8 July 2014

Dear Jemima Skelley - Buzzfeed

| Sebastian Fernandez
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abc-museum

Dear Jemima Skelley,

Thanks so much for dissing on our town.

When people criticise Canberra as you did, it always makes me smile. We understand that Canberra bashing is a wonderful sport which is one of the reasons that we haven’t cracked it for half a million residents. Our city is still a well kept secret, but we like it.

Most who are as critical as you, have never actually been here. If you have spent more than a few days here, then I’m happy that you hate the place because you obviously don’t fit in here.

Descriptions of boring and lame say a lot more about you than they do about us.

You may not call it a city, but it works fine for me. I fell in love with Melbourne when I moved there some years ago, but I don’t think I could go back there now that I’ve discovered Canberra.

If all you can see is buildings and grass well you’re obviously not looking in the right places Jemima.

Please explain why it’s such a bad thing that only 370,000 pe0ple live here. Wait till you’re sitting in a traffic jam in Sydney or Brisbane or Melbourne and then explain it to me.

It is so wonderfully easy get around Canberra and the city centre and surrounds are, as compared to the other cities much more pleasing to the eye. We are spoilt by the array of wonderful restaurants and engaging festivals on offer.

But for me the biggest selling point about Canberra is the people. We have assembled a group of people in this city who believe that they can take on the world and win. They’re intelligent, compassionate and connected.

Canberrans embrace opportunity.

You don’t sound like that sort of girl to me Jemima.

Don’t call us……no seriously….delete our number from your phone. If we need you for anything, we’ll call you.

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Ben_Dover said :

chewy14 said :

And jeez, its funny those acts you linked, they all seem to be playing in Auckland NZ. But I’m really struggling to find their concert dates in Wellington NZ.

You remember Wellington don’t you? The Capital of NZ. Population 400k.

Oh, so NZ’s capital is as boring and ill-served as ours? That makes things here all just fine and dandy then.
🙄

I visited both Auckland and Wellington last year. For this tourist, Wellington had it all over Auckland. Auckland was kind of dowdy looking, while Wellington was exciting. A beautiful city full of interesting streets with lots of great sculptures. I walked many kms in each; 18kms on the first day alone in each. I had actually gone with preconceived ideas that I had had for years, that Wellington would be the least interesting and it turned out to be the opposite. Of course I was only in each city for a few days, so my experience was fleeting.

chewy14 said :

And jeez, its funny those acts you linked, they all seem to be playing in Auckland NZ. But I’m really struggling to find their concert dates in Wellington NZ.

You remember Wellington don’t you? The Capital of NZ. Population 400k.

Oh, so NZ’s capital is as boring and ill-served as ours? That makes things here all just fine and dandy then.
🙄

Ben_Dover said :

chewy14 said :

Disagree,
Which other cities of less than 400k get the concerts, shows and cultural events that Canberra does? I think we punch above our weight for these things and for the really big shows or events, its under 3 hours drive to Sydney. So they’re still easily accessible, minus the massive negatives of actually living in a place like Sydney.

Which city of under 400K are called “the nation’s capital”? Which first world nation’s national capital is as bereft of entertainment, excitement, and distinction as ‘Berra?

chewy14 said :

Ps. If you think the Riot act “what’s on” is a definitive list you definitely need to be getting out more.

If I thought that I would have said it, I do not. I was using it as an easily accessed referrnence point.

Paul Simon and Sting (They do play Geelong pop 160k though)

Justin Timberlake

Lady Gagme.

But hey, we do have lizards and roller skating 🙄

Oh so it’s because we are the Capital then? I think that’s actually irrelevant, its the size of the city that matters and we are small and located so close to Sydney.

And jeez, its funny those acts you linked, they all seem to be playing in Auckland NZ. But I’m really struggling to find their concert dates in Wellington NZ.

You remember Wellington don’t you? The Capital of NZ. Population 400k.

chewy14 said :

Disagree,
Which other cities of less than 400k get the concerts, shows and cultural events that Canberra does? I think we punch above our weight for these things and for the really big shows or events, its under 3 hours drive to Sydney. So they’re still easily accessible, minus the massive negatives of actually living in a place like Sydney.

Which city of under 400K are called “the nation’s capital”? Which first world nation’s national capital is as bereft of entertainment, excitement, and distinction as ‘Berra?

chewy14 said :

Ps. If you think the Riot act “what’s on” is a definitive list you definitely need to be getting out more.

If I thought that I would have said it, I do not. I was using it as an easily accessed referrnence point.

Paul Simon and Sting (They do play Geelong pop 160k though)

Justin Timberlake

Lady Gagme.

But hey, we do have lizards and roller skating 🙄

Grrrr said :

I think there are plenty of reasons why Canberra is awesome, and to get started I don’t need to any further than my very own front yard – which is no more than a few Ks from the city. Visitors to my garden include – in roughly descending order of awesomeness:

(snip long list)

We get most of them too; I haven’t seen shinglebacks and the nearest kangaroos are up in the reserve. But you must have a REALLY BIG toe, the smallest birds we get are silvereyes!

I think there are plenty of reasons why Canberra is awesome, and to get started I don’t need to any further than my very own front yard – which is no more than a few Ks from the city. Visitors to my garden include – in roughly descending order of awesomeness:

Bluetounge Lizard
A pair of shingleback lizards that hung out together on my lawn
Satin Bowerbirds (yes, more than 1 – but no older males ..)
King Parrots
Kookaburras
Kangaroos
Crimson Rosellas
Multiple species of tiny birds, all smaller than my big toe – whose names I can’t recall
Huge moths
the usual array of Currawongs, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, etc.
Even the snake I saw last summer was OK cause he b*ggered off as soon as he saw me.

Just for balance – not-so-cool visitors include Redback spiders, and the neighbours’ cats.

I don’t recall seeing any of them (cats aside) in suburban Melbourne..

chewy14 said :

Ben_Dover said :

If the Riotact is not a fine example of why Jemima Skelley is spot on the money, I don’t know what is.

For example; check out the Riotact “what’s on this weekend,” section for the last couple of months.

This is the; “‘what’s on” for a Capital City? A major city? A minor city? A provincial hick town? A village?

Check which international stars of stage, music, or comedy are touring Australia. How many are coming to the “capital”? Any?

I love Canberra, it’s a nice place to live…if you are over 50….…or a pube who thinks working for the dep’t of administrative affairs as a junior clerk is cutting edge….

Disagree,
Which other cities of less than 400k get the concerts, shows and cultural events that Canberra does? I think we punch above our weight for these things and for the really big shows or events, its under 3 hours drive to Sydney. So they’re still easily accessible, minus the massive negatives of actually living in a place like Sydney.

Ps. If you think the Riot act “what’s on” is a definitive list you definitely need to be getting out more.

Maybe there is a need for a definitive source of whats on in Canberra. There are websites around but they tend to be for the age group of whoever is running it. I’ve found that most places have email subscriptions as well to keep you informed of whats on, or coming up.

Ben_Dover said :

If the Riotact is not a fine example of why Jemima Skelley is spot on the money, I don’t know what is.

For example; check out the Riotact “what’s on this weekend,” section for the last couple of months.

This is the; “‘what’s on” for a Capital City? A major city? A minor city? A provincial hick town? A village?

Check which international stars of stage, music, or comedy are touring Australia. How many are coming to the “capital”? Any?

I love Canberra, it’s a nice place to live…if you are over 50….…or a pube who thinks working for the dep’t of administrative affairs as a junior clerk is cutting edge….

Disagree,
Which other cities of less than 400k get the concerts, shows and cultural events that Canberra does? I think we punch above our weight for these things and for the really big shows or events, its under 3 hours drive to Sydney. So they’re still easily accessible, minus the massive negatives of actually living in a place like Sydney.

Ps. If you think the Riot act “what’s on” is a definitive list you definitely need to be getting out more.

Ben_Dover said :

If the Riotact is not a fine example of why Jemima Skelley is spot on the money, I don’t know what is.

For example; check out the Riotact “what’s on this weekend,” section for the last couple of months.

This is the; “‘what’s on” for a Capital City? A major city? A minor city? A provincial hick town? A village?

Check which international stars of stage, music, or comedy are touring Australia. How many are coming to the “capital”? Any?

I love Canberra, it’s a nice place to live…if you are over 50….…or a pube who thinks working for the dep’t of administrative affairs as a junior clerk is cutting edge….

I left home and moved to Canberra (alone) when I was 18 years old. This was early 70s. I found heaps to do here, and the city was a lot quieter then. I joined organisations/sporting clubs, went out to discos (the big thing then) with new friends, rode my bike about enjoying my new freedom as an adult, etc. There was always a lot to do, even when the city was smaller. Only boring people can’t find things to do and get bored. This is a city for all ages, unless one is too boring to find things to do, but those people are probably easily bored wherever they live.

If the Riotact is not a fine example of why Jemima Skelley is spot on the money, I don’t know what is.

For example; check out the Riotact “what’s on this weekend,” section for the last couple of months.

This is the; “‘what’s on” for a Capital City? A major city? A minor city? A provincial hick town? A village?

Check which international stars of stage, music, or comedy are touring Australia. How many are coming to the “capital”? Any?

I love Canberra, it’s a nice place to live…if you are over 50….…or a pube who thinks working for the dep’t of administrative affairs as a junior clerk is cutting edge….

VYBerlinaV8_is_back5:17 pm 09 Jul 14

watto23 said :

My experience is international visitors love it here.

I have found the same. People from other countries love the cleanliness, the open green spaces, the colourful trees, the weather, the kangaroos that live wild, the views, the list goes on.

My experience is international visitors love it here. I always tell people when I travel, that they should visit and ignore what other Australians say, because on an international level the city is unique and worth visiting.

Lets face it, Sydney and Melbourne do a bit of arguing too and Adelaide is probably the least supported city after Canberra.

No-one will ever be able to mock us again when we get The Tram.

All Hail The Tram!

I think I temporarily lost a few IQ points after reading that.

She says she came here in year 5, I’m assuming that was a few weeks ago.

People,
Can we please stop defending Canberra every time someone criticises the place. What if the rest of Australia finds out how good it really is here?

Do we really want people from Sydney, Melbourne etc. moving here and making Canberra a city just like theirs, with all the problems that go with that – too many people, congested roads, poor standard of living, etc.

Whenever someone from out of town feels the need to tell me how they don’t like Canberra I agree with them, and encourage them to stay away.

Anyone who has a camel head as a profile picture on twitter cannot be taken seriously….

Ben_Dover said :

Dreadnaught1905 said :

What I found most irritating about her rant (such as it was), was that the picture posted for “Highway to the Snow” isn’t even close to the ACT. It’s the road sign on the Hume Highway in Mundarlo!

Comments like that just prove how right she was!

Explain further what you mean.

Dreadnaught1905 said :

What I found most irritating about her rant (such as it was), was that the picture posted for “Highway to the Snow” isn’t even close to the ACT. It’s the road sign on the Hume Highway in Mundarlo!

Comments like that just prove how right she was!

Why are we even discussing this? I visited Buzzfeed and couldn’t believe how trashy and low class it was. I would say that being criticised by that site is a great honour which shows that we are indeed doing something right.

Dreadnaught19054:04 pm 08 Jul 14

What I found most irritating about her rant (such as it was), was that the picture posted for “Highway to the Snow” isn’t even close to the ACT. It’s the road sign on the Hume Highway in Mundarlo!

There are no boring places, just boring people.

I reckon that State Circle, Arthur Circle, and London Circuit are the only places that can be referred to in the usual diatribe about “going round in circles” Maybe Veron Circle counts.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back1:23 pm 08 Jul 14

Just how insecure are we that we’d give this person a response?

It goes with the Territory (no pun intended !) of living in Canbeerra I’m afraid. Its not an uncommon view out there either.

Its just a dredge, I wouldn’t take it seriously.

The scarey thing for me, is that those sorts of people actually vote in elections ……..

DeadlySchnauzer1:03 pm 08 Jul 14

Interestingly her recent take on why Adelaide is so awesome included most of the same points, but in that case decided they were positive rather than negative.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jemimaskelley/adelaide-is-australias-most-underrated-city

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