacent kitchen, o ering a uid indoor and outdoor ow, perfect for all those future family events. Segregated master bedroom, with another wing of the home having 4 king, queen and double sized bedrooms ensure everyone has their own space. Downstairs could be a third living area or second generation living, with an additional bathroom close to the pool. The outdoor oasis is the crown jewel of the property. Dive into the mineral-rich waters of your MagnaPool, which uses magnesium to provide a luxurious, eco-friendly swim, with a heat pump and solar blanket extending the swimming season. As well as a 7.92kW solar array and a 10kWh LG battery, and smart transfer of replace heat, there are too many features to mention here. Please visit prior to Auction.
AUCTION: On Site Saturday 14TH February 2026, 1:30pm OPEN TIMES: Please refer to websites for details
Nestled in one of Turner’s most tranquil, tree-lined streets, this elegant Architect designed three-bedroom townhouse built by one of Canberra’s best builders offers a rare blend of comfort, privacy and central convenience. This refined residence delivers not just a home, but a lifestyle in a boutique complex of only 6 residences. The design has been thoughtfully curated for comfort and ease, flowing over two levels. A spacious living room looks out to the back courtyard and the open-plan kitchen and dining space blends style with practicality. The king-sized master suite offers a tranquil retreat with a large walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. Two additional bedrooms easily accommodate queen and double bed furniture, and the second bedroom has its own private balcony overlooking lush treetops, filling the room with soft natural light. Every space speaks to quality, calm and thoughtful design. You’ll love the quietness of this location and yet, everything is at your fingertips. From light rail access to early morning coffee in Braddon, to peaceful parkland strolls, weekend barefoot bowls at the Turner RUC, or walking the kids to school, it’s all just moments away. – time to immerse yourself in this desirable location.
AUCTION: On Site Thursday 26th February 2026, 6pm
OPEN TIMES: Please refer to websites for details
A rare diamond on the Southern Monaro Boasting a well-appointed homestead set on 103.11ha of picturesque countryside with magnificent views over Bibbenluke, “Spring Hills” is located between the Snowy Mountains and the Sapphire Coast and is the perfect lifestyle opportunity for a family that will appreciate its central location.
• Well-appointed homestead with granny flat under same roofline
• Surrounding the homestead -approx 2.5ac of well- maintained lawns and stunning conifer gardens that accentuate the local landscape
• Highly productive basalt soils with pasture improvements, watered by
dams and frontage to Teatree Creek and an average rainfall of approx 800mm
Retained by the same family since 1927, don’t miss this opportunity to make your tree change today.
$2,500,000
Inspections By
Christine
Grazing opportunities minutes from Bombala
“High Plains” and “The Farm” are a unique opportunity to acquire highly productive farmland in the tightly held Bombala district and are being offered to the market separately or together.
• High Plains features approx. 231.406ha/571.804ac of gently undulating paddocks watered by dams. Additional improvements include - stone farm cottage, 3 stand shearing shed and machinery/fodder shed
• The Farm is approx. 49.08ha/121.277ac
with an approximate 800m frontage to Saucy Creek and access from Delegate Road
• Total of 280.486ha/693.081ac of gently undulating paddocks with a favourable aspects, improved Phalaris based pastures, watered by dams and frontage to Saucy Creek.
Auction
EOI closing 5pm 9th March 2026
Inspections
By appointment with the agent
Christine McIntosh
M 0427 584 004
christine.mcintosh@nh.com.au
Nutrien Harcourts Bombala
luton.com.au
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