6 March 2015

NSW man moves to Canberra; actually likes it

| Radio Stew
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canberra

I grew up in a small coastal town of about 10,000 called Pacific Palms. My days were filled with the beach or the lake. Most of my adult life was spent in Sydney with the bustle and noise. I have also traveled around Australia extensively, but I choose to live in Canberra.

I found myself in Canberra about four years ago when I was here on a three-month contract. I fell in love with the place. Canberra is a very unique city, it has the heart of a country town yet it has everything you could want day to day and is in easy reach of everything else you could possibly need for brilliant holidays. Such as the beach in summer or the the snow in winter.

We can get to from one side to the other in the same time it used to take me to get around the block in Sydney. We have some of the best infrastructure when it comes to getting around on a bike or walking.We have awesome restaurants which make any mouth water. Parks and trees galore. Our kids can walk to school in most suburbs with safety. Crime is low compared to the major cities, in fact I would bet on my Grandma over the toughest criminal in Canberra.

Community spirit is high, markets showcasing the great local food and products. A wide range of community groups who help those less fortunate. Culture is very strong in music, art , design and growing in the film industry.

If you like nature it is all around us, we have kangaroos even bounding down our main streets. That is cool and freaks out my overseas friends.I love waking up in the morning to the sounds of birds and to clear skies with no pollution.

When I walk around my suburb I can hear chooks in the backyards or children playing. I get to mix with people from all aspects of life from politicians to musicians on a regular basis. Out of all the places I have visited I have never been to a place that has so much to offer and so much potential to influence not only Australia but the world from the talent it possesses and nurtures

Be proud of Canberra and what you have, it truly is the best place in the world to live.

Over the coming weeks I will focus on Tuggeranong the hidden gem within the goldmine that is Canberra. I will take you to places you may not have known existed and meet the people that are doing amazing things in our Valley.

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Canberra has got everything in it.
i love enthusiastic people with their positivity .
restaurants of canberra are amazing with a variety of cuisines.
in love with this place

“Tuggeranong the hidden gem”!? Ha!

Queanbeyanite8:38 pm 05 Mar 15

The Canberra region has a lot to offer; attractive parliamentary triangle, now has a decent airport, 2 1/2 hours to the snow, a little bit longer to the beach, 4 seasons, Autumn and Spring are perfect and the low humidity makes the hot summer bearable. There are a good range of career opportunities and it’s not essential for your kids to leave town for a job. All with a high standard of health services for a major regional centre.

And the best thing is it’s right next door to Queanbeyan, where you could be living in a quaint old country town without any of those benefits where you have a council who isn’t going to foist a $1.2 billion tram disaster and blow out your rates for decades.

I too love life in Canberra. Hate that there seems to be a concerted effort on the part of the ACT government and developers to turn it into another sydney with all its attendant angst.

I couldn’t agree more, Canberra is a fantstic place to live. If you want the bussle of a big city, it’s an easy trip to Sydney of Melbourne. But for life style and with a country feel you couldn’t get better. I get very annoyed by the Canberra bashers who haven’t spent any time here and think that everyone is a public servant. The vaste majority of us come from all walks of life and all sorts of occupations other than the public service.

Unfortunately there are many Canberrans that get about with an air of entitlement and take what they have and the beauty of Canberra for granted. I live in Tuggeranong and while some parts of Tuggeranong are not so desirable, the lake, as it matures, is a place of great beauty. There is wondeful bird life to observe, swans, waterfowl, grass parrots and the other week I saw a flock of Correllas and at the moment a large flock of Ibis has returned to the northern end. However it is spoilt by those thoughtless people who think it is OK to drop their rubbish where ever they like. Those who would be the first to cry foul if someone left rubbish in their yard. Well, Hello! Tuggeranong lake is my backyard, it’s not hard to take your garbage home with you!

Tuggeranong is still evolving and there are some good places to get a meal. I like Little Istanbul in Anketel St and Joes Thai at the Wanniassa shops. Bigginellis in Manheim St Kambah do great coffee, breakfast, light lunches and have fantastic pizza on Wednesday nights.

What’s not to love?

ramblingted said :

Yes, a range of public servants from a wide range of departments, all keen to know where you sit of the hierarchy relative to them…

That is a very random question. I am not a public servant. If your wondering about my socioeconomic position then I am middle class. Was brought up in a working class family and started working when i was 16 years and 9 months at fish and chips joint.

ramblingted said :

Yes, a range of public servants from a wide range of departments, all keen to know where you sit of the hierarchy relative to them…

Yes, a range of public servants from a wide range of departments, all keen to know where you sit of the hierarchy relative to them…

I moved to Canberra the first time in 1995. I spent two years here in Tuggeranong and then moved back to a place near where I was born. I was desperately unhappy there and 15 months later, I was back in Canberra. This time in the Gungahlin area. I have been here ever since. I am living in my own home and loving life. My friends are wide and varied and my happiness at living in this city knows no bounds.
When I go interstate, the most welcoming sign is at the border. I always give a bit of a woo hoo when we are home. Next sign is the Telstra tower.
Home is where the heart is and my heart is here.

Thanks for the encouragement. I am glad to have you all along for the ride on the celebrate life and Tuggeranong train. I will be hunting out good places to eat and socialise as well as the great folk in Tuggeranong that volunteer their time in helping others. I am up for all challenges to bring on the naysayers with their complaints and I will enjoy showing them the error of their ways.

I will be down at the Tuggeranong Homestead this Sunday as part of the Valley FM 89.5 stall so feel free to stop by and say hi and give your feedback in person.

Dame Canberra4:29 pm 04 Mar 15

As a long-time resident of the Dirty South, it’s nice to read a piece that celebrates Canberra and Tuggeranong in all their glory.

We are so lucky to live in such a wonderful city.

Sbrooker, would love to hear your thoughts on the hidden dining gems in Tuggeranong. The area doesn’t have a great reputation as a foodie destination, but I’m sure there are some lovely places I just don’t know about yet.

Well I came to Canberra in 1949. I think there were about 30,000 people here then. I grew up with Canberra. I have lived elsewhere but came back. Easy to get around with a car, but without your own transport it is very difficult.

TheFoodMarshall1:47 pm 04 Mar 15

Thank God, someone else who loves Canberra. I feel like the odd one out and won’t actively put encouraging comments about Canberra on these types of forums for fear of being chased out of town as a Canberran heretic.

Canberra is a fantastic town to raise kids, or not, whatever your lifestyle choice. I sometimes wonder just what the naysayers really want in their lives to make them appreciate their city of choice? Feel free to try to make changes to this city if you feel it necessary, and I don’t doubt there are things that need a- changin, but people who jump online and just b*tch and moan about what they feel is their lifestyle right but aren’t receiving it, make me sad. Don’t like it? do something about it.

I live in Tuggeranong, and feel it is a food desert, except for Peppercress *plug. But you know what, 12 minutes in the car and I’m in the city enjoying a pretty fantastic dining experience.

I look forward to your upcoming positive articles, be they Tuggeranong related or just Canberra in general. This forum could use a few more positive people, rather than negative nellies.

In the wise words of Barney Stinson, “Challenge Accepted” Holden Caulfield

That headline wouldn’t look out of place on the SimCity ticker!

Holden Caulfield10:59 am 04 Mar 15

I love Canberra and welcome your enthusiasm.

I live in Kingston, good luck trying to convince me Tuggeranong is the place to be. 😉

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