Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

If you’ve experienced loss, it’s likely there are strangers who made an impact on this period of your life.

Kind emergency services staff, compassionate healthcare workers and caring funeral directors can make a big difference.

But something you might not have considered are the people who take care of the spaces where loved ones rest. The workers who carefully and respectfully plan and maintain the places that Canberrans go to grieve and remember.

Michael and Heather are horticulturalists who maintain Canberra Memorial Parks, including Gungahlin Cemetery and Crematorium and Woden Cemetery.

“We’re creating an environment that is part of a sacred place that people go,” Heather said.

“Potentially for some people it’s one of their worst days or times, so there’s an opportunity for us to in some tiny way try and make that better.”

From a horticultural point of view, working on the Memorial Parks is multifaceted.

“We manage a lot of plantings. We’ve got a lot of high-care gardens, which have a lot of input,” Heather said.

This can include:

• pest and disease management
• formative pruning
• weed management
• planning.

“We take things into account like being culturally aware,” Michael said.

“There’s lots of different plants and there are plants that aren’t native to Australia. But they’re still beautiful and very significant to many people. When someone sees those plants that may make them think of home and that may make them feel a bit more comfortable.”

Creating and maintaining a space that provides comfort is key for both Michael and Heather. As Canberra locals, they are keenly aware of the impact that the Memorial Parks have on their community.

“You drive through the gate and you just have that inbuilt job satisfaction,” Heather said.

“You know that you’re part of something that is important to the local community and their family members, as well as local residents that spend time here and cherish the area.”

“I don’t just come to work for the money,” Michael said.

“I come to work because I love what I do. I love the people I work with. I love maintaining and creating an environment that helps families and loved ones when they want to come to the cemetery. They feel comfortable. They see it’s well maintained.”

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Shirley Smith High School has been officially named, with a plaque unveiled at a naming ceremony to mark the occasion.

The school opened this year in Kenny, welcoming its first cohort of year 7 students.

It will, in time, cater to up to 800 students from across east Gungahlin, providing high-quality public high school education.

The school was named after prominent activist and Wiradjuri woman Shirley Smith.

She was a founding member of many important community services in Redfern, Sydney, including the Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Housing Company, and the Aboriginal Children’s Service. 

Shirley Smith’s advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people influenced other communities to establish similar services.

The school has been designed with flexible learning in mind, and also has spaces available for use by both students and the community, including a double gymnasium, covered hard court, an oval and a multipurpose hall.

In addition to the plaque unveiling, a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony were provided by Ngunnawal elder Aunty Tina Brown – who is a distant relative of Shirley Smith’s – to officially welcome everyone to the site. 

Find out more on the Shirley Smith High School website or enrol for 2025.

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Things are looking a little different for Rocky, who held the record as the dog with the longest stay at Domestic Animal Services (DAS).

The three-year-old was at the shelter for over 300 days. This left volunteers scratching their heads as to why the friendly mixed-breed hadn’t found his forever home.

Today, Rocky’s living in a whole new world. For a start, he’s now Oberon, or Obi for short.

While his new family fell in love with him instantly, they weren’t so keen on his name.

He now bears the title of the fairy king in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which the family felt was a much better fit.

“Well, he’s just so gentle. When we picked him up, he was wearing a big studded collar and I felt that it was too much of a stereotype. A tough-sounding name (Rocky) and a tough collar for a tough-looking dog,” his new mum, Kate, said.

She and her family are keen to do away with some other misconceptions too.

“One of the best things about Oberon is how chilled out he is,” Kate said.

“But some people have definitely been nervous … not wanting to come too close. A number of times we’ve come across people with small dogs who have picked them up as we passed.

“On the other hand, plenty of people are happy for Obi to approach their young children. A 12-year-old told me he ‘knows not to judge a dog by the way it looks,’ which was great to hear,” she said.

Adopting from Domestic Animal Services helps people like Kate give a dog a second chance, regardless of their breed, looks or age.

“Working at DAS has really opened my eyes to how many dogs are actually already out there in desperate need of love and a home,” DAS kennel hand Amity said.

“Working with these desperate animals, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the selfless nature of a shelter animal, as well as their beautiful personalities. These incredible dogs are just searching for a sense of security and compassion, and once it is given to them, they never cease to please!”

While many people look for puppies when deciding to add a dog to their family, Amity urges Canberrans to look beyond years.

“Most people won’t adopt as they wouldn’t have been able to raise the dog from a very young age. However, what most people don’t understand is that disadvantaged dogs can have a higher sense of gratitude and appreciation to the family that takes them home.

“Gaining trust is so much more important to these shelter dogs, so they are willing to go so much further to show their new owners just how appreciative they are,” she said.

“Not only is adopting a dog from DAS rewarding, it is also an extremely easy and inexpensive way to find the one you’ve been looking for.”

There are many dogs currently looking for their forever home at DAS.

View dogs up for adoption or visit DAS in Symonston to meet them in person.

DAS is open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 3pm on Saturdays.

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Canberra Raiders fans are in for a treat with a new series of themed podcasts now available.

Supported by funding from an ACT Heritage Grant, the Bleeding Green Interviews share the Raiders’ unique story as part of the Territory’s DNA.

The Raiders have produced a podcast series of oral histories recorded by club historian David Headon.

From players to CEOs, those interviewed offer remarkable insight into both their own histories and the club’s.

There’s coach and legend Ricky Stuart, Hall of Fame Immortal Mal Meninga and Patron John McIntyre, to name a few.

The series been created in a partnership between the Raiders and the ACT Heritage Library.

“The Canberra Raiders plays a fundamental role in our unique ACT identity. The ACT Heritage Library is both honoured and delighted to partner with the Raiders to preserve and provide ongoing access to these oral histories with key people in the foundation and development of the Club,” Antoinette Buchanan of the ACT Heritage Library said.

“They are a rich resource as documents of our sporting, social and regional history.”

The club has generated loyal fans of all ages since its inception in 1982.

The Raiders were the first non-Sydney team to enter the New South Wales Rugby Football League, later the NRL.

The club proudly supports and develops rugby league at all levels and age groups – from grassroots to elite teams.

Six of the interviews are now available through the Raiders website and Spotify.

Those tuning in via the website can also watch the interviews.

The remaining four episodes will be released throughout the current season and all will be available through the Libraries ACT online catalogue.

Episodes available now:

• Episode 1: Glenn Lazarus
• Episode 2: Marian Furner and Don Furner (Junior)
• Episode 3: John McIntyre
• Episode 4: Alan Tongue
• Episode 5: Mal Meninga
• Episode 6: Ricky Stuart.

“The Bleeding Green Interviews project is the perfect follow-up to my Absolutely Bleeding Green history of the Raiders that was published several years ago,” David said.

“We learn so much from those interviewed – fascinating details of the club’s unique history, at once exciting, personal, often humorous and always engaging. Go online and treat yourself!”

Each episode is introduced by recently retired Raiders great Jarrod Croker.

The project was supported with funding made available by the ACT Government under the ACT Heritage Grants Program.

Find the interviews on the Raiders website or Spotify.

Mal Meninga presents the premiership trophy to the crowds in Civic Square in 1989. ACT Heritage Library collection.

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The new South Tuggeranong Health Centre will provide residents with access to a range of free public health services.

These will include paediatrics, pathology, dementia care and chronic disease programs.

The centre’s clinical services and design have been guided by feedback from clinicians, consumers and the local community through consultation carried out in late 2023.

The feedback revealed residents wanted easier access to preventative health services and treatment for chronic disease.

The new centre will offer a range of community-based services that reflect the changing health needs of the Tuggeranong community.

The services available at the new health centre will include:

• paediatrics
• pathology collection
• diabetes clinics
• falls and falls injury prevention
• dementia care
• chronic disease programs
• community nursing
• a virtual care interview room.

The South Tuggeranong Health Centre, located in Conder, is one of five new health centres being delivered across the ACT.

Other centres will be located in the Inner South, North Gungahlin and West Belconnen.

The health centre in Molonglo opened in 2022 to provide women’s and family health care to the region.

The centres will provide integrated multi-disciplinary care with a focus on preventive care and advice, early intervention and the management of chronic illness.

They will complement Canberra’s existing network of nurse-led Walk-in Centres and community health centres.

The ACT Government will continue to invest in health services and infrastructure across the ACT to provide Canberrans with access to the right health care, at the right time and in the right place.

This includes more investment in our health workforce, including recruiting and upskilling our teams and committing to nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios.

The government will soon consult with Inner South and North Gungahlin residents about the services and design of the new health centres coming to those areas.

A development application for the South Tuggeranong Health Centre will be submitted and a head contractor engaged for construction in the coming months.

Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2024 and be completed by the end of 2025.

Find more information on builtforcbr.act.gov.au

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The popular Gardening Australia program will have a distinctly Canberra flavour on Friday 17 May.

ABC TV’s gardening flagship will air a story featuring two ACT schools, several students and much-loved volunteer Carol Quashie-Williams, scientist in residence at both Farrer Primary and Namadgi School.

As a CSIRO STEM Professional in Schools, Carol has enriched the lives of thousands of young people during two decades of volunteering.

She teaches life skills in gardening, nutrition, cooking and teamwork, with lessons in biology, chemistry, earth and environmental science, physics, maths, literacy and art sprouting here and there.

An agricultural and environmental scientist and entomologist, Carol can spot a caterpillar at ten paces, even if it is hidden under the husk of a corn cob.

Namadgi School Principal Gareth Richards says Carol’s way of engaging the kids means her presence is felt whether she is on site or not.

“Even when she’s not at school, the kids are still carrying on with activities she’s taught them,” he said.

“We’ll see them walking around the garden with magnifying glasses in hand, inspecting bugs they find along the way. She has a lasting impact on our students’ lives.”

Another legacy of Carol’s involvement is professional growth and development.

“She builds the capacity of our staff. Working shoulder to shoulder with Carol they have picked up expertise they’ve been able to go on to share with our students,” Gareth said.

Named Volunteer of the Year at the 2019 ACT Public Education Awards, Carol started volunteering when her own children were at school and found it so rewarding she continued after they had left.

With a day job in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, she says her involvement in the schools program enables her to maintain her pest surveillance and diagnostic and science communication skills.

“I enjoy inspiring the next generation of scientists and gardeners and love the enthusiasm of the students when working outside and in the environment centres,” she said.

‘My Garden Path – Carol STEM’ airs on Gardening Australia this Friday 17 May at 7:30pm (repeated Sunday 1:30pm, or catch up via iView or the Gardening Australia website).

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How dog friendly your community is can have a large impact on how connected you feel to where you live.

Luckily for residents of Belconnen, there are plenty of on-leash and off-leash areas that are perfect for families with dogs.

Here are some of our favourites:

Dog park

Belconnen Dog Park – Diddams Close, Lake Ginninderra

This dog park is located on the shores of Lake Ginninderra.

It’s a fenced dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs.

There are both grassy and dirt areas, providing plenty of interesting terrain for your pooch.

There are also shady areas as well as benches. You can take a seat while you watch your dog play with their friends.

Once your dog has had enough of the park, there’s a nearby dog beach as well as a nearby on-leash walking track.

Off-leash areas

There are over 30 areas that are dog off-leash in the Belconnen region.

Mount Rogers Reserve

This stunning spot of bushland in Fraser has a lot to offer.

If you and your dog are active, you’ll love the range of walking tracks. They connect from Evatt, Melba and Spence. The tracks cater to different ability and fitness levels, with varying lengths and degrees of incline.

The reserve offers breathtaking views of the Belconnen region. There are seated and shaded areas, so you can take a break and soak it all in.

Melba Oval

Ovals aren’t just places for people to play sport and work on their fitness, they can be great for dogs too.

While your dog is free to roam and play on the oval while it’s not in use, if it’s booked for formal sport (including training sessions), you’ll need to return another time.

Check when the sportsground is booked for use.

On-leash areas

Umbagong District Park

The new Umbagong bridge walk over the native grasslands is a pleasure for everyone in the family, canines included.

There are various walking tracks including:

• the Heritage Trail
• the Creek and Catchment Trail
• Nature Trail.

There’s also a playground for growing families. However, remember that when in use, all playgrounds, sportsgrounds, picnic areas and barbecue areas become dog prohibited areas. When they’re not in use, you can enter these areas as long as your dog is on their leash.

Lake Ginninderra

Lake Ginninderra is the perfect spot for a scenic stroll, and outside of the dog park, it is a dog on-leash area, as are all lakes in Canberra (unless otherwise signposted).

Other on-leash areas include all streets, verges, footpaths and cycle paths. You’ll also need to keep your dog on their leash if you’re within 10 metres either side of the path.

No matter where in Belconnen your adventures take you, you need to pick up after your dog. Failing to pick up your dog droppings is an offence that carries of a fine of $150. Failing to carry the correct equipment to collect your dog droppings carries a $75 fine. For easy poop collection, why not treat yourself to a Puppoon? The clever invention attaches to your lead and is air-tight to reduce odour. It’s also invented by a Canberran.

Read more about the Puppoon.

Learn more about local spots to take your dog or view on-leash, off-leash, conditional off-leash and dog prohibited areas on ACTmapi’s dog exercise area map.

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