12pm to 4pm, Mon to Fri 11am to 3pm, Sat & Sun 62 Constitution Ave, Parkes ACT
Andrew 0408 488 148
Keenan 0402 914 037 eastbournecanberra.com.au
Where Life Comes Together
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From 1 July 2026 -- The Eastbourne is eligible for the new ACT stamp duty concession for owner occupiers buying a new turnkey unit-titled home*
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3/21 Albany St, Fyshwick ACT 2609
Helping Canberrans keep their skin hea hy SkinMedics:
Australians love the outdoors, but our sun-soaked lifestyle comes with a sobering reality. Around two in three Australians will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, making it one of the nation’s most common cancers and one of its most preventable.
Following World Skin Health Day on 8 July, Canberra’s SkinMedics on Cohen Street is reminding Canberrans that looking after their skin isn’t just a summer priority, it’s a year-round commitment that could one day save a life.
Founded by Dr Damien Bezzina, SkinMedics was created to bring together expert skin care services under one roof, o ering everything from comprehensive skin checks and mole mapping to laser treatments, skin procedures and cosmetic skin care.
“SkinMedics on Cohen Street was created to bring together the expertise of myself and now the specialist skills of my colleagues, all in one clinic,” Dr Bezzina says.
“We pride ourselves on providing a leading-class service and assisting patients with all aspects of their skin health.”
At the heart of the clinic’s work is one simple message: early detection matters.
“Skin checks and mappings are essential in Australia. Around two in three Australians will develop a skin cancer by the age of 70,” Dr Bezzina says.
“It’s a huge number and the sooner we find the lesions, the better the outcome.”
The statistics are confronting.
Approximately 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer each year.
“That’s a scary number and many of those deaths could potentially be prevented with earlier detection,” he says.
“Don’t forget that most people are at risk, despite their skin tone.”
While many people assume skin checks are something to think about later in life, Dr Bezzina believes prevention should start much earlier.
“Personally, I say starting to have some form of skin check and advice from the late teens or early twenties is important,” he says.
“This is the time most people start experiencing increasing amounts of sunburn, partly due to more independence.
“If we catch this age group and make some impact, then by the time they get to the higher-risk ages, we may actually start seeing a reduction in sun-related skin changes.”
Knowing what changes to look for can also make a significant di erence.
melanoma skin cancers, which account for around 90 per cent of skin cancers, often present quite di erently.
“Founded by Dr Damien Bezzina, SkinMedics was created to bring together expert skin care services under one roof,”
For melanoma, Dr Bezzina recommends monitoring changes in a mole’s size, shape or colour.
The far more common non-
“They tend to present as a lesion that doesn’t heal or feels or looks like a pimple,” he says.
“If these don’t resolve in four weeks, then they should be checked out.”
Technology is also transforming the way skin conditions are detected and monitored.
SkinMedics uses advanced
imaging technology, including the Optimascan 3D total body photography system, which creates a detailed digital avatar of a patient’s skin and allows doctors to monitor even subtle changes in moles over time.
“We have an Optimascan 3D total body photography rotation scanning machine in the clinic and this catches detailed images and creates a 3D avatar of the person’s body, which allows for tracking changes in moles,” Dr Bezzina says.
Beyond skin cancer, the clinic also helps patients manage a broad range of skin concerns, from peri and post-menopausal skin changes such as dryness, redness and flakiness, to eczema in children, persistent rashes,
SkinMedics o ers comprehensive skin checks, mole mapping and personalised care to help Canberrans stay on top of their skin health.
hair loss and excessive sweating.
The clinic’s services also extend to advanced laser treatments, Korean and Japanese-inspired skin care, and employment skin checks designed to help businesses meet their workplace health and safety obligations.
What truly sets SkinMedics apart, however, is its approach to patient care.
“We di er from other clinics based on our truly warm and friendly approach,” Dr Bezzina says.
“We’re not a sterile and cold clinic. Instead, we focus on warmth and a personal touch.”
That philosophy stems from Dr Bezzina’s own experience. Trained in the United Kingdom and having spent more than a decade refining his skin cancer and procedural skills, he has built a reputation for taking the time to understand each patient’s needs and delivering personalised care with a focus on both medical and aesthetic outcomes.
And while winter may feel like a welcome reprieve from the Australian sun, Dr Bezzina says Canberrans should not let their guard down.
“It’s really simple – don’t take our overcast days as low-risk days for UV radiation,” he says.
“In Canberra, altitude and clear air play a huge part in UV exposure.
“We think that cooler temperatures and cloudy days mean lower-risk days, but it’s not always the case.”
In fact, he says Canberra’s UV levels can sometimes be surprisingly high later in the day.
“Take daily precautions with skin protection, monitor the UV index and remember Canberra UV can be higher in the late afternoon and not midday.”
making simple choices today that can
As World Skin Health Day reminds us, healthy skin is about much more than appearance. It is about prevention, early detection and making simple choices today that can protect our health tomorrow.
For more information or to book an appointment, visit skinmedicsact.
com.au or call (02) 5101 4061.
SkinMedics on Cohen Street brings together comprehensive skin care services under one roof.
The team at SkinMedics is helping Canberrans take a proactive approach to healthy skin.
Money, Money, Money — Just not this year
wi NICOLE LAWDER
FORMER ACT MLA AND DEPUTY OPPOSITION LEADER
This week I’ve had ABBA’s 1976 song “Money, Money, Money” living rent-free in my head. I’ll confess, I’m partial to a bit of ABBA, and let’s be honest, even the staunchest ABBA sceptics know every word the moment it comes on the radio. So, in that spirit, let’s talk money. It really does make the world go around, and to spare you from wading through 78 pages of the (draft) Special Budget Adviser report to the 2026-27 Select Committee on Estimates, I’ve done it for you. This is
a report that gets commissioned each year by the Estimates committee, as expert advice; this year from Pegasus Economics.
I’m no economist, but here’s the headline: the promised return to surplus has moved again. Last year’s Budget told us we’d be back in the black soon. This year’s Budget pushes that milestone out to 2028-29 — a full two years later than what was promised in the 2024-25 Budget. Follow the surplus long enough and it starts to resemble a mirage: always visible on the horizon, never any closer when you arrive. The 202627 Budget forecasts a net operating deficit of $323.4 million, and while an operating cash surplus is finally projected this year — $109 million, climbing to $842.9 million by 202930 — that too arrives two years behind the original schedule.
The report’s other criticisms are
worth your attention. Government revenue is climbing nicely, up nearly $750 million to $9.6 billion this year, but the report notes there’s precious little transparency about exactly which policy decisions are behind the extra $181.6 million raised since last year’s Budget. Expenses, meanwhile, are growing faster than revenue — up 5.7 per cent to $10.2 billion — driven partly by new spending and partly by an interest bill that’s set to double by 2029-30, hitting $1.2 billion. That’s Canberra’s credit card, and the interest alone is now a very serious line item.
Then there’s the long-promised phase-out of stamp duty, replaced gradually by higher general rates.
The report is blunt: at current settings, stamp duty will still make up around 10 per cent of our own-source revenue by 2029-30, and general rates simply aren’t rising fast enough to close that gap. Barring a dramatic policy shift,
the 20-year tax reform timeline the government set itself looks unlikely to be met.
Our balance sheet is also quietly worsening. Net debt keeps climbing, net worth keeps falling, and this pattern holds right through to 2029-30. And on housing — despite Canberra being described as the country’s most a ordable jurisdiction to buy or rent (thanks largely to our higher incomes and softer property values), public housing stock hasn’t kept pace with population growth in over a decade, even as the government works towards its 30,000-new-homes target.
None of this makes for a scandal. But it does make for a pattern: ambitious promises, quietly rescheduled, year after year. Perhaps ABBA had it right after all — it’s a rich man’s world, and in Canberra’s case, an increasingly indebted one too.
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Domestic Animal Services does a great job
with BILL STEFANIAK AM RFD FORMER ACT OPPOSITION LEADER
Firstly, commiserations to our Socceroos on missing out on advancing further in the World Cup, and congratulations to Egypt on their win. We should not be too disappointed, as our team is very young and there are many excellent juniors coming through. Australian soccer (football) has a bright future.
During my 50 years of working life, I have had the pleasure of working with some great and dedicated public servants. The dedicated team of animal
lovers in Domestic Animal Services are some of the finest I’ve had dealings with.
In each case, I was highly impressed with the frank, compassionate and practical advice I received from the
Local greyhound owners trust DAS, and there have been no animal welfare incidents during the eight years since
Arthur Boyd, Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre (tapestry workshop), Lurdes Serra (weaving drawer), The Wolf of Gubbio with St Francis in a bent tree (detail), 1974, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1975, Arthur Boyd’s works reproduced with the permission of Bundanon Trust
Think global, taste local: Your guide to a meaningful World Chocolate Day
by BERNIE RYAN
Canberra chocolate lovers likely don’t need reminding that this week, on 7 July, there was yet another reason to celebrate their favourite indulgence – World Chocolate Day!
Yes, World Chocolate Day was apparently introduced in 2009 to celebrate the anniversary of the
introduction of chocolate to Europe in 1550.
One of those, with an extra reason to celebrate, is Yasmin Coe, owner of the Murrumbateman Chocolate Co, a boutique chocolate studio and gift store in the Canberra district cool-climate wine region of Murrumbateman.
The chocolate shop and studio, which offers chocolate making workshops, is normally open by appointment, during school holidays, some weekends and of course, on World Chocolate Day.
Mrs Coe says that the workshops offer a chance to get, ‘hands on’ and make your own chocolate, and is a unique group or team building activity, enjoyed by many.
“Our most popular experience is our chocolate bar making workshop,” says Mrs Coe. “It involves chocolate tasting, chocolate making, designing and decorating your labels for your chocolate bars, packaging them and taking them home.”
“It’s a lot of fun and includes a hot chocolate as part of the experience.”
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Important to Murrumbateman Chocolate Co is that they produce quality handmade chocolate that everyone can experience, from sustainably sourced and ethically produced cocoa, largely from Ecuador and Peru.
“This is not negotiable for us,” says Mrs Coe.
“It has been even more important in the wake of the global cocoa crisis, where we now have the opportunity to support communities who were most affected by supply chain issues.”
Mrs Coe highlights that Murrumbateman Chocolate Co also pairs their sustainably sourced chocolate with local inclusion to showcase the flavours of the region through chocolate.
“We actually work really closely with lots of the local wineries … and we use nut growers and fruit growers to incorporate their products into our chocolate,” she says.
And for those who are tired of missing out on their favourite chocolate due to dietary issues, there are gluten-free and vegan options too!
“Our chocolate is also 100% natural, with no additives or palm oil,” says Mrs Coe.
The reasons keep stacking up to celebrate chocolate, not only on World Chocolate Day, but arguably, anytime. And the Murrumbateman Chocolate Co is happy to help.
Owner of Murrumbateman Chocolate Co, Yasmin Coe.
Photo Daniel Meyer
Raised with wolves
Ali Staniforth was born into sled dog racing, and ever since she could walk, she’s been running her family’s Alaskan Malamutes in dryland races.
At the tender age of three, Ali entered her first race.
This year, as the Canberra Dog Sled Club celebrates its 30th anniversary and Ali turns 22, Ali reminisces about her unique childhood.
“I spent every weekend in winter growing up out at Kowen Forest and around the dogs,” she said. “There were quite a few of us kids growing up at the same time in the sport and once I could stand up, they have this class called ‘peewees’ for young kids.
“When you’re not super confident on a scooter by yourself, you stand at the very front of the footplate on the scooter, hold on
to the handlebars as high as your arms can reach, and a parent is behind you controlling the brakes and the movement of the handlebars.
“I still remember the excitement of being old enough and tall enough to stand and race a 500m course.”
Ali also remembers when she was five years old and part of the half-time entertainment at an ACT Brumbies game at GIO Stadium.
“There were quite a few husky teams out there but because the dogs are so used to following trails, when we put them on an oval they had absolutely no idea what was going on and there were people and dogs everywhere,” Ali laughed.
“I just remember holding on for dear life and my dad controlling everything. They were very, very confused.”
Do you or your partner snore?
Do you wake up tired?
When Ali progressed to junior sled-dog racing class, she had to get special permission because she was a year-or-so too young.
“Because the people who ran the race knew me and knew my family quite well, they just allowed me to run in the junior class but I was still just in primary school in year three.”
Over her lifetime, Ali’s family has owned eight dogs (some families in the club have had more than 20).
Her parents, Jane and Andrew, joined the Sled Dog Club in 2002 (the year before Ali was born) and got their first Alaskan Malmute from founding members Graeme and Shelly Hall.
When the club first started in 1996, there were only six members but within 18 months it had exploded to more than 80 families.
By the time Ali was in high school and pursuing other interests, she somehow maintained the frosty 7am start at Kowen
Forest each weekend, followed by netball training and then AFL.
“I found it the hardest when my friends started to turn 18 in Year 12 and we had 18th parties and started to go out and have big nights,” she said.
“That was when it started to get quite challenging but because it’d been such a pivotal part of my childhood and we still had friends out there, it was just so fulfilling that my interest never waned.
“The rush is always there and it still is.”
Today, Ali is secretary of the Canberra Sled Dog Club and is studying environmental science at uni – aptly doing honours in alpine environment studies.
The 30th anniversary of the Canberra Sled Dog Club Classic is on 15-16 August and hundreds of mushers travel from as far away as WA and Queensland to attend. Info: canberrasleddogclub.com
Ali Staniforth has grown up with huskies and sled dog racing since she was born.
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‘A profound betrayal’: Independent nurses and teachers claim corporate lockout by ACT Government
by BERNIE RYAN
A troubling standoff is currently brewing within the ACT public sector enterprise bargaining negotiations. What could appear to be a standard industrial dispute over pay scales seems to be evolving into a pivotal litmus test for democracy and choice in Canberra.
At the heart of the friction is an unsettling accusation of a coordinated corporate lockout.
Independent, apolitical worker associations, including the Nurses Professional Association of Australia (NPAA) and the Teachers Professional Association of Australia (TPAA), claim they are being systematically frozen out of their respective bargaining processes.
According to an open letter sent to the ACT Government, these independent groups are being barred from introductory staff inductions, excluded from critical working
taskforces, and forced to negotiate in entirely separate rooms while legacy Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)-affiliated unions bargain behind closed doors.
The breaking point centres on a quiet, structural change in the draft Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs): the refusal of the ACT Government to include the phrase, ‘or other employee representatives.’
President of the NPAA, Kara Thomas, says:
“Every time an ACT Government enterprise agreement mentions the word ‘union’, it should be followed by the words ‘or other employee representative’. That’s it, and that’s all. What is the government and its preferred unions afraid of?”
By omitting these words, the NPAA and TPAA argue that the government effectively narrows the definition of representation to a chosen few, leaving independent associations facing complete legal erasure.
Edward Schuller, National Secretary of the TPAA, views this as a profound betrayal of the very people who keep our schools running.
“This really is one of the most pivotal moments for unionism in Australia,” Mr Schuller says.
“The Labor Government and its departments must recognise the right for workers to freely associate and organise as they see fit.
“If not, they will have betrayed the working class and the very foundation of the union movement in our country.”
“The Labor Party was born out of the union movement — not the other way around.”
In response to the claims made by the TPAA and NPAA, an ACT Government spokesperson says:
“The ACT Government Bargaining Team considered the NPAA and TPAA bargaining claims and their recommendation to add ‘or other employee representatives’ after each reference to unions in the proposed ACTPS Enterprise
Agreements. The ACT Government Bargaining Team has not agreed to this change,” the ACT Government spokesperson says.
“Trade unions are formal parties to our enterprise agreements via a decision of the Fair Work Commission. It is the Fair Work legislative framework that provides trade unions with a legal standing and subsequent regulatory requirements.
“Other employee representatives do not have the same legal meaning and regulatory requirements; however, ACT enterprise agreements recognise their right to represent employees.”
The TPAA believes this confirms that the ACT Government will “… happily betray workers’ rights if it helps them politically”.
Mr Schuller adds: “They confirmed they only support government-approved unions representing workers, and all those unions just so happen to be affiliated with the Labor Party through the ACTU.”
A local teacher and member of the TPAA, who prefers not to be named, says:
“I left the Australian Education Union (AEU) because of their political alignment … they didn’t actually represent the members. They’re instead aligning themselves with the Labor Party, which is why I looked for different representation.”
In a city facing an intense cost-of-living crisis, the NPAA says that local nurses and midwives are also being asked to absorb all the inflationary risk while the government absorbs none.
When these workers try to seek alternative, independent representation to fight for their households, they find the bureaucratic gates closed against them.
“There is no reasonable explanation for this government to turn their back on workers and their right to form employee representative associations,” says Mr Schuller.
Experience compelling stories
The 4.4% paradox: Why are Canberra’s unemployed ignoring 1,000 open jobs?
by BERNIE RYAN
When 32-year-old Nabin KC arrived in Australia from Nepal a little over ten years ago. he was not thinking about the 5.7% Australian unemployment rate.
“I knew that if I ever wanted to earn
good money, I had to leave Nepal,” he says.
“I had no choice but to work hard.”
In the years that followed, that’s exactly what he did. Nabin moved to Canberra from Sydney around five years ago and started knocking on
employment doors again.
“I was rejected many times,” he says.
Yet within two years of his arrival, on 3 July 2023, Nabin purchased the popular café, Bittersweet, in Kingston, where he had been working for less than a year.
“I can see my ten years of hard work. It is definitely not easy…but I love it,” says Nabin.
Despite his success, one of the challenges Nabin faces is finding and retaining staff.
A challenge more punctuated by the reality of the job and recruitment market in the ACT.
Just last week, recruitment agency HorizonOne released their 2026 State of the Canberra Recruitment Market, which reveals a rise in Canberra’s unemployment from 3.0% to 4.4% since late 2024. The steepest increase of any state or territory.
Andy Batstone, Director, Recruitment Operations at HorizonOne says that “Despite this, HorizonOne saw applications per role rise 12.6%, while shortlisted candidates fell 42.1%, showing the issue isn’t a lack of candidates but a lack of suitable ones.”
more than 20 years, Infinite Networks has been helping Canberrans stay connected with internet backed by a local team that understands Canberra.
Hospitality is not a market that HorizonOne actively recruit in.
Yet the candidates don’t seem to be seeing the opportunities hidden in hospitality.
Why are fewer people being shortlisted for non-hospitality /trade related roles?
The State of the Canberra Recruitment Market report highlights the potential influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as one factor in the recruitment process
Copious AI-generated resumes are being submitted to multiple employers and optimised for success. These rise to the top regardless of the applicant’s suitability, which then requires that
‘employers sift through hundreds of applications to find the few best suited to the role.’
This does not equate to more shortlisted candidates.
Nabin and his peers in hospitality wish they had half of this problem.
Data from the most recent Jobs and Skills Australia’s Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey (REOS) indicates that the Accommodation and Food Services industry maintains the highest recruitment rate of any sector nationally, sitting at 72%.
There are approximately 1000 ACT-based hospitality positions currently advertised on Jora. Is there a section of the candidate pool in Canberra who would benefit from adjusting their success strategy to emulate Nabin’s?
Where hard work, working as if ‘you own it’ and being committed to learning, excelling and accumulating skills can provide more opportunities and life satisfaction than one might realise?
At the very least, this is one area where AI is less of a threat, in both application success and the delivery of a hands-on service.
“If I can do it, coming from another country with hardly anything, and own two businesses at age 32, anyone can do it,” Nabin says.
“What I am looking for are people who are friendly, dedicated and prepared to work hard like it is their own business.”
Mr Batstone agrees that pride in the trade is important.
“It echoes something we see across the market at the moment; genuine capability still gets recognised and rewarded,” he says.
Nabin’s last word?
“No one is going to ring you up at home and offer you a job and free training,” he says.
“You’ve got to go out and get around. That’s what I did.”
Nabin KC says he is happy to train dedicated staff at his cafe, Bittersweet. Photo - Bernie Ryan
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Why the South Pole froze over before the North Pole
by WILL DUNHAM, AAP
While it once was temperate and lush, Earth’s southernmost continent, Antarctica, froze over about 34 million years ago, covered by an ice sheet that today is up to around 5km thick.
By contrast, the planet’s northernmost realm, the Arctic region, did not freeze over for another 25 million years.
This polar asymmetry has long puzzled scientists, but researchers now may have solved the mystery.
They assessed the Antarctic region’s topography and used computational models to reconstruct how the surface evolved over many millions of years. They found a powerful geological
process drove the renewed uplift of a mountain range in eastern Antarctica that eventually passed an elevation threshold crucial for letting mountain glaciers form and expand and for permanent ice to take hold.
The result was the appearance of the vast East Antarctic ice sheet at a time when global temperatures were around 5 °C warmer than today. That left the South Pole with an ice cap long before a long-term global cooling trend enabled an ice cap to become established around the North Pole.
The East Antarctic ice sheet was in place by the start of a chapter in Earth’s
history called the Oligocene epoch, which followed the Eocene epoch.
Antarctica once was part of a Southern Hemisphere supercontinent called Gondwana that also included landmasses that are now Africa, South America, Australia, Arabia and the Indian subcontinent.
As part of a process called plate tectonics involving the inexorable movement of continent-scale plates on the planet’s surface, these landmasses eventually separated and crept toward their current locations.
“Our study shows that an ancient geological process that started more than 160 million years ago during the continental break-up of Africa and Antarctica and played out over many tens of millions of years determined when and where Earth’s major ice sheets could form during the Eocene-Oligocene transition, approximately 34 million years ago,” said geoscientist Thomas Gernon of the University of Southampton in England, co-leader of the study published in the journal Science.
This transition marked the change from Earth’s warm “greenhouse” climate to the current cooler period, Gernon said.
Antarctica remained connected to Australia and South America for tens of millions of years after Africa drifted
away, eventually separating from those as well.
The geological process Gernon mentioned is a phenomenon called mantle waves – slow-moving disturbances deep within the Earth that are triggered during continental break-up.
“These waves can remove dense rock from the underside of tectonic plates, making the continents lighter and causing them to rise, ultimately forming high ground such as plateaus and mountain ranges,” Gernon said.
When these mantle waves moved under Antarctica, they caused the formation of a large plateau topped by the Gamburtsev Mountains, a range in the central part of eastern Antarctica. While these mountains reach up to about 3,390m tall, the range is now buried under the world’s largest ice sheet.
The researchers said the erosion and uplift caused by mantle waves gradually pushed the landscape to elevations high enough for ice to stabilise, even at a time of a warm global climate.
“Our study underscores the importance of the interaction of changing climate and changing topography,” University of Southampton geoscientist and study co-leader Thea Hincks said.
Scientists have uncovered how Antarctica’s ice sheet could form when Earth was around 5 °C warmer.
have you heard?
GIVIT donation of the week: Clothing voucher
GIVIT is working with an organisation that provides support for people with a disability. They are currently seeking support for a woman who escaped domestic violence and facing health and financial challenges. This woman suffers from several health issues, including a DVrelated neck injury, severe nerve damage and chronic pain which has significantly impacted her ability to work and maintain housing. She is staying temporarily with a friend and has limited income. She also faces challenges reuniting with her children since stable housing is required. She urgently needs assistance with basic needs so GIVIT is requesting clothing vouchers. Your simple donation will help her reallocate limited funds toward other urgent necessities as she tries to find stability. Generous Canberrans can donate clothing vouchers or fund the purchase of this item. 100% of your financial donation will be used to purchase what’s needed. To help please visit: GIVIT.org.au/what’s-needed, search; Location State: ‘ACT’, Keywords: ‘clothing voucher’ and Suburb: ‘Woden, 2606’.
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email news@newstimemedia.com.au with ‘HYH’ in the subject field
Roundabout Canberra Donations
Roundabout Canberra is a local charity that supports families by providing essential items for babies and children. In 2025, we supported over 5,400 local children, all thanks to the generous donations from the Canberra community. In winter, we are especially grateful for donations that can help a family through the colder months, such as good quality children’s pants, jumpers and jackets (newborn to size 16 youth), single bed linen, new socks, underwear and pyjamas. Drop off at our Holt warehouse or at Club Kalina in Tuggeranong. For further details on donations, please visit our website: roundaboutcanberra.org/donategoods
Friends ANBG Thursday Talks
Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens will host a Thursday Talk on 16 July 2026 at the ANBG Theatrette, opposite the ANBG Visitor Centre, 12:30–1:30pm. Dr Philip Kodela will present “Wattle in Your Pocket: The bank-notable wattles – science behind the next generation banknotes of Australia”. Bookings: trybooking.com/DKZGG. Gold coin, note and EFTPOS donations support Friends’ projects at the gardens.
Narrabundah Probus Club
The next meeting of the Narrabundah Probus Club will be held at 11:15am on Tuesday 14 July at the Harmonie German Club. Guest speaker Maryanne Kent will discuss Niagara Therapy, a global organisation that has worked with teaching hospitals, medical universities, research institutes and clinics since 1949. Visitors are welcome. Probus is a not-for-profit network of social clubs for retirees and is not affiliated with any religious or political organisation.
Canberra Flower Club floral art demonstration
The Canberra Flower Club will host a floral art demonstration on Saturday 8 August, 1:30–4pm, at Goodwin Ainslie, Community Room (enter via Gate 4 and follow the signs). Floristry teacher and awardwinning floral designer Mary Fairlie-Cunninghame will demonstrate her craft. Afternoon tea will be served following the demonstration and all floral arrangements will be raffled. Entry is $10 (cash only).
Gungahlin Day VIEW Club
Join the Gungahlin Day VIEW Club for its 27th birthday celebrations and a Christmas in July lunch on Wednesday 22 July, 11:30am for 12pm, at Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club, Nicholls. Enjoy a festive lunch, Secret Santa, lucky door prizes, raffles and entertainment from Fred Radloff, “The Music Man”. Cost is $35 per person. To attend, contact Helen on 0413 923 933 by 9pm on Sunday 19 July.
Kippax Uniting Church marketplace
Kippax Uniting Church, opposite the Woolworths Kippax carpark, will host its regular third Saturday Marketplace on 18 July, 9am–1pm. This month’s focus is books, CDs and DVDs, alongside community stallholders, a hall full of pre-loved items, a barbecue and Devonshire morning teas. Cash and card accepted. Community donations are welcome on Friday 17 July.
PUZZLES & STARS
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)
Even though it takes more effort, you are in the habit of sharpening your craft because it’s your nature to give your best. Also, you’re well aware that staying the same isn’t maintaining the status quo – it’s actually falling behind. Excellence is the standard, which has you exerting yourself this week.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20)
You aren’t evaluating every interaction based on what you receive back. You enter rooms wondering what you can add, and it changes the energy around you. You attract strong friends and allies, and the more supporters you get, the more attractive the group becomes.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 21)
BRAIN BUSTERS
1 Former prime minister John Howard released a 2010 memoir titled, Lazarus ... what?
2 Who starred as the title character in the 1990s TV series, The Nanny?
3 Lindt chocolate originated in which country?
4 In which year of the 1980s did the Tiananmen Square massacre occur?
5 Hippology is the study of what type of creature?
This week’s pertinent questions may have been categorised as “skeptical” in another era, but in this age, they are simply necessary measures to avoid being scammed, fooled or taken advantage of. “How plausible is this?” is good. “Who benefits from me believing this?” is better.
CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22)
Hospitality of spirit is your theme, and you’ll both give and receive a genuine warmth. People feel welcomed into your world, as you offer roles as your honored guests. Because of this, your social network expands in ways that make your day-to-day life richer and more beautiful.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)
Anything loitering in your head too long should be paying you rent. You’ll only hold onto problems long enough to think of the next thing to try, then you’re in action. Action isn’t thinking about the problem. It’s working on it –a much more successful way to spend your energy.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)
You’ve been gathering knowledge, building relationships or developing skills without knowing exactly when they’d become useful. Now the pieces connect; you’ll take a risk on a potentially lucrative opportunity. Your calculated leap opens doors in a classic case of preparation meeting timing.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 23)
This week’s success won’t come from learning more but from accessing what you already know. Stress can cause you to lock up, so you’re drawing blanks instead of accessing information. But from a relaxed place, you perform brilliantly. Keep returning your attention to the present moment.
SCORPIO (OCT. 24-NOV. 21)
You’ve been that person whose reserve comes from self-protection. But this week you’ll drop the guard sometimes because you know you’re safe. Now you can be more generous with attention and warmth because interactions don’t feel like a referendum on your worth.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)
You have a terrific ear for the truth, which will ring out for you in a way other information doesn’t. You also have a way of presenting truth that helps it go down easy. In all fairness, half the trick to this is simply not mentioning the unnecessary. When there’s a true, kind thing, you say that instead.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)
You don’t pay for everything in your life. A sunset doesn’t send an invoice. Neither does a good conversation with a friend. Consider what a little attention from someone is costing you. If it has gotten expensive and not genuine, this is the time to remedy the dynamic.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)
It’s time to venture out. And if folks get their feathers ruffled, it’s only because you are so needed and loved, people are afraid to lose the best of your attention. But your explorations will be good for everyone. You belong to you –and because of this, you will feel at home wherever you go.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)
Perhaps all you can control is your part of things, but you take this to such a level that you challenge the notion. You provide such a strong and appealing example with the way you play “your part” that the others will copy you. This week, you’re operating purely from your powers of attractions.
DIFFICULTY RATING
Next Stage.
Unapologetically Casey
by GEORGIA CURRY
One of Casey Donovan’s former managers once said: “You can put a dress on her but you’ll never take her out of Bankstown,” and that’s why we love this girl next door who we’ve watched grow up since she was 16.
Casey’s now 38, so if you do the math, her upcoming show at Canberra Southern Cross Club is going to cram 22 years of stories into two hours. The show often goes over time.
Whether or not you followed her historic win on Australian Idol (the youngest person ever to win) Casey from Bankstown has some stories to tell and ballads to sing.
“I hold Bankstown close to my heart, you get what you get,” Casey said. “It’s a very interesting little place, it’s a bit rough around the edges. I try and meet people where they’re at and I hope that they meet me where I’m at.”
Here’s where Casey is at: a star of musical theatre, a three-time platinum recording artist,
a visual artist, and a proud Gumbaynggirr and Dungari woman.
She’s come a long way since her teenage years at Western Sydney’s Condell High.
“When my stepdad gave me the ultimatum to audition for Idol or he was going to take me out of music school, I said a few colourful words and then off I was to the audition,” Casey said.
Fast forward to today, and Casey has a string of musical theatre shows under her belt – Sister Act, 9 to 5, We Will Rock You, Chicago and The Sapphires, to name a few,
“I didn’t really know too much about musical theatre when I was in Idol. I watched musical movies like Camp, which is where I got the song I sang – Here’s Where I Stand – to get into the top 12,” Casey recalled.
Her current show is aptly titled This Is Me, inspired by the hit from The Greatest Showman.
“Hopefully people can learn from this show or stand a little bit taller and a little bit broader and more confident within themselves, and
hopefully find themselves one day,” Casey said.
“It’s all about empowerment and finding that unapologetic version of yourself.”
Casey Donovan’s This Is Me concert is at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, on Friday 24 July, 8pm. Tickets: premier.ticketek. com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=CASDON26
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Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan has 22 years of stories to share at her show, This Is Me, at the Southern Cross Club on 24 July.
Mini Vets
Animal + Hospital
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS FREE FUN
MINI VET CLINIC
Join us at Canberra Outlet these school holidays for the Mini Vet Clinic! Kids can step into the role of a vet for the day, choosing their own pet patient and using a fun checklist to diagnose problems and recommend treatment. It’s a hands-on imaginative play experience designed to spark creativity and keep little animal lovers entertained.
Every participating child will receive an Honorary Veterinarian Certificate to take home once they’ve completed their check-up!
The Mini Vet Clinic will be open daily from 11am – 2pm, 6 – 17 July, with no bookings required, right outside Lindt!
Booktalk
This week, Jeff Popple reviews three new, exciting Australian crime novels. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Red Lake by Jason Summers
Macmillan, $34.99
Jason Summers hits all the tropes of recent Australian outback crime fiction with Red Lake Former Sydney Homicide Detective Harper Quinn returns to her Riverina hometown in search of a quieter life for her family. The relative peace of her new job as a small-town detective is broken, however, when a body is found at the abandoned lakeside waterpark. The murder sends shockwaves through the community, especially as it seems to be linked to the disappearance of Harper’s brother thirty years ago. A smoothly written crime tale with some nicely orchestrated twists and a strong sense of place, Red Lake is an enjoyable read.
For All the Dead Girls by Sherryl Clark
Harper Collins, $32.99
Sherryl Clark’s second book about Melbourne PI Lou Alcott, For All the Dead Girls, is a powerful novel that mixes high tension with strong themes around gender violence and toxic misogyny. Lou, still recovering from her last case, is sent to help with the extraction of a woman and child from a dangerous domestic situation near Goulburn. She gets them out, but soon finds herself the target of a dark-web hate group. As the violence escalates, Lou and her firm desperately try to find the person behind the group and a series of related killings. A first-rate read, but not for the faint-hearted.
Mire by Matt Nable
Hachette, $34.99
Dan Milligan enjoyed all the money and excesses of the high life as a Sydney financial whiz until the stock market plummeted in 1987. Now reduced to running a lawn mowing business on the New South Wales south coast, he is trying to enjoy the peace of the outdoors and cheaper thrills. An unexpected find, and a bad decision, however, leads him back into trouble, this time involving a local drug syndicate and the New York Mafia. An intense, character-driven crime story, Mire excels in its portrayal of the 1980s and early 1990s. The pace is steady and the ending suitably dark and violent.
Winsome Ogilvie lights the fuse in one-woman show Kerosene
by NICHOLAS FULLER
Young actor Winsome Ogilvie was on a bus when the reality of her next role hit her: audiences would be paying to sit in a theatre and watch only her for almost an hour.
Ogilvie is playing Millie, a troubled young woman in Benjamin Nichol’s Kerosene, a 50-minute monodrama about loneliness, obsession, love, and revenge.
Off the Ledge will stage the work at the Canberra Theatre Centre’s Courtyard Studio from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 July — the first time the work has been performed outside Victoria. Nichol himself, described by Time Out as “one of [Australia’s] most accomplished playwrights”, will attend a Q&A session on the Saturday night.
Ogilvie won an Ovations award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play — The Almighty Sometimes, Off the Ledge’s début production last year — but this is the first time she has had to carry
an entire show by herself.
“It’s a bit scary,” Ogilvie said. “Performing in a solo show is a new and daunting venture for me.
“One of the joys about doing a play is being onstage with other people. It’s so much fun – you get to bounce off each other. But when it’s just you, you’ve got to dig more inside yourself to create the world. You’re a bit like: oh, I don’t know if I can do this by myself. It’s still scary, but I’m so excited to do it, because I’ve never done it before.”
Director Lachlan Houen admires Nichol’s monodramas as compelling character studies.
“What I find so beautiful about Ben’s work is that he’s able to dive deep into a life,” Houen said. “Bringing one person to life in such compelling and vivid colour is really beautiful.”
Kerosene portrays working-class Australian suburbia rarely seen onstage, Houen argues, and speaks to the loneliness epidemic and issues of domestic violence, coercive control, and avenging women.
Millie has no parents, and only one close friend, Annie. They lose touch when Annie moves away with her boyfriend. But when Annie comes back a few years later, bruised and beaten by that boyfriend, Millie is driven towards revenge — and to pouring oil on troubled flames…
“The script asks the question of how love can become dangerous and what happens when it does,” Houen said.
Kerosene by Benjamin Nichol, directed by Lachlan Houen, starring Winsome Ogilvie, Canberra Theatre Centre, 16–18 July 2026. Tickets: canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/ kerosene-2026
Winsome Ogilvie as Millie in Kerosene.
VIVIENNE LEWIS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA
Many people assume that childhood trauma ends when we grow up and move out. But for those whose parent continues to be emotionally, verbally, or even physically abusive, the pain doesn’t simply fade with age. It can follow us into adulthood, shaping how we see ourselves, how safe we feel in relationships, and how we cope day-to-day.
Understanding ongoing abuse: Abuse from a parent can take many forms: criticism, manipulation, humiliation, control, or neglect. Some adult children continue to experience these behaviours during visits, phone calls, or family events. The enduring nature
of the relationship can make it especially painful; we often want our parents’ love and approval, yet that need keeps us vulnerable to hurt. When the abuse continues, we may question our worth, blame ourselves, or wonder why we can’t just “get over it.” But abuse is never our fault. It reflects the other person’s inability to manage their own emotions and behaviour, not a flaw within us. Recognising this truth is the first step toward healing.
The impact of a lifetime of trauma: Trauma from a parent leaves deep psychological marks. Many people describe chronic self-doubt, guilt, or a sense of walking on eggshells. Some develop symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress — anxiety, hypervigilance, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. Others experience physical symptoms like insomnia, fatigue, or chronic pain as their body stays in a prolonged stress state. We might also find ourselves repeating old patterns — Recognising these patterns allows us to start changing them.
Finding ways to protect and heal: Healing from ongoing parental abuse requires both boundaries and support. Boundaries might mean limiting contact, having shorter visits, or ending conversations when the tone turns critical. For some, it involves cutting contact altogether. These decisions are di cult and deeply personal — and it’s normal to feel grief, guilt, and confusion in the process. Therapy can help you make sense of these experiences, regulate overwhelming emotions, and develop self-compassion. Trauma-focused therapy, Schema Therapy, or EMDR can be particularly e ective.
Moving forward: Healing doesn’t mean forgiving or forgetting; it means freeing yourself from the ongoing control of someone else’s behaviour. You can learn to set limits, reduce exposure to harm, and build relationships that are respectful and safe. Above all, remember that you are not defined by your parents’ treatment of you. You deserve kindness, respect, and peace — and it’s never too late to start giving those to yourself. If you’re struggling with the e ects of trauma or family abuse, seek support. You can contact Lifeline (13 11 14), 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636). Or talk to your GP about a referral to a psychologist.
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Home visits are also available for those who are unable to travel.
Reef dodges ‘in danger’ World Heritage listing again
by POPPY JOHNSTON, AAP
Environmentalists have called for action to better protect the Great Barrier Reef after the United Nations World Heritage Committee raised concerns about water quality.
The world-famous reef dodged an “in danger” tag, but Australia has been asked for another progress report on the reef’s health by 2028, in the UNESCO draft verdict released on Saturday.
The treasured tropical reef has long been under intense pressure from climate change and polluted runoff, with repeated mass bleaching events threatening its UNESCO World Heritage status.
In its interim ruling, the committee singled out water quality as a particular concern and called for an assessment of dredging sediment dumping in the region.
Australia has been trying to avoid an official black mark that would weigh on the fortunes of reef tourism operators who rely on boatloads of international visitors.
The Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation (ACBF) said the federal and Queensland governments must take action.
“The world is watching the failure of the Queensland and Federal governments to deliver on their own water quality targets,” executive director Lyndon Schneiders said.
“The clock is ticking.”
Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, said Australia was doing more than ever to protect the reef.
“Our efforts are making a difference – but we know there is more work to do,” he said.
In the May budget, $91.8 million was allocated towards improving water quality, monitoring, and piloting coral
spawning techniques designed to help damaged reefs recover after bleaching events, he said.
That brings the total invested in protection and conservation by state and federal governments to more than $5 billion since 2014.
Reforms to federal environment laws are also expected to close land clearing loopholes, with agricultural clearing along waterways linked to damaging nutrient runoff and sediment.
The Queensland government welcomed the draft decision not to recommend listing the World Heritage site as “in danger”.
“Queenslanders care deeply about the Reef, and we welcome the draft decision because it recognises the progress being made to conserve it,” Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said.
Lissa Schindler from the Australian Marine Conservation Society said
another review in 2028 amounted to Australia’s fifth yellow card.
“The Australian and Queensland governments may point to avoiding an ‘in danger’ listing as proof they are doing enough,” Dr Schindler said.
“But the truth is that one of the world’s greatest natural wonders remains under international scrutiny because their efforts are not adequate to secure the Great Barrier Reef’s future.” She said climate change remained the reef’s biggest threat.
“The Queensland government, the joint manager of the reef, has no plan to achieve its legislated 75 per cent emissions reduction target, and continues to push coal-fired power generation while renewable energy projects are blocked or shelved.
“This is the opposite of what the reef needs.”
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A Canberra GP’s guide to boosting immunity this winter
by DR KATHLEEN CALDER
As temperatures drop and we spend more time indoors, winter ushers in the familiar wave of sniffles, coughs, and seasonal bugs. While it’s impossible to avoid every germ this winter, giving your immune system the support it needs can make a real difference.
Small daily habits can help strengthen your body’s natural defences, so you can spend less time feeling under the weather. This starts with good nutrition, and there is strong evidence that a healthy diet helps your immune
system function at its best. Research supports the following eating habits: A Mediterranean-style eating pattern.
Eating 30 or more different plant foods each week.
Aim for 30 grams of fibre each day, adequate protein and healthy fats.
A variety of legumes, nuts, seeds and fermented foods.
Aim for a whole food diet, particularly limiting ultra-processed food.
Unfortunately, according to the 2022 Australian Bureau of Statistics
National Health Survey, only 4.3% of Australians meet the recommended intake for both fruit and vegetables.
Food does much more than provide vitamins and minerals. It also feeds the trillions of beneficial bacteria in our gut, known as the gut microbiota.
These microbes produce substances that help regulate inflammation, strengthen the gut barrier and support normal immune function. A healthy eating pattern provides both the nutrients our bodies need and the fibre that nourishes these beneficial bacteria.
When we are under physical or psychological stress, or fighting an infection, our bodies need more energy and nutrients. During illness, the demand for many vitamins and minerals increases as the immune system works harder.
Key nutrients for immune health:
Think of your diet as the bricks and mortar that build and maintain your immune system, and supplements as the specialist tradesman who patches up holes and provides the
finishing touches.
Protein provides the building blocks for antibodies, immune cells and the tissues involved in healing.
Colourful plant foods contain polyphenols — natural compounds that give fruits and vegetables their vibrant colours and flavour. Polyphenols can activate the body’s own antioxidant pathways and support a healthy gut microbiome. Aim for a colourful plate with four or five different colours each day, including herbs and spices, olive oil and dark chocolate!
Fibre is converted by beneficial gut bacteria into short-chain fatty acids and other compounds, which help regulate the immune system.
Where do supplements fit?
Supplements should not replace a healthy diet, but can help correct deficiencies or provide additional support when needed.
Because many nutrients work together, correcting one deficiency may not be enough if another important nutrient is also lacking. That’s where a rounded diet is important,
and also why research on individual supplements is challenging.
Nutrients work together within complex biological systems, making it difficult to study the effects of individual supplements in isolation. However, there is good evidence supporting the role of several key nutrients in immune support.
Nutrients with good evidence:
Vitamin D: Immune cells have vitamin D receptors, and vitamin D helps regulate both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Consider safe sun exposure and correcting deficiencies.
Zinc: Essential for normal immune cell function. It is involved in hundreds of chemical reactions in the body, many of which involve producing and regulating immune cells.
During an infection, your body has a greater demand for Zinc. Research suggests Zinc supplements, when started early in a cold, can shorten symptoms by about two days. Dietary sources of zinc include lean meat, seafood, legumes, eggs, nuts, seeds
and whole grains.
Vitamin C: May marginally reduce the duration of the common cold and has been shown to reduce the risk of respiratory infections in people exposed to extreme physical stress, such as endurance athletes. There is good evidence that Vitamin C is essential for normal immune function, and that deficiency impairs immunity.
Iron and vitamin B12: Both are important for producing healthy immune cells. Deficiencies should be identified and corrected, where appropriate.
Many other vitamins and minerals, including selenium, folate and vitamin A, also contribute to a healthy immune system, and the best way to obtain them is through a varied, nutrient-rich diet.
Focusing on a healthy eating pattern, adequate sleep, regular physical activity and correcting any nutritional deficiencies can help your immune system perform at its best and may reduce your risk of common winter illnesses.
Freefall: home prices notch biggest drop in years
by JACOB SHTEYMAN, AAP
Home prices have recorded the biggest monthly fall in almost four years as tax changes accelerate Australia’s housing downturn.
Sydney’s median home price fell 1.2 per cent to $1,265,608 in June, leading a nationwide decline of 0.4 per cent, data from property firm Cotality shows. It was the largest month-on-month fall in national dwelling values since December 2022.
The market was undergoing a broad-based weakening, Cotality research director Tim Lawless said.
Three interest rate rises and strong affordability pressures were already constraining demand before
the federal budget.
Labor’s changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing concessions further impacted investor confidence, Mr Lawless said.
“Speaking to people on the ground, some more anecdotal evidence does suggest there’s been a pretty sharp pullback in investment activity already,” he said.
“But I’m not hearing much about first home buyers becoming more active at a time when affordability is improving and buying conditions are improving.
“Confidence is just too low.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood by Treasury modelling that showed home values would still increase over the long term but at a slower rate, even as some economists forecasted a downturn of as much as 10 per cent.
“The great news is that this Saturday, like last Saturday, first home buyers would have rocked up to auctions and not be competing with investors who want to negatively gear their properties and have taxpayers backing in those investments,” he told ABC TV.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said interest rates were the main factor driving prices.
“This is a cyclical market,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.
Mr Lawless said it was too early to tell whether the changes were simply compounding a cyclical downturn or represented an inflection point in the housing market long-term.
Pullbacks in home prices and transactions have so far been more modest than some previous cycles.
In 2022, following the Reserve Bank’s rapid-fire post-pandemic rate hikes, they were down about 8.5 per cent at the same stage of the downturn, Mr Lawless said.
The tax changes would likely result in less aggregate demand in the market and less upward pressure on prices, he said.
“But whether or not this is an end to what people are describing as a super cycle, I simply don’t know,” Mr Lawless said.
Opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg said Labor had failed to fix the fundamentals of the market and the tax changes would exacerbate a supply shortfall.
“I’ve said before that I think that house prices are too high for young people,” he said.
A YouGov poll, published by Sky News on Wednesday, found 49 per cent of voters wanted house prices to fall, while 26 per cent wanted them to stay the same and 17 per cent wanted them to rise.
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Introducing Grove.
Grove is a boutique release of architecturally designed townhouses within one of the region’s fastest-growing masterplanned communities.
A thoughtfully crafted collection of 2 and 3 bedroom residences, Grove offers a fresh approach to townhome living, shaped by natural materials and grounded in a design philosophy that celebrates simplicity, comfort and connection. Positioned alongside open green space and moments from Googong’s evolving town centre, Grove delivers everyday convenience without compromising its natural surrounds.
Whether you’re stepping into your first home, starting a new chapter or seeking a low-maintenance lifestyle, Grove sets the foundation for living well, every day.
• 2 & 3 bedroom architecturally designed townhouses
• Hybrid timber flooring inspired by natural grain
• Modern stone-style benchtops with durable finishes
• Quality kitchen appliances and functional layout planning
• Light-filled living spaces designed for comfort
• Private courtyards or terraces to extend living outdoors
• Secure garaging and practical storage solutions
• Focus on natural textures and long-lasting materials
• Close to schools, childcare, shops and lifestyle amenities
• 25 mins to Canberra CBD* Key
Artist’s Impression
$0 Stamp Duty Payable at Woden Green on all owner occupier purchases from 1st July 2026.†
Join a thriving, established community.
A community already taking shape
Construction is complete, residents are already settled in and life at Woden Green is well underway. Enjoy spacious, thoughtfully designed apartments alongside meaningful amenity including a 25m indoor pool, private dining, cinema, business lounge and landscaped green spaces.
A connected, low-maintenance lifestyle in the heart of Woden, with a community already taking shape.
The Woden Green difference
∙ Lush established gardens with reflection pond Generous 1, 2 & 3 bedroom floorplans
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Construction complete. Now ready to occupy. Get in touch to see how our team can help you make the move.
Call to book a private appointment. Ben Wilson 0420 375 976 or Will Honey 0407 245 177. For more information visit wodengreen.com.au.
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One Bedroom + Study/Media from $587,500*
Two Bedrooms from $699,900*
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Furnished apartments available to inspect. Saturday 10am-11:30am & Sunday 11:45am-12:45pm Or by appointment. 102 Easty Street, Phillip.
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WIN! Tickets to kerosene
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Canberra Daily has five double passes to give away to the 7:30pm performance on Saturday 18 July of O the Ledge Theatre’s electric and heartfelt one-woman show kerosene, exploring the complex, gritty and dangerous symptoms of love.
Millie yearns for love and acceptance, finding instead rejection and backlash at every turn… except from her grandfather, and best friend Annie.
She shapes her devotion to Annie into a bond that burns hotter than any romantic furnace. Life sends them on di erent paths, but when Annie turns up bruised and bloodied on the doorstep, Millie sets out to honour her childhood friend in the only way she knows how: revenge.
kerosene runs from 16–18 July at the Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre.
ENTER TO WIN!
To enter, email competitions@newstimemedia.com.au with ‘kerosene’ in the subject field. Tell us your name, full contact details (including street address) and the name of one of the characters in the show. Entries close 9am Tuesday 14 July 2026 and winners drawn same day. One entry per person. Entrants must be aged 18+. To enter, you must be subscribed to a Canberra Daily newsletter.
Now sh wing
Minions & Monsters (PG)
A film history tour guide tells the story of a group of filmmaking Minions to her group. Flashing back, a tribe of Minions search for their next master amongst the world’s greatest villains. Along the way, the artistic James befriends Henry and Ed (all voiced by director Pierre Co n), and the trio come across a spellbook which they use to summon a creature to become the main antagonist in their own monster movie!
The comedic mute slapstick sidekicks of the Despicable Me franchise (2010-24) are quite directionless without a main character driving the story forward, hence the search for a master. By coincidence, our main trio finally finds a movie pay-o mentor in Hollywood, who provides them with a late focus. It is then up to some summoned monsters to pick up the reins to propel the story forward, with a curious 50’s sci-fi robot waiting in the wings. After a lagging first few acts, everything finally comes together with a creature feature showdown, but it is a long wait, even for those with faith that it will all pay o .
The Minions are always cute and wacky but are at their best when impulsively working o of a ‘straight man’. Movies about movies are also quite niche, with meta-Hollywood references being quite middling, especially for those who have come to just watch Minions & Monsters! Verdict: A surprisingly tiring experience, despite our lively group.
- Luke McWilliams, themovieclub.net Viewed at Dendy Cinemas.
