The Hobart Magazine Issue 18 December 2020 by Propel Studio

THE HOBART MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021: ISSUE 18

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GRACE TAME TASMANIAN AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

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WHAT’S ON IN HOBART THIS SUMMER SURFER SAM LENNOX SUITING UP THE STATE’S FRONTLINE

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Editorial Stephanie Williams (Publisher) editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au Bonnie Mary Liston, Zilla Gordon Advertising James Marten advertise@thehobartmagazine.com.au 0405 424 449 Contributors: Beau Leighton, Annia Baron Cover image: Kishka Jensen Circulation: 30,000 copies are distributed, with 26,000 to inner city homes and the rest via Hill Street Grocer, and over 250 cafes and public places in and around Hobart. 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 or feedback, email editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au.

WELCOME TO

THE HOBART MAGAZINE Wow, what a year 2020 turned out to be? Make it a Tassie Christmas this year we all have a big opportunity to support local retailers when we’re shopping and socialising around Hobart in the coming weeks. This month we get to know Tasmanian Australian of the Year, Grace Tame. Grace’s work leading the #LetHerSpeak campaign saw her take Tasmania’s gag laws to the Supreme Court and has allowed survivors of sexual assault to speak out. We’ll have our fingers crossed ahead of the Australian of the Year announcement in January. We also chatted with surfer Sam Lennox and distillers who have been busy with new ventures - and they taste much better than hand sanitiser! Cheers, Steph, James and The Hobart Magazine team.

Photo: Rick Eaves

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LOCAL LAD

DARRAN PETTY

Interview: Bonnie Mary Liston Image: Josh Lovell

After a rough childhood that included periods of homelessness, Darran Petty turned his life around through the power of bodybuilding. He now owns and operates his own martial arts studio in Hobart, as well as running a podcast and starting a filmmaking company. Tell us about yourself? I was born in Mildura, Victoria. Life was tough, living without a father until my abusive, alcoholic stepfather came into my life. My teenage years were even tougher after the death of my stepfather in jail. I was forced to move away from my family home and I entered a very early life of drug and alcohol abuse. In the year 2000 I decided to change my life by starting a bodybuilding career after watching Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Pumping Iron. Although heavily intoxicated while watching it, I was determined to change and ultimately saved my life. I won State, National and International awards in bodybuilding before changing course to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, where I also became a State, National and International champion. I also came 5th at the Mr Universe championship in Germany 2007.

right now I’m working on setting up my new city studio and we are video documenting it as we go! I am also in the midst of writing a book about my life and have ramped up my speaking gigs. I am also thinking about making a film series about the youth of Hobart. You’ve been very active working against homelessness in Tasmania, is there anything on that topic you’d like to share in this space? Homeless is as real as it gets and has, or will, impact us all in one way or another. My attention is on helping and inspiring the youth of Tasmania and Australia to do what I did and find a way out by telling my story and hopefully inspiring them to follow in my footsteps to create their own pathways out.

Where in Hobart do you live? Kingston. What’s the best thing about Hobart? The best thing about Hobart is the vibe, we are a close knit community. And the worst? Cold weather. I don’t like cold weather. Tell us a little about your work? I am a self-taught filmmaker, podcaster and martial arts academy owner and head coach. I have been filmmaking since 2013 and have worked most notably with Arnold Schwarzenegger and travelled the world with 2012 London Olympic boxing captain Luke Jackson. My podcast is up to its 90th episode and I have interviewed some of the most wonderful people in Hobart. Have you had a favourite guest so far? My all-time favourite guest so far is the one and only Robyn Moore. Robyn is the voice of Blinky Bill and How Green Was My Cactus. Robyn is also now my mentor and I love her to bits. I’m inspired by… By those who have forged their lives against the odds and work hard each and everyday to achieve their life goals. I have worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger and learnt that in order to impact the world you must create a personal brand and work like hell. I have learnt from Robyn Moore that to impact the world you must be open minded to every possible opportunity and never give up. What’s your dream project to work on? Wow, I have already worked on so many of my dream projects that’s for sure, but 4

What do you love doing outside work? I love my daughter, travelling, reading and riding my bike. Where’s your favourite Hobart eatery? You’ll find me Pep Pizza with my martial arts academy once per week. Drink of choice and where do you head for it? Love having a drink at The Glass House on the wharf. Guilty pleasure? Red wine! Favourite team? The Tasmania Jack Jumpers. I’d like to travel to… Los Angeles, New York, Rome, the Mediterranean, Europe, Middle East. When there’s nothing to do, I... Read books. Where to next? Continue building my martial arts academy (Trojan Academy) and podcast. I am also launching a multimedia company (Action Potential Media) off the success of my personal brand (Darran Petty Films). The name ‘Action Potential Media’ is my daughter’s initials ‘Ayla Petty’ and an action potential occurs when a neuron sends information. An example of action potentials are found as nerve impulses in nerve fibres to muscles. Neurons, or nerve cells. I believe that action creates potential and not the other way around! Quote to live by? Never ever give up.

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COVER FEATURE

Interview: Stephanie Williams A two-year legal battle to overturn laws in Tasmania and the Northern Territory that prevented victims of sexual abuse speaking out has seen Grace Tame nominated as the Tasmanian Australian of the Year. As a passionate advocate for sexual assault, Grace is a leader of positive change committed to breaking the cycle of abuse. She’s also a self-described adventurer and a lover of life - who can’t leave home without her Akubra. Where in Hobart do you live? I currently beautiful Bellerive, but grew up in Seven Mile - the Eastern Shore is where it’s at! What’s the best thing about Hobart? How long have we got?! The close-knit, supportive community; the proximity to nature (kunanyi is the best playground); the beaches, the food, the markets, the architecture, the easy-going lifestyle - *chef’s kiss*. And the worst? I’d love to say ‘nothing’, but as a runner, I have to admit I’d be happier with less of the gale-force wind we sometimes get, especially because I love to run over the bridge. Little me has nearly been blown off a couple of times! In fairness, it’d be too perfect here otherwise. Tell us a little about your work? Campaigning and advocating for the rights of sexual abuse survivors is truly hard to distill. The public aspect of my work is only the tip of a very large iceberg. Privately I spend a lot of time with fellow survivors, often just sitting and talking; being there. Other times it’s more intense. Recently I witnessed and helped prevent an attempted suicide. An element of sex crimes that I’m determined to shed light on is their uncontainable, immeasurable impact. The trauma extends far beyond the targeted individual and isolated instances of abuse. It affects families, friends and communities. Predators manipulate all of us. This is why we have to continue fighting for - not against - each other. Although at times it’s confronting and challenging, work such as this is wholly regenerative. To hear the stories of survivors - to witness their immeasurable courage - is a great privilege. When you work against the system, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But when you work for people, with people, towards a common goal, you win every time. 6

You were recently recognised as Tasmanian Australian of the Year. How did that come about? What does it mean to you? In the lead up to the awards ceremony, more than one of my friends revealed they’d nominated me! That gives me the warm and fuzzies. Receiving recognition for this cause fills me with an overwhelming sense of pride in our community. It is indicative of the change we’ve achieved together. It is also a powerful symbol of hope for the future. The #LetHerSpeak campaign has received international recognition. Has it unfolded how you imagined? Where is the campaign at now? Nothing really ever unfolds quite how we imagine it. The constant outpouring of love and positivity, the social shifts and the material change we have achieved are far greater than anything I could have hoped for. It’s a great honour just to be a small part of this movement we have created as a community. The campaign is constantly growing. The pursuit of progress has no endpoint or limitations. We have an international following! Most recently we formed the Let Us Speak arm in response to attempted regressive legislative changes in Victoria that would have erased the histories of deceased survivors and made it illegal for their loved ones to name them publicly. In this instance, we were once again successful in our efforts. But as with any given cause, there is always room for improvement; always more work to be done. Our ongoing goals are: to abolish survivor gag-laws, reform legal language to better reflect the severity of sex crimes, expose

Clockwise this page: Top: Grace’s mum Penny Plaschke and cousin Eloise Warren. Far right: Grace running. Right: Grace speaking to the media, photo: Salty Dingo Media. Left: Grace says she’ll always continue to push for change, photo: Kishka Jensen

institutional cover-ups, develop preventative initiatives for schools and workplace environments, and continue fostering understanding, education and progress through conversation. We are committed to ending the silence within which perpetrators operate and thus break the cycle of abuse. What’s your dream project to work on? Ideally one whose goal is positive, permanent structural change. Regardless, I’d be honoured to work on any purposeful project that my family and friends are involved in. Who you’re working with is just as important as what you’re trying to achieve in the process. I’m inspired by... Family, friends and positive community energy. There’s nothing more encouraging than togetherness. A special shout out to my 10-yearold brother, Oscar. He is full of life and love; generous of heart and spirit, perceptive, determined and resilient, with a brilliant and open mind. I love him more than anything else in the whole world. What do you love doing outside work? Spending time with my boyfriend and all my other loved ones, laughing, running, swimming in the ocean, drawing and exploring the outdoors in my cowboy hat. Where’s your favourite Hobart eatery? My Dad’s kitchen. The man knows what he’s doing with eye fillet.

Favourite Hobart secret? Is that a trick question? Good luck keeping a secret in Hobart. Where to next? Wherever life takes me. I’m up for anything. Drink of choice and where do you head for it? A big, frothy matcha tea from the one and only Master Phil at Staple in Bidencopes Lane. Go pay him a visit, you won’t regret it, that’s a promise. Guilty pleasure? I refuse to feel guilty about binge-watching Schwarzenegger classics. If Mr Freeze is not your favourite Batman villain, you’re lying. Favourite team? The entire cast and crew of The Castle - it’s the vibe of it. What do you never leave home without? Akubra. Sleeping bag. Running shoes. These all permanently live in the boot of my car. Giddy up! I’d like to travel to... Absolutely anywhere and everywhere! Including the Moon.

If you become Australian of the Year, what do you hope to do? Whether I become Australian of the Year or not, I will continue doing as I’ve always done; pushing for permanent progress and helping others in the community. Accolades are powerful symbols, but they’re not the aim or motivation. Quote to live by? Always look on the bright side of life! And for runners and non-runners alike: one step at a time. If you or anyone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

L - R: 2020 Tasmanian of the Year award winners Toby Thorpe, Grace Tame, Edna Pennicott OAM and Brian Williams. Photo: Salty Dingo Media.

If I didn’t live in Hobart I’d live... Wherever my family is. Preferably somewhere warm and near the sea though. When there’s nothing to do, I... Wouldn’t have the foggiest - I’m always on the go! 7

BITS AND PIECES HOBART OPENINGS The hole that Small Fry Cafe left in our hearts (and in Bathurst St) is filled by Ed’s Spuntino, which is already garnering a great reputation for delicious Italian cuisine. Fondru’s Cheese and Wine has relaunched as A’Petit Bar and Bistro (374 Murray St) offering a new Mediterranean-style share plate menu. Elevenses (178 Collins St) is a funky reinvention of a classic city coffee spot. Popular Tasmanian gin brand Forty Spotted now has a boutique bar called Gin(bar) (30 Argyle St). Wattleseed Catering, not content with their Richmond cafe and takeaway Food Van, are expanding to Orford, with Wattlebanks Coastal Cafe (1 Charles St) opening this month. Moonah-based nano-brewers Fox Friday Brewery have opened a tap room in the old Westend Pumphouse building (105 Murray St) where you can sit down and enjoy a tasty local beer and snacks. La Sardina Loca is moving on from its residency in the Hanging Gardens and setting themselves up down the carriageway on 100 Elizabeth St. Empire Lounge and Garden Bar (35 Melville St) opens this December. Popular Liverpool St eatery Mr Burger has opened its long awaited Eastern Shore expansion - Mr Burger Rosny (2/1 Bayfield St, Rosny Park), a two storey retro style burger joint with an expanded beer and cocktail menu. A new cafe has opened in the Royal Hobart Hospital, Pounds and Ounces (Campbell St Ground Floor, K Block) focused on specialty coffee and house made fresh and healthy food, with a sushi bar soon to follow. Pilgrim Coffee is back at its old location with a

new look on Liverpool and Argyle St. Lord of Pizzas & Cafe (95 Hampden Rd) boasts the only New York Style pizza in Hobart. Stock Market (8 Brooke St) has opened in the old Black-Footed Pig, which is moving to MACQ01 soon. The first Mövenpick Hotel in all Australia is opening in Hobart (28 Elizabeth St), in mid-January. NEW BIKE TRACKS APPROVED FOR MT WELLINGTON The Hobart City Council has approved plans for a network of new mountain bike tracks in the lower foothills of Mt Wellington. The plan has been in development for over 18 months and had input from many community members. A survey done by the council showed 83% of Mt Wellington track users were in favour of new mountain bike trails. The proposed plan includes 20 tracks, covering over 30km, with varying levels of difficulty for bikers of all stripes. Every track will undergo a thorough environmental impact assessment which should assuage the 25% of walkers surveyed who expressed concern about the potential environmental impact of the project. “This is just a plan at this stage and every track would be subject to further assessment and design, but it’s good to have a vision that we can work to over time,” said Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds.“We will need to secure additional funding from State or Federal Governments to implement some of these tracks. There have been many millions provided around the state on tracks in recent years, so it would be my hope that Hobart could also get some support in coming years. This plan does not take away from the importance of walking tracks, which are also a much loved way to appreciate the mountain. It’s our intention that this plan will reduce the conflict between riders and walkers and ensure there are great places for everyone.” DEADLINES LOOM ON NORTHERN SUBURBS LIGHT RAIL The possibility of a Light Rail to the Northern suburbs has been back in the news recently as various election promises, deals and reports see light. Gle-

norchy Mayor Kristie Johnston, who has campaigned for the project for over 11 years said, “It’s difficult to explain why a state government wouldn’t get behind a proposal which is incredibly popular in the community, supports the growth of affordable housing, supports economic development and businesses and increases tourism opportunities.” So why dawdle? “It’s been tied up in bureaucratic processes,” said Johnston, “It has to be the most studied piece of infrastructure, for least dollars spent thus far that we have in the entire state.” Money appears to be the main concern - studies give a consistent estimate of around $200 million in cost. “If you consider the amount of money that goes into road infrastructure for little or no economic benefit or urban renewal potential it’s beyond belief that they haven’t committed to investing in rail passenger transport services,” said Johnston. Mayor Johnston is attempting to get the project put forth to Infrastructure Australia and is pushing for the State Government to confirm its commitment to making concrete progress, hopefully before Christmas. “It’s important we can move into 2021 with this project on the books and ready to go.”

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BITS AND PIECES

SHAKESPEARE SHAKES IT IN THE GARDENS Every summer Directions Theatre brings the Bard to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. This year marks their 22nd Shakespeare in the Gardens production, a rewarding tradition that’s become a bulwark of Tasmanian theatre. 2021’s production brings us A Comedy of Errors - Shakespeare’s hijinks filled tale of mistaken identity and Too Many Twins. The production will premiere on 29 January and run throughout February, capping off its season with a special performance at the Delamere Vineyard in March. This is director Tai Gardener’s third time heading a production for Shakespeare in the Gardens. Tai said “Shakespeare in the Gardens is perfect for the times - outdoors, easily socially-distanceable, and a much needed arts outlet for audiences and performers alike. I like reminding people that Shakespeare was for the masses and can be made accessible for modern audiences. For those unconvinced, I can say that A Comedy of Errors is Shakespeare’s shortest play, changing laborious wordplay for slapstick farce. Add a picnic, a bottle of wine, and a lovely summer night under the stars and you can hardly go wrong.“ MONA GOES DOWN IN HISTORY Mona has been officially recognised by Heritage Tasmania as one of 10

the youngest buildings ever to be permanently placed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register. Mona celebrated this historic achievement by submitting a development application to the Glenorchy City Council for an “extension to a museum on a heritage listed place.” The new building is rumored to be called ‘the House of Kiefer’, perhaps after Anslem Kiefer, a German artist who has already contributed an installation piece to the Mona grounds. The proposed plans were designed by Melbourne-based Fender Katsalidis Architects, who were responsible for the original Mona buildings and appear to show the new building located near the Spectra installation and connected to the museum by multiple tunnels. This project would be the third significant expansion to Mona since its opening nearly 10 years ago. DEC CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BREAKS NEW GROUND The Derwent Entertainment Centre upgrade has passed a major milestone in its progress as the Tasmanian Government recently completed its purchase of the building and surrounding land from the Glenorchy City Council for $8 million. Premier Peter Gutwein announced that on-site construction has already begun and preliminary works are expected to be completed by Christmas. The ambitious program has already set itself several tight deadlines. The Tasmania Jack Jumpers are slated to play their first NBL game there in October 2021 and Guy Sebastian has booked the venue November 22, 2021, for his upcoming tour. The Tasmanian Government has finalised their arrangement with the LK Group, who will be in charge of the redevelopment of the DEC as well as its future operation and management. This project is part of $1.5 billion worth of investment happening in Glenorchy, which includes the DEC, Mona, the Showgrounds, Austins Ferry at Whitestone Bay and a number of affordable housing projects.

THUMBS UP Woolworths Group, Australia’s largest retailer, has announced it will power all its operations – including almost 3300 stores – with renewable energy by 2025. Eating raspberries straight from the bush. No $8 a punnet when you have access to the trees of production. @handsanfan on Instagram is giving us the in-depth hand sanitizer reviews we need. Instagram. Warmer weather, longer days, vitamin D. Happy Hobartians.

THUMBS DOWN Despite TasTAFE offering online courses, there’s a cap on how many students they will take on. At a time when many people need to retrain and redeploy, putting on extra tutors seems an easy fix. Australia’s most secretive state? An external review carried out by Richard Connock revealed that Tasmania’s rate of refusal for Right To Information claims was “nearly twice that of the next highest jurisdiction (Queensland at 16 per cent) and 750 per cent that of Australia’s most open jurisdictions (Victoria and the Northern Territory, both at 4 per cent)”. The AAMI Crash Index reports Argyle Street Tasmania’s most dangerous road for Traffic Accidents and Collisions. Tasmania overtakes Queenland as the state with highest unemployment rate (8.2%) making us secretive, bad at driving and jobless :(

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BITS AND PIECES

TWO HANDS ON DECK FOR SYDNEY TO HOBART With over 100 boats registered to compete, the 2020 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is set to be one of the biggest events held anywhere in Australia in the post-lockdown era. Precautions will be in place, including temperature-checking crews before they get on board in Sydney and disembark here. Many end of race celebrations are cancelled or scaled back - the Race Village will be closed to the public as will the marina at large. With Wild Oats XI sitting out the race and Comanche sold to Russians and stuck in the Northern Hemisphere, the race could be any millionaire superyacht owner’s game to win. Another change is the inclusion of a Two-Handed Division in the race for the very first time, which is causing big waves in the sailing community. We spoke to Dr John Saul, a veteran Sydney to Hobart competitor, who is sailing his yacht Sidewinder in the Two-Handed Division this year. So what is Two-Handed Sailing? You have two crew members instead of six, eight, 10 or 12 like normal boats.

And is it a big deal to be in the Sydney to Hobart? Yeah it sorta always is, but I must confess I’ve got friends now who are doing their 25th or 30th race and it’s a way of life for a lot of Hobart sailors just to turn up every year. Oh that’s lovely, but I meant is it a big deal for two handed sailing to be in the Sydney to Hobart? Yes, it’s the first year of Two-Handed sailing. Two-person crews are quite popular in Europe and it’s been around for quite some time but it hasn’t really taken off in Australia. So Australian sailing is following the European trend and moving with the times to allow this class to develop. Does Two-Handed Sailing make the race easier or harder? The race is pretty tough anyway and depending on how you load yourself up, 10 people can work pretty hard in the Sydney to Hobart for sure. Sailing with two people you’ve really got to think ahead, try and get your sail combination right and you certainly run the risk of less sleep and more physical activity with sail changes. It can be pretty intense. Are you disappointed about the reduced festivities of the event? Oh it’s disappointing but in reality it’s been so tough for Australia, and everyone in general, combatting Covid-19 that just to have a race is a wonderful thing. Disappointing that it can’t be a traditional Sydney to Hobart finish and freedom of

crowds like we normally have, but considering how bad Covid-19 is world wide, just to have a race is fantastic. Being that there’s less crew and you’re only racing against each other do you pay the same entry fee as other boats in the big race? Don’t know. Sailing is something where you try to avoid thinking about the damage. It’s much more relaxing not to think about it. So I’m not sure, to be honest. I think there’s a crew levy if there’s lots of crew on board. I try not to think about the cost! Two-Handed sailing is its own division, that means you’re not racing against the other boats right? Well it depends, they’ll allow some boats to be part of the general handicap rule but you have to restrict your autopilot use and we’re running a boat that really needs autopilot so we’re just entering the Two-Handed division. Is that a sailing controversy, the use of the third robot crewmate? It sort of is. They’ll allow the use of simple autopilots in the main race but if you’re using a more complicated autopilot with additional sensory equipment then you are restricted to the Two-Handed class. I really just want to do the first Two-Handed race and get to Hobart. Any race that finishes in Hobart is a good race. Whether it’s from Melbourne, Launceston or Sydney to Hobart, Hobart is a great place to sail to.

NEWS FROM YOUR COMMUNITY

HOBART SCHOOLS STRETCHED AND LIBRARIES CLOSE Inner city Hobart schools are reaching capacity and students are beginning to lose access to vital educational tools. The South Hobart Primary School recently lost its library, after it was closed to be repurposed as classrooms to meet 2021 enrolment numbers. But with no master plan for the school in place, it’s looking like at least three to five years before the students will have access to a library again. On ABC Radio Hobart in late November, while talking to presenter Leon Compton, Minister for Education, Jeremy Rockcliff stated that no school should be without a library. Libraries are not only important to embed a lifelong interest and ability to research and learn, they are safe space and sanctuary for kids at school. So how are Hobart kids left without a library option critical to their learning? To access capital works funding, each school must have a master plan, formu-

lated by the Department of Education. The last masterplan for South Hobart Primary was created in 2011 and included building works that were completed three years ago. The school was immediately at capacity once those works were complete. Principal Anne Reeves stopped out of catchment enrolments from 2019 (perhaps preempting an escalation in capacity issues) in an attempt to quell numbers but as yet, the Department hasn’t come forth with a new master plan to account for future growth. South Hobart, like many inner city areas, is experiencing a change in demographic as young families move in putting pressure on schools. For example, at South Hobart student numbers are reported to have grown from 150 in 2002, to 243 in 2010 to 455 in 2020 and around 500 in 2021. Class sizes are currently at or beyond capacity. Chair of the SHPS Association, Anna Powell, said their first request to the Department is to update the master plan. “While there’s immediate

issues around where the interim library is going to be, the bigger issue is this hasn’t been foreseen for ten years, with inadequate planning and funding for this school,” Anna said. “We need a master plan that’s fit for purpose, growth and facilities that we think a school needs in the next generation of kids.” It’s understood that other inner city schools are also having growth issues, but some have master plans in place. “Lansdowne Crescent Primary school doesn’t have a library for 12 months but they have a timeframe on that because it’s only while they’re building,” Anna said. “Our concern is we’re losing our library but there’s no plan for how we get it back.”

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BITS AND PIECES NEW SHOPPING CENTRE SET FOR GLEBE HILL Construction of a 5,900-square-metre shopping centre on the South Arm Highway begins next year, with more tenants to be announced soon. “Glebe Hill Village is essential infrastructure for what is Hobart’s fastest-growing catchment and will create around 200 jobs during construction and over 350 ongoing jobs once the centre opens,” Tipalea Partners CEO Scott Spanton said. “McDonald’s alone is expected to employ around 100 people across a mix of full-time, part-time and casual roles, with training and development a focus for these new employees.” Happy Meal anyone? CONSTRUCTION TO EASE FERRY QUEUE Work to expand the Bruny Island ferry terminals at Kettering and Roberts Road is expected to start in early 2021, aiming to improve travel times and reduce congestion and ferry queues for those travelling to Bruny Island. A second ferry berth, Berth 2, with dual-lane loading ramps will increase capacity and allow routine maintenance to be carried out with less disruption to the ferry service. An existing road will be extended to meet the second berth and directional line marking will be added to both terminals. Construction is expected to be complete by mid-2021. FOOD THE CURE FOR WEIGH-IN WORRIES Have you ever tried to train a dog? With lots of dedication, it’s possible. How about an echidna? Or black-tailed yellow cockatoo? That’s the challenge Sonja Boxsell, who is in charge of training animals at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, has taken on. Sonja keeps track of the animals’ weight to ensure they’re keeping healthy, but she said the regular weigh-ins were causing some residents stress. For the past year, Sonja has been teaching the animals to weigh themselves by introducing food treats to lure them the scale - and she said training had progressed quickly. “In one of the first five-minute training sessions, a yellow-tailed cockatoo just got on the scales on his own,” she said. It’s going so well now that sometimes trainers need to intervene to stop animals crowding the scales. Sonja said celebrating every self-weigh-in was important because many of the animals were permanent residents and weigh-ins would be part of their routine forever. “This is their only chance for them to survive, it’s their last home.”

LIFETIME OF WORK ON DISPLAY FOR TASSIE ARTIST The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s (TMAG) newest exhibition, David Keeling: Stranger, is open now featuring the artist’s work dating from the 1980s until today, with many sourced from private collections. TMAG Principal Curator of Art Jane Stewart said that Keeling has dedicated his adult life to painting Tasmania. “At the same time, he has been influenced by international movements such as the Italian Renaissance, Surrealism and Classicism,” Jane said. “The combination of elements which are both local and global, contemporary and historic, makes for a compelling body of artworks. The exhibition was planned for earlier this year but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.” David Keeling: Stranger is on show at TMAG until 14 February 2021. HOBART CBD SPEED LIMIT TO BE REDUCED Speed limits for some of the streets in Hobart’s CBD will be dropped to 40km/h from 1 February, 2021. The reduced speed limit, which is consistent with other major Australian cities, aims to improve the safety and comfort for road users in high-pedestrian areas. This comes as data from AAMI’s 2020 Crash Index revealed Argyle Street as the most likely street to have an accident in Hobart. Speed limits on Davey Street and Macquarie Street will not change. There’s more information and a map available via the council’s website. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY AND FUNDING FOR YOUTH The spotlight is being shone on youth right now, with the Premier recently announcing a Commission of Inquiry to examine responses to child sexual abuse allegations by State institutions. It is set to begin early 2021 and run for a year. The Tasmanian Government has also committed $4 million to transform the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) model of care. This comes after independent consultant Professor Brett McDermott authored a lengthy 100-page report that included seven recommendations, and highlighted the need for additional funding for CAMHS. Part of the Government’s first phase of action is directing $1 million to set up a youth early intervention service and a $500,000 increase for the coverage of Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Service in the North and North-West.

Revel with Rebellious Spirits this Christmas. New Norfolk Distilleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2020 Gift Boxes are now available online! Have one delivered to a rum-lover, or pre-order and collect from the New Norfolk Providore. Use code HOBARTMAG1 when you order for free delivery* *Offer valid until 14/12/2020. Order online by this date to guarantee Xmas delivery within Tasmania.

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BITS AND PIECES SUNFLOWERS IN THE CHURCH EXHIBITION OPENS IN FRANKLIN This summer, the Clark-Port family, well known in the Huon Valley and owners of the St John’s Church in Franklin, are throwing open the doors to host a Sunflower Art Exhibition. Given the challenges 2020 has presented, Naomie Clark-Port is organising the exhibition to bring some cheer to Franklin and its visitors. “St Johns is an important part of Huon Valley heritage, and needs to be open for the public to enjoy,” she said. Five generations of her family are buried in the surrounding cemetery, where there will also be a history installation trail. Sunflowers have been planted around the area, and all exhibition items will be for sale. If you’re an artist keen to exhibit, email naomie@franklincider.com.au.

Plan: Towards a Zero Emissions Hobart comprises 46 actions across six categories. Following the recent community consultation, three key targets were added to the plan - a corporate greenhouse gas reduction target of 20 per cent by 2030; the setting of a community greenhouse gas target by the end of 2022; and a target to achieve 100 per cent net renewable electricity by 2040. NO FEAR OF MISSING OUT ON MONA FOMA! Mona Foma is back baby! Mona’s high Summer festival will run from 15 January through to 24 January split across two weekends - one in Launceston (15-17) and one in Hobart (22-24). The program is jam-packed and tickets are on sale on 8 December. In Launceston’s Cataract

Gorge internationally acclaimed artist Robin Fox will debut Aqua Luma, a cacophony of light, sound, and water. Meanwhile in Hobart. the dear departed, derelict K&D Store will get a multicoloured makeover to house No Place Like Home, curated by Emma Pike and featuring video installations, art and sculpture by local and international artists including Tony Albert, Zanny Begg, Andy Hutson, Rachel Maclean, Nell, Ryan Presley and Phebe Schmidt. Curator of Mona Foma, Brian Ritchie, said “Robin Fox has been involved in every festival program since Mona Foma’s inception, so it’s appropriate that he has created a new work to address a year like no other. While at K&D Warehouse the art will take you over the rainbow after the storm that was the year 2020.”

ASTHMATICS AWARE! Along with blooming flowers and fresh fruits comes pollen season. Tasmania has the highest rates of asthma in all of Australia - afflicting 13.4 per cent of the population - and the increasing severity of pollen release can spell bad news, triggering hay fever symptoms, asthma flare ups and attacks. Dr Penelope Jones, from the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research said, “We have already started to see moderate grass pollen counts in Hobart and high counts in Launceston. We can expect grass pollen counts to rise over the next few weeks, as it hits its Tasmanian peak.” Asthma Australia is urging Tasmanians to check in on their asthma with various strategies like calling Asthma Australia’s free 1800 ASTHMA line, where trained Asthma Educators help asthmatics manage their symptoms, or downloading pollen monitoring mobile apps like AirRater to check pollen levels and prevent unnecessary exposure. SUSTAINABLE PLAN FOR HOBART ENDORSED An action plan that will help the City of Hobart to achieve more sustainable operational outcomes has been endorsed by the Council.The Sustainable Hobart Action 16

SACRED ABORIGINAL PETROGLYPHS TO RETURN HOME Tasmanian Aboriginal petroglyphs taken from Preminghana in the state’s NorthWest more than 60 years ago will be returned home after the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Roger Jaensch approved a permit application lodged by Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). Mr Jaensch said arrangements for the physical return of the petroglyphs were being made between TMAG, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) and the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania. While there is still some ironing out of the return details, Mr Jaensch said, “It is nationally accepted that materials recognised as spiritually and culturally important, or acquired in an unethical way, should be returned to their rightful owners unconditionally.” TMAG welcomed the announcement and “recognises the significance of this material as part of an extensive and complex cultural landscape at Preminghana.” Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre CEO Heather Sculthorpe said she is hopeful that the only thing standing in the way of petroglyphs’ return is logistics. “On the 10th of December every year we have a celebration of the return of land from 1995, so it would be great if we could get it done by then,” she said.

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FEATURE

Tasmanian surfer, Sam Lennox may be on the brink of winning $30,000 after a video of him riding a gargantuan wave at Shipstern Bluff has progressed to the finals of an online competition. Shipstern Bluff, or ‘Shippies’, is globally renowned as one of the wildest and most dangerous big-wave surf locations with waves spanning up to 10 metres in height. Lennox first started surfing there in 2005 when he was 17 years old, and since then has been a regular fixture at Shippies and an early pioneer of body-boarding at the site. “Shippies has always been an exciting place to come and surf, I love the raw energy of the wave and the unbelievable backdrop of the towering sea cliffs,” said Lennox. “Shippies is a high-risk and high-rewards wave, that’s what I love about it. I’ve had many a beatdown out there, but also the best wave of my life quite a few times.” Lennox is often found surfing in the predawn hours, as once the sun rises he must return to his day job as a park ranger for the Tasman National Park, where he is responsible for managing 18

the area around Shipstern Bluff. Previously Lennox worked on creating the walking trails on the Three Capes Track and Shipstern Bluff often camping along them overnight instead of going home. Lennox knows the coastline and sea cliffs of Shipsterns Bluff like the back of his hand and loves them like the Southern Bluefin Tuna loves the cold coastal waters of Tasmania in the wintertime (Lennox is also a keen fisherman). Lennox is a finalist in the Short Circuit competition, an international online event run by Movement Magazine offering the largest ever cash prize awarded for a bodyboard video competition. First Prize is a whopping $30,000 for the best single wave ridden. Lennox’s wave occurred early in the morning of September this year. Few other surfers were even awake yet, let alone ready to head out into the eight metre and higher waves being tossed up. “I had missed a few swells previously so I was excited to get in the water this day. Especially seeing the swell was big and clean. After about an hour waiting in the cold September water, a large set rolled in. I took off late and under the lip the wave opened nicely and from there. I just held on through the slippery slide.

Clockwise from far left: Sam getting his fins out; Sam at work with Tasmania Parks and Wildlife; Barrels for days; Sam during the build phase of the Three Capes track; Dude, where’s my board?

The crew on the boats were screaming, so I assumed it must have been ok. It felt pretty good. Definitely not the biggest or best wave I have had out there, but an epic ride none the less,” said Lennox. Breathtaking video of the stunt was captured by professional photographer Stuart Gibson, who has known Lennox for over 15 years. Lennox’s entry can be viewed on the Short Circuit video competition website. The winner is to be determined by an online vote, open to all. But even with one of the largest waves entered in the competition to his name, Lennox is still a small fish in the big ocean in this arena. Many of his opponents are professional surfers with large social media followings and professional publicists, while Lennox is an unsponsored, small time, local lad surfing for the joy of it. “Winning this competition would be an amazing opportunity,” Lennox said, “But I need the support of the Tasmanian public to look at the competition and vote for my wave if they agree it’s worthy of their vote!” Voting is free and closes 31 December 2020. https://shortcircuit. movementmag.com/video/12 19

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FOOD

A CHEFFY CHRISTMAS: YOUR GUIDE TO HACKING FESTIVE ENTERTAINING Words: Zilla Gordon Image: Sushil Karki With Tasmania’s borders open for the festive season, chances are you’ll be welcoming more than just warmer weather this Christmas. We chatted to some Tassie foodies and chefs on planning the perfect stress-free festivities now you can kick back and celebrate - with up to 40 of your nearest and dearest. Buy your produce from trusted suppliers - a local butcher, fishmonger and vegetable supplier goes a long way to eating well and delicious results. Seafood is always served and a personal favourite is boiled and marinated Tassie octopus. Very easy to do and can be prepared well in advance. Porchetta is always on our table. Get your pork already rolled and trussed from your butcher, I get mine from Vermeys which has a little fennel and garlic on the inside. Ask your butcher to leave it overnight uncovered in the fridge to dry the skin. My hot tip for perfect crackle is to pour boiling water over the pork over the sink. Pat dry and rub olive oil all over then salt. Leave in the fridge overnight and next day pat dry and cook. Massimo Mele, Tasmanian Chef It can be tricky at Christmas or when you’re entertaining to find room in the fridge for all the food and drinks. If fridge space is limited, make sure food is given priority for space over drinks, because nobody wants to spend the festive season with food poisoning. Get creative and keep drinks cool on ice in buckets, an esky or even the bathtub. If you’re hosting Christmas at home, do as much preparation in advance as you can. Set the table the night before, prep vegetables and salads, whip the cream – basically do any jobs in advance that you can that will make the big day easier. Hill Street Grocer Plan ahead - write a list of everything you’re making and all the ingredients that you need and do one big shop. This will help you be organised and save time! William Muller, Head Chef, St Albi Bar + Eatery When cooking the Christmas turkey in the oven, cover the turkey’s body in a wet tea towel and then aluminium foil and whack her in. That way the breast stays moist and doesn’t dry out, whilst the legs roast off nicely! Serve with cranberry jam and pumpkin dust. Cohen Donald and Sam Cooper, Dana Eating House 22

We’re great fans of summer fruits. And because of the surfeit, we end up with more than we can gobble in the garden. More than we can have with honey and raw jersey cream. So we make a very refreshing summer drink called a shrub. It’s like a grown up cordial, where some of the water is replaced with vinegar. Willie Smith make a cracking cider vinegar, which is ideal in a drink such as this. It has to be good vinegar, and it has to be ripe berries. And, of course, you finish the day on a shrub, too, laced with one of those amazing Tassie gins. Shrubs can be made from elderflower, from peaches, but our favourite is probably strawberry. Though my favourite is always the next one. Mathew Evans, Fat Pig Farm You don’t need to spend money on a premium Christmas ham any supermarket-bought leg ham will work with a good recipe. Not sure if you should order a half or whole-leg ham? A half-leg would be ideal for 15 to 20 people, and it’s easier to work with, especially when cooking at home where ovens are a bit smaller than a commercial one. A great tip is to roughly pierce the meaty parts of the ham with a knife - this will make sure the glaze can run inside and all the way through. And make sure you save the leftover glaze to drizzle onto the carved ham. Sushil Karki, Birdsong My tip for summer in the kitchen is to make granita. We have such an abundance of fresh fruit here in Tasmania. What I love to do is make a 50/50 sugar syrup. Puree your fruit, be it apricots, cherries, peaches, berries, melon etc, add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice then add sugar syrup to taste. Pour this mixture into a relatively shallow container and freeze. When frozen using a fork scrape into flakes. Cover and store in the freezer until ready to use. It will need to be scraped again. I love to serve this at Christmas on top of the trifle, and it’s also great on its own, but my favourite way is with some whipped sweet cream or ice cream, this combination of ice and cream is a classic... think Splice! Rodney Dunn, The Agrarian Kitchen

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13 years ago I had a dream to design lightweight merino wool clothing that was stylish, comfortable and practical, and get it manufactured right here in Tasmania. We had recently moved from WA to Tasmania and loved the climate, the people, the whole island, and especially the sheep! We wanted to know where all the wonderful wool was going, because we were cold and wanted to wear some. So I designed some pieces, and we decided to make it ourselves. We wanted to support Tasmania and be local. We wanted to create a unique Australian brand, and offer visitors and locals a Tassie souvenir that they could wear for years to come. It's a Family Business – as Carl is Main Marketing Man, Nicola is the Designer and Photographer, Holly, our daughter is the face of smitten and part-time fab Salesperson, Brooke our other daughter is part-time smitten Model, and full-time Doctor in Tweed Heads, and Daniel, our skateboarding son, is hopefully taking over as Photographer for all our shoots (when he can direct the camera away from beetles and sheep...) We hope you love smitten as much as we do – our relationship with you is one we treasure. Thank you for keeping our wool dream alive.

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WHAT’S ON IN HOBART MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Pablo’s Cocktails and Dreams has moved its Jazz Jam Sessions to Thursday evenings. Enjoy delectable classic cocktails alongside classic jazz standards.

FRIDAY

The Grand Poobah is celebrating the silly season with Merry Happy Comedy! A night of stand-up comedy featuring many funny Tasmanians.

Have a devillishly good Christmas.

Paddling, Pals and Pizza at Long Beach Sandy Bay, run by the Derwent Canoe Club, aims to turn total beginners into whitewater rafting masters. Plus pizza!

Show up and sing along! The Multicultural Council of Tasmania is running a multicultural music playgroup between 10am to 12pm at 65 Hopkins St, Moonah.

Kingston Florist Billy provides fresh botanicals to create a wreath you can take home at Kingborough Community Hub’s Christmas Wreath Workshop.

Street Eats Franko are back in Franklin Square making every Friday evening through summer an opportunity for good food, live music, and fun!

Franko!

Hobart Town Hall plays host to the Young Voices of Hobart choir and their End of Year Concert.

Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours celebrates the Summer Solstice with a pre-dawn bike ride up the mountain culminating with a spectacular sunrise from the summit.

The Salvos are throwing their annual Gingerbread House Making night at their Hobart City location.

A glittering Christmas Cabaret presented by Taylah Evans brings Tasmanaian talent from all over the state to the Don Bosco Theatre at Guilford Young College.

Rude Boy gets in the festive spirit with a Drag Queen Bingo Christmas Special starring Aysha Buffet.

A two-for-one on special events at the Cascade Brewery Co tonight - try their Lamb and Larger dinner special and their prized Cascade Quiz Night.

The Veronicas are in Hobart! Their show at the Goods Shed is already sold out, so your best bet is to keep an eye out around town for the twins.

The Veronicas 24

The Dirt Devils Cycling Club’s “Enduro Twilight” Mountain Bike race series will be shredding some tires at the Clarence MTB Park.

Harlequin Hobart, Lenah Valley hosts their HarleQuiz every Thursday Night from 7pm. Free Entry, teams of six, Booking essential.

Missing the Taste? Red Square Hobart & The Goods Shed want you to ring in the New Year jamming with The Jungle Giants.

The Hobart Twilight Market is on at Long Beach Sandy Bay tonight. Get your friends together for a pre-Christmas catch up and present shopping. Win-win!

How does Good King Wencelas like his pizza? Deep pan, crisp and even. Merry Christmas!

DECEMBER SATURDAY

Head to Swinging Christmas at Rosny Farm for some sweet jazz stylings from Nadira and Friends. During the Midtown Christmas Block Party Oh my! Pierogi will be selling takeaway hand pinched Polish dumpling.

SUNDAY

Veganfest Tasmania’s third year of celebrating and educating on the animal free lifestyle takes place from 10am to 4pm today at Kingborough Community Hub.

What about him? Shannon Noll performs at the Granada Tavern Tonight. The Narryna Christmas Spirit Market brings distillers together to share the Spirit of Christmas in all senses of the word *wink*.

Local Night at the Hobart Uni Bar presents homegrown bands like Art School Bullies, Lazer Baby and Baby Dave. Meanwhile at The Bris Miles Brown’s LP Launch is on.

A bumper day for sports! Two Big Bash matches in one day at Bellerive Oval. Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes (2:15pm) Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades (7.15pm).

John and Rick Brewster, legendary guitarists from the Angels, brothers and best friends, in concert at the Longley International Hotel.

Boxing Day Party at the Botanical Gardens staring A. Swayze and the Ghosts, with Slag Queens, Chase City. The Tinderboxers, Lazer Baby and more! The Sydney to Hobart race kicks off today.

FURTHER AFIELD 4-6 DECEMBER Tasmanian Artists and Makers of the Huon have teamed up with a couple of local winemakers to welcome visitors to the Huon Valley to their open studios and cellar doors. Learn the secrets of the Valley’s artisans and get the chance to buy special pieces directly from the artists and vintners. 5 DECEMBER Enjoy an evening of Wine and Words at the beautiful Spring Bay Mill in Triabunna. First top sommelier Joseph Burton will talk you through a tip-top Tassie wine tasting, then First Dog on the Moon, Australia’s only Walkley award-winning marsupial-based cartoonist, will regale you with some classic tall tales.

11 DECEMBER From 5:30 onwards the Riverview Deck at Glen Albyn Estate is transformed into a Greek Taverna in preparation for one of Australia’s Premier ABBA Tribute bands, the Super Troupers and their Mamma Mia! It’s Christmas Time Again Concert. 13 DECEMBER One of the Huon Valley’s hidden little gems, The Judbury Market and Car Boot Sale, is only a fifteen minute scenic drive from Huonville. Kids can play in the Giant Tree Houses while you sit back and enjoy some Devonshire Tea from Carols Cafe or a Judbury Burger from the Markets BBQ.

5 DECEMBER Tassie Open Air Cinemas’ Pop-Up Drive-In Cinema at the Baskerville Raceway is bringing horror-comedy Gremlins (1984) back to the big screen in time for the holiday season. Share the classic Christmas experience with your family. 6 DECEMBER ‘The Spirit of Ellis Lives On’ is on today at the Old Kempton Distillery - a historical tribute to the site and its original owner, convict embezzlerturned-innkeeper, William Ellis. Festivities included a Six Shillings coin hunt, a free guided gin tasting and live music by Tony Mak.

15 DECEMBER At the UTAS Stadium in Launceston the Hobart Hurricanes battle the Adelaide Strikers as part of Big Bash Leagues Summer of cricket.

On the first Sunday of every month the Bream Creek Farmers Markets, at the Bream Creek Show Grounds, showcases growers, producers and makers, from South Eastern Tasmania and beyond.

19 DECEMBER Banjo’s New Norfolk Market presents the Merry Little Market, friendliest little festive market in Tasmania.

Bream Creek Farmers Market

Got an event coming up in Tassie? Email us at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au Riding the rails. Photo: Tourism Tasmania

Background photo: J. Da Seymour Photomedia 25

WHAT’S ON IN HOBART MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Catch a free lunch time performance of Happy Days on at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

JamaicanAustralian singer, rapper, and TikTok star Jaycee is making his Tasmanian performance debut at The Bris with A Night With Jaycee, supported by DJ Redwolf.

Rachel Maclean ExitLeft’s Fairytale Theatre Holiday Workshops will be on this month, offering kids six to 12 a chance to rehearse, stage and film a fairytale version of some classic tales.

At Good Games Hobart there’s a weekly Pokemon League where pocket monster lovers can build decks, trade, and duel in a no pressure environment.

First Wednesday of the month the Salamanca Knit Night meets at Hearth Pizza & Small Plates to share tips, patterns and laughter.

SUNDAY

Gin-uary in Hobart

Cascade Historic Tours are specifically brewed for those with a thirst for history! Learn more about the beautiful building and the tale of this iconic Tasmanian institution.

SATURDAY

Get down to Glaziers Bay for Feast at Fat Pig Farm, run by Matthew Evans, host of Gourmet Farmer.

JANUARY

At the Tricycle Bar and Cafe Salamanca Wool Shop hosts Social Sock Knitting - helping you overcome the trickiest of knitting hurdles...the sock!

Checkmate! Kingston Library will be running afternoons to help you master the game of chess. Just turn up from 4.00pm - 6.00pm, and prepare to send your pawns off to battle. Get down to Sidespace Gallery to see Honni Cox’s free exhibition, Island Bound - a photo study of Lockdown on independent, small business in Hobart. Derwent Sailing Squadron and the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania are bringing back Thursday Twilight racing for the summer.

Hamley Productions presents A Midsummer’s Much Ado about Lovers, Friends & Fools at Pooley Wines Vineyard, Richmond.

Kick start that New Year’s resolution to health with Friday Fitness in the Park, a free outdoors group fitness session at Bellerive Beach Park. Mona Foma is back in Hobart this weekend!

GIN-uary 2021 is on at Red Square Hobart & The Goods Shed. 26 Tasmanian gin distilleries will be in attendance alongside other gin related vendors.

Sue Leitch of WinterCreek Mosaics hosts a Beginners Mosaic Class at the Moonah Art Centre.

Rock and Roll legend Tex Perkins & Friends play at the Longley International Hotel.

Starting this month the Valley Market will be a local handmade makers market, held on the 3rd Sunday of every month at the Lenah Valley Community Hall.

Looking for a new skill? Why not try the Hobart Lampshade Workshop with Annie at the Monah Arts Centre.

Tino Carnevale.

The Hobart Wheelers’ Monday Night Track is an inclusive, and welcoming environment for riders of all abilities to try track cycling on the New Town Oval’s velodrome.

The Fern Tree Tavern is starting a monthly open night for female performers, called The Monthly. Come along to see or try your luck on stage!

Directions Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Gardens: A Comedy of Errors opens tonight! Get along to the Gardens for a good time.

Spring Bay Mill is throwing a Sunflower Celebration of all things sunny and flowery, with Tino Carnevale and the Gardening Australia team.

The Combined Sailing Clubs of Derwent, Bellerive and Royal are hosting a threeday Two Handed Long Race Series as part of their 2021 sailing season.

TASMANIA’S ORCHESTRA The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is here for you. Join us in 2021. Subscriptions to the TSO’s 2021 season are now on sale. Visit tso.com.au or call the TSO Box Office on 1800 001 190. 27

HOBART HOMES

CASA ACTON Interview: Stephanie Williams

Images: Adam Gibson

Sandstone floors cement the living area.

What do you get when you combine an architect, a bush block and a budget of $275,000? Casa Acton is a moveable 53sqm bush dwelling in Tasmania designed and built by Josh FitzGerald (a founding director of Archier) along with his partner Millie Ashton.

compromise on the ‘right’ spot, and expectedly as an architect, there’s little room to move when wanting to build the ‘right’ home. The solution came from Millie’s parents who took the initiative to remove a septic tank and invite them to build their moveable dwelling on the edge of their small farm in Acton.

The construction is simple, but detailed and anchored with locally sourced sandstone, timbers and plants, inviting you to slow down and engage with the landscape.

After some years living in Melbourne, away from the nest, the offer was wide open. The land was lovely and it forged an exciting pathway to design and build their small, moveable home straight away.

Prior to this Josh and Millie were renting a small, cold, leaky sieve of a cottage. As a building, it had its failures, but they worked out the footprint suited them and they could exist harmoniously in a compact space. They decided they could achieve that in a connected and efficient manner if they built their own small home. Financially, they could foresee a pathway to either buy the right piece of land or build the right home. As Tasmanians they both have an inherent connection to the landscape and didn’t want to 28

Josh designed a simple envelope with achievable detailing, which easily related to the standardised measurements of the SIP (Structurally Insulated Panels) system. As an owner builder, he couldn’t design something complicated, or he wouldn’t be able to build it. This didn’t detract from details being refined and considered, but simplicity was key and a major part of the brief. Experiences gradually reveal themselves as you move through the simple geometric form, punctuated by moments that allow for synchronised and contrasting routines.

Josh and his dogs.

The timber-clad exterior.

Artist impression of the Callington Mill.

DISTILLERS DIVERSIFY TO CONQUER COVID Words: Zilla Gordon It’s not news that Tasmania is home to some of the country’s best distilleries. But while gin and whisky are the usual fare, some bold spirit makers are creating a more seductive drop - absinthe. The Green Fairy The mere mention of the anise-flavoured spirit absinthe is enough to conjure up images of bohemian parties in 19th century French bordellos. Hobart distiller Jack Lark and his business partner Louis Duckett said they thought absinthe, with its rich history and alluring jade green colour, would diversify Tasmania’s spirit market. “There are too many brilliant gins on the market for us to add to the competition, so we had a bit of a think about an alternative product,” Jack said. “Absinthe is an incredibly fun and versatile drink with a rich history. The Tasmanian spirits industry is incredibly encouraging to new producers and I think people are genuinely interested in our absinthe.” The duo’s absinthe-making process is based on the traditional method for maceration (the soaking of ground barley) with a “holy trinity” of aniseed, fennel and wormwood added. “Then we do a final maceration with a secret combination of botanicals that add flavour and the famous green hue,” Jack said. Working with a 60 per cent alcohol by volume spirit meant the distillers were probably among Tasmania’s safest residents during the pandemic, though coronavirus has still presented some challenges. “We plan on selling to lots of local bars and Covid-19 30

Image: Cumulus Studio

sadly meant they had to shut down for a while,” Jack said. On the Rums Jack and Louis aren’t the only Tasmanian spirit producers thinking outside the box. On the grounds of Willow Court, a former asylum, Tarrant Derksen and Clara Ho have been turning molasses into rum. New Norfolk Distillery events manager Clara said people may have only tried one rum, from one location, thinking they all tasted the same. “Really rum can be very versatile,” she said. With native botanicals used in the distilling process the result is a uniquely Tassie-tasting rum. But there have been fewer tastings in 2020. Like most distillers, Covid-19 saw New Norfolk Distillery producing hand sanitiser. But it was the providore they set up along with other local businesses that really helped them survive. “We thought ‘why not band together’,” Clara said. The providore offered a range of platter options as well as wines and spirits which were from their fellow producers and friends. Bar by Night, DIY Distillery by Day Lark Distillery – already a household name – have also upped the ante, creating a “temple to gin” for their Forty Spotted range with the opening of Gin(bar) on Argyle Street. By night, the menu offers gin-based cocktails featuring native and seasonal ingredients, but by day, Gin(bar) allows gin-lovers the opportunity to be a distiller by making their own personal, hand-crafted bottle of gin with

its Ginstitute course. Head of hospitality Dan Knight said the project had been in the works for a year. “We started in November last year, before we knew what the world would look like with Covid19,” he said. Dan said while Gin(bar) was a must-do for tourists, it was also a place Tasmanian locals would come back to time after time. Old Mill Grinding Again Oatlands is better known for historical sandstone than whisky, but soon, its mill will be busy again grinding barley with the $14 million Callington Mill distillery set to open next year. Callington Mill will be capable of making up to 400,000 of single malt alongside a cellar door and visitors centre. Developer and founder John Ibrahim said Callington Mill was in the works long before Covid-19 had halted domestic and international tourism, however he was optimistic travellers would soon return. “The mill, which is 100 per cent Tasmanian-made, will be a destination,” John said. “A glass window in the restaurant will allow people to see the full distilling process.” While there will be a focus on export, John believes the project will provide around 30 jobs, and future plans included a bottling factory - bringing additional employment opportunities. With so many projects in the works, it seems like Tasmania’s distillers will keep filling our glasses with surprises.

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SCIENCE

The cheeky black headed honey eater.

Man of the moment, critically endangered swift parrot.

The iconic 40-spotted pardalote.

ITCHING FOR SOME TWITCHING Words: Bonnie Mary Liston

Images L & R: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Centre: Henry Cook

Birds like Tasmania. Firstly it’s an island, which birds like in general because they can flaunt their ability to come and go as they please to those dumb landlocked mammals. Secondly we’ve got a lush, sexy, biosphere with grassy moorlands, coastal heaths, temperate rainforests and eucalyptus bush, all in one conveniently compact package. Not only is about 47% of Tasmania covered in forest, nearly 25% of it is protected Wilderness World Heritage Area which birds are particularly appreciative of because, with the Tassie tiger out of the way and the devil being quite a short and clumsy fellow the only predators they really have to watch out for here is that devil known as Man (feral cats are also a bit of a problem, but they’re really a side effect of Man). Nearly 300 different species of birds have been recorded in Tasmania, including 12 endemic bird species (endemic meaning they are only found in Tasmania), 14 if you count a couple of parrots who find Tasmania so romantic they’ll never breed anywhere else. And where there are birds there comes inevitably birdwatchers. Birders. Twitchers. Not to be confused with the children playing their square games on the internet, twitchers are bird watchers that will travel any distance, brave any hardship, lose friends, family and lovers, just to catch a glimpse of their elusive prey: birds chilling in the wild doing bird things. Birding is a hobby filled with passionate people and, like many hobbies, the more you learn about them, the more you become endeared by their way of life. A lot of twitchers come to Tasmania as tourists but there is a very strong local bird watching community. In 2020 we were one of only three states in Australia to hold a Twitchathon in the midst of Covid-19. The Twitchathon is a race in which teams compete to observe as many different species of bird within a 30 hour period (a weekend minus compulsory breaks for sleep). The Tasmanian Twitchathon also served to raise money for the endangered forty-spotted pardalote and critically endangered swift parrot and orange-bellied parrot. Many bird watchers consider themselves ‘citizen scientists’ 32

and they’re quite right to. The sheer amount of meticulous data they record is as useful to ornithologists as it would be impossible for them to generate with their own time or resources. Especially with advances in technology - gone are the days of a battered Field Guide to Birds and a notebook and pencil - the internet makes it possible to collate and interpret data from people all around the globe, and mobile phone apps, like BirdData, make it easy to record sightings wherever you are out in the field huddled under a bush or on your way downtown for a coffee. The next frontier of birding isn’t in the heart of some untamed wilderness, it’s right here in Hobart town. Urban birding is gaining ground as a subdiscipline just as quickly as urbanisation is gaining ground on natural bird habitats. Birds, like most animals, don’t really understand or respect the notion of human property. They’ll live in the city if the city is close to things they like and Hobart, which touches the sea, the mountain and the rivulet as well as being full of delicious garbage, suits many birds quite nicely. Urban birding is a two pronged beast (or should I say, two beaked bird). Not only is it about spotting birds in the city, it’s about making the city a more desirable and diverse habitat for birds. And they want you. Birdlife, Australia’s largest bird conservation organisation and umbrella point for twitching communities, invites you and your family to dip your toes into the twitcher whirlpool with their ‘Birds in Backyards’ program. They say it’s about appreciating the nature that surrounds us everyday and learning small tips and tricks to help birds from the comfort of your own home, but make no mistake, they want to get you hooked on the incredible rush that comes from spotting and correctly identifying a bird. That said… if you did want to give it a try this summer… our very own TMAG has released The Field Guide to Tasmanian Fauna, a free app that helps you identify and learn about the rich and unusual wildlife of our fair state. Good luck and as the birders say, look out for that jizz! (that’s General Impression of Shape and Size, obviously).

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TRAVEL

WET AND WILD ACTIVE SUMMER ADVENTURES Words: Bonnie Mary Liston

Tasmanians have always been keen on boats, understandably as an island girt by sea and, accordingly, many glorious beaches. Hobart already has a high rate of boat licence holders and that number is set to increase with Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) reporting boat training bookings are up two and a half times on previous summers. Sailing seems an ideal Covid-19 safe holiday adventure. Though you may want to carefully choose who you are sharing your berth with, once under sail you’ve got fresh air, freedom, and the possibility of the open sea. Without ever leaving the state you can travel to new and exciting destinations - or old ones glimpsed from a new perspective. Even if you don’t own a boat and have no plans to own one in the immediate future you can still take to the sea. Be it day trips, chartered cruises, kayaks, canoes, or driving your car to the beach, anyone can enjoy the ocean this summer. Bruny Island is only accessible by boat

- even non-boaters have to catch the ferry from Kettering. Half the glory of the island is its magnificent coastline, constantly being circumnavigated by sail boats and kayakers. Keep your eyes open for the wildlife - seals and fairy penguins in the sea, albatrosses and wedge tailed eagles in the sky, and on the shore the rare white wallaby. For the boatless there are a couple of options to chart your way to Bruny including Hobart Yachts and Sailtas. Both offer exclusive boat chartering or pre-planned tours with trained crews, day trips or overnight berths. Sailtas, also offer a semi-educational experience allowing you to choose how much sailing you wish to participate in from hauling rope and dodging the boom or sitting back with a glass of champagne and yelling “great job darlings, look out for that boom!” (the boom is the horizontal mast thing on the bottom of the big triangular sails and often swings across the deck of the boat as the wind changes directions, one of the most common causes of injury on boats). It’s often assumed the iconic pops of orange lichen you see on the rocks around Binalong Bay are what gives the Bay of Fires its name but it actually refers to Aboriginal fires seen along the coastline by Captain Tobias Furneaux when he sailed past in 1773. There’s still a lot of surviving evidence of the long history of the local kunnara kuna tribe including middens (shell and bone dumping grounds) and protected burial sites. Sailing

LAUNCESTON HAS SO MUCH TO CHECK OUT AFTER YOU CHECK IN

Whether it’s a boutique new hotel referencing early industrial heritage, a gourmet restaurant or friendly bar, there’s so much new and waiting to be rediscovered in Launceston. Plus the leisurely morning stroll through City Park and Harvest Market are still there to be enjoyed. That’s what makes it such a great place for a city break. Book yours now.

Hotel Verge Launceston 34

to Binalong from Hobart is no easy task so even the boated amongst us may choose to come by land and partake in the Bay of Fires Eco Tours a two to three hour tour along 17kms of the pristine coast of the Bay of Fires Conservation Area departing from Binalong Bay. For those of you who want to experience the sea but don’t want to buy or hire a boat there’s kayaking - you’re closer to the elements, it’s a straightforward human-powered propulsion system, and encourages the development of really buff arms. Kayaks are also a lot cheaper than a whole boat and once you own one you can bung it on your roof racks and sail it anywhere you like.

the Derwent River and the Tahune Twins- as well as on the West Coast along the King River. For the more dedicated, Franklin River Rafting specialises in uninterrupted eight-day and 10-day tours the wild and sublime Franklin River.

Roaring 40s Kayaking is widely considered one of the premier kayaking experiences in Tasmania. They offer a range of different adventures, from paddling tours around Hobart, to multi-day expeditions to Flinders Island or around Bathurst Harbour and Port Davey. Esperance Adventures will take you even further south to the Lune River, the Huon River, Recherche Bay and Port Esperance. If you’re after an unguided experience, Freycinet Adventures in the National Park are one of the few services that offer kayak rentals. Or you can eschew the salty sea altogether and go for the freshwater experience of White Water Rafting. White Water Rafting can be found all over Tasmania. King River Rafting offers one day experiences near Hobart - on

DINING OUT

ROCK AND VIETNAMESE ROLL Words and photos: Stephanie Williams There’s quite a bit of choice when it comes to Vietnamese food in Hobart, especially with the staple banh mi bread roll. A few years back I enjoyed an incredible trip from Hanoi in Northern Vietnam, down to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Along the way it was a fascinating culinary journey, one that comes flooding back the moment I see Banh Mi N’ Grill. Hidden behind Collins Street, near Dandy Lane, it’s a cute kiosk sitting behind a cut steel frame, with jooshed up milk crates outside. If you take a peek behind the counter, there’s a tiny kitchen with a window pass. It’s the first solo venture for owner Eric Le, he created Banh Mi N’ Grill because he felt traditional options weren’t available and wanted to share authentic food from all over Vietnam. And he’s nailed it. We order a BBQ pork banh mi ($9) and a pulled brisket banh mi ($9) - the first is the traditional option from Hanoi, the second is a western adaptation because we all love 8-hour slow cooked meat. Other options include Vietnamese sau-

NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD WINE BAR OPENS IN WEST HOBART

sage, which is a nod to the Da Nang area, sweet and spicy chicken, satay mushrooms, and vegan. A Vietnamese coffee ($6) and a house made slow-pressed juice ($6) completes the meal. Eric explains that they make everything in house, and points out the (sweet and delicious) chilli jam, well known in Hoi An. Even though I can handle a bit of chilli, it’s just enough for my mid-morning meal. The freshly baked roll is crunchy on the outside with a soft middle, with perfect pate, pickles, cucumber and coriander. The BBQ pork is exactly how you imagine grilled pork should be - charred, tender and sweet, and the brisket is succulent. I’m already planning my next visit to try the grilled skewers ($12) and the house made pandan soy milk drink ($6), but that’s only if I ever get past the BBQ pork banh mi. Banh Mi N’ Grill 36 Collins Court, Hobart

A’Petit is the new offering, where Fondru’s once lay. It’s the kind of place you’d like to live near, to drop in for an aperitif and snacks. When two mums get together, you’re there for a good time not a long time - so on my first visit with a parental friend, we enjoy the gilda (white anchovies, guindilla and olives), rillettes, the delicious fish of the day (flathead with cafe de paris butter), zucchini with housemade ricotta and crunchy roast potatoes. Dessert combined caramel popcorn and lemon curd atop semifreddo and then we tapped out. Home to the kids with full bellies, full cups and a new wine bar fave.

A’Petit 374 Murray Street, Hobart

PSYCHOLOGY

Words: Annia Baron For an iconic flower, such as the Tasmanian Waratah, to bloom into its fullest potential, it must first go through a period of severe discomfort. To germinate, the seed must break through its hard exterior, spend time in the cold, wet dirt, and navigate through darkness before it can feel the warmth of the sun. Only then, does this special native brighten our wild landscape. Only then, we are gifted with its captivating beauty. This year saw unprecedented levels of change to the way we’ve been living, working, socialising, caring for ourselves, and connecting with our family, friends, and community. Constant uncertainty, job loss, financial pressure, isolation, and border closures destabilised our sense of safety and freedom. We’re tired. We’re sleepless. We’re stressed. It’s felt like the longest 12 months. No one would blame you for wanting to write the whole year off. No one would blink twice about indulging in a few more instant feel-goods. No one would judge you for drinking a little more or losing yourself in episodes of the latest series. No one would look down on you for spending money you don’t necessarily have on another purchase you don’t really need. No one would frown upon the quick and easy food options you’ve been choosing, the lack of exercise you’ve become accustomed to or the not-so-great, phone in hand habits you’ve slipped back into. No one would think less of you for procrastinating, disengaging or avoiding tasks that require accountability or perseverance. Besides, after everything we’ve been through, who has the energy for that anyway? We deserve to feel good. We deserve satisfaction. The reward is warranted and if it’s readily available, why not? But here’s something you already know. Resilience can’t be downloaded from the latest app. Resilience doesn’t come from reading a book or listening to a podcast. The sparks of resilience ignite each time you make a conscious decision to act in alignment with an intention to flourish. With an intention to better yourself for the benefit of others. Resilience - like happiness - doesn’t come from finding the easiest way out. It comes as a result of being vulnerable. Initially, resilience will rub you up the wrong way. In fact, it will piss you off. It will create strain, confusion, and a sense of overwhelm. But while the defence mechanisms of the ego are ranting on, resilience is by your side, waiting patiently. Gently. In a soft tone, it will ask you to leave the past behind and try on a new mindset. It will ask you to expand the way you see yourself – who you are, what you can cope with, and how limitless you can 38

be. At the core of it all, resilience will ask that you trust once again. Trust in your ability to adapt to change – just as you have all these years. Rather than wanting this year to be over, use the experiences of 2020 to shape the way you’ll succeed next year: Ask yourself: 1: What has this year taught me about tending to the garden of my own mindset? 2: What have I been neglecting? What seeds do I need to plant more of and what needs pruning? 3: Am I clear on my values, my goals, and how I want to be living? 4: How can I support and celebrate my own growth while supporting that of others? As the Buddhist philosopher Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, “No mud. No lotus.” We thrive because we are propelled to change. So, my friends, sow your seeds. Break through the hard exterior and trust in the process. Here you will grow strong. Here you will bloom. Did you know that resilience is hardwired into our biological make-up? When our stress response is triggered, the autonomic nervous system instructs the heart to activate more oxytocin, which acts as an anti-inflammatory to repair the effects of stress. Oxytocin, long dubbed the ‘cuddle chemical’, directs us to reach out and in doing so, we improve our psychological recovery. So for those who still hold onto the outdated belief that showing vulnerability and asking for help is a sign of ‘weakness’, rethink the way you’re thinking. Support seeking during times of hardship not only helps you feel better, it literally strengthens your heart so you can create the life you desire and deserve.

Annia Baron is a Clinical Psychologist and Mindset Coach at ReMind Yourself in Hobart.

Your gift can help save some of Tasmania’s most-threatened birds Donate now to protect Tinderbox Hills, a conservation gem south of Hobart. Tinderbox Hills is home to the critically endangered swift parrot, and to one of Australia’s rarest birds, the endangered forty spotted pardalote. The Tasmanian Land Conservancy is raising money to protect these species’ habitat. As climate change, land clearing and extinctions chip away at Australia’s remarkable natural heritage, there is something you can do to help. Donate to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy to support our work purchasing, protecting and managing private land for conservation, forever.

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Forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus). Photo: Chris Tzaros

FEATURE

Words: Zilla Gordon We’re surrounded by some of the most picturesque hikes in the country but with quick-changing weather, remote wilderness and undulating terrain, the state’s big peaks can sometimes feel out of reach. Experts say it all comes down to preparation. Practice makes perfect Nathan McCulloch, Lead Trainer at F45 Moonah, said when choosing a walk, you have to know your limits. “To hike in Tasmania, you should have a base level fitness that allows you to easily maintain ‘pace’ for a 60-to-90-minute walk five days a week,” he said. If you’ve been considering a more challenging walk like the 12.8-kilometre Cradle Summit track, Nathan suggests adding some body-weight exercises or gym classes to your training schedule. “On day-hikes we take supplies and you’d be surprised how much of a toll that extra weight can take on your body - especially when you combine that with unfamiliar terrain and undulating trails,” he said. Your body’s recovery time is key for walks like the Overland Track or the Three Capes walk where you’ll be walking day after day. Nathan suggests upping the kilometres you walk each week and focusing on resistance training to help your body handle longer distances. Test your equipment at home Wild Wombat Walks owner Jarrah Keenan, who has been guiding walkers through the 447,000 hectares of the Tarkine for more than 10 years, agreed. A common trap for new hikers was waiting until they got to a campsite before they tried putting up their tent for the first time. “It’s better to know how a tent works when you can go inside [your house and] Google how to put it up,” Jarrah said. And sometimes the most mundane of problems can develop into something unexpected. Jarrah knows people whose hikes have ended with helicopter trips after blisters developed into open wounds. The tell-tale sign of a blister is a ‘hot spot’ where your foot might feel tender and warm. “That’s when you stop the entire group,” he said. “Better to deal with it then-and-there with Band-Aids.” Any overnight hiker should also sign up for a First Aid course, carry a first aid kit and a Personal Locator Beacon. A load off your shoulders When it comes to equipment, Jarrah said good quality gear is lightweight but can be expensive. Renting kit or opting for second-hand tents, packs and boots can help. A four-season sleeping bag with a minimum of 600 grams of down is a must, even when 40

hiking in summer. “Snow has been recorded on the Overland Track at least once a month since 1983 - you will get snow in January, February and March,” he said. A good quality three-season tent will hold against summer snowfall, but it was important to not pick something too heavy, he shared. “With a three-person tent, one person carries the fly, one carries the inner and one carries the pegs - then you’re down to 1.2kg each,” Jarrah said. Another way to lighten your pack is with dehydrated meals. “If you take fresh food on a two-night three-day walk, you’re looking at the same weight of food as a dehydrated 10-day walk,” Jarrah said. Ditching for the ‘gram With weather quick to go pear-shaped in Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Service Senior Ranger Brendan Moodie said walkers shouldn’t feel ashamed to turn around. “People see the Instagram photo and they just keep pushing it,” he said. “That’s when people get into trouble, because you still have to walk back out. People think they can travel four - five kilometres an hour, but for some of the walking tracks in Tassie, that might take you two - three hours to do.” Brendan recommended chatting to a ranger about your walking plans. “We’re always really happy to talk to people if they’re after information,” he said. With around 40 per cent of the state protected as national parks and reserves, there’s lots to explore here, and some planning, practice - and good weather - may be all that’s stopping you getting from peak-to-peak.

THE TRAGIC FIRST AND LAST GO-AS-YOUPLEASE RACE Words: Zilla Gordon Image: The Weekly Courier A morning of wild weather had settled in over Hobart as 39 competitors took their mark at the starting line of the GoAs-You-Please Race on the afternoon of Saturday, September 19, 1903. The gentlemen were to run to the pinnacle of kunanyi/Mount Wellington and back, encouraged by a double-barrel shotgun offered as first prize. But what really drove the competitors was their fight to be the best, strongest and fastest man. Perhaps it was this pursuit that cost competitors Mark Richards, 31, and George Radford, 19, their lives. Maria Grist, who has dedicated her life to researching the history of Hobart’s famous mountain, said events like the

Go-As-You-Please race were a “craze” and would draw competitors as far as Buckland. It was about ‘proving yourself as a man’,” Maria said. Both Richards and Radford made the 1,271-metre climb to the summit, but the treacherous weather conditions cut their celebrations short. As the blizzard-like conditions worsened, Richards and Radford began their ill-fated descent back to town. The competitors were likely suffering from hypothermia according to Maria, but Richards and Radford weren’t pulled aside and gently warmed up. “In those days, people did the opposite,” Maria said. “They said ‘come on, be strong, keep going, you can do it... sometimes, they’d give them some whisky to warm them up.” Competitor Arthur D’emden saw Richards struggling and attempted to help him down the snow-covered track and hoisted him on his back. With a convoy of helpers, he tried to save the by then unconscious Richards. They eventually reached the Springs and the safety of Gadd’s cottage. But it was too late. Richards was dead.

Meanwhile 19-year-old Radford had successfully reached the Springs checkpoint. After scraping frozen snow off his race singlet, Radford then sealed his fate by continuing his descent via the Finger Post track, rather than following the race-route to St Raphael’s Church. Hours later, when the race had concluded there was still no sign of Radford. As the sun rose the following morning, 19-year-old Radford was found lying on his back in the snow, his feet tangled in the branches of a tree. The race would never be run again. Monuments to mark the deaths of Richards and Radford now stand on kunanyi/Mount Wellington. They serve as a sombre reminder to all those who pass them of the first, and last, Go-As-You-Please Race.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! SENATOR

JONNO DUNIAM LIBERAL SENATOR FOR TASMANIA 85 Macquarie Street, Hobart TAS (03) 6231 2444 senator.duniam@aph.gov.au www.duniam.com.au

Authorised by Senator Jonno Duniam, 85 Macquarie Street, Hobart TAS

Patricia at work.

HOME GROWN HOME SEWN Words and Images: Zilla Gordon Amid the hustle and bustle of Hobart’s CBD, a woman sits behind a sewing machine. Another leans over a table as she marks out a pattern with white chalk. In this quaint, sunbathed room overlooking Elizabeth Street, these women are busy suiting up some of the state’s frontline works. Forty-two dress uniforms for the Tasmanian Police Service were among recent orders which also included garments for Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Tasmania Corrective Services. They’ve even had the odd order for Mona. But local hasn’t always been the first choice. Owner of The Island Seamstress Bronwen Feachnie said while the business had a long history of sewing gear for government agencies, they had “gone hard” for more contracts to keep production on the island. “All agencies have dabbled with off-shore production,” Bronwen said. “Some have even gone to Victoria.” The team had recently filled an order for a government department who had previously sourced their uniforms from overseas. “They just weren’t happy with the quality,” Bronwen said. Digital Divide And the temptation isn’t just for a cheaper option, it’s also for a more convenient 42

one. With a new frock just a click away, some bricks-and-mortar retailers have been unable to keep up. But Bronwen said garments bought online didn’t often live up to the quality of locally produced Tasmanian attire. Seamstress Patricia, who had been working at the business since she was 16 - three decades ago - said the products she and other Tasmanian ateliers made were lasting longer too. Police officers have come back with uniforms 20 to 25 years old in near-perfect condition. “The only thing that might be wrong is that they’ve lost or gained a little weight,” Bronwen said. “They were probably made by Patricia.” Skills shortage While the government does have a Buy Local Policy, Bronwen said it was important businesses were backed to build up. “The bigger our population gets, the bigger the demand gets for [orders],” Bronwen said. “Right now Tasmania doesn’t have the numbers to support the manufacturing required.” Having spent most of her life sewing, Patricia believed internships, which although once plentiful, were now few-and-far-between. Bronwen said she had been working with local TAFEs to help meet her staffing

needs, but it was sometimes tricky to find someone keen to sew, rather than design. Employee Jen came to the rescue when there was no-one in the workroom able to cut patterns. Jen arrived on her first day, unable to use a sewing machine, but she was given a crash-course by their in-house veteran Patrica. “I was definitely thrown in at the deep end,” Jen said. “But I’m always learning something new, something different and a new technique to manipulate patterns and do things quicker.” Jen was now solely responsible for cutting the pattern for each and every order. “Not many people would be able to do that job in this state, so we probably need more training,” Bronwen said. While time has seen the popularity of dressmaking fade, Tasmanian businesses have banded together, forming complementary relationships with people and companies to get the work done. On whether the future of the industry is threaded for success, Bronwen said there was work to do. But ask her if the battle to keep the Tasmanian-made dream alive was worth it and she’ll tell you: “we just really enjoy what we’re doing.”

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ENTERTAINMENT

ROBBIE ARNOTT’S NOVEL APPROACH Interview: Bonnie Mary Liston Robbie Arnott is a Tasmanian writer whose novels - Flames (2018) and The Rain Heron (2020) have received great acclaim locally and internationally. He’s the inaugural recipient of the University of Tasmania’s Hedberg Writer-in-Residence Program, which includes a stipend of $30,000, allowing him to take a sabbatical from his work as an advertising copywriter to focus on his third novel. You published two novels while holding down a day job, how do you feel about switching to writing full time? I still don’t really think of it as a job. I’ve always done a lot of writing because it’s what I like doing. It’s only in the last couple of years that it’s started getting published. So my practices haven’t really changed that much, other than I’m doing it more. To be honest I think if I did, some of the passion might go out of it because I’d be worried about having enough to feed myself. Do you think your writing practice might change with this extra time? Either I’ll just go into the university and write for six or seven hours and then come home and do normal stuff like watch TV or read. Or I won’t know what to do with myself and all those free hours

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS... Merry Christmas (1945) Bing Crosby The trick to Christmas music is always go old school. You don’t want to hear the newest pop diva find out how many vocal runs she can fit into O Holy Night, you want something familiar and unobtrusive enough to fade peacefully into the background of your festive activities. Let Bing’s silver tongue spirit you away to a sonic Christmas Wonderland. 44

will make me fold in on myself and I’ll go insane! One of the two will happen, I think. My plan is to just treat it like a job, go in in the morning, write and come home at five or so. You live in Hobart? Yes I live in West Hobart. I adore Hobart. I moved here when I was 18 from Launceston. I finished uni and went to Melbourne for work and then I came back a few years later. Within a week I realised I wanted to spend the rest of my life here. I thought, why did I ever leave? I can never get over the mountain and the water. I know it’s a bit of a cliché but walking around the hills of Hobart, even just in the city, I find myself looking around thinking I’m so lucky to live here, it’s constantly pleasing. I’m not very good at writing about people sometimes, my publisher will probably kill me for saying that, but I like writing about the natural world. I like trying to find ways to describe it and think about it and place stories in it and how characters react to it. I like the world to be as important to the narrative and the plot as the characters are. The environment is hugely inspiring! Why would you live anywhere else? There’s also a really great writing culture here. Everybody here

really supports each other and there’s no competitiveness - there’s real joy for each other’s success. For instance, my mate Benny Walter has just got a collection of short stories about to be published which is great news for Australian Literature (Ben Walters, What Fear Was, forthcoming 2021). What next? I’ve written two pretty weird novels and this next one’s quite realistic. It’s set in the Tamar Valley, where my mother’s family is from and it’s based on one season of my grandfather’s life that he talks about quite a lot. He’s 92 now and when he was 15, World War II was ending and his two older brothers were away at war. He was stuck on the family orchard with his father who was shell shocked from World War I and I’m just gonna write about that summer. Robbie Arnott’s work can be found wherever books are sold and the man is on Twitter @RobbieArnott

We are living through a Golden Age of Content, which is great! Except when it comes time to sit down and you’re overwhelmed with choice anxiety. Fear Not! We’re here to give you what you need - subjective, specific and sincere recommendations. The Hogather (1996) Terry Pratchett Terry Pratchett turns his signature satirical eye to Christmas in the Hogfather - when Santa is kidnapped the Grim Reaper must step up to take his place and save Christmas. Funny, festive, and a little profound, a must read for the season. Honorable mention: Elf (2003), a firm family fave.

Love Actually (2003) dir. Richard Curtis When it comes to Christmas movies this one has it all: Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, that one scene where Emma Thompson cries silently in her bedroom to Joni Mitchell. Plus a built in conversation starter with your loved ones about which storyline is the most problematic (it’s the Kiera Knightley one, surely).

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% 100 “My job is to represent and help the people of Clark which includes Hobart, Glenorchy and Taroona. Feel free to get in touch to speak with me or one of my staff.”

Andrew Wilkie MP

Independent Member for Clark www.andrewwilkie.org andrew.wilkie.mp@aph.gov.au Telephone 03 6234 5255 Authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins Street Hobart 7000 45

HISTORY

WILLIAM CROWTHER Words: Bonnie Mary Liston

Image left: Kent Watson Right: Libraries Tasmania William Lodewyk Crowther was the 14th Premier of Tasmania. Crowther was a man of science, a doctor and surgeon as well as a keen amateur naturalist. As a child walking to and from school he developed an interest in the wildlife of Tasmania. He pursued this passion by trapping birds and animals, killing them and collecting their skins. When he travelled to London to continue his education he sold his collection, by then consisting of over 493 skins and a pair of live Tasmanian Devils, to the Earl of Derby for a tidy price that was enough to pay for his training at St Thomas’s Hospital and allow him an extra year of study in Paris. He returned to Tasmania to work in his father’s practice. He had 11 children and many business interests including sawmills, guano, sealing and whaling, not to mention a political career. When he died in 1885 he was described as “impulsive, hard and dour” but had enough fans that a statue was erected on him in Franklin Square in 1889, funded by public subscription. That statue stands to this day, despite growing more controversial over time. Many people object to such a public monument aggrandising Crowther, particularly one that makes no mention of his role in the mutilation of William Lanne.

The imposter skull had been discarded, lying next to the grave, suggesting the culprit knew it was not William’s. However when Crowther returned to the hospital where he had stashed the body he discovered all that remained was “masses of fat and blood.” William had been deboned and his skeleton stolen, presumably by the Tasmanian Royal Society though it was never recovered. The grotesque affair became a major scandal at the time, and Crowther lost his position as honorary medical officer at Hobart General Hospital as a result. However white men never let anything as trifling as justice get in their way and Crowther would go on to win election to Premiership, get libraries named after him and fancy statues erected in public places. Crowther never really escaped his actions within his lifetime - even 15 years after Lanne’s death Crowther was being accosted on the street about the incident. However hundreds of years later many people know nothing about him or King Billy and all his statue perpetuates is “the memory of long and zealous political and professional service in this colony,” to quote its inscription.

William Lanne, also known as King Billy, was a Tasmanian Aboriginal man, the youngest child in the last family sent to Wybalenna, the Aboriginal containment camp on Flinders Island, and one of only 47 survivors who escaped it. He grew up to be a sailor, by all accounts cheerful and popular. He was also a great advocate of the Indigenous community at Oyster Bay. Despite being nearly 30 years her junior, he married Truganini, becoming her third husband (you go girl). The King Billy Pine or Athrotaxis selaginoides, is named for him. When he died in 1869 it was believed he was the last “full blooded’’ Tasmanian Aborinal man in the world and a gruesome battle erupted between the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal Society of Tasmania over his corpse.

All around the world people have to grapple with the contentious issue of what to do with ahistorical monuments erected by people in power. In America there are those outraged by taking down Confederate statues, even in states that never actually succeeded. In the case of Crowther’s statue, Mayor Anna Reynolds has proposed an alternate solution. The Hobart City Council is inviting artists to submit proposals for temporary arts works that respond to the Crowther Stature - particularly those addressing “Crowther’s actions, Lanne’s story as an Aboriginal leader, the politics of 1860s Hobart, current views on Crowther, or the validity of bronze statues in modern cities.” Four artworks will be chosen, with priority given to Tasmanian Aboriginal artists, and each work will be displayed alongside the statue at Franklin Square for approximately two months. The selection body will be a Hobart City advisory panel including representatives from the Aboriginal community and arts organisations. Mayor Reynolds hopes the project will “provoke conversation, engagement and reflection in the community,” and says that the community’s response to the works will inform the Council’s permanent response to the statue, as yet undecided. Crowther’s statue is far from the only monument in Hobart that uncritically valorizes problematic historical figures. This project may set an important precedent for how we can contextualise and expand our understanding of our own past. Follow the project at @creativehobart or visit hobartcity.com.au/CrowtherReinterpretation.

Crowther, on behalf on the College of Surgeons, broke into the the morgue where Lanne’s body lay and decapitated him, sliced open his face and peeled off the skin, removing his skull and replacing it with the skull of a white man, stolen from another corpse in the morgue. He then stitched him back up, attempting to cover his crime. The Tasmanian Royal Society retaliated by removing William’s hands and feet for their collection. He was buried in this mutilated state - his funeral was large and well attended by friends and community. A police guard was left over his grave to prevent further desecration but the next morning they found the grave dug up and surrounded by blood. 46

Ripple effect. @hobartrivuletplatypus

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