The Australian Centre on China in the World (CIW) is a research institution in Chinese Studies at the Australian National University. Its broader aim is to enhance the understanding of China which it describes as “’Greater China’ or the ‘Chinese Commonwealth’ (the People’s Republic of China, the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions, as well as Taiwan and the Chinese diaspora).” Continue reading “Get to know China Better”
My Reader would be forgiven for wondering why I am writing a review on what is a commercial advertisement for lawn turf. Do let me explain. Continue reading “Mown and Grown in Fyshwick”
Merry-go-rounds of this type and quality are a dying breed, not only in Australia but also around the world. Continue reading “Canberra’s Merry-Go-Round”
The selection of Canberra, in the early 1900’s, as the new capital of Australia has often been referred to as the waste of good sheep grazing land or a good sheep station spoiled. It has also been, and still is by some, referred to using even mostly derogatory terms but let’s keep to the sheep for now. Continue reading “Ainslie’s Sheep”
From late June to mid July each year you can try out, or hone, your ice skating skills courtesy of an open-air ice rink in Garema Place in the centre of Canberra. Continue reading “Winter Festival – Ice Skating in the City”
No, you have not misread the title of this review. I will return to that anon.
Canberra has a growing number of annual festivals and one of the latest additions (2015) to the fold is the rather fancifully named ‘World’ Curry Festival – Sydney makes do with its ‘Sydney’ Curry Festival! Continue reading “World Curry Festival – The Best of Irish”
Until the arrival of European settlers, in the early 1800s, the Ngunnawal Aboriginal people were the only inhabitants of the Limestone Plains, which subsequently became Canberra. Continue reading “Reclamation – Culture, Spirit and Place”
Being a capital city, albeit a small one of only 400,000 people, Canberra is host to nearly 80 Embassies and High Commissions in addition to numerous other international organisations, foundations, philanthropic organisations and the like.
The one thing all these erstwhile institutions have in common is that they like to bestow gifts on their hosts, all with good and noble intent, naturally. Many of these gifts take the form of statues and works of art which have to be displayed somewhere. Continue reading “Where can we put that, without causing offence?”
Canberra, with due cause, is often referred to as the Bush Capital. Parks, leafy suburbs and gardens abound. Most of these contain native Australia flora, with an overlay of European or more exotic species here and there. Continue reading “Glebe Park – Ye Olde English Park in Civic”
While there are numerous examples of good graffiti art all over Canberra the majority would be time consuming for the visitor, with only a passing interest in the subject, to visit. There are currently (Sept 2016) 24 legal street art sites in Canberra, primarily road underpasses and spillways. Additionally there are a number more formal and more professional mural sites. Continue reading “Graffiti Art in the City”
The Rambling Wombat 