Capital history in the news
2022 Reconciliation Week in Canberra
Ngunnawal elder Aunty Violet Sheridan hopeful on Reconciliation Day 2022 in the ACT | Canberra Times article. On Reconciliation Day 2022 Ngunnawal elder Aunty Violet Sheridan expresses her hopes for reconciliation between First Nations People and other Australians.
For Indigenous artist Greg Joseph, patience is learned art | Canberra Times article. Greg Joseph stresses the importance of patience for art and reconciliation. He runs the Burrunju Aboriginal Art Gallery at Yarramundi Reach. A social enterprise devoted to art and cultural education.
Tree scarring is our signature in the land | ANU news article. Paul Girrawah House, a Ngambri and Ngunnawal custodian explains the importance of tree scarring. He hopes when people see scar trees, they are prompted to learn about First Nations' stories.
Traditional owners to lodge first native title claim in 25 years over ACT | Riotact article. The Ngunnawal Nation Traditional Owners Network Group laid out their plans on the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision to lodge a native title claim over the ACT and parts of NSW.
Capital women in Canberra’s history
June's just the month to tell Canberra's little-known stories, loudly and proudly | Riotact article. To mark Pride month, She Shapes History will donate money from every walking tour sold during June to four Canberra organisations that support the LGBTQIA+ community. The tours are for locals and visitors to Canberra and cover the steps of women who shaped Australia, telling the sort of stories that “weren’t taught at school”.
Aspen Island renamed to honour Queen Elizabeth II | Canberra Weekly article on the ceremony to rename Canberra’s Aspen Island to honour Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and other aspects of the celebrations. Also visit https://www.platinumjubilee.gov.au/ for more information.
Memories of Canberra's royal visits reign over us in new NCA exhibition | Riotact article about the public call out which as enriched the National Capital Authority (NCA) exhibition, The Queen and Me: The Exhibition, which opened on 2 June at the National Capital Exhibition, Regatta Point.
Canberra history anniversaries
Sixty years on, Canberra tunes in to memories of its first commercial TV station | Riotact article about the 60-year anniversary celebrations to mark the first broadcast of CTC Canberra on 2 June 1962. Includes some interesting comments from former employees and covers the technical roles young Canberran women took up in the fledging enterprise.
Other Canberra history news
Protecting Ukrainian history from the horrors of war | ANU news article. Dr Filip Slaveski, a historian from the Australian National University (ANU), is helping to prevent thousands of Soviet-era Ukrainian documents from becoming casualties of the Russian invasion.
What drives Australia's prime ministers? Take a look back at five Commonwealth cars | Riotact article. James Coleman asks what the new Prime Minister will be driving and provides a neat survey of Prime Minister’s cars starting with Fisher’s 1910 Renault 14/20 and ending with Abbott’s BMW 7-Series.
London Bridge and other secrets of the bush capital to explore this World Environment Day | Riotact article. James Coleman highlights some great Canberra walks that can provide us with glimpses of Canberra’s earlier history.
Acknowledgement: The Platinum Jubilee has had me looking for pictures of the Queen visiting Canberra. The image above is of Queen Elizabeth II opening the third session of Parliament on the 15 February 1954. I love the way it brings Old Parliament House to life. It comes from the National Library of Australia. Full details are here.
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