In response to Masquara’s post about the NDIS this morning Joy Burch’s office has sent in this response:
The $5000 per person funding is separate to the $10.6 million from the NDIS agreement signed by the Commonwealth and ACT Governments that has been referred to in several public statements the Government has made recently.
The $5000 figure [...]

[ 1 March, 2013 to 8 September, 2013. ]

In May 1912, the entrant 29 won the Federal Capital City Design Competition. This was of course Walter Burley Griffin, you’ve probably heard of him.

Design 29: Creating a Capital has collected a whole bunch of maps, paintings, and documents from the famous competition, including some pieces that have apparently not been displayed since the original [...]

The Centenary team are putting the word out that you can leave the car at home as you join in the lakeside festivities for Canberra’s big day:
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, today announced that ACTION will operate all buses free of charge,and will provide additional services to help Canberrans travel on [...]

Someone has FOI’d the numbers in the ACT’s kangaroo culls which means we can share the numbers.
Interestingly the culls only started in 2009 with 494 roos culled, reached a peak in 2011 with 2439, and declined last year to 1154.

Joy Burch has released her Ministerial Statement on what we can expect from the National Disability Insurance Scheme later in the year:
From July 2013, the ACT and Federal governments will invest $10.6 million dollars to respond to the demand for disability and mental health services that we know exists today, and from July 2014 eligible [...]

[ 27 February, 2013; 6:10 pm to 7:45 pm. ] Hi all,

The Hash House Harriers are the biggest running group – and the biggest drinking group – in the world. We are known as “drinkers with a running problem”.

It’s an amazing group, although you don’t need to run (some stay behind to mind the bags) and you don’t need to drink (it seems some [...]

Five days ago DangerMouse alerted the community to the Ainslie S***ter.
Last night Justin Heywood suggested the more appropriate title of “The Bumblebee” (his motions are apparently regular but his movements are erratic).
This afternoon
GregJones
This guy is not a myth here’s the proof – http://youtu.be/-41frDsZs8c

Also, a map of the previous targets – http://imm.io/XkaY
Now if you should [...]

The Centenary folk are getting word out that after 120,000 Like Canberra votes your chance to get in the action runs out this Thursday:
The Like Canberra website has recorded more than 120,200 votes by more than 10,000 voters keen to ensure that their favourite Canberra place, activity or experience is included in the top 100 [...]

The tension filled event occurred after 9 o’clock last Thursday night – we understand by the faint caterwauling that the kitten had probably been stranded + 10 metres up for about 24 hours.
A neighbour called the fire brigade for assistance – the fire-ies arrived shortly after and cheerfully carried out the rescue – donning gloves [...]

The Centenary folk have the happy news that popular demand has seen the bushfires exhibition at Mount Stromlo extended:
Past Present Future – the poignant exhibition commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 2003 ACT bushfires – has been extended until Easter Monday due to an overwhelming response from the public.
The exhibition, in the reconstructed Mount [...]

[ 6 March, 2013; 6:00 pm; ]

This just in:

To mark International Women’s Day, please join us to celebrate compelling contributions and achievements through the stories and experiences of three Canberra based women, Melissa Clarke, Louise Hamby and Fran Raymond.

Paradigm Shifts provides a unique opportunity to hear from three inspiring females in the ACT, nationally recognised in their own professions and [...]

This just in from our friends at the ABC:
1. Safe @ Work – the ACT has the second highest incidence ( in Aust) of industrial accidents… one man injured in the Barton Highway Bridge collapse – has found that life will never be the same.
2. Pegasus Gift – Niki Van Buuren , a paralympic equestrian [...]

Behold the new website of Constable Kenny Koala.
It must have been a ripping business case.
Discuss amongst yourselves.

The ABC has the news that even the Labor movement dominated Clubs aren’t willing to spend money on the possibility of Labor winning the next election:
Members met on Thursday afternoon to decide on whether to begin the trial organised, or delay until after the September polling date.
ClubsACT chief executive Jeff House says managers are [...]

Last week we noted the ABC’s upcoming production “Canberra Confidential”.
Today we see it’s got a trailer.
Exciting times.

Youtuber FindingUFO has posted a video showing some mysterious white dots in front of some black stuff.
Canberra is ground zero for the alien invasion. Start stockpiling tins of beans, baseball bats, and plenty of tinfoil hats.
Published on Feb 20, 2013
This UFO sighting was filmed during night in Canberra, Australia. Thank you for watching. Please like, [...]

Anyone else getting a little excited over Folkie this year? Or nostalgic for Dahahoo?
National Folk Festival songwriting competition 2013 – Song for Canberra (and the Folkie!) by Sigrid Helland.

Most people want to remain independent throughout retirement and to stay in control of where and how they live. But your ability to do so may depend on your health and physical well being. As we age, some things become harder to do on our own.
For many people navigating the aged care area [...]

The ACT Rural Fire Service is holding an information night if getting to play with fire and big toys is your kind of thing:
The ACT Rural Fire Service (ACTRFS) will host a special information night on Tuesday 26 February, 2013, for prospective volunteers who wish to join the service.
“Over 265 offers to become volunteer firefighters [...]

[ 3 March, 2013; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ]

Photowalk is a chance for any person no matter what age or ability to get together and have a lovely walk, get some fresh air and meet other photographically minded people. It is meant to be all inclusive whether you own a DSLR, a compact or just a phone-cam.

These walks happen once a quarter and [...]

Every year around 650 babies are admitted to the Neonatal Unit at the Canberra Hospital, beginning their life by fighting for it.
Over 150 of these babies will require assistance simply to breathe, using ventilation equipment not available elsewhere. Some of these babies are born extremely premature and weigh in at only 500 grams; some are [...]

[ 1 March, 2013; 7:00 pm; ] We’ve had word in of a charity trivia night at the Queanbeyan Kangaroo’s Football Club:

Would you like to win an accommodation package for two? How about some great gear

from ARB for your 4WD? Looking for that perfect item for the man cave?!

Well come and join us for a great night of trivia helping Variety – [...]

[ 1 March, 2013 to 31 March, 2013. ]

Facebook has word on a program of parties planned at local shops around Canberra in March for the centenary:

On 12 March 2013, Parties at the Shops events will be held all over Canberra to celebrate the city’s 100th birthday. Come and party with your neighbours!
Description
We’re pretty sure that Canberra must be the only city in [...]

OK, here’s where this has come from for those coming in late.
New speaker Liberal Vicki Dunne decided she wanted a church service to start the Assembly sitting year. This happens for the big kids on the Hill.
Instead of lightly canvassing her colleagues for support she sent out official invitations first and then when Chief [...]

Oh happy day Canberra.
One of our own has made a list on the world’s premier comedy site Cracked.
The list is “5 Bizarre Workers’ Comp Claims That Were Actually Successful”.
Readers will no doubt be relieved to know we’re world class in this area.

Mayor Rattenbury has announced he’s legislating to stop the pokie dens installing audio isolation devices.
Mr Rattenbury said an amendment to the Gaming Machine Act is needed to prevent the introduction of new gaming machines with headphones that encourage gamblers to play for longer periods of time.
“Recently gaming machine manufactures have begun making machines with headphones, [...]

Many thanks to Bugmenot for pointing out a most impressive house in Kaleen.
We salute the effort!
View Larger Map

SbA would like to welcome onboard Luke Brown who has been contracted to help set up the Skatepark Facility Guide. Luke has been involved heavily with the ACT Hubs for over a year now, and we are delighted to work with him in a full time capacity in regards to this monumental project. Here is [...]

The Liberals Steve Doszpot is having a cry that his progress to corporate hospitality at Manuka Oval was impeded by every other idiot like him thinking he could just rock up in his car and be accommodated at an inner city locale:
Manuka Oval has played host to two international sporting events in the past
month and [...]

The Brumbies have sent forth their merchandise selection for the 2013 season.
It’s some good looking gear and I might well pick some up at the ground on Saturday night.
I particularly like how what we used to call a baseball cap is now a “snapback”.

[ 17 February, 2013; 2:00 pm; 24 February, 2013; 2:00 pm; ] The War Memorial has the intriguing news that they’re getting into the movie business:

To complement Remember me: the lost diggers of Vignacourt and its unique images of Australians on the Western Front, the Australian War Memorial presents a series of classic films that all present distinct visions of the First World War. This is a [...]

Katy attempting to smear the new Liberal leader as a “bully” was the clumsiest tactic I have ever observed in Canberra local politics.
So clearly based on Julia Gillard’s UK campaign adviser’s work.
This attempt to drag ACT politics into the hideous federal bare knuckle-and-abuse parliamentary exchanges will not take her and her team anywhere. [...]