19 April 2016

Canberra, the age friendly city?

| Steven Bailey
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Canberra - age friendly city

Slogans can be used or abused. They can encapsulate a moment in time, or they can serve as hollow reductions etched like a skid mark from the suppository of Australian political wisdom (i.e. “Stop the boats”).

In South Australia there comes a time of year where the state explodes with creativity and merriment. Rundle Mall bustles with buskers and street art, and where Canberra has a practically unfunded two-day fringe festival dovetailed by a multicultural two-day finger food festival, Adelaide’s fringe festival rages on for a good three weeks. Undoubtedly South Australia has a solid claim its number plate slogan, the festive state.

And as you leave the barren soil of inland South Australia or the Monaro Tablelands of New South Wales, the trees become taller, the foliage becomes denser and the world certainly becomes greener. With the state boasting some of the most beautiful and historic gardens, and 32 botanic gardens, Victoria will forever be the garden state in my mind.

Last week the ACT government announced, in a decisive move, a new series of number plates that will sport the slogan “Canberra – Age Friendly City”.

Minister Mick Gentleman said the new slogan promotes the ACT community’s support for positive ageing in a city where older people are respected, valued and supported to participate in their community. The decision was made in light of the World Health Organisation classifying Canberra as an age-friendly city.

If you would like to replace your standard “Y” series number plates for those with the new slogan, you can purchase replacement plates for $38.80. Residents registering their vehicles for the first time in the ACT can also choose to have no slogan, or one of the following:

  • CANBERRA – HEART OF THE NATION
  • CANBERRA THE NATION’S CAPITAL
  • FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA

I thought the ACT Government wanted people to think of Canberra as confident, bold and ready, brimming with innovative noodle markets and dazzling lighting exhibitions; and awash with international business opportunities and temporary villages made out of shipping containers where hip Canberrans can just hang out and be young and sexy without interruption.

The Canberra Times conducted a poll asking Canberrans what they thought of the new age-friendly city slogan. Just two per cent agreed with the statement “I think they are great. We are an age-friendly city,” while 63 per cent said “You’ve got to be joking, who would want one?”

There are many elderly Canberrans who are doing it tough in Canberra. Perhaps it’s just me, but the only purpose for having motorists sporting “age-friendly” sentiments on their number plates could be nothing more than a shallow gesture of smug self-congratulations for the political class.

Screen Shot 2015-06-30 at 9.03.40 am

I think we’d turn the heads of our fellow Australians interstate if our slogan was: CANBERRA – THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD!

What do you think the slogan should say?

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Don’t think I’ve seen so much Canberra bashing in one place since forever!
No wonder “the powers that be” don’t seem to be very creative in their choices across the board – public transport, health, education, number plates, city development etc. Terrified of the hyper-critical response from the “hoardes”.

My brother (who doesn’t live here) suggests:

Canberra – World’s Largest Roundabout

Its totally out of synch with Canberras tourism and promotional branding, (CBR Confident Bold & Ready). In seriousness I like “the bush capital” or something like “cultural capital” or “smart thinking” or reflecting all the new precincts, festivals, and shrugging off all the old public service grey cardigan stereotypes, not reinforcing them! In jokes, “porn capital since 1927”, “theyre your elected members”, “jamming photocopiers since 1992″…

curmudgery said :

If I set up the ‘No Number Plate Slogan Party’ can I count on your support?

Why do you need a party for that? You can already get no slogan if you so wish. So pointless party too!

If I set up the ‘No Number Plate Slogan Party’ can I count on your support?

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

Most of us show them in public – unless you’re doing something wrong, is there really anything to fear? In fact, even if you’re doing something wrong, there’s probably still little to fear… the last time I saw a police car, I was in NSW

Yep, definitely nothing more than another, hollow, meaningless gesture of smug self-congratulation for the political class. Anything to take our minds off the toy train fiasco. Mick, you’re in my sights at the next election.
Don’t have any slogan on my plates, ordered personalised jobbies. Surprised the “power of Canberra” slogan is back, it generated a lot of hostility with interstaters.

ChrisinTurner2:43 pm 02 Jul 15

“Age Friendly”?? Capital Metro Agency say they expect people will walk up to 1.5Km to get to a tram stop but only 400 metres to a bus. I wonder if CMA will still ban buses in Northbourne, as stated in their Business Plan?

51modelBloke2:27 pm 02 Jul 15

CANBERRA – The nanny state

Canberra – Out of touch

watto23 said :

Mysteryman said :

CANBERRA – ACTUALLY A NICE PLACE

I’m regularly fighting off the hounds on travel forums, from Australians telling people to not visit here. As far as things for tourists to do, there is plenty here. Even the cold argument loses a lot of cred, when I point out we get more sunshine in winter than Melbourne and Sydney. Yes the mornings are freezing, but most of the time you go to work that is heated. I mean Europeans and North Americans cope with snow! Canberrans get excited when snow is on the forecast.

Ah, but soon we will have a sexy Euro-tram and thousands of tourists will flock here to see it.
Who knows, they may even get a seat as not many locals will be using it.
Canberra’a Capital Metro, putting bums in seats.

HenryBG said :

Perhaps our plates could reflect the fact that our local town council actually employs over 20,000 people, just as if it were trying to run a Greek-style economy?

Good point Henry (as always) but the defence of this high number is that the Territory also has to run health, education, policing etc. besides fixing potholes and mowing grass.
Actually, they don’t have to be run exclusively by the Territory, they could be run just as (or more) efficiently by the NSW Government.
After all, a lot of NSW people already use our services and the only compensation we receive is from health services based on some nebulous formula.
Has anyone ever done a comparative study on how much would be saved if the health, education and community policing services were integrated with those in NSW?

Rollersk8r said :

Age friendly!? Seriously!? What are we trying to say? Retain retirees? Attract new ones? Making some claim as the last city in Australia to respect its elders??

Canberra: We acknowledge people get older!
Canberra: We also have young people!
Canberra: A baby was probably born here today!

How about:

Canberra: Yes plastic bags cost money.
Canberra: Where motorists and cyclists live in perfect harmony
Canberra: Now exactly one cafe per person.

Nice one Roller “Canberra: Now exactly one cafe per person.

Mysteryman said :

CANBERRA – ACTUALLY A NICE PLACE

I’m regularly fighting off the hounds on travel forums, from Australians telling people to not visit here. As far as things for tourists to do, there is plenty here. Even the cold argument loses a lot of cred, when I point out we get more sunshine in winter than Melbourne and Sydney. Yes the mornings are freezing, but most of the time you go to work that is heated. I mean Europeans and North Americans cope with snow! Canberrans get excited when snow is on the forecast.

Perhaps our plates could reflect the fact that our local town council actually employs over 20,000 people, just as if it were trying to run a Greek-style economy?

Winter plates:
CANBERRA – BRRRRRR!

All year-round plates:
CANBERRA – ZZZZZZZZZ

Maybe the plates could be seasonal?

WINTER:
Canberra – Sorry, we’ve gone to Perisher

SUMMER:
Canberra- Sorry, we’ve gone to Batemans.

BenjaminRose199112:37 pm 01 Jul 15

CANBERRA – A ROUNDABOUT PLACE TO BE
CANBERRA – FORM ONE LANE
CANBERRA – KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING
CANBERRA – HEAR THE TYRE ROAR

Does that mean Canberra is not friendly towards people like Shane Warne, who don’t have an age?

dungfungus said :

Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

They are on display anyway when you drive around, so it’s not a huge issue, but it is possible to find out someone’s identity and/or address from their licence plate number.

It used to be possible to do a rego/licence search for a fee but the privacy people have shut it down.
You may be surprised to know that everytime you have your car serviced, repaired etc. the details are logged against the vehicles VIN to a central database who sells the “history” to prospective used car buyers on the net for about $35.
I tried this service recently and it is amazing – all details in the cars service history book and other documents supplied with the car were exactly as supplied by the data base. It also logs insurance claims/repairs.

A friend services my car. Does a really good job too; likely better than many mechanics. This means though that my car doesn’t get anything recorded about its services.

I thought you used a bike.

Maybe multimodal like me.

How about,

The Roundabout Capital
The Bogan Capital
Your Taxes; Thanks
Ride the Tram

They’re all embarrassing. The Bush Capital wins by the lengths…

Canberra – Where every road user is an expert.

Maya123 said :

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

They are on display anyway when you drive around, so it’s not a huge issue, but it is possible to find out someone’s identity and/or address from their licence plate number.

It used to be possible to do a rego/licence search for a fee but the privacy people have shut it down.
You may be surprised to know that everytime you have your car serviced, repaired etc. the details are logged against the vehicles VIN to a central database who sells the “history” to prospective used car buyers on the net for about $35.
I tried this service recently and it is amazing – all details in the cars service history book and other documents supplied with the car were exactly as supplied by the data base. It also logs insurance claims/repairs.

A friend services my car. Does a really good job too; likely better than many mechanics. This means though that my car doesn’t get anything recorded about its services.

I thought you used a bike.

Pork Hunt said :

Canberra – Unparalleled National Tourism

Vintage Pork Hunt comment.

Canberra – Unparalleled National Tourism

John Hargreaves6:58 pm 30 Jun 15

CANBERRA – CHECK IT OUT
CANBERRA – WALK ON THE WILDSIDE
CANBERRA – WELCOME CITY
CANBERRA – WHOA YEAH!

How about a regional plate?
TUGGERANONG – TO GOOD TO BE TRUE
BELCONNEN – SEEN THE REST? TRY THE BEST
WODEN – COME CHECK IT OUT

Yet another example of an ACT Government that has simply lost touch and now believes its own slogans.

Not that I’ll be around then, but in 17 years time, my Annual Rates in Canberra will be about $8,500pa plus the inceases in ACT Gov’t charges like the 6% hike pa in parking fees forever, massive increases in car rego cost each year, debt caused by PPPs such as Light Rail – which will flow probably into nore increases in Annual Rates, and the ACT Gov’ts lie about absolishing stamp duties in return for increasing Annual Rates by avg.10% pa (apprently, also forever too !).

As a self funded retiree (indexed to less than CPI), I will need to move out of the ACT many years before then because it simply will not be affordable to live here any more. I’m certain many low and/or single income families will need to do the same too.

So, “Age friendly”. If it was April 1, i would say that slogan is an April fools joke.

Perhaps it should be something like “Apathetic & Overpaid Voters”. Or perhaps “The City of under 55 year olds”.

The Hypocrisy and arrogance of this ACT government is astounding.

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

They are on display anyway when you drive around, so it’s not a huge issue, but it is possible to find out someone’s identity and/or address from their licence plate number.

It used to be possible to do a rego/licence search for a fee but the privacy people have shut it down.
You may be surprised to know that everytime you have your car serviced, repaired etc. the details are logged against the vehicles VIN to a central database who sells the “history” to prospective used car buyers on the net for about $35.
I tried this service recently and it is amazing – all details in the cars service history book and other documents supplied with the car were exactly as supplied by the data base. It also logs insurance claims/repairs.

A friend services my car. Does a really good job too; likely better than many mechanics. This means though that my car doesn’t get anything recorded about its services.

Ezy said :

CANBERRA – LEARN HOW TO MERGE

BEHIND ME

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

They are on display anyway when you drive around, so it’s not a huge issue, but it is possible to find out someone’s identity and/or address from their licence plate number.

It used to be possible to do a rego/licence search for a fee but the privacy people have shut it down.
You may be surprised to know that everytime you have your car serviced, repaired etc. the details are logged against the vehicles VIN to a central database who sells the “history” to prospective used car buyers on the net for about $35.
I tried this service recently and it is amazing – all details in the cars service history book and other documents supplied with the car were exactly as supplied by the data base. It also logs insurance claims/repairs.

Wow, I didn’t know that. Interesting.

I’d like to see CANBERRA – THE BUSH CAPITAL. Slogans are irrelevant anyway. I bought a second hand Barina in 2011 and it took more than a year before I noticed it had HEART OF THE NATION plates.

Evilomlap said :

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

They are on display anyway when you drive around, so it’s not a huge issue, but it is possible to find out someone’s identity and/or address from their licence plate number.

It used to be possible to do a rego/licence search for a fee but the privacy people have shut it down.
You may be surprised to know that everytime you have your car serviced, repaired etc. the details are logged against the vehicles VIN to a central database who sells the “history” to prospective used car buyers on the net for about $35.
I tried this service recently and it is amazing – all details in the cars service history book and other documents supplied with the car were exactly as supplied by the data base. It also logs insurance claims/repairs.

bryansworld said :

Evilomlap said :

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

They are on display anyway when you drive around, so it’s not a huge issue, but it is possible to find out someone’s identity and/or address from their licence plate number.

How, other than by accessing a restricted database like the RTA’s or an insurer’s? Just tried mine on Google and – zilch.

The ACT rego site will tell you whether a car’s registered and who it’s insured with – but no owner details.

Evilomlap said :

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

They are on display anyway when you drive around, so it’s not a huge issue, but it is possible to find out someone’s identity and/or address from their licence plate number.

How, other than by accessing a restricted database like the RTA’s or an insurer’s? Just tried mine on Google and – zilch.

bryansworld said :

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

They are on display anyway when you drive around, so it’s not a huge issue, but it is possible to find out someone’s identity and/or address from their licence plate number.

Age friendly!? Seriously!? What are we trying to say? Retain retirees? Attract new ones? Making some claim as the last city in Australia to respect its elders??

Canberra: We acknowledge people get older!
Canberra: We also have young people!
Canberra: A baby was probably born here today!

How about:

Canberra: Yes plastic bags cost money.
Canberra: Where motorists and cyclists live in perfect harmony
Canberra: Now exactly one cafe per person.

switch said :

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

Why are people so obsessed with blurring out number plates? What is the risk of showing them?

CANBERRA – REMEMBER THEY”RE YOUR POLITICIANS

CANBERRA – WHEN’S MY REGO DUE AGAIN?

Alexandra Craig11:34 am 30 Jun 15

Mysteryman said :

CANBERRA – ACTUALLY A NICE PLACE

Haha, I like the idea of something like this. So many people think Canberra is boring. I reckon a lighthearted numberplate would be good. I’d totally pay the extra to get one.

Holden Caulfield11:21 am 30 Jun 15

The CBR slogan suggested by Alexandra makes the most sense.

CANBERRA – DEEPER IN DEBT

CANBERRA – YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT

CBR <- THAT COST $2.6M

CANBERRA – ACTUALLY A NICE PLACE

Remember to renew your Holden Astra rego before 24 August…

John Hargreaves11:09 am 30 Jun 15

I’m the President of the Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club which is the seniors’ club in the Valley. We promote activity and stimulation for our members and are not a baby sitting service for old wrinklies.

We espouse activity for the mind and the body because this is the secret of eternal youth. And we proselytize through example.

What we don’t need is sloganism and opportunities for ridicule. I remember the Feel the Power plates and the ridicule I suffered when interstate. I don’t want it again.

Ageing is a mindset borne of ignorance. Sure time ravages the body but if the state of mind is young, enjoyment of life follows.

Number plates just invite ridicule.

Alexandra Craig11:08 am 30 Jun 15

Ezy said :

CANBERRA – LEARN HOW TO MERGE

Hahahah yes, you could have so many good ones.

‘CANBERRA – RED MEANS STOP, NOT KEEP GOING’
‘CANBERRA – INDICATORS ARE THERE FOR A REASON’

Someone should make a website with a slogan generator.

Anyway, I reckon Age Friendly City is a bit dumb. Aside from making Canberra sound like somewhere you would go to die, it’s just a bit of a random thing to put on a numberplate.

There was a big push on the whole ‘#CBR – Confident. Bold. Ready.’ branding, so I’m surprised the government didn’t put that on the numberplates.

I still think “FEEL THE POWER OF CANBERRA” will earn your car a two bob detailing job interstate.

Btw, I thought numberplates were blurred out on RiotACT?

CANBERRA – LEARN HOW TO MERGE

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