Inspire Autumn/Winter 2021

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Inspire ISSUE #01

A U T U M N / W I N T E R 2 10 2 1

PRESENTED BY GINNINDERRY

A PL ACE T O P L AY The many benefits of putting play at the heart of urban design

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

K E E P I N G I T I N T H E F A M I LY

SUBURBIA UTOPIA

The surprising fishing spots right here on our doorstep

The future of intergenerational living

How new technology and trends are transforming life in the suburbs

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We fell in love with the beauty of the place ˝ Anneliese & Omary From the moment they saw the breathtaking surroundings, the close proximity to Belconnen and the magical community-feel, Anneliese and Omary knew they wanted to make Ginninderry their home. They’re two of the co-authors helping us to write the Ginninderry story. And we can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

Find your inspiration at ginninderry.com

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INSPIRE

From the editor Welcome to the very first edition of Inspire magazine. Born out of the belief that we can all contribute towards a better world, we call on experts, visionaries and locals to share the ways they are making positive changes, both big and small.

If last year has taught us anything, it’s that our future depends on searching for new (and sometimes returning to old) ways that will create healthier environments, communities and people.

Tulitha King EDITOR

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Be the change you wish to see in the world.

— Mahatma Gandhi

In this issue, we look at these changes from a micro level – such as how to buy less and local, through to bigger global movements that are transforming the way we live, including urban agriculture, the sharing economy and the rise of inter-generational living.

But perhaps the article that speaks most to my heart, is the importance of play for our physical, social and mental wellbeing – no matter what our age. In my role as Ginninderry’s Community Development Manager, I am thrilled to see this philosophy in action – whether it’s mothers and babies gathering in the Link Community Centre, children rushing to the park after school and on weekends to play and make new friends, or adults participating in a yoga class, art workshop or walking group.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Kate Edwards EDITOR

Tulitha King C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R

Jess Spaleta ART DIRECTOR

Julia Wyse PHOTOGRAPHERS

Adam McGrath David Barber Emma Grey CONTRIBUTORS

Emma Macdonald Graham Fifield Jil Hogan Beatrice Smith Mary Hutchison P R O U D LY P R O D U C E D B Y C O O R D I N AT E

coordinate.com.au

I hope that you enjoy this inaugural issue, and I would love to hear any suggestions or questions that you might like included in our next issue. You can email me at enquiries@ginninderry.com.

INSPIRE IS PRESENTED BY

Ginninderry is a new community extending across the ACT/NSW border to the west of Belconnen which will eventually be home to 30,000 people. Developed by a Joint Venture between the ACT Government and Riverview Developments, the vision for Ginninderry is to build a community of international significance, with innovation, diversity and ecological criteria at its core.

INSPIRE is born from this vision and through it we aim to showcase emerging trends in sustainable, modern living.

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Contents

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Keeping it in the family

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Getting her spark back

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Putting play at the heart of place

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Suburbia utopia

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Caught in the ACT

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Five winter eco buys to put on your list

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Artist’s profile

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Memories of the old school bus

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Seven ways to live more sustainably this winter

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Here comes the sun

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Eco décor

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Putting down roots

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Fragrant spicy pumpkin soup

COVER STORY PG 14

Putting play at the heart of place How planning for play reaps rewards

INSPIRE

Keeping it in the family The future of intergenerational living

WORDS

Beatrice Smith

Gina McGeogh (centre) is building a new home in Ginninderry with her husband James that will also accommodate her parents Joe and Betty Banhidi (pictured).

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Intergenerational living certainly could be a solution to loneliness.

Intergenerational living has been commonplace around the world for centuries. But could it solve big issues facing modern families today?

During Canberra’s COVID-19 lockdown, many of my Millennial peers struggled with a lack of connection to their extended families. But not me. In fact, it only took me 30 steps to visit my parents, sister and my grandmother.

This is because my family lives in an intergenerational home, a situation that perfectly fitted the stranger-than-fiction reality of living through a pandemic.

While we shielded my immunocompromised grandmother by buying and sanitising her groceries, we were able to interact with her in-person by setting up chairs at opposite ends of the backyard. Meanwhile, I was able to support my younger sister as she tackled Year 12 online, and my mother’s cooking supported me through some challenging weeks of remote working.

So, should more families consider intergenerational living? Gina McGeoch thinks so.

Gina and husband James are empty nesters with three grown children who have recently welcomed their first grandchild. But it won’t stay empty for long—they’ll be welcoming Gina’s parents Joe and Betty into the nest when their new home is built later this year.

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Gina, James, Joe and Betty are regular participants in local community activities. Pictured here at the Ginninderry Christmas in the Park event.

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Needless to say, once Joe laid eyes on the sprawling vistas surrounding Ginninderry, there was no going back.

For Gina and her family, the catalyst for this new chapter was a difficult one.

Gina’s father Joe has faced uphill health battles for some time and the drive to visit him and Betty in the Southern Highlands became too difficult. After moving Joe and Betty to assisted living in Canberra, the decision to join forces and build a new home was an easy one for Gina.

“We were able to find a plan through McDonald Jones Homes and tweak a few things to make it work, so we’re happy and [my parents] are happy.”

Gina and James’ new home will be a single storey residence with private space for both couples. Joe and Betty’s section will sit further back on the block, connected by a shared laundry and the floorplan will offer flexibility to shift living arrangements into the future.

“Having my parents under my roof helps me keep an eye on them and give them the assistance that they require as they grow old gracefully,” says Gina.

“They can still have people come in under a home care package to help with personal care whilst maintaining their independence.”

Gina and her family have also embraced the futureproofing of Ginninderry itself by adding solar panels to their new home.

“Ginninderry is looking at how to best plan a new suburb,” says Gina. “They’re going solar, they’re recycling water, they’re conserving local flora and fauna... We love everything.”

While Gina’s home will become one of the newest houses in one of Canberra’s newest suburbs, the concept of intergenerational living is far from young.

A 2001 survey by the Japanese Cabinet Office found that 58% of people aged 60 and over lived with at least one of their children that year (a stark contrast compared to 17% in the United States and 15% in Germany)1, while Balinese families traditionally share their walled family compound with multiple generations.

In this era of climbing house prices and COVID-related uncertainty, intergenerational living will become a necessary choice for some families— but it’s not just about the cost of living.

Dr Edgar Liu, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the City Futures Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, has been studying people living intergenerationally for almost a decade and says that care is also a driving factor.

“Survey participants told us ‘I can’t bear the thought of sending my

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mother to a home’,” says Dr Liu. “Even before the pandemic there was the Royal Commission into Aged Care and there were horror stories about how the industry was doing. So it’s no surprise that people are moving to this arrangement to provide this kind of care.”

Gina can relate. “It’s so we can take care of them until their last days,” she says.

But it’s not just care of the elderly that intergenerational living provides—it could also help alleviate another modern crisis; the so-called ‘loneliness epidemic’.

“Quite often our participants say things like ‘It’s just good to know someone else is there... it just grounds you a little bit more’,” says Dr Liu. “So intergenerational living certainly could be a solution to [loneliness].”

Dr Liu also points out that intergenerational living fits with the modern workforce, with younger people staying at university for longer due to employers expecting more qualified candidates and the rise of the gig economy.

But intergenerational living is also a chance for one more dream home, even later in life.

“My dad has always had a fascination with the Brindabellas—he actually wanted a photograph of it on a canvas and couldn’t find one,” says Gina.

Needless to say, once Joe laid eyes on the sprawling vistas surrounding Ginninderry, there was no going back.

1 Cabinet Office. (2001). Koreisha no seikatsu to ishiki ni kansuru kokusai hikaku chosa [International comparison of life and opinions of older people]. Retrieved August 8, 2006, from http://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/ishiki/h12_kiso/html/0-1.html.

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Getting her back

spark

WORDS

Jil Hogan

Just under a decade ago, Maree Macgregor’s world was turned upside down in an instant.

She had been attempting to get back into the workforce, after taking an extended period off to raise her children (now young adults).

But then her husband was unexpectedly killed in an accident, leaving her shocked and heartbroken.

With the blow of the tragedy and her confidence levels at an all-time low, finding work became even harder.

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“Because of my age, I had a lot of trouble getting a job, and I was still mourning my husband, so I was wanting to work but not knowing if I could,” she said.

Then she came across Ginninderry’s SPARK Training and Employment Program, which provides training and employment opportunities to members of the local West Belconnen community who are unemployed.

Having worked in call centres and administration roles in the past, Maree knew she needed to improve her computer skills to be competitive as a job applicant. So in 2017, she enrolled in the SPARK Business Administration Program, and completed a Certificate II in Business.

“I passed that, and it helped me a lot with being able to talk in front of people too, because I'm pretty shy, and I've never been able to talk in front of people,” said Maree.

“I was so happy about completing it.

But then I tried again to get a job, and I still couldn't get one because of my age. I kept trying and kept trying but it didn’t happen.”

She kept in touch with the SPARK team, and when she saw the SPARK Horticulture & Conservation Land Management Taster Program which was running in 2018, she figured she’d give it a go.

“I didn't know what I wanted to do if I couldn't get into business administration. So I thought, ‘I love gardening’, and figured I’d be able to learn a few new things,” she said.

Maree enrolled in the course, and while she enjoyed her new area of study from day one, she found the new program a lot harder than she expected.

“I actually nearly quit three or four times. It was a lot of maths and measuring and I'm not good at that at all, and I was nearly going to give up,” she said.

“Emma [Sckrabei, from SPARK] was wonderful, she just kept talking to me about it, saying, ‘I'm not gonna let you give up’. And the teacher was great too.”

Maree dug deep, and drew on a determination she didn’t even know she had, and ended up completing the course, something she says she’s, “very proud of”. Throughout the course, Maree got to know Michael Nurmi from

“Because of my age, I had a lot of trouble getting a job, and I was still mourning my husband, so I was wanting to work but not knowing if I could.”

The Mower Shed, a social enterprise developed by UnitingCare Kippax, and when she completed her training, she was able to land a job. Maree started work with the Mower Shed in 2019 and has been employed there ever since.

She even returns to Ginninderry every so often with the team to do landscape maintenance.

“I didn't know if I would like it or not, but it is the best job ever. I wish I'd known earlier. I love being outside, I love gardening, I love the satisfaction of seeing the finished product and seeing people's faces,” said Maree.

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“I've learnt so much and the guys I work with are great. With the young people in the team, I almost feel like I'm their mother, and I love helping the young people out and showing them what they need to do.”

Maree also connected her son Luke to SPARK in 2019. He had dropped out of high school and was looking for a pathway, and ended up completing the Ginninderry Construction Program. He even secured a job at the Mower Shed with his Mum in 2020, and has now gone on to work in security.

“I'm really proud of how far he has come. He's always had depression and anxiety and he has PTSD, so what he’s done is amazing. And he says he's proud of me too,” she said.

These days, things are really looking up for Maree. She loves her job and her new career path, and is excited to get out of bed every morning. And she is also keeping busy planning her next big project—her wedding in October this year.

“After my husband passed away, he was my soulmate and I wasn't interested in anyone else—that was it. And it took about seven years, but I just started talking to this guy, and we got along well. I asked him to marry me on the 29th of February last year, and of course he had to say yes,” laughed Maree.

She said there’s no doubt that the SPARK programs completely changed her life.

“I'm so glad I made the effort to get off my butt and do these SPARK programs.

They’ve really helped me big time,” said Maree.

“Anytime I see Emma I give her a cuddle. Because if it wasn't for her and the SPARK programs, I know I wouldn't be where I am today.”

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play Putting

at the heart of place WORDS

Emma Macdonald

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We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing — George Bernard Shaw

It is well documented that play—at all ages and levels of ability—enables people to reap a multitude of health, wellbeing, social, cultural and economic rewards.

As global best practice in urban design increasingly incorporates play through the creation of experiences and placemaking, governments are stepping up. In Canberra, the ACT Government has even gone so far as to have a Policy Position on Play which seeks to embed best practice in the provision of play spaces in and around the city.

But currently, all eyes are on Ginninderry, where the philosophy of play underpins the very architecture of the development. Here, play has been elevated to such a level of urban importance that as the suburbs roll out, you will barely travel a few hundred metres without stumbling on an area that lends itself to outright fun, recreational pursuits or thoughtful meanderings.

Feeding into the playful nature of the development is a team of academics from The University of Canberra who have partnered with Ginninderry developers and its community through its Play, Creativity and Wellbeing Project.

Over 18 months, the team will focus on building creative play spaces that are

co-designed with the community and then tested, with those learnings fed back into future areas. The research will contribute to the Ginninderry Living Lab, allowing for long term research to occur and exploring best practice thinking over time.

Leading the UC’s team is an academic who has built play into her intellectual pursuits. Dr Cathy Hope completed her PhD on “alternative cultural practices” and drilled down into what made 1970’s experimental radio station Double J so successful. She found that the risk-taking and playful approach of its founders was the perfect combination to shoot the fringe broadcaster into the mainstream.

In many ways, this “breaking the mould” approach applies to Ginninderry.

Where Cathy’s expertise comes in is through considering how best to engage residents in more playful pursuits, no matter their age, background or ability.

Theories of the roles of play spaces in urban environments have undergone several changes since the turn of the 20th century in response to broader societal and environmental trends. The growth of cities, rise in sedentary lifestyles, move to risk aversion and increasing disconnect from nature has come at the expense of play. It is now widely understood this has been to the detriment of healthy childhood development and later adult contentment.

Our move to be entertained by a TV or iPad has also now made play a more urgent health priority as our children and adults are increasingly obese.

Multiple studies suggest a clear correlation between levels of physical activity and the availability of publicly provided infrastructure such as playgrounds in the immediate vicinity.

But it’s more nuanced than simply building play equipment on vacant pockets of land.

“We know well from past experience that putting a swing and a slide on a bit of grass does not make an enticing play area and we have examples around Canberra of playgrounds that are not well used or well loved,” says Cathy.

“With this project we are rethinking what constitutes play and who gets to use it.”

For Cathy, play is a physical and mental space to experiment—where the outcome is not important, but the process is.

“Play as a word is often reserved for the young, but I am pushing against that. Play is actually a great word which covers a range of non-obligatory activities that are valuable—for anyone at any age. It is a great space to experiment because the outcome is not important, and you can muck up and make mistakes and the effect is generally benign.”

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The thing is, kids love to take risk— within manageable levels—and they love to get dirty. We need to find ways to reignite these adventures.

Working closely with Tulitha King, Ginninderry’s Community Development Manager, Cathy is examining the first neighbourhood park established at Ginninderry over recent months to observe how it is being used and possible activations to increase use over time.

Cathy is very keen to push the boundaries of traditional park infrastructure, saying the evidence was clear that a lack of risk in play was damaging to children.

It is a large and all-encompassing park, including a play space, basketball courts, cricket nets, climbing nets, shade, seating, lighting and toilets.

“We will work with the community and its children to help create more exciting play journeys, perhaps a maze, areas you can hide, multi-level climbing areas, places to get wet and being bold with design and the range of colours and textures we use.”

“It is really a work in progress as we look at who is using the space and how, and then we feed that into the roll out of the next play space, and so on.”

“The thing is, kids love to take risks— within manageable levels—and they love to get dirty. We need to find ways to reignite these adventures.”

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IMPOR TANCE OF PL AY

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The connection to nature is also a crucial part of developing play spaces. This concept sits at the heart of Ginninderry and the role of Ginninderry’s Urban Design and Landscape Manager, Matthew Frawley, has been to get the connective tissue between homes and play spaces, green space and nature spaces right.

“The benefit of having a masterplan and this sort of detailed and long-term vision is that we can provide everything residents might want, to foster maximum enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures.”

Central to the development’s design is a 600-hectare conservation corridor that will provide residents with access to the Murrumbidgee River and a multitude of options for play, from walking trails, nature parks, to tracks, obstacle courses and water features.

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The other consideration for the development of play areas, Matthew says, is how they can evolve to accommodate the changing demographic of ‘players’ over time.

reducing stress to increasing social connections and stimulating ideas, simply ‘clowning around’ and focusing on the experience rather than the outcome, is extremely beneficial.

“We want to encourage intergenerational play as well as access for people of all abilities, to keep people engaged with the outdoors and all the health and wellbeing benefits that brings.”

“We are taking a holistic look,” says Matthew. “You have families that move in with very young children who are just learning how to play. Cut to ten years and those kids are looking for bike tracks or skate parks. You want the teens to be challenged so they don’t get bored. And then we want to encourage intergenerational play as well as access for people of all abilities. So we’ve created age-friendly play spaces that not only provide opportunities for grandparents or older carers to spend time with ‘grandchildren’, but to also socialise with other adults, have a laugh and perhaps rediscover the sorts of activities that make them feel young again.”

We know that play among the young is crucial for healthy brain development, identity formation, socialisation, sharing, creativity and imagination, physical and cognitive capability. But play in adults is equally important. From

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Suburbia Utopia WORDS

Kate Edwards

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Our world is rapidly changing, and so are the needs and demands of our population. The development of new suburbs provides the opportunity to pave the way for a better future: one that embraces cutting-edge innovations, technologies and ways of thinking to create more connected, sustainable and healthier communities.

Forget flying cars and skyscrapers. Our futuristic cities will be playing out in the suburbs. Factors such as housing affordability and the desire for breathing room have spurred a global trend that is seeing millennials choose suburbs over cities – but not as we know them.

They want a new kind of landscape; one that is kind to the environment, reduces energy costs, creates a sense of community and follows the live/work/ play formula for a ‘hipsturbia’ lifestyle.

These demands are driving the development of more forward-thinking suburbs that are combining technology with revolutionary design and planning to transform the way we live. We spoke to Jessica Stewart, Sustainability Manager for Ginninderry about some of the exciting trends that are shaping the future of our suburbs: S U B U R B A N A G R I C U LT U R E

More and more we want to know where our food comes from. Is it clean, good for us and grown ethically and sustainably?

These questions are driving the sustainable food movement – a global revolution that is transforming what we put in our mouths, whilst challenging the big supermarkets and the energy and waste generated by industrial agriculture.

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But it’s not just playing out in paddocks. According to Jessica, this movement has the potential to take off in our cities, our suburbs and our backyards.

“There are so many exciting innovations that are paving the way for urban agriculture and local food production,” she says. “One ground-breaking initiative we’re trialling is InvertiGro.” The Australian-made vertical farming system creates modular units designed for the highest quality and productivity of crops, in the least amount of space by using less water and energy than any other hydroponic system.

Currently installed in The Link – Ginninderry’s Community Centre – the InvertiGro wall is the first of its kind in Canberra. Taking up a just a 1m2 footprint, it grows over 200 plants every few weeks, and is able to regularly supply the nearby Café Stepping Stone with leafy greens, herbs, and some vegetables.

With larger systems able to yield between 180-200 metric tonnes of crops per year, it’s a gamechanger for urban agriculture and literally brings the farm as close as possible to the end consumer, reducing waste and food miles.

“This is just the beginning for us,” says Jessica. “We’re hoping to eventually scale up this form of food production and give our community the opportunity to take ‘home farming’ to the next level.”

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EN ERGY S MAR T

Imagine this future scenario: It’s a sunny day, so while you’re at work, you check how much energy your solar panels are generating at home, and, with the flick of a button, switch on your pre-set washing machine and dishwasher to take advantage of your free energy supply. Then when you get home, you find you have a surplus of energy stored, so you either use it to charge up your electric vehicle, or it gets redirected to power up the floodlights of your local sporting field.

“We’re actually not that far from making this vision a reality here at Ginninderry,” enthuses Jessica. “With mandated solar panels and home energy management systems across

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each home, the infrastructure is in place for residents to remotely control their entire energy ecosystem. And as they start to generate and store their own energy, they’ll be able to share this with the grid.”

These emerging energy sharing initiatives are currently being implemented in the USA, Japan, New Zealand and the UK to help make electricity systems more flexible and reliable.

“Ginninderry is on the cusp of implementing the first energy sharing initiative of its kind in Australia,” says Jessica. “And as more and more homes and communities begin to install smarter energy systems, we can really make a difference to the amount of energy we consume overall.”

S H A R E D S PA C E S

From the rise of co-working spaces to shared neighbourhood amenities and even modes of transport, the sharing economy is here to stay as people search for more affordable options, different approaches to ownership and ways to connect with people in their community.

“Apps such as AirBnB, Car Next Door and local ‘buy nothing’ groups, are changing the way we transact and connect,” says Jessica. “But the opportunity to design a new suburb around the concept of sharing and connection, sets a whole new precedent.”

Houses can exist on smaller footprints saving money and energy for their owners, whilst giving them easy access

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“Apps such as AirBnB, Car Next Door and local ‘buy nothing’ groups, are changing the way we transact and connect,” to more shared parks, recreation areas and communal spaces instead of huge, high-maintenance backyards. They can also be designed to facilitate holiday rental or room sharing – creating both sources of income and affordable accommodation. And community centres and co-working spaces can bring like-minded people together to work, play, create and produce, within minutes from their home.

New suburbs also have the opportunity to future proof for a world of

technology that we don’t even know exists yet.

designed without garages because we’ll be sharing automated electric vehicles.

“By installing smart streetlights throughout our community, we’ve created the backbone infrastructure for an exciting future,” says Jessica.

“A future where a single light pole can also be used to charge phones, provide Wi-Fi, transmit music or community messages and charge electric vehicles.”

“Imagine if your suburb had an electric vehicle sharing station, where you could use a car on an as needs basis,” she says. “Then we could use the space that our garage once took up to house vertical gardens that grow our own food. And the cars at the vehicle station could power our homes overnight after spending the day being charged by the sun. That’s the kind of future I’d like to work towards.”

And Jessica believes that in the final years of Ginninderry’s development (several decades away), homes could be

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Caught in the AC T The surprising fishing spots right here on our doorstep WORDS

Graham Fifield Adam McGrath, Emma Grey, Stuart Smith

PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Whether you are a seasoned angler or new to fishing, Canberra offers a great variety of fishing opportunities, styles and locations. Contrary to popular belief, Yellowbelly, Murray Cod, Trout, Redfin, Carp and a handful of endangered fish are all present within 50kms of Parliament House.

Whilst the majority of Canberra’s urban lakes and rivers are dominated by the introduced Carp and Redfin, they provide an excellent opportunity for new and experienced anglers alike to catch a fish, have some fun and hone their skills. Regular stocking programs of Yellowbelly and Murray Cod in the lakes also give anglers the opportunity to tussle with a native fish which grow fat on the abundant food supply. Further afield there are wild fish inhabiting the Murrumbidgee and lower Molonglo Rivers, and trout in the Cotter River.

Of course, if you don’t happen to catch anything, the Bush Capital is blessed with so much wildlife that you are likely to take home a fond memory long after the rods are packed away in the garage. Platypus, Rakali (native water rats), wombats, echidnas, an array of woodland birds, swans, cormorants and yes, snakes, are all common sights. A fishing license is not required in the ACT, however, it is your duty to familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations. Tight Lines!

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Lake Tuggeranong and Lake Ginninderra, AC T At opposite ends of the city, Lake Tuggeranong and Lake Ginninderra offer similar fishing opportunities to Lake Burley Griffin and are ideally suited to land-based anglers, kayaks and boats. Carp and Redfin are the dominant fish caught but repeated stocking efforts are increasing native fish numbers.

At Lake Ginninderra, the deeper points and weedy edges are worth a try, more specifically the rock wall in front of the restaurants and fast-food chains, the police jetty and the dam wall. The parks and beaches are popular for Carp fishing.

At Lake Tuggeranong, lure anglers might like to target the willows and rock walls near the college, the deeper water near the Learn to Ride Centre, around the skate park, along the dam wall or under the bridge.

NEED TO KNOW You can use a petrol-powered boat on Lake Ginninderra and Lake Tuggeranong, but a permit is required from Access Canberra and speeds are restricted to under 10 knots (18.5 km/h).

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Lake Burley Griffin, AC T At the centre of Walter Burley Griffin’s design for Canberra is the expansive Lake Burley Griffin (LBG). Fringed by the parliamentary triangle, the two iconic bridges and the imposing museums and galleries, LBG is where many locals and visitors first wet a fishing line. The best spots in LBG for Carp are typically the sandy beaches (bring a chair and a rod holder), while Redfin often patrol the rock walls and weedy edges. Popular spots for targeting Yellowbelly and Murray Cod are the deeper rocky and

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timbered areas such as Black Mountain Peninsula, Lady Denman Drive below Black Mountain Tower, Blue Gum Point and the old Molonglo River channel (now flooded).

NEED TO KNOW LBG has great access for land-based anglers with countless car parks and access points.

For kayaks and boats there are several boat ramps around the lake, however, boats must be powered by electric motors and have a permit from the National Capital Authority before entering the water.

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Googong Dam, NSW A short 30-40 minute drive from most parts of Canberra, Googong Dam is Canberra’s premier freshwater fishery.

Relatively clear water, a largely forested catchment with little urban development and the absence of Carp has resulted in an excellent fishery for Yellowbelly, Redfin, some truly enormous Murray Cod and the occasional Trout. There is only one boat ramp at the northern end for trailer boats and kayaks. Fishing from the bank is largely restricted to this area, or the far southern end accessed from London Bridge Road. As the water level fluctuates, baits and lures fished around the sunken trees and above the aquatic weeds is a good way to find fish. Boat and kayak anglers with a depth sounder may be able to locate schools of Redfin and often the native fish are not far away!

NEED TO KNOW Googong Dam forms part of Canberra’s water supply and is only open to anglers during daylight hours each day and may be closed during total fire bans or extreme weather.

No petrol-powered boats are allowed and a permit is required for electric powered boats from Access Canberra in addition to the permit from National Capital Authority.

A fishing license is also required in NSW.

Cotter River (above Cotter Dam), AC T The Cotter River is ostensibly Canberra’s only fishery for Rainbow and Brown Trout with crystal clean, cool, clear water running down from the mountains.

The endangered Macquarie Perch and Two-spined Blackfish also live in this river and must be released unharmed if accidentally caught. Most anglers choose to hike or wade along the river casting lures or flies as bait fishing is not permitted. Access is from Brindabella or Bendora Roads west of Canberra, roughly a 25 to 45 minute drive.

NEED TO KNOW Many sections of the Cotter River and the Cotter, Bendora and Corin Dams are closed to fishing as they form part of Canberra’s water supply and are home to multiple species of endangered fish. Familiarise yourself with the rules before heading out.

Phone reception is very limited and there are many snakes, so please plan accordingly.

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Murrumbidgee and Molonglo Rivers, AC T These iconic rivers offer a great fishing experience in picturesque surroundings. Many popular spots such as Pine Island, Kambah Pools, Casuarina Sands, Coppins Crossing and Urriara Crossing offer BBQ and toilet facilities and opportunities to fish close to the car park. The more adventurous may choose to hike further afield into rugged, rocky and sometimes steep country to encounter a native fish in their natural environment.

NEED TO KNOW Snakes and twisted ankles are both very real possibilities when hiking in this area, so it pays to be prepared for both. Some picnic areas and car parks have gates that are locked, so check the opening times to avoid being locked in. There are sections of the Murrumbidgee River in southern ACT near Tharwa that are off limits to fisherman as they are home to the endangered Blue Nose Cod (Trout Cod).

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Fish species and location char t M U R R AY C O D

Y E L L O W B E L LY

Lake Burley Griffin Lake Tuggeranong Lake Ginninderra Googong Dam Molonglo River Murrumbidgee River

Lake Burley Griffin Lake Tuggeranong Lake Ginninderra Googong Dam Molonglo River Murrumbidgee River

BROWN TROUT*

RAINBOW TROUT*

Cotter River Googong Dam (Occasional)

Cotter River Googong Dam (Occasional)

REDFIN*

CARP*

Lake Burley Griffin Lake Tuggeranong Lake Ginninderra Googong Dam Molonglo River Murrumbidgee River (Occasional)

Lake Burley Griffin Lake Tuggeranong Lake Ginninderra Molonglo River Murrumbidgee River

Illustration credit: https://vfa.vic.gov.au | *Introduced species to Australia.

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INSPIRE

Do’s and don’ts DISPOSING OF INTRODUCED FISH (CARP AND REDFIN)

Killing so called ‘pest fish’ and leaving them on the bank or in public rubbish bins creates a terrible smell, attracts pests such as rats and foxes and ruins the amenity for other lake and river users. Sadly, recreational angling is not going to have a tangible impact on the total numbers of these fish. Instead, you are allowed to return them so long as it is back into the waterway in which they were caught. Alternatively, Carp fillets make excellent bait for the coastal fish species as well as fertiliser for the veggie garden. Redfin are arguably the best freshwater eating fish with sweet white flesh that is well suited to many styles of cooking.

E AT I N G F I S H

The decision whether to eat fish from ACT waterways often comes down to two questions: Is it safe?

Whilst all Canberra lakes are essentially urban stormwater collecting ponds that come with a degree of urban run-off and litter, all of the lakes’ fish comply with relevant food standards. As part of Canberra’s water supply, Googong, the Cotter River and to a lesser extent the Murrumbidgee River all have excellent water quality and people regularly eat the fish from each. Ultimately it comes down to your own preference.

W H AT Y O U C A N A N D C A N ’ T C AT C H

There are four endangered fish species in the ACT that must be released unharmed if they are caught.

– Trout Cod

Is it harming native fish numbers?

– Two-spined Blackfish

The once-abundant native fish stocks across south east Australia have been significantly reduced by the construction of dams, the impacts of urban development and agriculture, overfishing and the introduction of exotic fish species. To aid population recovery of wild fish stocks, many anglers choose to keep Redfin or those hatchery-raised fish from the lakes for the table and release wild fish from the rivers to continue to breed.

Regardless of where they are caught all Murray Cod larger than 75cms must be released in the ACT.

– Macquarie Perch – Silver Perch For all other fish, strict bag, size limits and closed seasons apply, and it is up to you to inform yourself of the rules in each river and dam.

For fishing rules and regulations, please visit environment.act.gov.au and search for recreational fishing in the ACT.

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Five winter eco buys to put on your list Get through Canberra’s cooler months with these eco-friendly winter buys.

THE BARE LIVING C O . D I S H PA S T E – 80G, $13.95

A DY T U M , R E P L E N I S H B O DY OIL, $45

Cut down on plastic and harmful synthetic foaming agents by replacing your traditional dish washing liquid with this dish paste!

Handmade in Australia, this citrus-scented paste uses biodegradable surfactants and coconutderived cleansers to bust through grease and leave your dishes squeaky clean.

Incorporating an opulent blend of hydrating botanicals, Replenish Body Oil by new local wellbeing brand Adytum is formulated to revive dull skin while promoting microcirculation and improved elasticity for a luminous glow.

Hand-blended in Australia and sustainably packaged.

littleecoshop.com.au

adytum.com.au

R E C Y C L E D M AT S , A Z T E C N AV Y INDIAN DESIGN R E CYC L E D R U G , $399.95 Handmade by artisans in India, these rugs are created from recycled wool offcuts which are then carefully loomed by hand, so no two rugs are the same. The hard-wearing natural wool fibres in these super-soft but weighty pieces are perfect yearround—as they’re both cosy in winter and cool in summer.

REDBRICK COFFEE PODS, $12 Enjoy your morning coffee with a clean conscience. Canberra roasters Redbrick have created their very own Nespresso compatible, fully biodegradable and compostable coffee pods, available in two of their best-selling blends. redbrick.coffee

PRETT Y FRANK, B E R G A M O T, TEAK WOOD AND LEMON SCENTED CANDLE, $44 Handmade in Sydney, these candles are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly using ethically and sustainably sourced soy wax and cotton wicks, with no palm oil and no paraffin. They come in a range of lush scents and for every candle purchased, a native tree is planted in Australia. prettyfrank.com.au

recycledmats.com.au

Jenny Blake ARTIST PROFILE

After raising five children and working in the media and arts sector, Jenny Blake finally had the opportunity to pursue her art practice. Making up for lost time, she has managed to complete a Diploma of Visual Arts from the Canberra Institution of Technology, exhibited her work in seven group shows and eight solo shows, submitted works for the prestigious Archibald Prize, secured a place as an artist in residence at the Straithnairn Arts Precinct and exhibited works as part of the GX Art Trail within the Ginninderry Display Village. Here we chat to Jenny in her sunny studio in Strathnairn.

How did you come to work out of Strathnairn Arts?

I exhibited out here in 2015 and again in 2018. So that’s when my attraction began because it's such a fabulous location. It's surrounded by the Brindabellas, the views are spectacular—it's really a return to nature. You would think you are out in the bush but you're 15 minutes from the city centre. I’ve been lucky enough to secure a position here for just over 12 months now. It’s such an incredible opportunity for me to really consolidate my art.

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What inspires your work?

I have a special relationship with mountains and the bush, because I grew up in the Southern Highlands and we just roamed the bush as children.

Where I live now, at the base of Mt Stromlo, it takes me just 15 minutes to Strathnairn, and the entire way I'm looking at mountains. So I get inspired from the minute I leave home, to the whole time I'm here in my studio and on the drive home. And it's different colours every day—there are no two days exactly the same which is amazing.

There's also a common theme in my art, and that's the fragility and vulnerability of land, and climate change. I know there's a collective anxiety amongst communities and it's really top of mind for me. When I see and hear what's happening to the world, it's frightening.

And so I'm painting that fragility and trying to tell that story.

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How would you describe your art practice?

My art practice is forever evolving, and I'm forever getting new inspiration, or wanting to test out new products and surfaces to paint on, and even stretching myself to assemblage work and installations and printmaking.

For instance, a few years ago, I went past this builder's skip and saw these pine off-cuts. When the builder told me they were headed for landfill, I thought, ‘right, this wood is going to drive my next exhibition whatever it is’. I literally emptied the wood into the boot of my car and ended up having an exhibition called Block by Block which had a series of miniature abstract landscapes painted on the recycled pine offcuts. So I kept the wood in the world and through each block was able to reinvigorate the landscape.

Rocky Times, Collage, Acrylic on canvas, 60x90cm

Where can people find your work?

Block By Block, Calm, Assemblage, acrylic on pine, Wall mounted, 62x45cm

I currently have three works exhibited in the GX Trail at the Ginninderry Display Village—which has been such a win-win. The artists get to hang their work in beautifully architecturally designed homes in a lovely suburb and they’re available for sale, while the builders get to showcase beautiful work in their homes. I also have a website and I often collaborate with other artists to exhibit work. jennyblakeartist.com

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INSPIRE

Memories of the old school bus

For the Ginninderra valley kids back in the 1940’s, getting to school was a daily adventure that involved stow away ducklings, trading valuables such as catapults, and sometimes getting bogged.

The Old Weetangera Road dates back almost 200 years and was the main track that connected rural homesteads in the old parish of Weetangera to Canberra, providing important access for the homesteads that lay on its route. During the 1940s, it was used to shuttle the children from farms between the Barton Highway and Ginninderry, to their schools in Canberra and back home again.

The Weetangera ‘school bus’ was initially an old Buick, that was later replaced by a green panel van. It was also the source of regular car sickness, much bonding and some fantastic memories.

Dr Mary Hutchison was asked to conduct a Local History Study for the development of Ginninderry, to help new and existing residents appreciate the area’s rich cultural history. She interviewed two of the former school children who travelled up and down this old track through the 1940s and early ‘50, as part of this study, and unearthed some amusing anecdotes.

Marc Polglaze, The Old School Bus, 2019

For Nannette (Nan) Betts (nee Dixon) her foremost memory is one of dread.

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"There were about five of us picked up by a big black Buick provided by the Government Bus Service, and I got car sick on the bumpy trip every bloody day," she recalls.

The bus route would start on the Barton Highway on the Canberra side of Gold Creek Village and then turn onto Charnwood Road making various stops including Charnwood homestead and Fassifern. After crossing the Ginninderra Creek near present day Dunlop, it stopped at Pine Ridge Corner next to Ginninderry and turned into the Weetangera Road which ran near the routes of Drake Brockman Drive, Belconnen Way and Macarthur Avenue into north Canberra.

Even when the Buick was replaced by a green panel van, to accommodate the growing number of school-age kids, the 45 minute journey didn’t get much better for Nan. “We had to climb in the back double doors of the van, sit on a bench seat and hold on tight, especially for the teeth-chattering corrugations on the flats, and also for the steeper sections of O'Connor Ridge where it was barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass.”

Nan especially remembers the area known as Flea Bog Flat which she recalls was "densely timbered and full of pot holes".

James Kilby also remembers Flea Bog Flat, a marshy area that he says is close to where the Calvary Hospital is now.

“The school van, that up to 16 of us at times would cram into, used to get bogged on Flea Bog Flat. But we were never held up for long because there were all these kids that’d pile out of the back of the vehicle and push it,” he says.

For James, who lived at Parkwood, getting to the bus stop was an adventure in itself, requiring him to cross Ginninderra Creek in a 5 kilometre trip.

“We traded birds’ eggs, catapults, ammunition…”

“If the weather was fine, I could ride my push bike to catch the school bus.

But if it looked like rain and the creek would be flooded on the way home, I’d ride my horse. If I’d ridden my horse

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up, I’d leave it in a small yard that my father had built under the shade of the pine trees up at Pine Ridge corner.

David Baird from Strathnairn and Ian and Alan Anderson from Pine Ridge also got on the bus there.”

Despite the journey being bumpy and dusty (the back doors of the panel van never closed properly so the kids would suck in dust and fumes), James says that they made the most of it.

“We traded birds’ eggs, catapults, ammunition and Nan Dixon was keen on breeding geese so she was always flogging off goslings on the bus. We used to trade fruit – peaches, there were always great peach trees up at Lands End and at Kama – Nan Dixon again. What else was there?

Oh, leatherwork. I remember as a kid plaiting red-hide horse whips and things like that – and so did Lindsay Beer at Lands End. He was very good at leather work. You name it, we traded it and coped with each other check to jowl in this bus all the way to Canberra every morning – and the return.”

Even with the daily car sickness, Nan saw her commute as a chance to bond with the other children.

“Because I was an only child - my father had returned from the war - I was terribly shy because I was out in the country and lived with my family, my grandparents and lots and lots of animals. So, to become popular, I used to bring a duckling or a rabbit or a puppy in my bag to school. And do you know what? It worked! I became very, very popular very quickly.”

And what would happen to all these traded items aboard the bus?

According to James, their very patient bus driver, George, would step up, in addition to navigating his way for 90 minutes a day along the rough track.

"We now had all this traded stuff that had to be looked after while we were at school and it became part of George’s job when he got back to the depot to see that the goslings had water and to make sure no one pinched the bullets…”

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INSPIRE

Seven ways you can live more sustainably this winter

The days are shorter, the leaves are falling off the trees, and the temperature is gradually sneaking its way down, which can only mean one thing: winter is on its way. Here are seven ways to live more sustainably through the cooler months this year.

1.

M O R E L AY E R S , L E S S H E AT I N G Before you switch on that heater, there are a number of ways you can keep your home warmer without using precious energy. Check you have adequate insulation in your roof and walls, and seal any gaps and cracks around doors and windows. Consider popping on a jumper or scarf first, and when you do turn the heater on, aim to keep the temperature between 18–20°C. This will not only help save energy, it’ll help reduce your bill.

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2.

3.

4.

GET TOAST Y BETWEEN THE SHEETS

B U Y S E A S O N A L LY A N D L O C A L LY

DITCH THE DRYER

Love getting into a toasty bed? A hot water bottle in bed instead of using the electric blanket will help warm things up while saving energy, as will adding an extra blanket or two.

Help reduce the carbon emissions caused from transporting produce by buying locally.

Head to your local farmers markets or look for grocers who only source local produce. Even better? Start your own edible garden. Just a pot of herbs is better than nothing.

While the cooler temps make it harder to dry your washing, clothes dryers are one of the biggest energy users in the home.

Luckily, Canberra winters are packed with beautiful sunny days, so make the most of the sun’s free energy to dry what you can.

If you have the heating on inside, an indoor dryer rack is also a great option.

6.

5.

SHOP SMART Need some new winter layers? Fast fashion is one of the biggest contributors to waste, so try and steer clear of buying something new and instead go for gently used or second hand items, or stick to buying from sustainably-sourced or recycled brands.

C U T D O W N O N PA C K A G I N G It’s confronting when you really look at how much packaging we use, and even worse when you think of how much of it goes straight to landfill, so try and commit to cutting down on packaging wherever possible. Keep your own reusable coffee cup or cutlery handy for food and drink on the go. As well as taking your own bags to the supermarket or markets, swap the single-use plastic produce bags with your own reusable bags. Even better, switch to shopping at wholefoods stores where you can use all of your own containers and ditch packaging altogether.

7.

C L E A N U P YO U R AC T Get a clean and healthy home by switching to eco-friendly cleaning products that are free of harmful chemicals. And for an even better switch, there are plenty of products available that are completely plastic free or give you the option to reuse and refill containers.

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Here comes the sun The perfect yoga sequence to help you warm up this winter

1.

Stand with your feet hip-width apart.

Press your palms together in prayer position.

Upward Salute

2.

Inhale as you sweep your arms out to the side and overhead.

Gaze toward the sky.

U T TA N A S A N A

TA D A S A N A

Standing Mountain Pose

U R D H VA H A S TA S A N A

Standing Forward Fold

3.

Exhale as you fold forward from the hips. Bend your knees if necessary.

Rest your hands beside your feet and bring your nose to your knees.

4.

Keeping your hands on the floor, inhale and step your right foot back into a lunge. Lower the right knee.

Low Lunge Twist

5.

Exhale, press your right hand flat on the floor (or fingertips), inhale and turn your chest to the left, raising your left hand to the sky.

VIRABHADRASANA I

Low Lunge

PA R I V R T TA A N J A N E YA S A N A

A N J A N E YA S A N A

Warrior I

6.

Exhale, bringing your left hand down to the ground. Lift the right knee and plant the right heel.

Keeping your left knee bent, inhale as you draw the belly in and raise your upper body and arms skyward.

7.

Exhale as you lower your arms to shoulder height, extending them to front and back.

Reverse Warrior

8.

Inhale, lift your left arm and gaze up towards the sky as you glide your right hand down the side of your right leg.

ADHO MUKHA S VA N A S A N A

Warrior II

V I PA R I TA VIRABHADRASANA

VIRABHADRASANA II

DownwardFacing Dog

9.

Exhale and cartwheel your arms forward to plant your hands on the floor. Step your left foot back, lift your hips and press the soles of your feet towards the floor.

Stay here for an inhale and an exhale.

M CHILL

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Whilst we can’t prevent Canberra’s plummeting temperatures and mindnumbing frosts, there are some great yoga poses that can help us build up the internal heat in our bodies, to help us face the external cold.

EL JAN

10.

Inhale, step your right foot between your hands, with your left leg back in a lunge. Lower the left knee.

Warrior II

13.

Exhale as you lower your arms to shoulder height, extending them to front and back.

PA R I V R T TA A N J A N E YA S A N A

Low Lunge

V I PA R I TA VIRABHADRASANA

VIRABHADRASANA II

A N J A N E YA S A N A

Janelle Wilson from Chill Yoga says that the best of these moves are the sun salutations, which when

Low Lunge Twist

11.

Exhale keep your left hand flat on the floor, and inhale as you turn your chest to the right and raise your right hand to the sky.

Reverse Warrior

14.

Inhale, lift your right arm and gaze up towards the sky, and glide your left hand down the side of your left leg.

performed in a flow sequence, can quickly cultivate heat. There are many variations of sun salutations, but here is a flow that Janelle often practices in her classes to warm up winter bodies. Her advice before you give it a go: listen to your body, don’t do anything that feels uncomfortable and remember to breathe!

VIRABHADRASANA I

FRO

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U T TA N A S A N A

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12.

Warrior I Exhale, bringing your right hand down to the ground.

Lift the left knee and plant the left heel.

Keeping your right leg bent, inhale as you draw the belly in and raise your upper body and arms skyward.

Standing Forward Fold

15.

Exhale as you cartwheel your arms forward to plant your hands on the floor and step both feet between your hands.

Standing Mountain Pose

Upward Salute Inhale and slowly

16.

unravel the whole body up, sweeping the arms wide and overhead as you rise.

TA D A S A N A

U R D H VA H A S TA S A N A

Try a class at half price

17.

Exhale and pause for a round of breath or two, then repeat the sequence at least twice more.

Simply go to the Eventbrite site and search for Yoga at Ginninderry. Use the promo code INSPIRE to get 50% off the price of a single class ticket.

Valid for one person for one class only. Terms and conditions apply.

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S AY N O T O FA S T F U R N I T U R E

Eco décor How to furnish your home sustainably

Just like fast fashion, mass produced ‘fast furniture’ is usually made out of low quality materials, like MDF board, which is not designed to last. Instead, invest in high-quality furniture made from quality, natural and sustainable materials.

T H I N K L O N G -T E R M When hunting for decorative products, try to steer away from trends, and instead look for pieces that are timeless and suit your personal style. The aim is to shop more mindfully and far less often so you end up with minimal waste at the end of the piece’s lifecycle. If you hold out and invest in something you really love, you’re more likely to look after it, and less likely to tire of it and throw it away.

R E - U S E W H AT YO U ’ V E G O T

Whether you have moved into a new place and are starting with a blank slate or are just looking to make some updates, furnishing your home doesn’t have to come at the cost of the environment.

Regardless of your style or budget, here are some ideas to help you transform your home, whilst caring for our planet.

Before shopping for something new, try looking at what you already have with fresh eyes and think about how you might be able to reuse it. That table or set of shelves you no longer like could be restored or upcycled and given a whole new life with a bit of DIY. If you do have things you no longer want, try and dispose of them mindfully by donating them to someone you know or someone in need, or recycling them - whatever you can to divert it from landfill.

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U P C YC L E Instead of buying something new, why not give new life to something old?

By upcycling, you’re not only keeping items out of landfill, but you can create beautiful, one-off pieces for your home.

Start with looking at what you already have and think about how you might be able to give it a DIY makeover. Or search for quality, low cost or no-cost pieces at online marketplaces, local markets, op shops, and local re-use centres. Adding a coat or two of paint to old furniture can create a stunning makeover - just be sure to choose non-toxic paints with low or no-Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

SHOP SMART If you want to buy new pieces, try and use local makers, as the less distance a product has to travel, the less its environmental footprint. And insist on organically-produced materials, finishes and furniture to avoid bringing chemicals into your home. Good terms to keep an eye out for are ecofriendly, fair-trade, sustainably sourced materials, biodegradable, eco-friendly, or organic, but it’s always good to do a little digging—some brands may talk the talk but don’t always walk the walk.

G E T T H E M AT E R I A L S R I G H T Remember, not all materials are created equal. For furniture and other decorative pieces, go for natural materials like wood or bamboo instead of plastics, and these days there are plenty of vegan, animal-friendly alternatives to leather. When choosing towels or linens, opt for products made from natural fibres, like bamboo or hemp, and preferably go for organic as well. Even if they cost a bit more, they’re likely to last far longer than synthetic products, saving you money in the long run.

ADD SOME GREENERY

A N D WAT C H T H O S E C A N D L E S

To really make your space pop, indoor plants are also a great addition. They not only look great and are proven to have a positive effect on mental health, they can also help reduce pollution and enhance your air quality.

A beautiful candle is a great way to bring a welcoming scent and warm ambiance to your space, but keep an eye on their ingredients. Stick to highquality soy candles that are non-toxic and eco-friendly, so you don’t end up emitting harmful toxins into the air.

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Putting down roots

The plants to grow when our temperatures drop

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On Canberra’s harshest frosty mornings, it seems unlikely that anything in our garden could survive. But here Ginninderry’s Landscape Manager Matthew Frawley lists the vegetables that not only survive but thrive over the colder months.

BRASSICAS

Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower and kale) are hardy plants that you can harvest over winter. To help them survive and thrive through the frosts, plant them as seedlings in Autumn so that they’re established once Winter hits. They love nutrient rich soils, so feed them with manure, compost and goodness from your worm farm.

CARROTS AND BEETROOTS

To grow the classic root vegetable, you will need a lighter soil that allows the roots to develop freely. As Canberra’s soils are generally clay dense and heavy, try and loosen up the soil by building up the garden level and mixing an imported, more friable soil or sand with the existing soil. Feed the soil with nutrients from your compost bin or worm farm.

GREEN MANURES

Autumn is a good time to plant green manures such as broad beans, snow peas and sugar snaps. As with brassicas, plant seedlings to give them a better chance of surviving winter. Not only will you be rewarded with a great harvest at the end of winter, you can chop up the remaining plants and dig them back into the soil.

This will help improve soil structure, fix nitrogen in the soil and aid water retention across the hotter months.

GARLIC

As a bulb, garlic is the perfect plant to grow over winter. And it’s easy. You simply separate a bulb into cloves and plant the cloves 15 cms apart, pointed end up, with the tips just below the surface of the soil. Mulch with manure, compost and worm casings and wait for spring to see the shoots coming up.

They’ll be ready to harvest in summer.

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Fragrant Spicy Pumpkin Soup WORDS

Hannah Costello

Coming into the colder months there’s nothing better than a warm soup to heat you from the inside out. Right now, pumpkins, chillies, ginger and coriander are available in abundance, making this the perfect recipe to cook in a big batch and freeze for those nights you don’t have time to cook.

And remember, you can cut down on the chilli if you don’t like spicy food or swap out the coriander for another seasonal herb. Enjoy!

EQUIPMENT

METHOD

Blender or stick blender Heavy bottomed pot with lid

– Place paste ingredients in blender and blend until a paste-like consistency is achieved (add more stock if needed) – Heat a large heavy bottomed pot to medium and add oil. Once hot, cook onions until translucent (5-8 minutes) – Add paste and cook until fragrant and golden brown (2 minutes) – Add tomato paste and cook for a further minute – Add cubed pumpkin and potato, stir for 2 minutes then add stock.

– Bring mixture to the boil, then turn down heat to medium low and simmer with a lid for 15-20 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender and cooked through – Turn off the heat and stir in the coconut cream and coriander.

– Blend using a stick blender in the pot, or wait until the soup has cooled and transfer to a regular blender.

– Season with salt and pepper – Serve with crusty sourdough, a garnish of coconut cream and fresh coriander – This soup will last 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer

INGREDIENTS Paste (all ingredients roughly chopped) 2 Red Chilli 2 Inch piece of ginger 2 garlic cloves 4 kaffir lime leaves 2 stalk of lemongrass 1 tsp brown sugar 3 green shallots (save the tops for garnish) 3 stalks of coriander (from the root to where the leaves start) ¼ vegetable stock Or just use your favorite red curry paste (¼ cup) Soup Base 4 tsp olive oil 1 large red onion, diced 1 kg Kent pumpkin, cubed 300gms potatoes, cubed 2 tbsp tomato paste 1.75 litres vegetable stock (homemade or shop bought) 1 can coconut cream (400ml) 1 cup coriander leaves

TOP HINT! Always remember to save your food scraps to make stock! Take any scraps and put them in a large pot, fill with water and bring to a boil.

Lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Strain your stock and that’s it!

You have a tasty veggie stock that will last in the fridge for 2 weeks or in the freezer for a couple of months.

About Stepping Stone Café Stepping Stone Café owners Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello believe in respecting and celebrating diversity.

From hiring refugee and migrant women new to Australia's workforce, to creating a vegetarian menu that caters to all religious and cultural backgrounds, right through to sourcing ingredients from local community gardens, Stepping Stone is truly a place that practices what it preaches.

Vanessa Brettell (L) and Hannah Costello (R)

Their long-term vision is to one day expand their business model into other industries that give women who are marginalised the opportunity to enter an employment situation that is flexible, inclusive and rewarding.

But for now, they’re focusing on serving up delicious vegetarian food within the beautiful, historical Strathnairn Arts homestead.

Stepping Stone Café 90 Stockdill Drive Holt OPEN Thursday–Sunday 9am–4pm WOODFIRED PIZZA Friday (Bookings essential) 4–8pm

Future proof features.

As Canberra’s first 6-Star GreenStar community, Ginninderry is leading the way on sustainability. The GX sustainability trail takes you on a journey of discovery with dozens of the latest initiatives on show in our display homes and throughout the village.

Open every Friday to Sunday 10am – 4pm ProHart Avenue, Strathnairn Visit ginninderry.com or download the App today to plan your visit.