The Hobart Magazine March 2024

SURFERS HIT THE WATER

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WELCOME TO THE HOBART MAGAZINE

It’s March, it’s now Autumn and Easter is nearly here! How did that happen so quickly?

This month we celebrate the work of the Disabled Surfers Association of Tasmania on our colourful cover. They do wonderful work with the community, so we hope you enjoy our interview with the president and founding officer of the Tasmanian Branch, Shaned Gaffney. We also share lots of community news and

stories from across the island, and a huge FOUR pages of events around Tassie.

We love to hear from our community, so drop us a line at editor@thehobartmagazine. com.au.

All the best,

Steph, James and The Hobart Magazine team

Publisher

Stephanie Williams editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

Advertising

advertise@thehobartmagazine.com.au

03 6295 3742

Cover image: Tim Pargiter

This page: A beach near Orford, Andrew Wilson

Publisher Information: While all care has been taken, some information may have changed since publication. The Hobart Magazine regrets it can’t accept liabilities from errors or omissions contained in this magazine. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or amend all advertisements without explanation. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in articles and advertisements are not endorsed by the editor or publishers. We welcome any questions, feedback or submissions, email editor@thehobartmagazine.com. au, or drop us a line at PO Box 315, South Hobart, TAS, 7004.

The Hobart Magazine acknowledges the Tasmanian Aboriginal People as the Traditional Owners and ongoing custodians of lutruwita/Tasmania. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to their Elders past, present and emerging.

www.thehobartmagazine.com.au

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DAVID STEPHEN

Not many people have a garden named after them but one of the founders of modern organic gardening in Tasmania, David, can enjoy the spoils of the David Stephen Neighbourhood Garden (formerly Kickstart CG) in New Town.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I was born in Adelaide to migrant parents with English roots. We moved to Geelong around 1946 where Dad found work. I came to Tasmania in 1966 on a working holiday where I met Helen and we settled in Taroona. She died in 2019. I now happily live with my son and family in a new “granny flat” in Berriedale in an idyllic setting.

Tell us a little about your work. I trained as an in-store ticket writer/sign writer in a large department store. A generation later, I got into horticulture in my new adopted state. This coincided with the emerging computer age which I have never embraced. My first gardening business was called Instant Vegie Gardens, which featured home-made compost, chook poo and railway sleepers. Such fun! I currently work full-time managing my latest development in New Town, converting all crop residue into a soil improver via shredding and fermentation in huge recycled water tanks.

Tell us about the new neighbourhood garden. In 2021, I volunteered to help instruct students from the nearby New Town High School in self-sufficient gardening on land previously occupied by the Hobart City Farm. However, the new principal couldn’t justify the huge rental asked, so he “pulled the plug”. The leasing agent knew of my background and offered the entire half acre to me for a public food garden! It’s taken two years to develop 90 plots with repurposed materials, and with hand tools to prepare the heavy soil. I thrive on this exercise.

You were named gardener of the year. What does that mean to you? It’s my investment and contribution to a healthier lifestyle for ordinary working families. However, I’m aware of the limitations of this collective model which usually produces only a fraction of the fresh food potential because member commitment falls away quickly; families find it hard to put the time into soil and crop maintenance. The CSA model (Community Supported Agriculture) could work here as an alternative. Ten times more fresh food could be produced by two professionals with volunteer members making compost, etc.

How many community gardens have you established? Seven new gardens and two redevelopments. I’ve also been involved in many emerging school gardens over the years.

What do you love doing outside of work? I have a new lady friend who shares my interests. An alter ego, we go on hiking and shopping trips. Travelling together somewhere is on the

agenda. Unfortunately, she lives only in my mind and in my dreams!! Wherefore art thou, Juliet?

Who do you admire? Dr Elaine Ingham of the International Soil Food Web whose research team wants to change the face of toxic world-wide agricultural practices towards proven biological methods. I admire my two adult children, Sarah and Nic, who are highly respected in their respective educational roles in the workplace. They are making a positive and much-needed contribution to society.

Favourite podcast or tv show? I have developed an interest in NDE (Near Death Experiences) and all things metaphysical. I gave mainstream religion the flick many years ago. I go to ABC Hard Quiz for light entertainment.

Secret vice? Lemon or chocolate cheesecake (baked) and Pana mint-flavoured organic dark chocolate..

What are you reading now? Your Soul’s Plan by Rob Schwartz. Also, the latest edition of Nexus magazine which features some of the conspiracy theories that have come to pass.

What are your daily news/social media habits? All current affairs interest me, including politics (I was a United Tasmania Group - Greens precursor - candidate in the 1975 state election). ABC News is essential viewing, as is the online Mercury. I’m bored with Gardening Australia on the TV after a generation of involvement.

Your favourite place for…

Breakfast: Fruitarian breakfast at home, with fresh fruit, yoghurt, nuts, seeds, added vitamins and minerals.

Lunch and dinner: I’m not an adventurous, omnivore foodie, preferring non-experimental, plain, boring stir fries, soups, etc.

Favourite team? My parents were mad-keen Geelong footy followers – on the radio only. As I grew up, I trended away from contact sports and hero-worshipping. Roll on table tennis!

Parting words. Don’t always force your opinion onto others unless it’s asked for. Take control of your ego: seek guidance from your higher self. (e.g. Being frozen with anxiety before addressing an audience is being egocentric!).

SHANED GAFFNEY

As the president of Disabled Surfers Association Australia Tasmania branch, Shaned loves helping everyone get out to enjoy the ocean.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? Not sure I have done the growing up bit yet! I spent my childhood in Sandy Bay, headed off to Ballarat for Uni, spent a few years in Sydney and Melbourne and a few years in HCMC Vietnam. I’ve lived in the coastal paradise of Dodges Ferry for the last 18 years.

Tell us a little about your work. I am the President and Co-founder of a charity called Disabled Surfers Association Australia Tasmania (DSAT). My day job is Work Health, Safety and Wellbeing Senior Advisor at WorkSafe Tas and I hold degrees in Exercise Physiology and Medical Science.

How did you get into this, and what does it involve? A friend of mine, Ian Brettingham-Moore, and I were having a chat and he told me about what the national DSA group were doing. One chat

the waves. DSAT provides a safe, fun and inclusive surfing experience for people of all abilities and all ages. Our mission is to ‘put smiles on dials’ one wave at a time.

What sort of benefits do participants experience? Surfers, volunteers, carers and families experience a day of fun, community, joy, connection and happiness. Everyone is part of a very unique experience where we get to share the sheer joy on our surfers faces when they do something they may never have thought they could do, such as feel the absolute buzz and freedom associated with catching a wave.

You have an event at Carlton Beach on Sunday 24 March. How can people get involved? We need a lot of volunteers on land and in the water to run our events so if you love the ocean and love supporting people to have fun in the water, you can register to help. We are fully booked for surfers and currently have 42 very keen people ready to ‘feel the stoke’ of getting a wave. There is a wait list so get in touch!

What do you love doing outside of work? I love ocean swimming with the local Dodgey Dippaz group, exercising in the gym and outdoors with friends, cycling, walking, stand up paddle boarding, and have recently started to love playing golf. Oh and my greatest loves include food, celebrating, dancing, music

who create a ripple effect of kindness and joy in theirs and other people’s lives and who encourage people to get out of their comfort zones and live, laugh and love fully. Through my involvement with the Australia wide DSA family I have met many of these kinds of people. I thank them for their enthusiasm, their big hearts and their ongoing belief that what we do matters.

Favourite podcast or TV show? The Imperfects and Backroads.

Secret vice? Love a chilled Tasmanian pinot gris...not so secret though.

What are you reading now? Winter Swimming by Dr Susanna Soberg.

What was your first job? Waitressing for my Dad and his fabulous friend Tom Samek…wow they created some wild and wonderful dining experiences.

What are your daily news/social media habits? Trying to cut back on my daily dose. Stay up to date with what our group is doing via the DSAT Facebook page @dsa.tassie and on Instagram @dsa_tas.

Your favourite place for…

Breakfast: Home after an ocean swim.

Lunch: Park Café or Beach Bums in Dodges Ferry.

Dinner: Home eating anything cooked by my delicious husband Rick.

Favourite team? Go Tiges!!

BITS AND PIECES

NEW NEW NEW

Ever searched “Desserts near me”? Well we have good news, as Desserts Near Me (131 Liverpool Street, Hobart) will satisfy those sweet cravings super fast. It focuses on freshly baked bread and Asian-inspired sweets. North Hobart pub The Waggon (327 Argyle Street, North Hobart) is now open after a big, slick reno. Goodbye The Waggon & Horses! Hello elevated pub dining, Tassie produce and wines, lovely interiors - what more could you want. Bringing their casual Mexican cuisine to Howrah, Zambrero Shoreline (Shoreline Plaza, Shop 10/6, Shoreline Drive, Howrah) is coming soon. French style bakery Little Missy Patisserie (151/153 Argyle Street, Hobart) is expanding into a new dine in space next door to their delicious takeaway spot. Southside (402 Macquarie Street, South Hobart) eased into life late February with a delicious soft opening. Open seven days a week, they serve up healthy takeaway - think beef brisket rolls, flathead wraps, and moorish baklava. Fabric studio Decorama (162 Argyle Street, Hobart) welcomes people to explore and get inspired by their vast selection of fabrics. They are open Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30am-4pm.

BIKE COLLECTIVE PLEA FOR DONATIONS FROM LOCAL RIDERS

Like many organisations, Tasmanian Bike Collective (TasBC) are feeling the pinch of increased costs. TasBC are urgently seeking short-term assistance to

raise an extra $25,000 to maintain their momentum and support of young people. The collective mentors and trains young people through the medium of bicycles, creating places for young people to grow and develop their character and skills for life. Over the past two years the costs of program delivery has substantially increased while the amount of core funding the programs receive has not. If you’d like to help, go to www.givenow. com.au/tasbikecollective.

SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT SERVICE EXPANDS IN HOBART

The Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) has opened new offices at Highfield House in Hobart’s CBD. Acting CEO Sandi Doherty said the move would help them respond to the increased need within the community. “SASS has seen a 30 per cent increase in service delivery over the past six months and continues to see exponential growth,” she said. “Further, we know that at least one in four children in Tasmania experience some form of sexual assault.” Ms Doherty said SASS can now offer seven unique counselling spaces for survivors of sexual harm, including a dedicated art therapy room and child friendly spaces. Members of the SASS team have also recently released a podcast. Called ‘Sticky Questions’, it answers real, anonymous questions asked by kids during their sex education sessions in Tasmanian schools. Covering sex, relationships, consent and lots more in between, the podcast aims to helps parents and carers start conversations and tackle the sticky questions from young people in their life. Find it on all the usual poddy spots eg Apple Podcasts, Spotify etc. For support, contact SASS anytime on 1800 697 877.

NEW TASSIE AFL TEAM NAME AND COLOURS INCOMING

Tasmania’s new AFL club will launch its nickname, colours, logo and foundation jumper this month. The new club details will be launched on 18 March, following a survey of over 6000 Tasmanians and community groups. Tasmania was granted

the AFL’s 19th licence last May, contingent on the construction of a new roofed waterfront stadium at Macquarie Point. In December, plans for a $70 million high-performance training centre to be built at parklands on the eastern shore of Hobart were announced. The training centre will be completed in 2026, with the team set to enter the national competition in 2028.

NOMINATE A NEIGHBOUR

Got a fab neighbour and live in Clarence? Nominate them for a Neighbour Day Award! Neighbour Day falls on 31 March this year, with various celebratory community events planned across Hobart. City of Clarence are first cab of the rank to accept nominations, so if that’s your patch, head to www.ccc.tas.gov.au/neighbour-day-awards-nominations to dob in a great neighbour.

TASSIE REAL ESTATE NEWS WRAP

New stats from the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (REIT) revealed that 2023 was the third-highest year on record for the total value of sales in Tasmania (with a total of $5.381bn). In 2023 Tasmania recorded 8795 property transactions, which was down by 10 per cent compared to 2022. Greater Hobart house sales were up 2.1 per cent annually, with the median house price sitting at $740,000 and the median price for other dwellings reaching $522,500. Scottsdale recorded the highest annual median price growth at 39.4 per cent whilst Acton Park was the December quarter’s most expensive suburb, with a $1.261m median house price. Queenstown was the cheapest at $220,000. Land sales were down 32 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022, and 38 international buyers accounted for just 0.4 per cent of all sales last year.

BITS AND PIECES

NEW MEGA HUB FOR SOCCER

In soccer news, Football Tasmania has unveiled plans for a new home of football in the south of the state, though a location has yet to be decided. The $80 million Home of Football plans include six full-sized pitches - three synthetic and three turf - plus four five-aside pitches for all levels of community and elite football, as well as state of the art women’s and men’s change rooms and training facilities. The facilities could also be home to men’s and women’s A-League teams in future. Football Tasmania CEO Tony Pignata said the game was growing in popularity in Tasmania. “It’s an exciting time for football in Tasmania, it’s growing fast, and our footballers need more pitches and better facilities,” he said. “Football is Tasmania’s most played team sport. There’s already 38,000 participants, and that’s tipped to grow by 20 per cent in coming years.”

WHAT A DRAG: A SPATE OF CIGGIE STEALING HITS EASTERN SHORE

The eastern suburbs have seen a spate of cigarette burglaries over recent months. Between October 2023 and February 2024, six business burglaries occurred in Lauderdale, Howrah, Lindisfarne and Sorell where cigarettes were specifically targeted, with the total value of stolen cigarettes reported to be in excess of $130,000. Police believe these burglaries are linked to the same group of individuals and are occurring

overnight, whilst the businesses are closed. Police wish to hear from anyone with any information, particularly relating to anyone with large quantities of cigarettes or who are offering them for sale. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bellerive CIB on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperstas. com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

CAMBRIDGE SHOPPING PRECINCT EXPANDING

The mega Cambridge Homemaker Centre (home to Anaconda, Harvey Norman and more) is set to expand after unanimous approval of plans at a recent Clarence City Council meeting. The expansion plans include a fastfood outlet, eight new shops and extra car parking spaces. The application was granted with conditions, such as a minimum of 28 bike parking spots and a ban on external lighting between 11pm and 6am (not including security lighting). Signs will also only be able to be lit up between 10am and 10pm.

THUMBS UP

Get set for more Matildas fever as they get closer to Paris 2024 in July, with a handful of qualifying games to go.

Easter chocolate and marshmallow bunnies.

Sold out gigs and festivals, feels like the music is scene is properly back.

Hot chips with chicken salt for dinner.

Deadloch winning up big at the Aussie screen industry awards, bringing more eyes to Tassie on the screen.

THUMBS DOWN

Neglecting your plant babies then watching them die a slow, dry death.

Forgetting to take the bins out.

Losing your keys/wallet when they’re in your hand, or looking for your glasses when they’re on your face.

A month into the school year and already a bunch of late or skipped Metro buses.

Imported mainland berries that don’t last and don’t stack up to the local fruit.

BITS AND PIECES

WALK FOR A GREAT CAUSE

PanKind, the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, is organising the ‘Put Your Foot Down’ charity walk in Lindisfarne to raise funds for research and patient support programs. Celebrating its 11th year, this walk has been held across Australia. On Sunday 17 March, the Hobart event kicks off at 8:30am at Simmons Park, with the walk starting at 9:30am. Registration can be completed both online and on the day - $35 for adults and $15 for children. Dogs are welcome. As well as the walk, participants can enjoy breakfast, coffee, and face painting. Walkers are encouraged to wear purple, with prizes awarded for the best-dressed. Since its inception, the walk has raised $2,726,810 nationally, and $107,056 from the Hobart events alone. Founded by Tasmanian resident Avner Nahmani, who faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, PanKind stems from the realisation of the alarmingly low survival rate for those diagnosed. Avner, along with his wife Caroline Kelly, has spearheaded efforts that resulted in PanKind investing $14 million in research to support those battling pancreatic cancer.

TASSIE UTAS SCHOLARS HEADED TO THE US FOR STUDY TOUR

Three academics and alumni from the University of Tasmania have been recognised with prestigious Fulbright

Scholarships. Now in its 75th year, the Fulbright Program is the flagship foreign exchange program of the United States, aimed at increasing binational research collaboration, cultural understanding, and the exchange of ideas. The researchers will be sponsored to travel and stay in the United States while they conduct new research. The first recipient is Dr Gabi Mocatta, who will visit George Mason University in Virginia to look at translating climate science information for health systems and the communities they serve so they can plan for and adapt to a future under climate change. Saleem Ameen will travel to the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston to research how AI technologies can help in medicine, with the specific aim to improve colon cancer outcomes in marginalised communities. The final recipient is Dana Badcock, an RnB singer, music tutor, and head of voice at Hobart College, who aims to unravel timeless vocal techniques from the canon of significant 20th century American songs. Congratulations to the three recipients.

HYDRO EMPOWERS TASSIE COMMUNITIES WITH GRANTS

Hydro Tasmania has launched its annual Community Grants Program, which supports groups championing positive change for people and communities. Last year, the Shepherd Centre, a not-for-prof-

it assisting children with hearing loss, received $4,800 for audiology equipment. Tiffany Slater from the Shepherd Centre expressed gratitude, saying, “The grant from Hydro Tasmania has really helped us. Early detection of middle ear pathology ensures children receive timely medical care and have the best conditions to learn spoken languages.” In 2023, a total of $27,000 was distributed among six groups, fostering initiatives such as a community reading program, local playground upgrades, and buying a defibrillator. Now in its eighth year, the program has $30,000 in grants up for grabs. Applications are open until 29 March, welcoming submissions from community groups statewide.

WALKS FOR BIRD WATCHERS

Get twitching bird-lovers! Hobart Bird Walks, a new brochure produced by BirdLife Tasmania, will direct enthusiasts to the best Hobart walks for bird-watching. If you are lucky, you might even spot a swift parrot or grey goshhawk. The brochure is available for free at the City of Hobart Customer Service Centre.

KINGBOROUGH COUNCIL SEEKS COMMUNITY INPUT

To create a safer, more vibrant Margate Main Street, Kingborough Council is inviting the community to have a say. They’re developing a new Master Plan for Margate to service the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors. Head to their website for more details and to fill out the survey. The findings will inform the design of the Margate Master Plan. The survey closes on 12 March. Head to www.kingborough.tas.gov.au for more information.

BITS AND PIECES

HOBART CITY COUNCIL APPROVES NEW TOWN SPORTING ENHANCEMENTS

The Hobart City Council has given its endorsement of new design concepts and plans for the New Town Sport Precinct Master Plan. Initially approved in June 2019, the Master Plan envisions key improvements such as extra netball courts, an indoor show court, improved parking, traffic management, upgraded facilities, and new amenities. The plans provide a roadmap for implementation, allowing for further refinement and enabling funding submissions from both the Council and affiliated sporting clubs. This approval empowers clubs to commence their own fundraising efforts, with ongoing engagement planned.

RESPONSIBLE CAT OWNERSHIP FOR MIDWAY POINT

Ten Lives Cat Centre, in partnership with Sorell Council and TassieCat, has worked on an initiative of cat awareness for Midway Point. “We have gathered essential baseline data on cats within the Midway Point and surrounding communities, with the goal of promoting responsible cat ownership to enhance the welfare of cats, protect native wildlife, and reduce the intake of unwanted animals into shelters,” Ten Lives manager Noel Hunt said. Regional Cat Management Coordinator Dr Sara Balouch said the survey results shed light on significant concerns related to the roaming patterns of cats, both feral and domestic. There were also positive results at Midway

Point, indicating a sense of responsibility among cat owners. “The high percentage of cats being microchipped or desexed reflects proactive steps taken by owners for the safety of their pets and population control,” Dr Balouch said. Ten Lives, TassieCat and Sorell Council are currently installing camera traps in Midway Point to confirm the presence of stray and feral cats in the area.

LAUNCESTON BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION WELCOMES THREE YEAR PARTNERSHIP

In a win for basketballers, Jackson Ford have signed a three year deal to support the work of the Launceston Basketball Association (LBA) - a dynamic force in fostering local basketball talent and community engagement. With the dedicated fan base behind Tasmania’s hugely successful NBL team, the Tasmania JackJumpers, this collaboration aims to invigorate Launceston basketball at a grassroots level, inspiring the next generation of international and NBL/WNBL players, including funding to support LBA’s existing involvement with their Disengaged Youth, Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania, and ‘She Hoops’ programs. Mitch Duhig, General Manager of the Launceston Basketball Association said, “The partnership between Jackson Ford and the Launceston Basketball Association exemplifies a shared commitment to the growth and prosperity of basketball at a grassroots level. Together, we look forward to creating a legacy that will inspire generations of basketball

enthusiasts in Launceston.” Jackson Ford’s Head of Operations, Josh Langley said, “We are excited to join forces with the Launceston Basketball Association, to advance the growth and development of the basketball community in Launceston. We want to create a lasting impact on local basketball clubs, fostering a love for the sport and providing opportunities for players of all levels to thrive.”

TASMANIAN SWIFT PARROTS’ HOLLYWOOD BOOST

The critically endangered Swift Parrot recently received a Hollywood-level boost when Leonardo DiCaprio shared the plight of the parrot in a social media post. The actor shared an image of a Swift Parrot and called for followers to pledge their support for the protection of the birds’ remaining breeding habitat in Tassie by joining Re:wild, an environmental conservation organisation and charity that he is a founding board member of. He also called for the end to native forest logging here. The Bob Brown Foundation applauded the post, then Bob Brown invited DiCaprio to visit the Tasmania wilderness himself. We’re waiting to see if he takes up that offer. In other Swiftie news (no, not the Taylor kind), Zoodoo is celebrating a successful breeding season for their Swift Parrots, with their population growing from six to ten.

CELEBRATE AT CROWNE PLAZA HOBART!

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BITS AND PIECES

HAMLET CAFE BOOST

Hamlet Cafe, the social enterprise with delicious meals and preserves at the city end of the Hobart rivulet track, has been given a $250,000 grant to continue to provide vulnerable Tasmanians with employment opportunities. Hamlet Café delivers targeted training and work readiness support to people facing barriers to employment, with a focus on people living with disability. Tasmania has the highest rates of people living with a disability in the country and people living with a disability are three times more likely to struggle with employment. As at June 2023, Hamlet has worked with 723 participants and delivered 38,732 hours of training through their hospitality programs. The funding will enable Hamlet Café to purchase new kitchen equipment that meets accessibility requirements and expand their facilities.

CONNECT AND CELEBRATE THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

International Women’s Day is on 8 March, with many Tassie groups and organisations running events that week. First up, on Friday 1 March, The Governance Institute of Australia hosts a panel event for governance officials, 7:15am-8:45am, RACV Hobart Hotel. On Wednesday 6 March, Jess Hill, journalist, author and public speaker on coercive control, will be the special guest speaker

at a free International Women’s Day event at Brighton Regional Sports PavilionPontville Park from 9:45am-2pm, book your spot though. On the 7th, The Urban Group of Amnesty International Australia present a celebration of the work of AIA and International Women’s Development Agency at the Town Hall, 6:30am. On the 8th, Christine Finnegan, CEO of the JackJumpers, is special guest speaker at the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation’s annual breaky, held from 7am at Centurion Ballroom, Crowne Plaza. Also on the 8th, The Hive and St.Lukes present Hive & Thrive - an International Women’s Day Conference.

UTI MEDS OVER THE COUNTER

Many Tasmanians can now access antibiotics for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) over the counter at eligible pharmacies. Those aged 18-65 and suffering from a straightforward UTI should now be able to access medications without having to wait for a GP appointment (which we all know can be extremely difficult to get right now). A urinary tract infection is an infection in any part of the urinary system including the kidneys and bladder. While UTIs can happen to anyone, they are more common in females. In Australia nearly 1 in 3 females will experience a UTI before the age of 24.

TASSIE’S CASH FOR CANS SCHEME RUNNING LATE

Tasmanians are still waiting for a container refund scheme to match those on the mainland. Recycle Rewards, where certain containers such as cans and bottles can be collected and returned for a small payment, was first expected to start in 2023. Communication from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment has confirmed that the scheme’s procurement process is underway, with preferred tenderers identified. More details about Recycle Rewards, including the commencement date and refund point locations, will be announced once the contracts for these entities have been finalised…hopefully soon, as these schemes encourage cleaner recycling and can lead to less pollution of public spaces.

GLENORCHY POOL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN

The Glenorchy City Council are asking the community for their feedback on the future of the Glenorchy Pool. The first stage of consultation, run by MI Global, will run until early March, and will include an online survey and community pop-ups. The second phase, running throughout mid-March to June, will include interviews, workshops, and project updates. If you want to get involved and have your say on the Glenorchy Pool, head to the Glenorchy City Council website.

THE HUTCHINS SCHOOL

We offer an outstanding education that is specifically designed for boys from 3 years of age in Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 all on one campus.

The Hutchins Community Scholarships

For new students entering Years 9–11 in 2025 (up to 75% tuition fee discount)

Lady Franklin Scholarship

For a new student entering Year 9 (Power of 9) in 2025 (up to 50% tuition fee discount)

Applications

Scholarships

Metal Urges Scholarship

For a new student entering Years 9–11 in 2025 (up to 50% tuition fee discount)

Justice Clark Boarding Scholarship

For a new boarding student entering Years 7–11 in 2025 (up to 100% tuition fee discount – boarding fees are payable)

For more information please contact our Enrolments Assistant on 6221 4236 or visit www.hutchins.tas.edu.au/scholarships

THE HUTCHINS SCHOOL

71 Nelson Road, Sandy Bay

BITS AND PIECES

TEDDY BEARS FOR EPILEPTIC CHILDREN IN GREATER HOBART

Epilepsy Action Australia (EAA) has launched a program in Greater Hobart providing social and emotional support to children with epilepsy and their families. Children under 10 registered for the Ted-E-Bear Connection program will be posted a soft and cuddly teddy-bear to be a comforting friend when they are struggling with sadness, seizures, hospital stays, medical tests, or the loneliness of feeling different. Each Ted-E-Bear pack also gives the child’s family access to a Facebook peer-support group, an online education workshop teaching parents seizure safety, and one-on-one advice from a team of registered nurses. “Studies show around one-third of children with epilepsy will suffer anxiety and up to 25% have depression,” says EAA CEO, Carol Ireland. “Ted-E-Bear Connection gives them smiles and eases their parents’ fears with reliable information.” Registrations are now open for children with epilepsy and their families from the Greater Hobart Region. Approximately 3% to 3.5% of Australians will experience epilepsy at some point in their lives. An estimated 268 children under 10 have epilepsy in the Greater Hobart area, based on 2021 population data and epilepsy prevalence. For more information, to register, or to speak to a specialist Epilepsy Nurse, people can call Epilepsy Action Australia on 1300 37 45 37 or email epilepsy@ epilepsy.org.au.

DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM LAUNCESTON TO SUNSHINE COAST

For the first time, Launceston and the Sunshine Coast will be connected with direct flights. The new route, which will be serviced by Bonza Airlines, starts on 29 March. Flights operate every Monday and Friday, all year round. This comes four months after Bonza’s inaugural flight from Gold Coast to Launceston touched down.

BIG IRONMAN EVENT CANCELLED

IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania will not take place next year. Despite a deal that guaranteed the event would run for five years, the IRONMAN Oceania team recently confirmed the surprise change, without giving a reason. They did say they are “hopeful that the event will return to the calendar in future years. Tasmania is truly a beautiful place – from the deep-water start into the Derwent off the Brooke St Pier, to the first indoor transition in the region, the bike course with the most elevation in Oceania and the run taking in the historical Hobart waterfront, we really have created a course like no other.” The team thanked athletes and the local community for their support over the past two years, saying they’ll ‘take time to review and look at options to make this race even better for the future. We look forward to welcoming you back to the most southern IRONMAN 70.3 race in the world and those of you that have yet to take on the challenge - you can start your training now.”

$200 MILLION TERMINAL UPGRADE COMMENCES INCLUDING MUCH NEEDED EXTRA SECURITY LANE

Hobart Airport has commenced a $200 million upgrade of the terminal, which will result in more space for passengers and a greater range of food and retail outlets. Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter said work will now commence on doubling the size of the terminal. “There will be increased seating capacity and queuing space for both domestic and international flights, two more departure gates for a total of seven, a third

security screening lane with improved screening technology, and a third baggage carousel,” Mr Carter said. Mr Carter said it was planned that the expansion would be completed by early 2027 and would see approximately 450 direct and indirect jobs during construction and hundreds of further jobs expected once completed in areas such as security screening, cleaning, retail and hospitality staff.

PLEASE DON’T PICK THE PINES

Visitors to Tasmania’s national parks have been gently reminded to not remove any flora material after rangers discovered evidence of people recently moving or removing plants and flowers from parks. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (TPWS) shared some recent examples of what park visitors had done that contravened the parks rules, including:

• Collecting Alpine wildflowers to make bouquets and placed in public huts

• Large numbers of sticks and fern fronds from the Russell Falls area at Mt Field being collected and removed

• A King Billy Pine being cut down and placed in a public shelter to replicate a Christmas tree.

TPWS added, “even something as simple as fallen leaves and branches play a crucial role in decomposition and creating habitats for small animals, including insects,” and encouraged visitors to brush up on the Leave No Trace principles to be found at parks.tas.gov.au.

You’re

Opening Friday 1 March, 5.30pm Scan the QR code to view catalogue of works www.wildislandtas.com.au

“It’s time for fairness. I’ll fight for Clark.”

Rebecca

Vote 1

REBECCA PRINCE

BITS AND PIECES

LITTLE TASSIE DEVILS TAKE FLIGHT TO JAPAN

Two Tasmanian devils are off for a new life in Japan, where they will live at the Tama Zoo in Tokyo as special ambassadors. Siblings Wayti and Papiti were handed over to a group of visiting dignitaries, including Mr Junji Shimada, Consul General of Japan, at the Cressy Wildlife Facility last month.

AIR NEW ZEALAND AVOIDS HOBART THIS AUTUMN/WINTER

Air New Zealand will pause flights to and from Hobart from next month. The airline will stop offering flights over winter while they change the maintenance plan for the engines in some of the planes in their fleet. Greg Foran, CEO of Air New Zealand, explained, “Air New Zealand has 17 A320/321neo aircraft in its fleet of 108 aircraft, serving Australia, the Pacific Islands and domestic New Zealand. While this maintenance issue does not present a safety issue, it has caused Air New Zealand to revise its flight schedule as a result of adjustments made to the engine maintenance plan.” He said the route has been popular and will continue. “We need to ensure we can deliver a reliable service across the rest of our network and get customers on our most in-demand routes to where they need to be. Customers will still be able to book to Hobart with Air New Zealand, but these flights won’t be direct and will be partly operated by our partner airlines.” Flights will stop from 5 April and are due to return in October, with direct flights currently available on their website from 27 October.

History comes alive at Old Hobart Town Historical Model Village

Tasmania’s original & famous outdoor model village

Providing a fascinating introduction to Hobart for over 30 years Australia’s only model that depicts an early city in its infancy

Great family fun at great family discounts

Cnr Bridge & Henry Sts, Richmond | Ph: 0487 110 691 30km from Hobart en route to Port Arthur - East Coast or Launceston

WHAT’S ON IN HOBART

No one can stop you now! It’s a Queen singalong tonight at Irish Murphy’s, from 6:30pm. View Averill Lawler’s ‘Where the Land and Sea Entwine’ at Wild Island all month.

The Tasmanian Tigers take on the Australian Redbacks as part of the Sheffield Shield at the Blundstone Arena today from 10:30am.

Derwent Park’s Brewlab craft beer cafe hosts a trivia night tonight, and every Tuesday, from 7-9pm. Booking essential.

New parents, plus those expecting and supporting, are invited to a coffee catch up with the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s Hobart and Surrounds group, 1-:30am at the Rivulet Cafe at C3 Church, South Hobart.

Seth Apter, mixed media artist from New York, exhibits his latest show Found and Gathered at Moonah Arts Centre, from 10am today.

NikeTeini, Greek musicians from Istanbul, perform at today’s Van Diemen’s Band Lunchbox Concert at the Town Hall. Later, practise your public speaking with Hobart Toastmasters Club, 6:15pm at The Duke.

Get retirement ready with Spirit Super at a free 1.5 hour seminar at Kingborough Community Hub, 6pm.

Renowned journalist and author Jess Hill is the guest speaker at a free Women’s Day event at Brighton Regional Sports Pavillion. 10am-2pm. Book your spot.

Level up your coffee at a beginners latte art workshop at Straight Up Roasters in Moonah today from 12:30-2:30pm. More on Eventbrite.

Expose your kiddo to some new languages at Bilingual Storytime, on the second Wednesday of every month at Hobart Library from 10am.

Funnyman Tom Ballard performs at The Clubhouse, Hobart Brewing Co, 8-10pm. Try badminton! 9:30am, selected days, at the South Hobart Badminton Centre for women of all ages.

Brisbane’s cult cabaret company, Briefs Factory International, brings their show Dirty Laundry to the Theatre Royal from 7:30pm.

Dr Ingo Farin presents ‘Literature, Film and Philosophy today at the Philosophy’ Salon, TopSpace Studio, 7pm.

Nick Cunningham plays at The Grand Poobah tonight from 8pm.

Auslan Storytime is a free half hour session at Hobart Library every first Wednesday, from 10am.

Two of Us -

The Songs of Lennon and McCartney is performed by Darren Coggan and Damien Leith at The Playhouse Theatre tonight from 7:30pm.

After a four year hiatus the Spiegeltent is returning to town with hedonistic cabaret Blanc De Blanc Encore. Lots of dates, 7-9pm.

Toast International Women’s Day at the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation’s breaky at Crowne Plaza, with JackJumpers CEO, Christine Finnegan. 7am. Or check out Dark Brew-The Alchemist at Rosny Farm.

Local dance crew DRILL junior show Kaleidoscope is on at Moonah Arts Centre, 6:30pm. Irish singer and bouzouki player Daoiri Farrell plays the Republic Bar tonight, 9pm.

Three days of funnies start tonight with the Hobart Festival of Comedy, In The Hanging Garden, from 5:30pm. Grab dinner and a sundowner at the Brooke Street Pier Market tonight, from 4:30pm.

It’s Good Friday. It’s also the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation Easter Egg Hunt at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Garden, 10am-2pm. Book on humanitix.

Details subject to

FURTHER AFIELD

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

9 10

The Longley Hotel hosts the Southern Blues Music Festival this long week, kids under 12 are free. The Ocean Film Festival is at The Farrell Centre (Friends’ School) from 7pm.

Learn how to make a big bowl or vase at the latest Leap and Wander pottery workshop, 10am, via Eventbrite. Or enjoy the Richmond Village Fair, all day.

15-16 March

The Forth Valley Blues Festival goes for two days, or 20 hours of original blues and roots music. See Dave Hole, Hat Fitz and more - see www.forthvalleybluesfest.com for the full lineup.

18-20 March

Homegrown Find Your Feet

The Hobart Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show is on from midday today and tomorrow, Elwick Racecourse, Glenorchy. Later, Luca Brasi play the Odeon from 7:30pm.

16 17

Learn the ukulele at a complete beginners’ workshop at the Kingston Beach Arts Hub, 1-4pm.

8-10 March

A Festival Called Panama is back in the north of the state for another year, with King Stingray, Jen Cloher, Emily Wurramara and more on the bill.

9-17 March

Tours are running a three day trail running experience on Bruny Island. Stay in a remote luxury camp, enjoy oysters fresh from the water and run along some of our best trails.

22-24 March

It’s a great day for a state election. Experience a modern day fairytale with the Hobart Harmony Chorus show, ‘Finding My Voice’. Mt Nelson Theatre, 7pm. Tickets from trybooking.com.

24 23

The Cuckoo Artisan Market is on today at Shambles, 12-4pm. Hobart Chamber Orchestra’s Morning, Noon and Night concert, Hobart Town Hall, 2:30pm.

30 31

The Australian Masters Athletics Championships continue today at the Domain Athletic Centre. Bring your instruments to the Elizabeth College skatepark for Loop Jam, a free music and art making event.11am-1pm.

It’s Easter Sunday, and also Neighbour Day. Have an eggscellent day.

For even more events in Hobart and further afield this month head to

The exhibition of the 20th Glover Prize starts this weekend in Evandale. The Glover Prize is a significant art prize that celebrates the Tasmanian landscape, with 42 finalists this year coming from across the country but also the UK, USA, Italy, Canada, Japan and Switzerland. The winner will be announced hosted at the historic Falls Park Pavilion in Evandale on Friday, 8 March. They’ll take away $75,000 and a bronze maquette of colonial artist John Glover.

10-11 March

Enjoy the best of the Huon Valley’s eats and drinks at this year’s A Taste of the Huon. Entertainment includes The Wolfe Bros, Bjorn Again and a tonne of kids’ performers and activities. Ranelagh Recreation Grounds, www.atasteofthehuon. com.au.

The East Coast celebrates ECHO Festival for another year in Swansea, with music, art, workshops, poetry, ceramics, silent disco, food, gin, wine and more. See echofestival.com.au for all the deets.

1-30 April

The Tasmanian Autumn Festival is set to celebrate the season’s beauty and bounty in the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands with a month of events, activities and experiences that showcase the region’s rich history, culture and natural wonders.

Email us at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au Background photo: Mason Doherty

AROUND THE ISLAND

Launceston’s independent retailers come to life as Boutique Week begins today, bringing to light the city’s eclectic mix of stores. Expect trunk shows and cat walks!

Salt-crusted band, Songs of the Sea, bring their interpretations of 17th century English and Scottish songs to the Princess Theatre in Launceston. They are playing shows across Tasmania.

Listen to 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame in a wide-ranging discussion including body image and sexual assault. 6pm at the Paranaple Convention Centre in Devonport.

5 6

Cradle Coast Market Day provides students the opportunity to join their favourite clubs and societies, held at UTAS Cradle Coast Campus in Burnie from 10am.

7

Love the ocean and its many critters? The Ocean Film Festival brings its world tour to Launceston tonight at 7pm.

CHESS The Musical explores a USA vs USSR chess champ battle and subsequent contest for a woman! Princess Theatre, Launceston, until the 23rd.

Calling all film buffs! The Central Coast Film Society is hosting a showing of the acclaimed film Minari at the Ulverstone Civic Centre at 6:30pm. Get involved and discuss all things movies.

Playing for the first time in Launceston is Nepalese pop band Sabin Rai & The Pharoah. Have a memorable night at Lonnies Niteclub. 7pm.

Burnie Library is calling for knitters of all skill levels to join their Knitting for Charity initiative. What you craft will be donated to those in need. 10am start.

Head to Du Cane Brewery tonight for Tags Off, a fashion showcase supporting The Benevolent Society. From 5:30pm. Tix eventbrite.

The annual three-day Ukulele Jamboree begins today in the heart of the Launceston CBD, featuring acts from across the world.

Help out the Australian Plants Society plant native flora in Mowbray at 9:30am. Morning tea provided, friendly chats guaranteed. Bring your own bucket and tools.

Love the Oscars? Music in the Mornings presents The Winner Is..., a musical journey that takes you through Academy Award-winning songs that lit up the silver screen, at the Princess Theatre in Launceston.

Check out these events from around the island. Head to www.thehobartmagazine.com.au for more!

MARCH

A Festival Called Panama, a 3-day celebration of music and community, will take place in the forests north east of Launceston, headlined by King Stingray. Renowned harpist Josh Layne brings his gentle brand of music to the Stanley Town Hall at 7pm.

9

The Sheffield Uniting Church is hosting a workshop where creative 11-14-year-olds can learn to make their own short film from 10am.

Launceston’s QVMAG hosts

The Big Picture, an exhibition that allows students to develop and curate their own art exhibition for display. From today to 6 April.

Huon Valley’s hidden gem, the Judbury Market, is on today from 10am-2pm, with a special Easter focus. Come for delicious food, live music, and scenic views. Experience live acoustic tunes, with a huge selection of food and drinks, at the Communion Brewing Co in Burnie from 4:30pm.

WHAT’S ON IN TASSIE

WANT TO EXPLORE MORE TASSIE?

SEAFARING DEVONPORT

Dip at Bluff Beach, explore the Maritime Museum, dine at Mrs Jones by the sea and enjoy the Saturday morning farmers market.

CRADLE + CHOCCIES

Feel the burn bushwalking, feed the devils, then feed yourself chocolate. What a place to spend the Easter long weekend.

Are you ready to get hypnotised? Renowned comedy hypnotist Rob Young brings his unique talents to the Iron Horse Bar & Grill in Prospect Vale at 7pm. Cygnet Town Hall hosts an afternoon of chamber music and jazz for their Easter Music Festival, from 2:30pm.

Relay for Life is hosting a charity fun run today in Penguin at 1pm, to raise funds for the Cancer Council.

The Bushy Park Community Market occurs every Saturday, and today is the perfect time to get arts and crafts and fresh fruit and veg ahead of Easter!

Experience a full-dome visual feast, set to the soundtrack of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, at Launceston’s QVMAG Planetarium. 1:30pm today, there are dates throughout March until May.

April Fools!

Nutopia, a twoday harvest festival on a small Hazelnut farm in Lilydale, channels the 70s and encourages visitors to dress retro.

MAD MAYDENA

With all eyes on Maydena recently for the Red Bull Hardline, get back up to explore the trails and watch the Tas Gravity Enduro on the 16th.

DRAWING A LINK BETWEEN TASMANIA AND JAPAN

Words: Dr Emerald L King

Pictures: Supplied

This is a story of two families, two sisters; told between travel, break ups, weddings, births, changes in jobs, and lifestyle.

Jun Yamaguchi first came to Tasmania twenty years ago. She fell in love instantly with the island’s starlit skies, fresh berries, and open spaces.

In 2004 Jun travelled to Hobart on a short stay language study exchange programme between the University of Tasmania and her university in Japan, Kinjo Gakuin. During this trip she stayed with a homestay family in South Hobart.

At the same time that Jun was on homestay in South Hobart with the King family, their daughter was on a year-long exchange at Kinjo Gakuin University as part of the University of Tasmania’s ongoing exchange program.

The first time the girls met wouldn’t be until Jun returned to Japan at the end of her Hobart trip. However, one night the King’s daughter called home with a bad cold. Jun immediately asked for permission to call her parents in Japan and arranged for her mother to drop off food and medicine. In this way, each girl would meet the other’s family before they met each other.

These interactions would tie the two families together and this month, Jun is finally bringing her mother and her own two daughters to her “Tasmanian home” to meet her family here.

Jun comes from a calligraphy dynasty and is a licenced calligraphy sensei and a published calligrapher. Her family’s work has been recognised nationally. Her grandfather wrote talismans and holy scrolls for temples throughout Nagoya. In 2020 her father was recognised as the most outstanding calligrapher in his style of Japanese calligraphy at a ceremony in Tokyo with representatives of the imperial household present.

Jun specialises in detailed, beautiful brush characters in the classical style dating to the Heian period (794-1185). She also creates dynamic calligraphy performances using massive brushes and giant pieces of paper. Jun has staged these performances around Japan, as well as in Western Australia and Tasmania.

For her own wedding, Jun gave a calligraphy performance with a large mop sized brush and a giant tub of black ink while wearing a white wedding gown. Her husband of no more than half an hour’s first duty was to hold her skirts out of the way as she wrote three metre characters of hope and prosperity.

For Jun, bringing her daughters to Tasmania and showing them and her mother the place that she fell in love with, is dream come true. Her itinerary includes picnicking at the Botanical Gardens, penguin watching, going up to the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, and star gazing at night.

While in Tasmania, Jun will host a free lunchtime calligraphy demonstration for university and students of Japanese, and an evening workshop and demonstration where participants will pay a nominal fee to cover all of their brush, ink, and paper. This will take place on 5 March, hosted by University of Tasmania Communities in the “old” Studio Theatre on the Sandy Bay campus. Bookings via eventbrite.

Hobart’s Friday night market!

4:30pm - 9:00pm

BROOKE STREET PIER

March 22, 29 April 26 May 31

LONG BEACH SANDY BAY March 1, 8

TASMANIAN PRODUCE MARKET

EVERY SAT 9am-1pm KANGAROO BAY PARK

Engage, learn and experience local!

20 Kangaroo Bay Drive, Rosny

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Hobart Contemporary jewellery artist Emma Bugg is showing new work with ties to old as part of an exhibition now open in Melbourne.

You’ve accessed a tiny fragment of thylacine DNA and incorporated it into a new jewellery work. Tell us about what this means to you and how it came about? In 2023, I applied to an international call-out to exhibit work in Not Natural, an exhibition at Science Gallery, Melbourne. Referencing the principles of a traditional locket containing hair and a photograph, I proposed to incorporate thylacine DNA into a locket, signifying a merger of art, science, and conservation, advocating for the preservation of endangered species and sparking

conversation around de-extinction. The thylacine’s advocate. Collaborating with Professor Andrew Pask, lead biologist behind thylacine de-extinction, I have integrated thylacine pelt and DNA into a locket to evoke a sense of contemplation and responsibility towards biodiversity. During the development process, Science Gallery facilitated a visit to the TIGRR (Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research) lab, where I engaged with Professor Pask and gained insights to inform the work.

What else is being exhibited as part of this? Not Natural is an exhibition exploring the growing friction between natural and artificial systems. With increasing control over nature, humans have opened a plethora of possibility and a pandoras box of ethical dilemma. Experience speculative local and international projects dissolving the line between what is considered natural and not natural. Are we redesigning evolution or is evolution re-designing us? And just because we can, should we? Not Natural has 14 works, featuring 18 artists and 30 researchers and collaborators. An art hero of mine, renowned artist Patricia Piccinini has some beautiful realistic human orangutan hybrid sculptures in the exhibition. The exhibition comes with the content warning: Contains sensory experiences, live jellyfish and a machete-wielding houseplant!

How is Professor Andrew Pask’s push to ‘de-extinct’ the thylacine going?

Professor Pask’s involvement in ‘de-extinction’ of the thylacine represents ground-breaking genetic research aiming to revive an extinct marsupial species. He had been working on this for 20 years at the University of Melbourne, and in 2022, received a large sum of private funding to progress this work. Utilising CRISPR and other advanced gene editing techniques, TIGRR Lab aims to reconstruct the thylacine genome and potentially reintroduce the species into its native habitat. The estimated timeframe for producing viable young is 8-10 years. If readers are

interested, this is a link to TIGRR lab www.tigrrlab.science.unimelb.edu.au.

What is the contemporary jewellery scene like in Tasmania? In a word, Tasmania’s contemporary jewellery scene is vibrant! Many jewellers pride themselves on storytelling, sustainability and local craftsmanship, contributing to the evolution of contemporary jewellery as a form of artistic expression. State of Flux Workshop is a gallery and dynamic work space I co-founded in 2020 with fellow jewellers Anna Weber, Gabbee Stolp and Jane Hodgetts. We love connecting with visitors and showing the process behind what goes into making a piece.

How can readers see your piece? My locket is a component of a larger collaborative installation with Professor Pask and TIGRR lab, which includes video interviews, thylacine artefacts and an interactive survey in which visitors have the opportunity to share their thoughts on de extinction. It can be viewed at Science Gallery, Melbourne between now and 29 June. Additionally, my jewellery is showcased at MONA, Handmark, Design Tasmania and State of Flux Workshop.

Head to www.melbourne.science gallery.com/not-natural for more, or follow Emma on Instagram @emmabuggjeweller.

A SPICY LOVE STORY

Every plant tells an important story of cultural connection. Several stories in fact. And as Paulette Whitney of Provenance Growers explains, it is these stories that “make you stop. They make you taste the food”.

For years Paulette’s own storytelling has garnered a large local and online following of growers and eaters. Together with partner Matt they have been stalwarts at Salamanca Market, selling plants, preserves and fresh vegetables, while supplying Hobart eateries such as Aloft, Dier Makr, and Tom McHugos. It has also led her to write a book, Broccoli and Other Love Stories: Notes and recipes from an always curious, often hungry kitchen gardener, which will be published in July this year.

When I first arrived at Paulette and Matt’s home in Neika, on the slopes of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington, she immediately launched into a story of the Beaver Dam pepper, a hot and flavourful chilli that’s great for hot sauces or eating fresh. The story goes that seeds were brought to Beaver Dam

in Wisconsin from Hungary in the early 1900s by Joe Hussli, an immigrant who wanted to bring a taste of home with him. Later, as we sat down to chat, Paulette produced a wooden platter of the main varieties she has been growing this year. Among them was the beautiful looking, and rather fierce Chao Tian Jiao, hailing from the Sichuan province of China. This chilli is also known as Facing Heaven because the chillies point to the sky as they grow.

Next up was the story of the sweet Antohoi Romanian pepper. Jan Antohi was a Romanian circus performer who defected in the 80s. Having made his home in the US, he returned to Romania to visit his mother after the collapse of the Soviet Union and brought back seeds of the peppers his mother used in her cooking.

Paulette was quick to point out the story before the stories she recounts. All peppers, or chillies, are part of the Capsicum genus and are native to South and Central America. As one of the oldest cultivated crops, the stories of the Beaver Dam, Antohoi Romanian and Facing

Heaven peppers stretch back much further than modern day Wisconsin, the circuses of Romania, or Sichuan cuisine, and long before the arrival of Columbus in the Americas, with archaeological records indicating that capsicums were consumed in the Andean regions of Peru and in Mexico from at least 8600–5600 BC.

Each plant also carries a personal story. From the foraged railway line plums to the Leicester Jones tomatoes, bred by a Tasmanian naturopath, that Paulette stubbornly grows each year for their unique pink fruit, despite often splitting on the vine, the intimate connection she has to plants provides daily joy. James De Costa, a fellow market gardener and good friend, once recommended she tried growing a sweet capsicum called Jimmy Nardello. She now thinks of ‘DC’ each time she harvests them.

So, of course, the story of this article (aside from stories!) is that this month, we are hitting chilli and capsicum season. For Provenance Growers, this means Padrons and Shishitos will be fried as an accompaniment to cold beer, Basque Espelletes are ripening ready to be dried and ground, Jalapenos are being pickled, and the perennial Rocoto harvested for new season hot sauce.

Paulette’s passion for plants, which at this time of year is particularly focused on the huge variety of chillies and capsicums she grows, is the ultimate story of love.

PAULETTE’S PICKLED JALAPENOS

Paulette loves these on tacos, in salads, salsas and atop eggs on toast. She warns that the heat from jalapenos, and other peppers, can change through the season, so be sure to label each batch you make, lest you accidentally frighten the kids with some super-spicy late-season heat.

The flavourings are entirely up to you, so use what you have at hand - if the coriander is bolting to seed use those, if there’s plump garlic on the kitchen bench add extra, or if there’s honey nearby swap out the sugar - the tastiest accidents happen this way. You’ll need sterilised jars. They last for a few months in the fridge - use any opened jars within a couple of weeks.

Ingredients:

500g jalapenos

A clove of garlic, peeled and halved for

each jar

For each jar, one or two oak, grape or blackcurrant leaves (their tannins keep your pickles crisp)

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup water

1 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons sea salt

1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds

Optional extras - bay leaves, cumin seeds or hot chilli flakes if your jalapenos are mild and you want an extra kick.

Method: Wash and slice the jalapenos into 2mm discs. Pack them tightly into jars, tucking in the oak or vine leaves as you go. Put the brine ingredients into a saucepan and heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove from the heat just before it boils and pour the hot solution over the jalapenos. Tap each jar on the bench to remove any air pockets, seal immediately and store in the fridge when cool.

HOBART STREET TEAMS OPEN NEW MARQUEE

The Salvos Street Teams introduced their new Rest and Recovery Marquee for the first time late February. Set up on the Hobart waterfront, the marquee and the team who works inside, aim to alleviate the demand on emergency services by providing a free space for people who are mildly intoxicated, and don’t require medical attention.

The new marquee is an expansion on the existing Street Teams coffee cart which currently runs on a Friday and Saturday evening. Street Teams are well known for the support they provide in Hobart’s Salamanca district, giving out ChupaChup lollipops along with small water bottles, vomit bags, emergency footwear and hot drinks. The team of volunteers work alongside onsite security, police, paramedics, and the City of Hobart to offer a multi-faceted approach to public safety by de-escalating conflicts, providing first aid, and offering a space for rest. Street Teams program manager Anita Reeve gave us the inside story on the new project.

What is the new Rest and Recovery Marquee? The Rest and Recovery Marquee will give our teams the ability to take patrons/members of the public to a quiet space when they are intoxicated, but not needing medical intervention/attention. It’s an opportunity to provide a stretcher to rest on, a place to have

some water to be rehydrated, and a place to be safe. Often we come across people sitting on the pavement, mostly with friends, but it allows that dignity whilst someone recovers enough to make their way home safely.

How does this fit with the wider Street Teams program? The Street Teams provide support and assistance to vulnerable people who may be at risk of harm or causing harm to others due to alcohol misuse and/or other drug use. Some of the ways we do this is by providing a positive presence, free drinking water, and basic hygiene assistance including vomit bags.

While on a night out, how can mates best support each other? Mates can support each other by sticking together, making sure that they watch out for each other in regard to what they drink and how much they drink. We encourage them to always have a designated driver, or if that is not possible, that they go home safely via a taxi or Uber. We often engage in these types of conversations, however we do find the vast majority of people care for each other.

What else do you have in the works? We currently have a big focus on recruitment of volunteers for our team, as during COVID the ability to recruit was severely impacted, and is only just now starting to turn. We also want to see if we can make linkages with training facilities like TasTAFE Community Services, and Paramedics training schools to try and source students for our teams.

THE TASSIE BOOK CLUB

The Woman Booker Prize Club is a local Tassie book club. Here they share their thoughts on books by Tasmanian authors, set in Tasmania, or about Tassie topics.

It’s March (we know, how?) and this month we’ve got two wonderful books for you from two wonderful Hobart womenHeather Rose and Karen Brooks. Perhaps Heather’s moving memoir or Karen’s epic piece of historical fiction is your next read?

authors, most well known for her bestselling novels The Museum of Modern Love and Bruny. Heather is an expert at telling a captivating and moving story and in Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here, she proves herself not just a master storyteller, but a wise woman and astute observer of the human experience.

This memoir is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. It is full of life’s tragedies and devastations, heartache and grief. But it is also an optimistic, wise, kind and knowing tale of choosing to live a good life. From complicated family to spirituality, travel to work, parenting to chronic pain, I am thankful for Heather’s insight and honesty in sharing her life with her readers.

I’m not usually a fan of memoirs but I couldn’t put this down. Pick up a copy, especially if you’re in need of some wisdom (and aren’t we all?).

allowed a voice, a successful playwright and public commentator. She was truly a woman before her time and Karen Brooks has brought her to life in the most marvelous manner with drama, personality, intrigue and reverence.

I attended the launch of Heather Rose’s latest book in 2022 and it’s been sitting on my ‘to be read’ pile ever since, waiting for the right moment. That moment turned out to be almost a year to the day later, sitting at home 39 weeks pregnant, with COVID.

Goodness, what a book. Heather is one of Tasmania’s most beloved and decorated

I was drawn to the dramatic cover, and persuaded to buy this 500+ page novel by the lovely handwritten note from the author herself on the first page - “All the world’s a stage”.

And the stage is exactly where Karen Brooks takes us, specifically to the lively theatre scene of Restoration London in the 1670s. A tapestry of fiction and history, this epic tale centres around the peculiarly named Tribulation Johnson (an entirely fictional young woman) who has been cast aside by her family. Tribulation, who dreams of more than marriage and domestic life, finds herself living on the fringes of London’s debaucherous political realm after being taken in by her cousin, Aphra Behn (a very real playwright, poet and spy).

Aphra Behn is credited as being the first professional female writer in English and, in a time where women were not

Karen proves herself a master storyteller and I can’t wait to read her other 15 works (impressive!), including the acclaimed novel, The Good Wife of Bath. A Hobart local, you might spot her at Captain Bligh’s brewstillery (owned by her husband), or walking her dogs.

I loved this book and have recommended it many times. Grab yourself a copy and get lost in this remarkable tale.

Book Chatter: We’re excited for Tasmania Reads Week, 17-23 March! Tasmania Reads is an annual week-long celebration filled with fun reading-inspired events and activities for all ages across libraries and partner organisations statewide. Libraries Tasmania is encouraging readers to ‘try something new’ this month, whether it’s becoming a library member, starting a book group (we think this is an excellent idea) or joining a Tasmania Reads event. Explore the program at libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmania-reads to find out what’s on near you!

Keen to chat books with us? Find us on Instagram @thewomanbookerprizeclub or email thewbpc@gmail.com.

WORDS OF EMOTION

If we can’t talk about our feelings, they may bottle up inside us - and one day explode, like a hastily-uncapped bottle of fizzy drink that has been rolling around in the car for too long...

Last month we looked at “grandiloquent” words and those announced as the 2023 Words of the Year. This time, we focus on words that reflect how we FEEL - using examples from the book, An emotional dictionary: Real words for how you feel from Angst to Zwodder (John Murray, 2022). Its author, English lexicographer and etymologist Susie Dent, has a big media presence in England, having also appeared as a word expert on numerous game shows, including 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Would I Lie to You. Susie wants to help us examine how we really feel, by providing us with the words that can help us describe these feelings.

She briefly refers to the work of Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a distinguished American psychology professor and scientist who believes that people who draw on a wider range of vocabulary to express their emotions are much more able to cope with them - and less likely to lash out in anger or frustration, or demonstrate other self-destructive tendencies which impact on health. “You are what you feel, as long as you can describe it.” The naming is important. Take the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, where the miller’s daughter/queen is only able to escape the horrific fate of giving up her firstborn child by managing to correctly name the strange little man who helped her spin straw into gold - it’s all about the power of the naming. Academics have even established an official principle based on this - the “Rumpelstiltskin Principle”.

In trying to broaden our emotional vocabulary, Susie has naturally concentrated on “the words that particularly sang to me...”, a practice I also follow when providing examples here. Some inclusions are words we know well, such as gentle, halcyon, and Impostor Syndrome, while others are delightfully new, at least to me. She includes a two-page emotional thesaurus at the end, along with the index. Some words have been adopted into English from other languages, particularly where attempts to express the same sentiment in English would demand significantly more words. For example, the Italian word “abbiocco”, meaning “the drowsiness you feel after a large meal”. So delightfully Mediterranean! I also strongly relate to another Italian phrase, “dolce far niente”, or “the pleasure of doing nothing”.

The word “apricity” is quietly perfect, meaning “the warmth of the sun on a winter’s day”. The first record of this word, from 1623, appears in the multi-volume Oxford English Dictionary, although at the time it was defined more quaintly as “the warmeness of the Sunne in Winter”.

I also appreciate “after-wit”, defined as “a realisation that comes too late”. Don’t you just hate it when you think of a terrific comeback after you’ve already walked away from a conversation? Regret is also a factor in “hinayang “, a Tagalog word for “regret over something that might have been”. A wasted opportunity.

The over-excitable among us might also recognise that feeling of “anticipointment”, or “disappointment in something eagerly anticipated”. And every parent and busy worker knows well the feeling the Germans got spot-on with “Eilkrankheit”, or “the anxiety induced by always rushing around“ (literally translated as “hurry sickness”). Now at last we know what to call it. Similar is “forswunk”, or feeling “worn out from too much work”. I also like “overmused” - that is, “exhausted from thinking”.

While “nod-crafty”, or “able to seem fully involved in a conversation when you’re not really listening”, sounds like a modern word, it has in fact been used since the eighteenth century.

“Snoodging”, so melodious and onomatopoeic, means “nestling snugly”. There is generosity in “confelicity”, or “pleasure in another’s happiness”, which contrasts nicely with “Schadenfreude”, the much more well-known German word for “pleasure in another’s pain”. “Respair” is another very hopeful word, signifying “a recovery from despair”, while “pregret”, on the other hand, is “to regret in advance” - when you know you’re going to regret doing something, but you can‘t seem to stop yourself from doing it anyway.

Another more modern sort of feeling is that anxious conviction that your mobile phone is ringing, even when it’s not. Some have used the humorous blended word “fauxcellarm” for this (try saying it aloud), while others call it “phantom vibration syndrome” (voted Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2012).

As Barbie director and co-writer Greta Gerwig has said: “You only get one life, so you might as well feel all the feelings.” And if we can name them, even better.

KNOCKLOFTY RESERVE: NATIVE BUSH IN THE CITY

Words and pictures: Elizabeth Osborne

Knocklofty Reserve is native bushland in the backyard of West Hobart and Mount Stuart, two kilometres from the centre of Hobart.

There are many interesting walks around the reserve on a network of well-maintained walking tracks and fire trails, ranging from easy to challenging. Tracks follow the contours of Mount Stuart, easing the steepness of the uphill walks. Strategically placed seats give spectacular views over Hobart, and across the

Derwent River. There are car parks off Forest Road and at the Mount Stuart Lookout. We began our walk at the Mount Stuart Lookout car park.

We started a summit circuit at the Fiona Allen Memorial Walk, a distance of 1.8 kilometres to Knocklofty summit. The morning sun shone on the world below. A wallaby, still as a statue, observed our climb. Skinks slipped under rocks. Butterflies fluttered all through the bush.

At the summit, 374 metres above sea level, kunanyi/Mount Wellington appears on the horizon. Electricity pylons march up the hill, revealing the northern suburbs to Claremont and beyond.

We walked 2.4 kilometres downhill to lunch at Knocklofty Picnic Area. The downhill track overlooks South Hobart, with the Hartz Mountains shining blue in the distance. Refreshed, we took a side track to the Reflection Pond, a perfect mirror in an old sandstone quarry. Another side track circled the Frog Dam, where six species of frog have been recorded.

Also of interest is the Glover Track, which leads to the view of Hobart painted by 19th century artist John Glover. This picture is now hanging in Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. We returned

Without

via the

completing our summit loop. We were refreshed and exhilarated by the beauty of Hobart, seen from every compass point.

Kathryn and her daughter Taya are both carers for Kye, their son and brother who has autism.

Through Carer Gateway’s support they were able to go on a retreat to connect with other carers in a supportive environment and take a break.

Care2Serve is the local tassie team connecting Tasmanian carers to Carer Gateway.

If you are a carer and would like help too, contact us.

Support is free, inclusive, and confidential. Call 1800 422 737 (press 1) or visit carergateway.gov.au

ZODIAC CHECK-IN: YOUR MONTHLY ASTRO UPDATE

Dive into the month ahead with practical star insights - your guide to navigating the cosmos this February.

Aries (21 Mar - 19 Apr): March is a great month for Aries as the planetary energies enhance your sign. Your relationships with other people – including close romantic partnerships – are highlighted on the 25th when the lunar eclipse and Full Moon light up your relationship zone. This will bring problems to a head for some but will create loving warmth for others.

Taurus (20 Apr - 20 May): Your health and wellbeing are highlighted this month, especially around the eclipse and Full Moon on the 25th. Be cautious about the decisions you make at the moment –especially regarding money and longterm security - as some of the planetary energies affecting you could make you a bit reckless or more likely to take a big (dangerous) risk.

Gemini (21 May - 20 Jun): A wonderful month for those Geminis looking for a new job or perhaps a completely new career path! Your career zone is highlighted with several planets and the New Moon so act now if you want a positive career boost. The Full Moon and eclipse on the 25th bring lots of good luck for love, money, and children/pregnancy.

Cancer (21 Jun - 22 Jul): Cancer is the most home and family focused sign and this month the Full Moon and eclipse highlight your zone of home and family –so you should be feeling very comfortable with the energies. A phase of life may be coming to a close this month, let go and know that a new stage is opening up before long. Money matters are mostly positive.

Leo (23 Jul - 22 Aug): It may be hard to keep up with the pace of life and all of your commitments this month, especially if you are feeling confused and nostalgic about the past and not really in touch with the present. The New Moon will bring good luck to you if you are hoping to get a loan for something important – just be cautious about how big a commitment you make.

Virgo (23 Aug - 22 Sep): The New Moon on the 10th lands in your relationship zone, highlighting fresh beginnings for existing couples, while for others it will bring a new serious love into their lives. Loving Venus will spread her positive energy through all of your dealings with others after the 12th, while the Full Moon eclipse will make your intuition more powerful.

Libra (23 Sep - 22 Oct): There is a Lunar eclipse in your sign on the 25th , which will create a boost of emotional and spiritual energy in all parts of your life. Communication matters will become easier after the 10th when chatty Mercury enters your relationship zone, while singles may find a new love interest through their work. A good time for paying off debt.

Scorpio (23 Oct - 21 Nov): The Full Moon and eclipse on the 25th will bring a big boost to your subconscious zone and your intuition and hunches. Your sleep may be a bit disrupted, but the dreams you do have may hold an important message for you. Avoid getting involved with other people’s secrets or dramas, especially if you feel that they are doing the wrong thing.

Sagittarius (22 Nov - 21 Dec): It may feel like your life is going one step forward and two steps back this month as you may have to finish off something that you thought had been sorted out. The New Moon on the 10th will help you to end one cycle and start afresh, especially if there is money involved. You can rely on your friends to be truthful.

Capricorn (22 Dec - 19 Jan): The eclipse and Full Moon on the 25th land right in

your career and reputation zone, so it is a good time for reaping the rewards for your past efforts. This can be a financial reward that comes through a promotion or step up, or it can just be being really appreciated and acknowledged for all that you have done. Romance is highlighted.

Aquarius (20 Jan - 18 Feb): A good month for getting your finances organised and healthy by being very disciplined and setting up new ways of handling your money. Your habits and daily routines are highlighted – especially if they are having an impact on your health. You may need to make some changes so you can enjoy the good times for a long time to come.

Pisces (19 Feb - 20 Mar): Loving, warm Venus enters your sign on the 12th creating a harmonious and romantic time for some. You may be able to attract what you really need and want through being positive and asking nicely. The New Moon on the 10th is in your sign, creating a fresh start and new beginning in whatever area needs the most attention.

Sara is a Hobart based astrologer with over 30 years professional experience. If you would like a private psychic or astrology reading with Sara either face to face or by zoom or email, please go to www.stargold.com.au for more information and to book.

I NEEDED TO HEAR THAT

(A conversation between two people doing their best to live a good life).

“I don’t want to be seen as a nag by my partner,” she admitted. “We haven’t been connecting well of late so I know it will just make things worse. It’s easier if I don’t bring it up. It’s fine. I’ll just figure it out.”

“Will you? How’s it working for you?”

I ask. “Because who I see in front of me is a woman utterly wrecked; someone whose cellular matrix is no longer full of light and love but drained of all life force. You’re brittle and you’re making yourself small because you’ve grown up believing that asking for what you need will either be an inconvenience or create some sort of drama that will ultimately lead to rejection. How are you ever going to live your best life if you don’t take accountability for what you want?”

(Silence).

“It may be uncomfortable to hear, but in a strange way, I think your inner wisdom recognises these words like an old friend.”

“I guess I haven’t had anyone say it like that before,” she remarked.

“That’s because most of the time, we’re afraid to speak from the heart. We want to be liked so we create opportunities for favourable impressions and avoid talking about the sticky stuff. Have you ever thought about all this from the perspective of the order of life?” I ask her.

“What do you mean?” she answers.

“There’s a simple order to things. It goes like this:

1. Love and appreciation of the Source.

2. Love and appreciation of Self.

3. Love and appreciation of Others.

The source can be whatever higher force you believe in - nature, God, Buddha, the Universe etc. When you act in a way that goes against the natural order, you’re robbing yourself and those around you of the most spectacular version of life.”

Her eyes widen and she shifts her posture in a way the signals piqued interest.

“You may think it’s noble to put other people’s needs first but minimising your earnest desires for the approval of others isn’t something to aspire to if it stops you from being your real self. When you downplay or suppress your ideas, worries, or wants, you’re perpetuating a core belief that says, ‘I don’t deserve happiness’. You complain about the way things are and wonder why they’re not improving. Look, your partner doesn’t owe you anything. The world doesn’t owe you anything either. If you want things to change for the better, ask yourself, ‘Is my happiness practice honouring the order of life?’

“What do you mean by happiness practice?” she enquires.

“The accumulation of intentions and actions that nurture your psychological, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. For example, let’s consider this: You’ve told me your husband loves going for a run and makes it a priority. It sounds as though when he misses out, the drop in his mood becomes palpable for you and the kids. But you’ve also mentioned that you’re not keeping up with your pilates classes; that you’re too busy and prefer to ensure that he gets out, so you can finish all the things around the house that need doing. You’re avoiding the necessary conversation because you think that by asking for what you need, he’ll be missing out on what he wants. Remember, the order of things says that if you take care of yourself, you’ll be better able to care for others. You’re opting out on being authentic with the person you love. It’s time to change that.”

“But how? Where do I begin?” she asks. “Start with the truth. What about something like this:

“Ari, I realise that some of my behaviours of late haven’t been honouring our relationship. Growing up I learned that asking for what was important to me often led to negative outcomes like disappointment or rejection. What I need to share with you is that I’ve been neglecting my exercise. I haven’t wanted to take time away from your running because I’ve been afraid that you’ll resent me for it, or that if you don’t go as often maybe your mood will deteriorate and that will put more pressure on me. I want to be honest and share my thoughts with you. You’re the person I trust the most. I would like to make pilates a regular part of my weekly routine. By doing so, I feel I’ll be taking greater accountability for my selfcare, and ultimately, better care of our relationship. Can we work out a plan that will celebrate our individual happiness practices?”

Her demeanour is calm as she digests my monologue.

Suddenly, she grows frantic and pleads, “Can you repeat all of that so I can record it on my phone and read it to my husband?”

We both laugh out loud.

“You don’t need me to record it for you. Your inner wisdom already recognises these words like an old friend.”

Annia Baron is a mum, a Clinical Psychologist & Mindset Coach. Want to learn more about mindset tools to create a life you desire and deserve? Get in touch on Instagram @anniabaron or visit www. remindyourself.com.

PROVOCATIVE POLITICAL ‘PISS-TAKE’ REVEALED AT MARITIME MUSEUM

History and humour collided with the unveiling of what is perhaps Australia’s earliest-known free-standing full-length statue - a well-dressed colonial gentleman caught in the act of urination - at Hobart’s Maritime Museum.

The statue is 1.3 metres tall and functionally plumbed, with intricate details that have been immaculately preserved. The provocative nature of the work suggests a political statement of contempt rather than a whimsical garden feature - so who does it depict, and who conceived it?

Staff and volunteers at the Museum have been carefully piecing together the clues that have led us to believe the slightly sordid statue depicts Van Diemen’s Land Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur as a form of political protest against the colonial leader who, by the time he was recalled to London, was cheered as he left Hobart.

To arrive at this conclusion, we first looked at the origin of the stone ‘George’ is carved from. It’s a soft, fine-grained sandstone, and our x-ray fluorescence analysis revealed the composition is consistent with Tasmanian Triassic sandstone, more specifically, similar to samples taken from Ross Quarry. The clothing the statue is depicted as wearing is rendered in great detail with visible buttons, seams and fabric creases. The style of clothing is typical of the time that Arthur was in Tasmania, with this particular outfit and square-toed shoes being quite fashionable during the 1830s and 1840s. There are indeed other features consistent with the images of Arthur, even if it is something of a caricature.

We looked at similar sculptures in Van Diemen’s Land from the time, and began with the convict-built Ross Bridge and the role of the two stonemasons Daniel Herbert and James Colbeck. Herbert was responsible for many of the carved figures on the Ross Bridge, he was also known to take private commissions for work, and we’re confident this is his handiwork when compared to similar works of the time in the area.

But who would commission such a statement? Someone who had considerable dislike of Arthur enough to go to the considerable expense of commissioning the piece - a wealthy landowner or merchant perhaps? There were many who were outspoken about Arthur, but few had the animosity, resources and opportunity of William Kermode. Kermode had an antagonistic relationship with the Governor and was a vocal critic. Our researchers believe it feasible that Kermode had enough ill-feeling to consider commissioning this functioning statue - he had ready

access to the best stonemasons, and a reliable source of water at his extensive property near Ross.

The statue’s life since it was created is as mysterious as he is, however, it was donated to the Maritime Museum by a local family in 2023 to protect and preserve for future generations.

“This extraordinary work challenges our perceptions of colonial art and political expression,” says Maritime Museum Tasmania President Chris Tassell. “Maritime Museum Tasmania is pleased to be able to present this remarkable and provocative sculpture and we invite the public to join us in unravelling the mysteries of Australia’s earliest known free-standing full-length statue.”

If you’re interested in seeing this enigmatic piece of colonial history up-close, pop into the Maritime Museum, he’s now on permanent display in our upstairs Carnegie Gallery.

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