"The image of Shane Rattenbury holding up the tram to Woden as being 21st century public transport for Canberra is akin to Scott Morrison holding a lump of coal to represent future energy for Australia," says columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
AUSTRALIA Day may not seem the same again this year, but there's still lots to celebrate. LILY PASS has a guide to what's on around Canberra and NICK OVERALL looks at the day's long history.
IT'S our Christmas edition with a complete Italian Christmas dinner, compliments of 2CC's STEPHEN CENATIEMPO, a rash of seasonal cartoons from PAUL DORIN, some yuletide streaming ideas from NICK OVERALL and lots more.
"LIKE any living thing, plants want to remain alive, and research shows that when certain plants are cut, they emit a 'noise' that could be interpreted as a cry." Who knew? "Whimsy" columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS did.
THIS week we launch the innovative "KEEPING UP THE ACT", a weekly cartoon strip cheekily aimed at highlighting the funny side of politics in Canberra.
SEEING faces in everyday objects isn't that unusual, says "Whimsy" columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS. He says there's a name for it – “facial pareidolia” – and it's all around us.
THE quills are out; we've had an unprecedented number of letters to the editor through lockdown and this week's two pages reflect just that. Thanks to our readers and our advertisers for staying close over recent weeks.
HERE'S a surprise: the Liberals, Labor and Greens have unanimously agreed to a motion calling for the ACT government to implement a fair, long-term plan when giving money to grassroots sports. DANIELLE NORHA reports on Page 3.
Who couldn't do with a chuckle right now? "Whimsy" columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS offers up a column to sink your teeth into and explains why it's best not to use them to open bottles!
DANIELLE NOHRA takes the lid off the state of Canberra's public toilets and discovers unhappy community groups demanding the ACT government explain why the loos are disappearing, being privatised or excluded from neighbourhood shops.
QUEANBEYAN Tigers player Cynthia Hamilton, of Macgregor, is a name to look out for. The 17-year-old has secured a spot in the AFL Women's All-Australian Team for players under 19 and, reports NICK OVERALL, is a draft prospect for the game’s top league. Story Page 7.
COLUMNIST ROBERT MACKLIN set the cat among the crows with his "Stone (shoot, gas or trap) the crows" piece from June 17. He's not fussed about them, but plenty of others are, and they wrote to tell us why in this week's "Letters" selection on Page 12.
TAKING time to listen to people’s stories is all part of the service for the volunteers, Canberra Hospital Auxiliary president Therese Colosimo tells KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK. “Sometimes people just need to tell someone about their day,” she says.
LETTER writer JANE ALLEN, of Watson, determined to make a contribution to cleaner air, set off to buy an electric car… but bought a petrol one instead. She explains why on our letters page.
COLUMNIST ROBERT MACKLIN says the cat containment plan is a welcome first small step in what must become a national drive to "contain – or better still, eliminate – the carnage to native wildlife perpetrated by this imported predator". More on Page 13.
WAS it a reunion? Yes. Was it the one many TV viewers were hoping for? Almost. Streaming columnist NICK OVERALL looks at the massive global anticipation of the new "Friends" episode.
"IN the few days after my AstraZeneca shot, I was suddenly aware that my lungs felt much more expansive. The 50 laps in the pool – previously a bit of a struggle towards the end – were easy as pie." Why ROBERT MACKLIN can't wait for his second shot.
WE'VE got the best of everything this week… top website stories, top arts events, top restaurants, all very top of the pops plus a jumbo crossword! Welcome to the holiday edition…
THIS is our Christmas edition and each year we squeeze a cluster of seasonal cartoons to pepper the paper out of dear scribbler PAUL DORIN. He's done us proud again.
