Category: MIL-OSI

Location: Gladstone Street, Hall

Artist: Geoff Filmer and Raphael

Wildlife street artist Geoff Filmer collaborated with the Hall community to make this vibrant mural. The mural painted on the Hall toilet block channels a wildlife theme. Hall community members told Geoff how an echidna often runs across the road and into the park. This inspired Geoff to include two echidnas in the mural.

The mural is a collaboration with an emerging artist who goes by the name of Raphael. To see more of Geoff’s work visit his Instagram page or Facebook page.

Artist: Eddie Longford

Lady With Flowers

Melbourne artist Dean Bowen makes bronze sculptures with child-like whimsy. Lady with Flowers is close to a bus stop. It’s easy to imagine her catching a bus to the city to visit Bowen’s other Canberra sculpture, The Big Little Man.

Artist: Jimmy Rix

This sculpture is close to the Joey Park Playground in Throsby. It was commissioned to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of Floriade in 2017. It depicts the exchange of flowers as a representation of expressing love.

Artist: Anne Ross

The Monster that Ate Canberra is a children’s book written by author and illustrator, Michael Salmon. This sculpture features the books main character, Alexander Bunyip. You can find it near the Gungahlin Library.

Artist: Malcolm Utley

The local Indigenous people called Gungahlin’s rocky hills ‘Goongarline’. This sculpture is inspired by that landscape. It’s located near the Gungahlin Place Playground.

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Running is good for the mind, body and soul, but getting started can be a little daunting. Maybe you want to know about the best running locations, find a running group to get you motivated, or maybe you just want to get started.

Here are a few ideas on how to get involved in running right here in Canberra.

Canberra is the bush capital of Australia, so there are plenty of tracks and trails to explore. With over 90 parks you won’t be getting bored anytime soon.

The Find a Park map shows all the parks in Canberra, plus what you can and can’t do in them, and the background of each one.

Run clubs are all the rage right now! Whether you are a beginner, looking for friends, or want to challenge yourself with likeminded runners, there will be a run club for you.

Canberra Runners offers a few different groups you can join depending on your availability and schedule.

Running for Resilience caters for everyone. Whether you are a runner, walker or pushing a stroller, they have you covered. They have two possible routes you can take on Lake Burley Griffin.

SundaySeshCBR is here to scratch that end of the week running itch! You can even bring along your furry friend to join in. They take off from On Lake Café in Barton.

Underground Run Club is all about running and being social. Run with some likeminded runners and grab a coffee afterwards to finish off your Sunday run. They meet at Mocan and Green Grout.

Chafe Chasers are all about inclusion and fun! Meeting at the Anchor near Merchant Navy Memorial on Lake Burley Griffin, you can do a 5km run or walk.

Canberra Frontrunners is for all your running, walking, riding and strutting desires. This group was formed to be an inclusive and supportive place for LGBTQIA+ people and allies. They change locations often so make sure to stay up to date on where they are headed.

There are a range of marathons, triathlons and fun runs in Canberra catering to all skill and experience levels. These include:

Sri Chinmoy provides different running events all over Australia including Canberra. Some of the events include the Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail 100, fun runs, Sri Chinmoy Triple – Triathlon and more.

Canberra Colour Frenzy is the most colourful event you can find! This non-competitive run allows you to run, walk, skip, hop or whatever you want through the colour-tastic course.

The Canberra Times Fun Run is one of Canberra’s most iconic events. This course is great for all levels of experience, but specifically great for beginners or those that need an easier run as it is a pretty flat course. Plus all runners get a finisher medal!

Ready to get serious? Join The Canberra Times Canberra Marathon instead. With five different courses to compete in all levels of runners are invited to celebrate running.

The Stromlo Running Festival provides many different running events. From a 5km run to a marathon, you can experience the stretches of wide trail up a vertical gain. Offering scenic views, this is not an event you want to miss.

Capital to Coast is a multi-stage 100km foot race between Canberra and the South Coast of NSW. Each stage ranges from 8km to 15km in length and will take you up and past various elevation and terrains. Run solo or join a relay team of up to four members.

The Aussie Peace walk isn’t necessarily about running, but with tracks ranging from 7km to 42km it’s sure to get your body pumping. This two-day intercultural festival encourages people from all around the world to experience the bush capital.

These events are fun and carefree if you make it that way, as there is no time limit, and no one finishes last. However, if you want to challenge yourself you can always try and beat your own personal record.

Here are the current parkruns happening in Canberra:

• Wagi Bridge parkrun

• Gungahlin parkrun

• Umbagong District parkrun

• Ginninderra parkrun

• Mount Ainslie parkrun

• Burley Griffin parkrun

• Coombs parkrun

• Tuggeranong parkrun

• Point Hut Pond parkrun.

Whether you are starting off, took a break, need some help, or just want to follow a routine, a training program can help you reach your goals. From rookie running to triathlon training, you can find something to meet your needs.

A few training programs here in Canberra include:

Females in Training ACT offer many different supported and self-driven training programs. Not only can you do weekly training sessions, but you can also sign up for a training program that are targeted at specific Canberra events.

Achilles Australia helps Australians with a disability to enjoy a fun sociable active lifestyle. They welcome those to attend a regular training session and ensure members feel safe and supported.

Peak Performance Running will provide you some directions, answers and guidance for your running journey. They will give you weekly advice and help you achieve their club goals.

Eager2Elite provides individual specific running programs to help you reach your goals. You’ll receive one on one coaching, regular feedback and face to face discussions.

There are also hundreds of online training programs you can sign up to and follow along. Join in a community and get your running journey started.

Remember that when it comes to running safety and precaution should come first. Always:

• let someone know where you are off to

• wear sunscreen and a hat

• bring adequate water

• check the weather conditions.

Make sure you stretch and prepare and don’t push yourself well past your limits.

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• Local bar Squeaky Clean was a recipient of the ACT Government’s Tourism Product Development Fund.
• Applications for the Fund are now open.
• Squeaky Clean is one of many Canberra businesses benefitting from new nightlife reforms.

Jon Murphy opened his bar Squeaky Clean just last year with support from the ACT Government’s Tourism Product Development Fund.

And new government reforms are now providing an atmosphere in which the business can thrive.

The idea for the bar came from a desire to fill what Jon saw as a gap in the market.

“I was in my thirties when I got to Canberra. I don’t wear suits or RM Williams, I don’t fit into the mould of the APS person. I tried so many places but I just couldn’t find my people,” he said.

New nightlife reforms

Squeaky Clean is one of many Canberra businesses that will benefit from a range of reforms designed to boost the city’s nighttime economy.

This includes the passage of the Liquor (Night-Time Economy) Amendment Bill 2024, providing eligible businesses with:

• more flexibility around their trading hours
• a reduction in annual liquor licencing fees for supporting live music and the arts
• new provisions around celebrations of special events such as the Olympics and Floriade.

The ACT Government has also introduced new fit-for-purpose Noise Standards in the City Centre Entertainment Precinct. The standards aim to:

• boost the city’s entertainment and cultural scene
• support local businesses
• boost artistic growth
• elevate the visitor experience
• consider community wellbeing.

In a further boost to musicians and the nighttime economy, free parking permits will be available for musicians to access loading zones for 30 minutes to unload their musical equipment. Musicians will be able to apply for a permit via the Access Canberra website.

In brief

• Canberra has beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
• We asked Canberrans on the @wearecbr Instagram page where their favourite spots are.
• Here is a list of the best places in Canberra to watch the sun rise or set.

There are few better ways to start or end the day than by watching the sun rise or set.

One of the benefits of living in the bush capital is that there are plenty of spots to see breathtaking sunsets and sunrises.

Dairy Farmers Hill lookout

This lookout is home to the iconic eagle sculpture, Nest III, at the National Arboretum Canberra. It’s the perfect place to watch the sun rise or set, with 360-degree views of Canberra and the surrounds.

Red Hill Lookout

Whether you choose to hike or drive to the summit of Red Hill, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views. To the northeast you’ll see Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin. Further up the hill toward the west, you can see the Woden Valley, Weston Creek and Mount Taylor.

Davidson Hill

• There is a new sculpture of Susan Ryan AO in the Old Parliament House Senate Rose Gardens.

• Susan Ryan AO was the first female Senator for the ACT and a women’s rights trailblazer.

• The sculpture is by artist Lis Johnson.

The late Honourable Susan Ryan AO has been honoured with a new sculpture. The sculpture is by artist Lis Johnson and is at the Old Parliament House Senate Rose Gardens.

Susan Ryan AO (1942-2020) was a Senator from 1975 until 1988. She was also:

• the first female Senator for the ACT

• the first woman in a federal Labor Cabinet in 1983

• the first woman in a federal Labor Cabinet in 1983.

One of her many achievements was the introduction and passage of world leading legislation. This legislation was to:

• prevent discrimination based on sex, marital status, or pregnancy

• guard against harassment

• dismantle barriers in the workplace.

The sculpture was funded by the ACT Government as part of the Recognising Significant Women Through Public Art program. The ACT Government introduced this program to begin to address the imbalance in gender representation in the ACT Public Art Collection. The program also promotes female or gender-diverse artists through the commissioning process.

The artist selected to create the sculpture, Lis Johnson, is a fine art figurative sculptor. Lis is based in rural Victoria and is highly regarded for her portraits and figurative memorials.

“It was an honour to be chosen to portray Senator Susan Ryan – a truly worthy subject and a great role model,” Lis said.

“An effective parliamentarian, she campaigned for and introduced important legislation, and from my research I got the impression she stayed true to her values, rising above partisan and factional squabbles.”

The sculpture is titled ‘Senator Ryan Addresses the Rally’. It is inspired by a photo of Susan addressing a women’s work rally in 1977. The sculpture has been positioned in the gardens to allow for people to gather in front of the work. People can interact with it and sit on the garden bed beside it.

“We visited different parts of Canberra looking at locations for the statue, and I realised the Rose Gardens was perfect,” Susan Ryan’s daughter, Justine Butler said.

Susan Ryan’s office was on the senate side of Old Parliament House. Justine recalls spending a lot of time there with her brother as children.

“I know children on excursions to Canberra regularly flock to the Rose Gardens. I hope that when they walk past the statue of our mother, it will evoke many questions about Susan Ryan – they will ask ‘Who was she? What did she achieve? What was her life like as a young woman in parliament?’ I also hope this statue will see people more broadly reflect on the place of women in Australian politics.”

This week, the ACT Heritage Library is marking the 40^th anniversary of the commencement of the Sex Discrimination Act and the occasion of the unveiling. The library is displaying some of its Susan Ryan AO archival material, including:

• her autobiography

• photographs

• how-to-vote cards for the 1975 and 1980 Federal Elections.

• The Business Electric Vehicle Charger Rebate Program assists businesses to buy and install EV chargers on their premises.

• Eligible businesses can apply for rebates of up to 50 per cent of the cost (capped at $3,000 ex GST).

• There are other ACT Government initiatives that can support businesses to become more sustainable.

The Business Electric Vehicle Charger Rebate Program is available to help businesses buy and install EV charging infrastructure on their premises.

Eligible businesses can apply for rebates of up to 50 per cent of the cost (capped at $3,000 excluding GST).

These rebates can help businesses looking to make the switch to an EV. They will always have a place to recharge their vehicle.

Charging an electric fleet vehicles on the businesses own premises is cheaper and more convenient than charging at public charging stations.

Businesses looking to buy an EV either new or second hand can also benefit from:

For every petrol or diesel vehicle you switch to electric, your business could save tens of thousands of dollars in running costs over 10 years.

Through the Sustainable Business Program, businesses can:

• receive free advice about electrifying their fleet and the rest of their business

• access up to $10,000 in rebates to make energy efficient upgrades.

The charger rebate is available for eligible businesses based in the ACT that operate or subcontract fleet vehicles.