NEW NEW NEW

After a big, beautiful reno, Lazy Brunch (279A Argyle Street, North Hobart) has opened its doors, serving up traditional Asian and Australian food, promising a brand new experience in fusion cuisine. In Battery Point, Salento Cafe (69 Hampden Road, Battery Point) has popped up in the old Kombi Cafe space. They’re serving Colombian coffee and international food, with an emphasis on Tasmanian and Colombian products, seven days a week. Are we truly a world-class city now with the opening of a 24 hour convenience store, American Convenience (120 Liverpool St, Hobart) in the CBD? While we’re told it’s not actually open 24 hours a day yet (we haven’t dropped in at 4am), there are plans afoot. Still on Liverpool Street is the new Liverpool Kebabs (135 Liverpool Street, Hobart), open from 11am – 6pm daily, next to Medici Pizza. The Skin Care Clinic has moved to their new location at 4 Gregory Street, Sandy Bay, where they consult, examine, diagnose and treat all sorts of skin concerns in all ages. Still on all things beauty and skin, Stella Arden have opened their new clinic at 290A Murray Street, North Hobart, on the corner of Murray and Warwick Streets. Head there for brow and skin treatments including their unique brow tattooing style, skin needling, brow laminations, lash lifts and saline brow tattoo removal. A new urban yoga sanctuary, Sanara Studio (Suite 7, 221 Macquarie Street, Hobart) has opened with yoga, meditation and mindfulness classes, and workshops in their studio. They offer smaller class sizes and embrace diversity and the idea that you can “come as you are”.

TOGETHER, LET’S CELEBRATE THE RESILIENCE OF ENDO WARRIORS IN MARCH

Endometriosis is a common disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it in other parts of the body. More than 830,000 (more than 11%) of Australian women, girls, and those who are gender diverse suffer from endometriosis at some point in their life with the disease often starting in teenagers.

Symptoms are variable and this may contribute to the average six and a half year delay in diagnosis. Common symptoms include pelvic pain that puts life on hold around or during a person’s period. It can impact fertility for some but not for all. Whilst endometriosis most often affects the reproductive organs, it’s frequently found in the bowel and bladder and has been found in muscle, joints, the lungs and the brain.

This month is Endometriosis Awareness Month and on 26 March, a high tea is being held to celebrate the resilience of endo warriors in Tasmania. Heading along to the high tea will support Endometriosis Australia to help the endo community through awareness, education and research programs. Enjoy an afternoon of high tea with inspirational speakers who are paving the way in women’s health and advocacy. It’s on Sunday 26 March from 1- 4pm at Rydges Hobart (393 Argyle St, North Hobart). Tickets are $135 each. For more information, visit www.endometriosisaustralia.org/high-tea-events

BYO ARTIST TO SCHOOL

Applications are now open for the Education Residencies program – offering Tassie artists the chance to focus on their practice within a school environment and therefore encouraging young people to engage with art. Eight funded residencies (including two designed for Tasmanian Aboriginal artists) are available right now at schools across the state. Find out more via www.arts.tas.gov.au (head to the grants and funding link).

HIT THE DECKS FOR THE WEST HOBART BOWL JAM
Love skateboarding. ..or at least watch- ing it? The 21st annual West Hobart Bowl Jam is being held on 25 March at the West Hobart Skate Bowl. Organiser Jimmy McMacken, owner of Jimmys Skate & Street in Hobart shared why this event is one to witness. “This iconic skatepark is the second oldest in the Southern Hemisphere and has been
skated by some of the all time greats, including Tony Hawk. If you grew up skating in the 80/90’s in Hobart this was the place to be, it’s old/dirty/rough and beautiful.” Every year the event attracts skaters from all over Australia who compete in a jam format (that just means everyone skating at the same time – awesome) for cash prizes. For more information head to The Annual West Hobart Bowl Jam Facebook page.

WINTER COVID REMINDER
The Australian Medical Association has warned authorities to prepare to ‘scale up’ vaccine efforts, mask wearing and case reporting as we head towards winter. Reported covid case numbers are now at their lowest levels since our borders reopened in December 2021, but AMA state president John Saul said the virus continued to circulate and cause concern. “Winter is coming. Whether we like it or not, Covid is still out there. We are still certainly seeing significant amounts of disease. We need to be prepared and we need to be ready,” he said. State operated clinics for COVID-19, flu and RSV closed on 31 January, so to get a PCR test now you need to call your GP or contact the GP-led Respiratory Clinics.

TASSIE ROAD TOLL WORRIES

New statistics have revealed Tasmania now has one of the highest per capita road death tolls of any state in Australia. The report by the Australian Automobile Association (AAC) put Tasmania second only to the Northern Territory in terms of the per capita road death toll. The most recent quarterly update on the National Road Safety Strategy showed Tasmania’s road toll was 8.75 per 100,000, well above the national average of 4.57.

RV INVESTIGATOR IS MINTED

In happy news, the RV Investigator, which calls Hobart home, is now featured on a 2023 collector coin made by the Royal Australian Mint. The coin showcases the vessel and its deep towed camera technology, with deep sea creatures like gold coral, brittle star and the king crab. In less good news, the Investigator recently had to cut short its trip to Antarctica due to a participant becoming unwell. The illness was not related to the trip and polar medical support services determined that the person required further advanced medical care and they were medevaced for more help. The vessel stopped all science operations and returned to Australia. The Investigator was on a 47-day research voyage in Antarctica led by Geoscience Australia, investigating Antarctic bottom water production and how this might change with a warming climate.

NO LOVE FOR TOXIC FOXGLOVES, THEY’RE OUT OF CONTROL!

Foxgloves, a cottage garden favourite for some but an overwhelming weed when out of place, have had a bumper year around Hobart. They’re going to seed now, so it’s a great time to de-head them into a bag then bin them to try to stem their spread next season – one single plant can produce over a million seeds! They thrive in cleared land and are well adapted to our climate. They’re also toxic, so wear gloves and be careful with young children as ingestion of any parts of the plant can cause severe poisoning. If you’re concerned about foxgloves and would like to chat to others who feel the same way, you might like to join Bushcare or a local clean-up group. Online, there is also a local Facebook group called Tasmanian Foxglove. Currently hosting over a thousand members, the group exists “for people who are concerned about the problem of foxglove overtaking huge areas of the bush” and if you join you can add sightings to their map and work with others to help.

HOBART STREET ART CELEBRATED IN NEW WEBSITE

In the same week that Hobart’s Bidencopes Lane project won the Bronze award in the Best Street Art Laneway category at the Australian Street Art Awards, we were alerted to a cool website that documents local murals and street art. De Dory Amore, the creator of the website, said the site included an interactive map showing 30 locations in Hobart that feature street art. It’s for locals and visitors, and was started thanks to a tourist. “I designed this website as I had a tourist ask me (while I was in Bidencopes Lane) for directions to go and visit other pieces of art work around town. Since I couldn’t refer him to a web site, I decided to make my own!” De created the website as part of a creative mentorship with Joel Imber from Create Crew, facilitated through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). All the map locations are within walking distance of the CBD and the artists are credited, so it’s a great way to learn about the Hobart street art scene. Have a look at www.hobartmuralsandstreetart.com.

NEED HEALTH ADVICE NOW?

We all know how bloody hard it can be to get in to see a doctor in Hobart right now. Are you feeling unwell but you’re not sure what you can do? You can get expert health advice from a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. They can provide advice on whether you should manage the condition at home, see a local GP, or visit an emergency department. If needed, you may be offered a call back from a GP. While taking a visit to Dr Google isn’t always a good idea, the Healthdirect website also provides trusted information on symptoms, services, medicines and more. Head to www.healthdirect.gov.au.

VEGGIE PATCH THIEVES STILL AT IT AROUND HOBART

With the cost of living – including groceries – continuing to climb, locals are noting thefts of produce from private gardens and community spaces. We’ve heard of it happening in residential yards from South Hobart to Mornington, at the New Town Community Garden and most recently at the Source Community Cafe and Garden at UTAS, where an entire crop of pumpkins was nicked. If you’re facing food insecurity, emergency food relief is available through Loaves and Fishes Tasmania (loavesandfishestasmania.org.au), Loui’s Van (vinniestas.org.au), Foodbank (facebook.com/foodbanktas), Hobart City Mission (hobartcitymission.org.au) and other charities.

HOBART YOUTH CRIME AND THE POLICE RESPONSE

It feels like we’re seeing or hearing about youth crime in the CBD and suburban shopping centres every day at the moment. Tasmania Police have reinstated Operation Saturate – a taskforce that monitors known offenders closely and adds high vis police patrols to key shopping precincts and the waterfront. It’s led to a bunch of arrests but given the frequency of further offending in major shopping areas during broad daylight what more can be done in prevention as a response? You can also read our interview with David Higgins, CEO of Crimestoppers on what’s happening in this space right now.

PUPPIES IN PRISON BRING JOY TO JAIL

We were chuffed to hear about the Pups on Parole program, in which prison inmates in Southern Tasmania help train and socialise dogs who are then adopted in the community. The Tasmanian Prison Service has been working with the Dogs Home of Tasmania on the foster care program for more than a decade, with hundreds of dogs successfully rehomed as a result. Occasionally, certain good dogs get to stay, adopted by the prisoners themselves and providing animal therapy in return for pats. Win win!

BEWARE! SCAMS ON HOBART DIGITAL MARKETPLACES

Tasmanians are being urged to be alert to PayID scams amidst an increase in the dodgy practice. Scammers are posing as buyers on online secondhand marketplaces and asking sellers if they can pay using a PayID – a method of instant bank transfer. If the seller agrees, scammers will ask for their PayID email to complete the payment. Scammers then send a fake PayID email to the seller. This fake email states there was an issue receiving payment because PayID limits exist on non-business accounts, or that that account does not exist at all. The seller is then convinced to transfer funds to increase their PayID limit so they can receive the payment, with the promise that they will receive a refund and the buyer’s payment…but you can probably guess how it ends. PayID is managed by your bank, so you will never be contacted directly by PayID if an issue is legitimate. If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately, and report it to the ACCC via www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ON THE RISE

New research has found that the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Australia is rising, as is the rate of growth. MS is a degenerative disease that progressively damages nerves, making it difficult for the brain to send signals to the rest of the body. New research by MS Australia has found that the number of Australians living with the condition has increased by 30 per cent in the four years to 2021, up from a 20 per cent rise in the prior research period. They’ve found that obesity (particularly in childhood), less sun exposure and lower pregnancy rates are thought to be contributing to the rising numbers. It’s thought that pregnancy and sun exposure can be somewhat protective against the disease. Tasmania unfortunately has the highest number of MS diagnoses in Australia, with approximately 138.7 people diagnosed per 100,000, according to the local Menzies Institute for Medical Research. This could be largely down to our short, cold winter days which lead to less UV exposure.

TASSIE STUDENTS LAGGING IN NAPLAN RESULTS

A recent report shows Tasmania has the second lowest proportion of students at or above the minimum standard for reading and numeracy across all age groups (after the Northern Territory). The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services revealed we have the worst NAPLAN results of any state for all year levels in reason and numeracy, and close to worst for writing. It also showed that the rate of students completing year 12 has gone down (from an already low rate compared to the mainland). 57.6 percent of Tasmania’s potential year 12 population achieved a year 12 certificate in 2021, falling from 59 percent in 2020. Should more money and resources be directed toward the education system?

WITNESS THE WORLD’S BEST MOUNTAIN BIKERS RIDING IN TASMANIA THIS MARCH

The 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will kick off the global Enduro World Series in Maydena for Round 1 from 25 to 26 March. This is the first time ever the UCI Enduro World Cup (EDR) will be held, and Maydena is where the first event will be raced. This is the first of two rounds to be held in Tasmania on consecutive weekends. Athletes from over 25 countries are set to line up, to compete in both round one and round two here in Tasmania.

The event will attract 500 riders, thousands of spectators and a strong contingent of international media. Event Director Ian Harwood said, “To host the first ever UCI Enduro World Series event right here in Australia is a massive accomplishment and would not have been possible without the support of the Tasmanian Government and the community in Maydena and Derby. We just love coming to Tasmania.” The UCI Mountain Bike World Series Enduro World Cup is about finding the best mountain biker in the world. Riders will tackle a range of stages, like a car rally with combined times determining the overall winner. To be successful, riders must be able to manage their bikes with limited outside assistance, be physically fit enough for 7 hours of riding, whilst having a high level of technical skills.

Previously known as the Enduro World Series, Derby hosted in 2017 and 2019, stamping the region in the top tier of mountain biking destinations internationally. This month, Tasmania will again showcase to the world why it is one of the world’s best riding destinations. The event is not all about the professional riders, this year amateur riders can enter into the Enduro of Tasmania event and race on similar stages to that of the elites. The Enduro of Maydena and Enduro of Derby entries are now open. The Enduro of Tasmania Maydena will see practice start on the Friday with racing on Saturday. Then Sunday the professional riders will battle it out on the Maydena mountain to crown the first ever UCI Enduro World Cup podium winners.

NO SMOKE NEAR VINEYARDS

If you live or own land near a vineyard, you’re being urged to chat to your neighbours before doing any burn offs at this time of year. Cooler temperatures over the season have caused a delay in the ripening of this year’s vintage, with most vineyards harvesting about two weeks later than usual.This means harvest time is crossing over with the traditional burning off a non-permit period for fires, and no-one wants smoke-tainted grapes! Wines made from grapes that have been exposed to smoke can end up unpalatable and unsellable. Burning off is, of course, super important, so Wine Tasmania is currently researching whether smoke-tainted grapes could successfully be turned into sparkling wine instead. Silver linings!? Landowners can learn more about how they can reduce the potential impact of smoke taint by going to winetasmania.com.au and downloading the TasVine resource.

E-SCOOTERS ROLL ON IN HOBART

Hire-and-ride e-scooters are sticking around, with Hobart City Council voting to continue the service after the initial trial period. We know not everyone loves them, but data from the trial revealed strong public uptake, low incident rates and majority community support. Elected members voted to continue the services under a licence arrangement, with conditions to be reviewed by Council before the licences are finalised to make sure issues like the parking of the scooters are addressed. City Mobility Portfolio Chair, Cr Ryan Posselt, said electric scooters provided an environmentally friendly transport option. “More than 20 percent of car journeys in some of our most congested suburbs are travelling within the same suburb, with many trips under one kilometre, which makes e-scooters a perfect alternative,” Cr Posselt said. “There were more than 604,516 rides taken on e-scooters during the trial. The data shows that more than half of these replaced car travel – that’s 66 tonnes of CO2 averted from our atmosphere.”

COLONIAL CLOTHES AND BOOTS FOUND UNDER BARRACKS

A builder’s discovery of a dirty old boot under a floor at the Anglesea Barracks has led to the recovery of about 1800 nationally significant artefacts from the colonial era. The items include numerous boots, clothing items and remnants (such as red military coats), ceramics, and everyday pieces made of wood, metal and bone and were probably worn and used locally by British soldiers, convicts and settlers more than 180 years ago. It’s thought the site may have been a cobbler’s, perhaps with a tailor’s workshop, before the barracks building was erected in 1827. The rare items will now be catalogued then stored at the Army Museum of Tasmania, which is on the Angelsea Barracks. You can head there to take a look yourself. Head to www.armymuseumtasmania.org.au for more details.

NEW HOBART CINEMA PROMISES UNDERGROUND HITS

Film buff Jess Murray recently started the Underground Cinema Club, showing films at Wide Angle Tasmania in South Hobart.

What makes your new cinema underground? We play older, lesser known and strange movies rather than blockbusters most people would have seen (e.g. Love Actually, Jaws, Avatar, etc.). We are also interested in showing off local movies which have gone under the radar.

What’s your interest in cinema? Why have you started it? I recently graduated from AFTRS (the Australian Film, Television and Radio School) in Sydney and have since moved back to Hobart, my home town! As a filmmaker myself, I am running the film club to foster a creative community of fellow movie buffs and share movies with people who might not have watched them otherwise. Basically, I just love movies.

What can cinema-goers expect from the experience and program? The cinema club provides a laid back atmosphere to meet people, grab a snack, watch movies, talk about them, and make like-minded friends. The current lineup of films ranges from the Australian claymation, Mary and Max to the silent slapstick Safety Last!. We are also hoping to hold special Q&A events with filmmakers.

How can our readers find out more? You can find out more about the Hobart Underground Cinema Club on our Facebook page at HobartUndergroundCinemaClub or www.facebook.com/HobartUndergroundCinemaClub.

HOBART MISSING FLAMINGOES

Hobart is believed to be the only Australian capital without a dedicated LGBTIQ+ bar. Flamingoes, which used to fill that gap, closed more than two years ago and the licensee, Gary Quilliam, is still searching for appropriate new premises. Mr Quilliam believes homophobia may have contributed to the difficulty in finding a suitable venue. “It’s beyond desperate, it’s embarrassing,” he said. “Ever since closing, we have been contacted on a weekly basis by locals and tourists alike searching for a safe space in Hobart to catch up with other like-minded people for a drink and to socialise. To the best of my knowledge, Hobart is the only capital city in Australia that has no dedicated LGBTIQ+ bar or club. As we were the only permanent dedicated safe LGBTIQ+ venue in Hobart, it means members of the LGBTIQ+ community, either locals or tourists, no longer have a safe space to go to on a weekly basis, should they want to.” Flamingos first opened in Argyle St in 2005 before moving to 251 Liverpool St in 2007 and 201 Liverpool St in 2010. Sadly, Flamingoes founder Thomas Williams died suddenly at the age of 39 on 30 December, 2022.

A BIT OF THE BEATLES IN HOBART

A console used by The Beatles at the famous Abbey Road Studios now lives at MONA’s new Frying Pan Studio. The REDD.17 console was developed at Abbey Road and is a piece of music history – there are only four of its type in existence. The new studio is run by Chris Townsend, a producer and sound engineer who has worked with the likes of Silverchair. Frying Pan Studio was built especially to house the iconic mixing desk, and if the studio is in use when you next visit, you can peer through the window and watch the creative process in action.

OOPS

In the January edition of The Hobart Magazine an image of AFL young gun Tom McCallum was miscredited. The image was taken by the talented Linda Higginson of Solstice Digital.