A recent highlight among National Library of Australia author talks was that of Christabel Blackman, focusing on her book, Charles & Barbara Blackman: A decade of art and love, about her late parents, Barbara, the highly-regarded artist, broadcaster, essayist, librettist, poet and patron of the arts, and highly-renowned artist, Charles Blackman. … Read more.
Category: Contemporary Canberra Page 1 of 6
Life in Canberra
For travellers venturing along the Hume Highway between Canberra and Melbourne there’s many delightful country towns and villages to visit, including Bookham, Jugiong, Gundagai, Holbrook, Tarcutta, set on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri people. They’re great for a food, drink and pit stop. Five hours’ further along from Canberra (two hours from Melbourne), Euroa in the Strathbogie Shire (much of which is on the lands of the Taungurung people), is replete with good accommodation and hotels, and delightful eateries, shops, galleries, markets, parks, and historic places. … Read more.
“…[S]ince 2019, we’ve been experiencing our share of setbacks and challenges…the sustained and devastating bushfire season of 2019-2020; the floods that engulfed entire towns; and the COVID-19 pandemic…punctuated by lockdowns, mask wearing, physical distancing, home-schooling, working remotely and all the other changes to our lives that increased the risk of social isolation”, says leading social psychologist and bestselling author, Hugh Mackay, in his latest book, The Way We Are: lessons from a lifetime of listening. … Read more.
Former members of the ACT Legislative Assembly, Annette Ellis (ALP), Giulia Jones (Canberra Liberals), and Caroline Le Couteur (The Greens), recently presented at the National Library of Australia about their experiences as women in politics. For Annette and Giulia who were both brought up in political households where politics was discussed “around the kitchen table”, going into politics may have seemed like a natural progression. … Read more.
Writing in The Canberra Times (Panorama supplement) recently, journalist, Ian Warden highlighted the importance of being exposed to the finest art of the finest artists’ works. He was commenting on his visit to Canberra’s National Gallery’s exhibition of the works of senior Anmatyerr woman, Emily Kam Kngwarray. He opined that viewing such art improves our character-building wonders. … Read more.
Canberra’s National Press Club was abuzz recently with the announcement of the winner of the 2023 Australian Political Book of the Year. The judging panel of the ABC’s chief political correspondent, and author, Laura Tingle; Australian political journalist, and radio and television host, presenter and commentator for the ABC, Barrie Cassidy; and ANU Political Science Emeritus Professor, John Warhurst, considered that Niki Savva’s Bulldozed: Scott Morrison’s fall and Anthony Albanese’s rise met the required criteria for the award. … Read more.
In a talk entitled AUKUS – AN Expensive Folly? at Manning Clark House (11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest) on Sunday, 29 October at 3-5pm, the head of the International and Security Affairs program at the Australia Institute, Allan Behm, will discuss AUKUS. The discussion will centre on whether nuclear submarines and increased defence spending will deliver increased national security as well as considerations of Australia’s cultural and historical experiences that have shaped Australia’s security thinking. … Read more.
The 2023 Manning Clark lecture is to be delivered by Craig Foster co-Chair (with renowned Olympian, Nova Peris) of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), at 6pm on 2 May at Manning Clark Hall, Kambri Cultural Precinct, ANU. As one of Australia’s most respected sportspeople and broadcaster, social justice advocate and human rights campaigner, in Australia’s Third Act: Reconciled, Independent, Truly Multicultural, Craig will focus on the meaning of contemporary Australian identity, social and cultural changes since the 20th century, lessons from the 1999 Referendum and advances in historical understanding leading to a powerful national movement of truth-telling and reconciliation. … Read more.
This year’s Dymphna Clark Lecture “The Politics of Civility” will be presented by The Guardian’s political reporter and blogger, Amy Remeikis. The author of the bestselling book, On Reckoning, and a regular contributor on The Drum, Insiders, The Project, and various ABC Radio National programs, in this presentation, Amy will discuss who “gets a seat at the table”, “has the power to speak”, gets their views heard and has the power to deem who can be included. … Read more.
Renowned long-time sports broadcaster, and current patron of the Early Morning Centre for the homeless and disadvantaged in Canberra, and Ambassador for various other sport-related endeavours, Tim Gavel, will be in conversation with federal MP, Andrew Leigh, about Andrew’s latest essay: Fair Game: Lessons from Sport for a Fairer Society & A Stronger Economy. … Read more.