22 January 2026

Artist’s Impression

Impression

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From 7:30am Sunday 22 February 2026

Stage 88, Commonwealth Park, Parkes

My

Brilliant Career

The Australian story still opening hearts arrives in

Canberra

Few Australian stories have endured with the emotional force and defiance of My Brilliant Career, and Canberra audiences will soon have the chance to experience it in a powerful new way.

Reimagined as a bold musical, the beloved tale of Sybylla Melvyn arrives at the Canberra Theatre Centre for a limited season from 7 to 15 March, charged with music, heart and a fierce sense of independence that still resonates more than a century on.

Following a sold-out Melbourne premiere in 2024, the production is now taking the show on the road, sharing its ambitious adaptation of Miles Franklin’s 1901 novel with a wider audience. Led by powerhouse performer Kala Gare, the production has already been hailed as a landmark moment for Australian musical theatre.

A story told through music

For Ms Gare, stepping into the role of Sybylla Melvyn is about more than revisiting a classic story. It is about harnessing the emotional power of live performance and music to connect audiences directly with a character whose questions still feel urgent more than

a century after they were first written.

“I think music theatre is such a gorgeous way of telling a story, because you have access to so many ways of getting the message across,” Ms Gare says. “Acting, music and singing together create one of the most visceral responses you can have as an audience.”

While My Brilliant Career has lived many lives, Ms Gare believes the musical format gives the story a new immediacy.

“Taking a story that’s so well known and placing it into a musical format adds another layer of connection with the audience,” she says.

adaptation, Sybylla’s inner world is amplified through a genre-spanning score that ranges from bushinflected rock to tender ballads.

“I think music theatre is such a gorgeous way of telling a story, because you have access to so many ways of getting the message across”

At the heart of Sybylla Melvyn Set against the sweeping backdrop of 1890s Australia, My Brilliant Career follows the fiercely independent Sybylla Melvyn as she pushes back against expectations of gender, class and family, determined to live life on her own terms. In this new

“This story is deeply human,” Ms Gare says. “It’s specific to the female experience, but it’s also universal. It’s about asking, who am I, what do I want, and realising that the only person who has the power to choose is yourself. This version just hits right at the core.”

At the centre of that emotional journey is Sybylla herself, a character Ms Gare describes as complex, contradictory and thrilling to inhabit.

“Sybylla is the personification of contradiction,” she says. “She can feel one thing in one moment and completely change her argument in the very next breath. She experiences the full spectrum of emotion.”

Language is central to Sybylla’s identity, and to the way she navigates the world.

“Words are her superpower,” Ms Gare says. “Language is her weapon of choice. She uses it to cut down the world around her, to make sense of

My Brilliant Career brings Miles Franklin’s iconic Australian story to life as a bold new musical, arriving at the Canberra Theatre Centre for a limited season from 7 to 15 March. Photos: Pia Johnson

things, to build herself up and tear herself down.”

That volatility makes the role both demanding and deeply rewarding. Over the course of the show, Sybylla shifts rapidly between certainty and doubt, confidence and vulnerability.

“She’s earnest and she’s trying to figure things out,” Ms Gare says. “Even when she starts the show declaring how egotistical she is, it all comes from a very honest place.”

What draws Ms Gare most strongly to the character is Sybylla’s unwavering commitment to her own thoughts and feelings, even when they lead her into conflict.

“I love playing her because there’s no doubt in her. She commits completely. As an actor, you get to go through literally everything. It’s life’s entire emotional spectrum in one show,” she says.

One of Ms Gare’s favourite moments comes in the song Good Enough, a fierce musical response to a marriage proposal that Sybylla firmly rejects.

“There’s a song called Good Enough, which is Sybylla’s response to a marriage proposal,” she says.

“It’s basically her saying, no way.”

“It’s this rock-driven number where she leads the band. She’s running around, jumping on chairs, stepping forward for solos. It feels like being the front woman of the hottest band in the world.”

It is a moment that captures the spirit of the show and the exhilaration of the role.

The power of live theatre

During the Melbourne season, Ms Gare witnessed firsthand how powerfully audiences responded to Sybylla’s journey, particularly as the character speaks directly to the crowd throughout the show.

“This show is such a heart-opener,” she says. “With the music, the band on stage, and Sybylla as a character, audiences really connect with her.”

Canberra Theatre Centre

Executive Producer Lisa Freshwater says the production’s arrival in the capital feels especially meaningful.

much about connection as performance.

“Because she speaks directly to the audience so often, I could see the impact in real time,” she says. “That was one of the greatest gifts I’ve had as a performer.”

With the production now heading out on a national tour, starting in Canberra, Ms Gare is eager to recreate that shared experience with new audiences.

“Standing in a room together, sharing something so human, and then sending people back out into the world with that energy is incredibly powerful,” she says. “I cannot wait to do that for more and more audiences.”

“It’s honestly the dream role I didn’t even know I had.”

“Sybylla’s story – her fire, her defiance, her dreams – still resonates powerfully today,” Ms Freshwater says. “This is a production that celebrates individuality and Australian storytelling at its theatrical best, and we can’t wait to share it with Canberra audiences.”

For Melbourne Theatre Company Artistic Director and Co-CEO Anne-Louise Sarks, bringing My Brilliant Career to the stage and onto the road marks a defining moment.

“It is a bold new version of an Australian classic, taking its place in Australian theatre history,” Ms Sarks says. “After the incredible response from Melbourne audiences, we’re excited to share it with audiences beyond Melbourne.”

For Ms Gare, performing the show became as

As My Brilliant Career prepares to take the stage in Canberra, Ms Gare hopes audiences will leave not only entertained, but changed in subtle, lasting ways.

“Live theatre has such power to connect people,” she says. “I hope people leave feeling seen, energised and a little braver, like they’ve been reminded of their own capacity to choose their path.”

My Brilliant Career runs at the Canberra Theatre Centre from 7 to 15 March. Tickets: canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/mybrilliant-career

Kala Gare stars as the fiercely independent Sybylla Melvyn in the bold new musical adaptation.

Regional issues: Take me home, country roads

with NICOLE LAWDER

FORMER ACT MLA AND DEPUTY OPPOSITION LEADER

Some of you may remember John Denver, who had a huge hit with “Take Me Home, Country Roads” in the early 1970s, which is the earworm behind this week’s column about our neighbouring regional councils and the challenges they face.

To be honest, some of their challenges are remarkably similar to those faced by the ACT Government, from potholes to planning issues. It seems that regional councils across NSW are also confronting mounting pressures, as state government cost-

shifting and ageing infrastructure strain local budgets and decision-making powers.

I recently spoke with Caitlin Flint, Deputy Mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree Regional Council, who says the challenges facing regional councils have intensified in recent years. You can listen to my conversation with Caitilin on Spotify on the “Bite-sized politics” podcast.

“Cost shifting from state government is becoming more and more,” Ms Flint said.

“The most notable change came recently when the NSW Parliament passed amendments removing councillors from planning decisions entirely. Under the new system, development applications will be determined by planning panels comprising field experts and an independent community member, mirroring arrangements already

in place for metropolitan councils. Councillors have historically, had a role to play in determining some Development Applications (DAs), but larger DAs that are going to have a greater impact on the community have been taken away,” Ms Flint explained.

She believes the changes stem from a broken Land and Environment Court system, though rather than fixing that problem, the NSW government has chosen to remove councils from the process altogether.

Infrastructure challenges loom equally large. Goulburn Mulwaree faces a massive water quality crisis in Marulan, a rapidly growing town on the council’s northern fringe. The solution — replacing the water treatment plant — will cost more than $20 million.

It’s not only upgrading the treatment plant, but also all connections into existing dwellings and servicing of new subdivisions, which are currently

not able to come online, despite being ready to come online, because the infrastructure doesn’t have the capacity. This is hampering regional growth at a time when tree-change migration is driving demand for housing outside metropolitan areas.

Council meets monthly, with meetings starting at 6pm and sometimes running five hours. Seven of the nine councillors work full-time, making for demanding schedules. Between council meetings, workshops, village roadshows, and end-of-year community events, weekends for councillors are “chocka block.”

Despite the challenges, she and every other location councillor I have spoken to display passion and ambition for their community, and are enthusiastic about local government’s power to deliver tangible community change.

ACT Greens call for government takeover of Big Splash site

Lenders have repossessed the Big Splash water park in Macquarie, and the ACT Greens are urging the ACT Government to take over the site.

An ACT Government spokesperson confirmed that they had contacted solicitors represented in the Notice of Possession placed on the perimeter fencing.

There are two Controlled Activity Orders on the property, the spokesperson said. The deadline for Big Splash to resume operations in line with its Crown lease is this Friday, 23 January. After that date, further enforcement, including an intention to terminate the lease, may be issued. The title has not been formally transferred.

The Government said it wanted to see “an outcome that delivers community benefit”, and confirmed that no rezoning was planned. The current leaseholder retains the right to comply before the deadline.

ACT Greens MLA Jo Clay said the Government had failed to act decisively despite longstanding concerns about the site’s management.

“It’s really disappointing that the ACT Government didn’t move faster to step in and address this issue,” Ms Clay said.

“Big Splash is an iconic Canberra landmark that this Government has allowed to fall into ruin.”

Ms Clay said she had repeatedly asked the Government to consider lease enforcement, fines or termination, but said the response had been slow and passive.

“The Government must now step in to save Big Splash, and

those conversations need to start today. Government ownership of the site is the safest pathway to ensure the community gets a pool on the site.”

She said many residents wanted the site redeveloped as a modern community facility, such as a 50-metre pool and waterpark, a hydrotherapy centre, or an indoor sports and recreation centre.

“There’s a huge amount of passion amongst the community, but the current situation means the future of the site is precarious,” Ms Clay said.

ACT Sport and Recreation Minister Yvette Berry said the Government is aware that a Notice of Possession has been placed on the perimeter fencing of Big Splash Macquarie and has contacted the solicitors listed in the notice.

Ms Berry confirmed there are two Controlled Activity Orders currently in place on the site, with a deadline of 23 January for the leaseholder to resume operations in line with the Crown lease purpose clause.

“If they fail to comply by that date, further enforcement action, including an intention to terminate the Crown lease, may be issued,” Ms Berry posted on Facebook.

She said there has been no formal transfer of the title and confirmed the Government has no plans to rezone the site.

“The Government wants to see an outcome that delivers community benefit,” Ms Berry said, adding that the proponent retains the right to respond and comply with the proposed regulatory action before the deadline.

Ms Berry said further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.

Canberra Aquatic Centre. Indicative image of planned facility.

New lyric theatre. Artist impression.

Light Rail Stage 2A. Artist impression.

UNSW Canberra City. Artist impression.

Where is the outrage for Iran’s women and LGBTQI community?

with BILL STEFANIAK AM RFD FORMER ACT OPPOSITION LEADER

Iran (or Persia, as many people still know it) has a proud history dating back 5,000 years.

In recent times, since 1979, it has been ruled by a medieval, vicious, repressive, extremist-based clerical Islamist regime. The Ayatollahs of Iran preside over a Big Brother–style system that oppresses women, gay people, and anything associated with

suffering people of Iran rose up over the past few weeks, I was hoping they might finally be able to overthrow their oppressors.

One thing I’m sure of is that if the Iranian regime were to fall and be replaced with one acceptable to the people, funding for Hamas and Hezbollah would dry up. Without that support, there would be a real chance of a two-state solution to the IsraeliPalestinian dispute, as well as progress towards resolving other ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

The regime funds terrorism around the world but cannot even provide the basic necessities the Iranian people need. However, if you are brutal enough, willing to shoot your own people, and no one on the outside intervenes, you can get away with almost anything. If Iranians

were given meaningful support to overthrow their oppressors, the world would be a better place, with positive consequences across the Middle East.

Even our own weak government wants to see regime change there. The US and Israel need to coordinate on this and do whatever is necessary to facilitate the end of this odious regime.

In the meantime, where are all the demonstrators who come out in their droves week in, week out to support Hamas and chant anti-Israeli and antisemitic slogans? Where are the feminists, writers, university lecturers, students and LGBTQI supporters? Why do they seem only capable of demonstrating against the only true democracy in the Middle East?

I think the federal opposition, along with other like-minded parties and groups that support freedom, should

organise mass demonstrations in all capital cities calling for freedom for ordinary Iranians and an end to the repressive Iranian regime. They should, hopefully, challenge the usual crowd of pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian demonstrators to come out and support the Iranian people.

While we are at it, it may also be sensible to include calls to support the one million Muslim Uyghurs held in CCP concentration camps, as well as the long-suffering South Sudanese who are being butchered by extremists. Or is it, dare I say, that some are only willing to demonstrate against Jews?

If we are ever to achieve real harmony in this country, this blatant hypocrisy by the Green left in Australian politics needs to be called out, and those who promote division and antisemitism should be named and shamed.

Here is a good cause for you to champion at a local level, Nick Tyrrell, for your Senate campaign.

We’re pressing pause for a little while. Flute will be closed over the holidays, bu we’ll be back baking, pouring and serving from 28 January 2026.

Indian Film Festival

30 Jan ‘26

6.30 PM to 9.30 PM

Home (Malayalam)

Aata Thambachay Naay (Marathi)

Jai Bhim (Tamil)

31 Jan ‘26

12.00 PM to 03.00 PM

Aadu Jeevitham (Malayalam)

Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi (Marathi)

Kadaisi Vivasayi (Tamil)

For Registration, please scan the QR code:

01 Feb ‘26

12.00 PM to 03.00 PM

2018 (Malayalam) Dashavatar (Marathi) Sholay (Hindi)

“Motorsport’s ultimate garden party” returns to Canberra, bigger than ever

by VINCENT SAMARAS

Now in its third year, the event is building on the success of its 2025 edition, which saw more than 16,000 people through the gates and over $100 million worth of cars on display and on track.

With a very different feel to Canberra’s other summer car event, the Festival of Speed combines world-class vehicles with a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.

“Under the banner of motorsport’s ultimate garden party, it’s a unique motoring event that celebrates exotic machinery, new and old,” says Malcolm Flynn, Media Manager for the Canberra Festival of Speed. “It’s four wheels and, for this year, two wheels as well, and it’s grown significantly with each edition.”

That growth is reflected in a 2026 line-up packed with internationally significant and crowd-pleasing machinery. Among the headline inclusions is the 1997 Bathurst 1000-winning Castrol Commodore V8 Supercar driven by Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall, which will make its ACT debut. Joining it are historic Australian touring cars, including the Aussie Mail Brad Jones AU Falcon and the Coca-Cola Commodore raced by Wayne Gardner.

Adding further star power is a Formula One car raced by Australian world champion Alan Jones, with the 1985 Lola-Hart THL1.

A key part of the festival’s appeal is its exhibition circuit, where vehicles are driven in a controlled, non-competitive environment, allowing spectators to get up closer to the action.

“It’s not about racing or timed events,” Flynn explains. “Because of that, we’re able to get spectators closer to the action than almost anywhere else. You can really appreciate the cars doing their thing in a controlled environment.”

Beyond the cars, the festival leans into its garden-party atmosphere with a European-style food village.

“It’s very much a picnic environment under the trees,” Malcolm says. “We’ve got a variety of food trucks providing food from around the world, plus beverages, and it really encourages people to slow down, relax and make a day of it.”

For more information or to buy tickets, visit canberrafestivalofspeed.com

The Canberra Festival of Speed returns on 31 January and 1 February, bringing world-class vehicles to Thoroughbred Park.

JANUARY

WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY TO SUNDAY 25 JANUARY

SHOWS AT 11AM + 1PM DAILY.

MEET AND GREETS IN BETWEEN SHOWS. OUTSIDE LITTLE AMIGOS IN THE HOMEMAKER HUB

Drinkers with a running problem

by GEORGIA CURRY

Rule number one of Hash House Harriers (HHH): there are no rules. If you’ve never heard of them, it’s probably because this irreverent running group (drinkers with a running problem), which started in Canberra in 1969, is slowly dying out.

HHH is the antithesis of Park Run – a new course each week, short-cuts are encouraged, Hash names replace real names, and cheeky jokes run freely (as do post-run beers).

Eighty-year-old “Greasy” (real name Terry Giesecke) has belonged to Canberra HHH since 1969, and he reckons he still doesn’t know the real names of some Hash runners.

He likened HHH to Monty Python.

“Something about it got me in, the mob was irreverent, loud and after the run told jokes, sang bawdy songs and of course got stuck into the beer,” he said. “Running hash in the early ‘70s was like being on the set of a Monty Python movie, it was all a bit weird... the mob had a certain exuberance.”

Back in the day, Canberra Hashers were in their 20s and ran in large packs on long, tough bush trails. Today, most are over 60 and sadly, some of the original Hashers have passed away. Runs have become suburban walks.

A lack of new recruits has seen Canberra’s six Hash groups (Full Moon, Harrietts, Belconnen, WACT,

Capital and Canberra) dwindle to three (of which only two actually run/walk).

Globally, HHH is still strong, originating in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia in 1938 by British immigrants to mimic the traditional “hare and hounds” game involving paper trails and post-run drinks.

When I caught up with Canberra HHH (the third oldest Hash in Australia) on a warm summer evening, it was just a brisk walk through Urambi Hills Nature Reserve, but the mischief and good-natured ribbing of those trailing behind still ensued. So did the post-run beers.

Sixty-five-year-old “Haemorrhoid” (real name Roy Frylink) said Canberra Hash antics had mellowed since the early raucous days. He’s now retired on the NSW South Coast, where he also runs with the Master Bateman’s Hash.

“The problem with Hash, no new people are coming in,” he said. “It doesn’t attract younger people. Hash Australia-wide is gradually dying; we’re all getting long in the tooth.”

Their first Hash run was held at Scrivener Dam and over the past 57 years, Canberra Hash has clocked up 2,779 runs.

Canberra Hash House Harriers run on Mondays at 6pm. Find them on Facebook.

The last of the historic Canberra Hash House Harriers.

Photo: Georgia Curry.

Water’s

Chef Avtar

From Serbia with love: Bruce couple prepare to celebrate 70 years of marriage

by BERNIE RYAN

At the age of 16, Ruza Paunovic, now 86, was walking with her sister in the small mining village of Resavica in Serbia when a young man approached and began speaking to her.

“He just asked me a couple of questions”, she says.

Ruza recalls that her sister hurried her away, saying, “Come on, we’ll go home so I can tell our father that you were talking with this boy.”

While Ruza’s sister was later telling their father, 16-year-old Mick Paunovic was proclaiming to his own father and sister, “I met one girl today, and I’d like to marry her.”

Shortly afterwards, Mick’s father “came to my father and asked him”, Ruza says.

Their fathers both apparently agreed, “What are we going to do with these kids? They love each other!” said Mick.

The Paunovics’ chance meeting took place on

a Monday, and with the blessing of their families, they were married the following Thursday.

After their marriage, the couple moved in with Mick’s family, where they stayed for approximately seven years. “It was hard”, says Ruza. “There were 11 of us all living together”.

When the couple were 17 years old, their only son, Slobodan, known as “Bob”, was born.

Mick was a welder and worked hard to build their own home close to his family, where they lived until selling it to migrate to Australia when they were 32.

“Other people were going to places in Europe,” says Ruza. “But my husband had family living in Australia, so we got visas for here instead.”

“Our lives are so much better because we came to Canberra. We love it here,” Ruza adds.

The couple started work as dishwashers at the Rydges Lakeside Hotel the day after arriving in Canberra.

Slobodan moved to Australia ten years after his parents, with his then two small sons.

Ruza stayed in the job she loved, eventually working as a cook and doing “all kinds of things”, until she retired 33 years later.

Mick worked washing dishes for over a year,

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Mick and Ruza Paunovic are set to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on Monday 2 February.

Photo Bernie Ryan

until he was able to return to his career as a welder until his retirement.

After living in Kaleen for some time, the Paunovics moved in 1993 into the large family home they built in Bruce, a neighbourhood they also credit as being supportive of their marriage.

“All our neighbours like each other, and we help each other,” says Ruza.

Standing in their large, immaculate three-level home, with a vegetable garden that would put most of us to shame, evidence of the extent of the Paunovic’s work ethic is everywhere.

Maintaining a home like this would be no

small feat for most younger couples. Yet these two 86-year-olds are doing it, and it’s likely their relationship has benefited from their same daily commitment.

The family, which started with two 16-yearolds in Serbia, now includes seven greatgrandchildren.

“Our marriage was first sight, love at first sight,” says Ruza.

Yet, unlike those who appear on the Married at First Sight reality show, it is clear that the Paunovics’ marriage has more than stood the test of time.

The couple will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on 2 February this year and are looking forward to formal congratulations from both the Governor-General and King Charles III, which are apparently on the way. What advice can they give in an age where relationship longevity appears increasingly at risk?

“We kept ourselves very busy, working hard,” says Ruza. “And we are always working together as a team. Always talking with each other today, about what we need to do for tomorrow.”

Mick says, “We made a decision to look after

each other, day by day, then month by month.”

“It’s always been ‘us’ when we are thinking about what we are going to do,” he adds.

Ruza says that her feelings for her husband are still the same.

“Still, I am the same. Nothing has changed in my head about him.”

And what about conflict?

“I just decide to forget about it”, she says. “No use hanging on to things.”

Mick adds, “We have to listen to each other. These days, no one wants to listen, everyone wants to talk.”

Mick believes there is something to learn from everyone, if we just listen.

A good sense of humour and supporting each other’s achievements also seem to remain a feature of Mr and Mrs Paunovic’s marriage.

Ruza and Mick are living examples of what can happen when we are prepared to endure hardship, work hard toward common goals, listen to and forgive each other, gather a community around us and see our relationship as a team sport.

We wish them a well-deserved and happy 70th anniversary!

Mick and Ruza aged 22.

Why kindness matters more than ever: For our health and humanity

by BERNIE RYAN

As we head into 2026, it’s tempting to get lost in all that is wrong with the world and our lives.

Especially as ‘The News’ continues to highlight it, with the worst of humanity apparently intent on being at the forefront of our consciousness daily.

Statistics tell us too, that we are becoming sicker, poorer, more stressed, more isolated and more disillusioned than ever.

Even ordinary days can feel like herculean acts of survival, where just getting ourselves and immediate family through them feels like an achievement.

What if we already have a tool, constantly at our disposal, and which can make not only ours, but others’ lives, better?

It is called kindness.

And yes, there is science to back up this otherwise possibly warm and fuzzy claim.

According to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation performing random acts of kindness can increase energy, lifespan, pleasure, serotonin and oxytocin. It therefore can decrease pain, anxiety, stress, depression and blood pressure.

One study shows that perpetually kind people have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the average population.

Another, that the positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to “pay it forward.”

Canberra Weekly believes that

we need to be far more exposed to what is good in our community and have therefore long been committed to celebrating and showcasing what our community does well.

We actively search for it.

And over the last couple of months, we’ve noticed people using social media to share their experiences of kindness at the hands of strangers.

Sometimes kindness appears at exactly the moment it is needed most. One Canberra parent shared such a moment on social media.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart

This afternoon, my son, who has autism and is non-verbal, went missing at a shopping centre in Mawson while he was out with his support worker…

The police were contacted immediately. Thankfully, they also received a call from a very kind lady who found a young man matching my son’s description alone in the car park. Because of the extreme heat, she kindly invited him to sit in her car with the air conditioning on and called the police to make sure he was safe…

I cannot express how grateful I am to this wonderful lady for her kindness, quick thinking, and compassion. You truly helped keep my son safe today, and as a parent, I will never forget what you did,” – Yuli

If you have a story of kindness in Canberra, or know someone quietly making a positive difference, please send an email to bernie@newstimemedia.com.au

Four-year-old boy dies following vehicle collision at Mawson shops

A four-year-old boy died after being hit by a car at the Mawson shops on Sunday 18 January.

At about 10:20am, police and emergency services responded to reports that a car had crashed into a shopfront at Southlands Shopping Centre in Mawson. The four-year-old pedestrian was walking on the

footpath outside BWS with his parents when a blue hatchback suddenly drove towards the shop window and struck the boy.

“ACT Fire and Rescue and ACT Ambulance Service arrived at the scene and immediately treated the young person,” ACT Policing Inspector Nigel Booth said.

“That young person was transported to Canberra Hospital, where medical treatment was commenced.

“Unfortunately, that young four-year-old boy has passed away.”

The driver of the vehicle, an elderly woman in her 80s, was in shock after the incident and was also transported to hospital for observation.

It is the ACT’s second road fatality of 2026.

ACT Road Policing’s Major Collision Team is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

The boy’s family is Bhutanese, and members of Canberra’s Bhutanese community have expressed deep sorrow following the tragedy.

In a statement shared on social media, the Australia-Bhutan Association of Canberra said the loss had devastated the local community.

“Our hearts are shattered by the tragic news from yesterday in Canberra, where a beautiful four-year-old boy lost his precious life in a sudden and devastating car crash,” the association said on Facebook.

“In one unimaginable moment, two young parents lost the light of their lives, their laughter, their future, their everything.”

The association said the family, who are currently on a temporary resident visa, are grieving far from their extended family and facing the trauma of loss alongside unexpected practical challenges.

“As Bhutanese in Canberra, this is a moment for us to come together as one family,” the statement said. “No words can heal their pain, but our small acts of kindness and collective support can help ease their burden and let them know they are not alone.”

A fundraiser has been set up for the family of the young boy.

A four-year-old boy has tragically died after a vehicle crashed into a shopfront at the Mawson shops.

‘The Time for Thinkers Has Come’

by DEBORAH PACKER

Today, more than any other time, we have access to what feels like an infinite stream of information. YouTube videos are available to give us instructions on everything from tying our shoelaces to building a house. Opinions are proffered like facts. Influencers share their ‘wisdom’ on every aspect of life. Digital platforms with ideological agendas have the power to shape individual and public opinion. AI-generated content looks real, but isn’t, and misinformation can spread more easily than truth. Is there a reliable way to find truth, to discern which ideas have integrity and value and which don’t deserve our attention?

The statement: ‘The time for thinkers has come’ is from the opening page of the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. It was written 150 years ago by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. Even back then, Eddy recognised the need for us to show wisdom, to be discerning, to sift fact from fiction and opinion.

Christian Science provides an invaluable guide

in this respect. It teaches that the term God means the rules that make life work harmoniously. It teaches that God is Love. If ideas and actions come from a place of kindness, respect, unselfishness and forgiveness, then they are based in Love and deserve our attention and support because these are the qualities that make life worthwhile.

Christian Science also teaches that God is Principle. If ideas and actions promote lawfulness, justice, fairness, discipline, steadfastness, trustworthiness, diligence, efficiency, stability in ourselves and society, then these are ideas with integrity.

When we recognise God as infinite Mind, then ideas and actions that represent the qualities of divine Mind have value. Intelligence, wisdom, understanding, perception, alertness, insight, innovation, curiosity and inventiveness are the qualities that add value to ourselves and our communities.

God is also known as Spirit. Are new ideas directing us towards consumerism and materiality or are they lifting thought towards more enlightened

Man charged over Belconnen pipe bombs

by GRACE CRIVELLARO, AAP

A man accused of stealing items to make explosive pipe bombs that were found in Canberra will remain behind bars after police raided his home.

Damien Paul O’Brien was arrested and charged with four offences on Sunday after police discovered almost a dozen small, silver pipe bombs on a onekilometre stretch of footpath in suburban Belconnen last week.

The 41-year-old entered ACT Magistrates Court on crutches for the first mention of his matter on Monday, with no application for bail made.

Eleven detonated pipe bombs were found around Lake

Ginninderra between Joynton Smith Drive and Ginninderra Drive in Belconnen last week.

Police will allege O’Brien stole $127 worth of galvanised pipes and bought 22 cap ends from Bunnings in Belconnen to create the explosives.

His Belconnen home was raided on Saturday 17 January where police allegedly found several items, which they say are consistent with the assembly of pipe bombs.

O’Brien was arrested in Gungahlin about 10:30pm on Sunday.

He has not yet entered pleas to manufacturing a prohibited dangerous substance, possession of a prohibited weapon, failing to

thinking? Do they give a sense of peace and joy?

Knowing God in these ways not only makes God relevant to everyday life but also gives us the ability to be critical thinkers, to sift through the daily avalanche of information, to recognise which ideas have integrity and deserve our attention, and which do not. This is how we become the thinkers that the world has need of.

More information at christiansciencecanberra.com.

appear while on bail, and theft.

Further charges are expected to be laid as investigations continue, according to police.

“Police do not believe the incident to be terrorism-related,” a police statement read.

Magistrate Ian Bloomfield adjourned the matter to 10 February.

O’Brien remains behind bars on remand.

Damien Paul O’Brien has faced court after being charged over detonated pipe bombs found in Canberra. Photo: ACT Policing

have you heard?

community noticeboard email news@newstimemedia.com.au with ‘HYH’ in the subject field

Bold Bandannas Charity Stall

On Saturday 31 January at Bunnings in Majura from 9:30am to 4:30pm, the Bold Bandannas Relay for Life team will be selling a range of handmade and homemade items, including preserves (regular and sugar-reduced), lemon butter, crocheted hand towels, padded coat hangers, and handmade knee rugs and blankets. They are also the sole sellers of the children’s book Who Stole the Egg?, a unique gift idea. All proceeds support cancer research, prevention and support. Enquiries: Jan 0451 679 220.

Friends ANBG Thursday Talks

Distinguished Professor David Lindenmayer will present Re-imagining fire in the land of fire on Thursday 5 February, 6pm, at the Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre (Theatre 2), Tangney Road, Australian National University. Australia is the most fire-prone continent on Earth, and this talk explores new insights into wildfire ecology, fire management and biodiversity, offering a clearer understanding of fire in Australian landscapes.

VIEW Club

The next meeting of the Weston Creek VIEW Club will be held at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Corinna St Woden, on Tuesday 3 February. The meeting will commence at 11.30am, cost is $40 including a 2-course meal. Pls RSVP to Barbara on 0408 864 616 by 5pm on Wednesday 28 January. Our speaker will be Janine Robertson who will talk on RSI and OOS, symptoms and management.

Conder Craft Group

Our Group meets on the first Thursday of each month from 1-3pm at the YWCA Mura Lanyon Community Centre, Sydney Nolan Street, Conder. New members to our group are always welcome. Ladies come along with your sewing, knitting or those projects you have always wanted to complete. Cost is $3. For further information please phone: 0406 380 508

South Canberra Community Markets

The next South Canberra Community Markets will be held on Saturday 7 February 2026, 10am–2pm, at 244 Kambah Pool Road. Enjoy live music, unique locally made products, delicious food and a relaxed rural farm setting. Funds raised support vulnerable youth programs at Galilee School. More info: commsatwork.org/galilee-school/south-markets

Coffee & Op Shop at Christ Church Hawker

Christ Church Hawker will host its first Coffee & Op Shop for 2026 on Saturday 7 February, 9am–12pm, at the corner of Beetaloo Street and Belconnen Way, Hawker. Browse trash and treasure, books, quality pre-loved clothing, jewellery, crafts, cakes and homemade jams. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for visitors. All welcome. Enquiries: 0428 266 658

HYH submissions

Submissions to our free Have You Heard community noticeboard are reserved for charity, not-for-profit and community organisations. Deadline for submissions is 10 days prior to the Thursday edition date. Email your submission with essential details – who, what, where, when, cost, contact details – to news@ newstimemedia.com.au with ‘HYH’ in the subject heading. Flyers and attachments not accepted. Due to space restrictions, please keep it brief.

Please note: publication in print is not guaranteed.

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PUZZLES & STARS

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)

Your support system is strongest when it represents a mix of different ages, cultures and talents. This week you’ll see who your best friends are; they are the ones who say nice things to you, but they also say true things because the relationship is strong enough to bear the weight of honesty.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20)

For a long time, people believed that growth only counted if it hurt somehow, whether emotionally, physically or mentally. But there are changes that happen without suffering. Progress can come from kindness and consistency. It might take longer. Choose methods that feel supportive.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 21)

BRAIN BUSTERS

1 Who were the three judges in the 2025 season of Australian Idol?

2 Margery Williams wrote a bestselling children’s book titled, The Velveteen ... what?

3 Who served as the Australian Leader of the Opposition from 2009 to 2013?

4 Encebollado is a national dish of which South American country?

5 What is the fifth planet from the Sun in the Solar System?

SOLUTIONS

This week, you’re focused on a particular relationship. You’ve been in it long enough to see patterns. Adjust your expectations to match shown behavior instead of imagined potential. Conserve your energy by working with what’s actually happening and what’s been proven.

CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22)

Today, you’ll return to something resembling your best moment ever. You know the one. It was so peaceful – just a beautiful slice of time when nothing seemed wrong in your world. The mindset will come back and make itself true, and the more often it does, the easier it is to find within yourself.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)

Your sense of timing is elegant. You sense when to speak, when to wait and when to move. People stand aside to make room for you to get and do what you want. You’ll feel most like yourself at the end of the week in a creative scene where play and experimentation are happening.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)

You are detaching from old scripts. Yes, there was a time you felt you had to earn your position through extra care, outsize charm or submitting to the role of “accessory” or “helper”. But that was then. This is now. Today, you release all guilt or longing tied to roles that no longer serve you.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 23)

Check in with folks to ensure things are working from their side of things, especially important in professional environments. When one side is carrying more weight or getting less value, the situation usually changes or falls apart. When an arrangement benefits all, it tends to continue naturally.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24-NOV. 21)

You wish people understood you better. There’s something you’ve been carrying lately that you haven’t had much space to talk about. Imagine feeling supported. What would that actually look like in practice? You will magnetise support to yourself as you focus on it with intent and consistency.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

These things happening outside of your control, counter to your objective – things that seem to be happening to you are maybe happening for your benefit. If it’s hard to see now, it will be made clear further on down the line. Life may not be fair, but it doesn’t have to be fair to be good.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)

Revel in the act of planning. Events will be as big as you make them. Your excitement about upcoming events will truly be at least half the fun. The other perk about planning well is the money you’ll save with smart choices, since last-minute options are usually the most expensive ones.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)

You stand at a vantage point that offers options. This is, in part, about the people around you. Each one is a new experience. You’re ready to delegate or share. Collaboration not only multiplies results, it makes the work lighter, it changes things. Each person represents a unique destiny.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)

Being supported will make a big difference in what you’re able to accomplish. Relationships need maintenance efforts just like a car. This week, you’ll make sure all relationships are in good working order. When the personal life feels smooth, the other areas of life fall neatly into place.

DIFFICULTY RATING

The Classic Steak Sandwich

Perfect for the Australia Day long weekend, this easy steak sandwich and chips combo is made for summer get-togethers.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 x Beef Scotch Fillet

thin cut steaks, 100g each

• 2 tsp olive oil

• ¼ tsp salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• mixed greens

• 1 x can tinned beetroot

• 1 x red onion, thinly sliced into rings

• tomato relish or chutney

• 4 x bread rolls

Method

Preheat a BBQ flat plate or heavy-based pan to high. Drizzle steaks with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

Cook steak for 1 ½ - 2 minutes. Flip and cook a further 1 - 2 minutes.

Slice buns open and toast, cut-side down, on hot pan or BBQ.

Layer greens on one side of the toasted bun. Top with steak, beetroot, onion, relish, and bun lid. Serve.

Simple Chips

Ingredients

• 4 large potatoes (brushed clean)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• ½ tsp salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• Optional: garlic powder or smoked paprika

Method

Preheat oven to 220°C (fan-forced 200°C). Line a tray with baking paper.

Cut potatoes into chunky chips. No need to peel unless you want to.

Place chips in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and any optional seasoning. Toss well.

Spread chips in a single layer on the tray, making sure they’re not piled up.

Bake for 35–40 minutes, turning once halfway, until golden and crisp on the outside and soft inside.

Season with a little extra salt while hot and serve immediately.

Optional tip for extra crunch: For extra crispy chips, parboil the cut potatoes in salted water for 5 minutes, drain well and allow steam to dry before roasting.

Recipe and image from Australian Beef.

Dumped skulls found in Canberra

by GEORGIA CURRY

Hundreds of skulls are secretly being left around Canberra and although these individually numbered craniums may appear sinister, they are simply an anonymous reminder of our mortality.

So far, 311 plaster-cast skulls have been covertly dropped around our city and 430 are yet to come

– surreptitiously left at cafes, restaurants or change rooms. The lone dispatcher behind this underground movement is local artist Adam Blackshaw.

“Memento mori” is his inspiration, Latin for an object kept as a reminder of the inevitability of death.

Don’t be glum though, Adam’s motivation is positive: to encourage Canberrans to make the most out of life while they’re living.

“Memento mori goes back to antiquity,” he said. “Roman emperors would ride their chariots through cheering crowds and they’d actually hire somebody to stand next to them whispering in their ear, hey remember you are mortal.”

Adam has even smuggled skulls into the esteemed National Gallery of Australia and National Portrait Gallery (pretty much all of our national institutions actually).

“It’s funny because most people go into those places to steal work, don’t they? Normally they don’t go in to leave work behind,” Adam said.

Each skull is laboriously handmade by Adam, who creates a plaster cast from a mould, then sands and polishes them. He’s been releasing skulls into

the wild for a couple of years and once they’re gone, he has no idea where they eventually end up.

“I actually put one on the train that leaves Canberra to Sydney as well,” he said.

“They’re all over the place so people hopefully cherish them and think ‘Oh hang on, yeah life is impermanent and I will die one day’, which is not a negative thing. If you’re aware that life is impermanent, if you’re going to die as we all will, it makes you appreciate the present and get the most out of life and living.”

Ironically, Adam was invited to exhibit his City of Skulls project at Belconnen Arts Centre (Subcultures is currently on display until 1 February), however he was reluctant to encase his free-roaming skulls.

“I was a little hesitant because the work really isn’t supposed to be in four white walls,” he said. “It’s supposed to be out on the street, but I put it in.”

The public is welcome to do what they want if they find a hidden skull, and to interpret them how they wish.

For more info: adamblackshaw.com or Instagram @adam_s_blackshaw

Ponant and Journey Beyond Partner with Weston Cruise and Travel

Hundreds of skulls are being surreptitiously left on the streets of Canberra. Photo: Eve White

CANBERRA SINGLES!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE:

CANBERRA WEEKLY READERS GET $10 OFF USE CODE CWVDAY

YOU’RE INVITED TO THE CURATED VALENTINE’S DAY SINGLES SOIRÉE!

SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY / 6:30PM / THE CANBERRA REX HOTEL / ALL AGES WELCOME

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to meet people… but I’m tired of dating apps, awkward first dates and forced conversations,” you’re not alone.

So many Canberrans tell us the same thing. It’s not that there aren’t great people here, it’s just become harder to connect. Swiping feels disposable. Walking into events alone can feel intimidating. And most singles events put pressure on finding “the one,” instead of simply having a great night out.

That’s exactly why Curated exists.

Since launching, hundreds of Canberrans have come through Curated events. Many have formed genuine friendships. Many have found love. But the best part? Seeing people arrive a little nervous and leave laughing, exchanging numbers, making plans and feeling like they actually belong.

This Valentine’s Day, we’re hosting our biggest singles event yet! The Rex Hotel

ballroom will be filled with singles for a night of champagne, dancing, beautiful food, live music and a room full of good humans craving the same thing, real connection

We know rocking up alone to a singles event can feel scary, so we do things differently. Before the event, you’ll be added to pre-event WhatsApp group chats — one for the ladies and one for the men. We also host ladies-only and men-only pre-event meet-ups, so you can connect in a relaxed way and walk into the main event already knowing a few friendly faces. You won’t be doing this alone. And if it feels better to come with someone, nonsingle support people are welcome too.

There’s no pressure to find “the one.” Just come dressed up, enjoy a great night out, meet new people and see what unfolds. You might leave with new friends. You might meet someone special. Either way, you’ll leave feeling glad you came!

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:

Entry to Canberra’s biggest singles event at the Rex Hotel

4 Hour premium drinks package including champagne, beer, wine and soft drinks

Canapés, grazing table and food platters

Live band, entertainment and dancing all night

Brazilian Samba performance by Kokoloco Dance Studio

Access to pre-event WhatsApp group chats and pre-event meet-up so you don’t walk into the event feeling alone

Come be part of the growing Curated community. Everyone is welcome here! We don’t just host singles events, we also create community events that help people make friends, while supporting small local businesses and charities.

A heartfelt journey in A Hundred Words for Snow

by NICHOLAS FULLER

The world’s attention is fixed on Greenland this month amid American expansion and international tensions — but in Mockingbird Theatrics’ first production of the year, a London teenager is travelling there on a heartfelt Arctic adventure.

In Tatty Hennessy’s one-woman show, A Hundred Words for Snow (28–31 January), Rory (Zoë Ross) sets out to take her father’s ashes to the North Pole. Her dad, a geography teacher, wanted to be an explorer. Before he died in an accident, he planned a trip to the Arctic with her. Without her mother knowing, she sets out on a covert operation to honour his wishes — and encounters polar bears and first love.

A Hundred Words for Snow won the Heretic Voices Monologue Competition and the VAULT Festival Origins Award for Outstanding New Work. This is the first time the play has been performed in Canberra. Reviewing the Australian première in Melbourne in 2022, the Australian Arts Review called it “a coming-of-age story and road story that

embraces clichés of both while remaining fresh and surprisingly original”.

Director Chris Baldock says the play is “absolutely delightful: funny, heartwarming, moving, thrilling, clever, captivating” — and at 70 minutes, it won’t overstay its welcome.

Zoë Ross, the sole performer, is “a little star”, Baldock believes.

“She has an essence about her — the audience will fall in love with her,” Baldock says.

Over the course of the show, Ross takes on other personas: her mother, her dead father, museum visitors, explorers, Greenlanders, and a certain boy.

“For years, I’ve said to people: ‘Go overseas, you will come back a different person, you will grow, you will learn,’” Baldock says. “[Rory] does that times 10, going to the most remote, ridiculous place she could possibly think of going.

“She’s a bit of a brat when she first starts her journey; by the end of it, she’s come of age. Things happen on the way; she learns and grows from them — particularly her relationship with her

mother.”

A Hundred Words for Snow is a Mockingbird Too project, the award-winning theatre company’s umbrella for riskier plays.

“There are great plays out there that deserve to be seen,” Baldock says. “We want to tell great stories, and people love stories.”

Following a triumphant season in which they were nominated for 29 Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Awards — more than any other company — the rest of Mockingbird’s 2026 season promises variety and diversity.

So if Canberra’s summer weather (high 30s) is too hot, why not take a trip to the North Poles — both of them — and hobnob with the polar bears?

“You’re seeing a rising star; you’re seeing great talent; you’re going to be entertained and educated by this,” Baldock says. “This is a play that people will delight in.”

A Hundred Words for Snow, by Tatty Hennessy, 28–31 January, The Studio, Belconnen Arts Centre. Tickets; $40 / $33 under 33. More information: belcoarts.com.au/a-hundred-words-for-snow

Booktalk

This week, Jeff Popple reviews three interesting and enjoyable books for Australia Day. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com

Murder in the Cathedral by Kerry Greenwood

Allen & Unwin, $32.99

Kerry Greenwood is an icon of the Australian literary scene. For over thirty-five years, she entertained readers with her novels and popular nonfiction works. Best known for her charming Phryne Fisher books, and television series, Kerry captivated audiences around the world. Shortly before her death last year, Kerry completed the manuscript for the 23rd novel in the Phryne series, Murder in the Cathedral. Set in Bendigo in the early 1920s, it finds Phryne and her friends caught up in murder most foul while attending the consecration of the new Bishop. Good fun and a sad reminder of the writing talent we have lost.

The Coast by Chris Hammer

Melbourne University Press, $36.99

Before he gained fame as a crime fiction writer, Canberran Chris Hammer was better known for his journalistic endeavours. In 2011, he embarked on a road trip along Australia’s eastern shores to explore the coastal region and its changing environment. The result of the trip was The Coast, which has now been updated and re-released. The Coast is a fascinating account of Chris’ journey from the Torres Strait islands to Tasmania. Along the way, he explores the familiar and lesser-known coastal spots and encounters quirky individuals and those trying to save what we have. Lucid, insightful and encouraging, The Coast is a great Australia Day read.

The Ironbark Promise by Léonie Kelsall

Allen & Unwin, $34.99

For those after a touch of rural romance this Australia Day, Léonie Kelsall’s The Ironbark Promise is a pleasant and engaging tale. Successful city lawyer Jemma Di Angelis escapes to the quiet backwater of Settlers Bridge following some disturbing threats to her life. She is only planning on staying in the small town for a short while, but events, and a rugged farmer neighbour, cause her to reflect on what she really wants. Featuring a crisp storyline, strong female lead, and loving descriptions of the Australian countryside and its rural communities, Léonie’s many fans will greatly enjoy her latest romantic escapade..

Now sh wing

Hamnet (M)

After online text states that in Stratford, England, “Hamnet” and “Hamlet” were considered the same name, we are in 16th-century England, where tutor William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) becomes besotted with the free-spirited Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley) as she summons her pet hawk. After foreseeing her future death with her two children present, the pair marry and soon have three children, including young Hamnet.

Based on the 2020 novel, the movie details the meeting of the unorthodox creative Shakespeare as he meets the unorthodox Hathaway, who is spiritually tied to the forest that surrounds their village. Raised to interact with nature and to utilise its flora for medicine, Agnes has gained a spooky reputation amongst the villagers.

Whereas the trailer highlights William and Agnes’ romance and the production of the play Hamlet, the movie instead dramatises the duo’s grief over the loss of their 11-yearold son Hamnet. Jessie Buckley’s performance of a woman raising her family in isolation and struggling with the loss of a child is strong, however the movie is unrelenting and unforgiving in its elongated telling. The set design, costume and cinematography are equally striking, but the musical score is akin to a thriller, keeping the grim tone consistent throughout.

Verdict: A miserable, blunt, one note, contrived journey of grief. Dean Spanley (2008) did it better. Viewed at Palace cinemas.

The Housemaid (MA15+)

In a sprawling property in Great Neck, Long Island, Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) is interviewed by the wealthy and neurotic Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) for a position as a live-in maid for her family. After her interview, Millie returns to her life of homelessness and is surprised to receive a phone call from Nina that she has got the job. Soon, Millie is working at the home where Nina’s husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), is surprised to find his wife has hired a maid at all.

Adapted from the 2022 novel by Freida McFadden, the movie is a throwback to the domestic erotic thrillers of the 80s and 90s like Fatal Attraction and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, with the usual zany flourish from director Paul Feig (A Simple Favour, 2018).

The movie immediately sets up the layout of the immaculate home and

family structure. Nina is a housewife and mother to young Cece, taking great pride in the upkeep of the house. Andrew is the handsome breadwinner who is the apple of his domineering mother’s eye and the source of admiration from the local neighbourhood’s housewives. Soon cracks start appearing in the perfect façade, and Millie soon senses there is more to this situation than first appears.

While the set-up is mysterious and the inconsistencies intriguing, a scene of blunt exposition is counter to the previously delicately laid reveals. The movie also dovetails into a macabre, absurdist thriller, coming close to jumping genres.

Verdict: A celebration of the domestic thrillers of yesteryear. Screening at Dendy Cinemas.

- Luke McWilliams themovieclub.net

health & wellbeing

Australia Day: Belonging, reflection, and mental health

with DR VIVIENNE LEWIS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA CO N T R IBU

Australia Day means different things to different people, and that is a powerful mental-health lesson. For some, 26 January is about backyard barbecues, being in the heat, watching the cricket and kids running around together. It’s a day to pause, feel connected and

enjoy the simple pleasure of belonging. From a psychological perspective, these moments matter. Feeling part of a community is one of the strongest protective factors we have against anxiety, depression and loneliness.

But for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, this date represents invasion, loss and intergenerational trauma. For them, it is not a celebration but a day of mourning. Increasingly, many nonIndigenous Australians are choosing not to celebrate on this date out of respect or are feeling conflicted about what to do. That tension is something my clients, colleagues, students and friends talk about.

People often ask, “If I don’t celebrate, am I being unpatriotic?” or “If I do, am I being insensitive?” The truth is that holding two truths at once is ok and it’s psychologically healthy. We can love this country and feel grateful for its safety, beauty and opportunities while also acknowledging the harm caused by colonisation and the trauma that still echoes through generations. In therapy, we call this complexity tolerance, the ability to sit with discomfort rather than forcing ourselves into simple, black-and-white answers. It is a sign of emotional maturity.

This matters for mental health. When people and their histories are ignored or minimised, it causes harm. Intergenerational trauma doesn’t vanish because we avoid the conversation. It shows up in families, communities and our bodies. Being willing to listen, reflect and acknowledge the truth is part of how healing begins.

At the same time, mental health is not supported by shame or selfpunishment. It is ok to enjoy time with

family, take a day off, go for a swim or share a meal. What matters more than what you do on the day is how you do it, with awareness, respect and kindness.

Perhaps Australia Day becomes less about fireworks and more about reflection. Perhaps it becomes a chance to feel grateful for what we have, curious about what we were not taught, and compassionate toward those whose experience of this country has been very different from our own.

In clinical psychology, we talk a lot about values. You might value family, community, fairness, truth or reconciliation. Your choices on this day can reflect those values in quiet ways, through learning, listening, donating, attending a local event, or having an honest conversation with your children about why this day is complicated.

We don’t all have to do the same thing to belong. In fact, real belonging grows when we make room for difference. And maybe that is what a mentally healthy Australia really looks like?

Your surroundings, from access to healthcare to the quality of housing, can have a big impact on your health - and the ACT ranks in the top 10 healthiest cities in Australia.

New research from iSelect examined 21 factors across housing conditions, climate and environment, population health, and access to healthcare to determine the healthiest and unhealthiest regions to live in Australia.

Here is a list of the top ten healthiest places to live in Australia. The number is the unhealthy score out of 100, lower score = healthier:

1. Perth Inner (WA) – 9.92

2. Perth South West (WA) – 17.94

3. Brisbane Inner City (QLD) – 24.31

4. Perth North West (WA) – 24.73

5. Brisbane South (QLD) – 26.66

6. Sydney Eastern Suburbs (NSW) – 27.58

7. Melbourne Inner (VIC) – 28.23

8. Melbourne Inner South (VIC) – 29.08

9. Adelaide Central and Hills (SA) – 29.26

10. Australian Capital Territory – 30.13

Housing conditions contribute positively, with only 10.4% of homes reporting structural problems, 5.0% having major cracks, and fewer than 3% experiencing issues such as sinking foundations or overcrowding.

Climate and environmental pressures are moderate, with 40.11 high-humidity days per year, 5.24 high-rainfall days, and occasional extremes in temperature.

Population health outcomes are strong, supported

by a life expectancy of 83.6 years, a lower-thanaverage premature death rate of 167.7 per 100,000, and 39.0% of residents living with a long-term health condition.

Access to healthcare is reliable, with 5 medical practitioners, 15.2 nurses and midwives, 2.6 public hospital beds per 1,000 population, and 4.9 hospitals per 100,000 residents.

These factors, along with higher incomes, well-planned urban development, and abundant green spaces, help make the ACT one of Australia’s healthiest and most liveable regions.

Across the assessed categories, the ACT recorded scores of 22.04 for housing conditions, 41.06 for climate and environmental conditions, 21.37 for population and health outcomes, and 39.28 for access to healthcare. These results combined to give the ACT an overall index score of 30.13 out of 100, with lower scores indicating better outcomes.

You can view the full research at iselect.com.au/ health-insurance/insights/unhealthiest-places-to-live

A new study ranks Canberra in the Top ten healthiest Australian cities.

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Michelle Richards, a highly experienced Audiometrist with over 20 years of clinical expertise in adult hearing rehabilitation, is passionate about supporting people of all ages to live better through better hearing.

Michelle stays at the forefront of audiological innovation, o ering the latest hearing aid technology including discreet, rechargeable, and AI-powered options.

Whether you need a comprehensive hearing assessment, tinnitus support, hearing protection, or hearing aids, Michelle delivers expert care with a warm, community-focused approach.

Conveniently located in Dickson, Michelle Richards Hearing welcomes private, pension, DVA and Hearing Services Program (HSP) clients. Home visits are also available for those who are unable to travel.

Hearing checks urged before children return to school

by KEIRA JENKINS, AAP

The lunches may be packed, the uniforms set out, books covered and labelled, but parents may be missing one essential on their child’s return to school checklist.

As children head back for 2026, parents and carers are being encouraged to make sure their

child’s hearing has been checked.

This is especially important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, who are at higher risk of starting their education at a disadvantage without regular hearing checks.

One in five First Nations children under six years old has experienced undiagnosed hearing loss at some point in their life, data from Hearing Australia shows.

Eight per cent suffered persistent and chronic ear troubles.

“That’s a lot of our First Nations kids and bubs,” Hearing Australia’s First Nations partnership specialist Kirralee Cross said.

“If they’re starting school and they have this hearing loss, then it’s going to impact their ability to listen, to learn, to build connections and build really important skills when they start school.”

Ms Cross, a Yorta Yorta woman, said getting children’s ears checked early in life, and regularly is critical to make sure any hearing problems are picked

up.

She said Hearing Australia recommends checks every six months until a child is four, but they can be performed more often if parents or carers have concerns.

“A lot of the time with these middle ear problems, there are no symptoms,” Ms Cross said.

“The parents, kids, and families may not even know that there’s anything wrong with their hearing.

“If it’s not getting checked regularly, when they start school ... they are put at a disadvantage.”

Hearing Australia recently launched an educator’s guide called Spirit of Sound, designed to support the hearing health of Indigenous kids.

Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, released in December, showed the proportion of Indigenous children who had long-term ear or hearing problems had halved since 2001.

These problems had been mainly caused by middle ear infections.

Ms Cross said it is heartening to see the downward trend over the past couple of decades but continued investment in programs like Hearing Australia’s Early Ears, which has assessed more than 70,000 children since 2019, need to remain a priority.

“There’s been a lot of work in this space, there’s been a lot of support but we need to keep up the momentum,” she said.

Parents are being urged to schedule hearing checks for their children before school starts.

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AMA ACT calls for better pay and support for new interns

The ACT branch of the Australian Medical Association is calling for better pay, conditions, and workplace culture for junior doctors, as nearly 100 new medical interns begin work in Canberra’s hospital system.

Canberra Health Services this week welcomed 94 medical interns, most of whom graduated from the ANU medical school last year.

63 per cent of this year’s interns are ANU graduates — compared with 53 per cent in 2024 and 50 per cent in 2025; international medical graduates filled many of the shortfalls in those years. A decade ago, more than three-quarters of CHS interns came from the ANU.

AMA ACT president Dr Kerrie Aust said it was encouraging to see more ANU medical graduates choosing to stay in Canberra for their internships.

“It’s great news for our health system, and for all Canberrans, that a high proportion of our best and brightest medical graduates from the ANU are staying in Canberra as interns,” Dr Aust said.

“It reflects the good work Canberra Health

Services has been doing to improve the experiences of junior doctors.”

However, Dr Aust argued that the new recruits needed strong support and fair working conditions.

“Being a junior doctor is an incredibly difficult job, with long hours and significant responsibility,” Dr Aust said. “We know that doctors thrive when the culture around them is supportive, and when the working conditions are fair.”

She said the AMA ACT welcomed CHS’s growing focus on staff wellbeing and its connection to better patient outcomes, but warned that Canberra still faced challenges in attracting and retaining medical staff.

An AMA ACT survey of 49 graduating medical students conducted last month found that pay and workplace reputation influenced decisions to leave Canberra.

Graduates planning to move elsewhere cited lifestyle/liveability; having family/friends nearby; and workplace culture as their top three reasons.

The fourth and fifth most important factors were workplace reputation (38 per cent) and pay (31 per cent).

47 per cent of graduates stayed in Canberra. The strongest influences were familiarity with the clinical system and environment; having family/friends local; and lifestyle and liveability.

“Exposure to Canberra Health Services throughout medical training is the number one factor influencing those who choose to stay in Canberra for their intern year,” Dr Aust said. “This underlines the importance of strengthening the close connection between CHS and the ANU medical program.”

However, none of the graduates staying in Canberra mentioned workplace reputation as a factor, and only one mentioned pay.

“Canberra is not as competitive as it should be when it comes to rates of pay for public hospital medical practitioners,” Dr Aust said.

The AMA ACT believes that paying junior doctors more and improving Canberra Health Services’ reputation would improve retention of ANU graduates in Canberra.

The organisation is negotiating with the ACT Government on an enterprise agreement to make Canberra an attractive place to work as a doctor.

One-size-fits-all approach failing to treat depression

by MAEVE BANNISTER, AAP

People living with depression are facing a major gap in treatment options as researchers discover why antidepressants might not be helping many address their symptoms.

The University of Sydney Brain

and Mind Centre has undertaken the largest study of its kind of almost 15,000 Australians living with depression, 75 per cent of whom were women.

Researchers identified a distinct “atypical depression” strongly linked to other mental and physical illnesses.

Symptoms of atypical depression included weight gain and excessive sleep during their worst depressive episodes, which are different to characteristics traditionally associated with depression.

Antidepressants are routinely prescribed as a first-line treatment, but the study found people with this illness profile were less likely to respond to the medication and more likely to experience side effects such as further weight gain.

Atypical depression was more

common in women and the findings suggested a major gap in treatment for those experiencing it, lead author Mirim Shin said.

“Depression is not a one-size-fits-all and there are many different types,” she said.

“People with atypical depression had higher genetic risk of many other mental health conditions and physical health conditions, such as diabetes, and did not respond well to antidepressants.”

Alexis Hutcheon struggled with the side effects of common antidepressants for more than a year before she was able to find a treatment that worked for her.

She was experiencing physical symptoms, including metabolic, sleep and inflammatory issues along with her depression, which made it difficult to determine what the problem was.

“Even though I’ve worked in mental health for a long time, I didn’t recognise some of the things I was experiencing as depression,” she said.

“The antidepressants I was

prescribed either worked for a little bit and stopped, or I couldn’t handle the side effects.”

Ms Hutcheon took part in a clinical trial that helped address her atypical depression, but she said more education was needed for clinicians and patients.

“Physical and mental health is all linked and understanding that and having that explained to you is really important,” she said.

“This sort of research starts a conversation about not having a one-size-fits-all approach, and shifting the thinking that one single diagnosis won’t be treated in the same way for everyone.”

The study findings suggested biological processes, such as a dysregulated body clock, might be behind atypical depression, and showed the need for alternative treatments that targeted the circadian rhythm.

Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636

Alexis Hutcheon tried common antidepressants before finding a treatment that worked for her.

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WIN! A bundle of prizes

We’re doing a quick clear-out of our giveaway cupboard and putting a bunch of unclaimed goodies back up for grabs. If you missed out last time, now’s your chance to snag something free before it’s gone. In this bundle, we have a monopoly set with an expansion pack, four romance novels, a cookbook and two Haven candles.

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When white became the headline

Pantone’s 2026 Colour of the Year and what it says about how we’re really feeling.

When Pantone announced its 2026 Colour of the Year, it stirred up conversation across the design world. Not because the colour was confronting or unexpected, but because it was white. Soft, quiet, almost unremarkable white. Officially named Cloud Dancer, it’s a gentle

off-white that feels light, calm and familiar. And that, strangely enough, is exactly why it has sparked so much conversation.

The debate isn’t about whether white counts as a colour. It’s about expectation. Pantone’s annual announcement usually arrives with a sense of theatre. A colour that captures the cultural mood and makes a statement. White, for some, felt like a let-down. Too safe. Too obvious. Too easy.

But the more interesting question is why this choice feels unsettling to some and reassuring to others.

Over the past decade, Pantone’s selections have leaned into emotion. Warm peaches, optimistic yellows, and confident reds. Colours that reflected moments when comfort, creativity or energy felt important. Cloud Dancer, by contrast, is restrained and serene. Less

a declaration, more a pause. And that pause feels telling. Many homeowners I speak to, particularly here in Canberra, aren’t looking to make bold statements right now. They’re tired. Overstimulated. More cautious with their decisions. Homes are no longer about impressing guests or chasing what’s current. They’re about feeling settled, rested and grounded. In that context, white isn’t boring. It’s calming. It gives the eye somewhere to land.

This doesn’t mean people suddenly want blank or soulless interiors. It’s quite the opposite. What’s shifting is where the interest sits. Texture over colour. Timber grain, stone veining, linen, venetian plaster, shadow and natural light. White becomes the quiet backdrop that allows these elements to do the talking.

What Pantone has really done

is hold up a mirror. Cloud Dancer reflects a broader cultural mood that values calm over spectacle, and thoughtfulness over novelty. It suggests a future where design is less about keeping up and more about creating spaces that genuinely support daily life.

As we move into 2026, this colour may not dominate walls or headlines for long. But it does mark a subtle shift in conversation. Away from chasing the next big thing and toward asking a simpler question. How do we want our homes to make us feel, day after day? And perhaps, for now, the answer is quieter than we expected.

Photo: Pantone

Canberra house prices hit two-year high

Canberra’s housing market finished 2025 on a strong note, with house prices climbing to their highest level in two years, according to Domain’s latest Quarterly House Price Report.

The report shows Canberra’s median house price rose 3.6 per cent over the December quarter to $1.14 million, marking the third consecutive quarterly increase and the longest uninterrupted stretch of growth in four years. Annually, house prices lifted 6.1 per cent, the strongest result in three and a half years.

In contrast, Canberra’s unit market continues to struggle, recording a second straight quarterly decline. Unit prices fell 1.3 per cent over the quarter to $611,466, making Canberra the only capital city to record a fall in unit values. Over the year, unit prices are

down 1.4 per cent.

The growing gap between houses and units highlights a clear two-speed market in the ACT, with detached homes now costing 86 per cent more than units, the widest gap seen in three years. Demand for houses has rebounded far more quickly, while unit prices remain under pressure.

Domain’s Chief of Research and Economics, Dr Nicola Powell, said affordability pressures are increasingly shaping buyer behaviour across the country.

“While prices are still pushing higher and new milestones are being reached, affordability pressures are dictating where buyers can compete and which markets are moving fastest,” she said.

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Teenage boy dies at Jerrabomberra Waterhole

A teenage boy has died after su ering critical injuries at the base of a cli at Jerrabomberra Waterhole.

Emergency services were called to Waterfall Drive at Jerrabomberra, near Canberra, at about 2:05pm on Monday 19 January.

NSW Police said a member of the public attempted CPR before paramedics arrived, but the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.

Heroic teenagers save mate’s life after shark attack Trades & Services Guide

O cers from the Monaro Police District have made inquiries into the incident with no further police action to be taken. A report will be prepared for coroner.

Heroic actions by three teenagers have likely saved the life of their mate, after he sustained critical injuries in a shark attack.

The 13-year-old boy remains in hospital with injuries to both his legs after being bitten by the shark at a popular swimming spot in Vaucluse, in Sydney’s east, on Sunday afternoon.

A speedy response followed from emergency services, including police o cers applying two medical tourniquets before administering fi rst aid on board their boat while taking him to nearby paramedics.

Superintendent Joseph McNulty said at least one of the boys’ friends jumped into the water and pulled him out after the attack, while the others called for emergency services.

“The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave,” he said.