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Positioned in the Queanbeyan Palerang region on the ACT border, just outside Canberra’s southeastern edge, South Jerrabomberra extends its community toward the rolling hills that frame the Monaro Highway. It’s only a short drive from central Queanbeyan and around 20 minutes from Canberra’s city centre, making it an appealing location for those seeking suburban space without sacrificing access to metropolitan amenities.
Recently, South Jerrabomberra has unveiled several new community assets, including a Town Park & Community Centre. Together, they form an impressive 2.5 hectare precinct designed for fun, fitness, play, and local events. Families can enjoy a wide range of amenities such as the splash pad, playgrounds, half basketball court,
and learn to ride area, creating a vibrant hub that brings the growing community together. All are located on the doorstep of the DA-approved Shopping Precinct, which is due to begin construction in 2026.
There’s plenty of room for everyone to play – including your furry friends. Speargrass Community Park, also located in South Jerrabomberra, is uniquely designed as the only dog park in Australia shaped like a dog bone. With 5 acres of open space, your pup can run o leash in either the large dog or small dog designated areas. Whether you prefer to relax on the grass or take on a challenge together, the park’s agility equipment o ers a fun way to keep your dog active and engaged.
Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, new residents to the area purchased the
“Bronte” House & Land package for $799,900! An a ordable three-bedroom ensuite singlelevel separate title home, with a lock-up garage. It has proved to be great value for the region.
So, where is South Jerrabomberra? It’s right where opportunity meets lifestyle, on Canberra’s doorstep, surrounded by natural beauty, and filled with brand new amenities that make everyday living easier and more enjoyable. With a ordable home designs like the Bronte still on o er, it is proving to be one of the most exciting places to call home in the region.
Before the sun rises over Canberra on Anzac Day, thousands will gather in silence at the Australian War Memorial. It will be cold, dark, and deeply still. Excerpts from the letters and diaries written by Australians during their service periods can be heard through the speakers, offering a glimpse into the lived experiences of Australians in times of war.
To many, the Dawn Service represents a moment for peaceful reflection, an opportunity to pay respects for all sacrifices made, both now and in the past, and to join fellow Australians in marking this special day.
More than a century on from the Gallipoli landings, Anzac Day remains one of the most significant dates on Australia’s calendar. While the traditions of the day remain unchanged, the way Australians can connect with the stories behind that service is evolving.
This year, visitors to the Memorial will also encounter something new.
Following the morning’s commemorative services, the Memorial will open its doors to the public from 1pm, inviting visitors to explore its newly unveiled galleries in Anzac Hall. This is a significant step in the Memorial’s development, signalling a transition into a new period of telling stories about the service.
A noticeable feature of the new galleries is their shift towards more immersive, contemporary storytelling. Rather than presenting history at a distance, the galleries are designed to bring visitors closer to the realities of service by providing more immediate stories of what Australians have
experienced in conflict and peacekeeping over recent decades.
Large-scale objects are complemented by more intimate spaces, interactive displays and multimedia experiences, revealing not only the scale of operations but the personal realities of service.
From aircraft and military vehicles to first-hand accounts and reconstructed environments, the exhibitions bring visitors closer to the experiences of those who served.
For the first time, there is a significant and permanent focus on modern conflicts. Events such as those taking place in Iraq and Afghanistan and peacekeeping operations are being portrayed in a manner that acknowledges the complexity of these conflicts and also their immediacy. They have been experienced by many who served and witnessed by Australians in real time, making the connection to service feel closer and more personal.
Central to this approach is the use of firstperson narratives. Visitors are not only learning about history, but hearing directly from those who lived it. Veterans, families and individuals affected by conflict share their perspectives, offering insight into the realities of service that go beyond what can be captured in dates and timelines.
The expanded peacekeeping exhibition emphasises the role Australians have played in supporting stability and recovery in regions around the world. It presents a broader understanding of service, one that extends beyond combat and into the ongoing work of building and maintaining peace.
The galleries also reflect a wider range of perspectives. Alongside stories of service, there is recognition of the broader national conversation around war, including the experiences of diaspora communities and anti-war movements. It is a
considered and balanced inclusion to the AWM, designed to reflect the many ways Australians have engaged with conflict.
Importantly, accessibility has been a key focus throughout the redevelopment. From tactile elements and audio descriptions to hearing loops and thoughtfully designed interactive displays, the new spaces have been created to ensure more visitors can engage meaningfully with the stories being told.
While these changes represent a new chapter for the Memorial, they do not replace the traditions that have long defined it. Instead, they expand the experience of remembrance, offering new ways for visitors to understand and connect with the service of Australians across generations.
That dual experience is particularly evident on Anzac Day itself.
The day begins with pre-dawn activities from 4:30am, followed by the Dawn Service from 5:30am on the Parade Ground. Later in the morning at 7:30am is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association Commemorative Ceremony, followed by the National Commemorative Service and RSL ACT Branch Veterans’ March, which will take place from 9:30am, bringing together veterans, serving personnel and the wider community.
These ceremonies remain at the heart of Anzac Day. They provide a space for reflection, gratitude and collective remembrance.
But this year, there is an opportunity to extend
that experience beyond the services.
When the Memorial reopens at 1pm, visitors are encouraged to stay and explore the new galleries, moving from reflection into a deeper understanding of what service looks like today. It offers a chance to engage with stories that are still unfolding and to consider how remembrance continues to evolve in a modern context.
As the day draws to a close, the Last Post Ceremony at 4:30pm provides a final moment of reflection, honouring an individual whose story becomes part of the nation’s collective memory.
Together, these experiences create a full day at the Memorial, one that honours tradition while embracing new ways of telling Australia’s story.
More than 100 years after Gallipoli, remembrance remains a constant. What is changing is how Australians are invited to experience it.
This Anzac Day, visitors are not only asked to remember, but to come closer, to listen, and to better understand the realities of service, both past and present.
Experience Anzac Day at the Australian War Memorial, visit awm.gov.au/anzac
by GEORGIA CURRY
A delightful case of mistaken identity once occurred in the sleepy village of Hall when the late Queen Elizabeth II mistook the local museum for the Australian War Memorial.
It all began when a volunteer at the Hall Heritage Centre, Joan Christie, crocheted 500 poppies to mark the centenary of Gallipoli on ANZAC Day 2015 – and one somehow found its way to the Queen
This in itself wasn’t surprising as hundreds of poppies were sold to raise funds for Hall’s museum, which found their way to memorials around the world. One particular red woolly poppy found its way to Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty was so enamoured by the “splendid” poppy that she had her lady in waiting write a letter of appreciation.
It reads: Her Majesty was interested to know about your visit to Canberra and to the Australian War Memorial where you were able to see the exhibition, “When Hall Answered the Call”.
The sentiment was lovely but the accuracy was a little off, as the exhibition When Hall Answered the Call was at the tiny weatherboard Hall School Museum, not the iconic Australian War Memorial.
Curator of the Hall Heritage Centre, Phil Robson, was quite chuffed none-the-less.
“Out of the blue, this lady came in with this letter and there was some reference saying that this lady had got the poppy from the Australian War Memorial and of course she didn’t, she got it from us,” Phil said.
“Anyway we were very chuffed about it and took a copy of the letter and we’ve got it framed on the wall in the display at the museum.”
The Queen’s letter now hangs proudly in the Hall Heritage Centre and the crocheted poppy from Hall is no doubt somewhere in Buckingham Palace.
“We sold quite a few poppies that year and people would send us photos of where they’d taken them,” Phil said. “We know several of them got to the war memorials at Gallipoli and over in Villiers-Bretonneux, France.”
Joan, who crocheted the royal poppy, is a direct descendant of a WWI digger. Hall’s contribution to the war effort includes 40 men who fought in WWI. Three were killed in action.
Hall Heritage Centre is open Thursday morning, 9am – 12 noon and Sunday afternoon, 12 noon –4pm. Info: heritage.hall.act.au
There is a lot of debate these days about immigration and whether we are being “swamped with Muslims”, to quote Pauline Hanson, and other immigrants.
I was browsing through my old Narrabundah High magazine (the Hawk, 1969 version) and was reminded that we were a school that reflected the post-war immigration boom to Australia. There were 20 or more nationalities represented.
Back in 1964, when I was in Year
7, my two best mates were a sixthgeneration Chinese Australian by the name of John Chen and a firstgeneration Italian migrant, Nino Di Quello.
In Year 12, the yearbook shows a mix ranging from me (Anglo-Celtic/ Polish), Anna Rojiek (Czech), Jutta Bluhm (Dutch), to Tai Seng Tan (Malaysian/Chinese). We all got on very well, and several of us still see each other regularly at a ’69ers bi-monthly lunch at the Hellenic Club, Woden.
I am not going to get into a debate about how many immigrants we need. What I will say is that any immigrants to Australia must, before becoming Australian citizens, be prepared to adapt to our values and agree to live by our laws. I mean, really, what is the point of immigrating to this country if you are going to try to continue living by the laws and customs of the place you left, rather than making a new
and better home for yourself and your family?
Australia is a secular country. All religions are allowed and tolerated, but the laws of the land are based on the separation of church and state, and the law is paramount.
We need to be careful about who we let into the country. Most Australians would agree with John Howard’s election-winning quote in 2001, when he said, “We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come.”
Our citizenship rules are fairly good, but I think we could overcome many current and future problems if we added one further qualification before a person could become an Australian citizen.
I think a new migrant should have to wait 10 years before becoming a full Australian citizen, and the final oath they take should include a clause to
swear to defend Australia against its enemies, in the Australian Defence Force if physically and mentally able, or, if not, in any other capacity that the Australian Government deems appropriate. If you can’t agree to defend your new home, then why should you be made an Australian citizen?
There should also be a provision that, if a migrant takes a false oath and then reneges on being part of the ADF or refuses to follow a government direction to undertake another role in lieu, that person’s citizenship will be revoked and they will be deported if necessary.
Going back 60 years to Narrabundah High, I can’t think of anyone there who did not regard themselves as Australian first, while still being rightly proud of their ethnic origins.
by NICHOLAS FULLER
Multicultural community members and politicians are alarmed that racism is on the rise in the ACT, following a racially motivated assault earlier this month that left a Chinese woman bruised and “terrified”.
Race discrimination and racial vilification matters have almost tripled over the last three years, the ACT Human Rights Commission reported, from 23 (2022–23) to 42 (2023–24) to 62 (2024–25).
The ACT Chinese Australian Association (ACTCAA) says it hears accounts of racist incidents from Chinese students and families that are
never reported to police, so official data does not reflect what people experience, while Indian and African communities are also concerned, ACTCAA president Chin Kui F. Wong said.
The ACT Greens worry that racism is being normalised, pointing to neo-Nazi flyers distributed across Canberra suburbs and antiimmigration ‘March for Australia’ rallies.
On Thursday 2 April, a teenager shouted racial slurs at KK Zhang, a 27-year-old bookkeeper, and her friend, in Macdermott Place, a park near Lake Ginninderra, Belconnen.
When Ms Zhang videoed the incident on her phone, the child’s mother allegedly grabbed the phone, punched Ms Zhang several times in the face, broke her glasses, and then threatened to stab her, before fleeing in a dark grey Ford Falcon sedan. Ms Zhang was taken to hospital with bruises.
Redditors allege that the same teenagers recently ordered Chinese food at a restaurant, “yelled horrific stuff about COVID”, and threw food back at staff.
The ACTCAA has said this is “not an isolated incident. The Chinese community members have expressed growing concerns about the rise in assaults and antisocial behaviour across Canberra,” and about the personal safety of women, students, and new migrants.
“While we understand this case is under investigation, many community members feel there is often limited information, slow updates, or unclear
outcomes,” Ms Wong said. “This contributes to a perception that similar incidents are happening more frequently, even if not all are formally reported.
“Our focus is to ensure we do not overreact until the facts are known and to address the incident with care, and to strengthen community safety for the multicultural communities.”
The ACTCAA have called on the ACT Government to strengthen public safety measures, especially for students, young people, and vulnerable groups, and has written to ACT Policing seeking clearer communication and opportunities to work together on practical safety awareness, reporting pathways, and prevention.
The Chinese Embassy says it “takes the case involving the assault of a Chinese citizen very seriously”. It had contacted police, requesting them to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens in
Australia, investigate the case, and punish those responsible.
ACT Policing is engaging with impacted minority groups to ensure the community is safe.
“We live in a multicultural society and racial vilification or any other similar offences will not be tolerated,” a spokesperson said.
The Federation of the Chinese Associations of the ACT (FCAACT) condemned the assault, and acknowledged the prompt action of law enforcement authorities in investigating this matter.
Political response
The ACT Government says it stands for a safe, inclusive, respectful Canberra.
“Racism is a real and ongoing issue experienced by many members of our community, and it cannot be ignored,” a spokesperson said. “All Canberrans deserve to feel safe and to live free from racial abuse. Canberra is a proud multicultural community, built on
inclusion, respect and diversity… This alleged incident does not represent our community.”
Nearly a quarter of Canberra’s population speaks a language other than English at home, and 28 per cent of the population was born overseas. The Canberra Liberals and ACT Greens also condemned the attack on Ms Zhang.
The opposition said the attack was unacceptable, and public confidence must be restored; they would advocate for police to be equipped with electronic wands to detect knives, and visible policing to protect Canberrans and prevent further acts of violence.
Victims of racial vilification, abuse, or assaults should contact ACT Policing on 131 444 or the ACT Human Rights Commission on 6205 2222.
Anyone with information about the attack on Ms Zhang can contact Crime Stoppers, quoting reference number 8345990.
Bicycle Race is a 1978 Queen song, featuring a catchy chorus about riding a bike, and it includes whimsical and relevant elements like bicycle bells. But it seems too often we have bicycle races around our shared paths.
Last weekend, while walking around Lake Tuggeranong, I noticed a small but interesting change. Some of the familiar signs that once read “Sound your bell” have been replaced with “Warn on approach”. That shift made me curious.
During that walk, I was overtaken by 14 cyclists, though it’s possible some passed me more than once. Of those encounters, only two (again, possibly the same cyclist) came with an audible warning - a bell. The rest were silent. It was enough to prompt me to look more closely at what the law actually requires of cyclists on Canberra’s shared paths.
In the ACT, cyclists must ride bikes fitted with at least one working brake and some form of warning device - a bell, horn, or similar. A bell is not compulsory, but a warning device is. Riding without one is an o ence, with infringement notices currently set at $146, and courts able to impose penalties of up to $3,000 in more serious cases. Unsurprisingly, lack of proper safety equipment is among the most common reasons
cyclists are cautioned or fined. Yet here’s the curious part: while cyclists must have a warning device, there is no general legal requirement to use it. The Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017 does not explicitly require a cyclist to ring a bell when approaching a pedestrian; nor are pedestrians obliged to move aside even if a bell is rung.
On shared paths and footpaths, cyclists must give way to pedestrians and keep left unless it’s impracticable to do so. The burden of responsibility sits squarely with the rider. Simply having a bell satisfies the letter of the law; how - or whether - it’s used is largely left to judgement. That said, judgement matters. The broader road rules impose a general obligation on all road users not to create a hazard or endanger others. If a cyclist failed to give any warning in circumstances where doing so could have prevented a collision, that failure could become relevant in questions of negligence or liability. The law may be silent on ringing bells, but it isn’t silent on reckless behaviour.
This is where the updated signage becomes interesting.
“Warn on approach” is arguably broader, but also vaguer. Does it signal a legal requirement, or merely a strong suggestion? The answer is unclear to me, a non-legal person. What is clear is that shared paths work only when courtesy fills the gaps that legislation leaves behind.
I ride a bike myself, but I feel that silently racing past walkers as if training for the Tour de France helps no one. It doesn’t have to be cyclists versus pedestrians: both parties should take care.
by GEORGIA CURRY
As Canberra Airport open day approaches (Saturday 18 April), it’s worth reflecting on not just famous planes like Air Force One that have passed through our skies, but also notable passengers who have visited our terminal.
Canberra Airport was the landing strip for the first ever visit by a sitting US President in Australia back in 1966, when US President Lyndon B Johnson touched down in 1966. He returned again in 1967 to attend the memorial service for former PM Harold Holt.
Air Force One again touched down in Canberra when former US Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama visited in 2003 and 2011 respectively (regrettably, no Air Force One with Harrison Ford).
For the most part, Canberra Airport is preoccupied with flying almost all 226 federal parliamentarians in and out of Canberra for sitting weeks (over 80 per cent prefer Qantas), but Canberra Airport’s also welcomed heads of state like the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, and the then Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana.
Hollywood royalty have also gathered around
our luggage carousel, like actors Leonardo DiCaprio, James Fox, Eric Bana, Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.
No surprises that local professional tennis champ Nick Kyrgios has touched down here, but other famous sporting greats passing through the arrivals gate include professional basketballer Patty Mills and Formula One driver Mark Webber.
Then there’s the not-so-famous passengers – but just as newsworthy. In 1993, five southern white rhinos were transported to Australia from South Africa and transferred in several trucks and delivered to Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Customs clearance must have taken ages.
We can’t leave out the historic pioneering aviators who have landed on our airstrip (Canberra Airport dates back to the 1920s and regular commercial lights have run since the early 1940s).
Pioneering aviators who have touched down here include Bert Hinkler, the first person to fly solo from England to Australia, and Charles Kingsford Smith who piloted the first transpacific flight and the first flight between Australia and New Zealand.
On a regular day at the office, Canberra Airport
sees about 10,000 passengers fly in/out and it takes more than 18,000 staff to keep our airport running smoothly.
As for Canberra’s avid plane-spotters (there are 3,500 Canberra Plane Spotter members on Facebook), many of them watch Canberra Airport’s live webcam (especially when the last Qantas Boeing 747 400 took off in 2020 bound for the aircraft graveyard in a Californian desert).
Local plane-spotters have also been treated to the touch-down of the G for George Lancaster Bomber and F-35 Lightning II Stealth Fighters.
Airport Open Day is on Saturday 18 April from 9am3pm. Free entry. Info: canberraairport.com.au/airportopen-day-2026
by GEORGIA CURRY
As the Federal Budget looms, the iconic “budget tree” at Parliament House is starting to fire up, and seeing as this Canadian Maple is synonymous with dollars and cents, we estimate its monetary value to be $79 (+GST).
The budget tree is about 25 years old, so it’s seen a few federal treasurers come and go, from former Liberal Treasurer Peter Costello to today’s Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
Sure, there may be Japanese Maples, Myrtles and Crab Apples in other courtyards at Parliament House, but the budget tree has rooted itself in the Australian purse.
It is just one plant amongst 4,500 trees and 135,000 shrubs and groundcovers, and in May, the public can take a tour of Canberra’s biggest backyard (no bindies).
The topsoil in the 17 courtyards is only about a metre deep before you hit the concrete foundations of Parliament House (the topsoil atop Capital Hill is even shallower, just thick enough to sustain a lawn of Kentucky bluegrass).
Senior Tour Guide Matt Maguire, who is not a
gardener but used to be a news cameraman at Parliament House, said he’d filmed the budget tree as a backdrop for decades.
“The courtyard where that budget tree is called the Senate Courtyard and that’s where about 90 per cent of the outdoor media interviews are done,” he said.
The gardens are maintained by a team of 20 full-time gardeners and most of the courtyards (14) have a water feature, which goes some way towards creating “white noise”.
“They add that beautiful sound so people with high-stress jobs, staff members and our members of parliament can sit in these courtyards and they can have a conversation without people listening to them,” Matt said.
“It’s not a sort of spy secrecy thing, it’s just more of a sort of a pleasant place you can go and sit by the water feature and have a good chat without someone overhearing you.”
Autumn tours of Parliament House and its private courtyards run from 1 to 23 May. Bookings: aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Whats_ On/Tour/Autumn_Courtyards_Tour
by BERNIE RYAN
A new kind of lobbyist has arrived in Canberra, and she’s not working for big business.
Rachel Smith has been appointed as Australia’s first crowd-funded lobbyist, backed by grassroots advocacy platform Punters Politics.
Her first mission is simple: make gas companies pay their fair share of tax.
“This is what happens when people decide to take on the system directly,” Smith said.
“Lobbying shouldn’t just be for corporations. Australians deserve someone in the room fighting for them.”
A system under fire
Australia exports more gas than Qatar yet earns a fraction of the revenue. While Qatar generates around $76 billion from gas, Australia collects just $2 billion.
At the same time, one in three Australian corporations pays zero tax, fuelling growing public frustration about who the system is really working for.
Punters Politics says the answer is simple: build a lobbying force backed by the public, not corporate money.
The campaign that wouldn’t go away
The appointment of Smith follows a two-year campaign led by Punters Politics founder Konrad Benjamin, to
expose the influence of corporate lobbying and force the issue into public view.
Mr Benjamin, a former high school teacher based in Newcastle, says that the students of one of his year ten economic classes also deserve a shout out. It was their assignment responses that drew his attention to the extent to which Australia is regressing.
“We were going through the sustainability development goals index in a 2017 textbook, which looks at global rankings about how well Australia is performing compared to the rest of the world on things like clean air, clean water, pollution, women in the workforce and press freedom,”
says Mr Benjamin.
“I gave the kids an assignment where they each picked a metric and I asked them to rank Australia’s progress and then write a report card on how we’re going.”
“When they gave their assignments back, every single one was an F, F, F, or D.
“And one of the students said, ‘Why is this happening? What, like, does the government even know?”
Mr Benjamin says that he then wrote his first letter to the government. And so began the gradual formation
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of Punters Politics, which formally started in 2024.
That same year, Mr Benjamin attempted to attend a $3,000 lobbying dinner but was refused entry, despite buying a ticket.
In October 2024, Mr Benjamin secured a parliamentary lobbying pass, but was then removed from Parliament
During 2024–2025, the organisation raised $90,000 from everyday Australians to fund 15 billboards across Australia and Japan calling out the gas industry.
In April 2025, Punters Politics drove a mobile billboard to Canberra ahead of the federal election and held a press conference with David Pocock — with no mainstream media coverage.
Finally, in November 2025 a fundraising dinner was held with punters and politicians, raising a further $80,000 to fund Australia’s first citizens’ lobbyist and in March 2026, that campaign delivered its next move. They hired one.
“I am not above using my enemy’s tools against them,” says Mr Benjamin.
“When the game’s rigged, let’s use those same rigged rules. I wanted to show that you can legally pay money to access your politicians via the fundraising gala, which you would think is corruption, but no, that’s totally fine and legal.
“So we decided to raise money to get our own lobbyist,” said Mr Benjamin.
Taking the fight to Canberra
Ms Smith, founder of Pocket Advisory, brings deep experience in government relations, policy and advocacy. She will now take a publicly funded mandate directly into federal policy debates, targeting gas taxation and broader corporate accountability.
“This is not a one-off campaign,” Smith said.
“It’s a test of whether public-backed advocacy can shift outcomes — not just narratives.”
GIVIT is seeking support for a grandmother rebuilding her life after experiencing significant hardship. This grandmother suffers from chronic health issues and has previously been hospitalised. She has experienced homelessness and was living in a carport. She also suffers trauma from a violent ex-partner. She is currently on a waitlist for open-heart surgery and faces significant medical expenses. Despite these challenges, she is determined to rebuild her life. She has finally been offered a unit but she has no belongings. She relies on disability support, so GIVIT is requesting the donation of a kitchen starter pack for her new home. Your donation will mean a lot as she rebuilds her life after prolonged hardship. Generous Canberrans can donate a kitchen starter pack or fund the purchase of these items. 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: ‘kitchen starter pack’ and Suburb: ‘Ainslie, 2602’.
Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens will host a Thursday Talk on 23 April, 12:30–1:30pm, at the ANBG Theatrette (opposite the Visitor Centre). Recently retired CSIRO Australian National Wildlife Collection Director, Leo Joseph, will reflect on his travels and research into bird evolution across Australia and South America. Book at trybooking.com/ DHLRE. Gold coin, cash and EFTPOS donations support Friends of the ANBG projects.
community noticeboard email news@newstimemedia.com.au with ‘HYH’ in the subject field
Canberra Lakes Ladies Probus Club will meet on Monday 20 April, 10am, at the Eastlake Football Club, Griffith. Guest speaker Jackie Warburton, a gardening writer, will present on horticultural topics. Ladies who are retired or semi-retired are warmly invited to attend. For enquiries or to RSVP, contact Colleen on 0409 420 809.
The Conder Craft Group meets on the first Thursday of each month from 1–3pm at the YWCA Mura Lanyon Community Centre, Sydney Nolan Street, Conder. Bring along your sewing, knitting or any projects you have been meaning to finish and enjoy a relaxed, social afternoon. New members are always welcome. Cost is $3. For more information, phone 0406 380 508.
Tuggeranong Sing Australia will present its LDK ANZAC Concert on Monday 20 April at 1.30pm at LDK Greenway Views, 260 Soward Way, Greenway. Arrive early to secure a seat and stay afterwards for afternoon tea and a chat with members. For more information, phone Colleen on 0478 599 631.
Overeaters Anonymous offers support for those struggling with compulsive eating, including eating when not hungry or frequent bingeing. Regular meetings are held on Thursdays at 6pm at Dickson Library (Community Room), Fridays at 6pm at Downer Community Centre, and Sundays at 10am at the Griffin Centre, Civic. For more information, call 6231 4171. have you heard?
Baker Eddy
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)
You don’t treat happiness as something fleeting. It’s important. And though no one controls the comings and goings of happiness (which travels on its own accord), you can create conditions that invite and protect it. Now you’ll create those conditions as though it’s the only job that matters.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20)
What if you didn’t need to change or grow a single thing? What if everything about you and what you’re doing is right on track? Whether or not you really believe it, it benefits you to take a few days off to enjoy being you. Let all your energy flow back to your contentment and to the present.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 21)
1 Who served as Australian leader of the Labor Party from 2010 to 2013?
2 John Wood starred as Tom Croydon in which long-running TV series?
3 What is the most abundant naturally occurring gas in Earth’s atmosphere?
4 Ketchup potato chips are most commonly eaten in which country?
5 JB Hi-Fi was established in 1974 in which Australian state or territory?
How is it possible to rest and still create momentum? It’s simple. Cyclists at the top of a hill do it. Just realise that you’ve done the work, and now it’s gravity’s turn. All you have to do is not get in the way. Now you will be able to enjoy yourself by refusing to let anything create friction for you.
CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22)
This week presents a beautiful stretch of organised chaos. Your process may look unpredictable from the outside, but there’s a hidden logic guiding everything you do. Ideas collide, rearrange and suddenly click into place. The way you work invites surprise, and somehow it consistently delivers.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)
This week brings a turning point. You have company, but the decision is all yours. Those who don’t show up or agree with the plan weren’t meant for this anyway, so don’t worry about it. No need to explain or make an emotional appeal. Instead, you’ll present a clear case and proceed.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)
You can’t travel to happiness because it is not a fixed destination. It’s not sitting in Paris waiting for you like a cafe reservation. It’s portable. Of course, some environments tilt joy’s odds in your favour. Light, beauty, novelty, ease, the right people –these act like emotional tailwinds.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 23)
Humble brilliance is your hallmark. Your knowledge and insight could dominate a room, but you offer them with such care that folks feel included instead of overshadowed. People learn, not knowing they’re being taught. Curiosity and intelligence gathering become shared experiences.
SCORPIO (OCT. 24-NOV. 21)
It’s easy to change in a new environment. Home is harder. Everything is wired with cues. The couch whispers ‘scroll’ and the usual chair invites the usual version of you. Go somewhere new and the ‘clean slate effect’ will work for you. Your choices become intentional.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)
A life without risk is thrill-less. If you don’t exercise your liberty, how do you know you really have it? Things like excitement, love, profit and entertainment all involve taking risks. So, you watch and wait, reading the room and knowing when everyone could use some excitement.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)
This week, you’ll be honest and open, but you’ll also be aware of the dosage, because the truth can be very potent. Too little and things feel fake. Too much is overwhelming. Connection grows in layers. It’s a bit like trading small keys before handing over the master key to all the rooms.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)
What you want is not a fantasy but an actual relationship with tangible aspects that can be tested, known and built upon. And this is what you’ll have. You’ll be brave, speak up, pull back when needed and learn in real time. You have everything it takes to make your project happen.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)
When you listen, you’re not just waiting for your turn to talk. You’re fully present to a level that people don’t always get in their lives. Your attention creates a kind of stage where everyone’s best self feels invited. Your social alchemy has beneficial effects that carry through the season to come.
by GEORGIA CURRY
The real tragedy of Hamlet is that when it’s performed by Sh!t-faced Shakespeare, it comes with a massive hangover.
For those who only know the Bard’s original texts or Bell Shakespeare’s polished productions, Sh!tfaced Shakespeare is, shall we say, more lubricated, courtesy of a vodka cruiser or three.
This over-the-limit show is here for the Canberra Comedy Festival, and you can forget everything you learned in Year 10 English – with this drunken version, Hamlet could well end up riding off into the sunset with his murderous uncle.
Probably the hardest role in Sh!t-faced Shakespeare is the compère, played by English actress Shady Murphy, whose responsibility is to make sure the show runs on time and everything onstage keeps on track.
No easy task when Hamlet’s thrown back five vodka-and-peach iced teas just before the show.
“Every single night the play ends up completely different and that is something so wonderful for us as
actors because we never know which way it’s going to end up,” Shady said. “Ultimately, the entire story is about Hamlet avenging his father’s death, but some nights that just doesn’t happen, sometimes he stays alive.
“There’s so much fun to be had for the women, who are typically much smaller and quieter roles, ruled by piety. We don’t necessarily have that when we’ve got a lady storming the stage. It’s incredibly empowering to flip the script and we will infuse the entire thing with lots of feminism.”
The drunk actor is obviously the star of the show, but also on stage is an extremely hungover actor from the previous night’s show. One drunkard and one hangover make for a potent comedy cocktail.
It all sounds like chaos, but it’s actually tightly controlled, and cast members follow a strict routine.
“We are assigned a drunk buddy and that person will supervise you for the entirety of the day,” Shady said. “From five o’clock onwards, you are their responsibility and you are with them all day and evening until the show is complete. They will make sure you’ve eaten, they will pour the drinks, they will
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare is an over-the-limit take on the Bard.
manage the level that you’re at.”
Apparently William Shakespeare didn’t mind a tipple himself, so perhaps he’d approve of this drunken frivolity.
“The chances are, I believe, at least in my heart, that we probably performed the plays more closely to how he originally intended,” Shady said.
“If we’re not laughing, we’re crying and if we’re not crying, we’re laughing, aren’t we, in life? It’s an opportunity to be able to shed light on really hard themes and difficult family situations through the wonderful lens of comedy and the mock storyline is done with the utmost respect.”
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare is at the Canberra Theatre 23-24 April, 7:30pm. Bookings: canberracomedyfestival.com.au/artists/shit-facedshakespeare
This week, Michael Popple reviews three impressive recent debuts from fresh writing talents. You can find more of Michael’s book reviews on his blog: unseenlibrary.com
Michael Joseph, $34.99
Everyone knows that love hurts, but sometimes it can also be murder. After experiencing heartbreak from three previous partners, Natalie finally believes she has found the perfect man in James. However, when James does the unforgivable and betrays her, Natalie needs to decide whether he needs to suffer the same fate as her other failed romances. New author Leodora Darlington presents one of the more gripping debuts of 2026 with The Exes. Featuring a layered narrative that examines its protagonist’s deadly past and turbulent present, The Exes is a brilliant read that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Kat Hale is a bestselling author who finds herself in crisis while writing her second novel.
Desperate for inspiration, Kat attends a retreat in the South of France, headed by acclaimed author Helen Thorne. However, as the retreat begins, Kat finds herself uncovering the secrets behind Helen’s success and must contend with the consequences of this hidden knowledge. The Writers Retreat is an intriguing first foray into the crime fiction genre for Australian author Victoria Brownlee. Featuring a clever journal structure that blends hidden threats amongst the beauty of the French countryside, this is a great read that is really worth checking out.
$34.99
After a bloody massacre when he was a child, Sen Hoshiakari lives a life in exile, determined to restore his family. When he encounters Rui, a peasant girl who saved his life years ago, the two find their lives thrown into chaos. With a civil war on the horizon, and gods and demons manipulating events from the shadows, Sen and Rui must both fight against the odds for their futures. Inspired by samurai sagas, this first book from A. S. Tamaki is an elaborate and sprawling fantasy read, loaded with intrigue, adventure and revenge. An outstanding novel from a talented new writer.
with DR VIVIENNE LEWIS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA
Working at a university means I see a lot of presentations. Every semester, my students stand up and present their ideas, research and projects. Some walk confidently to the front of the room, while others look understandably nervous, clutching their notes and hoping the slides appear in the right order. As I sit there listening, I always have the same thought: I really want them to succeed.
Presentations happen everywhere, in workplaces, community groups, boardrooms, classrooms and online meetings. Whether it’s presenting a project, sharing an idea, or leading a discussion, most of us will find ourselves speaking in front of others at some point. And for many people, it can feel incredibly uncomfortable.
From a psychological perspective, presenting activates the body’s threat response system. The brain interprets being evaluated by others as a potential threat, which triggers the symptoms of anxiety, racing heart, sweaty palms, shaky hands and the fear that your mind might suddenly go blank. These reactions are not a sign that you are incapable of presenting, they are simply your
nervous system doing what it is designed to do. So what can make it easier?
One of the most common mistakes presenters make is focusing too much on the slides and not enough on the message. Preparation also helps reduce anxiety because it increases a sense of psychological control The more familiar you are with your material, the less power nerves tend to have. Rather than memorising every word, it is usually more helpful to know your key points and the overall flow of your presentation.
Practice is another powerful tool. Saying the presentation out loud helps your brain become familiar with the experience. In psychology we often talk about exposure; the more we practise something that initially makes us anxious, the less threatening it
becomes.
It is also helpful to remember that a presentation is not really a performance. It is simply a conversation where one person is sharing information or ideas with others. When presenters shift their focus from trying to be impressive to trying to be helpful, anxiety often reduces significantly.
Use strategies to calm your body. Slow breathing before speaking can regulate the nervous system. Making eye contact with friendly faces in the room can also increase feelings of confidence and connection.
So if you have a presentation coming up, whether at work, study or in your community, don’t aim for perfection. Aim to communicate your ideas clearly and remember your audience is wanting you to succeed.
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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 TOM WARK, AAP
More than a quarter of people aged under 24 are using artificial intelligence to bolster their mental health as the cost of professional help bites.
A survey of more than 2300 young people in NSW found mental health and cost of living pressures are impacting younger generations as much as their
parents.
But unlike their less tech savvy elders, 29 per cent of teenagers are turning to generative AI for mental health support, the 2026 Youth Week Polling Report, released on Monday, found.
Almost the same number, 27 per cent, used AI for conversation or personal advice.
Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed had used AI in the last year, with one-in-four saying they used chatbots like ChatGPT multiple times a day.
The most common reason for using the tools was for studying or homework help, but gaps in companionship and counselling were filled by the technology.
“The polling results around AI usage ... identify how government and services also need to adapt to better support young people,” NSW Advocate for Children and Young People Katherine McKernan said.
Only 12 per cent of young people with a mental health condition said services are affordable, the survey found.
This was compared to 65 per cent of all those surveyed, highlighting a disconnect in the experiences of those who rely on treatment.
Testimonies in the final report include complaints about long wait lists and high costs for parents being barriers to children accessing professional help.
Despite concerns about mental health treatment, 83 per cent of the state’s youth reported feeling happy about their life in the past year.
“It’s encouraging to see the majority of young people say they are happy, but that sits alongside some pretty stark realities about the challenges they’re facing too,” Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said.
Effects of the recent social media ban were also assessed, with nearly half of those affected saying the ban had no impact on their life.
Those saying the ban had a positive impact outweighed the reverse by nearly three-to-one, but the benefits are tempered by how many are still using social media in some form.
Sixty per cent of people aged 13 to 15 were either still using restricted sites or had switched to other apps, the survey found.
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by BERNIE RYAN
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, falls were the leading cause of injury hospitalisations in 2023–24 and the leading cause of injury deaths in 2022–23, costing the health system more than $5 billion.
This impact highlights the need for preventative, community-based programs that support mobility and independence.
In response to this growing issue, newly employed Physiotherapist at the Stromlo Leisure Centre and graduate of the University of Canberra, Nimisha Gorasia, has established a new falls prevention program to help older adults stay active and independent and reduce their risk of falls.
Ms Gorasia said that the additional motivation for the program arose out of discussions during a monthly seniors’ coffee club when she asked members what help they most needed from her.
“People were reporting their concerns about having stumbles at home, and how they were becoming additionally cautious about doing some things,” she said. “Given that there are many older Canberrans who live alone, and due to my previous work in aged care, I realised that this was an opportunity to make a difference.”
“These classes can assist with strength and confidence, as well as help participants to identify their unique environmental risk factors,” says Ms Gorasia.
The program has been launched to coincide with April Falls Month.
by MAEVE BANNISTER, AAP
Women experiencing or preparing for menopause need facts rather than fear-mongering, experts say, calling for further research into the prevalence of cognitive challenges such as brain fog.
Women typically enter menopause between 45 and 60 and perimenopause – which precedes it – can start in their 30s and last up to 10 years.
Many women report varying degrees of forgetfulness, attention or concentration difficulties, as well as fogginess during this period.
In a landmark review, published in The Lancet Obstetrics and Gynaecology, researchers from the University of Melbourne, Monash University and University College London say there is a gap in
knowledge about the prevalence and long-term impacts of brain fog and other cognitive symptoms.
There were no clear, evidencebased solutions to prevent or treat brain fog, University of Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospital professor Martha Hickey said.
“We don’t even have a definition of what brain fog is and one person’s brain fog experience would be different to what someone else is experiencing,” she said.
“It’s a real gap in our understanding.”
Brain fog could be a side-effect of sleep disturbances which can be common during menopause, but Professor Hickey said the lack of longterm data made it difficult to determine the cause.
“There is a lot of uncertainty
(and) women are quite scared of menopause so the more symptoms that are accredited to it, the more fear,” she said.
“What women need is consistent, evidence-based information because at the moment women get inconsistent information, largely from social media.
“To equip women to prepare, cope with and thrive in this period of their lives, because it’s not all bad, we really need consistent information.”
The research sets out key questions that general practitioners should be asking their patients.
These include questions about how concentration or memory is being affected, how long it has been happening for and how daily life has been impacted by these symptoms.
“GPs and clinicians have a really important role to play here in validating women’s experiences of these cognitive symptoms during menopause, talking about potential causes as well as offering treatment options,” study author and clinical neuropsychologist Caroline Gurvich said.
“We are still gathering evidence about whether hormone therapy can help cognitive symptoms (and) there are also evidence-based lifestyle changes that may be helpful in the short term as well as reducing the risk of later life cognitive decline,” Professor Gurvich said.
In 2025, the federal government announced it would open the tender process to develop national guidelines to improve health outcomes for women in diagnosis, treatment and care during menopause.
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26/50 Wilkins Street, Mawson $760,000 Stone
3 Lanley Square, Ngunnawal $750,500 Blackshaw
19/50 McMichael Terrace, Denman Prospect $750,000 LJ Hooker
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1 Clermont Street, Fisher $730,500 Bastion
1008/161 Emu Bank, Belconnen $730,000 Home by Holly
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76 Wanderlight Avenue, Lawson $730,000 Belle Property
1/4 Tench Street, Kingston $720,000 Purnell
48/12 Challis Street, Dickson $717,500 Home by Holly
92/12 David Street, Turner $700,000 LJ Hooker
3/15-19 Aspinall Street, Watson $690,000 LJ Hooker
Data is provided by agents. Source: Realestate.com.au
UP TO $50,000 DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE*
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE
$5000 EXCHANGE*
Magnificently maintained, this delightful comfortable and spacious family home is surprisingly quiet due to the privacy of the double glazing on some of the windows. The lounge and separate dining room with so many large windows allows the light to stream in during all seasons. The floorplan just flows naturally to the well-positioned kitchen next to the spacious family room – and an even bigger outdoor pergola area, perfect for all types of entertaining. The king-size master bedroom has a large ensuite bathroom and plenty of wardrobe space. The remaining three bedrooms all have built-in robes. Outdoor living offers so many outdoor “rooms” for family and friends visiting throughout the year, and there is even space for a caravan or boat.
AUCTION: On site 10 am, Saturday 9 May 2026
Family owned and operated for over 35 years, The Grange retirement village enjoys an unbeatable location in the ACT. Set among the leafy, tree‑lined streets of Deakin and just 300 metres from local shops, the village is also close to medical facilities and essential services.
Enjoy a low‑maintenance lifestyle within a warm, welcoming community, supported by a range of quality facilities including an indoor heated pool and spa, library, hairdressing salon, community gardens, onsite dining, and a pet‑friendly environment.
24‑hour onsite emergency support provides added peace of mind. A trained staff member is always onsite to offer calm assistance, basic first aid, and to contact emergency services if required, remaining with you until help arrives.
Our spacious independent living homes feature:
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For future peace of mind, The Grange also offers one‑bedroom serviced apartments located onsite. Should a resident’s needs change, they may choose to move from an independent home into a serviced apartment, where assistance is provided with cleaning, all meals prepared onsite, and heavy laundry such as washing and changing bedding and towels. Personal care is not provided; however residents are welcome to continue with their own preferred personal care provider if required.
Three bedroom homes available now
The prime minister has defended a $20 million advertising campaign urging drivers to cut down on fuel use ahead of a four-day trip to Asia to shore up petrol and diesel supplies.
The taxpayer-funded campaign, which rolled out from Monday, tells drivers to conserve fuel by changing their driving habits or leaving the car at home as volatility in the Middle East impacts global oil supply.
Anthony Albanese rejected claims the ads were a waste of money in the middle of the fuel crisis, saying the campaign provided practical information to the public.
“We need to give people that information,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program.
“We want to keep the economy moving … we want people to go about in a sensible way and that’s why a public information campaign is very important at this point in time.” But opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said the ad drive wasn’t necessary.
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“That is patronising political propaganda from the Albanese government,” he told Sydney radio 2GB.
“When petrol is more than $2 a litre and diesel is more than $3 a litre, Australians know you shouldn’t spend more than you need to on your fuel bill.
“(Spending) $20 million lecturing them about how to drive is the last thing they need in a crisis like this.”
Justice Louise Taylor has been appointed Chief Magistrate of the ACT Magistrates Court, and Acting Justice Andrew Muller SC as a Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court.
Justice Taylor will assume the role of Chief Magistrate in May, while continuing as a Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court — a position she has held since 2023.
The first Aboriginal woman in Australia to be appointed to a superior court, Justice Taylor was appointed as a Magistrate in 2018. She was Deputy CEO of the ACT Legal Aid Commission and a senior advocate and practice manager at the O ce of the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions. She also served as Chair of the Women’s Legal Centre (ACT) Board for a decade, and sat on the ACT Domestic Violence Prevention Council, the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council for Women, and the Law Council of Australia’s Indigenous Legal Issues Committee.
