Police are investigating an isolated incident on Finlay Street, Bridgewater around 8pm last night where a firearm was discharged into a residence.
Two people were home at the time but were not injured as a result of the incident.
If you were in the area around the time and witnessed suspicious activity or have dash cam or CCTV footage, please phone 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.
Information can be provided anonymously. Please quote OR771722.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The classes encourage positive partnerships, body acceptance and social and community connection.
Stellar Step UP! Step Together is a new program of dance and movement classes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The program is the result of a partnership between:
local community group, The Stellar Company
Canberra First Nations dance group, Project Dust.
The program received funding from the ACT Government’s Healthy Canberra Grants program. It aims to improve health education, intergenerational support, and connection to Country and culture.
The classes encourage positive partnerships, body acceptance and social and community connection. There will be 280 classes over the next year, divided into seven series. Each class is led by an experienced teacher.
“Stellar Step UP! is proving to be a deeply powerful and empowering program,” Liz Lea, Artistic Director of The Stellar Company said.
This program helps address some of the barriers First Nations people face to live a healthy life. It is led by First Nations people to maintain connection to Country, culture and community.
“As a proud Darug woman, I have a strong interest in Aboriginal contemporary dance, language, and history,” Emma Laverty, founder of Project Dust, said.
“This ACT Health grant is helping to remove barriers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to spaces they don’t normally have access to and is getting them active and involved in the community.”
The Stellar Company also offers classes for multicultural and LGBTIQ+ young people and those with physical or intellectual disability.
“The Stellar Company is thrilled to be offering classes across five ACT suburbs for people of all abilities, backgrounds and identities,” Liz said.
“Alongside Project Dust, we are proud to be partnering with a range of local dance and fitness businesses for the Stellar Step UP! Program, including Dance4Fitness, Mudra and Moves, and Subsdance.”
The Yerrabi Yurwang Child and Family Aboriginal Corporation also received funding from the Healthy Canberra Grants program for its Yawarj Mara, Strong Pathways program. The program brings together Aboriginal young people from across the ACT. It engages people in culture and increases empowerment and wellbeing through:
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Gungahlin Tennis Facility will be built off Horse Park Drive in Amaroo.
The Development Application has been approved for the new Gungahlin Tennis Facility.
This brings the sporting venue another step closer for tennis-lovers.
Gungahlin Tennis Facility will be built off Horse Park Drive in Amaroo.
It will include:
10 full-size tennis courts
two hot shot courts
a hitting wall
a pavilion
LED lighting
carparking
landscaping.
Gungahlin is one of the country’s fastest growing regions. Tennis is also a growing sport, and the new venue will help attract even more players.
The Gungahlin Tennis Facility is being built by the ACT Government in partnership with Tennis Australia and Tennis ACT.
“Tennis ACT is looking forward to the construction phase of the Amaroo Tennis Centre and a wonderful tennis facility for the community of Gungahlin and the greater ACT and region,” CEO of Tennis ACT Mark La Brooy said.
“After a number of years of planning, community consultation, Estate Development Planning and now the approval of the development application, this sees the realisation of a vital piece of infrastructure that will bring tennis to one of the important growth corridors in the ACT.”
The Gungahlin Tennis Facility will offer a range of programs for all ages.
These will include:
Hot Shots Tennis and school programs
Book A Court
Cardio Tennis
Adult Social Tennis
Junior and Senior Canberra Tennis League
all-abilities programs.
Tennis Australia’s established tennis pathways will also help develop young players.
As well as keeping more young people in the sport, it will support many to realise their sporting dreams.
The new facility will also have capacity to host major tennis events, bringing more people to Canberra.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Concierge Tejas estimates he speaks with customers in Hindi or Gujarati at least 25–30 times a week.
Many frontline service staff at Access Canberra speak multiple languages.
This not only reflects the diversity of the Canberra community but allows them to assist customers who may not be comfortable communicating in English.
Across Access Canberra’s five service centres, staff speak 12 languages, in addition to English.
These are:
Hindi
Punjabi
French
Japanese
Vietnamese
French
Thai
Greek
Gujarati
Croatian
Tibetan
Indian.
Staff wear badges, allowing customers to identify them easily to see which languages they speak.
Woden Service Centre Concierge Tejas is often the first friendly face customers see when they enter the Centre and speaks Gujarati, Hindi and English.
“Being a Concierge I think I speak in Hindi and Gujarati at least 25–30 times a week to help members of community,” he said.
He finds the badge helps Canberrans with little English feel more at ease.
“Wearing the badge gives members of the community an idea that I speak different languages. It invites members of the community who may be anxious of walking into a service centre because they can’t correctly interpret or understand English. I have also seen people who can understand English very well, but speaking it is the problem. Thus, whenever I can, I assist the Customer Service Officer and customer complete a transaction by translating for both,” Tejas said.
“As soon as a customer finds out that I can speak their language, they are delighted and relaxed that they can communicate in a much clearer and better way. Customers are more at ease because I can translate government policies and legislation for them, making comprehending them easier.”
Tejas has worked at Access Canberra since 2021.
“My vision every day is to help members of community who visit the service centre in every possible way,” he said.
“I am proud of wearing this badge because I know I can make a difference and put a smile on someone’s face.”
Many Access Canberra transactions can be carried out online. Visit accesscanberra.act.gov.au to find a translation option on the homepage.
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The National Emergency Medal recognises service in a nationally significant emergency.
CFA staff have been honoured with National Emergency Medals for their contribution to the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire crisis.
The National Emergency Medal is part of Australia’s Honours and Awards system and recognises significant or sustained service in a nationally significant emergency.
At a ceremony on Sunday 6 April, 58 medals were presented to a mix of former and current CFA personnel. They join more than 5,500 CFA recipients who have received the honour for their service during the 2019–2020 fire season.
CFA Board Chairperson Jo Plummer presented the medals alongside CFA Chief Executive Officer Greg Leach AFSM and Chief Officer Jason Heffernan.
Jason paid tribute to the recipients and reflected on the magnitude of their contribution.
“The 2019–2020 bushfires had a profound impact on communities across Victoria and beyond,” Jason said.
“In the face of extreme conditions, CFA members and staff stood tall, supporting each other and protecting communities with unwavering commitment.”
Among the recipients was CFA Manager of Incident Management Systems Luke Heagerty, who described receiving the medal as a humbling experience.
“It’s a great honour to be recognised for the work that people at the State Control Centre (SCC) and other headquarters-based staff did during such a long and testing summer,” Luke said.
Throughout the 2019–2020 fire season, Luke served as a key spokesperson for the SCC, appearing on both national and international TV and radio.
“I remember crossing live to BBC Breakfast on the morning Mallacoota was impacted. Standing there, waiting to speak to the UK about what was unfolding in Australia, that was surreal.”
Luke estimates he took part in more than 300 interviews during the height of the fires between December and January.
“I was a regular voice on ABC Gippsland, particularly in the aftermath of the fire reaching Mallacoota. It was a time of real concern for that community, and I think being a familiar voice on air helped provide some reassurance,” Luke said.
Reflecting on the ceremony, Luke said it was especially meaningful to share the moment with loved ones.
“It meant a lot that they were both invited and acknowledged as part of the ceremony.”
Former CFA staff member Kate Conway, who worked in a support role during the 2019-2020 fire season, was also among those recognised.
At the time, Kate was a junior member of the CFA workforce, providing real-time social media intelligence to support field operations both at the Wodonga Incident Control Centre and in the SCC.
“Being able to go up to Wodonga and be one of the people deployed was humbling, I was quite proud to do it,” Kate said.
“Driving up past the impacts and spot fires into Wodonga, that’s when it hit. You were right in it.”
Kate said the recognition came as a surprise, but one she’s deeply grateful for.
“To put it plainly, I was quite chuffed when I got the email. I didn’t think I did anything remarkable, but I’m proud they considered what I did helpful enough to be nominated.”
“You don’t do it for the awards, but being recognised all these years later gave me time to reflect and realise, ‘that was pretty big.’”
Kate has since gone on to become a paramedic, but she is still connected to CFA.
“I loved being part of CFA so much that when I left to become a paramedic, I joined my local brigade as a volunteer.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The camera will monitor for speed and red-light offences.
From Wednesday 10 July, there will be a fixed road safety camera in place at the intersection of Northbourne Avenue and Bunda Street.
This camera will monitor for speed and red-light offences.
The camera is not an additional one in the fixed camera network. It is a relocation of an existing camera previously installed at the intersection of London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue.
The new location was chosen for several reasons including its proximity to the bus interchange and light rail stop and high level of pedestrian movement in that area.
Road safety cameras detect and deter unsafe driving behaviours and improve pedestrian safety in town centres throughout Canberra.
“Road safety cameras play an important role in supporting road safety in the ACT by reducing speeding on our roads and supporting the ACT Government’s Vision Zero strategy,” Access Canberra’s Executive Branch Manager of Service Delivery and Engagement Emily Springett said.
“Speed limits are set to balance the need for safe and expedient travel as numerous studies have shown that ‘low level’ speeding contributes to a significant percentage of road casualties and fatalities in the ACT.”
For more information on the ACT Road Safety Camera program visit the Access Canberra website.
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If your kit hasn’t arrived as expected or it’s damaged, misplaced or expired, call the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program on 1800 627 701 or fill out the form online.
You can also ask your doctor for a kit.
You will automatically receive your next test kit in the mail every two years after your last screening test is completed.
People with signs, symptoms, or a family history of bowel cancer, should talk with a doctor before screening with the program.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The new skate park is an exciting new space for Canberrans to be active.
A new competition half-pipe at the Belconnen skatepark is now open.
The original Belconnen skatepark was built more than 30 years ago.
The new half-pipe – or vert ramp – is seven metres tall and adds to the parks appeal. It will be an exciting new space for Canberrans to be active and learn new skills including:
skateboarding
freestyle BMX.
The half-pipe was built in sections, which were transported to site and then craned into place and put together.
The project also includes lighting, minor landscaping and two murals.
The first mural was painted by James Houlcroft. The pigeon-headed figures represent the range of skaters who are part of the Canberra skateboarding community. James was exploring the common environments of skaters and pigeons, such as public areas with concrete and corners.
The second mural was painted by Eddie Mo in collaboration with Paul Licayan, known as ‘PAW’ in the street art world. Eddie’s mural replicates the shape and style of the underside of a skateboard. It reflects the culture and history of the Belconnen skatepark, where the practice of decorating the underside of a board is popular.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Support a small Canberra business by shopping at your local bookstore.
Is it just us, or is reading having a moment? Whether it’s more book chats at work, Booktok taking over your social feed or simply walking past a new book shop or cafe, all signs are pointing to yes.
If you’re looking for a way to get into reading, from reading on a budget to joining a book community, there is something for everyone in Canberra.
Shop at Canberra local bookshops:
Wanting to support a small Canberra business? Check out the bookshops in your region:
North Canberra:
South Canberra:
Head to your local library:
Canberra is home to many libraries with one in every region.
Libraries are a great way to read without over-consuming and enjoy books for free. There are also home library services to deliver books to your door and multicultural services available in select libraries.
Check out the Lifeline Bookfair:
The Lifeline Bookfair is a book-lovers dream event. Not only are you getting second-hand books, but you are also donating to Lifeline.
There are multiple events throughout the year at EPIC and at Tuggeranong, but if you can’t wait you can always check out Lifeline’s permanent store, Book Lovers Lane at the Fyshwick Markets. Lifeline also accepts book donations at their warehouse in Mitchell. Just make sure you read the checklist to ensure your books are resalable.
Join or create a book club:
Canberra has some amazing book clubs to join, you can find them through Facebook, or you can join and create one through ACT Libraries.
Café Stepping Stone host a monthly silent book club at its Strathnairn cafe. This isn’t your ordinary book club. It is silent, and there is also no assigned reading. Participants simply bring along whatever they like and read along quietly with fellow readers. Hours of uninterrupted reading time? Yes please! Find out when the next event is.
Tough Guy Book Club is a network of men’s book clubs in local pubs. They are scattered all over Australia, with Canberra home to a few different meet ups. They get together, read, chat and have a good meal at a pub. See when and where they are meeting next.
Canberra Fantasy Book Club is all about reading fantasy! If you love dragons, witches, fairies and all things mythical, then this might be the group for you. Join the Facebook page here.
ACT Libraries allows you to register and create a book club at your preferred branch. You can access 12 copies of the same book from their collection of 375 titles, create an online account and membership card, and get discussion guides. Sign up for a book club or learn more.
Follow and find a street library:
Did you know you can find libraries on several Canberra streets? Street libraries allow you to bring a book and swap it with one already in the library.
If a street library is missing from your suburb, you can create your own!
Read from Canberra authors:
Civic Library regularly showcases Canberra authors and their books. You can find copies of recent books, and all can be borrowed from the library. Books from local authors are held for two years in the showcase before getting added to the ACT Heritage library or placed in the general lending collection within libraries ACT.
Book cafes:
Wanting to sip on a delicious drink or enjoy a tasty treat while indulging in a new book? Pulp Book Café is a cosy coffee shop with an added focus on books!
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Emergency Department will be located at street level.
When Canberra Hospital’s Critical Services Building opens in August, it will house a range of hospital services.
While services will stay where they are until August, many critical care services will move to the new building, to be known as Building 5.
This will transform the hospital campus. So, it’s important to have an idea of what is moving and where, so you’ll know where to find things next time you visit.
The Critical Services Building will include Canberra Hospital’s main reception.
You will also find the following services there.
Emergency Department (ED) with dedicated children’s emergency area
The Emergency Department will be located on street level.
Its dedicated entrance will have improved features to make pick-up and drop-off safer and easier.
The ED will have room to grow in the years to come.
Its location will allow for better connections between acute services, as well as direct lift access to the new Helipad.
The dedicated children’s emergency area will have its own triage and waiting area, enabling paediatric patients, carers and families to stay together, separate to the rest of the ED.
Operating theatres The building’s new operating theatres will be located on Level 3.
These will include state-of-the-art hybrid and interventional radiology suites to allow use of the latest advances in medical technology.
Sterilising Services Unit Located on Level 4, the centralised Sterilising Services Unit will have the latest equipment and machinery.
It will also have direct lift access from the building’s operating theatres to improve efficiency.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) The Intensive Care Unit will be located on Level 5.
Bed capacity in the ICU will increase over time, ensuring it can grow with the community’s health needs.
Two outdoor terraces connected to the ICU will enable patients to go outside as part of their healing and recovery.
One of these terraces will also have a dedicated visitor courtyard that can be accessed through a visitor’s lounge.
This will help support families and carers at a vulnerable and stressful time.
Inpatient cardiology services Cardiology services will be located on Level 6.
These will comprise the Acute Cardiac Care Unit, the Cardiac Catheter Lab, and the Cardiac Day Unit.
Locating these services together will help patients transfer smoothly between them.
The Acute Cardiac Care Unit will expand. The number of Cardiac Catheter labs and Cardiac Day beds will also increase.
There will also be a dedicated lab for cardiac electrophysiology procedures, which evaluate the electrical activity of the heart and diagnose arrhythmias. Another larger lab will be able to accommodate more complex procedures such as TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation).
Inpatient wards Inpatient wards will be located on levels 6 and 7.
There will be five inpatient wards throughout, including the Acute Cardiac Care Unit, providing both surgical and medical inpatient beds.
The wards will include the Acute Medical Unit, Emergency General Surgery and Trauma, Neurosurgery and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, and Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery.
Medical imaging While the hospital’s main medical imaging suites will remain in Building 12, there will be additional medical imaging facilities in the Critical Services Building.
This will include X-ray, CT, ultrasound and MRI.
This state-of-the-art new building will create a better-connected hospital.
It has been built to future-proof acute care services. As the Canberra community grows over time and into the future, so too will hospital services.