The Hobart Magazine May 2023

INDEPENDENT + LOCAL

CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS!

PROMINENT HOBARTIANS REFLECT ON THE PAST AND FUTURE FIVE YEARS

FREE!

NEWS FROM YOUR COMMUNITY

PSYCHOLOGY: TRY A STRESS RESET

HISTORY: IS THIS TASSIE’S BEST UNKNOWN ARTIST?

MAY EVENTS + MORE

DANCER AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE ERI MULLOOLIHILL KONISHI ON WHY CONNECTION MATTERS

WELCOME TO

THE HOBART MAGAZINE

On the cover this May is a cake to celebrate the fifth anniversary of The Hobart Magazine. I’ll never forget the first time I saw a reader “in the wild” pick up a copy and thumb through it. It still gives me a thrill - as does receiving your emails, messages and comments about what we’re doing.

This edition we’ve asked some of our past cover people to share a word to describe their past five years - we hope you enjoy their reflections and hopes for the next five years.

We’re a family business and love our place as independent media in Hobart. It’s important to us

to share a snapshot of what’s happening in Hobart each month - the good, the bad, the fun and the questionable. We thank everyone who has been involved in the journey so far - readers, advertisers, distributors and our fabulous team of creative contributors.

Thank you!

Editorial

Stephanie Williams

editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

Advertising advertise@thehobartmagazine.com.au

(03) 6295 3742

www.thehobartmagazine.com.au

Creative

Taylor Stevenson

Cover image: Cake by @hobartcakelady

This page: Deni Cupit

Publisher Information: While all care has been taken, some information may have changed since publication. The Hobart Magazine regrets it can’t accept liabilities from errors or omissions contained in this magazine. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or amend all advertisements without explanation. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in articles and advertisements are not endorsed by the editor or publishers. We welcome any questions, feedback or submissions, email editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au.

The Hobart Magazine acknowledges the Tasmanian Aboriginal People as the Traditional Owners and ongoing custodians of lutruwita/Tasmania. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to their Elders past, present and emerging.

All the best,

Steph, James and The Hobart Magazine team

KEN KERR

Interview: Stephanie Williams

His work life revolves around cars, but Audi Service Manager Ken Kerr loves nothing more than family time and Playstation in his downtime.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up in a town called Centurion in South Africa. I now live in Lenah Valley.

Tell us a little bit about your work? I’m the service manager for the Audi Centre Hobart and Jackson VW. I try to create the best workplace in Hobart - happy employees mean happy customers.

Which do you think is your favourite car make/model and why? I’ll always say AUDI!!!

How are electric vehicles (EVs) changing the servicing industry? EVs are changing the type of work technicians do; they are almost programmers now with all the software checks they do.

Are there car makes/models that come in more often for servicing? Servicing is dictated by distance travelled and time, so usually tradies and commercial vehicles are serviced more often.

What can people do between services to extend the life of their car? Always check your fluid levels for oil and coolant. Make sure the tyre pressures are always correct as cars don’t always love doing short trips.

What do you love doing outside work? Family time is very important to me, so anything with my wife and children is top priority. Watching my girls play sports is my favourite thing.

Who do you admire? My Dad.

What’s your favourite podcast or tv show? The Joe Rogan Experience and The Mandalorian.

Secret vice? Playstation. It’s my ‘me’ time!

What are you reading now? Not a Life Coach by James Smith.

What gets your goat? People who talk down to others; no one is more special than anyone else.

Do you have any pets? Yes two, a Maltese shih tzu named T-rex and a beagle cross spaniel named Nacho.

What was your first job? Pizza delivery.

What are your daily news/social media habits? I’ve moved

away from reading the news recently as it all seems doom and gloom.

Your favourite place (in Hobart) for… Brunch: Whisk and Co. Dinner: Peppina.

Favourite team? Manchester United (international) and Sydney Swans (local).

Favourite Hobart secret? Elrick at Wide Awake coffee in North Hobart.

Parting words? Don’t just assume, always ask and find out!!!

The Spotted Quoll Studio Autumn/ Winter 2023

The

Photo by Tobias Clarke

ERI MULLOOLIHILL KONISHI

Interview: Peta Hen

Pictures: Supplied

After a jam-packed last few years performing with Second Echo Ensemble, we found out what’s next for artist, performer and Dance Movement Psychotherapist Eri Mullooly-Hill Konishi.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I was born and brought up in Japan. Since childhood I became greatly fascinated by different cultures and places, which encouraged me to later travel around. I lived in Germany, the UK, and stayed long-term in India. I came to Australia in 2015 as a backpacker. I left once but came back in 2019. Since then, I’ve been living in Lutana.

Tell us a little about your work. I’m a dance/movement artist and a registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist. I work across diverse communities in nipaluna/ Hobart, such as people with special needs and migrant communities. Dance Movement Therapy stands on the premise that our body and mind are very closely connected to each other. It consciously brings our attention to our bodies and utilises natural and creative movement to express, reflect, and deepen our understandings towards our inner world as well as our relationships to the external world we live in. The practice helps us to be better in touch with our bodies, emotions, and our true-selves, and form healthier connections with others. Dance Movement Therapy approaches and thinking are at the heart of my practice in both working as a dance/movement artist and therapist. And I love my work! I work

for Second Echo Ensemble with a collective of beautiful artists with diverse abilities and modalities and perform at FARO restaurant of MONA museum along with talented musicians, as well as at various events and festivals. I also offer classes and workshops, and individual therapy. Occasionally I work for Migrant Resource Centre as a bicultural worker too.

Why did you first get into Dance Movement Psychotherapy? I wasn’t interested in becoming a psychotherapist at all. I always loved dancing so wanted to do something related. I danced so much more than studying while at university in Japan but stopped to focus on job-hunting in the final year at the uni. When you graduate, you have a secure job starting from Spring. It was very common in Japan. Fortunately, I got employed by an old company that runs department stores internationally, which gave me my second opportunity to live in Germany. I was happy to be back there but gradually started to question what really makes me feel fulfilled. One day when I was at work, an older Japanese couple came into the store, visiting Frankfurt that day. The husband was a little sick and the couple was worried in a foreign land. As I could converse in German, my boss asked me to accompany them to a nearby pharmacy. I translated the conversations, and the couple greatly appreciated what I did. It was a small incident but had a huge impact on me. I realised being able to form a heartfelt, authentic connection with others fulfills me.

You do a lot for the community through your classes and workshops. Why Hobart? My husband Rupert grew up in lutruwita. The family is one of the main reasons why I am here. Being a migrant, my contact used to be quite limited at the beginning, but it allowed me to develop a few significant friendships over time. Since I joined Second Echo Ensemble in 2020, my connection with local artists has grown massively. Now I feel great sense of belonging in Hobart, having built valuable friendships and rich connections across different communities.

You toured with Second Echo Ensemble and were a part of The Beauty Project. Why did you get involved? At Second Echo we worked as a collaborative team and support each project altogether in various ways. For The Beauty Project, I was so happy when Elise, the director, invited me to join as one of the model performers. Unfortunately, I got Covid and couldn’t perform for the Hobart shows but managed to watch their last performance. One of the performers, William, lives with diabetes and his device beeped during the show. Rodri, who was there to support Will, ran to help him out. Those humanistic, raw, real life situations were actually pretty powerful to witness as part of a performance.

What events and/or tours do you have lined up for the future? I run a regular class called “Creative Movement Gathering” on one Sunday a month at The Fourth Floor. If you are interested in experiencing what Dance Movement Therapy can be, it is a good platform. The next event I will be part of is Story Festival by Clarence City Council in May. Then, in June I will be involved in Dark Mofo.

What do you love doing outside work? I enjoy catching up with friends for good chat and food, going for bushwalks or stroll at Cornelian Bay with Rupert, going for shows and gigs especially when my friends are involved, and cuddling Apollo and Pudding, our cats (brothers who don’t fancy each other so much) at home.

Who do you admire? I admire my late grandparents, Yasuhiro and Kazuko Konishi. I was especially very close to

my grandpa. He was a very handy man who did lots of things. His right hand lost three fingers when he was 19, but it never seemed to have bothered him at all. My grandma was the first person in my life to have told me the importance of condoms. She was warm, smart, and could say things others might find difficult to voice at times. They are my life-long great role models.

Favourite podcast or tv show? We have no TV at home. I don’t listen to podcasts very often.

Secret vice/Bad habit? I’m pretty friendly in general, but at times can be a bit moody and short tempered at home. Rupert knows. Also, I find it very hard to give up potato chips...I love Tyrrells! I really hope they bring Salt & Cider vinegar flavour back here.

What gets your goat? I feel sad when I see many rice grains left on a bowl or plate. In Japan, we were brought up being

told not to leave any rice grain, because there is so much effort of the farmer condensed into one single grain, or there are seven gods living in one single grain of rice. I also get upset about animal abuse and deforestation.

What was your first job? I worked at a fancy Japanese restaurant near the university I studied in Japan. I was 18. We all had to wear Kimonos to work. One evening we were waiting for the guest to arrive at a foyer. I started dancing and got a warning from a supervisor. Of course, I didn’t last long in this job.

What are your daily news/social media habits? Not so great. Well, I’m trying to reduce the amount of time I spend on it. I forget about my phone when I’m with friends. But when I’m alone, it’s very easy to get dragged into scrolling to my amazement. A friend of mine recently told me that she started a new habit where she doesn’t touch her phone once she finishes her shower at night. I’ve started to follow

this too and read instead. It actually feels so much better.

Your favourite place (in Hobart) for… Breakfast: I don’t normally have brekkie out.

Lunch: Heart Food in Bank Arcade, and Straight Up on Liverpool Street.

Dinner: Danphe on Collins Street and Spice on Wheels in New Town

Favourite team? Hanshin Tigers – a baseball team based in Osaka. My dad, and now Rupert too, are big fans of the team. I don’t really follow baseball games, but because of my dad’s huge passion, I grew up sensing the Tigers’ spirit always around me.

Parting words? Otsukaresama! Matane! It’s very hard to translate Otsukaresama. It is an expression we use to acknowledge the person’s effort and commitment for whatever they were doing on the day. Matane means see you soon again, in Japanese.

Bring on the night!

Tickets out now

BITS AND PIECES

NEW NEW NEW

The new home of Villino coffee, Wondr (43 Sunderland Street, Moonah) has officially opened, giving coffee lovers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of coffee roasting production, along with delicious drinks and snacks in their brew bar. Open Mon-Fri from 6:30am-2pm, head in to stock up or learn about all things coffee. A decadent new lunch spot, Becker Minty dining room (91a Salamanca Place, Battery Point) has opened, showcasing the freshest Tasmanian-sourced produce. Dine on sugar-cured wallaby or seafood chowder among a collection of Australian art, fashion, homewares and decor. Lunch is on from Thurs-Mon 11:30am-3:30pm. Becker Minty also opens as a bar TuesWed 12-5pm. Shari (Kingston Park public car park) pulled into Kingston recently and have been serving up fresh sushi and sashimi boxes. For a twist on the classic sushi roll, try their temaki: juicy fried chicken, fragrant rice and housemade tartare sauce wrapped in a nori seaweed cone. Chou oishii! Find Shari at their food truck every Sunday from 12-4pm or at the Tasmanian Produce Market at Kangaroo Bay on Saturdays. The Serve Bar (2 Davies Avenue, Queens Domain) has opened and is ‘serving’ up the goods at the Domain Tennis Centre. With a birds-eye view of the courts, you can grab a locally brewed frothy or coffee, something from the food menu, and sit back and watch the action. We hope you

‘love’ it. Burger Zone has undergone a facelift, now rebranded as Extra Cheese Please (325 Argyle Street, North Hobart). They serve a range of eats from sky-high, stacked burgers, crispy fried chicken wings, dumplings, pasta and more. Open Mon-Sat from 5:30-9pm. A new plus size fashion label, ecclestone (www. ecclestone.com.au), has been launched by Hobart fashion influencer (and one of our past cover people!), Katie Parrott. Classic, versatile and ethically made, ecclestone provides designer fashion staples made for curvy queens. For the rock climbers hanging out for this one, Rock It Climbing Centre (4-6 Elmsleigh Rd, Derwent Park), is set to open any moment now. Check out their Facebook page @RockItClimbingDerwentPark for the skinny on that.

TIME TO CHECK YOUR TA-TAS!

The Mother’s Day Classic, an Australia-wide charity event that raises money for breast cancer research, is right around the corner. It’s a good reminder for all women to check their breasts and for those over 40 to get up to date on their mammograms. Everyone, gender aside, should routinely check their breasts/pecs/ chest area and speak to their doctor if they notice anything of concern. Glebe Hill resident and ambassador for this year’s Mother’s Day Classic, Corissa Venetacci, 46, is a breast cancer survivor whose diligence with regular self-checking saved

her life, after she noticed changes in her right breast. The diagnosis came as a shock - Corissa had no family history and was always up-to-date with her mammograms. “I’m the biggest advocate in educating ladies that MAMMOGRAMS ARE FREE FROM 40! There is such a misconception out there that they’re free from 50, but this is not the case.” Corissa encourages all women to check themselves and get screened as early as possible so that they have an imaging history that doctors can compare every two years so cancers can’t be missed. To make an appointment at a BreastScreen Tasmania clinic in Hobart or with a mobile unit, call us on 13 20 50 or request an appointment online at www.health. tas.gov.au. The Mother’s Day Classic is on May 14 at Bellerive Beach Play Park www.mothersdayclassic.com.au.

NEW CARDIOLOGY UNIT FOR THE ROYAL NOW OPEN

A new $10.7 million state-of-the-art Cardiology Unit has opened at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH). Patients with serious heart conditions such as strokes and heart attacks will benefit from the expanded and upgraded cardiology unit. The new facilities include 22 general cardiology beds, 5 Cardiac Day Unit beds, 8 Critical Care Unit beds and 3 beds for a new sleep studies centre. The completion of the Cardiology Unit forms part of Stage 2 of the Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment. In the coming years, Stage 2 of the Masterplan will also deliver an expanded Intensive Care Unit, an Older Person’s Unit and other refurbished facilities in A-Block and J-Block of the hospital.

BITS AND PIECES

BLUE TONGUE BONANZA

The Blue-Tongued Lizard population at Bonorong skyrocketed recently thanks to the rescue and rehabilitation of Nala,

aka The Botched Blue-Tongue, who then unexpectedly gave birth to 10 babies at Bonorong whilst recovering from a serious run in with a lawn mower. Bonorong have educated us, saying: “female bluetongues give birth three to five months after mating and give birth to live young (rather than laying eggs). The babies develop in their mother’s oviduct with a placenta, which is as well developed as that of any mammal. The babies eat the placenta at birth and are ready to look after themselves straight away.” Nala’s wounds have healed and she is now in care with some experienced reptile carers,

COMPASSION, DONATIONS AND FOOD FOR HOBART’S HOMELESS THIS WINTER

Interview: Stephanie Williams

We spoke with Harvey Lennon, CEO of Hobart City Mission ahead of their Sleep Rough event on 27 May, which is raising much needed funds to help those sleeping rough this winter.

Hobart is a particularly tough place to sleep rough in winter. Does Hobart City Mission have any immediate needs coming into winter? We are always so grateful for financial donations at this time of year – they help us to not only run all our current programs, but also be flexible and quick to react to the needs of our community. We’ve recently seen a drop off in the number of donations of food and pantry staples, which we give out to people who are homeless or in financial difficulty. So any donations of food are greatly appreciated.

How will the proceeds from the event be used to help those who are sleeping rough? The proceeds from Sleep Rough help to fund our various programs that either directly help people who are sleeping rough, or help people to move out of long-term home-

lessness and into housing. For example, if you raise $100 at Sleep Rough, you could provide a supermarket voucher to someone sleeping rough so they can buy food and other essentials. Or if you were to raise $1000 dollars, you could help fund a safe home and support for a dad and his children, who had previously been experiencing homelessness.

What ways can our readers support those sleeping rough or without a permanent home? We’d love to see at least 300 people join Sleep Rough and raise funds and awareness to help fight homelessness in Tasmania – sign up via www.sleeprough.com.au. You can also help out by making a donation,

and she’ll be released back into the wild once she is fully healed.

NEW STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

This month Hobart hosts a new storytelling festival for young people. Storygig will celebrate readers, writers, visual artists and media, dance and music over the last weekend of May. It’ll feature Lian Tanner, Jeannie Baker, Leigh Hobbs, Alyssa Bermudez and more. Saturday 27 - Sunday 28 May, 10-4pm at Franklin Square, Hadley’s Orient Hotel and live online across Tasmania. Head to taswriters.org for more.

volunteering with Hobart City Mission, or donating quality second-hand items to City Mission Op Shops.

And finally, try to be compassionate towards people who are experiencing homelessness or going through a tough time. Oftentimes, there have been a series of difficult circumstances that have led to someone being in that situation. Everyone is doing the best that they can, with the resources they have available to them. By being kind and helping others build on those resources, we can create a more compassionate, resilient and connected Southern Tasmania. Details on what’s most needed are available through our website at www.hobartcitymission.org.au and donations can be made at the Hobart or Moonah office.

IT’S THE O FF SEASON NOT THE QUIET SEASON

When winter arrives, the real Tasmania wakes up. And it’s more than a little ‘off’. It’s getting way off the beaten path. It’s hitting it off with others after dark. It’s ripping the straitjacket of routine life right off. A time to feast harder, dance longer, and launch ourselves into mother nature. A chance to drop our inhibitions. Release our minds. And reconnect with ourselves. If the dark awakens something inside you, there’s nowhere better to let it all out than Tasmania’s Off Season.

→ Visit discovertasmania.com.au/off-season

COWABUNGA QUEENS! SHE SHREDS IS BACK

Girls and those identifying who want to get into skateboarding or hone their skills, now’s the time to drop in - the She Shreds Development Squad is back for Term 2. The program runs for 12 weeks and sessions are based on skill level - from those learning how to skate and drop in, to queens who know how to shred it with the best of them and want to learn new, more advanced tricks. She Shreds Australia is a not for profit organisation created to empower girls’ and those identifying through skateboarding. For more info head to www.facebook.com/sheshredsaustralia.

CALLING ALL HOBART TEENS! SPEAK UP IN AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST YOUTH SURVEY

Mission Australia is calling on young people aged 15-19 to have their say. As the largest survey of its kind, Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2023 provides a valuable snapshot of what young people think and feel. Last year, 621 young people in Tasmania completed the survey, with the environment, equity and discrimination, and mental health topping the issues. Mission Australia Tasmania State Director Mychelle Curran said the Youth Survey was, “an essential platform for young people to express their concerns, aspirations, and experiences and amplify their voices to instigate change.” Mission Australia Youth Survey 2023 is open from March to August and takes 20 minutes to complete. To take part, visit www. missionaustralia.com.au/youthsurvey.

POTATO WOES?

Hot on the heels of months of potato shortages and price hikes comes more bad news for the local potato industry (and dedicated fans of the potato in all its delicious forms) with the detection of a potato tuber virus on some Tasmanian properties at Little Swanport, Bangor/Dunalley, Cressy and Connellys Marsh. The virus, spread by aphids, causes a disease called potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (ew) which results in dark unsightly rings on tubers. Biosecurity Tasmania is working with industry and relevant authorities, including the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, a seed supplier and the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association so we hope they can nip it in the bud…or spud!

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO REDUCE CHILD MALTREATMENT

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) results, released last month, were a wake up call that urgent action is required around child maltreatment and abuse. The ACMS study has found that child maltreatment is widespread and girls experience particularly high rates of sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Child maltreatment is associated with severe health risk behaviours, both in childhood and adulthood and emotional abuse is particularly harmful and is much more damaging than society has understood. “The detailed evidence from the ACMS research, tells us what we need to know to develop a national strategic, evidence-based, cross-sector, whole-of-government and indeed a whole-of community approach to reducing child maltreatment and its consequences,” the Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean said, going on to say that, “We need to invest more, and we need to invest better. With the ACMS findings there is no longer any excuse not to.” If you need support, help is available here at www.acms.au/support-services.

THUMBS UP

Parts of the Midlands Highway have returned to normal speed limits.

City of Hobart are greening up our streets by giving away free plants for nature strips throughout May.

Harry Potter fans rejoice as Quidditchinspired Quadball games are coming to Parliament Lawns this winter!

Warming slow cooked casseroles, roasts and stews are back on the menu.

THUMBS DOWN

Flight cancellations and delays - STILL!

Parking disputes in residential streets with open parking. No one owns the street parks.

Elizabeth Street Bus Mall is still hectic with cancellations, delays and eshays.

The continuous need to change drivers licences because hackers…hackers everywhere.

Cold, weak coffee.

BITS AND PIECES

Edinburgh, Dublin and Prague), and Launceston is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

GET READY TO BURN, BABY BURN

STADIUM OR HOUSING? HOBART HAS OPTIONS.

A new proposal for Macquarie Point has been put forward by Our Place, a group of Tasmanians who wish to see development that benefits Tasmanians, in partnership with Bence Mulcahy architects. Presented as an alternative development for the site, the Macquarie Point Vision is a development plan that would see the site used for housing and diverse communityoriented spaces.

The $300 million Macquarie Point Vision includes 1000 sustainably-designed dwellings for private and public housing, an Indigenous cultural and heritage centre, a modern State Library, the Australian Antarctic Program Headquarters, parks, art spaces and cycle ways, along with a transport hub that incorporates light rail to the outer Hobart suburbs. The contemporary vision has sustainability and diversity at its core while including current existing places of significance such as the Cenotaph and the Royal Engineers Building. The Macquarie Point Vision presents an alternative to the proposed high profile stadium. Check the vision out for yourself at macquariepointvision.net.au.

HOBART CITIZENS OF THE YEAR

A dentist and an arts professional have

been named as Hobart Citizen and Hobart Young Citizen of the Year. Hobart Citizen of the Year Kelly Drummond Cawthon is the Creative Director of Second Echo Ensemble, which aims to increase the visibility of those living with mental illness, disability, neurodiversity or experiencing disadvantage by providing a platform to tell their stories through performance. Dentist Gavin Quek has been named Hobart Young Citizen of the Year for his dedication to improving the oral health of all Tasmanians. Congrats to both!

IS HOBART A CITY OF LITERATURE?

Hobart is putting forth a bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature. Literature flourished in Hobart’s early days - the first Australian novel, Henry Savery’s Quintus Servinton, was published here in 1831. The nation’s first public library opened here and the town published the nation’s first free press newspaper. Nowadays we house many esteemed and award-winning writers and host more than our fair share of writers festivals and literature events. A working group presenting the bid has stated, “We want to recognise and celebrate this on the world’s stage. We want to use this community energy to address one of Tasmania’s most pressing challenges: literacy.” Melbourne is currently Australia’s only City of Literature. There are 42 Cities of Literature worldwide (including

The 2022-2023 Fire Permit Period has officially ended, and now is the time to consider reducing fuel loads ahead of next summer. Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, said it was important to prepare for next summer now. “Fuel loads are high after a number of wet years and with the potential for a hot, high-risk, El Nino summer ahead we need to reduce the danger now. Landowners still need to take steps like managing the size of your fire, considering conditions and working closely with your neighbours to make sure that fire and the smoke from your burn isn’t going to impact others.” Landowners should contact the Tasmania Fire Service to register their burns and ask for any advice they might need on 1800 000 699 or visit fire. tas.gov.au.

STUDENTS AGAINST UTAS MOVE

The peak student body of the University of Tasmania have stepped away from their neutral position on the Sandy Bay to Hobart CBD campus move, saying the levels of consultation with students have been ‘sparse and tokenistic’. The State Council of the Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA) released a statement addressing some of the major issues that had led to the change. The statement said “State Council have progressed our stance away from one of neutrality after a continued lack of genuine student voice and input at the decision-making table for the campus move. We believe that, without intervention, the campus move will continue to negatively impact current and future University of Tasmania students. Our position remains that the Hobart city campus move should not go ahead, but we are open to re-evaluation of our stance if the Universities’ consultation practices improve, and student feedback toward the move becomes more positive.” Watch this space!

AUSSIE SHARK EGG HUNT FOR CITIZEN SCIENTISTS

Next time you’re taking a stroll along the beach, have a phone handy to capture any strange looking objects that may have washed ashore. CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, is calling on citizen scientists to find and record egg cases washing up on Australian coastlines. The Great Eggcase Hunt has launched in Australia to help provide new data for scientists studying the taxonomy and distribution of oviparous chondrichthyans: egg-laying sharks, skates and chimaeras. Helen O’Neill, CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection biologist, said “recording sightings of egg cases on beaches and coastlines would help scientists discover what the egg cases of different chondrichthyans look like, with some species still unknown.” Also known as mermaids’ purses, egg cases come in many different shapes and colours, ranging from cream and butterscotch to deep amber and black. Some egg cases have a smooth and simple appearance, while others have ridges, keels or curling tendrils that anchor them to kelp or coral. To get involved in the Great Eggcase Hunt, you can record sightings via the Shark Trust citizen science mobile phone app or through the project website, www. sharktrust.org/greateggcasehunt.

BIG MAC, BIG PROBLEM

Northern suburbs residents have voiced their concern over a potential new McDonald’s store proposed for Main Road, Claremont. While the proposal from the fast food giant is unconfirmed (at the time

of print), a preliminary plan was supplied to the most impacted residents in March. A group of locals have spoken up about the potential negative impacts of a 24/7 Maccas. The site, which currently houses an automotive workshop, is zoned as residential. Concerns about the new Maccas store, found on the group’s Facebook page, include potential issues with noise, traffic flow, refuse, anti-social behaviour, light pollution and disruption to the area’s heritage. However, they have stated they welcome the addition of a McDonalds to Claremont, just at a more appropriate site.

ORANGE-BELLIED PARROT IN TASSIE BREEDING FRENZY

Orange-bellied Parrots have had their third best breeding season in the past two decades. Fifty-nine fledglings were produced from 21 nesting attempts this year. Together with captive-bred juveniles released over summer and the remaining wild and captive-release adults, these new additions bring the total number of Orange-bellied Parrots expected to migrate north at the end of this season to 139. This season also sees the beginning of a collaboration project between the Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program and Zoos Victoria, who have been using transmitters to track OBPs released on the mainland since 2017. Fingers are crossed for ongoing success!

TIKTOK CANCELLED

The Tasmanian government is working to implement a policy to prohibit the use of the TikTok app on government-issued devices. The move comes after the federal government advised that key intelligence and security agencies believe TikTok poses significant national security and privacy risks including the extensive collection of user data. Minister for Science and Technology, Madeleine Ogilvie, said the policy would protect government information. “Agencies have advised the Government of the risks of exposure to directions from a foreign government and we are taking these steps to ensure that we can be confident that Government information and assets are protected,”

Minister Ogilvie said. The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has provided the following advice in relation to the use of TikTok:

• Do not use it on a phone that can access any official information, for example, any workplace communication (email clients, MS Teams);

• If a phone does have TikTok installed, keep the phone away from any sensitive conversations; and

• Remove metadata (such as location information) from photos and videos before uploading them to TikTok.

ROAD TOLL NOW IN DOUBLE FIGURES AFTER TRAGIC EASTER

Tasmania’s road toll has now reached double figures, currently standing at 10, after tragic incidents over the Easter long weekend took the lives of two women. Coming out of a horror 2022 which saw 50 road fatalities and 255 serious injuries, the message for Tasmanian motorists to drive safely and make better choices is louder and clearer than ever.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF THE HOBART MAGAZINE

Birthdays are a great time for reflection, so we’d love you to weigh in and share your thoughts and ideas about The Hobart Magazine. We’ve put together a short survey and we would appreciate your honest feedback. Scan the QR code using the camera on your phone, or email editor@ thehobartmagazine.com.au and we can send you the link.

Our story is Tassie history

This year, RACT celebrates its century. To mark the occasion, we’ve released RACT 100 Years of Service, a book tracing the history of a club that’s helped shape the Tasmania of today.

To get your copy, go to ract.com.au or purchase at your nearest RACT branch. RACT member discount available.

BITS AND PIECES

TASSIE APP TAKES THE STAGE

A Tasmanian-made roster management app for the classical music industry, Symphona, has recently announced its collaboration with Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Symphona aims to change the way orchestras and musicians manage their rosters, schedules and arrangements with casual musicians. The app was created by musician James Menzies - originally from Sydney, now based in Tasmania - and his business partners Tiffany and Jeremy Ashdown, after COVID-19 crippled the performing arts industry in 2020. Menzies saw a need for a more streamlined method of communication between orchestras and musicians. “We’re proud to bring a Tasmanian app to the market that we hope will change the game for musicians and orchestras across the globe,” said Tiffany Ashdown, Symphona’s CEO.

TASMANIAN OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC TALENT SEARCH

The Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) has launched a talent identification test to uncover our future sporting champions in preparation for Brisbane’s 2032 games. The TIS aims to test 1000 athletes aged 12-22 across seven Talent ID for 2023 testing sessions in May in Hobart, Launceston and Penguin. Identified athletes will be offered further opportunities to train and develop with the TIS. TIS Senior Coordinator Talent Identification, Gina Vernon, said the testing would identify athletes with who had natural upper and lower body power, good endurance and mental capabilities. “With Brisbane 2032 only nine years away, we have to start work now to get our talent pool in the best shape possible,” Dr Vernon said. “The range of tests used vary from the classic beep test, to a 20-metre sprint and vertical jump. We are looking for athletes from all sporting backgrounds who may find themselves being perfect for a sport they have never tried before.”

The Hobart testing sessions will be on Wednesday 3 May at Hobart College from 4-7pm, on Thursday 11 May at Elizabeth College from 3:30-6:45pm and on Friday 12 May at Elizabeth College from 3-6pm.

Further details and information on how to register is available at www.tis.tas.gov.au/ services/TID2032

WINTER DONATIONS NEEDED FOR TASSIE MUMS IN NEED

Not-for-profit organisation Tassie Mums, which sends out essentials to children and families in need across the state, are hoping Tasmanians with a little bit extra to give can help them build up their winter stocks this year. Clair Harris, CEO of Tassie Mums, said they particularly need warm clothing for kids in all sizes. “As we head into the busy winter months we are especially seeking any donations of new or excellent condition warm essential clothing; pants, jumpers, long sleeve t-shirts, singlets and new socks and underwear,” she said. In March the organisation sent out items such as clothing, nappies and toiletries, to 195 vulnerable and at-risk children across Tasmania. “Tassie Mums now works with over 65 social service organisations and 185 support workers to ensure we are reaching children and families most in need,” said Clair. “Families experiencing financial hardship, domestic violence, mental health and homelessness. We are incredibly grateful for such a generous community of donors, sponsors and volunteers that enable us to help Tassie kids get the best start in life. Thank you, Tassie!” Get in touch through their socials or website tassiemums.org to find your nearest donation drop point or make an online donation.

FANCY A FROLIC THROUGH COSTUME HISTORY?

From the truly magnificent to the downright bizarre, the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts is hosting an exhibition that gives centre stage to over 130 years of dress ups. Fancy Dress: From tutus to cosplay is an inclusive, sumptuous and friendly frolic into the joys of costume, and shines a spotlight on our enduring passion for costume culture from the 1890s to today. The exhibition - running until 29 July - features rarely seen historic images and film from the Tasmanian Archives, as well as a series of cosplay and curator talks. To find out more, head to www.libraries.tas.gov.au/exhibitions.

TWO BULK BILLING CLINICS ON THE WAY FOR HOBART

Hobart will get two Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, providing bulk billed care for locals who need to see a health professional with an urgent, but not life-threatening, problem. They’ll be open seven days a week with extended hours. Here’s hoping they’ll ease the pressure on our emergency departments - more than 41 per cent of presentations to emergency in Tasmania are classified as semi- or non-urgent. It’s not yet known where they’ll be, or when they’ll open. Providers are currently being identified through a Tasmanian Government tender process, which follows an Expression of Interest that closed earlier this year.

TASMANIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SHOWTIME DEADLINE TO

FRI 16 JUN

6.00pm

Federation Concert Hall

nipaluna/Hobart

A concert’s looming but the musicians are away on holiday - will they arrive back in time for the big show? Join Jane Longhurst and TSO for a madcap musical adventure. Suitable for ages 6 & up.

WHAT’S ON IN HOBART

FRIDAY

8 15

Mates & Dates: The Art of Connection is an 8 week course to master the skills for moving beyond small talk. 6pm, Black Buffalo Hotel, North Hobart.

Take the rare chance to view the Hermannsburg Potters’ work ‘Thepa Ntjaarra Inthurra’ (Too Many Birds) Bett Gallery til 3 June. Tour the Supreme Court building today, 5:30pm, as part of Law Week Tasmania.

Rug up for ‘Ice in the Rigging’, an exhibition exploring the vessels that have made the perilous journey south towards Antarctica, at the Maritime Museum. Open 9-5pm, 7 days.

Managing Technology Use in Kids and Teens - a workshop for parents - is on tonight 5:30 - 8:30 pm at Archer Street Health.

Head to Wild Island in Salamanca where Bob Brown opens Lathamus, an exhibition about the critically endangered Swift Parrot. Exhibition on until 31 May.

Towards Takayna, by Nigel Westlake, inspired by the natural beauty of Tassie’s north-west and composed specifically for guitarist brothers Leonard and Slava Grigoryan. 6pm, Federation Concert Hall.

copy Light Up The Lane is an all ages, family friendly event with large scale projections of art, live music, dance, creative goods and fashion plus fun interactive activities. Mathers and Criterion Lanes, 6-9:30pm.

Rob Giudici’s exhibition In The Middle Of The Air, inspired by time immersed outdoors, is on from 4-20 May at Bickerstaff Blizzard gallery in North Hobart.

Learn how to dress for the body you’ve been blessed with, with an exclusive styling workshop hosted by award-winning stylist Tanya Ellis. 6pm, Yeltour in Liverpool St.

Learn to quilt in a 6 week course at Quarter Inch in North Hobart. Perfect for winter by the fire. Or learn to forage and enjoy the fruits with Sirocco South Forage and Feast, fortnightly at Dodges Ferry.

One of the original Aussie hip hoppers, Urthboy plays Altar at 7pm, whilst The Blue Water Bandits play at Hobart Brewing Co from 7pm.

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Get together to talk death and dying over a cuppa and cake at the Kingston Death Café at Kingborough Community Hub, 10:30am – 12:30pm.

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Working It Out invites you to IDAHOBIT 2023 and the Dorothies Awards Breakfast celebrating excellence in LGBTIQ+ inclusion in local government, 7am, Hobart Function and Conference Centre.

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TSO presents Obscura IIwhere music, light and vision come together - at the Odeon from 6pm tonight.

The Hobart Stamp Show is on from midday today and all weekend at the Hobart Town Hall Ballroom. It includes a display about Tassie postal history.

Hear about the extraordinary life of a famous local dancer, choreographer and teacher in a curator talk; Fancy Dress:

The Brilliant Career of Beattie Jordan. Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, 1-2pm.

26TEN presents a free business workshop to improve workplace literacy today at Moonah Arts Centre, 9-12:30am.

Have a Cuppa with a Cop at Claremont Plaza Shopping Centre today and chat with Neighbourhood Watch while you’re there. 11am.

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Check out the exhibition ‘You Weigh More When You Hold A Book’ by Simon Spain and Eugene Ball at the Schoolhouse Gallery at Rosny, til 4 June.

Head along to hear Ray Martin speak at the annual Reconciliation Tasmania breakfast, MyState Bank Arena. The Gift is a play about a generational battle with a big twist. Peacock Theatre, 7pm tonight.

The Hobart Twilight Market is on tonight at Brooke Street Pier. Too delicious! 4:30pm-9pm. Later, enjoy all the Australian Crawl hits with James Reyne (and Ella Hooper) at the Theatre Royal, 7:30pm.

Details subject to

SATURDAY SUNDAY

Paint your Pet with Archaica Schola, from 9am and later enjoy C.W. Stoneking and His Primitive Horn Orchestra at Hobart City Hall, 7:30pm.

FURTHER AFIELD

12-14 May

Climate Action Hobart hosts a short film collection called ‘From Tas Forests to Torres Strait’ at Kickstart Arts, New Town, 3:30pm. Or check out local band the Wolfe Brothers at The Longley Hotel.

Learn how to upcycle textiles into your own fave clothes at the two day workshop Cutting with Courage at the South Hobart Tip. Or learn to make fused glass mushrooms at Fuse with Friends in Moonah.

Sad-ish Irish singer Damien Rice plays the Odeon, 7:30 pm. Alternatively, happy music will set the scene for Dancing In The Shadows Of Motown at Wrest Point 6:30pm.

It’s Mother’s Day! The Mother’s Day Classic fun run is on, 8:45am, Bellerive Beach Playground.

Van Diemen’s Fiddles (Julia Fredersdorff, Emily Sheppard and Rachel Meyers) present Whispering Walls: A Tasmanian Musical Landscape, a curated program of original Tasmanian compositions and traditional music from Tasmanian songbooks. Accompanied by breathtaking landscapes by videographer Caleb Miller and enhanced with poetry and recollections from Tasmanian storytellers and poets. Playing at Wynyard’s Watershed 12 May, 6pm, Queenstown’s Paragon Theatre

13 May, 2pm and The Barn at Rosny Farm, 14 May, 3pm.

the chance to get together, share and celebrate the genre. www. amtf.org.au.

26 May

The Very Short Film Festival takes over Spring Bay Mill tonight. Great excuse for a little East Coast getaway? 5:30-11:30pm.

26 May

The Hobart Jazz Club is putting on a weekend of jazz, food, views and company for Taz JazzFest 2023. Held at the Lufra Resort at Eaglehawk Neck, the event is free, with food and drinks available to buy.

28 May

Try archery (bookings required) with Van Diemen Archers at 10am or 11am. This afternoon, French classical guitarist Ingrid Riollot is hosted by the Hobart Guitar Society at Bellerive Uniting Church Hall, 2pm.

Glen Derwent is hosting a Cracker Night in New Norfolk from 4-9pm. Food and drinks vans, and fireworks. Meanwhile, Ignite the Night is a free community fireworks display, Scenic Hill, Huonville, 7:30pm.

Blind & Low Vision Golf

Come and Try Day is a free all-ages, all-abilities and gender inclusive event at Royal Hobart Golf Club, 10-11am.

For even more events in Hobart and further afield this month head to www.thehobartmagazine.com.au/mayevents

17-21 May

Pack the lapel mics and the stage makeup and get yourself to Launnie for the Australian Musical Theatre Festival. Headlined by Todd McKenney, Elenoa Rokobaro and featuring heaps of locals, AMTF is back to give musical theatre lovers, makers and industry professionals

Run Narawntapu is a trail running event through pristine beaches, by sea cliffs and amongst a whole lot of native flora and fauna at Greens Beach near George Town. There’s a mix of distances from 12km to 50km and all runs are out and back. www.facebook. com/RunNarawntapu.

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Background photo: Hobart skyline. change. Check in with individual events for further details.

CELEBRATING 5 YEARS

A lot can happen in five years. Fire, flood, pandemic, border closures and a whole lot of resilience building! During that time, we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing some

of Hobart’s most fascinating people - from sports and screen stars, to adventurers, creatives, business leaders and those agitating for social change.

the learning has been so immense and through one of the most challenging times in the world with the pandemic forcing us to be creative and pivot constantly to maintain positive progress toward building better environmental outcomes.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? Rapid! For me personally and for Sea Forest, leaping into a new space, building a team and pioneering a new industry

What do you hope for the next five years? I am optimistic that in five years time we will see a broad embracing of emissions reduction solutions and the important role these technologies play in maintaining our way of life on this planet for the long term. I hope to see more businesses with purpose succeeding and building better outcomes for communities and for the planet.

rest, but feel we have so much to do.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? Resilient - because despite facing numerous challenges such as natural disasters, political upheavals, and a global pandemic, individuals and communities have shown remarkable resilience in adapting to and overcoming these difficulties. We’ve seen

countless examples of people coming together to support each other, businesses pivoting to survive, and healthcare workers risking their lives to save others. The past five years have been tough in many ways, but we’ve shown that we’re a resilient lot and can keep moving forward.

What do you hope for the next five years? I would hope for significant progress in the fight against climate change, including reducing greenhouse emissions, transitioning to renewables and protecting habitats and biodiversity, especially in Tasmania. I would also hope for a society that is more inclusive and equitable, where people of all backgrounds and identities are treated with respect and dignity. for greater empathy, kindness and compassion towards others as well as a greater sense of community and connectedness.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? Taxing – so much has happened, so much has changed, we all need a

What do you hope for the next five years? I truly am glad to be seeing more and more young people feeling comfortable to be themselves, to express how they feel, to share what they believe in, and to be open about who they want to be. But I hope people learn to do it more respectfully. I worry that the level of empowerment we are giving to these young people to be themselves, is overshadowing the fact that it is important not to listen to the thoughts and beliefs of others, and to ensure they aren’t hurting others along the way.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? A second chance. The past five years have been tinged with the sorrow and introspection from the

severing of a long professional relationship. Unexpectedly, the past year has then delivered the eye-blinking wonder of a new beginning, returning to the polar regions and the life I love. Through turmoil, through home-bound months of covid, I set myself the task of completing my Arctic novel Cold Coast, the publication of which has been the cause of such happiness and pride.

What do you hope for the next five years? Several close friends facing significant health challenges come as a reminder of how precious and fragile are all of our lives. The next five years? May life continue with breathless, giddying, unscripted gusto.

Issue 4: Michelle Crawford, stylist, writer and photographer

Issue 10: Mitch McPherson, founder, Stay Chatty

Issue 19: Sam Elsom, founder, Sea Forest

Issue 28: Robyn Mundy, author, adventurer

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? The word to describe the last five years would have to be tumultuous, but not necessarily with bad connotations. So much has happened that the last five years seem like a lifetime. From the highs of opening a restaurant to the lows of a pandemic that threatened it all, to the challenges of building a new cooking school and

garden. Even without the elephant in the room (yes the pandemic!) we have changed and evolved in so many ways. There have been highs and lows but overall looking back we are incredibly proud of our survival and growth.

What do you hope for the next five years? When we first opened our business in New Norfolk many thought it strange to open in a low socio-economic town and especially New Norfolk given its dark past. To deliberately open in a building that was part of that past seemed like the perfect solution to turning around the stigma. Since then the town has seen many other great businesses open and thrive, helping to change the public perception. Our hope for the next five years is to see the town continue to grow and thrive. For the young people of the town to have opportunities and to be proud of where they come from.

being a professional cyclist living on the opposite side of the world to becoming a father with two children and just recently retiring and moving home to Tasmania. All positive and changes I have looked forward to but nonetheless big adjustments.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? Family. We moved to Tasmania five years

ago and it was one of the best decisions we made. Being able to be around family especially when COVID happened has been so important. Work has always taken me away to all parts of the world and there has been something so anchoring in getting to really experience this incredible part of the world.

What do you hope for the next five years? That my family is happy and healthy. That we continue to look after this place and protect its environment from those that want to exploit it.

Tasmania’s Grace Tame – who’ve come forward to share their stories and shine a spotlight on women’s issues. Their courage and resilience has made a difference but we still have a very long way to go and as a woman and a leader I will never stop fighting to give everyone the same opportunities and support to thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? The word I would choose for the past five years is adjustment as it has been a period of so many changes. Life has gone from

What do you hope for the next five years? My hopes for the next five years are to settle back into Tasmania and enjoy my time with family. Less travel might sound boring but I look forward to being in the one place instead of living out of a suitcase. It’s nice to be able to sit back and reflect on the past five years without too many plans for the next five years.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? Busy. The past five years have just flown by. The last time I spoke to you my daughter Mia was only a toddler and I was juggling motherhood with my responsibilities as Labor leader. Now Mia is six and has a little brother Hudson who’s a toddler. So the workload has picked up a bit on the home front and, between running the farm and my duties as Labor leader, there’s a bit more juggling involved. I’ve been inspired by the incredibly brave women – including

What do you hope for the next five years? With two young kids, there’s lots of experiences ahead that I’m looking forward to as a parent – watching them grow and develop as people is an extraordinary experience. As anyone who’s done it knows, it goes pretty quickly so I want to savour the moments. For Tasmania, I want to be part of a government that works to improve Tasmanians’ lives. Last time I spoke to you, I talked about the need for more housing and action to ease pressure on the health system. Unfortunately, neither has happened and it’s to everyone’s detriment.

Issue 7: Rodney Dunn, co-founder, The Agrarian Kitchen

Issue 15: Richie Porte, retired cyclist

Issue 05: Rebecca White, politician

Issue 13: Justin Kurzel, film director

Which word would you use to describe the past five

years? Why? Transformative. A lot has happened. Some awful stuff, some great stuffit always manages to filter into the paintings. It’s like looking at two completely different painters if you see my work five years ago compared to now. Change is good, otherwise we stagnate.

What do you hope for in the next five years? When I was younger, I was very future-facing, but now I’ve learned to be less concerned about the future and to be aware of life now. I guess, though, I hope to be painting.

word surprising. Five years ago I had no idea that I would be calling Australia home for the rest of my life, or graduate year 12 as the college captain whose dream is to change the world.

problems – online shopping when we’re sad, social media when we’re bored – that when we are confronted with real adversity or are tasked with completing a variety of practical tasks, we are incapable and must pay others to do it. We have become a specialised state, and as our often one-dimensional jobs have started to be replaced by advancements in machinery or AI, our direction and purpose has as a result become more delicate.

What do you hope for the next five years? The word

delicate is an antonym for ‘resilient’, and resilience is the most important skill to wield when combatting adversity. Moving forward, I hope, as a general rule, we can look at the perspectives provided by world disruptors such as Covid and ChatGPT, and learn from them. As our jobs become more flexible, homebound, and sadly irrelevant, then let’s take the opportunity of more time in our lives to re-learn that piano, get back into the shed and tinker, go for a walk or hike, learn something new.

to describe the past five years? Why? Dodg’em. #dodged bushfires #overcame floods #ducked covid #gritted teeth at Ukraine #evaded rate hikes #mostly dealt with ‘em all.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? I would use the

What do you hope for the next five years? I hope that more people will start playing a role in shaping to help this world become a better place where people who are less fortunate can be provided with opportunities. I hope to make impactful changes in the world through my future career.

Which word would you use

What do you hope for the next five years? I’d hope we could do better! #build less, plant more #endangered species protected #tall poppies trimmed #trump(s) retired #equality for all #referendum passed, phew.

became a mother three and a half years ago and have since had my second. It’s enabled me to have purpose outside my work but has pushed me to automate the business to allow for freedom to spend with my family.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? Delicate. I feel, at least in the developed world, that human existence has been speeding towards a point whereby loss of agency and skillset is widely accepted. We often relish in so many luxuries that band-aid our

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Transformative - I

What do you hope for the next five years? Over the next five years I hope to open the Francesca Foundation where we bring our charity and awareness efforts in house managing small projects worldwide to create change and impact!

Issue 44: Elliott Nimmo, artist

Issue 31: Lewis Taylor, adventurer

Issue 26: Ahmed Omer, year 12 student, college captain

Issue 32: Hannah Vasicek, founder, Francesca

Issue 33: Tim Hurburgh, architect

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? I just like it. I like being alive. I like making

magazines. I like helping Daddy stack up the magazines and I liked seeing my picture on the front cover. My favourite thing was my birthday. Unprompted, Frankie then shared, “To the Muwanina people, for the stars, for the river, for our hearts. That’s what we do before our meetings at school. I love Hobart.”

What do you hope for the next five years?

I’m not looking forward to going to school but I’m looking forward to going to Derby again and also learning to use my pedal bike.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? Change. Between covid and the fact that my social media career has really taken off, I feel like so, so much has changed since 2018!

What do you hope for the next five years? My hope is that I continue to be excited for what might be around the corner and open to opportunities - I hate the idea of becoming stagnant and predictable. So who knows what might come next!

perspective of five years though, I can definitely call it growth and I’m very pleased with the results and progress. Coincidentally, I’ve also planted a garden from absolutely nothing in the last five years – same issues; some great growth, spurts of growth, slow growth but when you look back it’s come a long way and (often) looks amazing.

What do you hope for the next five years? More of the same. I know that sounds uninspiring but all I can do is keep putting on the fertiliser and prune. Sure I want some big blooms and quite literally ‘fruit,’ but I can only do my part and be present. My part in the art sense is to keep working on my craft, practice and explore.

years? Learning. I’ve learnt a lot during covid - we need to be able to change and adapt. I have changed clubs, had two kids in that time. I’ve learnt a lot about myself and have had to do things differently.

Which word would you use to describe the past five

What do you hope for the next five years? I hope to continue to learn and grow as an individual. I definitely don’t think I have everything figured out. I need to learn how to be a better husband, father, teammate, friend. Who knows, I might be in a different job five years down the track.

Which word would you use to describe the past five years? Why? Growth. I’ve had a lot of change over the last five years. Big creative steps, making new work, putting it out there, starting a micro business – it’s all positive, but it’s still change which sometimes comes with icky foreign feelings. Looking back from the

Which word would you use to describe the past five

years? Why? Consolidation. Research and development regarding electric ship opportunities emerging, increased training of apprentices and the challenges of the skills shortage, disappointment not seeing an Incat built ship on Bass Strait.

What do you hope for the next five years? Electric ships market expanding / shipyard expansion / seeking more staff. I hope to see a Derwent Ferry Service to more stops than just Bellerive and to see a Maritime History precinct in Battery Point.

Issue 41: Frankie, four years old, THM editorial assistant

Issue 35: Katie Parrott, fashion influencer and founder, ecclestone

Issue 24: Robert Clifford , founder and chairman, Incat

Issue 34: Ben Brown, AFL player

Issue 36: Suzanne, illustrator

HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN HOBART WITH 45% INCREASE

Federal Government can also do more by increasing the rate of Youth Allowance, JobSeeker and Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which simply hasn’t kept up with rental costs. We need a healthy, housed and supported population if our state is to grow in a way that is fair and inclusive.

Whether we’re personally impacted by homelessness or not, there’s no denying it’s clearly an issue that is getting worse in Hobart. We caught up with Dr Charlie Burton, Acting CEO of the Tasmanian Council of Social Services (TasCOSS), to see what he thought could be done.

How would you describe the scale of homelessness in Hobart at the moment? According to recent homelessness data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the number of people experiencing homelessness in Tasmania increased by 45% in the past five years – this was nine times higher than the national increase. Ten percent of people experiencing homelessness are rough sleeping, which is the second highest rate in the country. And 39% of people experiencing homelessness in Tasmania are children and young people under the age of 25. The right to secure, safe and affordable shelter is a basic human right; housing underpins every other aspect of our lives and so should be every government’s highest priority.

What do you attribute the rise in homelessness to? The drivers of homelessness

vary but can include family and domestic violence, illness, loss of employment, lack of affordable housing or mental ill health. Right now, a key driver is the lack of social housing and we join Shelter Tasmania in calling for 10% of all dwellings to be social and affordable housing. Low wages, insecure work, increased cost of living pressures and a lack of appropriate housing options — compounded by an impenetrable private housing market — are contributing to the rise in homelessness.

What would you like to see the government doing to address this?

The Tasmanian Government’s commitment of 10,000 homes over 10 years is welcome, but the reality is these homes have a long pipeline so we need to explore every available solution to get Tasmanians safely and affordably housed. These include improving the private rental market by temporarily capping rents, limiting whole homes moving from private rentals to the short stay accommodation sector, introducing an empty homes levy and reviewing the Residential Tenancy Act to give more security of tenure to tenants. The

What action is most needed right now as we approach winter? During COVID we saw governments act quickly to ensure people experiencing homelessness had a safe roof over their heads. Solutions include brokering hotel accommodation, and we should keep options like these open this winter. For Tasmanians who do have a roof over their head, many on low incomes will be living in homes that are so poorly insulated and maintained that their homes are unhealthy. Many others can’t afford to heat their homes to a healthy temperature. TasCOSS wants to see a government-funded program of investment in energy efficiency upgrades and improvements for existing homes of Tasmanians on low incomes, whether they rent or own, together with minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties.

How can we help? As we head into the colder months of winter in Tasmania, we will undoubtedly see increased need for community services and support, whether this be in the form of food relief, housing or warm clothes. Relief in the form of food or warm winter clothing can make the difference between paying the energy bill on time or going without a meal so your child can have a warm coat to wear. We encourage everyone in the community, if they can, to donate unwanted or unused coats, jumpers to your local charity. But please make sure they are in good condition – don’t donate anything you wouldn’t wear yourself. Just because someone might be on a low income doesn’t mean they don’t deserve dignity. Equally, if you can donate your time, the network of community services organisations across the state are always on the lookout for keen volunteers. This can be incredibly rewarding and I’d encourage everyone to give volunteering a try.

NEW TOWN RIVULET TRACK: WALK FROM LENAH VALLEY

forgotten; Ancanthe became an apple orchard, and the museum a storage shed.

In 1938, the Hobart City Council took over the Ancanthe site, and restored and renovated the little Greek temple. It was a brave decision, for in 1938 Tasmania was still suffering the effects of the Great Depression. Since 1949, the building, now known as the Lady Franklin Gallery, has been leased to the Art Society of Tasmania, whose regular exhibitions realise Lady Jane’s vision of a centre for the arts.

After wandering around the park, we walked further along the New Town Rivulet Track. The rivulet was flowing freely after recent rains, thundering over rocks and boulders. We passed a boy practicing the art of fly fishing. “There’s heaps of brown trout here,” he said. “I caught seven, but I threw them back cause they were too small.” I bet he imagines one day he’ll catch fish as big as the giant fish in the riverbank sculpture, “Fauna”.

Two kilometres along the track we reached the ford at the entry to Wellington Park. We filled our drink bottle with cold mountain water, enjoying the icy drink, before walking back to our car. The Rivulet was our companion, the sound of vigorously running water soothing away the world’s troubles as it rushed down to the Derwent River.

Easter Monday was the perfect day for a relaxing walk along the New Town Rivulet Track to Wellington Park. We started at John Turnbull Park, walking along the rivulet to the Lady Franklin Gallery. The sandstone building, a perfect classical Greek temple, comes from another time and place as it sits on a gentle slope in the bush. Why was it built here, and by whom?

In 1837 the famous explorer, Sir John Franklin, was appointed lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen’s Land. His wife, Lady Jane Franklin, accompanied him. It was not a happy appointment. Sir John was a navy man, not an administrator, whilst his wife was an articulate intellectual.

When the Franklins arrived in Van Diemen’s Land, they were horrified by the lack of cultural institutions. Lady Jane was determined to improve the colonists’ culture and aspirations. In 1841 she bought land at Lenah Valley, which she named Ancanthe, “vale of flowers.” The building was completed in 1843, but a month after the grand opening of the gallery, the Franklins were recalled unexpectedly to England. Lady Jane’s dream was

Words and pictures: Elizabeth Osborne

TARRALEAH AND THE SEARCH FOR THE FLUFFY HIGHLAND COWS

When I was thinking of a rejuvenating weekend getaway for our ten-year wedding anniversary recently, wandering through fields searching for fluffy, longhorned cows wasn’t what I had in mind. But as it turns out, that’s exactly what we needed. Nestled on a mountain top in Tassie’s central highlands is the tiny town of Tarraleah; the place that stole our hearts.

First built in the 1930s by Tasmania’s Hydro Electric Commision as a township for their workforce, Tarraleah is nestled among native alpine forests, rolling fields, steep ravines and huge, steel pipelines. You would think such massive structural elements would detract from the immense beauty of the place, however they, in fact, added to it.

As the winding road out of Ouse climbed up the mountain, the strong scent of fresh eucalyptus and pine was the first taste of what was to come. My hubby and I were a little dubious of how to enter the tiny

town at first as there are two turn offs you can take, but as soon as we caught sight of the huge steel pipelines, we knew we were on the right track. We followed them right up to our accommodation for the weekend, Tarraleah Lodge.

On arrival, we were greeted by our host and personal breakfast chef, before being led into the decadent lodge lounge. We were immediately immersed in cosy 1920s decor, wall to wall whisky cabinets and misty mountain top views while sipping our complimentary champagne as we toured the lodge’s facilities.

We booked the King William suite for the weekend because, of course, private outdoor spa bath! I’m always a sucker for one whenever we go away. The large room shared the same boujee decor as the lounge and had its own with a private deck that overlooked the deep ravine beside the town. The weather was cold and gloomy and perfect for spending our first hours in Tarraleah hiding away in the comfort of the lodge.

It was already dusk when we arrived, so we saved exploring the rest of the town for the next day - we only ventured out of the lodge that night for dinner to the Tarraleah pub, a short walk down the hill from the lodge to the main town village. The pub was warm with an amazing beer garden lined with geraniums and spider plants. The food was fantastic, as was the selection of Tasmanian wines and tap beers. They even had their own highland lager, named Fat Cow after the highland cows that had drawn me to Tarraleah in the first place.

Breakfast the next morning was prepared personally for us - poached eggs with all the trimmings and the best mini sausages I’ve ever tasted. All fuelled up, we headed out on our first mission for the day: explore the town. Our wedding anniversary is during Autumn, which turns out to be one of the best times to visit Tarraleah. The trees were in full golden splendor which contrasted beautifully against the bright, pastel-coloured cottages. These were once the homes of the Hydro Electric Commission workers

Words and pictures: Peta Hen

which were repurposed to become part of the numerous accommodation options when Tarraleah was famously bought as a whole in 2005. We chatted with the groundsman who kindly shared with us directions to the various walking tracks, before we set off on our next and most important mission of the weekend: find the fluffy cows. After twenty minutes, we found the gentle, hairy giants lulling about behind the lake along the Quoll track. They paid no mind to us as we gawked and gushed over how cute and fluffy they were, living their best lives amongst the lush, green marshlands.

By the afternoon, the rain had well and truly settled in, however this only enhanced the incredible scenic views as we soaked in the lodge’s open air wooden hot tub which overlooked the valley below. What an end to an incredibly rejuvenating trip.

After breakfast the next morning, we bid farewell to the incredible, tiny town, following the same steel pipelines down the mountain while planning our next escape back to Tarraleah: the tiny Tassie town with the fluffy highland cows.

Pics, clockwise from left page: Hairy highland cow and calf (pic: Natalie Mendham, Tourism Tasmania), full autumn splendour, breakfast in the Lodge, Tarraleah Lodge and garden, open air wooden hot tub, hydroelectric pipelines.

COALDALE WALNUTS

Words: Ollie Benson

On the banks of the Coal River just outside of Richmond, Phil and Jane Dening, daughter Sophie and son-in-law Brad Milic have been busy harvesting this year’s crop of walnuts.

Passionate as they are about walnuts, and rightly proud of what they do, they are also successfully tackling another tricky challenge in farming – family succession. Coaldale Walnuts is an award-winning walnut farm. Established in 1997 by Phil and Jane, their orchard consists of 1500 trees across 10 acres of alluvial soils, with a mix of Chandler and Franquette varieties. The Franquette is mainly used as a pollinator, while the Chandler produces around 85% of the nuts. Having started as a joint venture with Webster Walnuts, they struck out on their own in 2006, built their first processing unit, and haven’t looked back.

When it comes to harvesting walnuts, the Coaldale team waits for the crop to fall naturally on the ground, and then over the course of several weeks the nuts are swept up using a small mechanical harvester. From there the crop is washed, sorted, and dried using processes and clever engineering that have been consistently refined over the years. Nuts are then sold in-shell or as packaged kernel and are stocked at a wide range of retail outlets in the state, as well as direct to consumers through their online shop and via the Tasmanian Produce Collective.

As well as selling fresh walnuts, Coaldale Walnuts also makes pickled walnuts, with the product winning several gold medals at the Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards and the Australian Food Awards. Each January, green walnuts are harvested from the trees before the shells form, then pricked, brined, lightly dried, and pickled in local cider vinegar and spices. As their pickled walnuts have grown in popularity Coaldale Walnuts is increasing

production, diversifying their income, and becoming one of the country’s largest pickled walnut producers. Until now, the green walnuts have been hand-pricked, but Phil’s eye for creative solutions has him working on a machine that will speed up the process and allow for further expansion.

This continual reviewing of practices has been a real feature of the success of Coaldale Walnuts. Sheep are used to ‘mow’ the orchard, walnut shells from the cracking plant are used as mulch for

the trees, soil is regularly tested, and moisture levels are monitored to allow for efficient irrigation. Their forward thinking has also led them to consider what the future might look like. Farm succession can be tricky to navigate for family run farms, but this family is doing it well. Sophie and Brad are now part-owners of the business, and with Sophie working for Coaldale full-time alongside Phil and Jane and planning for Brad to join them working on-farm, it’s clear that unlike their delicious walnuts, this family farm is not in a pickle!

WALNUT ‘SAUSAGE’ ROLLS

Milk, for brushing Sesame or poppy seeds, for sprinkling (optional)

Method:

Ingredients:

1 brown onion (approx. 180g)

1 tbsp dried oregano

100g walnuts

90g rolled oats

3 eggs

150g feta cheese, cut into pieces

1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce

50g breadcrumbs

3 sheets ready-made puff pastry, slightly thawed Plain flour, for dusting

Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside. Roughly chop onion and place in a food processor. Add dried oregano, walnuts and rolled oats and whiz then scrape down the sides. Add eggs, feta cheese, tamari or soy sauce and breadcrumbs and combine. Cut puff pastry sheets into halves and transfer to silicone bread mat or floured work surface. Place one sixth of the mixture onto the long edge of one pastry sheet half and roll. Cut into four equal portions and place onto prepared baking tray. Brush pastry with milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional). Repeat process with remaining mix and pastry sheet halves until all used. Bake for 20 minutes until crisp and golden. Allow to cool slightly before serving warm.

This recipe for vegetarian walnut ‘sausage’ rolls comes from Coaldale Walnuts customer Madeleine.

SHARI HOBART

Sat, 9-1pm, Tasmanian Produce Market, Sun 12-4pm, Kingston Park carpark

Words: Stephanie Williams

By the time Saturday rolls around, the last thing I feel like doing is making lunch. A week of school lunchbox preparation usually has me quite over the idea of even eating lunch! So on a recent Saturday morning we decided to try a new Japanese food truck I’d heard good things about. Adding to the appeal was that it was at the Tasmanian Produce Market, a relaxed affair on the waterfront at Kangaroo Bay. After picking up apples, bread and pastries on the way in, we place our order at Shari. The kids go for the temaki - sushi rice rolled in a sheet of crispy seaweed paper and topped with crispy chicken and mayo. They were a hit. To share, we ordered a serve of the stir fry udon noodles and the chirashi don. The udon were satisfyingly slippery and the sauce was soupy and warming on a cold day. The chirashi don had a bed of sushi rice, topped with finely chopped raw fish, spring onion, cucumber, fresh ginger and local Shima wasabi. While it didn’t look amazing in the takeaway container, you could tell this was expertly prepared - it was perfectly balanced and the knife skills were impressive. Chef Devin, I

MOLTO WINE BAR

25 Melville Street, Hobart

Words: Stephanie Williams

It was a rainy Saturday night and I had a long standing drinks date with a friend. Molto has been on my list for a while - a new wine shop and bar connected to winemakers Stefano and Marco Lubiana. Molto, meaning many, is appropriate here - with many beautiful wines by the glass and lining the walls of the space.

We take a table and enjoy a glass of Ochota Barrels “Texture Like Sun”, a chilled red from Adelaide Hills, while murdering a generous charcuterie and cheese plate. Sitting among the shelves of bottles, looking out into the cold, wet night, I feel like I’ve found a new little happy place. Open from Wed-Sat, 3pm until late.

the pre-ordered sushi and sashimi boes. Check out @shari.hobart

A Community Event to Learn About Your Legal Rights and the Power of Legal Knowledge

15 - 21 MAY PROGRAM NOW LIVE!

EXHIBITIONS AT ROSNY FARM

12 May - 4 June

You Weigh More When You Hold A Book: Simon Spain & Eugene Ball

White-gloved hands of a curator, or perhaps an amateur magician, manipulate and reveal pages of books to create theatrical video works where new layers of drawings have been added together with especially co-created soundtracks.

17 May - 11 June

Isn’t it Ironic: Sawtooth ARI

Artists: Anna Barber, Ben Barwick, Clara Martin, Olly Read, & Anonymous. Curator Zara Sully.

11am–5pm Wednesday - Sunday Schoolhouse Gallery Rosny Farm, Rosny Hill Road, Rosny Park Ph: 6217 9607

www.clarenceartsandevents.net

STRESS, RESET

Words: Annia Baron

For the first month after giving birth, women from some Eastern cultures undertake a practice that has been honoured for thousands of years. Zuo Yue Zi, which translates to “sitting the moon”, encourages a new mother to enter a period of confinement for at least 30 days. During this time, she prioritises rest and stillness, eating nourishing food, and disconnects from the schedule and duties of everyday life. The woman does not leave the home, isn’t expected to complete household tasks, and remains close to her immediate family and certain relatives who come to assist. The belief is that after going through a major transition, purposeful rest enables better recovery and leads to optimal functioning.

As a collective, we are literally dying for deep rest. Worldwide, the leading cause of death is still heart disease, and we know that stress has a direct impact on our cardiovascular system. Researchers from Harvard University suggest that stress could be as important of a risk factor to our health and wellbeing as smoking (Tawakol et al 2017). Over time, the negative effects of stress can include poor emotional regulation, frequent colds and infections, sleep issues, relationship challenges, digestive problems, and adrenal fatigue. In fact, adrenal problems are increasing in Australia amongst young people and adults (Chrisp et al 2022). But this isn’t unexpected. We feel the effects of stress every single day – the rising cost of living, inflation, and being time poor - not to mention the aftermath of a pandemic.

But rest assured the antidote to stress is in your hands.

Well, more specifically, in your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). This “rest and refresh” mode of our autonomic nervous system is the biological key

for turning stressful experiences into psychological adaptability. By choosing small, simple actions that nurture the PNS our body can reset its baseline and reframe stress to become an opportunity for growth rather than a detriment to our wellbeing.

How can we do this? Try these daily PNS enhancers:

P = Present moment

When we find ourselves ruminating about the past or worrying about the future, we can bring attention to the here and now. Whether it’s a few rounds of taking a breath in for 3 counts and exhaling for 5, or simply closing your eyes and tuning into the sounds around you. Being present isn’t about having “a blank mind” or “no thoughts” it’s about training our mind to notice stress instead of getting caught up in it.

N = Nice to your body

Consider a physical ritual that you can do anywhere, anytime. One that represents how you wish to relate to stress. For example, a simple sway from side to side can reflect your choice to ‘dance’ with your stress or sprinting on the spot can show your willingness to ‘run’ side by side with stress, instead of running away from it. See what if feels like to move with stress rather than keeping it stuck inside.

S

= Speak well

How we speak during times of stress matters. Instead of embodying your stress by stating “I am stressed”, try rephrasing it to “I notice stress”. This creates space between you and the stressful experience, giving you room to choose how to respond to it. In addition, you may like to consider having a mantra or affirmation for when stress creeps in. For example, “Even though I notice stress right now, I accept that this is okay.” Repeating this phrase can provide our mind with a sense of tolerance and less pressure to fix the situation straight away.

Each step can be done individually or in combination.

It may also be useful to undertake a regular stress inventory. Ask yourself:

• How is stress showing up in my life?

• How is stress being expressed in my body?

• If I were to imagine being stressfree, what would that look like? What would it feel like? What would I be choosing to do more of?

There are many ways to reset our PNS. Obvious choices include eating wholesome foods, exercising, creating a good sleep routine, reaching out to those we care about, and spending less time on screens and more time in nature. There are also some great scientific tools such as progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, and tapping (EFT) that have gained traction over the years.

Stress doesn’t have to be our enemy and we certainly don’t need to make drastic life changes that involve confining ourselves to our home for 30 days. But just as “sitting the moon” gives some women permission to rest more deeply, you can gift yourself the same honour (no pregnancy required!). In whatever way you chose to practice caring for your PNS, importantly, do what works for you. This way, you’ll be more likely to enjoy it. And when we cultivate joy in our lives, that in and of itself is a stress-reliever. So, on that note, take a deep, slow breath in...and a slow, long breath out.

Your tremendous PNS is here for you.

Annia Baron is a Clinical Psychologist & Mindset Coach. Want to learn more about mindset tools to create a life you desire and deserve? Get in touch on Instagram @anniabaron or visit www.remindyourself.com

IS THIS TASMANIA’S BEST UNKNOWN ARTIST?

Words: Peta Hen

What is the life behind a painting? This is a question I have always asked myself whenever I look upon the masterful brushstrokes of the snowy Dutch homestead mounted on my living room wall.

The same goes for the landscape of Dover in my spare bedroom, and the eclectic home gallery over at my in-laws’ house; the classical paintings depicting iconic Tasmanian landscapes hung alongside family photos and motorsport memorabilia. These incredible artworks which have wound up in my everyday life have always fascinated me. But none so much as the untold story behind the artist himself. I spoke to his granddaughter to learn more about Tasmania’s best unknown artist: Karel Hen.

Born in the Netherlands in December 1898, Karel Hen was a classically trained fine artist schooled by teachers versed in the style of the Old Masters: Rembrandt, Vermeer, Steen and the like. These Dutch Golden Age characteristics are evident throughout Karel’s many paintings. However, despite his fine art qualifications, Karel Hen gained little traction as an artist. Instead, he made a living as a house painter before emigrating to Tasmania in 1952, after the war.

My interest piqued as this artist-comehouse painter had lived through both WWI and WWII. While he was not a soldier, he certainly had his share of war stories, surprisingly as a vigilante civilian who helped hide Dutch Jews during the Holocaust. One tale Karel told was about when two German soldiers raided his house while he was hiding Jewish

refugees, and he ended up killing them. He buried the soldiers with help from his neighbour in the local soccer field. However, the German’s suspected foul play and dug up half the soccer field with plans to dig up the other half the next day. During that night, Karel Hen and his neighbour went back to the field, dug up the two dead soldiers and reburied them in part of the field the Germans had already dug up.

‘How ingenious’ I thought, looking up at his painting of the Richmond Bridge, tickled pink that the man behind these brushstrokes could be so plucky and brazen in the pursuit of his survival and that of the people he was protecting. But this was the type of man Karel Hen was, I soon found out. He’d even had his wife fashion him a coat with many concealed pockets so he could stash food for himself and sneak it to neighbouring families.

After the war ended, Karel Hen returned to painting houses for a living. However, times were much tougher post-WWII and in 1952, he migrated with his family to Tasmania for a better life. Once in Hobart, his son, Karel Hen Jr, would apply for work to support his family. Karel Hen Sr restarted his house painting business here in Tasmania, however his real love was for fine art which he pursued in his spare time. After retiring from his business, Karel continued to paint the incredible Tasmanian scenery, adding to his ever growing personal collection.

Karel’s granddaughter remembered

fondly the long drives with her grandfather, and how he would yell “stop!” whenever he caught sight of a landscape that inspired him. Out of the car he would barrel with camera in hand just to get a photo of a river or bridge he would later paint.

Karel Hen had one official art exhibition during his lifetime held at the St David’s Cathedral rooms in 1978 as part of a fundraiser for the Lions Club. Sadly, he didn’t sell many paintings, his granddaughter told me. He did donate a few paintings from his collection, one of which used to hang in the Royal Hobart Hospital foyer for a time. The majority of his artwork now hangs on the walls of his grandchildren and great grandchildren’s homes, each a piece of Tasmanian history captured by a man with a humble yet incredible story of integrity: Tasmania’s best unknown artist.

Dog-Library by Robin Voss

Taroona Shot Tower by Minji Hur

The Old Hobart Toy Tower Library @kelvin196517

Snow day by Belinda Kendall-White

Cremorne Dawn by Mary Harwood

You’ve goat to be kidding me by Peta Hen

SHE AND HER PRETTY FRIEND: LOVE AT THE FEMALE FACTORY

Words: Danielle Scrimshaw

Picture: Tasmanian Archives

Catherine Owens arrived in Van Diemen’s Land on the Lady of the Lake, after departing London on 12 June 1829. She had been convicted several times before being transported. Her convict record describes Catherine as having a violent disposition, in addition to being a single housemaid with a ‘dark complexion’ who could read and write (a rarity for lower-class women at the time). She was sentenced to fourteen years for receiving stolen spoons.

The Lady of the Lake arrived with eighty-one passengers on 1 November 1830, a little over four months after departure. Two days later, the Eliza left British shores to carry another shipload of convicts to Van Diemen’s Land, including the young Irishwoman Ellen Scott. Ellen was convicted when she was eighteen for stealing a watch chain. Unlike Catherine, Ellen only had one criminal offence—for vagrancy—before being transported for life to Australia.

These two women would later cross paths after establishing themselves as convicts not to be messed with. They met at the Female Factory in Launceston and entered a relationship that was openly acknowledged as such. In several records in the early 1840s, their names are paired, two accomplices in a grand mythology created by local media and the whispers of fellow convicts.

In 1841 at the Launceston Female House of Correction, Ellen Scott started a riot in protest of Catherine Owens being confined to a solitary cell. Catherine was broken out by a group of women who launched themselves on the sub-matron as she entered the cell, intending to visit

Catherine, who was feigning illness. She and eighty-five women barricaded themselves in the mess room, defying the Superintendent and fighting off police constables with bricks, knives and quart bottles. The women claimed they would not allow Owens to serve the remainder of her confinement, and so they remained for the rest of the day, deprived of food and water, breaking furniture by dawn. The riot was eventually quelled by the authorities enlisting fifty male prisoners, armed with crowbars and sledgehammers, to break into the mess room and restrain the female convicts.

In the previous year, speculation was growing in Tasmanian newspapers about a ‘Flash Mob’, a group of women wreaking havoc in Hobart’s Cascades Factory. While authorities denied the existence of such a gang, a fellow convict named Mary Haigh insisted the Mob held influence over the factory. ‘They are the greatest blackguards in the building,’ she claimed, ‘the other women are afraid of them. They lead away the young girls by ill advice.’

Ellen and Catherine are believed to have been ringleaders of this group, with several other women of the Crime Class.

Both women were released in the mid1840s, not long after the Flash Mob

briefly dominated Hobart newspapers. Their names appear irregularly in newspapers over the next decade, usually when either woman was brought to the courts to face punishment over public drinking or ‘indecency’.

I have tried following Catherine and Ellen to the end of the line. In scouring digitised newspapers online, I’ve come across articles about women with the same names who met with tragic circumstances. As with most convict stories, it’s anyone’s guess what happened to the Flash Mob ringleaders. Memory is unforgiving to those deemed not important enough to make some sort of footnote in history.

But we do have the story of the Flash Mob, with Catherine Owens and Ellen Scott at its centre. For a brief period they were partners, and known by others to be in a sexual relationship, though its details are unknown to us. This is the dilemma of writing a history without letters and diaries: in the absence of personal records you only have the words of external parties. The women I am fascinated by remain voiceless, leaving historians and writers to piece together their ballad.

This is an edited extract from She and Her Pretty Friend by Danielle Scrimshaw, published by Ultimo Press.

Dark skies over Salamanca Market by Minji Hur

Evening in North Hobart by Heather Mackay

Otago Bay by Dan Cowling

by Louise Dow

Looking from Bruny by Mary Harwood

Reflections Browns Rivulet Kingston by Liz Osborne

Botanical Gardens by Matilda Burke Surfers by Liz Osborne