To mark the 30th anniversary of “CityNews”, social historian and journalist NICHOLE OVERALL has written an eclectic history of Canberra and beyond over the past three decades. Here is 1996.

A VOLATILE and politically-charged year after which Australia will never quite be the same.

It starts on January 1 with a prescient warning from Melissa Sweet in “The Canberra Times”: “Nervous eyes will be trained on China as infectious diseases experts watch to see if 1996 brings the killer flu pandemic, which history suggests is overdue.

“Influenza epidemics are notoriously difficult to predict, but China is seen as the most likely source of any lethal new strains. 

“It provides an ideal breeding ground due to the year-round occurrence of influenza viruses in poultry and the close contact between humans and animals in rural areas.” 

Then, an awful headline in light of what was yet to come:

HOWARD’S MASSACRE

Huge NSW swing destroys Keating

“The Sun-Herald”, March 3 

After 13 years keeping the Opposition benches warm, “Lazarus with a triple bypass” John Howard leads the Coalition back with one of the most significant majorities since World War II (45 seats). Almost immediately Howard faces one of our nation’s greatest ever tests.

PORT ARTHUR: THE GUN CONTROL DEBATE 

Howard pledges weapons action

“SMH”, April 30

Martin Bryant kills 35 and wounds 23 in the Tasmanian tourist town. The new PM states he’s prepared to lose at the ballot box rather than back down on major, historic gun reforms.

The nation’s grief is further deepened with the Blackhawk Helicopter tragedy and the deaths of 18 soldiers.

MP DEBUTS WITH ATTACK ON ASIANS

James Woodford, “SMH”, September 11

Also joining the new Parliament, independent Pauline Hanson – after disendorsement as the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Oxley. The lady of the flaming red bouffant, the one-time fish-and-chip shop owner and Ipswich City councillor gave the safe Labor seat a 19.3-point haircut.

LEADER BEAZLEY WILL WALK A TIGHTROPE

Kim Beazley faces a hard time in winning back traditional support while distancing Labor from increasing union militancy

Geoff Kitney, “SMH”, March 15

The Coalition wins state elections in Tasmania, Victoria and WA. In Queensland, Labor barely hung on in ’95. In an extraordinary upset, a win in Mundingburra by just 16 votes saw legal action declare that result void. The by-election is won by the Liberals and independent MP Liz Cunningham supports National Party Leader Rob Borbidge to heave-ho Wayne Goss from the premier’s office.

PM SIGNALS CHALLENGE TO EUTHANASIA

Potential for the NT’s legislation to be blocked

Innes Willox, “The Age”, June 26

An issue already advanced in the ACT by independent Michael Moore, the successful vote in NT becomes a federal flashpoint. 

PARLIAMENT STORMED IN AUSTRALIAN RIOTS

Australian Council of Trade Unions “Cavalcade to Canberra” rally

“The Independent”, August 19

Blood and paint and shattered glass in “one of the most violent demonstrations ever seen in Australia”. Three hundred riot police confront some 25,000 protestors as they force entry into the federal parliament in retaliation for proposed public spending cuts and workplace reforms.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO TELEVISION

40 years of Australian TV

September 16

It was 1956 when Bruce Gyngell welcomed viewers to TCN-9 Sydney’s first broadcast (one of the very first interviewees in early programming: Mrs Edna Everage, of Moonee Ponds). It took six years for the first ACT station to go to air – CTC-TV (Super 7, Capital 7, 10 TV Australia, Capital Television, Ten Capital, Southern Cross Ten and so on). At that time, the Bill Gates of the region was Queanbeyan-based: Allan T  Donoghoe could “advise and assist folk in Canberra who are contemplating installing TV sets”. (In an historical coup, CTC pioneered colour tellie in 1974!).

CLINTON ANNOUNCES TRIP TO AUSTRALIA

Protest and passion marked LBJ and Bush visits

“The Spokesman Review”, Washington, September 20

November and America’s 42nd President Bill Clinton gets a rock-star welcome for a five-day trip Down Under, addressing both Houses of Parliament – only the third US head of state to do so.

UNDERDOGS SET STANDARD

Dubbed misfits and rejects when the Brumbies started up

Lee Gaskin, “SMH”, August 3, 2013

The ACT Rugby Union was set up in 1937 (Queanbeyan cultivating talent from 1878) but it was almost 60 years before Canberra went pro.

In Jindabyne, they announce the team named for the rugged mountain horse immortalised by Banjo Paterson is now part of the new Super 12 (now Super Rugby) comp.

The ACT Brumbies are dismissed as “reject players not wanted by other teams”. However, just as their namesake “bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye”, they only narrowly miss a finals berth in their inaugural year and within five years are Super 12 Champions.

1995… Of swings and roundabouts