The Hobart Magazine Issue 19 February 2021

THE HOBART MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2021: ISSUE 19

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RICHIE PORTE “THE PROFESSOR” RETURNS TO TASSIE A WINNER 1

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WELCOME TO

THE HOBART MAGAZINE Our first edition for 2021 is here and we’re on a high after watching last issue’s cover person, Grace Tame, be named Australian of the Year. It seemed like the perfect cue to make a full-circle move and catch up with some of our past interviewees.

Cover main image: Nick Green Cover inset image: Marcus Enno Circulation: 35,000 copies are distributed, with 31,000 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.

Last year when we spoke to Richie Porte, he was gearing up for another Tour de France. Now he’s back in Launceston as a podium finisher with an extra kid along for the ride! Stay ChatTY founder Mitch McPherson, who last month commemorated the eighth anniversary of his brother’s death, is the first guest for our new podcast. You can download it via your favourite podcast providore. And seaweed grower Sam Elsom shares why it’s the way of the future.

From renting with pets, reducing your household waste, Hobart’s vibrant drag queen scene - and dark LGBTQI+ history - to making a well-awaited career change, we’ve got you covered this month. So settle in and start 2021 with some great local stories.

All the best Steph, James and The Hobart Magazine team.

Fish and chips in St Helens.

Photo: Stu Gibson, Tourism Tasmania.

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LOCAL LADY

ELIZA ROGERS

Interview: Stephanie Williams Image: Marnie Hawson

Eliza Rogers is a florist with a love for using local and foraged flowers and weeds for weddings and installations.

Where in Hobart do you live? In a plant-filled 70s townhouse in South Hobart. It’s a lovely space with all the greenery and giant windows. It feels a bit like living inside a human-sized terrarium.

What’s the best thing about Hobart? The close proximity to nature! Be it bush, beach or even just the verdant, weed-covered corners of the rivulet - there are so many wild and beautiful places to explore right on my doorstep.

And the worst? That the long days of summer don’t last forever...I don’t mind the cold, but I do miss the daylight in the deepest part of winter.

Tell us a little about your work? I’m a florist with a focus on working with seasonal, local-grown and foraged flowers.

Whether I’m arranging flowers for a wedding, doing a delivery for a dinner party, or installing seasonal, everlasting botanicals for a home or Airbnb, it’s important to me that my materials are local to the area and mirror the environment that I am arranging them in. I especially love working with weeds, I think there’s so much to be appreciated about the movement and resilience of plants that grow wild. It feels nice to elevate humble materials that are often overlooked, like seed-heads and grasses, by foraging and arranging them with intention, to present them in a new context.

Has Covid-19 helped or hindered your work? As someone who spent a lot of time [in 2019] both travelling interstate to teach floristry workshops and also making wedding flowers here in Tassie, Covid definitely threw a spanner in the works for my year. With the uncertainty of travel, many interstate clients had to postpone or cancel their weddings, which meant a loss of work, but it’s given me time to rethink the way I would like to continue working going forwards. It has been a blessing to have more time at home. I would love to connect with more clients locally, to provide flowers for people who care about how their flowers are sourced, and who want to celebrate with flowers (be it wedding, dinner party, any other special occasion) in a way that is sustainable and nurturing to the environment and our home on earth.

What’s your favourite flower of all time? Hellebores, because they flower for us in winter, while everything else sleeps.

What’s your dream project to work on? After so much time spent working from home this year, I’m really looking forward to moving into a big studio with some other creatives, to 4

collaborate on workshops and have the space to work on some more abstract installations and still life projects. I’ve got a few plans in the pipeline, so hopefully this will be a reality before too long.

I’m inspired by... all the cool things my friends make. Ceramics, paintings, music, furniture. There is so much creative talent in Hobart - it’s very invigorating.

What do you love doing outside work? Hosting dinner parties! Walking my dog, going to yoga, and having a boogie with friends.

Where’s your favourite Hobart eatery? Sunbear for daytime, and Tom McHugo’s for the eve. The staff are so beautiful at both places, each feels like an extension of home.

Drink of choice and where do you head for it? A yuzu margarita at Bar Wa! They are so good!

Guilty pleasure? A bloody mary in the sunshine at Room for a Pony.

What do you never leave home without? Secateurs!

I’d like to travel to... Right now, it’s home to northern New South Wales to see my family.

If I didn’t live in Hobart I’d live... Maybe the south coast of NSW, or somewhere in the Northern Territory... quite a contrast, but both places I love!

Favourite Hobart secret? The secret stash of honeysuckle that grows wild in abundance... in a location that I won’t disclose here. Heh! Quote to live by? “Start where you are” - Pema Chodron. Also the title of one of her books, which talks about having compassion and acceptance in the moment, just as you are. That [has] been a very helpful lesson to me in 2020.

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LOCAL LAD

MARCUS ENNO AKA BEARDY MCBEARD Interview: Stephanie Williams Image: Benedict Campbell Beardy McBeard is a Hobart-based photographer who has travelled the world shooting all the big races.

Where in Hobart do you live? Moonah What’s the best thing about Hobart? The Mountain (kunanyi) having such pristine bushland in the heart of a city is so unique and it’s great for cycling. I love coming home and seeing the mountain as I cross the bridge.

And the worst? I haven’t found anything yet! Hobart is a truly amazing city.

Tell us a little about your work? I’m a cycling photographer who documents road cycling races both in Australia and Europe, as well as photographing for cycling brands. I post my work on my Instagram @beardmcbeardy.

What’s your dream project to work on? I love destination travel work, discovering new places, riding and taking photos.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Japan, Hong Kong, Scotland, the Canary Islands, New Zealand and throughout Europe.

How did you get into cycling photography? Photography came about a long time before my cycling passion. I picked up my first camera at the age of 13 loaded with black-and-white film.

I grew up in Newcastle, NSW and spent most of my free time surfing the local breaks. The bicycle was more of a transport means at this stage - using it to get around and for surf checks.

The passion for cycling continued to grow and eventually led my wife and me to embark on a cycling tour of Europe for five months! We traveled from Sweden to Spain on our loaded touring bikes, camping out along the way. On returning to Australia I was officially hooked - buying a road bike and getting up early to go cycling every morning before the sun had risen.

I discovered a new side to the city and started documenting my rides on Instagram. I was also diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. The treatment was six months of chemotherapy but I came out the other side with a renewed drive to pursue cycling photography full-time, quitting my job at the studio and setting off for three months on the road photographing the Giro d’Italia and Le Tour de France.

What’s it like covering the Tour de France? I’ve been to the Le Tour de France five times. Covering the race is one crazy ride and a lot of hard work. Before you can even start you need to research the race-route, book flights, organise a car and reserve 6

over 21 different hotels. Each day I follow the race - usually by car - stop, set up my shot, then get back in front of the race again, but navigating around the peloton on the backroads.

Arriving at the finish-line - hopefully before the race. Then you need to sort though the thousands of images and prepare a selection for clients to download. Before finding somewhere to eat and the hotel before repeating the process 21 times! I’ve documented my trial and tribulations on my website BeardysCaravan.com What do you love doing outside work? Dad duties for my sixmonth-old old daughter, Olive, have been filling my days. Also since moving to Hobart I’ve started gardening. It’s just amazing what you can grow in your own garden.

Where’s your favourite Hobart eatery? Bar Wa Izakaya - especially the ramen - yum!

Drink of choice and where do you head for it? A pint of Hobart Brewing Company’s Harbour Master on a warm summer evening (or a cold one in front of the fire pit).

Guilty pleasure? See above - a good beer or Tassie Pinot Noir!

I’d like to travel to… Iceland. The landscape looks unreal. I’d love to capture cycling amongst the great, open expanses.

If I didn’t live in Hobart I’d live… Probably back in Bondi, Sydney where I lived before I moved to Hobart two years ago. I have heaps of friends back in Sydney as well, and family.

When there’s nothing to do, I… I’m constantly amused by my six-month-old daughter Olive. There is never a dull moment as a new dad!

Favourite Hobart secret? The lifestyle for sure. But the secret’s out and mainlanders like me are coming over in droves.

Where to next? Adelaide for a bike race starring fellow Taswegian Richie Porte.

Quote to live by? “When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.” H.G. Wells

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BITS AND PIECES

OPENINGS Tasty Buns (152 Collins St, Hobart) believes it will satisfy all your durian cravings. Looking for something more subtle? They’re also serving handmade dim sum, pastries and Chinese favourites. With a stall already in Kingston, Unpacked (435 Macquarie St, South Hobart) has set up shop closer to the city. Bring your own containers and only buy the amount you need at this handy organic whole-food market. A zero-waste and queer-friendly coffee shop has opened its doors in Sandy Bay. Stop by for a cup at Hairy Legs (Mayfair Plaza, 236 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay) from 6am - 2pm Monday - Saturday.

Take a road trip to Marion Bay soon for a 14-course lunch at newcomer Van Bone. With rammed earth walls cut into the rolling countryside and an interior wrapped with Tasmanian oak, you’ll be treated to a memorable menu, all sourced locally and cooked with fire. Let us know how you go getting an Uber home. After a difficult 2020, Masaaki’s Sushi (Geeveston) reopened last month and is busily plating up some of Tassie’s freshest sushi. You can grab a tasting box for just $20. With interstate travel off the table for most of 2020, in 2021 a busier Hobart Airport has welcomed Circle of Life Doughnuts Co (Strachan St, Cambridge). Why not pick up a six-pack while you 8

wait for your luggage and show your mainland mates there are better airport doughnuts out there than Krispy Kreme? Following Crowne Plaza’s opening last year, their rooftop venu Aura (Level 12, 110 Liverpool Street, Hobart) is now welcoming guests to take in panoramic views of Hobart’s CBD. Opt for their all-day seasonal menu or degustation dinner. SOUV ROAD (59/61 Liverpool Street, Hobart) is now serving up authentic Greek street food. Melomakarona?

Galaktoboureko? Halloumi fries?

Pronounce one, eat them all!

Australia’s first Mövenpick Hotel (28 Elizabeth St, Hobart) has opened in Hobart, bringing its world-famous ‘chocolate hour’ downunder. Chef Trent Wheelan will serve Tassie produce with traditional Italian techniques at the hotel’s Tesoro Restaurant (28 Elizabeth Street).

New Norfolk will welcome a new art-focused space that incorporates a cafe, exhibition and event spaces and retail section for creative products - artHouse (47a High Street, New Norfolk) is set to open this month.

Ruben Koopman is at the helm of The Beach House (14 Ocean Esplanade,Blackmans Bay) and has been impressing diners with great food and waterfront views. Agent Cooper (390A Main Rd, Glenorchy) will be reopening under new management with Sash Coffee taking the reins.

THUMBS UP We love the innovative packaging and cutlery that’s in play now that single use plastics are banned in Hobart. Grass straws were spotted at Bear With Me cafe recently, a new alternative to paper straws.

The Welcome Back(pack) project has been busy providing women leaving prison with backpacks filled with essentials to support their transition into a new phase of life.

Life might be a little more normal with the national Covid-19 jab program to roll out commencing this month.

Backpacks ready to go.

THUMBS DOWN Data breach emergency: Private details of Tasmanians who had called an ambulance were published last month. The matter has been referred to the police.

Just when you thought it was safe to book a flight, two cases of the UK strain of Covid-19 forced Tasmania to close its borders with Greater Brisbane, and before that, Fortress Victoria over the new year. While the situation has eased, you can’t be too sure so check the fineprint before you fly.

Spirits are low on the Spirit of Tasmania with a traveller’s pet going missing recently.

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BITS AND PIECES LITTLE PENGUINS The future of Tasmania’s Little Penguin population will be safeguarded with a citizen science-based toolkit launched in January. The toolkit will help land managers and community groups monitor the state’s penguin population and threats to their colonies. It’s hoped the data collected will help the government improve its understanding of Little Penguin populations and distributions around the state.

You can get involved and download the toolkit via their website www.dpipwe.tas. gov.au/toolkit.

WATCH FOR WORRISOME WEED Visitors to kunanyi/Mt Wellington are being asked to keep a lookout for a bright weed that could threaten the mountain’s sensitive environment if left unchecked.

Recent rain has created the ideal conditions for the colourful orange hawkweed (pictured) to flourish and flower. The Hobart City Council is urging people not to touch the weed if they come across it.

Instead, take a photo and upload it to the Council’s dedicated website where you can pin the location to an online map. To find out more, head to hobartcity.com.au/ ohw.

URGENT CARE CENTRES PROGRESSING Consultation is underway with local health services and stakeholders as part of the Urgent Care Centre feasibility study by the Department of Health. The study was commissioned to consider 10

how feasible it is to establish Urgent Care Centres in the Greater Hobart and Launceston areas, to help take pressure off emergency departments. “Consultation on ‘Our Healthcare Future’ is continuing, with stakeholders having been contacted and encouraged to provide feedback to this process, including regarding Urgent Care Centres and the feasibility study within the context of broader consultation questions,” a government spokesperson said. “The consultation through ‘Our Healthcare Future’ has been designed to ensure that we are taking a broad view approach to considering our health system, and we welcome this very important feedback.” The consultation wraps up on 12 February.

NO BUTTS: TASSIE CONSIDERS RAISING SMOKING AGE Tasmania may become the first state in Australia to raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21. Independent MP Ivan Dean first tabled changes to the Public Health Amendment (Prevention of Sales of Smoking Products to Underage Persons) in 2018, however the government deferred the reading while the UTAS’ Menzies Institute carried out research that identified the prevalence of smoking in Tasmania and examined the attitudes and beliefs of stakeholder groups. It seems research has supported a correlation between raising the age of purchase and smoking prevalence. Dr Kathryn Barnsley from Smoke Free Tasmania said she believes the Bill will be positively received, despite concerns from some small retailers. “Tasmania has led in tobacco reforms before,” she said. “We were the first state to ban smoking in pubs. We initiated getting displays of tobacco products banned at retail outlets and banned smoking in cars with children,” Kathryn said. While

other states eventually followed, some were several years behind Tasmania.

Kathryn believes Tasmania is the best state to introduce a raise in the smoking age because of strong enforcement on tobacco sales to minor laws. “We’ve got 98 per cent compliance in Tasmania,” she said. Do you think upping the smoking age in Tasmania is a good idea? Let us know via email editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au.

HISTORIC ROSS DELVES INTO AR Stories from Ross’ early settlement days will now be told with the help of augmented reality and 3D. A free app, Ross Revealed, uses GPS technology to lead users to 29 ‘story stops’ and can be used without access to the internet. through the app, users can learn more about the Ross Bridge, the Female Factory and Jack - a little Jack Russell terrier locally known as ‘the mayor of Ross’. The app has already been rolled out in Oatlands, New Norfolk, Bothwell, Brighton and Richmond. Users will need an iPhone 8 or later, with an Android version currently in development. It’s hoped that this digital-first approach will bring a fresh wave of tech-savvy visitors to the town.

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BITS AND PIECES A MINUTE WITH THE SLAG QUEENS The Slag Queens were once described as ‘The Worst Band in Launceston’ but now having won the 2020 National Live Music Award ‘Tasmanian Live Act of the Year’ and performing at MONA FOMA for the fourth year in a row, they’re feeling pretty good. Bonnie Mary Liston chatted with the now Hobart-based band members Claire, Lucy, Amber and Wesley.

The Slag Queens are a post-punk band.

What is post-punk? Claire: Post-punk is a helpful label because there’s punk music and there was a particular ethos around punk, kind of anti-authoritarian, abrasive.

In the late 70s and early 80s there was a furthering of that ethos but a bit of a pushback against the way in which punk style had become a formula. You had post punk bands like Joy Division who were taking a lot of punk ethos but making music that was adopting different sensibilities and experimenting with genre. So post-punk bands aren’t necessarily a particular sound; it’s taking the ethos and carrying it beyond. And though that’s not what we set out to do, make a post-punk band, but because we were asked to describe ourselves, it felt like a helpful term to think about.

You are working on a new album at the moment? Lucy: We’ve recorded in my walk-in wardrobe, our friend Aiden’s

lounge room and our shed. Wesley works in sound and Claire is a producer (note: Claire is a founding manager of Hobart Production Label Rough Skies Records).

Lucy: We’re all very proud of Claire and Wesley and what they’ve done so far on the record - but on one hand self-recording gives a lot more flexibility about what you’re doing and when, but it also means you have to be your own project manager.

All of us have multiple projects in our lives so it might take us a little while still.

You’ve joined the ranks of Gang of Youths, Courtney Bartnett, and fellow Tasmanians A. Swayze and the Ghosts by winning a NLMA, how does it feel?

Lucy: Thank you, it was very nice.

A-LEAGUE TEAM FOR TASSIE? There are fresh calls for Tasmania to establish its own A-League team.

Last month Premier Peter Gutwein said Football Tasmania has backed the move and they’ll work together as they engage the A-League to progress their bid. Independent Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie has given a Tassie soccer team the thumbs up, saying an A-League club would stimulate the state’s economy, boost TV audiences and “establish soccer as the only true national football code”. “Let’s hope all politicians and the Football Federation Australia see the benefits of a Tasmanian team and what it will do for the state and the sport,” Andrew said. But still no word on when we’ll get an AFL team. Picture right: Football Tasmania President Bob Gordon talking A League with the media, via Twitter.

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Claire: It’s a wonderful compliment.

Amber: It was cool to talk to my actual colleagues about it because I feel like it validated my extracurricular activities in ways they have never been validated before. It’s an achievement my parents and colleagues can look at and be like, ‘oh you actually play music? OK, cool I thought you were joking’.

And you performed at MONA FOMA? Claire: Yes, for the fourth time.

Wesley: They just can’t get enough of us.

Amber: Simps for the Slags.

Wesley: It was sad losing Dark Mofo last year. I think it’s good how it’s been stretched over both cities - I quite liked going up to Launnie.

TAROONA STUDENT GIVES BACK One year 10 Taroona High student is using his creativity to give back to his school.

Declan is a high school artist diagnosed with Autism who has started his own small business designing a bespoke range of tees, totes, stickers and socks with his artwork. A talented artist, Declan’s work is inspired by a fantasy word involving animals and creatures from the past, present and future. He’s also using most of the profits from his online stall to help his school buy resources that can assist neurodivergent students. Search for DinosaurBoy at www.redbubble.com

WILL A THIRD DA BE A SUCCESS FOR NEW TOWN HOSPITAL? The group behind a private hospital planned for New Town, previously rejected twice by the Hobart City Council, has submitted a revised application along with an updated artist’s impression of the development. The project is a joint-venture between Nexus Hospital and Contact Group and, if approved, would take around 20 months to complete. In December 2019 the first development application was denied by the Council and in August 2020 councillors voted to defer the second.

PLASTIC BAGS PAVE THE WAY A recent road refurbishment project in Lenah Valley has used asphalt made from more than 150,000 discarded plastic bags, as well as 5400 printer cartridges and 62,400 glass bottles. The plastic bags were processed in Melbourne but the crushed glass was sourced from a local

provider and mixed at an asphalt plant in Flagstaff Gully. “This is the first time we’ve used this product and we’ll be watching closely at how well it performs with the aim of incorporating it into other road projects in the future,” Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said.

288 tonnes of recycled concrete was also used as backfill for a stormwater drain resulting in a considerable cost saving when compared to purchasing new concrete fill material. “With further testing to make sure it meets all the right standards, we may even be able to use recycled concrete for future footpath repairs and upgrades,” City Infrastructure Committee Chair Bill Harvey said.

TRIAL BY NO JURY The Tasmanian Government is seeking public comment on draft legislation to allow the option for criminal trials heard in the Supreme Court to be held without

a jury. Currently, a trial can only be held without a jury if a defendant pleads guilty to an indictable offence (often more serious crime), meaning it will be a jury determining whether they are guilty or not. The introduction of a non-jury trial option would bring Tasmania into line with most other Australian states. The Government believes a ‘judge alone’ trials may “assist in helping to reduce court backlogs”. ‘Judge alone’ trials can also handle physical distancing practices better. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Elise Archer said a number of key legal stakeholders have already indicated “broad support for the concept of judge alone trials in Tasmania as an option”.

You can have your say until 12 February.

WE’RE LIVE ON THE AIR Plug in the headphones and spend a little bit more time with The Hobart Magazine with our new podcast, launching this month. From architects to athletes and activists to adventurers, we’ll take five with some of the state’s best personalities - known and unknown. It will be as if you’re joining us for the interview, asking the hard questions, digging deeper, even having a laugh or taking a moment to reflect. Our first guest is Speak Up! Stay ChatTy founder Mitch McPherson who spoke to our editor Steph Williams about life after his brother’s death and becoming a father in a pandemic. The podcast can be downloaded via Apple iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify.

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University of Tasmania disease ecologist Dr Rodrigo Hamede prepares to release a devil into bushland in North-West Tasmania (Photo credit: Eddie Safarik)

DEBUT COLLECTION ON THE NATIONAL STAGE FOR BLISS For fashion designer Victoria Bliss, the opportunity to recently dress Australian of the Year Grace Tame came from a place of respect and emotion. Her new debut collection gives a nod to her Hobart childhood and her current hometown, Melbourne.

How did the opportunity to dress Grace Tame come about? I’ve been following Grace’s journey for a while now, from the start of the #LetHerSpeak cam-

RESEARCHERS FIND TASSIE DEVILS NOW OUTSMARTING FACIAL CANCER While Tasmanian devils have long been plagued by a transmissible cancer, new research has shown the disease is not likely to lead to the animals’ demise. UTAS has been researching the devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) for the past 20 years and recently discovered the disease spread is slowing to the point that each infected devil is infecting only one additional animal or less. Professor Meena Jones, who established a research program in 2004, said the last few years of research indicates that the devil is evolving resistance to the disease. “We now have strong evidence that the epidemic phase is coming to an end, and that DFTD is becoming an endemic disease,” Meena said. “That means the devil will live with it as part of its normal life without this disease spelling the end.” Since it was first identified in 1996, Tasmanian DFTD has reduced populations of the iconic marsupial by 80 per cent. The study findings are promising for the devil and also for the Tasmanian ecosystem. “The decline and low populations of devils have led to a rise in populations of invasive predators like feral cats and black rats, which prey on native animals and are causing populations of bandicoots and small mammals like Antechinus and native rats to disappear at an alarming rate,” Meena said. “Recovery of the devil will reverse these trends and once again make Tasmania an island ark for mammal conservation in Australia.” paign. I found myself rereading some of her posts over and over again, filled with such strong emotion and praise for such a remarkable woman. I privately messaged her to say what an incredible voice she had and how grateful I was to hear it. It wasn’t until I was designing my debut collection that I found myself looking to Grace as a creative muse. She is exactly the kind of woman I see in my clothing, she is strong, capable, inspirational. I told her how powerful her influence had been on me and I offered to dress her if she ever had any events she needed clothing for. She then told me about the Canberra trip and how she had multiple events to go to - 22!

How did you select the outfit she wore? I did a collection showing for Grace of racked up samples so she could see and feel the fabrics. I had styled two dresses together which she really loved, it was really humbling. Due to the tight turn around, I sewed it myself - I’m not the most patient sewer! So there were a few mistakes and a very tight deadline but luckily Grace was travelling to Canberra via Melbourne and I went out to the airport to hand over the pieces in person!

How has Tasmania figured into your new collection? I designed my new collection from Tasmania when I flew home

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during the second Melbourne lockdown.

If you look closely at the hand painted print, it features a Tassie Bluegum. I wandered around my parent’s property scouting natives. Growing up in Tasmania has had an enormous influence on my practice as a designer. I think it’s really evident in the aesthetic of the pieces or the way I portray them (especially considering the collection was shot down the road from the house I grew up in!). But even when I was studying at university I’d fly back home to shoot in Tasmania. There’s really no place like it and I’m so blessed to be just a plane ride away.

You can find the debut collection at www. victoria-bliss.com

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SPORT

The Professor at work, with apprentices looking on.

RICHIE PORTE TOUCHES DOWN A WINNER Interview: Stephanie Williams With a Tour de France podium finish now under his belt, Stephanie Williams caught up with cyclist Richie Porte on his return to Tasmania. On a winning streak, he also recently held his crown as king of Willunga Hill at the Tour Down Under.

How was the aftermath of the Tour de France this time around, being a podium finisher? It was really a strange year with COVID and then also my wife gave birth to our second child, Eloise, at the start of the tour. It was something I always wanted to achieve, to get onto the podium there in Paris but then, in my mind, I wanted to be on the plane and home. And it didn’t look like I was going to get home that night because all the flights are gone.

So how did you end up getting home? Luckily enough my new team of this year, Ineos Grenadiers, had a private jet ready to go.

So they got me home that night. It was just a nice touch to be honest. Just to meet my daughter for the first time. Standing on the podium in the Tour compared to that, it kind of paled.

That’s awesome. How amazing to have that all in 24 hours.

Yeah, exactly. I didn’t really have the chance to celebrate or anything like that. And I was back on the road three and a half days later. So it’s been a whirlwind.

What was the reunion with your wife and your expanded family like? You come out of that race, the bubble, the COVID bubble, and it’s always a weird one to come home. But then it’s kind of nice because you go from being at a race where 16

Pictures: Marcus Enno

everything’s done for you, then back into newborn nappies. It’s a tricky one for me now with a two and a half year old son - when I go away for so long there’s that wall he puts up, because I’m away so much. That was hard to overcome as well. Hotel quarantine isn’t easy and we did it in Perth, but it was actually nice to get that family time without the pressure of training and all that.

So it’s the silver lining isn’t it?

With borders opening and closing all over the place, you’ve probably found the new COVID world trickier than most.

Usually when we fly back from Europe, we go Nice, Dubai, a night in Melbourne then Launnie. But this year we had to do to Paris for a night and then Dubai, Perth for two weeks quarantine, then Melbourne and Launnie. Even getting into Tassie was hard because they didn’t put our COVID tests on our quarantine certificate. It was down to the last second that we didn’t even know if we were going to make it back to Tassie or not.

What was the first thing you did when you got back to Launceston? The first morning I was out training around Scottsdale, which is pretty much where I do all my training in Tassie. I just love it. And it was such a nice feeling to be back on home roads and having achieved a big goal of getting on the podium. If I wasn’t so unfit, it would have been like a ceremonious moment, but I struggled the whole way round! So it wasn’t the most enjoyable Scottsdale Loop I’ve done. I wouldn’t mind getting back down to Hobart and doing the Channel Loop again.

I spent a lot of time in Hobart when I was a bit younger, but I haven’t done it for years. It’s the Scottsdale Loop of the South!

Does competition in Australia look different now too? It’s much more straightforward than Europe. The Tour Down Under normally has people coming from all over Australia and it wasn’t the same this year. It was actually nice to be quite honest. You can go and have a coffee and breakfast and do it in relative peace compared to normal. And I’d say the same for the Tour last year. Without all the journalists that normally come and the huge crowds, it was kind of peaceful.

Do you think that played into your positioning? Yeah, a little bit. There’s just so much stress around the race and every day there’s something that gets blown out of proportion. It was just nice to not have all that noise from outside and just to ride the bike.

Cadel Evens said he sent you a message the night before your final time trial on the Tour and that you actually answered his message. And he said on air that it must have meant you were pretty relaxed about it all. How do you control yourself in the moment to have a performance like that? To be honest, it’s good to get yourself off social media. I haven’t got Twitter, I don’t have Facebook. Instagram is where I’m most accessible, but you can control that a bit more. I like having my phone with WhatsApp’s from people you genuinely want to hear from. Guys like Cadel reaching out, it means a lot to you. I mean, it was my first tour in 2011 when he won. So you do appreciate messages of support from people like that. But I think for me going into the final time trial, which was the second last stage, I was just so motivated. That’s why I moved from Tassie over to Europe to live, to nail that podium. I don’t think there was much that was going to stop me from putting in a good performance on that stage.

anything like that. In some ways it’s a young man’s sport. I think you’re more gung ho when you’re younger. All the crashes catch up with you and you have aches and stuff that you don’t really want to have. We’re getting old, aren’t we?

This year you’ve signed on to a new team, Ineos. Will you have the opportunity to race for a place in this year’s Tour? Or perhaps your role is looking a bit different now you’re a podium finisher? Probably nailed it there! I signed on knowing I wouldn’t have the sole leadership, like I have had in the last five years, but that’s fine with me. I’d already signed, but then I got a podium in the Tour. Maybe it changes things a little bit, but at the end of the day, I think I can turn up at races a hundred percent ready to go, then you just never know what’s going to happen on the road.

And the big question, what next? I don’t really know. Get through the next two years! It’s been a hell of a ride to be honest. To be able to ride a bike for a living has been a dream, but at the same time that I do look forward to having a more normal life. Read the paper and enjoy your breakfast without the stress of having to go and train in the rain or snow in Europe. I’m ready to become a full-time dad.

Does Tassie factor into that? My wife’s English, but I had that discussion of whether we stay in Europe or move to Australia, to somewhere like Adelaide.

But she likes Tassie. It doesn’t make sense to live somewhere like Adelaide and have the family so far away. We may as well stay in Europe and closer to her parents. I appreciate Tassie much more now for what it is. That’s the thing with Tassie, it’s just simple. Everything’s just so easy. I absolutely love it. It’s amazing the amount of people who judge Tassie, but they’ve never actually been here. It actually pisses me off. Yesterday when I was in the supermarket, a couple from Brisbane, they knew who I was and they said ‘Where’s your other head?’ And it’s just like, ‘Where are your front teeth?’ It gets annoying, doesn’t it?

And do you find that some times you’re more nervous than others? Or do you find that you’re fairly calm now? The fact that I don’t get nervous is a little bit worrying to be honest. You stress more when you get older and you have kids, you don’t want to have big crashes or 17

COVER FEATURE

Interview: Stephanie Williams

With an established career in the fashion industry, Sam Elsom didn’t expect a conference call with climate scientist Tim Flannery to result in a move to aquaculture. Sam is now cultivating a native Tasmanian seaweed to sequester carbon and help reduce methane emissions from Australia’s meat, wool and dairy industries.

How did the Sea Forest project begin? I first learnt about seaweed from Tim Flannery. I met Tim through the Climate Council and mutual friends. He suggested seaweed is a solution to climate change. There is a finite amount of time to act, with seaweed being a known solution. Sea Forest started with a goal to be the first commercial supplier of a special native seaweed called Asparagopsis which through cultivation has the capacity to capture carbon dioxide through feeding a supplement to livestock that eliminates methane emissions. Even though it’s not naturally in my wheelhouse, it’s something I could jump on. I was driven by the impact.

Australia is one of the most abundant places in the world for seaweed. We have more species than anywhere else. And with so much diversity it’s interesting that we don’t have a seaweed agriculture industry, apart from those who have a permit to collect it off the beach. No-one is cultivating it like we are now. We don’t know that much about our native seaweed. There’s 14,000 species of seaweed and 9,000 are red!

How does it work? It’s a two-pronged approach between capturing carbon and eliminating methane which is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions globally.

Seaweed captures CO2 via photosynthesis and 30% of the biomass we harvest is carbon sequestered from the water. The fastest growing plant on the planet is a seaweed that’s native to Australia. Of all plants in the world! Unlike trees, the entire organism photosynthesises, whereas with trees, it’s just the leaves. We’re harvesting every eight weeks, so we have a great potential positive environmental impact. A very small amount of it is used to feed to animals, which helps eliminates methane.

We’re at 90% on a commercial scale, in the labs they can achieve 98%. The average cow produces four tonnes of carbon per year and if they eat 30 grams of seaweed a day, they effectively eliminate methane. It’s a small amount of seaweed for a big result in emissions reduction.

What have been some of the challenges and highlights?

Building Sea Forest with my co-conspirator Stephen Turner has been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences. Every week we are making new and novel discoveries in the world of seaweed, surrounded by remarkably intelligent individuals while pioneering the development of a new environmentally positive industry for Tasmania as well as working with Tasmanian dairy, beef and Merino farmers. We are the first company in Australia to commercially harvest seaweed and we’re the only commercial supplier of Asparagopsis in the world.

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shelter and habitat for marine life as well as de-acidifying the ocean through photosynthesis.

In my research I came across a team from the University of the Sunshine Coast who were growing Asparagopsis in tanks and hoping to head offshore. Have you been part of their trials or independent? Is this seaweed native to Australia or are there other people growing it overseas too? Seaweed is an $11 billion global industry - it is approximately $2 million industry in Australia. This is largely because of the nine - 12 major species commercially cultivated around the world are North Hemisphere epidemic and cannot be grown in Australian waters. Asparagopsis is wildly abundant and can be grown in Tasmania. While research is taking place around the world, we don’t expect marine farming of Asparagopsis anywhere else in the world.

Does the seaweed have the same effect on other animals and humans? I’d like some for my boys if it does… No, seaweed only works on ruminants, unless your boys have four stomachs…

Before Sea Forest you had been working in a creative capacity with some big Aussie brands, including a stint designing for The Upside. Does any of your previous career enter into the work you’re doing now? My time in the rag trade was tremendously rewarding, working with major international brands and with a specific focus not only on design but on sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of the supply chain. Interestingly Sea Forest is now working with Australian high-end fashion brand MJ BALE to create the first carbon-neutral suiting line from wool grown by seaweed-fed Merino sheep.

It’s fantastic to see all industries collaborating towards a more sustainable future.

And I hear Mick Fanning was an early backer of your project.

Mick is a passionate environmental advocate who was already doing great work through lending his voice and support to climate change as an ambassador for Wild Ark. When I spoke to Mick about Sea Forest he was really excited to get involved.

We’ve got such a great bunch of people in the business.

What effect does growing the seaweed in the ocean have on the surrounding marine environment? Do you need to fertilise it or use chemicals to protect its growth?

Seaweed cultivation is low impact and is referred to as zero-input crop which means it does not require fertiliser or fresh water.

Unlike traditional terrestrial farming, it’s not impacted by fires, floods or droughts. Seaweed requires three basic elements to thrive - seawater, sunlight and CO2. Seaweed forests provide 20

Why Triabunna and why Tasmania? Seaweed is wildly abundant and less seasonal. Tasmania has a rich diversity in seaweed species - and a natural population of Asparagopsis, but does not have the seasonality of other parts of Australia.

Tasmania’s pristine waters provide the perfect environment to be cultivated all year round. We started in a lab because we needed to understand how to grow it. We’re fortunate to have leased space from Spring Bay Seafoods in Triabunna, who grow mussels. We leased hatchery and lab space and slowly as we’ve learned and developed methods for cultivation expanded our footprint there and have taken over the entire site. And transferring the employment of a lot of the staff here to Sea Forest.

Everybody is really receptive.

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Everything starts with people’s attitude and optimism is a big part of that. The Spring Bay Mill is our neighbour - that was a relic of an industry (wood chipping) that was pillaging Tasmania and then on the other side our neighbour is the old fish meal processing plant. They previously collected massive quantities of Red Mackerel to turn into meal. That’s shut down too. These two industries creating harm - and now we’re in the middle creating a new, more positive industry. We have enough marine lease here in Tasmania to feed half the population of Australia’s feedlot dairy and cattle.

I imagine partnering with meat and dairy producers would be a natural step. Is this something you’re working on? We are proud to be underway with two major trials with the seaweed here in Tasmania. The first with Merino wool farmer Simon Cameron from the Tasmanian Midlands area of Kingston, the second from Fonterra, feeding Richard Gardner’s dairy cattle.

The appetite of farmers to engage with the solution to methane emissions has been overwhelming and a sign that everyone recognises they have a role to play in reducing global emissions.

Is there a way that consumers will know that their products have been produced with lower emissions? Sea Forest is working with the Clean Energy Regulator to allow farmers access to carbon credits from the use of Asparagopsis - which will enable them to make carbon-neutral claims to consumers.

Are you working on any other projects or products? We have built a team comprising of the world’s leading seaweed 22

scientists. They’re pioneering the development of a new and environmentally positive seaweed aquaculture here in Tasmania.

This is not limited to Asparagopsis, we are also looking at the cultivation of a myriad of other species.

Where are you based? At the moment I’m between Sydney and Triabunna.

You have two kids, and your wife Sheree Commerford has a prominent profile. How does the juggle look for you? It’s a great question. It’s true. There’s always a sacrifice that’s required when you’re building something. And that’s true of all families, not just mine. All of our family, including my two kids, are passionate about the environment and climate change, so they’re excited. My kids are as engaged as I am. It’s cool to come home and show them videos and educate them. But I’m around less.

My wife is an incredible creative and she’s also an amazing mother. She’s having to do more as we build Sea Forest and I’m grateful to her for doing that. I think it would be different if I was working as a FIFO in the mines. Maybe she’d feel differently of the worthiness of the sacrifice. She’s got a passion for it, which helps the cause.

When you’re in Tassie, what are some of your favourite things to do? I love food, wine and adventure and Tassie has an abundance of these things. Recently I was mountain biking in St Helens on the Blue Tier Trail with our chief scientific officer Dr Rocky de Nys. We had an amazing ride through the temperate forest. I also really enjoy surfing at Cloudy Bay.

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WHAT’S ON IN HOBART MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

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Delve into yesterday with the State Library’s History Room Research sessions where you can look through original records and heritage materials.

Don’t forget your library card!

THURSDAY

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Shakespeare in the Gardens is on tonight at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, and other selected dates until 26 February.

Get some hump-day laughs at Hobart’s only weekly comedy show, Jokers Comedy Club.

Currently in iso? Head online from some digital content.

Trace your family roots with Sue at the Rosny Library. Due to Covid, you’ll need to make a booking.

Make the most of those long summer nights with Street Eats @ Franko, but make sure you head online to book your spot.

The Clarence Jazz Festival.

Franko!

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Now in its third year, Vibrance Festival is Tasmania’s only street art festival. With markets, demos and a public spray wall, you’ll want to keep an eye on their Facebook page for tickets.

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Learn to cook traditional Afghani dishes and street foods at a cooking class in Zafira Cafe in Moonah.

FRIDAY

Australia’s first (and only) female PM Julia Gillard will be at The Theatre Royal for a lively analysis of gender and women’s access to positions of power.

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The Clarence Jazz Festival starts today with events taking place over five days at the Rosny Farm Arts Centre. Head online for the lineup and tickets.

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Take an Antarctic expedition with a nip of single malt whisky at a special screening of Iceman - 200 Years of Polar Exploration at Village Cinemas.

Grab a cocktail and settle in for a night of vocal and instrumental jazz at Jazz Jams at Pablo’s Cocktails and Dreams from 7.15pm.

It’s the Brooke Street Pier’s open mic night - kinda!

Their Mostly Acoustic Music Jam session will showcase some of Hobart’s up and coming easy listening and oldtime tunes.

Richmond Tigers legend Matthew Richardson will be at the Hobart Football Club for a one-night event: Sportsman’s Night with Matthew ‘RICHO’ Richardson.

Take the bubbies to Rock and Rhyme at Kingston Library for some musical fun. Free tickets on ‘sale’ 3pm the day before.

Zafira cooking classes.

i

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

The Vibrance Festival in Bidencopes Lane.

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FEBRUARY SATURDAY

6

Get out for your glitter for the TasPride Parade and Party In The Park.

Register at the TasPride website.

13

Hang 10 with the Disabled Surfers Association of Australia Hands-on Surfing Day. Participation is strictly limited - email dsaasec@gmail.com to book a spot.

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Sip and stroll through Salamanca with a selfguided wine tour. With a great selection of local bars and restaurants, you’ll need to book your Urban Cellar Door tour quick!

FURTHER AFIELD

SUNDAY

7

Make your own garden sculpture at the mosaic workshop run

by Moonah Arts Centre.

The world is your mosaic oyster!

6 - 10 FEBRUARY Step inside the studios of Tasman Peninsula’s artists with this goas-you-please Forestier Art Trail (FAT). Search for their Facebook page where you can access a map and more event information.

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Help raise money for the McGrath Foundation at its inaugural cocktail event Bat for Boobs.

Enjoy a drink while you take in a women’s cricket game to promote women in sport.

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The Hobart 5k Color Frenzy fun run is set to be the funniest run of 2021.

Check out their website for event details and to register. And don’t forget to grab some snaps for the ‘gram.

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Pump up your tyres for round four of the TasGravity Enduro 20/21 series this weekend in Hobart.

Hands-on surfing.

Local pottery.

13 FEBRUARY Take some quality canvas time with the Old Sunday School Art Group in Longford. Coming together on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, the group’s aim is to encourage, develop, and foster the love of art, provide a meeting place for artists and those wishing to learn how to draw and paint.

26 FEBRUARY Head up to Launceston for Variety Tasmanina’s Variety of Gins event where they’ll offer you a guided tasting experience and serve some specially crafted gin-based cocktails at the Launceston Golf Course.

28 FEBRUARY Cast your fishing net out over the Furneaux Group of Islands at the Flinders Island Fishing Competition. The competition will take place near the town of Whitemark with events for both adults and children and profits going to the Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation.

28 FEBRUARY Have a filthy mouth and a bad attitude? The Blues Brothers Revival are playing at the Huntington Tavern, Kempton for what’s sure to be a goodtime afternoon.

19 - 21 FEBRUARY More than 40 vineyards will welcome wine-lovers for the 2021 Southern Open Vineyards Weekend - you can even get a behind-the-scenes look at vineyards that normally don’t open to the public. Explore wines of the Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley and Huon Valley.

20 FEBRUARY Make a detour on a roadtrip to the green Meander Valley for the Mole Creek Markets. Running the third Saturday of every month, they sell the best of the region’s produce. Country bake sale, anyone?

The Blues Brothers Revival.

Got an event coming up in Tassie?

Email us at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au The Clarence Jazz Festival.

Background photo: Stu Gibson 25

FEATURE

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT: WHAT’S IN YOUR BIN? Words: Zilla Gordon

Image: Seasame Workshop

When it comes to waste reduction, we might think we’re all doing the right thing. And while Hobart has been cutting back, there’s still more to do.

Hobart City Council’s Towards Zero Waste policy, which aimed at - you guessed it - seeing zero waste diverted to landfill, is now in its fourth year. Waste policy coordinator for the Hobart City Council Jeff Holmes said we’re doing well, with the city diverting around 44 per cent, or 23,000 tonnes, of waste from landfill in the 2019/2020 financial year. “With the introduction of the FOGO service, we’ve seen a very dramatic increase in the amount we’re collecting,” he said. The more FOGO green waste that is collected means less ends up in landfill. However, dirty nappies, plastic bags, compostable food packaging and soft plastics are still being tossed into the recycling bin even though they can’t be processed. Jeff said it can be confusing, but to remember the scrunch rule. “If you scrunch it, and it stays scrunched, it’s not recyclable and will need to be taken to a soft plastic recycling collection point at Coles or Woolworths,” Jeff said. “When you scrunch a strawberry punnet, it won’t stay in a ball, so you know it’s recyclable.”

Recycle vs Reuse Molly Kendall from Resource Work Cooperative, the cooperative that runs the South Hobart Tip Shop, said while recycling played a part in waste reduction, it “shouldn’t be the last stop”.

“A much better option to recycling is reusing,” Molly said.

While recycling reduces waste, it involves downcycling. This process meant items were broken down into their component elements or materials for possible reuse - but the process also lowered the objects’ value. On the other hand, reusing or upcycling, was a process that instead added value to an item. Molly suggested donating recyclables to a tip shop instead. “A lot of people are willing to repair things or will buy something that’s broken,” she said. “Just think ‘would someone buy this from a tip shop?’” If the answer is yes, consider donating it and add to the 100 shipping containers of waste that were diverted from landfill to be upcycled last year.

Repurpose it At Phil and Nicole Shanny’s farm, which was based on sustainable practices, the whole family gets involved in maintaining their six compost bins and worm farms. But they’ve also taken their waste-reduction methods to the workplace. Prep teacher Nicole has been collecting around 30kg of food scraps from St Mary’s College kinder and prep students each day to compost into soil on their farm. The soil has then been used on the school’s veggie patches which supplied the canteen. Phil, who manages 26

the college’s sustainable canteen, said thinking about a product’s next life is a good place to start reducing waste. “If you’re buying a tub of yoghurt, when it’s empty, it’s a bucket - the life continues on,” Phil said. “If it doesn’t have another purpose, we don’t buy it.”

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HOBART HOMES

SIGNALMAN’S QUARTERS Words: Zilla Gordon Images: Joe Grey A modern-looking home sits in Battery Point’s historic surrounds, adding an interplay between old and new. But the contemporary facade only continues the story of the 1853 stone cottage known as the Signalman’s Quarters.

The home originally formed part of a semaphore network - a visual telegraph system - which communicated with ships in Hobart’s ports. At the time, the network could send messages from Hobart to Port Arthur in only 15 minutes. But as communications developed, the cottage was repurposed. Recently restored, today it’s a family home.

Heritage - a challenge and opportunity Project architects Fred Ward and Cath Hall from 1+2 Architecture said working within the constraints of heritage conservation requirements meant thinking of innovative solutions that often weren’t considered with new-build projects.

“The challenge was to offer a contemporary approach with a design sensitive to the cottage’s layers of history,” Fred said. Along with their heritage consultant, they began meticulously searching through records, archives and plans of the building. They learned a group of sheds previously had existed on the property.

“We know from the drawings we have that there were multiple iterations of ‘a shed out the back’,” Cath said. What is now referred to as the front of the house was previously the back of a building, so sheds were built in several parts of the block. As the use for the cottage changed, so did its entrance, with each side of the building all used as the front door at different times. Today from the street, it appears that there are no windows or doors - a nod to when the back of a house was closest to the road.

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Old and New Cath said it was more than just a conscious selection of materials that made the restoration so successful. “It’s also about how the building is responding on the site,” she said. Colonial cottages were “rectangular boxes” and normally only included bedrooms, sitting and dining rooms. Sloped wooden structures - which resembled verandahs - attached the cottages would house the laundry, kitchen and a washroom. These historic ephemeral additions are reflected in the project’s use of timber and with the inclusion of a sloping roof. The client wanted a more light-filled home with an open-plan living design, despite the building’s offering of separate boxed rooms and small windows.

Balancing heritage requirements and their client’s needs, Fred and Cath designed

a “cluster of structures”, consciously broken down in scale, with verandah-like frameworks rather than an unbroken mass of a new building. Even the new has intertwined with the old - the chimney has been imprinted with four semaphore characters. “We wanted it to be something that makes people stop and think, ‘what is that?’” Cath said. “When you’re given all this history about a place, when it’s ingrained in the bricks and mortar of a home, it gives you this fuel or ammunition for this new thing you create to be relevant and interesting,” Fred said. Fred and Cath have created a contemporary addition that stands graciously in relation to the cottage and its heritage surroundings. It acknowledges its history while allowing the Signalman’s Quarters to forge its own.

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Hobart’s Friday night market!

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COMMUNITY

NEW DEMENTIA CAFE OPENS IN GLENORCHY Words: Agnes Frith

Agnes Frith opened the Golden Wattle Cafe to give people with dementia and their caregivers a safe and non-judgemental space where they can socialise and interact with each other and members of the community in a relaxed environment. Here she shares her story.

After completing a Bachelor of Dementia course in 2018, I decided to share my knowledge of what I’d learnt in the past four years with the community. In mid 2019 after discussion with a few colleagues, we decided that setting up a cafe was quite plausible.

Looking for a suitable venue proved to be the hardest task. It had to be functional and user friendly for people with dementia and older people. Parking had to be easily accessible, safe and spacious. Toilet facilities had to be compatible and entrance to the café convenient and practical. After a lot of stumbles, frustrations and disappointments, Liz Stott (a founding member) and I found a suitable setting at The Golden Years Club in Glenorchy. .

The Golden Wattle Cafe opened in January 2020 but of course Covid-19 came along and we had to temporarily close in March.

However we reopened in October last year with more enthusiasm, new ideas and a determination to keep going.

We transform the large hall at The Golden Years Club into an attractive, bright and lively café with a friendly, cheerful

environment. Our amazing volunteers welcome everyone with a smile and make you feel a part of our community. Coffee, tea and a scrumptious, delicious morning tea is served. It’s only $5 per session which helps us with rent and other expenses.

Caregivers can have a relaxing time chatting with our volunteers or each other and share their problems or exchange ideas on how to better cope with issues they may have. We’re also able to direct them to websites or other places where they can get information or any help they need. We realise that caregivers play an important, sometimes unrecognised, role in the community and are prepared to support them in any way we can.

People with dementia can relax in a safe, noise free, spacious, calm environment where we take the time to listen and interact with them. There are many sensory objects and items from the past for people to look at and reminisce. We also have lots of old records which always bring back memories. There are also conversation cards which can trigger memories to get people talking.

Craft and art activities are available for anyone who would like to join in. In the near future we plan to have sing-along sessions and musical entertainment. Our volunteers are a dedicated bunch of wonderful ladies who give up their time and help make this venture a success. There’s no way this cafe can run without them and their commitment is very much appreciated. Each week they come in with big smiles on their faces and get right into what needs to be done.

We are very grateful to Banjos Bakery in Moonah and Time Out Cafe in Glenorchy who very kindly donate to our morning tea.

The Glenorchy City Council, Elise Archer MP and Josh Willie MLC are supporters of our café for which we are extremely thankful. Any donations are most welcome and gratefully accepted. Donation details are on our website at www.goldenwattlecafe.com The Golden Wattle cafe operates on the first three Thursdays of each month from 10:30am to 12.30pm at 314 Main Road, Glenorchy. For more information please visit the website or Facebook page, or call 0422 736 985.

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Find out why so many parents choose Dominic College Please contact the College Registrar on 6274 6010 or email: enrolments@dominic.tas.edu.au

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FEATURE

LISTEN IN TO MITCH MCPHERSON Interview: Stephanie Williams This January marked eight years since Mitch McPherson lost his brother, Ty, to suicide. Through his grief, he started SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY with one very small but very significant action, a bumper sticker. Mitch is our first guest on The Hobart Magazine Podcast, a new interview series featuring chats with prominent Tasmanians. You can check out our full conversation on the podcast via Apple iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify.

The last time we spoke, you were our cover person in November 2019. So much has happened since then...

Life changed with COVID, obviously, and everything that went down with that. But in the midst of it, we had the greatest blessing and had our daughter Maya in late March, 2020. And life has changed for the better. I’m on edge a little bit more running around after her, but it’s a lot of fun.

How has becoming a father changed you? I’ve worked my ass off to make Stay ChatTY as big an organisation as it can. Before COVID kicked in, I had a lot of interstate gigs and speaking opportunities. And whilst that’s still really important to me, now 4pm comes around and I’m out of there. I love the bond that I have with Maya. That doesn’t come naturally, I don’t think. I had a lot of conversations with people before I became a dad about how you can do your best to connect with your young one.

I know you care deeply about your work so that other families don’t have to go through the same thing. It’s a big question, but one you’ve given me permission to ask. What happened around the time of Ty’s passing? Ty’s birthday is the 4th of January, then 10 days later is always the anniversary.

I find the days like his actual birthday and actual anniversary aren’t the worst days. They’re sad and there’s definitely a bit of a rainy cloud around you over that day. But the lead-up is pretty ordinary. I always think about things I wish I’d done differently eight years ago? Could I have looked a bit harder or seen things a bit differently?

Did you know he was going through a difficult time? No. That’s a big part of our story. When we lost him it was an utter shock.

Ty was a happy-go-lucky guy. He was the last person you would ever imagine going through a hard time. He was about to start a building apprenticeship the very next day. But someone doesn’t have to be down in the dumps. It doesn’t have to be extreme. It can be very, very minor. And that was the case with Ty. It was enough for him to battle and not feel he could come forward and talk about what was going on in his life.

What happened on that day? I got up on the 14th, went to work and had a really cruisy day. I lived with Dad and my Stepmum down in Tranmere and Ty used to live there 50% of the time. He jumped between there and Mum’s place. Dad came up to me shortly after getting home, about 5pm, and said, “Have you heard from Ty?” I’d actually tried to call him on the way home, he hadn’t answered. I went downstairs and all of a sudden my mum started ringing me. I was pretty hungry and thought, “I’m not going to answer.” I threw the phone on the bed. Then it was about 10, 15 seconds after that, I heard my dad upstairs let out a pretty loud scream.

I imagine you know that if you ask what’s going on, that’s when your life changes. Yeah, upon reflection it was like, “Well, as soon as I walk outside my door now, something’s going to happen.”

At the time, did anyone from an organisation, or in an official capacity step in and guide you through the process?

Not really, no. Mum’s work was really good and offered her counselling. At Stay ChatTY, we’ve set up some really important numbers for people to call should they go through it as well, for a school or a work place to know where to turn. For me, we were fortunate that friends and family rallied around us.

If you or anyone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Listen to Steph’s full interview with Mitch via The Hobart Magazine Podcast wherever you get your podcasts from.

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DINING OUT

TRIED UYGHUR CUISINE? YOU CAN NOW IN HOBART! Words and images: Stephanie Williams

You never know when you’re going to have your culinary world expanded and for me recently it was in the back on an Uber.

Heading home from a function, I got chatting with the driver.

Food usually results in a good chat, so I asked him where he likes to eat. He was from Pakistan but said he’s happier eating Pakistani food at home, but his favourite place to eat out is Dolan on Silk Road (127 Liverpool Street), serving traditional, and good, Uyghur food. For context, the Uyghurs are one of a number of persecuted Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, China and bordered by Mongolia, Russia, India, and the ‘Stans - it was a link on the Silk Road between Asia and the Middle East. In terms of cuisine, it’s a melting pot of Asian and Turkic traditions.

The shopfront is unassuming on busy Liverpool Street. On my first visit I asked which dish I should try. “Definitely the lamb and noodle,” was the reply. I asked for “not too spicy” after spying chilli oil on each table - I could always spice it up if I need to. A Chinese cooking show on the big screen set the tone as did the wafts of part-Middle Eastern/part-Asian aromas coming from the kitchen. My serving was huge, and after a few

mouthfuls, I added a drizzle of chilli oil - but respect the fact the kitchen did make it mild on request. Lamb pieces are tender and the ‘lamby’ flavour subtly permeates the dish but not enough to discourage those averse to lamb. Each noodle is perfectly chewy and slippery, punctuated by the crunch of red capsicum, spring onion and sesame seeds.

I also grab a serve of Uyghur yoghurt, and enjoy the very runny texture. It would come in handy after a chilli-laden dish. I asked the chef about my noodles, knowing Dolan is part of a three venue “chain”. I was pleased to hear they’re made inhouse. “All day I make noodles!” he laughs, “and the yoghurt too!”

Just around the corner is a completely different style of delicious Chinese cuisine. Tasty Buns (152 Collins Street) is a new addition to the Hobart casual dining scene, serving Hong Kong style dim sum, all made fresh in house daily. I’m in for a quick lunch and love a dumpling so a serve of the prawn dumplings ($8.90/3 pieces) are my first stop. There are a few steamed buns on offer, so I ask which one is THE one to get - a BBQ pork bun ($3.50) I’m told. And then I can’t not get one of the Portugese egg tarts ($4.50) so that’s included in my line up too. The dumplings are filled with a generous amount of prawns and a fine handmade pastry. The pork bun is textbook and delicious. But unexpectedly the Portugese tart is the number one thing I’ll be heading back for. Heaven. Tasty Buns also provide a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free options, you just have to ask.

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PSYCHOLOGY

HOW TO NAVIGATE A CAREER CHANGE DURING A PANDEMIC (OR ANY OTHER TIME) Words: Annia Baron

“So, what do you do with yourself?” Ah, the standard nice-tomeet-you-question that highlights how so many of us have our identity wrapped up in what we do for work, where we do it, and who we do it with. But how can we not?

From a young age, pressure to seek and maintain a good job is drilled into our psyche: compete for the best ATAR, go to uni, obtain steady employment, climb the ladder, chase the dollar, and retire after long service leave.

I guess that’s more palpable than: finish school but know it’s OK if you’re not sure what you want to do right away. Dabble in work that brings you joy. Maybe engage in further study, maybe not. If it feels right, pursue a trade, an apprenticeship, or specialisation. Change jobs as frequently as you need. Walk away from toxic workplaces that don’t support your growth.

Develop a healthy attitude to money. Work diligently but refrain from thinking what you do is who you are. Embrace setbacks as opportunities for learning. Be earnest with your work and do it from a place of love and respect. That way you’ll never feel as though you’ve worked a day in your life.

I wish that were the spiel we were serenaded with. Maybe then, we would be free to pursue the work-life balance we deserve, instead of over-emphasising what our job ‘looks like’. Because if you think about it, the archaic, linear career trajectory hasn’t made sense for a long time. We live in a world where technological advancements and a global pandemic mean the employment gears are shifting. For example, research shows that the average person now has between five and seven career or job changes across their working life and that 30 per cent of us are changing work as often as every 12 months.

And why wouldn’t we? Life experience brings opportunity for clarity in our skillset and what we value from our working life.

With age and wisdom, we become more in tune with our interests and abilities, and seek a better fit between who we are, what we have to offer, and how we do that. But that’s not to say it makes job or career change easy. Juggling the realities of money, responsibility and commitments elicit fear of failure and concern about what others may think. It can invite self-doubt and analysis paralysis. So, how can we navigate career change in a way that honours our needs and wants without succumbing to the status quo?

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Easy, get P.A.I.D. P = pump up self-care. Your brain needs the right fuel to make the right decisions. Rest, hydrate, eat more greens, and put the phone down for a while. Get into nature, move your body, and practice deep breathing regularly. These simple but scientifically powerful habits will assist with clarity, planning, and decision making.

A = align with your values. Get clear on what’s most important to you in your working life. Is it autonomy or contribution? Is it location or camaraderie? Do you need structure, status and problem solving or do you flourish with variation, flexibility and risk-taking? Narrow it down to your top three career values.

These can provide the scaffolding in creating tangible goals to reach your career objectives.

I = illuminate psychological blocks to success. Shine a light on rusty, outdated beliefs that are keeping you stuck (e.g. procrastination, self-doubt, self-sabotage etc). Consider connecting with a professional to renew your mindset, create a values-aligned action plan, and elevate your confidence. This would be a safe space too, for upskilling in areas of communication, organisation or emotional regulation – all helpful when navigating change.

D = direct action. Commit daily to your action plan. Whether updating your resume, researching courses or training, making enquiries, booking appointments, networking or working out your finances. Making purposeful, proactive choices will reinstate your sense of control, and build momentum for motivation, perseverance, and resilience. These are important building blocks for turning your dreamed career vision into an actual lived experience.

Remember, a successful career can look like anything you want it to. And it’s never too late to change jobs, careers, or continue pursuing meaningful and satisfying work. So, get P.A.I.D and start creating the life you desire and deserve.

If you’d like more information or are curious about mindset coaching, visit www.remindyourself.com or contact Annia, Clinical Psychologist & Mindset Coach on 0402 448 278

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TRAVEL

MARIA ISLAND IN UNDER SEVEN HOURS Words and images: Zilla Gordon

My hiking boots lay forgotten on the sand. Next to them, my jacket and hat are hung off a piece of driftwood. Leggings pulled up over my knees, I’m standing calf-deep in the crisp clear water.

With 18km of walking behind me, an afternoon on Maria Island’s Darlington Bay is a tranquil way to spend a couple of hours before I board the ferry and head back to Hobart. Maria Island, a former penal colony, sits just off the east coast of Tasmania and, while only small in size, its rich history and rugged landscape make it a desirable day trip.

It’s 5am. My Saturday morning sleep-in is taking a backseat as I take the front seat for the early-but-easy 75-minute drive to Triabunna. Making it to the ferry terminal with plenty of time for my 8.30am departure, I check-in, and get a map of the island and recommendations of some walks that will have me back in time for the 4.15pm return boat.

The ferry ride is a smooth 45 minutes, and I’m eagerly looking out the window looking for signs of rain. Even though it’s summer, the forecast is a meagre 19 degrees with a high chance of rain. So my trusty puffer jacket, gloves and a scarf are also in my backpack.

Three easy walks Disembarking, I’m struck by the postcard-blue of the water, but I’m focused on heading straight to the Painted Cliffs. While short in stature, these cliffs make up for it with their striking honeycomb patterns created when water dripped through and stained the stone some 200 million years ago. It’s best explored during low tide, but it only takes a 40-minute power walk to reach the Cliffs at Hopground Beach. I make it just in time for a quick clamber around the shell-like rocks. While I could spend more time here, the incoming tide is fast encroaching on my path back.

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After beating the tide to the Painted Cliffs it’s then onto the Fossil Cliffs walk. Heading to the other side of the island via Darlington Township (where you’ll find overnight accommodation, bike hire and bathrooms), the walk is an easy stroll past crumbling remains of colonial cottages before the path makes way for an expanse of yellow-gray grass. My breath labours as I head uphill, but I’m quickly at the edge of the towering cliffs.

From the right, the view takes in Bishop and Clark and Mount Maria - two popular hikes, but both requiring more than the six or so hours I had to explore.

The fossil walk continues around to the left and leads down to a rock shelf. The shelf is home to hundreds of fossils and I spot clams, scallop shells and coral trapped in the rock. More than 300 million years old, the walk has some of the best displays of fossils anywhere in the world.

Stopping for a few photos, I head back to Darlington via the airstrip and the seaside cemetery, which is home to graves more than a century old. Although first established as a penal colony, Maria Island later housed cement works. That’s how Tomas and his wife Rose came to rest there. Tomas died in an accident while working at the cement works in 1890. Fifty-two years later, Rose was laid to rest next to her husband, becoming the last person to be buried on the island.

I break for lunch back in Darlington and head out on my final walk of the day - the Reservoir Circuit. I’m struck by the change in flora. Although just inland, the path weaves its way through eucalyptus trees and the narrower track consists of grey-black sand. It seems beachy. The gentle path leads to clearing by the reservoir, and while it doesn’t offer views spectacular as those on the coast, the chorus of croaking frogs make it a nice place to stop for a break.

Take Your Time I’ve done a bit of hiking in Tasmania. Normally it’s a push to the peak. It’s sometimes only when you reach the top that you stop to breathe in the view. Maria Island is different. You explore, wander rather than looking at your feet to take your next step. There’s no rush. The paths are wide and well-kept allowing you to spot pademelons or wombats grazing near campsites.

Having made it through the three walks in around four hours, I’m again reminded that it’s not a race to the summit. Instead of the predicted grey weather, the sun is shining so I brave a quick dip in the cold water. At first I was worried that a day wouldn’t be enough. Like all things in Tasmania, of course there is plenty more to see and do, but Maria Island has made the perfect day trip.

Maria Island is a National Park, so you’ll need a Parks Pass (you can buy them at: www.passes.parks.tas.gov.au/). Ferry tickets (book them at www.encountermaria.com.au/) are $45 for adults, but only include 7kg of hand luggage so keep that in mind if you’re camping. There are no shops, cafes or supplies on the island so you’ll need to bring everything with you including food, a refillable water bottle, good walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing and any first aid supplies - however limited drinking water is available; if you’ve forgotten anything, there is an IGA at Triabunna near the ferry terminal. Basic bunkhouse accommodation can be booked at $44 per night for up to two people, and there are free campsites around the island - book before you leave via www.parks.tas.gov.au. If walking’s not your thing you can hire a bike for $33 a day. Maria Island is also home to furry and feathered friends - although you’re bound to see a wombat or two, make sure you snap a photo from no less than two metres away!

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SCIENCE

European Honeybee. Photo Peter Bendle

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES Words: Isabel Howard

If you’ve spent time enjoying the outdoors this summer you’ve probably noticed more tiny, furry, flying visitors amidst the warm weather.

With bees come the boons of the sunny season: they pollinate our veggie gardens and farms, they sustain Tassie’s agricultural industry, they put food on our tables and they look handsome while they’re at it. If you’re Hobartian, the two bees you’re likely to see most often are the European honeybee and the large earth bumblebee. Yet despite the fact that bumblebees and honeybees are beloved by many, they have a dark side – especially our furry friend the bumblebee. You might have guessed it already. They’re both invasive species, but who exactly are these little guys?

European honeybees look very sophisticated, with subtle stripes and short hair – cute, but sensible. The very definition of the ‘worker bee’, these clever girls work from dawn ‘til dusk bringing pollen to the hive and producing honey. And I say ‘girls’ because ninety per cent of the hive is female and the male drones don’t do any work besides waiting for a precious moment of the queen’s time (if you know what I mean?!).

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A Bumblebee captured at work. Photo: Isabel Howard

Bumblebees are easy to spot with their fat, fluffy bodies, telltale stripes and inability to fly in one direction. Unlike honeybees, bumblebees don’t produce any honey at all. At the beginning of spring, queens emerge from hibernation and begin building colonies, and for about eight months they have their time in the sun. Then as winter approaches, the colony dies off, the new queens go into hibernation and the cycle starts again.

European honeybees were ferried to Australia by early European colonisers and, inevitably, queens eventually broke off and formed feral hives in the bush.

Bumblebees were brought into Tasmania illegally in the 1990s and currently don’t exist anywhere else in Australia.

Many in the agricultural industry are concerned that they’ll eventually manage to cross the Bass Strait and unfortunately, these illegal immigrants do pose a significant risk. Both species tend to pollinate invasive plants and also create competition for local birds, bees and mammals by feeding on native nectars. So who are our local species?

Tassie’s bee residents include, among others, the Homalictus bee, the Resin bee and the Leafcutter bee. If you’ve

ever noticed small circles cut out from the edges of your rose petals and leaves, it’s more than likely a Leafcutter bee, which builds its nest from leaves and petals, has made the rounds of your garden. This species also has neither hives nor queens.

In fact, most Australian bees are solitary, meaning all the females lay eggs on their own.

There is just one native bee that produces honey - the aptly-named Stingless bee, which produces about one litre of honey per year. Sadly, Tassie is just a smidge too cold for this tiny honey-maker to survive. That’s why we rely on our hardy European bees instead.

While bumblebees have little to contribute beyond their cuteness, European honeybees are here because we wanted their honey and we wanted them to pollinate our crops (with no pay). So, before we accuse them of ‘stealing jobs’ from local bees, we should consider that we asked them to be here. Like all invasive species, if the problem is how they’ve adapted to the environment, the solution is how they’re managed. As long as we can ensure our local species and biodiversity are well protected, being introduced doesn’t mean we can’t coexist.

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43

FEATURE

LIFE’S A BALL: HOW TASSIE PIONEERED LGBTQI+ RIGHTS Words and images: Zilla Gordon The sun hasn’t quite set as two long-legged figures stand together up a Salamanca sidestreet. The pair are busy exchanging boisterous introductions and are greeting a rush of guests who enthusiastically walk into Society Bar in Salamanca.

Turning, the twosome flounce inside and prepare to drop the balls for Thursday night bingo. But it’s far from a purple-rinse elderly audience - this is the magical world of gender illusions, throwing shade and lip syncing. This is drag queen bingo.

Giving you life Performing drag for almost eight years, Pussay, a healthcare worker by day, said she first used the art form as a way to channel everything she disliked about herself into her character.

“I hated that I was feminine, I hated being overly camp, I hated being artistic, I hated that I liked makeup,” she said. “I thought, ‘just use it as an avenue to get it out of your system’.”

When she moved to Launceston in 2013, she soon started to perform more regularly but it wasn’t until she settled in Hobart that Pussay was ‘born’. Gravitating towards comedy, Pussay said her character was politically charged, didn’t mind being stupid, but always included the unexpected. “Growing up gay, at a Catholic school, in a small town, you have to learn to be funny to survive,” she said. “That’s where her quick-witted and sharp humour comes from.”

Drag and the gender myth Co-host Ana Thema (who by day, runs a queer-friendly coffee shop) started experimenting with drag around three years ago after borrowing a housemate’s makeup. “I had reservations [that] a drag queen was about being a woman, and I thought ‘I don’t want to dress up as a woman’,” Ana said.

A common misconception is that drag just means looking like a woman. “Drag is about performance,” she said. Pussay agreed, believing drag was loosely based on a gender illusion, rather than a cis-male dressing up as a cis-women (cis-gender means someone’s gender identity matches the biological sex they were assigned at birth). “I mostly do female-based illusion, but what is feminine?” Pussay said. “I see biological women who are like ‘I want to be a drag queen but I can’t because I’m a woman’ and I’m like ‘you can - anyone can’. It’s not tied to a gender.”

The library is open While drag bingo is strictly an over-18 event, Pussay took her PG-friendly character Miss Poppins to the stage when she participated in Drag Story Time in Ulverstone. “I was very nervous Ulverstone, in drag, in the daylight,” she said. But Miss Poppins 44

said the experience was “amazing” and provided her with an opportunity to connect with younger members of the community.

“They were coming up and shaking, saying ‘we’ve never seen a drag queen before,” she said.

Choose your family Ana said there was a sense of family and community among drag performers living in Hobart. “I’ve never felt so included,” she said. “Because we’re so small, we want to keep each other happy and help each other.”

While she felt “parts of” Tasmania were accepting, Ana said could go anywhere in Hobart and feel comfortable. “I remember going to Maccas in drag, and they’re just loving it,” she said.

“They’re like ‘you look awesome, let’s take a photo’. We get a time that we can just be ourselves and really put ourselves out there and let people know that we’ve been here for ages.”

And just what can you expect at drag bingo? Pussay said a night of drag bingo was “fun, funny, fun”. “Ana Thema and I are both very creative in different aspects,” she said. “But I’m funnier,” she joked.

The balls have dropped Inside the bar at Salamanca, the crowd is gagging. Catcalls come from the audience as Ana Thema and Pussay Poppins make their rounds. It’s a place where all are welcome. And where everyone wants to return. Ana said it felt great to be hosting drag bingo so close to where activist Rodney Croome fought for gay rights.

“We’re reclaiming a space that was full of hatred, a place of oppression,” she said. “It’s nice to know that people from all walks of life are just having fun around a queer space.”

Rodney Croome on Tassie’s dark past Drag performers and bingo hosts Ana Thema and Pussay Poppins invite the audience to share snaps from the night on social media.

But not so long ago, events like these would be hidden.

Above: Pussay Poppins Below: Ana Thema, picture: Mat Badenach/Rosa Rita

LGBTQI+ activist Rodney Croome, who successfully campaigned against Tasmania’s homosexuality laws, said community spaces had been around since at least the 60s. “But in the 60s, 70s and 80s they were quite hidden, and with good reason,” Rodney said. In the 70s, the back bar of The Hadley Hotel was one of these places. “It was [the bar] furthest from the street,” he said. Lawyers would often drink in the front bar, closer to the street. “They were a form of protection in case the police decided to raid,” Rodney said.

He said that although most Australians felt like they lived in a democracy, being gay in Tasmania was like living in a police state. The penalty for sex between two men was one of the harshest in the western world. Rodney said community attitudes had changed, but there was still work to be done. “While it’s true that Tasmania has gone from worst to the best in a really short period, I don’t want anyone to feel that it’s cause for complacency,” he said. “There is still prejudice in parts of the community and discrimination. I, and the people I work with, remain committed to foster an ever-inclusive community for the LGBTQI+ community.”

Rodney said this meant banning the use of conversion practices. “To be told that our sexual identity or gender identity is broken or could be fixed is the height of cruelty,” he said.

Each event brought its own set of risks. When Rodney attended his first Gay University Students Tasmania Organisation event he was cautioned not to park too close, in case someone wrote down his registration number.

“I was warned not to use a second name, and not to ask people theirs in case they were police informers,” he said.

The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute recently sought public feedback on possible reforms to the state’s sexual orientation and gender identity conversion practices. Rodney said he was positive Tasmania would adopt changes to legislation. “We’ve already set really high standards, and on conversion practices, it will be the same.”

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HISTORY

MATTHEW BRADY: THE GENTLEMAN THIEF Words: Bonnie Mary Liston Image: Tasmanian Archives

Before Ned Kelly cut a blazing trail through Australia’s collective imaginations, Tasmania had its own dashing bushranger who captured the hearts, and inevitably, material possessions of its populace.

Matthew Brady, often called ‘Gentleman Brady’ was notorious throughout Van Diemen’s Land for his pluck and daring, as well as his fine manners and strong moral code.

Brady was a groomsman in Manchester, England, with a great talent for handling horses before he was sentenced to seven years’ transportation for the crime of stealing a basket of food from his employers - some butter, sugar, rice and a flitch of bacon, which he had shared out amongst several young ladies of his acquaintance.

As a convict Brady was rebellious and attempted escape often.

He received over 350 lashes for various offences and eventually found himself sent to Sarah Island, an incredibly harsh and isolated prison settlement located off the Western Coast of Tasmania. Sarah Island was a place for repeat offenders and escapees but instead of breaking Brady’s spirit it was here that he finally successfully escaped in 1824, leading 13 other convicts in stealing a whaling boat and sailing to freedom down the Derwent River.

He then commenced his bushranging career as Gentleman Brady.

Though he and his gang robbed various homesteads and villages around Tasmania, he became quite popular amongst the common people. It was said he never used violence except in self defence and he always acted in a polite and courtly manner towards his victims. He was especially chivalrous towards women, claiming to have never robbed any woman and refusing to let any of his gang insult, endanger or otherwise disrespect a woman.

Apparently when one of his men threatened a settler’s wife with sexual violence, Brady shot him in the hand, then had him flogged and expelled from his gang. The women of Tasmania went wild for his far flung futurist ideals of ‘basic human decency.’

One of his most daring feats was the capture of Sorell. Brady and his gang took over the township, overpowering and imprisoning its garrison and releasing all the convicts, whom they then led in raucous celebration. As a response to this, as well as Brady’s mounting power and popularity, Governor George Arthur placed a huge price on Brady’s head. In response, Brady cheekily placed 46

his own reward out for the capture of Governor Arthur - including in the bounty, “20 gallons of rum.”

Eventually the reward for Brady became so high that he was betrayed by inside members of his gang. After several traps that he managed to escape and one disastrous attempt to flee to the mainland, Brady was injured, captured and sentenced to death.

He pled guilty to the crimes he had committed and faced his death with equanimity. There were loud outcries of protest from the people, and multiple petitions delivered to the government pleading for clemency, all unsuccessful. He received constant visitors, many ladies but also soldiers he had fought against coming to pay their respects. His cell was swamped with gifts, flowers, love letters, freshly made cakes and fine wines.

His only complaint was that he was to be hung alongside Thomas Jeffries, who in addition to being a mass murdering cannibal, was also a police informant and therefore a snitch.

Brady was hanged on May 4w, 1826 at the age of 27. The Sydney Morning Herald reported his death, saying: There was a hush, broken only by stifled sobs, as the bushranger knelt to receive the last consolations of his faith. Then, standing erect, he bade adieu to the multitude and died more like a martyr than a convicted felon.

Brady’s Lookout, a popular picnic destination in the Tamar Valley, is named for him and was one of his many hideouts. You can sit there, look over the river and imagine what it must have been like to be a bushranger and man on the run.

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Hinsby Beach was turned upside down for the Mona Foma treasure dig. Photo: James Marten

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Witching Hour in the CBD @elijah_sargent_photography

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