Hobart Happenings August 2020

by Hobart Magazine

PANDEMIC OPENINGS

Imagine you’d been slogging it to open a new business, then a pandemic hits. Do you troop on or quit it? Hats off to those who have opened businesses in the past few months. In early July, Hobart Crowne Plaza rolled out the red carpet for hotel and restaurant guests, and Replay Bar, a retro video game arcade, got busy serving drinks in their bar in Elizabeth Mall (above Off Ya Tree!). The much-awaited Crescent Hotel is now open just off the North Hobart strip, with a refreshed downstairs bar and upstairs dining room featuring a modern pub menu and solid drinks list with local wines, beers and spirits. Dana Eating House, a concept by Hobart brothers Dan and Ollie Lancaster, is set to open on Murray Street early August. “We want to implement a charitable model alongside our regular trading. There’s room in our industry to do more. As a business we’ll endeavour to work alongside charitable groups to create a dining experience that enables our custom- ers to do a little more than the ordinary,” the guys shared with us. Cygnet is also heating up with the recent opening of The Port Hole Cafe in late July in the location that once was Lotus Eaters and the Red Velvet Lounge changing hands.

RIVULET RUBBISH

A few readers have told us of their concern about the amount of rubbish lining the Hobart Rivulet since the big downpour in June. The stretch from Cascade Brewery down to Hamlet Cafe is particularly bad. Let’s hope the poor ducks don’t get confused and choke on some plastic.

HIKE YOUR WAY TO HAPPINESS

Tasmanian Iconic Walks is gearing up for their third wilderness bush walking event in Tasmania, on 7 November 2020. After some concerns about what COVID-19 would do to the chances of running the event, the organisers have been celebrating the recent green light to hold the fundraising event on the beautiful Tasman Peninsula. In teams of four, walkers will traverse the Tasman Arch to Fortescue Bay trail, while raising money for Stroke Foundation (their charity of choice). Registrations open early this month, so it’s time to get fit, and get ready to take part in TIW’s award winning fundraising hike. Sign up to their early bird email series at www.tasmanianiconicwalks.org

POKIE LOSSES SPIKE

The Department of Treasury and Finance recently posted the figures for the days gaming venues were open in June once restrictions were lifted, from the 26 – 30 June. In five days, more than $2.6 million was put through the machines, about $525,000 a day. Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb shared, “With even with fewer machines operating due to social distancing, this was a spike of more than 25% per day compared to March this year.”

CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS!

The Frank Hurley Photography Awards is an international competition to find the best in new photography. It honours the spirit and adventurous career of James Francis ‘Frank’ Hurley, OBE, best known for his Antarctic work with Douglas Mawson and Ernest Shackleton. The awards are presented by the Mawson’s Huts Foundation, of which David Jensen, AM is chairperson. “Frank Hurley was no stranger to Hobart, spending time here capturing images of the town before and after his two voyages to Antarctica with Mawson in 1911-13 and 1929-31,” David said. “His images of the Douglas Mawson’s ship the “Aurora” departing Hobart on December 2, 1911 and of members of Australasian Antarctic Expedition work on the waterfront are in the national archives and the Mitchell Library in Sydney.”

By all accounts, Hurley made himself at home here in Hobart. “While Mawsonused Hadley’s Hotel as his of ce, Hurleyand other members of the expedition found accommodation elsewhere in Hobart and were very popular guests of the local community,” David shared. “Prior to the departure, Hurley spent days photographing the city including views from Mt Wellington and of the team working on packing supplies on Queens Wharf which sadly burnt down years later. It’s hoped many Tasmanians will enter the Frank Hurley photo awards and help honour this great Australian.” www.frankhurleyphotoawards.com

Let’s get behind the Derwent Scorpions! Email Steph at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au for more details. Photo by Eliya Cohen.

SPONSOR THE DERWENT SCORPIONS TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS!

You might remember back in September last year we featured two local Glenorchy cricketers, Shaun and Zac. They had faced a bit of adversity and through it all managed to put together a cracking cricket team packed with international players. They were even featured in an SBS documentary last year, exploring their story of hardship and inclusiveness. They’re on the lookout for a sponsor to help them with their entry fee to the ICSL T20 cricket competition starting in October. For a $1000 investment, there’s some fun benefits like entry to games, invitations to club functions and a guernsey. We’ll also cover the sponsorship story in a future issue, for a little extra incentive. “We’ve had many players in our squad from all different backgrounds, people who are disadvantaged, suffering from mental illness and homelessness, as well as people who have never been accepted into cricket teams nor given the chance they’ve deserved. Over the years we have taken them in under our wings,” Shaun shared.

CHANGES TO UNDERAGE STRIP SEARCH RULES

New recommendations about the potentially traumatic practice of stripsearching (or ‘personal searching’) children at reception prisons in Tasmania were put forward by the Commissioner for Children and Young People last year. “The Government has accepted, or accepted in principle, all of the Children’s Commissioners recommendations in relation to personal searches,” the Attorney-General, Elise Archer, shared with us. “The Tasmanian Government will consult on draft legislation later this year which will address the recommendations by the Children’s Commissioner.” We’re told they will remain committed to implementing any measures that will ensure the dignity and self-respect of children and young people in the custodial process, which is a step in the right direction.

ABSEIL THE EDGE IN 2020

The EDGE abseil is on again at Wrest Point on 6 September, for Father’s Day, fittingly named EDGE – Do it for Dad 2020. Participants scale 60m down Wrest Point tower to raise funds for the RHH Research Foundation. To register to abseil or donate to local medical research email research@rhhresearchfoundation.org

DRESS FOR SUCCESS BACK IN BUSINESS

The work of Hobart charity, Dress For Success has never been more important, as unemployment grows in the wake of COVID-19. Their aim is to empower women to achieve economic independence, they’ve been offering support with CVs and work-ready out ts since they opened in November 2019. “Dealing with aglobal pandemic in the rst six months
of operating wasn’t exactly in our business plan,” said General Manager, Amanda French. “We’re seeing a whole different group of women experiencing unemployment like never before. We are prepared to see women come through
our doors in the coming months that may never have experienced unemployment before, but have now lost their job due to industry shut downs and the impact that COVID-19 has had on different businesses,” she said. If you need support, or have quality work clothes to donate, head to www.hobart.dressforsuccess.org.

RETREAT AGAIN TO THE HAVEN

Parents rejoice, The Haven is open again now with new hours, from 10am – 12 midday on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The volunteer-run family havens in both Hobart (121 Macquarie St) and Launceston (11-13 Wellington St) are a spot where parents can feed a baby, change poo explosion, make a cup of tea and meet other parents. Allfamilies and carers are welcome at The Haven and entry is $2 per family. You can alsostay in touch via Virtual Haven, with talks, workshops and social Zoom catch ups for parents and storytelling and making sessions for kids.

A NEW ONLINE HOME FOR THE HOBART MAGAZINE

We’re excited to share our new website with you! Launched in June, the new website features more stories, more local news and more ways to engage with other readers and the community. You can sign up to our newsletter and take a look at all our past issues, dating back to our launch issue from May 2018. We love hearing from our readers and are always keen to listen your feedback and story suggestions. Check out our new online home at www.thehobartmagazine.com.au.

BRIDGING THE DESIGN GAP

Potential designs for the $576m Bridgewater Bridge have been released, with two options on the table for now. Some are questioning the omission of options for rail and the merit of removing the old bridge vs leaving it there. The rstoption is for a new two-lane bridge to be built and the replacement of the existing bridge with a new bridge, providing two lanes in each direction. The second option would see a new four-lane bridge built, with two lanes in each direction.

Option one

Option two

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Return Travellers Adding Pressure to Hobart Housing

For all of us 2020 was a year like no other, punctuated by rapid change and plenty of new challenges. For vulnerable people in Tasmania, including people facing homelessness, those on low incomes and those facing increasingly higher rents, it was very challenging. We are seeing a growing demand for homes in Tassie from international travellers returning home, people moving for work and others seeking the lifestyle that our Apple Isle has to offer.