The Hobart Magazine June 2024

PETER GUTWEIN

CATERING WITH A CAUSE: HOW YOUR NEXT GET TOGETHER CAN GIVE BACK

Coming Soon

Register your interest now

One of the most iconic buildings in Hobart, the Henry Hunter designed ‘Invercoe’ (circa 1885) at 70 Hampden Road, Battery Point in Tasmania, is coming to market soon.

Characteristic of the ‘Gingerbread House’ style, which falls under the domestic Gothic Victorian architectural style, Invercoe represents a once in a generational opportunity to own a part of Tasmanian history.

Please get in touch to register your interest now.

WELCOME TO

THE HOBART MAGAZINE

In the blink of an eye, June has arrived, bringing winter along with it. In this edition, we chat to former Premier Peter Gutwein as he sets off on a walk across the state to raise awareness and funds for the Migrant Resource Centre. Enjoy our interview with Peter, where he also shares insights into his personal life and fitness journey post-politics.

Additionally, we feature a bunch of community news, stories,

and events from all over the island. We love to hear from our community, so drop us a line at editor@thehobartmagazine. com.au.

All the best,

Steph, James and The Hobart Magazine team

Publisher Stephanie Williams editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

Advertising advertise@thehobartmagazine.com.au 03 6295 3742

Cover image: Georgia Claxton

This page: Cultivate Productions

Publisher Information: While all care has been taken, some information may have changed since publication. The Hobart Magazine regrets it can’t accept liabilities from errors or omissions contained in this magazine. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or amend all advertisements without explanation. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in articles and advertisements are not endorsed by the editor or publishers. We welcome any questions, feedback or submissions, email editor@ thehobartmagazine.com.au, or drop us a line at PO Box 315, South Hobart, TAS, 7004.

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

MARGARET SONNEMANN

The Aurora Australis Tasmania Facebook group has been helping Tasmanians find and photograph the Southern Lights since 2011. Margaret founded and manages the group of almost 300,000 members, which had a 30,000+ surge after the spectacular Aurora displays of May.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I was born in the US but have lived in Australia for 41 years. My childhood was spread across seven US locations and I’ve lived in four Australian states.

Tell us a little about your work. I admin a Facebook group, Aurora Australis Tasmania and I compiled The Aurora Chaser’s Handbook: in search of Tasmania’s Southern Lights. I’m also an oil portraitist and genre painter.

What has it been like watching the Aurora Australis Tasmania FB group grow? In many ways I miss the early days when it was small. Aurora chasing was new, unknown territory in 2011 and the initial members became good friends. My focus is still the same as it has always been: to do what I could to help people capture the joy that is the experience of an aurora. There are so many new people joining every day but I hope it has managed to maintain a friendly, personal vibe.

What are your most notable Aurora chasing experiences? October 2012 standing on the side of the road in Franklin with some tourists from Queensland. I was enthralled by a subauroral phenomenon that hadn’t previously been named or well-documented. I knew it was something special. Since then, our group has been able to be “citizen scientists” and participate in identifying new auroral forms and this is ongoing. We discover new things every year. When I first started out, I hadn’t investigated good local viewing spots well enough, and

there were few stressful moments. Pulling the car over in random places and raising local suspicion. A farmer setting his dogs to get ‘the stranger’ in the dark. I was six years a chaser without a camera, a ‘naked eye viewer’, until the group bought me one. I suppose I looked even more suspicious without photography gear.

What’s your advice for those wanting to start Aurora photography?

1. Know where you want to go in advance. We never know how long auroral activity will last and you don’t want to lose precious time driving around trying to decide where to go.

2. Don’t expect there to be an aurora every night. That’s why we started the group, so we could share real-time I see it now reports.

3. Know your camera or device. Try some astro shots on a clear night. For auroras, a good starting point is: manual, 1600 ISO, f-stop 2.8, 10-30 second exposure time. Experiment from there with different settings.

4. Know what you are looking for. Auroras are always in the South but might initially look like the soft white light of a distant town at the horizon.

Who do you admire? My daughter, Christina Baehr. She toured internationally as a harpist singer then became a successful indie book author with 10 young children...I know! Nick Monk - forensic photographer and gifted vocalist. I have close friends and family members with chronic illnesses. I admire their bravery and determination to not allow this to define them.

Favourite podcast or tv show? Podcasts of the literary variety. TV? Nothing current except Bluey. Line of Duty if you want to go back a bit. I just found out I’m going to be an extra on Bay of Fires (season two) so I’m going to be binge watching season one.

Secret vice? Cafés. Reading with tea and a box of chocolates at hand.

What are you reading now? I usually have several books going and almost always a few are 19th century re-reads:

An Eye for an Eye by Anthony Trollope, What’s Mine’s Mine by George Macdonald; I’m a beta reader for my daughter’s July release, City of Serpents, which is hugely exciting.

What was your first job? Café waitress at age 16. The word was “waitress” back then.

What are your daily news/social media habits? FB aurora group first thing in the morning, and every few hours including the 2 or 3 times I check throughout the night. I post my aurora forecast every night around nightfall. I’m on X, formerly Twitter, because the sciencey aurora types are there. Instagram because my daughter and grands are there.

Your favourite place for… Breakfast: The Kiln, Ranelagh, Huon Valley

Lunch: Little Missy Patisserie, Hobart Dinner: I’m open to a restaurant shouting me a meal to help me with this question.

Dream holiday destination? I was fortunate to be the roadie when my daughter was performing and would love to revisit Paris and Venice. I have special memories of le Château de Chambord in the Loire. For something new? The Orient Express. A posh sleeper car on a train is my happy place.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? Where I live. Bush acreage 340m elevation and aurora view.

Parting words? If you’d like to try and catch an aurora, read the FAQ in my Facebook group, Aurora Australis Tasmania.

Buy an ARB bull bar, winch and driving lights combo and get an ARB special edition Weber Q and duffle bag

DR EMILY WARE

The world of women’s health can be full of misconceptions. Dr Emily Ware, a Hobart GP specialising in women’s health, is passionate about bucking this trend.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up in northwest Tassie in the small towns of Stanley and Kindred, building cubbies, making potions and wearing dress-ups. I now live with my husband and three kids, chooks and dog in West Hobart at the foot of Knocklofty Reserve where cubbies abound!

Tell us a little about your work. My unpaid work involves culinary, taxi, and emotional support duties to my family, and I also volunteer time for our church community. My paid work involves caring for women, girls and those assigned female at birth of all ages as a women’s health GP at TasWomen - a multidisciplinary practice in Hobart, as well as in an antenatal clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital, and writing clinical guidelines in women’s health with Primary Health Tasmania.

Why did you want to specialise in vulvovaginal health and endometriosis? I love helping women! There are just too many stories of women feeling unheard, unvalidated and really stuck with functionally impairing symptoms. I have a vulvovaginal clinic and it’s heartbreaking that a 5cm2 area of your body can cause such grief for some. It’s an absolute privilege to help women, and those assigned female at birth, affected by these conditions, and sometimes I get to witness changed lives. I guess I’m not scared of the hard stuff, and desire to help women feel comfortable, to seek help and talk openly about symptoms affecting them.

Your professional journey has taken you to diverse settings, including rural Bangladesh and regional Australia. How have these experiences shaped your approach to patient care? I think the most important lessons I’ve learnt are to be vulnerable, to remain curious, and to

always try to help the person in front of you. When you live or work cross-culturally you soon learn the discomfort of not understanding and not knowing. This is the basis of not holding bias – what we think we know about people, how they live and where they come from may not be true. We should always ask and welcome differences. Tasmania is home to a diverse population, and yet we are often connected to people in one way or another. I hope I always remain interested in people’s background and their potential to live abundant lives, and continue to be vulnerable towards my patients and courageous in their care.

What are some common misconceptions in women’s health? Your pain is not real. You can diagnose perimenopause from a blood test. Painful sex is normal. Vulval irritation is normal. Hang on, we should back up - because what is a vulva? Isn’t it all just a vagina?...MONA really does need to rename their ‘Vagina Wall’!

You recently worked with Vagenius Training on a course for GPs. Why is it important for GPs to have more knowledge in this area? Assessment and management of Persistent Pelvic Pain (PPP) have not historically been taught in medical school, hospital training, or in our GP training. Yet 1 in 4 women experience pelvic pain and 1 in 7 women have endometriosis. It is common, complex, it can be chaotic, and when we are trying to deliver care to women but are undertrained, it can be very anxiety-provoking. All that GPs need to manage these complex presentations well, and with holistic plans, is in this really engaging course by Vagenius Training. We really believe this course can change lives for women suffering PPP and for the GPs who manage them.

Who do you admire? I truly admire a sacrificial heart. Those that give up something of themselves to serve others who are less privileged or under-resourced. I have witnessed these people working in medicine - particularly in rural areas, in faith-based ministries and in resource poor countries. Dr Catherine Hamlin, a gynaecologist who pioneered fistula surgery, voluntarily, to women in

Ethiopia, worked across all these areas and will always be a hero.

Favourite podcast or tv show? I’m not much of an aural learner but I have listened to all of The Vulva Diaries. As I write this, I have one more Bridgerton episode to watch.

Secret vice? Black Villino coffee brought to me by my husband every single morning.

What are you reading now? Always too many books piled next to my bed – to name a few...The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown; Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood; Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vaginitis, ISSVD; The Gospel of John.

What was your first job? I folded manchester at Best and Less. I will forever have affection for a well folded towel, in thirds!

Your favourite place for… Breakfast: Coffee at Yellow Bernard for exceptional service or Pigeon Hole Bakers (way too lucky that it’s opposite my workplace).

Lunch: I’m a sucker for Tassie’s paddockto-plate so it would have to be a slow lunch that melds into dinner at Van Bone or The Agrarian Kitchen.

Dinner: As above.

Favourite team? The Matildas.

Dream holiday destination? Too many! Pisco Sours and lots of dancing across South America is currently top of my list.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? 2017 Gala Estate Sparkling Rose

Parting words? It’s a vulva not a vagina!

BECOME A WINTER SELLER

UNLOCK THE BENEFITS OF THE OFF SEASON

Here are 4 key considerations for why selling in winter might be the right move for you:

1 3 2 4

Want to discuss if selling in the off season is right for you? Get in touch with us today!

NEW NEW NEW

Lenah Valley is blessed with the arrival of a new pizza joint, La Venezia Pizza (13a Augusta Road, Lenah Valley), which has had a store in Kingston since the 1970s. Continuing with the Italian theme, the Geilston Bay Boat Club has a new caterer in the form of Sapore Street Food (48 Debomfords Lane, Geilston Bay), where you can take away some delicious Italian or eat at the picnic tables with sublime water views. From 17 June, Eye Am Hair (67A Murray Street, Hobart) will be in the CBD. Formerly of Macquarie Point, this salon is known for its quirky, intimate vibe, specialising in curly hair. The Brighton Takeaway has had a makeover. Now called Brighton Central (150 Brighton Road, Brighton), there will be a large range of American candy, an increased hot food range including kebabs, and a new coffee machine. Little Howrah Beach will be getting a cute new takeaway coffee shop aptly titled Brewing Journeys - Little Howrah Beach. It will initially run three days a week (Thursdays-Saturdays). Head to the east coast for Freycinet Resort’s new onsite restaurant, Mount Paul Lounge (1819 Coles Bay Road, Coles Bay). Welcome to residents and non-residents, you can soak in the awe-inspiring views of Freycinet National Park as you dine on their seasonal menu. High quality women’s knitted fashion store from Melbourne, Cable (60 Murray Street, Hobart), is set to open in the space vacated by TAG Gallery, perfect timing

for a cosy winter. Speaking of TAG Gallery (149 Macquarie Street, Hobart) they have reopened in their new space on Macquarie Street.

HCC’S CHANCE TO RECEIVE SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

Are you a small business owner looking to revitalise your storefront? You may get a chance with The City of Hobart’s Storefront Excellence Program, which provides eligible small businesses with resources and support to enhance shopfronts and economic activity. Retailers can receive up to $2000 to action any suggested recommendations. Funding will be limited to the first 30 eligible Hobart businesses who successfully submit an application. Applications close on Wednesday 12 June, or when the funding pool has been allocated.

CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH MAJOR CONCERN FOR PARENTS

A third of parents with primary-school aged children are ‘extremely concerned’ about their kid’s mental health, a new Beyond Blue survey has found, with 60% of parents ‘seriously concerned’. Parents identified bullying and screen time as the main issues impacting kids, followed by social media and the stresses of learning. Parents are also facing their own mental health challenges, with a third of parents reporting they are unsettled or struggling. The main stress factor for parents was identified to be cost-of-living pressures,

followed by lack of time, then work demands. On a more positive note, over 80% of parents are confident they can recognise the signs of concern in their child and know where to go for support. Contact the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 4636 or www.beyondblue. org.au.

‘BUNYIP’ BIRD RETURNS TO TAS WETLANDS AFTER 40 YEARS

After a 40-year absence, the distinct booming call of the endangered Australasian bittern has returned to Tasmania’s Lagoon of Islands, marking a significant conservation success. Led by Hydro Tasmania environmental scientist Bec Sheldon, a decade-long restoration effort has welcomed back this elusive bird species. Recently, a breeding pair with chicks was spotted, which bittern expert Geoff Shannon described as “one of my most exciting birding views ever.” With fewer than 1,000 mature individuals left in Australia, the return of the bittern highlights the importance of ongoing conservation. Known as the “Bunyip bird” for its secretive nature, the bittern is a large member of the heron family. This sighting offers hope for the species’ survival.

SCHOOLS: SPOILT FOR CHOICE

Choosing a kindergarten or primary school for your child can be a daunting task. To get a feel for your local school, you can join the Department of Education’s ‘Launching into Learning’ (LiL) program. It’s free and aimed at bubs and kids up to the age of five. It gives kids the opportunity to get a taste of school life and parents to get to know their local school. Guided by a teacher trained in the early years, LiL is available at every government primary school in Tasmania. Designed to be an easy and fun introduction, kids can play, dance and create art as parents can meet staff and like-minded parents and carers. To learn more, visit www.greatstart.tas.gov.au. If you have a kinder or prep aged child ready to start school in 2025, reach out to your local primary school to enrol them now. Enrolments are open.

BITS AND PIECES

SEWING SOLUTIONS FOR MENSTRUAL EQUITY

A group of Hobart women are sewing fabric reusable menstrual pads for women and girls in the developing world without access to period products. Days for Girls Derwent, a local chapter of an international organisation, has reached a milestone by supporting three million women worldwide with these kits. Their goal is to give girls and women back their “days” so they can keep going to school, work, and be part of society. They’re also trying to break the taboo around periods by teaching about women’s health when they give out the kits. Plus, they’re big on making things last and being eco-friendly –their pads are meant to last three years and can handle being washed on rocks. DFG Derwent recently sent 70 kits to Vietnam and seeks financial support to continue their work. Team leader Christa Jones launched a GoFundMe campaign and plans a fundraiser at UTAS to engage the community. For more information and to support their cause, visit their social media channels @days-for-girls-derwent.

URGENT CARE CLINIC ON THE WAY FOR BRIDGEWATER

Bridgewater will get Tasmania’s fifth bulk-billed Medicare urgent care clinic. Mark Butler, the Federal Health minister, said the existing clinics are easing some of the pressure on the

Royal Hobart Hospital’s emergency department. “There have been over 25,000 presentations to the four Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Tasmania, meaning patients have been able to receive urgent care quickly and for free,” he said. The exact location of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Bridgewater will be determined by a Tasmanian Government tender process run in consultation with the Tasmanian Primary Health Network.

ORANGE-BELLIED PARROT ON THE RISE IN TASMANIA AGAIN

There’s hope yet for the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot, as the species saw a record number of fledglings this breeding season. From 33 nest boxes, 74 fledglings were successfully produced, the highest proportion since monitoring began in 1993.

THUMBS UP

Welcome back to the Bridgewater Jerry fog formation creeping down the river.

The sweet little jokes stuck onto pedestrian light poles throughout the city - thanks to whoever is doing that.

Finding out that heated gloves and jackets exist.

Still buzzing from those aurora views.

THUMBS DOWN

Return of the winter snuffles. Time to get a flu shot!

The terrible drainage on some of Hobart’s sports fields.

People having to camp in the cold, damp fringes of the city and suburbs as housing gets further out of reach.

LOCAL HEARING DOGS THE REAL LIFE PAW PATROL

South Arm has a heartwarming addition to its community as Philip, a local resident with hearing difficulties, welcomed his new companion, a fully trained Australian Lions Hearing Dog named Jenny. With the support of Sorell Lions Club, Jenny promises independence and safety for Philip. These specially trained dogs help alert owners to various household sounds, from ringing phones to smoke alarms, providing crucial assistance, especially in emergencies. With demand soaring due to rising hearing loss cases, Australian Lions Hearing Dogs strive to expand their mission, aiming to train up to 120 Assistance Dogs annually.

GET READY FOR SHORTS DAY

On the shortest day of the year, come together and brave the cold for SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY’s annual Shorts Day. Designed to spark conversations about mental health, the community can get involved by wearing shorts to work or school or by hosting a fundraiser or event. Every dollar raised helps Stay ChatTY spark mental health conversations in the community. This year Shorts Day is on Friday 21 June. Learn more at www. shortsday.com.au.

WOMBATS SET TO RECLAIM REMOTE TAS ISLAND HABITAT

A distinctive breed of wombat is poised to reclaim its ancestral home on a remote island off Tasmania, as part of a project to restore the land to its pre-colonial state. Lungtalanana / Clarke Island, located 24 km northeast of Tasmania, holds deep cultural significance for the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. Once teeming

BITS AND PIECES

with diverse wildlife, the island has suffered from the impacts of colonisation and a devastating 2014 wildfire, leading to a stark depletion in its fauna. In a bid to revitalise the island’s ecosystem, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre plans to reintroduce native species, and, if approved by the government, the first animal will be wombats. The Bass Strait wombat, a subspecies found solely on Flinders Island and Maria Island, will lead the charge in the island’s ecological resurgence. The wombats are expected to be reintroduced within the next couple years. Subsequent phases of the project aim to reintroduce potoroos and wallabies too.

HOBART LUXURY HOUSING GROWTH BEST IN AUSTRALIA

Hobart leads the pack when it comes to price growth in the luxury housing market over the past decade. New research from Ray White Real Estate has shown that luxury units are up 100.9 per cent and luxury houses up 122.4 per cent. Brisbane was the only other market to crack over 100 per cent growth. Nationally, houses grew by 84 per cent and units 53 per cent. Sandy Bay had the largest number of luxury house sales, followed by Old Beach and North Hobart. When it came to luxe unit sales Sandy Bay also took top spot, followed by neighbouring Battery Point, Hobart, Kingston Beach and Tranmere.

LADIES LOUNGE GOES SUPREME

Mona has lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court of Tasmania in defence of its Ladies Lounge. The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) recently ordered Mona to ‘cease refusing entry to the exhibit known as the Ladies Lounge at the Museum of Old and New Art by persons who do not identify as ladies.’ Now Mona is challenging that order. Kirsha Kaechele, the artist and curator who created the opulent, velvet-filled lounge, explained, “I’ve decided to take this to the Supreme Court. I think it’s worth exercising the argument, not only for the Ladies Lounge, but for the good of art, and the law. We need to challenge

the law to consider a broader reading of its definitions as they apply to art and the impact it has on the world, as well as the right for conceptual art to make some people (men) uncomfortable. Ladies love the Lounge-a space away from men-and given what we have been through for the last several millennia, we need it! We deserve both equal rights and reparations, in the form of unequal rights, or chivalry-for at least 300 years.” The ladies lounge is closed until further notice.

SHOULD SOCIAL MEDIA BE BANNED FOR KIDS?

The South Australian government is looking at ways to potentially limit or ban social media for children under 14. The announcement has led to discussions across the country, including here in Tasmania. Many social media sites already require users to be at least 13 years old, but digital-era kids can easily get around that. Dany Elachi, founder of parent group The Heads Up Alliance, said the results of early use of social media can be terrible for kids’ mental health. “We are contacted by Australian parents daily, with very sad stories of the devastating impacts of social media on their children’s lives,” Dany said. “Big Tech is not interested in the wellbeing of our children. We would also like to see the Federal Government and other states also stepping up and putting the wellbeing of children and young people ahead of the interests of Big Tech.” This plan is in very early stages, and it is unclear how a ban would work. Could the Tasmanian government follow in SA’s footsteps.

NEW FIVE-STAR HOTEL TO BE DEVELOPED IN LAUNNIE

A five-star hotel is set to be built in the heart of Launceston. This will be the debut of Accor’s prestigious Pullman brand in Tasmania, and the plans include 139 hotel rooms, complete with a rooftop bar, restaurants, and meeting and event spaces. The $45 million project will regenerate a heritage-listed former TasTAFE building on a hillside on Wellington Street overlooking the city. It’s expected to be completed in the first half of 2027. Once completed, the hotel building will be the second tallest building in Launceston, with views of the city and Tamar River.

ARGYLE STREET SOCIAL HOUSING PROJECT GOES TO APPEAL

A social housing development that was refused by the Hobart City Council’s planning committee in May has gone to appeal. The St Vincent De Paul Society and Argyle Street development partner Amelia Housing have lodged a notice of appeal with the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) over the rejection of the application for an apartment building for older women at risk of homelessness. Objectors said the building would be too tall and would cause increased traffic issues. Heather Kent, the CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society, said they had received a lot of public and community support and are now focused on the next step. “There is a legal process to go through which is based on planning matters and we are determined to do all we can to argue our case positively and get this critical development across the line during a costof-living and housing crisis,” she said.

“This project is a great example of the Tasmanian and Australian Governments and community organisations working together towards the common goal of providing much needed support for women over 55 years of age escaping domestic violence and experiencing homelessness, it is important we follow the process.”

SLOW DOWN IN SNUG

The speed limit through Snug has recently changed. Now, the speed on the Channel Highway through the town is 50 km/h (down from 60 km/h), and the previous limit of 80 km/h through the southern end of the town and Lower Snug has gone down to 70 km/h. Of course, the speed limit past the school is 40 km/h during school mornings and afternoons.

ASHLEY NUMBERS SPIKING FEAR

The Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCoss) have sounded alarm over a spike in the number of children detained in the Ashley Youth Detention Facility. Adrienne Picone, the CEO of TasCoss, said this spike had happened despite government promises to close Ashley and legislative changes to reduce the number of children involved in the criminal justice system. “According to the Commissioner for Children and Young People, at the start of the week [late May] there were 26 children and young people being held at Ashley - a facility we know is unsafe for any child - most of whom are on remand,” Ms Picone said. She then supported the Commissioner’s call for the Government to establish an urgent taskforce aimed at reducing the number of children at Ashley. Meanwhile, a police community survey earlier this year found

BITS AND PIECES

that the increasing rate of youth crime was the top concern for Tasmanians.

PREMIER’S TAS YOUNG ACHIEVER WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to Ella Smalley, from Blackmans Bay, who has been crowned the Premier’s Young Achiever of the Year for 2024. Ella is a final year PhD student at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, and studies whilst battling with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She joined the Youth Cancer Action Board, advocating for improved cancer care for adolescents and young adults, and has helped to bring about initiatives such as subsidised fertility preservation and advancements in mental health care for patients. Congratulations go to all ten category winners:

• Jess Deans - Colony47 Courage to Grow Award

• Olly Dove - Heather & Christopher Chong Community Service & Volunteering Award

• Felicity Wilson-Haffenden - Motors Tasmania Sports Award

• Shanae West - Secret Buddha Cafe Spirit of Tasmania Tourism and Hospitality Award

• Shredding for CFT - Spirit Super Connecting Communities Award (People’s Choice Award winners)

• Corey Lee Barnes - TADPAC Print Service to the Disability Sector Award

• Heidi Genevieve - Berry Bean and Leaf Small Business Achiever Award

• William Blackaby - Raw Strength Sports in the Community Award

• Ella Smalley - St.Lukes Healthier Communities Award

• Djuker Hart - Ochre-Rain Indigenous Achievement Award

DO YOU RECOGNISE THIS FACE?

Tasmania Police have released a facial reconstruction image in the hope the public can assist with an identification of skeletal remains found in bushland near Clifton Beach a year ago. The remains were discovered by a farmer clearing bushland between Clifton Beach and Goats Beach on 6 July 2023, but are yet to be identified. Sergeant Lee Taylor said the remains could have been in the area for between five and 50 years. “Police attended and recovered the remains which showed no signs of physical injuries,” he said. “A lengthy forensic analysis has been completed which determined the remains belong to a Caucasian male.” Items found with the remains included black dress shoes with orthotics and unreadable ID papers. “With DNA taken from the remains not matching to any DNA comparisons, within the state or nationally, Australian Federal Police have provided a craniofacial reconstruction of the man’s potential appearance,” Taylor said. “If anyone can assist police to identify this man, I ask them to come forward.” Anyone with information that would assist police to identify this man is asked to contact Sergeant Taylor through on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au – quote ESCAD 62-06072023 (info can be provided anonymously).

NEXT HEDBERG WRITER-INRESIDENCE ANNOUNCED

Award-winning African Australian author Eugen Bacon, known for her speculative fiction, will be the 2024 Hedberg Writer-in-Residence in Hobart. She’s been awarded a $30,000 residency for three months to work on her novel Crimson in Quietus, a mystery where the investigator is not a detective but a sound magic scientist. “This residency will help me crucially research and write my novel,” Eugen said. “It will give me quiet time and space away from the everyday hubbub to craft a competitive story that engages with difference and makes a worthy contribution to Australian and worldwide literature.” Born in Tanzania and based in Melbourne, Eugen has authored several novels and collections. She’ll start her residency in August, focusing on her novel, mentoring students, and participating in public discussions. This program, now in its fourth year, has previously hosted authors like Robbie Arnott and Gail Jones.

STAY ALERT OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY NEAR SCHOOLS

Police are reminding community members to beware of any suspicious activity, particularly near schools and childcare centres, following reports of students in southern Tasmania being approached by an unknown man recently.

The man has reportedly spoken to several children and offered them lollies. The man drives a white van, and is believed to be of Caucasian appearance. Parents, carers and other community members can help by keeping a look out for vehicles parked in unusual places, and reporting if they see suspicious activity such as an adult trying to stop and speak with children in unsupervised areas. If you see something suspicious, note down the person’s description and the vehicle’s registration if possible. Information can be provided to police on 131 444, or Crime Stoppers Tasmania. In an emergency, call Triple-Zero (000).

FUTURE OF KUNANYI/MOUNT WELLINGTON ON REVIEW

A comprehensive review for the future of kunanyi / Mount Wellington will start in the latter part of 2024, announced the Tasmanian Government. The review will look at options for the upgraded infrastructure, better access, transport solutions and fire management. In 2023, more than 410,000 people visited the mountain, surpassing Cradle Mountain and Freycinet National Park, making kunanyi / Mount Wellington one of Tasmania’s most popular tourist spots.

“We have listened to key stakeholder groups including Hobart City Council, Destination Southern Tasmania, and the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania and we have heard the need to develop a longer-term strategic vision for the mountain,” Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said. “There are many views on how the mountain should be managed and what improvements should be made, and we want them all on the table.” The review seeks to understand the community’s vision for kunanyi / Mount Wellington and address its issues, especially regarding visitors, values, and management. It will be overseen by the Department of State Growth with input from other government bodies, Tourism Tasmania, and relevant parties. Consultations will start in the latter part of 2024.

BITS AND PIECES

TASSIE FIRST NATIONS KELP PRODUCT IN BUNNINGS

Keep your eyes peeled for a new Tasmanian product on the shelves of Bunnings: a First Nations-owned organic kelp indoor plant food product by tarkiner. Born from an enterprise led by the Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation, tarkiner’s spray is made with bull kelp sustainably harvested from the west coast. Last year tarkiner formed a partnership with Seasol and Bunnings to develop and distribute the product, and it should be appearing on the shelf of your local Bunnings any day now.

TAP BATTLE: TAS vs NZ

Forget wrestling. The ultimate competition is the best tasting Trans-Tasman tap water, where in May a fierce battle took place between Tasmania and New Zealand for the champion title. Last year’s winner was the Fern Tree water treatment plant, but the challenger that tried to take the title away this year was New Zealand’s Rotorua Lakes Council’s Karamu Takina Spring (a mouthful!). This came after a rigorous showdown in New Zealand to find their own best tasting water, with Rotorua emerging as the national winner. Rotorua now has bragging rights over other water supplies in New Zealand for the next year. The ultimate showdown, however, was the IXOM Trans-Tasman Water Taste Test, where these two respected competitors came to a head. During judging, water samples were subjected to a blind taste test and rated according to the ‘Water Tasting Wheel’.

The Wheel outlines some of the attributes water professionals use when assessing water such as colour, clarity, odour and taste. Think ‘wine tasting’ without needing to spit out the samples. So, who came out victorious? In a shocking twist, it was a tie! That’s right, Fern Tree and Rotorua share the title for best tasting tap water.

LINDISFARNE FERRY TERMINAL TEST

Initial geological testing is being conducted at the potential site of a future Derwent

COMMUNITY, COFFEE AND CAPTURING JERRY

Each year Bridgewater’s Cafe Connections hosts the Bridgewater Jerry Photography Competition to raise awareness for respiratory issues. Member Reuben Eberhardt tells us about the cafe, the Jerry Fog, and the competition.

You’re a part of Cafe Connections. Tell us about that. Cafe Connections is an informal group that seeks to bring community together. We meet on the fourth Tuesday monthly, at Bean to Brew Cafe in the Brighton Civic Centre, Bridgewater, from 10am to noon. It’s a place for local community members to come together to have intentional conversations about making a more positive and connected community. One of these ideas is the Bridgewater Jerry Photography Competition. We're open to everyone who wants to tag along for a free coffee and a chat.

It's Bridgewater Jerry season. What does that mean for you locally? For us it means a chance to lend our community name to a phenomenon experienced and enjoyed by all of greater Hobart. It's a natural phenomenon that takes very specific conditions to form, these conditions are only found in a few places globally and nowhere is it as impressive as what we have here.

River ferry terminal in Lindisfarne. The testing is in the very early stages and is taking place near the Lindisfarne Sailing Club to assess whether it’s an appropriate part of the river for a new terminal. The City of Hobart, on behalf of Clarence, Glenorchy and Kingborough councils, has engaged Burbury Consulting to carry out the assessments. During the recent election campaign Premier Rockliff said the ferry expansion would take around 1,650 cars off the road in peak hours.

A good prediction for a Jerry is if a frost warning is issued. Jerry is something of a point of pride for many in the community, at one time having even been commemorated in statue form. It is something that seems quintessentially ours.

Asthma Australia is sponsoring your upcoming Bridgewater Jerry Photography Competition - what are you hoping that connection will do?

The Brighton municipality has some of the heaviest cases of respiratory issues in the country so it seemed a natural fit. The hope is to use Jerry as a massive visual reminder to everyone in Hobart that you should be keeping on top of asthma. Jerry is a beautiful phenomenon but is the product of cold weather, and that means cold and flu season is also here. And that's where we came up with the slogan, when Jerry is here, cold and flu season is near.

How can people enter the competition? That's easy, find us on Facebook at Cafe Connections, and shoot us a message with your photo!

BITS AND PIECES

GLENORCHY POOL COMING BACK

The Tasmanian government has pledged $5 million in state funding to reopen the much-missed Glenorchy War Memorial Pool. After being closed indefinitely in July 2023 due to structural issues, the idea of reopening the Glenorchy Pool received passionate support from the community. It seemed unlikely the pool would ever be restored due to the estimated high cost of repairs. However, the community input paid off. “I am proud to say, we are acting, with the $5 million funding commitment we took to the recent election now confirmed to be provided in the upcoming 2024-2025 State Budget,” said Minister Ogilvie. “This funding will allow the pool to re-open while longer-term solutions are developed.”

CLASSICAL TASSIE TUNES HONOUR VIOLIST THIS WINTER

In late June and early August 2024, Virtuosi Tasmania will put on two classical music events in beautiful venues across Tasmania. The first will honour Jo StLeon, a Tasmanianl musician, teacher, and writer who passed away in July 2023. Jo was deeply involved with Virtuosi Tasmania as a performer and later as a critic. In Memory of Jo StLeon will take place at Home Hill Winery in Ranelagh on 21 June and at Portland Memorial Hall in St Helens on 23 June. The second event features the Hartz Trio - Dianne Legge (piano), Alexandra Békés (cello), and Phoebe Masel (violin). They will perform three concerts in August at LifeWay Baptist Church in Devonport, Holy Trinity Church in Launceston, and Home Hill Winery. Virtuosi is run entirely by volunteers. Book via www.virtuositas.org.au.

THEATRE ICON RETURNS TO HOBART

Robyn Nevin is an Australian theatre icon. She spent her high school years at Fahan School in Hobart and is returning this month as director of a new Australian version of the world’s oldest running play - The Mousetrap.

At school, you played the lead in ‘Snow White’ at the Theatre Royal. How does it feel to return as director of The Mousetrap? I have vivid memories of my first experience on the stage of the Theatre Royal as Snow White! The theatre was cold, damp, dim but thrilling emotionallyand it was the beginning. This glorious theatre lives in my head and heart and I’m very happy to be returning with The Mousetrap.

How did you approach directing the world’s longest-running play? I begin each new project as a director by working from the text, or play script, as if it’s new. I disregard the history of previous productions, because my production is unique - as are they all.

You’ve been in some very notable works over the years, what have been standouts to you? Wicked is a stand-out because I’m not from the world of musical theatre so it’s an exciting new environment. I’m surrounded by wonderful singers and dancers and the huge sound of the Wicked musical score. Among my favourite TV work was Upper Middle Bogan, which I loved doing. My

favourite films are Relic and Sting, both of these are in the horror genre. Over a sixty-something year career there have been too many favourite plays to mention!

What aspects of your Tasmanian childhood do you find influence your work in the theatre? I owe my choice of career - and the confidence to pursue it - to Audrey Morphett, who was co-headmistress of Fahan School where I was a student in the 1950’s. She adapted and directed the school plays (and was my English teacher) and she was an inspiration. Her belief gave me belief. I also watched out, with great affection, for the later paintings of Lloyd Rees who lived nearby in Sand Bay and painted the water views of the Derwent which we shared. Tasmania lives somewhere deep within me.

What do you like to do when you’re back in Hobart? So many things! I like to visit Bruny Island and many of the coastal areas on both sides of the island. I love to walk on various beaches: Sandy Bay, Cremorne and Howrah all of which have memories, and Seven Mile Beach. But especially in winter, kunanyi / Mt Wellington always fascinates, as does the beautiful Derwent River. It’s the natural beauty which attracts me. Except of course for the man-made Theatre Royal which I can’t wait to return to!

Robyn Nevin is directing the new Australian production of The Mousetrap playing at the Theatre Royal Hobart from 11 to 22 June 2024. For more info www.theatreroyal.com.au.

BITS AND PIECES

The pub staple - the parmigiana. Is it a parmi, parmy or parma? It’s an age-old Australian debate. People get heated over it, and for good reason: parmigiana is bloody delicious, so it deserves to be titled correctly. It’s a perfect meal; the combination of crumbed chicken smothered in tomato sauce, topped with ham and melted cheese. Yum. Data reveals that Victoria is the state most likely to call a parmigiana a parma. The rest are far more mixed, but lean towards parmi. Well, it’s time to throw our hat in the ring. Parmigiana, much like pizza and risotto, is an Italian dish. The correct Italian pronunciation is parr-mi-jah-nah. Notice the ‘mi’? To say par-mah-jah-nah might make for lazy pronunciation. So, for the most authenticity and to honour its origins, it seems a parmigiana is a ‘parmi’. Parma is something completely different in Italy, where it’s actually the name of an Italian city known for prosciutto. However, all that said, words change and evolve, and few love inventing new slang than Aussies. So if it’s a parma to you, there’s nothing wrong with that!

EMPOWERING SURVIVORS THROUGH SEWING

For some people who have been through traumatic experiences, the mindfulness of repetitive action, such as sewing, can be therapeutic. That’s why Frangipani Fabrics, a shop in North Hobart, has

teamed up with the Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) to offer the healing benefits of textile art classes to victims/survivors of sexual harm. In these classes, people can create and master skills while meeting like-minded people. Frangipani Fabrics founder Briony Alderslade said, “Working with survivors through SASS has been very rewarding. We can literally feel the de-escalation happen in the room from the start to the end of class.” Frangipani Fabrics is currently raising funds for SASS’s Consent and Relationships Education program through a raffle to win a basket filled with fabrics, sewing materials and a collection of handmade goodies. Tickets can be purchased online at www.franfab.com.au.

TASSIE’S WORST ROADS NAMED

The most dangerous roads in Tasmania have been ranked thanks to new data compiled by the RACT from five years of insurance claims information. Launceston’s Wellington Street was named the most dangerous and seven of the top ten are in Hobart. The list of ‘shame’ is:

1. Wellington Street, Launceston

2. Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay

3. Macquarie Street, Hobart

4. Davey Street, Hobart

5. Brooker Highway, Hobart

6. Argyle Street, Hobart

7. Channel Highway, Kingston

8. Murray Street, Hobart

9. Hobart Road, Kings Meadows

10. York Street, Launceston

TASMANIAN WOMEN’S SHELTERS BAND TOGETHER

All six women’s shelters in Tasmania have come together to form The Tasmanian Women’s Shelters Alliance (TWSA) with the aim of having a stronger and better coordinated approach to the issues of family violence affecting women and children. Currently, eight out of ten women and children seeking help are turned away due to capacity constraints. Alina Thomas, CEO of Engender Equality, is a spokesperson for the alliance. “Our shelters have long made do with what they have, and it’s clear that

what they have is not enough,” she said. “We require a better system, one that not only addresses the immediate needs of those in danger but also listens to and integrates the experiences of survivors to prevent future crises. Importantly, this includes separating domestic and family violence support from broader issues like homelessness. By distinguishing these services, we can tailor our resources and expertise to meet the specific needs of victim survivors more effectively.”

THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR MERSEY MOUNTAIN BIKE BRIDGE

Two north-west Tasmanian mountain bike bridges that were washed away in floods have been replaced by the longest single-span pedestrian suspension bridge in the country. The new bridge across the Mersey River connects Railton to Latrobe via the Railton Express Trail and allows walkers and mountain bike riders to connect the two parts of the Wild Mersey mountain biking trail network. The new bridge, built significantly higher than the previous high flood mark, was opened last month.

OFF DUTY OFF SEASON

Last month’s cover man, Bert Spinks, photographed in the wild with a copy of the magazine, with a crisp glass of Du Cane beside him. It’s a vibe.

PARMI vs PARMA

Maria Island

One of the world’s great walks

We invite you to join two of our knowledgeable guides to explore Maria Island’s history, wildlife and beauty over three days, relaxing each night in the restored and inviting historical Bernacchi House.

This all inclusive experience is perfect for small, intimate groups and is discounted for locals to $1300 per person, using the code TASLOCAL when booking.

Termsandconditionsapply,seewebsitefordetails.

WHAT’S ON IN HOBART

MONDAY

Pianist Kirill Gerstein performs with Musica Viva tonight at Hobart Town Hall, with a special pre-show dinner option at Hadley’s. Show starts at 7:30pm.

Local men are invited to TasMen’s annual Winter Solstice Swim, likely followed by a breath session and group circle round the fire. 7pm at Seven Mile Beach. Get a little bit fancy with A Choral Soiree at Government House tonight 6-7:30pm.

WEDNESDAY TUESDAY

Imagine winter in the harsh early days of the colony with Notorious Strumpets & Dangerous Girls tour at the Cascades Female Factory. Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, 1pm.

Celebrate Global Running Day with a friendly 5km starting at the LuluLemon Hobart store at 7am. Finish together for some refreshments and a private shop experience.

THURSDAY FRIDAY

Bob Brown Foundation’s 2024 Art for Takayna exhibition opens at the Long Gallery, Salamanca. On til the 22nd, 10-5:30pm.

The world’s longest-running play, Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery ‘The Mousetrap’, opens at the Theatre Royal tonight, with shows until 22 June.

Spend your lunch break with a mini version of Van Diemen’s Band performing Baroque favourites at the Hobart Town Hall, 1:05pm, $10 pre booked.

Mish Meijers’ new exhibition of quirky and colourful painted ceramics, ‘Dermatologists Hate Her!’, brings a conversation about the ‘deluge of contemporary life’. Bett Gallery, Mon-Sat until the 29th.

Kingston Neighbourhood House hosts a dementia-friendly craft group today from 1-3pm.

The Winter Feast begins.

As part of a reduced Dark Mofo this year, the feast remains, on the 1316 and 20-23, with free entry Sundays.

If you live on the Eastern Shore and need help with public speaking, head to Toastmasters at Mornington Inn tonight from 6:30-8:30pm.

The very funny Kirsty Webeck headlines The Clubhouse comedy event at Hobart Brewing Co tonight, 7:309:30pm.

If you are a person living with a brain injury or a family member/carer for someone with brain injury, come along to a casual coffee catch-up at Jam Packed Café. Register at www.biat.org.au.

musos and songs, 8pm Ian Potter Recital Hall at The Hedberg.

Walk Against Elder Abuse: from 9:45am at the Elizabeth St Mall info booth to Mathers House. There will also be walks today in Launceston and Burnie. 18 24 1 26 3 2 28 27 19 20 21 10 12 13 11 6 5 4 7 14 i

The Harlem Globetrotters are in town on their 2024 world tour. MyState Bank Arena, doors open 6pm, tip off is at 7pm. Wonder who’ll win?

The Winter Film Festival brings free film screenings to local libraries - check in with your local branch to see what they’re showing.

It’s the winter solstice! Out of the Closet Comedy fills the Moonah Arts Centre with laughs from 7pm, and Dark Homo parties all night at the Grand Poobah, 9pm-5am.

Details subject to

‘Revolt. She said. Revolt again’ by Alice Birch opens at the Peacock Theatre, 8pm.

The Festival of Voices’ Tasmanian Songbook gig is back celebrating Tassie

SATURDAY SUNDAY

Hailing from the Sahara, desert blues band Tinariwen comes to Tassie for the first time at The Odeon tonight, 7:30pm. From PANAMA Presents.

FURTHER AFIELD

The Genesis Owusu gig at The Odeon will no doubt be epic tonight from 7:30pm, or perhaps you prefer Pond with their Stung! Tour at Altar, also 7:30.

30 23 22 8 15 16

Expect the unexpected when DJ Pressed and DJ Andrew M take over St David’s Cathedral for seven hours from 3pm.

Get brunch at the Tasmanian Produce Market at Kangaroo Bay Park, 9am-1pm. Later, Melbourne grindcore band King Parrot takes to the Republic Bar stage fortnight from 7pm.

Cool cats will be hanging in Sorell today for the Tas Feline Association’s Cat Show, 9am-3pm, Sorell Memorial Hall. Richmond Village Market is on from 10am-3pm.

The Festival of Voices Big Sing Bonfire starts tonight at 5pm. The Hobart Cello Solstice Concert will fill St George’s Anglican Church, Battery Point, 5pm. Enjoy Jimmy Barnes’ distinctive voice at Wrest Point tonight.

Learn about edible foods on the eastern shore on kipli takara, the bush foods tour run by palawa kipli, 2-3:30pm.

7 June

Locals and visitors are welcome at Wynyard’s Gather and Glow Winter Bonfire and night market. The annual celebration of communities includes live local music, cultural arts (make your own Aboriginal firestick), food, local butcher’s bbq and homemade veggie soup with Wynyard Youth Leaders and the Vinnies Van onsite. At the Wynyard Foreshore, 5pm - 7pm.

7-15 June

Spend the long weekend in the north east for the Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival, including the annual Bay of Fires Art Prize and exhibition. Various events at various venues, check bayoffireswinterartsfestival.com.au for all the details.

8 June

Head out for a proper fancy night out with A Night of Opulence: dinner, wine and glorious music at Table House Farm, Table Cape. 6:30pm - 10:30 pm.

Until 30 June

Make a beautiful unique wooden spoon with recycled vintage or

green timber straight from a local tree with a Phoenix Creations workshop in Cygnet. All are welcome, from absolute beginner woodworkers to the experienced. Various dates available, check phoenixcreationstasmaniashop. bigcartel.com.

Until 25 August

Action! Film & War is a fascinating exhibition showing the experiences of the Australian men and women behind the lens documenting wars since World War One. Featuring some of the equipment they used, it’s on until late August at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk.

Until 30 September

The Past the Post racing exhibition is a collection of stories and memorabilia relating to the horse racing history of the Meander Valley. At the Deloraine & Districts Folk Museum daily from 9am to 5pm, though winter weekend hours may vary.

Got an event coming up in Tassie?

Email us at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

Background photo: Luke Tscharke

AROUND THE ISLAND

MONDAY WEDNESDAY TUESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Get your pals together for a chinwag as you peruse the British cars and motorcycle display at National Automobile Museum of Tasmania in Launceston. 10am-1pm.

Unleash your inner Shah Rukh Khan at the free Bollywood Dance classes at the Northern Suburbs Community Centre in Newnham. 1-1:45pm every Tuesday.

Enjoy a monochrome photography gallery, The Art of Engineering, all about the big moving parts, switches, dials and gauges of engineering. At the Watch House in George Town.

Join a free long table lunch at the Rosebery Memorial Hall, to encourage lifelong respect and combat elder abuse. 12-2pm. Book by calling 6473 1497. Also at St Marys on 12 June.

Anh Do takes the stage at Burnie Arts Centre with The Happiest Refugee Live!, a combination of stand-up comedy and real life stories that builds on his bestselling book. From 7:30pm.

Visit Launceston’s QVMAG, for an exhibition ACTION! Film & War. It explores the Australians that have recorded military comfort with cameras. On until 25 August.

Pop into QVMAG’s Art Gallery at Royal Park for the Faces of Launceston exhibition. A free gallery of black and white portraits of Launnie locals across 30 years.

If you find yourself in Rowella, head to Holm Oak Vineyard for some tennis-inspired tastings. Enjoy wine as you hear local tennis stories and view a collection of memorabilia.

Launceston’s Earl Arts Centre hosts a production of The 39 Steps tonight, a parody of the Alfred Hitchcock mystery of the same name. Shows from 14 June until 29 June.

Grindcore band King Parrot swoops into Devonport tonight at Pub Rock Diner. 8pm start. Heckling encouraged, as long as you expect to be belittled in return!

Alive After 5 is a monthly Launceston event in the heart of the city, Civic Square, with live music, food, and drinks, capped off with an outdoor cinema.

Enter a world of magic with Dungeons & Dragons at Devonport Library. From June, the second Friday of each month is for adults, and the first Saturday of each month is for ages 12-17. 18 17 24 1 26 25 3 4 2 28 27 19 20 21 10 12 13 11 6 5 7 14 i

It’s Monday in Launceston. Do you know what that means? Monday night drag trivia! Local drag royalty Enya Arsenal hosts at Tandy’s Alehouse. 7pm start. Bicheno plays host to a free family-friendly event, Bicheno Beams, a laser light show synchronised to music. It kicks off at 6pm nightly until 20 July.

Take part in a magical trifecta: Paint n Sip n Eat. At Appleby’s Mediterraneo Bar & Grill in Boat Harbour. 6-8:30pm. All the necessary equipment will be provided.

Celebrate women in leadership roles at the Women in Leadership Cocktail function, taking place at Stelo at Pierre’s in Launceston. 5:30pm start. $20 a head.

Pride Coffee is a monthly catchup for the LGBTIAQ+ community in the west and north west. Held at Tracks Cafe in Queenstown at 1:30pm. RSVP to garry@workingitout. org.au.

If you love a great rump steak with chips and salad, then Wednesday is the day you need to head to the Kermandie Hotel in Port Huon. $18 Steak Day every Wednesday.

Devonport’s Paranaple Arts Centre invites you to watch a timeless classic, Swan Lake, one of the world’s most famous ballets. 7pm start. Also at Launceston’s Princess Theatre tomorrow.

Fundraiser running event in Launceston, the Bravehearts 777 Marathon, aims to protect children from abuse. Individuals/ teams can run/walk the 7km, 14km, 21.1km, or 42.2km distances.

Comedian Jimmy Rees heads to Launceston’s Princess Theatre for a night of belly laughs. There’s two shows, 6pm and 8:45pm.

Tonight in Wynyard visit the free Moonlight Stories event, which projects artwork onto Table Cape Lighthouse under the moonlight and the stars. 6pm. It’s on other dates too.

Details subject to

SATURDAY SUNDAY

Repair a broken or torn household item at the Launceston Repair Cafe, a free event aimed at diverting items from landfill, 1-4pm at Pilgrim Church Hall. Register at launceston.tas.gov.au.

Join the celebrations with the launch of The Gin Station at Alchymia Distillery at Table Cape. Meet the distiller and learn the process of making gin, followed by tastings. 12pm start.

Visit St Marys for a Winter Solstice celebration With a lantern-making workshop, storytelling tent, face painting, giant chess, Q&A with local writers, and food trucks. 1-11pm.

Young anime and manga fans are invited to a free meetup at Launceston Library to meet fellow enthusiasts. Ages 13+. 11:45am-1:45pm.

Queen tribute show, Bohemian Rhapsody, heads to Princess Theatre in Launceston at 8pm tonight. The concert promises a nostalgic journey, recreating the energy of Queen.

Visit the monthly country market held in the historic Ross Town Hall, featuring homemade specialty pies, cakes, preserves, then explore the historic streetscape. 29 30 23 22 9 15 16 For even more events in Hobart and further afield this month

Visit the Latrobe Village Market 9am-1pm. A bric-a-brac style market, you’re sure to pick up some hidden gems.

WANT TO EXPLORE MORE?

Oatlands

A cute historic town adorned with Georgian buildings. Perfect for a pleasant stroll. Be sure to stop into The Pancake and Crepe Shop.

Ben Lomond Winter means skiing and snowboarding. Learn the basics or flex your skills at Ben Lomond Alpine Resort in northeast Tassie.

Clifton Beach

Take the 45 minute Cape Deslacs Circuit Walk at Clifton Beach for stunning views of the popular surfing spot. The vegetation colours are fascinating.

Got an event coming up in Tassie?

Email us at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

change. Check in with individual events for further details.

Background photo: Jason Charles Hill, Tourism Tasmania

POLITICS, FITNESS, MIGRATION: PETER GUTWEIN’S STORY

Since stepping back as Premier, Peter Gutwein learnt to slow down and spend time with his family. In that time, he worked on his health, and became Chair of Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania. A migrant himself, he is now putting his fitness to the test for an epic walk to raise awareness for Tasmania’s migrant and refugee communities.

You were the Premier of Tasmania through a difficult time. How does that experience influence your work and life today? The lessons I learned when Premier stand me in good stead today. Not only were we dealing with a worldwide pandemic that placed thousands of lives at risk, we also had to ensure the orderly running of the state and maintain key critical services. My skill set was broad before I took on the role, but thankfully I had never had to deal with the challenge we faced then.

My strategic thinking, planning and decision-making capabilities were all tested and lifted to another level by virtue of the scale and complexity of what we were dealing with, and I had to become a more decisive, inclusive and collaborative leader. What was important to me was remaining authentic, true to my values and humble beginnings, and I tried always to treat people regardless of their circumstance or background, fairly and with respect.

These values were important to me, whether it was implementing measures to grow Tasmania’s economy, protecting Tasmanians from the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting economic recovery in the aftermath, protecting our vulnerable or providing hope and opportunity for Tasmanians, including those who move to our state in search of a better life.

That remains as true today as it did then. Now as Chair of MRC Tas and as a director and strategic adviser to world leading companies, in both advanced manufacturing and in the renewables space, I am focused on harnessing the best opportunities possible for Tasmania and the people who live here.

What did you do after stepping down as Premier? I stood down to spend much needed time with my family. The catalyst for this was realising that in more than two years, the longest time consecutively I had spent with my family under the one roof was a period of seven days when we were in COVID isolation in late March 2022. That was tough. Now it’s the simple things I love doing, eating meals with family, watching Netflix shows with my wife, spending time with kids as they play sport or just going for a walk with them. I also focused on my health. I set a goal to get in the best shape I possibly could and have lost some 16 kilos, with all the health indicators suggesting I’m now in the best shape I’ve been in the last 30 years.

You’re a Lee Child fan. What are your thoughts on the Reacher show? I really enjoy Jack Reacher stories and I quite enjoyed the Reacher show, however

in my mind Jack was closer to a Liam Hemsworth type than an Alan Ritchson. I like Jack’s indestructibility, and also his clear but at times challenging moral code.

You’re a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. How does this martial art inform your everyday life? It helps me in many ways. The training itself helped with confidence, discipline, stress relief, self-control and resilience – which are all valuable skills in everyday life, including work, relationships and personal challenges. One thing about the martial arts that people may not realise, is the strong focus it has on social connectedness and instilling respect for self and others, and how it can enhance relationships in everyday life.

What does fitness mean to you?

Fitness for me is not just a lifestyle but a life-goal. Sadly, I have lost too many of my immediate family to illness and chronic disease, and I am acutely aware of the important role fitness and wellbeing can play in helping to prevent this. Every week there are 168 hours, and I set aside seven of those hours for myself each week. I usually get up before 6am each day and have a morning routine that includes walking/gym and some breathing exercises. I think mental fitness is also extremely important. I believe that what we think has a direct impact on our lives and our health, our relationships and our friendships. I set goals and lay out plans, and have used positive affirmations daily for more than 30 years to support me mentally to achieve the things that are important to me.

You are currently the Chair of the Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania

(MRC Tas). What does it mean to you? I was a migrant to Tasmania, arriving here when I was four years old from the other side of the world. My father was an Austrian/Yugoslav and my mother British. They came here looking for a better life for themselves and more opportunity for their kids. What many Tasmanians don’t realise is that 40 percent of Tasmanians are from a migrant background and with more than 155 languages spoken in Tasmania, 1 in 5 families speak a language other than English at home.

As Chair of MRC Tas, I am focused on ensuring the organisation is in the best position possible to provide support and services to migrants and refugees seeking to settle here, including employment and language support, community programs and access to essential services to help them navigate the challenges of resettlement. I have to say the team at MRC Tas does a brilliant job, however I am finding there is always more that can be done.

Sadly, MRC Tas is seeing too many reports of racist behaviour in our communities, which is unacceptable and heartbreaking. When I was a migrant child in the 70s and 80s, racism was very prevalent and sadly, at times, it remains the case today. Our migrants and refugees then were from many places including Austria, Yugoslavia, Italy, Holland, Poland and England to name a few, however, today these people are now firmly part of our communities, our families, our workplaces, and one was fortunate enough to even become a Premier. Today our migrants and refugees mainly come from countries such as China, Africa, India, Nepal, and Afghanistan, and what we need to remember is that they too are a part of our communities, our families and our workplaces, and they like others in the past simply want to be a part of our community to build a better life for themselves and their children .

What is it like for migrants trying to settle in Tasmania? Many of those from our migrant and refugee communities face challenges settling here, even though

they have already overcome enormous personal challenges just to get here. Just like in the past, language, customs, cost of living, stereotyping and the broader acceptance by our community are all hurdles to overcome. Our migrant and refugee communities are very important for our state and its future. They bring skills and they help us all become more diverse and inclusive, which promotes innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurialism. This in turn helps Tasmania to be economically stronger and more productive, while at the same time strengthening our understanding of diverse cultures, which gives us global thinking and greater compassion.

You are preparing for a charity walk this month - The Walk, Step up Together. Whatare you going to do, and why? From 9 to 16 June I’ll be putting my fitness to the test and walking across Tasmania for a great cause – The Walk, Step up Together. This will be a challenging 350km walk from the MRC Tas Burnie office to MRC Tas Glenorchy office over eight days to raise awareness and funds for a more inclusive and compassionate Tasmania. Most days I’ll be averaging around 40-50 kms.

The Walk, Step up Together aims to highlight the importance of Tasmania’s migrant and refugee communities and generate a positive conversation about the contribution they make. It’s also a symbolic challenge of the broad range

of challenges faced by our migrant and refugee communities, and an opportunity to showcase the strength of diversity in our state, and that by being inclusive we are all economically and socially better off.

We want this positive conversation to be enduring and are calling on individuals, as well as sporting and business organisations to get behind this cause and support The Walk, with an aim to raise a minimum of $50,000 to increase education, awareness and support, to build a more harmonious community.

Along the route members of Tasmania’s migrant and refugee community will join in and share their stories. We’ve already had incredible support from organisations across Tasmania who know that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes their organisations and communities stronger. This includes organisations such as the Tasmanian Hospitality Association, Hazell Bros, Incat, JackJumpers, The Tassie Devils, Football Tasmania, AFL Tas, Cricket Tas, Basketball Tas and Netball Tas, and I’m just encouraging as many Tasmanians and organisations to come on board and join The Walk community as possible.

How can people donate? Through the MRC Tasmania website, www.MRCTas. org.au which has a dedicated donation link for The Walk.

CATERING WITH A CAUSE

If you’re after tasty, local food catering for your event and want to do some good at the same time, these Tassie places fit the bill. They don’t just serve up great food but also give opportunities for others.

With an inviting atmosphere, great food and good coffee, Hamlet in Hobart might seem like a regular cafe on the surface, but they’re also a registered charity. They provide training and work readiness for people living with disabilities. Their catering menu is full of sweet and savoury options such as muffins, sausage rolls, and hearty sandwiches. Every dollar that goes towards Hamlet goes into creating life changing opportunities for people facing barriers in employment. They offer a variety of brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, half day, and full day catering options. They prepare orders fresh in-house then deliver it.

Aurora Disability Services is a charity providing care and support to adults with intellectual, physical, sensory and psychiatric disabilities. Under their banner are The Old Chapel Tea Room and The Car Yard Cafe, both in Glenorchy. At the Tea Room, clients are trained to operate their own public business venture, and the Car Yard Cafe offers training and work experience. Aurora offers catering services, allowing clients to utilise their training for receptions, business lunches, morning and afternoon teas, and bulk biscuit production, which includes consideration of budget and menu selection,

stock purchases, food preparation, quality check, presentation and delivery.

palawa kipli celebrates Tasmanian Aboriginal food while providing employment opportunities. With a focus on authentic Tasmanian flavours and centuries-old traditions, palawa kipli have created a unique culinary experience deeply rooted in culture and community. Along with bush tucker, their signature dish is mutton bird. Due to the high demand of their services palawa kipli is fully booked for catering until September 2024. But you can catch their delicious food at the Winter Feast this month.

As a not-for-profit emergency food relief provider, Devonport’s Loaves and Fishes ensure that no one in the community goes hungry. They rescue surplus food from landfill, repackage and enhance what they’re given, including making ready-toeat meals and school meals, then deliver free statewide. They also provide employment opportunities for disadvantaged Tasmanians, so their catering services not only provide essential skills training to individuals but also generate income to fund their food relief efforts, making every bite count.

Launceston’s Hope Cafe is part of Teen Challenge Tasmania, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preventing alcohol and drug addiction in young people. By providing work experience opportunities, Hope Cafe supports those in need while offering catering options like sandwich platters and grazing boxes, all available for online ordering.

Outside the world of catering, but still very helpful, Jude’s Cafe makes affordable and delicious meal packs for families to purchase and use over a couple of days, to reduce stress of grocery shopping. Aimed at tackling the mental health crisis amongst youth in Launceston, this social enterprise brings health and well-being to young people through employment and belonging.

INTERVIEW WITH EMILY

BRIFFA,

CEO OF HAMLET

How does Hamlet help people with disabilities? Hamlet exists to empower people who are underrepresented in the workforce. We provide training opportunities to people facing barriers to employment, with a focus on people living with disability. We allow people to learn skills and build confidence to improve their chances of securing employment. Tasmania has the highest rates of people living with disability in the country (26.8%). This cohort is three times more likely to be unemployed. The tourism and hospitality industry has been experiencing a significant skills shortage for more than 10 years now. At Hamlet we equip participants with skills to meet the needs of industry and secure long-term employment outcomes.

Can you share any stats about Hamlet's success? Since we opened our doors in 2016, we have provided more than 45,000 hours of training to 739 people facing barriers to employment. This financial year we have assisted 77.5% of our training graduates to secure employment outcomes in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Tell us about Hamlet's new catering service. In February 2024, we expanded our operations and our space. This expansion will allow us to increase our intake numbers by 94% over the next three years and meet the current demand for our kitchen training program - we currently have a waitlist in excess of 16 months. We offer a range of catering services including corporate catering deliveries perfect for an office meeting or conference style event. We also offer full serviced offsite event catering (with staff) and private events in our venue (after trading hours) for a private dinner or celebration.

THE POWER OF COLLABORATION

Words: Ollie Benson

It is no secret that farming is tough. It’s physical and often isolating work. The lack of affordable land and tight margins mean making a living from farming is hard. Throw in the weather and it’s fair to say that the odds are stacked against the farmer.

The industrial food system is designed to reward large-scale processed food producers, as opposed to farmers. And if you are a smaller scale farm, one that supplies food directly to communities, that adapts to pandemics and supply chain disruptions, and that prioritises regenerative practices, you are perversely less supported and less likely to be financially viable. It’s a complex scenario, but farmers are resilient people. And in the Huon Valley two farms are showing how collaboration can help farmers thrive.

Keeley Bytheway runs a market garden on Fat Pig Farm near Cygnet, while Ines Dos Santos and David Simmons run Sparrow Foot Farm in Franklin. Both farms have been individually growing vegetables and supplying them to customers via weekly veg box subscriptions, but through a mutual passion for community support, they have now come together to form the Sparrow Foot Collective.

Keeley, Ines, and David have combined their customer base, so that each of their own customers are now supplied vegetables from both farms. This has meant they can increase the number of veg boxes they produce, and they have also started selling through the online farmers market, the Tasmanian Produce Collective.

Fittingly, throughout June, one item that will feature in the veg boxes of Sparrow Foot Collective has its own story of collaboration. Broccolo fiolaro is a traditional Italian brassica that has been cultivated for many centuries in Italy but has been at risk of disappearing. It is

currently on the Slow Food Ark of Taste list which is a living catalogue of foods facing extinction. Through the Gusto Italiano Project, a collaboration between the US based Culinary Breeding Network, a US organic seed farm, and an Italian seed producer, fiolaro seed is now commercially available in Australia.

Unlike the varieties of broccoli more commonly grown in Australia, fiolaro does not grow a large central head but instead produces side shoots – “fiois” - from its stem which are harvested and cooked with the leaves. It is rich in vitamins, mineral salts and calcium and becomes even more flavourful after frosts, when, to defend itself against the cold, the plant limits the amount of water held in its tissues, concentrating salts and sugars. Collaboration is key to resilience, and the Sparrow Foot Collective will be sharing this message at this year’s Cross Pollinate, Sprout Tasmania’s annual event for small-scale producers, and those interested in the food and farming system.

So, if you’re keen on understanding how the power of collaboration can provide support, adaptability, more efficient processes, and increased chances of success, as it has for Keeley, Ines, David and the mighty fiolaro, you won’t want to miss it.

Cross Pollinate is held in Launceston on 16 June and in Hobart on 23 June. Tickets are on sale now, for all details and to secure a spot head to www.sprout.org.au.

CREPES WITH RICOTTA AND FIOLARO BROCCOLI

Makes 10 crepes

Ingredients

For the stuffing:

1kg Fiolaro broccoli

2 cloves of garlic and 2 spring onions, sliced

400g ricotta cheese

Grated zest of half a lemon

30g of grated parmesan

Olive oil, nutmeg, salt, freshly ground black pepper

For the crepes:

3 eggs

150g plain flour

400ml milk

A big pinch of salt

For the bechamel:

500ml milk

50g plain flour

50g butter

200g tomato passata

Boil the fiolaro until they’re tender (it will take at least half an hour), then drain and cut it into small pieces. Fry

quickly in a pan with oil, salt, pepper, garlic and spring onion, then let it cool completely. To prepare the crepes whisk the eggs with the flour, add a pinch of salt and slowly add the milk. Leave to rest for half an hour at room temperature then heat a pan and lightly grease it with oil. Pour a ladle of batter, spread it by twirling the pan a little and cook on both sides. Stack them on a plate, using baking paper to separate. To prepare the filling mix the ricotta, lemon zest, parmesan, a sprinkling of nutmeg, salt and pepper and the cooled broccoli. Stuff each crepe by spreading a little filling on half, fold over the empty flap, then fold again in half. Place all the stuffed crepes on a baking dish to rest. Make the bechamel by melting the butter over a medium heat. Add the flour and stir for 1 minute, then add half the milk. Whisk until smooth, then add the rest of the milk and keep whisking until thickened. Pour the bechamel on the crepes, then add the passata on top of the bechamel. Sprinkle with a little more parmesan, then bake in a moderate oven for 20 minutes.

SLOW DOWN FOR ROAD WORKERS

Everyday hundreds of road workers risk their safety on Tasmanian roads. If you ignore speed limits or traffic instructions for road works, you are putting lives at risk. Please, SLOW DOWN FOR ROAD WORKERS.

THE TASSIE BOOK CLUB

The Woman Booker Prize Club is a local Hobart book club. Here they share their thoughts on books by Tasmanian authors, set in Tasmania, or about Tassie topics. Over to the club!

Welcome to midwinter. This month we lean into the long nights with a twisty spy thriller / murder mysterybyJames Dunbar, and Carmel Bird’s work, which is imbued with the underlying darkness of fairy tales.

last page) then this is a great option for a quick and well thought out Tassie read.

Pete propels the Vietnam timeline as he attempts, among other responsibilities, to find a fellow Australian soldier who has gone AWOL. We see how Pete has built relationships with other actors in the war, including American soldiers as well as local Vietnamese folks who are just trying to survive. Pete’s chapters feel deliberately obtuse; we never quite know where the answer to the mysteries of the plot are going to show up, and as a reader I found myself trying to pay attention to all the small details in case I missed a clue!

It’s not very often that a bona fide spy thriller takes place in Tasmania, but when it does, we certainly sit up and pay attention! Beginning in a shady area of southern Vietnam in the late 1960s with Australian soldier Pete, this novel unravels through present-day journalist Xander as he tries to prove that his war veteran grandfather’s death was not a suicide. If you’re interested in a twisty mystery with a dual timeline, and you don’t tend to get too attached to characters (there’s quite a body count by the

Meanwhile, Xander’s life appears to be constantly in danger, escaping an attack in Sydney only to be pursued to Launceston and even to the titular Mole Creek, where Pete lived in retirement in his fishing shack. Xander meets a cast of characters, none of whom seem overly trustworthy, including police officers, a Supreme Court judge, and more than one old friend of Pete’s. While Xander at times feels entirely ill-equipped to solve the mysteries, his sheer determination pays off in the end - both for him and the reader.

Following on from The Dead Aviatrix, I’m currently reading Telltale by Carmel Bird. It’s a memoir of sorts, through reflection on the books that shaped the author’s life. Written during COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne while Bird was stuck inside with her personal library, it’s fascinating to see how she makes connections and finds inspiration for her writing. I know I’m going to finish Telltale with a further reading list as long as my arm, including a bunch of Carmel Bird’s own novels.

Carmel Bird is a prolific Tasmanian author, living in Melbourne, but I had not heard of her myself until by chance I spotted the teeny-tiniest green book with a map-of-Tasmania sticker on the spine on the Hobart library shelves.

The Dead Aviatrix comprises eight of the shortest short stories, but each is entirely different, excitingly inventive and straight into the meat of the story. It’s a bit dark but sparkles off the page. I don’t usually gravitate towards short stories, but The Dead Aviatrix really set me off on a train of short story collections and novellas that I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend this little collection; especially if you’re in a reading rut, it’s so small and undaunting it could be just the thing to get you going again.

Book Chatter: Some well deserved recognition for some of our Tassie authors in May with Meg Bignell’s The Angry Women’s Choir, Secrets of the Huon Wren by Claire van Ryn, Limberlost by Robbie Arnott, and Richard Flanagan’s Question 7 all making it into this year’s Better Reading Top 100. While the Stella Prize went to Alexis Wright and Praiseworthy, we were pleased to see Maggie MacKeller and Graft on the longlist. And Arianne James - a great supporter of local writers as TasWriters Program Coordination and host of The Book Shelf on Edge Radio - was recognised on the shortlist for the ASA/HQ Fiction Prize for unpublished manuscripts.

Keen to chat books with us? Find us on Instagram @thewomanbookerprizeclub or email thewbpc@gmail.com.

Mole Creek by James Dunbar (Allen & Unwin, August 2023) Review by Melanie Ross

The Dead Aviatrix by Carmel Bird (Spineless Wonders, October 2021) Review by Megan Tighe

A TASMANIAN ABROAD

Words and pictures: Amanda Double

We travel largely to enjoy new experiences, to delight in different cultures and learn new ways of being and doing. But we also take pleasure in revisiting favourite haunts. Likewise, it can be fascinating to encounter something we know very well, but in a different environment - to unexpectedly come across something Tasmanian or from wider Australia while overseas.

I felt proud this way when I saw a Portuguese-language edition of Richard Flanagan’s Gould’s Book of Fish on the “Recent Returns” shelf of a Lisbon library a few years back, and a new Frenchlanguage edition of The Narrow Road to the Deep North in a French bookshop after he won the Booker Prize.

On a recent visit to the Giacomo Doria Natural History Museum in Genoa, Italy, I was intrigued to discover a Tasmanian tiger specimen (Thylacine, or “il Tilacino” in Italian) in pride of place in their mammals and marsupials exhibition. This museum, the oldest in the city, was founded in 1867, and the Thylacine specimen was donated to it by E. Dohrn way back in 1883. According to the Museum, it is one of only 80 taxidermied specimens in the world (three of which are apparently in Italy). However, in this case, any feelings of Tasmanian pride were swiftly replaced by a poignant sadness as I gazed at this extinct creature so far from its former natural habitat.

Historian Cassandra Pybus has revealed the full extent of the secret trade in the nineteenth century to European museums and private collectors, not just of exotic Tasmanian animal and plant specimens, but disturbingly also of Indigenous human remains, in her newly-published book

A Very Secret Trade: The dark story of gentlemen collectors in Tasmania (Allen & Unwin, 2024).

Interestingly, the Tasmanian Museum

& Art Gallery has reported in a recent newsletter that among its own collection of Thylacine remains is what has only recently been revealed to be the REAL last-known specimen - and it is not the Beaumaris Zoo animal long previously identified as the last Thylacine in photographs and film! Researchers Robert Paddle (from the Australian Catholic University) and Kathryn Medlock (Honorary Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at TMAG) reveal in a paper soon to be published in Australian Zoologist that an old female Thylacine captured in the Florentine Valley was sold secretly to the Zoo in May 1936 but its body was transferred to TMAG following its death a few months later. Somehow the specimen was eventually forgotten about and unidentified, until a review of the collections was undertaken.

I had a happier Australiana travel encounter in Monaco when encountering a species also once presumed to be extinct but in this case newly re-discovered: the Australian Wollemi Pine tree (Wollemia nobilis). I came across not just one but two of these trees flourishing in separate parks there, as part of Monaco’s “commitment against deforestation” in the principality and internationally. The Wollemi Pine, one of the rarest species in the world despite apparently being around since the Jurassic Period, was only re-discovered in Australia in 1994 by a national park field officer in remote sandstone gorges north-west of Sydney. According to the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service website, “only 46 adult trees and 43 juveniles remain in the wild”, so this ancient conifer is critically endangered and has since been carefully cultivated in gardens around Australia and overseas. The specimens in Monaco were a gift from the Wollemi Pine International Australia Association, and were planted by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2006. Other Australian trees also appear there – for example, the Moreton Bay fig and the Native

frangipani. I experienced a little thrill of recognition each time I spotted one. We are fortunate to have several Wollemi Pines growing in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart, located near the Anniversary Arch: the oldest still living specimen (sourced commercially) was planted in 2011, according to the RTBG, with further donated specimens planted here from 2013 to 2018.

I think travel can also make us more interested in what’s happening in our own backyard. English author Terry Pratchett once commented: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours...”

When I’m travelling abroad, the first thing I do when I meet the locals is to tell them I’m Australian – and specifically, Tasmanian. This always elicits a great response – chiefly surprise and appreciation that I’ve come so far to enjoy their region. They always tell me if they know of someone with a friend or family member who is currently in Australia, like the baker whose stepson was visiting Sydney and loving it. “Just like I’m loving being in France,” I told him.

“And this is exactly why we travel,” he replied, beaming. I treasure these spontaneous moments of warm connection with total strangers, and the way special people and places become part of us forever.

American poet Wallace Stevens has expressed well the delights of looking around us with fresh eyes, at home AND abroad: “The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself.”

www.dineserendipity.com.au

Image: Steven Carson, Some Wear 6, 2023

DINING OUT: PRESSING MATTERS

On a recent Sunday, we had two hours to kill while our child was at a birthday party in Richmond. On the doorstep of wine country, we drove to Pressing Matters (711 Tea Tree Road, Tea Tree) and took up residence in a little nook in the main tasting room. The impressive cellar door opened six months ago and offers wine tastings and small plates. From our comfortable leather and timber lined spot, we opted for the $20 tasting, of which $10 could be redeemed on a purchase. It’s exceptional value and took us through seven wines - Rieslings from dry to sweet, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. From a little further research I learned that the winemaker is, in fact, one of my favourites, Samantha Connew of her own Stargazer label, assisted by Luke Andree who also has his own label, Sonnen. So as to not return to the kids party boozed, we ordered a serve of Ortiz sardines and crusty bread ($19) which was just perfect particularly as the Rieslings got sweeter. The stand out for me was the 2022 Riesling RO dry ($43) and my tasting buddy, the 2020 R69 sweet Riesling ($43).

RECIPE: ONE-POT SAUCY BEEF PASTA

This pasta is winter comfort in a bowl. It’s quick, easy and relatively inexpensive. You can also add finely chopped vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini and carrot to up your veggie intake too.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 onion, finely chopped

500g beef mince

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 tsp mixed herbs

400g crushed tomatoes

4 cups chicken stock

1/2 tsp chilli flakes (optional)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

350g penne, fusili or another short pasta

3/4 cup thickened cream

Method:

Heat the oil in a large pot and cook the onion and garlic for about two minutes. Add the beef mince to the pot and fry,

breaking it up with a spoon as you go, until it’s browned. Add the herbs, stir, then add the tomato paste and cook for one minute. Next, add the crushed tomatoes, stock, salt, pepper and chili flakes (if you’re using them). Give it a stir then add the pasta to the pot and stir again. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes. Toward the end of the 15 minutes, you’ll need to stir more often so it doesn’t stick. Add the cream but don’t worry that it’s quite ‘saucy’, it’s meant to be like this as the pasta will continue to cook and absorb. Serve hot and topped with parmesan cheese and parsley. Feeds four.

WINE: PAISLEY 2022 SIX STRINGS TEMPRANILLO

From all outward appearances, it’s clear that Paisley’s 2022 Six Strings Tempranillo is intended to be paired with music. From the dirty orange sticker in the shape of an LP vinyl record, to the description on the back of the record, signed by winemaker Derek, aka DJ Deadly. “The blending of music and wine are two of my lifelong passions,” writes DJ Deadly. Okay DJ Deadly, I thought, laced with scepticism, let’s see what you got.

I can’t lie, though, I was intrigued. Pairing wine with music might seem unorthodox compared to a wine-food pairing, but it made sense to me as someone who frequently puts on music with a drink. I looked him up and discovered his wine pairing playlists. I hit shuffle on the most popular one, then sat back with a glass of this Spanish red from the Adelaide Hills. As the warm, calming tunes of Massive Attack and Moby, among others, swayed me into the perfect Friday night vibe, it hit me: I judged DJ Deadly too quickly. He set the mood, and I drank it all in, not just the glass (and then some).

As for the wine itself, it had a peppery, savoury taste that filled me up and made me feel like I was glowing. I imagined how good it would pair with a paella, to play up the Spanish of it all. Pouring the tempranillo into the recipe as I sip from a glass. Now that’s a perfect Friday night.

Set the vibe:

Wine: Six Strings Tempranillo from Paisley

Music: Teardrop by Massive Attack

Food: Paella

When: Friday night

Monday - Friday 3:30pm - 5:30pm $5

SCHOONERS

MEALS 7 DAYS A WEEK WITH ALL DAY DINING 11:30am - 8:30pm

STARTING FROM $14

MONDAY LUNCHES

12PM - 2PM Rissoles & mash, Reuben sandwich with chips, crumbed sausages with mash $10

19 crazy parmigianas to choose from traditional chicken parmigiana right through to The Elvis Presley with peanut butter, bacon and cheese or Jon Bon Chovy with napoli sauce base, anchovies, prawns, cherry tomatoes and cheese or The Anthony Bolog-neezy with rich beef bolognese, basil, parmesan and melted cheese all on top of your choice of beef or chicken base.

T-BONE TUESDAYS

250g tbone steak served with chips and salad or vegetables and your choice of sauce

Free onsite parking Hotel rooms starting from $90 a night

Eight minutes from the airport, 10 minutes from the cbd

ZODIAC CHECK-IN: YOUR MONTHLY ASTRO UPDATE

Words: Sara Hewitt

Dive into the month ahead with practical star insights - your guide to navigating the cosmos this month.

Aries (21 Mar - 19 Apr): The Gemini New Moon on the 6th is all about the mind and talking, but for Aries this is even stronger as it falls in your communication zone. A great time for making decisions and telling others how you feel and where they stand. Your place in the world and how other people think about you will be important as you receive recognition you have worked for and deserve.

Taurus (20 Apr - 20 May): Your financial zone is getting a big boost from the New Moon on the 6th. Expect changes which bring new conditions for your security and feelings of abundance. Active and sometimes irritable Mars moves into your sign on the 9th – make the most of the energy by getting fit or finishing off the old jobs and pesky errands that have been nagging you for some time.

Gemini (21 May - 20 Jun): The Gemini New Moon on the 6th brings a fresh start and new beginning for your whole life and self, so think things through carefully and start planting the seeds for a new future. Venus in your sign until the 17th brings positive vibes and warm feelings to most of your interactions with others. Embrace growth – which for some may mean traveling far away from home.

Cancer (21 Jun - 22 Jul): You have three planets including loving Venus entering your sign this month, plus the Full Moon happens in your relationships zone, so you may feel very full of emotions and positive feelings for the people closest to you, creating a warm and loving time. Spiritually you will be very open and aware, but secrets of all kinds will be stressful if you compromise your principles.

Leo (23 Jul - 22 Aug): A fantastic month to really sit down and work out what you want for your future and how to make those important dreams come true. You have a lot of activity going on behind the scenes this month – the advice is to keep your plans to yourself until the time is right. There is a possibility of secret crush or affair entering your life if you let your emotions get the better of you.

Virgo (23 Aug - 22 Sep): Your public reputation and career come into focus with the New Moon on the 6th - especially the things people have been thinking or saying about you. Your romance, fun and pleasure zone is being hit off by the Full Moon, so love, people and feeling good are the order of the day. Parents, and those hoping to become parents may have a wish come true around their children.

Libra (23 Sep - 22 Oct): The Moon represents the home and your feelings and motherhood, and the Full Moon on 22nd is in your zone of home and family. A great time for being a domestic goddess, earth mother or to just enjoy your home. A fantastic month for thinking bigger about your future goals and plans, especially if this involves further study or training, or perhaps a long-awaited trip to far away.

Scorpio (23 Oct - 21 Nov): A great month for those who are looking to invest or take out a mortgage on a new home, especially around the 6th. The Full Moon on 22nd is a reminder to stop looking for answers outside yourself and where you are. You can find everything that is really important around you and within you. A good month for communicating your needs and wants to others.

Sagittarius (22 Nov - 21 Dec): The New Moon lands in your relationship zone on the 6th bringing you the opportunity to make a fresh start and put the past behind you with someone close. The Full Moon on the 22nd is a turning point in your financial matters and attitudes. It could mean a crunch point forcing you to make changes, or you could be inspired by your success to continue and grow.

Capricorn (22 Dec - 19 Jan): A cluster of planets is entering your relationship zone this month, plus the Full Moon in Capricorn on the 22nd adds up to a big month for all of your relationships with others and also how you feel about yourself. Your health is highlighted by the New Moon on the 6th, so turn over a new leaf and go on a health kick or make the big commitment to get fit at last.

Aquarius (20 Jan - 18 Feb): Hobbies and interests of all kinds including sport and recreation are highlighted this month. Some may even get the opportunity to make money through their hobby –creating a new side hustle. Your intuition and psychic senses will be very strong during the Full Moon on the 22nd. You will be able to get in tune with your inner feelings which will bring great insight.

Pisces (19 Feb - 20 Mar): A good time for making decisions, the New Moon in Gemini on the 6th brings the opportunity to mentally close the door on the past and perhaps someone associated with it and move on to something better. Your place in your community and finding likeminded people to share your interests with are highlighted – as are pay-rises, especially if it is a result of being promoted.

Sara is a Hobart based astrologer with over 30 years professional experience. If you would like a private psychic or astrology reading with Sara either face to face or by zoom or email, please go to www.stargold.com.au for more information and to book

HOBART'S BEST KEPT SECRET

Indulge in Chef Kurstin Berriman's culinary creations.

Lunch served Monday, Thursday, and Friday: 11.30am to 3.30pm. Brunch served Saturdays and Sundays: 9am to 3pm.

@mrmintys.tas

Conveniently located a short walk from the wharf and MONA ferry. Escape the Salamanca Markets frenzy and discover a tranquil coffee haven.

FORGIVE FOR GOOD HEALTH

Words: Annia Baron

You can feel it. That sudden flush of burning heat rushing through your body. Your muscles stiffen, your eyes widen, and your hands tighten their grip on the wheel. That damn driver just cut you off! Before you know it, every profanity under the sun comes out of your mouth and your hands emphatically gesture towards the sky.

Let’s be honest, most of us have been there. Immediately after someone’s inconsiderate manoeuvre, try this game of one, two, three. First, acknowledge what you’re feeling and take a few slow breaths in and out. Then come up with a possible reason for that person’s actions. For example, 1) they were on their way to the hospital, 2) they’re trying to get to the airport to tell the love of their life not to board that plane, or 3) they’ve had too many coffees and are desperate for the loo! Pick your favourite and choose to make this your reality. By taking a minute to reset and broaden our perspective, we can see that although we may feel hard done by, we can decide not to take things personally. As soon as we change the narrative, our blood pressure lowers, adrenaline subsides, and we can get on with our day without letting it ruin our mood. Perhaps it can enable us to let go of future transgressions more easily too.

The science is showing that people who are open to practising skills of forgiveness have far less medical and psychological problems; basically, they’re happier and healthier. Interestingly, forgiveness has been found to have positive effects on conditions like heart disease1, chronic pain2 and breast cancer3

But why is forgiveness hard to do?

Dr Fred Luskin, Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Project, says we’re afraid to forgive because we think we won’t be able to seek justice. Sometimes people think forgiveness means we forget what happened, excuse someone’s behaviour, or have to force ourselves to ‘move on’. But this is not

forgiveness. Forgiveness is a mental shift or a change of the heart that happens gradually. It’s a process that can start at any time, even if the person who wronged you is no longer in your life. Forgiveness means even though you’ve been wounded, you are choosing to suffer less. Forgiveness is a tool to take back your own power and continue being accountable for how you feel.

Another way to practice forgiveness, if that feels right for you to do, is proposed by Professor Everrett Worthington, a clinical psychologist, and leading expert on forgiveness. The following tool is based on his R.E.A.C.H technique.

R = Recall the hurt. Give yourself permission to feel everything. Don’t hold back here. Then, decide that you’re not going to be unforgiving and rather, try to view that person as another imperfect human.

E = Empathise. This step may feel challenging but it’s about putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. Perhaps imagine them sitting across from you. Share how you feel with them. Let loose and say everything you need to. Then pretend that you are them, responding back to you about why they did it. Perhaps considering factors that contributed to their behaviour may allow space for compassion – either for them or yourself.

A = A gift. Each of us can remember when we ourselves, also did something wrong to another –a friend, parent, or teacher – and how that person forgave us. Recall that feeling of when they forgave you. It was like a gift. If we can see forgiveness as a gift to pass on, it can remind us of our humanity, and can be an empowering release.

C = Commit. Once you’ve chosen forgiveness, solidify this decision by writing it down - it could be something as simple as “Today, I am forgiving (insert their name) for hurting me.” You can keep the note, scrunch it up, or throw it away. Do

what feels right for you.

H = Hold it gently. It’s okay if some days you revert to anger towards the person who did you wrong. Be gentle with yourself when this happens. Then choose to do something that honours your efforts to hold forgiveness - whatever that looks like. You can re-read your note, you can take your anger with you on a walk, or you can share how you’re feeling with a trusted friend, partner, or a psychologist if you need.

Remember, forgiveness is not excusing what happened or forgetting that you were hurt. Ultimately forgiveness is a tender invitation to release anger or resentment and open space for you to continue living your most meaningful life. You deserve that. But perhaps the next time you’re on the road, consider a quick 1,2,3 and see how that feels. Personally, I love the idea of someone rushing to the airport to embrace the person they love!

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

Full references are available at www. thehobartmagazine.com.au.

Did you know that red-necked wallabies have been found to demonstrate signs of forgiveness after a fight? Researchers note the wallabies showed reduced anxiety levels after making up and even engaged in grooming and play behaviours. Crows on the other hand may appear to hold a grudge. Researchers found that a population of crows they had been capturing, tagging, and releasing would recognise and harass their former handlers, even a year after seeing them4

SEASIDE RAMBLE: CREMORNE TO MAYS BEACH

Words and pictures: Elizabeth Osborne

The Clarence Coastal Track from Cremorne to Mays Beach, is a distance of 4.5km, with panoramic coastal views along the entire distance. This track is well maintained, signed and is a reasonably easy undulating walk with a few slightly challenging climbs.

Parking at the end of Frederick Henry Parade, we walked about a hundred metres to the northern end of Cremorne Beach. The track starts at the end of this beach with a short walk uphill to Calverts Hill Nature Reserve.

Walking past a grove of young sheoaks, a small plaque informed us that the trees were planted in 2022 to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Sheep grazed on the dry hillside, wallabies watched from a distance unperturbed by our presence. The linear reserve is managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service and contains the rare and endangered Eucalyptus Morrisbyi, but the dominant trees we saw were sheoaks (allocasuarina).

The track passes beside cliffs, the sea below rolling onto the rocky shore until we reach Mays Point, a popular surfing break. On the day we walked, dramatic cloud formations added to the beauty of views across Frederick Henry Bay to Primrose Sands and the Tasman Peninsula. An occasional aeroplane, white against the blue hills, flew towards the airport.

Smooth pebbles cover the shore at the southern end of Mays Beach. Small sea treasures are wedged among the rocks. The rest of Mays Beach is a kilometre curve of east coast facing sand.

Mays Beach is named for the Mays family, who farmed the adjacent land from the mid-nineteenth century. The fruit from their orchards were sent to market

from a wharf at Mays Beach. Weathered posts are now the only remains of this once busy wharf.

We returned on the same track, accompanied by the sound of cicadas chirping in the warm afternoon sun.

Grace is a carer for her mum Rita, who has dementia.

With Carer Gateway’s support, Grace was able to access free coaching and counselling and connect with other carers through her local Peer Support Group.

Care2Serve is the local Tassie team connecting Tasmanian carers to Carer Gateway.

If you are a carer and would like help too, contact us.

Support is free, inclusive and confidential.

support and helped us access services. Grace - Carer Call 1800 422 737 (press 1) or visit carergateway.gov.au

Carer Gateway’s Tasmanian team provided free

Words: Dr Dianne Snowden AM

Originally known as Glebe Town, Glebe is a small historic suburb of Hobart sitting below the Queen’s Domain and adjacent to the City of Hobart. It is characterised by heritage homes dating from the 1880s.

Many of its buildings are listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register and the Glebe is recognised for its high number of well-preserved weatherboard buildings, several of them terrace houses. Many Glebe houses had names and some house name plaques can still be seen.

The Glebe also has several significant educational buildings: Domain House, on the Glebe, was erected in 1848-49 as the Hobart High School and was later the original site of the University of Tasmania. The Philip Smith Centre opened in 1911 as a teacher training centre. The Presbyterian Church established Officer College and the Glebe Ladies College in 1888.

The Glebe gets its name from the three Glebes (church land) granted to the Presbyterian Church, Church of England (Anglican), and Catholic Church in the early 1880s. The Church of England grant was known as Trinity Glebe. The glebe land was divided into building allotments and leased for 99 years. In August 1884, the Tasmanian News reported: “The three glebes have been cut up into building allotments, and a considerable portion of them has been leased. Several acres of the hillside south of the Domain, have been covered by buildings, and many more houses are in course of erection.”

The Glebe has been a suburb of Hobart since 1907. Before that, from 1885, it was governed by the five-member Glebe Town Town Board.

Before the four lanes of Brooker Avenue were constructed, Park Street was a

quiet street separating the Glebe from Hobart. The face of the Glebe changed when Brooker Avenue (now the Brooker Highway) was constructed. Several houses on Park Street were demolished to extend the road.

From the 1920s, many of the houses were divided into flats. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Glebe was considered one of the poorest areas of Hobart. Regeneration of the Glebe began in the early 1980s as 99-year leases ended. Properties were sold and buildings were renovated by new owners.

The Glebe has been home to several well-known Tasmanians, including C.H. Grant, a prominent citizen in charge of the railways. According to the Glebe Progress Association in 1997, the original plan for the railway was for it to run where the Brooker Highway is today. Grant used his influence to divert the noisy, polluting steam train around the other side of the Domain. Glebe was the birthplace and early home of brothers Ernest, Tasman, and Arthur Higgins, all of whom became pioneering cinematographers of Australian cinema. Other well-known Tasmanians who lived on the Glebe include Professor T.T. Flynn and his movie-star son, Errol. Historian Peter MacFie (1943-2022) recorded his memories of living on the Glebe in his book, See No Evil, published in 2022.

A history of the Glebe has been commissioned by Hobart Discovery Inc., a not-for-profit group based in the Glebe. Hobart Discovery Inc was formed to

protect the heritage values of the Glebe. It cared for the Philip Smith Centre from 1997-2019, when it was purchased by the University of Tasmania. If you have Glebe connections, memories, or photos, please contact them at admin@hobartdiscoveryinc.org.au or through the Glebe History Group Facebook page. They are also keen to hear from those who may have attended the University of Tasmania on the Domain or the Philip Smith Teachers Training College.

E: vica.bayley@parliament.tas.gov.au | E: helen.burnet@parliament.tas.gov.au Ph: 6212 2260 | tasgreensmps.org

by

Archie at Wrest Point by Ashtyn Thomas

Lake Burbury by Maddie Bowerman

Reflective waters. Pic: @foto.velo

Dru Point at Margate by Lorraine Taylor

Rainbow Lorikeet in flight by Robin Voss