International Workers Memorial Day 2017

2017-4-27_VR___Int_Workers'_mem_day.jpg

International Workers’ Memorial Day was observed on 28 April 2017 at the National Workers Memorial by the lake.

Three to four people died at work every week across Australia in 2016. Most of these tragic deaths were preventable.

ACT Work Safety Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith and CFMEU National Secretary Michael O’Connor were among those who spoke at the commemoration.

“Mourn the dead. Fight like hell for the living.”

Nuclear weapons ban negotiations begin

ICAN_logo.pngThe International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) held a rally this morning outside Parliament House in Canberra to mark the start of negotiations towards a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. The rally deplored the fact that the Australian government, incredibly, is boycotting the negotiations and has not sent a delegate. There are over 110 countries participating; we are the only country in our region to refuse.

We have, however, got someone representing us: Sue Coleman-Haseldine, a Kokatha elder from near Ceduna, who spoke very movingly today at the UN in New York about her family’s experience of the nuclear bomb tests in South Australia in 1956. What was beautiful country is now not safe to live in.

Speakers at the rally this morning included Vintage Red member Katherine Kelly, as well as Senator Scott Ludlum (Greens, WA), Senator Lisa Singh (Labor, Tas.), and Bishop Pat Power.

20170328_082949_resized.jpg

Don Dwyer’s Calendar of Events

March

27 March to 2nd April: Ladies in Black, from the novel The Women in Black by Madeleine St John, music by Tim Finn. Canberra Theatre.

Tuesday 28 March: 6 p.m., National Library, “Utopia — the future of Australia“. Paul Barclay, Peter Singer, Aexis Wright, etc. RSVP 6262-1111; $15

Wednesday 29 March: 6 p.m., National Library, “Looking for Rose Paterson (mother of Banjo)”, by Jennifer Gall. Free. RSVP 6262-1111.

Thursday 30 March: 6 p.m., National Library, “Only: A singular memoir“, by Caroline Baum. $20. RSVP 6262-1111, $20.

Friday 31 March: 7 p.m., National Film & Sound Archive, “Red Hollywood“, a dark chapter of US blacklists etc.

Continue reading

Don’s guide to Canberra in autumn

After a much too long break, we bring you Don’s recommendations for your leisure time.

March

4 to 18 March: “Cold Light” at the Street Theatre. Adapted by Alana Valentine from the Frank Moorhouse novel. “How far can a woman of vision go?” Tickets $39-$55.

9 March to 4 April: French Film Festival at the Palace Cinema, where you can find your little booklet of films; also available to download or peruse online.

Wed. 15 March: Martha Wainwright at the Canberra Theatre. “Oh Pep” are the support act, Melbourne duo Olivia Hally and Pepita Emmerichs. Worth listening to.

Sat. 18 March: Vince Jones & the Astral Orchestra present the music of Van Morrison, at the Playhouse, 8 p.m.

20 to 26 March: Canberra Comedy Festival. Find them at the Canberra Theatre Centre, Street Theatre, and the Uni Pub: “weird, absurd and wonderful”. And there are even events at the Novotel and the Civic Pub (8 Lonsdale St).

27 March to 2 April: “Ladies in Black”, from Madeleine St John’s fabulous novel, tunes by Tim Finn, a Queensland Theatre Production. The Melbourne Age says: “The best Aussie musical since Priscilla went global.” Canberra Theatre, tickets $89-$99.

Continue reading

Public forum on ACT water prices

Members of the public are urged to come along next Tuesday evening, 6 December 2016, to a Public Forum on proposed significant increases to the cost of water in Canberra.

The public forum will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the Waldorf on London, 2 Akuna Street, Canberra City, and will include a presentation by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission, followed by a question and answer session.

Icon Water, an ACT government-owned corporation which has a monopoly on providing water to the ACT, currently sets a higher price per kilolitre for higher water usage. But since we are apparently no longer trying to send a message of water-saving to consumers (now that the drought is over and we have more water available in dams which are almost full), and since some higher water usage customers have turned to cheaper alternative sources, Icon has fewer customers and wants to charge them all much more.

Continue reading

Don Dwyer’s What’s on in October

Don’s starred event for followers of his Calendar is the screening of Children of the Revolution, part of the Canberra International Film Festival, on Friday 4 November at 8 p.m., in the Arc Cinema, National Film & Sound Archive. This 1996 “historic comedy” film stars Judy Davis, Sam Neill, Richard Roxburgh and Geoffrey Rush, and the music is by Nigel Westlake.
Continue reading

Don Dwyer’s What’s On in October

Don’s starred event for followers of his Calendar is the screening of Children of the Revolution, part of the Canberra International Film Festival, on Friday 4 November at 8 p.m., in the Arc Cinema, National Film & Sound Archive. This 1996 “historic comedy” film stars Judy Davis, Sam Neill, Richard Roxburgh and Geoffrey Rush, and the music is by Nigel Westlake.
Continue reading