The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have released Youth justice in Australia 2011–12: an overview and for better or worse kids in Canberra seem to be spending more time in care than elsewhere, with our indigenous numbers particularly striking.
In general Tasmania seems to lock up children the most, but why are we next?

The Chief Minister has announced the lucky supplicants for health grant largesse:
Twenty Canberra community groups have received their share in $950,000 of ACT Government health grants, designed to promote health and wellbeing in our city, Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, announced today.
“Some of the best ideas for projects that will improve the [...]

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~ William James
My son Adam and I have entered a cancer council approved car rally to raise funds for cancer research.
The car rally will cover over 3700 kms over 7 days travelling from Adelaide to Fremantle via Ulura.
What makes this car rally [...]

The ABC brings word of an Anglicare report showing there is no housing in Canberra that could be called affordable:
The report found among the people it surveyed there were no affordable houses for single parents, people on Newstart or Youth Allowance.
Anglicare ACT’s Jenny Kitchin says the situation is not much better across the border.
“A [...]

A national day to remember those who have died because of domestic and family violence.
The ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service will be conducting a Candle Lighting Ceremony
1 May 2013
5:45pm
Garema Place, Civic

Perhaps racing to Parliament House dressed as Storm Troopers would have more effect, but as it is a Saturday and Parliament isn’t sitting, I am not expecting our elected representatives will take too much notice.
ON 4 MAY, STAND UP FOR: OUR JOBS, OUR CITY, OUR FUTURE
ACT Unions: Celebrating May Day and 100 years of [...]

Rioter John hit us with his concerns regarding Canberra Stadium’s baffling lack of available cider:
I have been trying on and off for over 3 years (since late 2010) to get Canberra stadium to answer a simple question: do they have any plans to offer cider, like almost every other stadium in Australia?
Emails, tweets, even letters [...]

“Head Full of Flames: Punk in the Nation’s Capital 1977 to 1992″ is a book being written to cover the forgotten history of Punk in Canberra from 1977 to 1992. If you were, or know of anyone, active in the scene at that time please contact local author Chris Shakallis who has put out a [...]

Mayor Rattenbury has announced the start of the The Youth Emergency Accommodation Network:
The Youth Emergency Accommodation Network is operated by The Salvation Army, in partnership with Canberra Youth Residential Service.
“The Youth Emergency Accommodation Network provides support and accommodation to young people experiencing crisis where all other accommodation options have been exhausted,” said Mr Rattenbury.
“The Salvation [...]

As the revisions to the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act 1994 seem to cover a lot of issues including treatment orders, search and frisking powers and, arrest without a warrant, some people may be interested in being involved in this consultation.
Consultation on the Second Exposure Draft: Wednesday 17 April – Tuesday 28 May 2013.
The [...]

[ 26 April, 2013 to 28 April, 2013. ]

Friday:

UC National Security Lectures – MS Michelle Grattan, Political Editor of The Age @ The University of Canberra, 12:30pm-2pm

Lions International 61st MD201 Convention @ National Convention Centre (until 29 April)

Coming Home Soon by Alana Valentine @ Lieder Theatre, Goulbourn (until 11 May)

Saturday :

Sportenary – ANZAC Parade Memorial Walk @ ANZAC Parade, 10am-3pm

2013 Sherco Australian Women’s [...]

Smiths Alternative Bookshop was relaunched last night as Smiths Alternative under Jorian Gardner and Domenic Mico’s stewardship.
It’s going to be a very funky little venue, now with a dedicated stage so keep your eyes peeled.
David Howe has sent in some pictures from the opening. The man who looks like John Howard is in fact former [...]

Pork Hunt has sent in this picture:
There’s a very enthusiastic two up crowd at Walsh’s Hotel in Qbn

If you’ve got pictures of today’s events send them in to images@the-riotact.com .
UPDATE:
Zen has sent this one in:

[ 22 June, 2013; 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm. ]

The Canberra Gay & Lesbian Qwire proudly presents its 20th Anniversary Gala Concert. This momentous event in the history of the Qwire will be an occasion not to be missed. The programme will feature songs from throughout the past 20 years. Old favourites like “Everything Possible”, “Deepening Twilight” & “True to Myself” will be performed [...]

ACT Greening Australia and Canberra Centenary would like to celebrate the work done by volunteers during and after the Canberra Bushfires 10 years ago, so they’re putting on an event at the Cotter.
The Lower Cotter Catchment is again teeming with life thanks to the efforts of thousands of volunteers and a partnership between Greening Australia [...]

Stories of Canberra Planners has collected several interviews with Canberra’s first town planners. These will be made available to the public as a part of the Canberra and Region heritage Festival announced Simon Corbell today.
“While official records provide information on resolutions and decisions, oral histories provide individual perspectives about the big issues and turning points [...]

Hi RioACTers,
We are only a few days to close the inaugural story contest “Latin America in 100 words”. I would encourage you to send us your short stories. It doesn’t matter if you have never been in Latin America. You would just need to tell us in a sentence, two or more (up [...]

I know it’s entirely stupid, but I am terrified of spiders. I mean, properly terrified. Just seeing pictures of them makes me nervous. I’m even scared of them when they’re already dead. Yes, yes, I’m a million times bigger than they are. Yes, yes, they’re more scared of me, etc. But the thing about irrational [...]

2XX is a pretty great thing to have here in Canberra.
They’re running a Radiothon, which is a weeklong fundraising event where they plan to give away hundreds of prizes.
Prizes are pretty great to have also, so this is like win/win.
Jamie Freestone, station manager at 2XX FM, is “really excited to be re-launching Radiothon again. [...]

“On the Staircase” by Keld Moseholm has been a favourite piece of public art on Petrie Plaza for some time.
It’s such a pity it was not built to withstand the mindless fury of the Canberra public.
Where once four little men created an exercise in perspective we’re now down to two.
It seems like a real pity.

Simon Corbell has made known he’s done the honours today at the Namadgi Visitors Centre for the rebuilt Gudgenby Hut:
After decades in a container, an 1845 slab hut has been rebuilt within a new interpretive shelter next to the Namadgi Visitors Centre, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell, announced today.
“This is a [...]

Construction started on the Boundless Canberra Inclusive Playground. A playground that is designed to be accessible for all children.
Katy Gallagher today turned the first sod in one of those odd ceremonies that I don’t understand.
Nevertheless, building an inclusive playground is a very cool thing.
“Boundless Canberra is a fantastic statement of how this city provides for [...]

Canberra CBD Limited’s ‘Skate in The City’ 2013 is on the way!
I’ve never actually gotten up on the ice myself, but I wander through Garema Place every day and adore seeing it all prettied up. The ice, the lights, the skaters, the fact that the music seems to be Billie Jean on repeat.
It’s pretty great.
Skate [...]

So I made a joke a few Tuesdays ago about Tuesday becomes funny car sticker day.
It was a joke people!
Sadly it seems everyone took it seriously and now it’s a thing.
Here we go.
If you have a photo of a funny car sticker, and want to make me sad, please send them to images@the-riotact.com.
Be sure to [...]

This just in from the RSPCA:
Keep an eye out over the next month for these quirky white dogs. They appeared at Regatta Point on Monday 22 April as part of RSPCA ACT’s 2013 Million Paws Walk launch.
Million Paws Walk will take place at Stage 88 and Commonwealth Park on 19 May 2013. Registering [...]

Red Cross are in need of volunteers for the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS).
CVS is for residents of aged care facilities in the ACT and South East NSW region who are socially isolated and whose quality of life would be improved by friendship and companionship. Volunteers are matched with a client for social visits for about [...]

Down near the newish Kambah Superschool there is an almost secret commercial, community and religious centre, with temples and medical services and a fitness center.
On Saturday, the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara opened its gates for one of its regular Food Festivals. The air was full of spicy scents and the sense of purpose from [...]

The Canberra Times has a look at the predictably disfunctional social services system and discovers the staggering amounts being spent achieving not very much:
There is also an over-reliance on expensive “crisis” responses, by health authorities, police or social workers, driving up the cost of service delivery to vulnerable families. The research found that an unofficial [...]

Record store day came and went, I celebrated with a visit to Songland at Cooleman Court. The vinyl on offer was all donated and was generally what you would expect.
I picked up some groovy tunes (6 records for $10) and now just need to work out how to play them; otherwise I will [...]

Centenary of Canberra are hoping to hear from ex-Canberrans about why they love Canberra. These stories will be used in a Centenary Project called the Canberra Diaspora.
TV commercials for the Canberra Diaspora go to air on SBS this weekend, featuring former Canberrans from around Australia – and one from the US – reminiscing about the [...]

Tara from In the Taratory has sent in these pictures of the weekend’s Morris 100 extravaganza.
Got images of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email them in to images@the-riotact.com .
Here’s the slideshow:

A Labour of Love— Celebrating Landcare in the ACT is a new book being released as a part of the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival. It’s launching today
Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell, has today joined local Landcare volunteers in celebrating the useful contribution they make in conserving our beautiful natural landscapes.
“The [...]