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Articles by Henry Jacobs
With the Brumbies flying high and the Raiders struggling, how will the fans respond?
On Sunday afternoon, the Brumbies put the sword to a New Zealand team for the second week in a row. The Brumbies’ performance and the game as a spectacle deserved far more than the crowd of just over 8000. For entertainment value, it was up there with the Brumbies in their glory years when 20,000 regularly turned out at Canberra Stadium. The result keeps the Brumbies near the top of the Super Rugby Pacific, with only the Auckland Blues in front of them on the ladder.
Brumbies and Raiders will keep a close eye on the new GWS deal
When the ACT Government announced a 10-year, $23 million deal with GWS to play AFL games at Manuka Oval in late 2010, it came as a surprise. There was little indication at the time that a long-term deal to play three AFL premiership matches and a pre-season game each year was being negotiated, let alone on the verge of being announced. In looking into this, I will focus on premiership games played rather than the pre-season as pre-season games have minimal significance.
The Brumbies need to put on a show to bring fans back to rugby in the capital
Tim Gavel 16 February 2022 15 February 2022 Exciting players like Brumbies fly-half Noah Lolesio need to shine to give fans something to cheer about. Photo: Brumbies. When the Brumbies burst onto the sporting landscape in the inaugural 1996 Super Rugby season, they brought much-need flair to the game. They were renegades and played with an attacking spirit. Within a few years, it yielded a Super Rugby title in 2001 and a packed house at Canberra Stadium.
Plenty of question marks about the Raiders in 2022, starting with club legend Jarrod Croker
Tim Gavel 29 January 2022 27 January 2022 What’s in store for Jarrod Croker in the 2022 season? Photo: Raiders. There’s a sense of deja vu as the Canberra Raiders prepare to head into the 2022 season. I’ve watched the likes of Laurie Daley, Terry Campese and Alan Tongue struggle to keep going through the latter years of their NRL careers because of injury. They all had time remaining on their contracts, but their bodies simply had taken a pounding over the years. They had to call it a day.
Design contract gets ball rolling for multi-million dollar Gungahlin tennis facility
Ian Bushnell 28 January 2022 28 January 2022 Nick Kyrgios at the 2020 ACT Labor announcement of a proposed community tennis facility at Gungahlin. Photo: Tennis ACT. The ball is in play for a new tennis facility in Gungahlin with the awarding of a contract to come up with a preferred design for the 10 to 12 court complex that could produce the next Nick Kyrgios.
Has Canberra’s Nick Kyrgios finally found his true calling?
Tim Gavel 26 January 2022 25 January 2022 Compelling and entertaining, Nick Kyrgios. Photo: Tennis ACT. The sight of fans queuing to watch a second-round doubles match along with television ratings going through the roof is surely evidence enough that a tennis revolution is taking place. Nick Kyrgios, as the band-leader in his doubles combination with Thanasi Kokkinakis, has almost single-handedly pulled tennis into the mass entertainment market at the Australian Open.
Canberra restaurateurs taking COVID-19 safety into their own hands
Lucy Ridge 23 January 2022 21 January 2022 1 San Conway (front) decided that dine-in customers are too risky for his staff at Gang Gang Cafe in Downer. Photo: Supplied. Businesses across Canberra are struggling with the recent impact of Omicron, and the hospitality industry has once again been hard hit. ACT cafes and restaurants are working hard to navigate these challenges, but there are concerns some businesses may not recover without more government assistance.
Five minutes with Klarisa Cengic, The Goods Wholefoods cafe
Klarisa Cengic (second from the left), owner of The Goods Wholefoods cafe, with staff. Photo: Michelle Kroll. Who is Klarisa Cengic? I’m the owner of The Goods Wholefoods cafe in the city. Best recent dining experience: I’d say it was at REBEL REBEL. I think they just do a phenomenal mix of everything there – from breakfast to lunch to dinner, they just nail it every time. The last time I was there, I tried their sugarloaf cabbage with tahini and harissa oil.
Redeveloped Woden wheelchair tennis hub set for 2022
Karyn Starmer 4 January 2022 4 January 2022 Wheelchair tennis at the North Woden Tennis Club. Photo: Woden Tennis Club. Aspen Medical and Tennis ACT have partnered to support the redevelopment of the ACT All-Abilities and Wheelchair Hub at North Woden Tennis Club. The partnership will support the redevelopment of the courts at the club, which includes four new hard court surfaces. The support from Aspen Medical follows the announcement of $825,000 from the ACT Government on 10 December.
Zoo promises a wild night out with new packaged tours
Ian Bushnell 28 December 2021 27 December 2021 The National Zoo and Aquarium Hummer will be one of the vehicles to be used in the new night tours. Photo: National Zoo and Aquarium. The National Zoo and Aquarium is staying open after hours this summer for its first packaged night tours, offering guided drives around the zoo, with gourmet dinners and drinks.
Annabel Ellwood inducted into Tennis ACT Walk of Fame
Max O'Driscoll 12 December 2021 12 December 2021 Annabel Ellwood has been inducted as the 10th member of the Tennis ACT Walk of Fame. Photo: Supplied. Growing up in a house with four competitive brothers in the Canberra suburb of Farrah, it’s no wonder Annabel Ellwood is competitive. Combine that thirst for competition with a tennis court in her backyard and it was the perfect mix for the makings of a tennis star.
ACT puts its hand up for Fifth Ashes Test after Perth stripped of hosting rights
Max O'Driscoll 8 December 2021 8 December 2021 The ACT Government is submitting an Expression of Interest to bring the Fifth Ashes Test to Manuka Oval. Photo: Michael Weaver. The ACT Government has officially announced it will enter an expression of interest (EOI) to host the Fifth Ashes Test after Western Australia lost the rights to host the clash due to their strict COVID-19 border rules. Canberra has witnessed International Test Cricket just once in its history.
It's about time: Raiders fans the big winners in the 2022 NRL draw
Tim Gavel 9 November 2021 9 November 2021 1 Looks like a great season ahead in terms of home games. Photo: Canberra Raiders. For years the Canberra community, not just the Raiders, have pleaded with the NRL to avoid scheduling nighttime games at Canberra Stadium during the winter months. Put simply, fans are reluctant to head out into the cold and understandably so. In announcing the 2022 draw, the NRL has responded with seven home games from 29 May to be played in the afternoon in Canberra.
Don’t write off Canberra’s chances of securing an A-League licence
Tim Gavel 3 November 2021 2 November 2021 Michael Caggiano leads the Canberra bid for an A-League Men’s side. Photo: File. There has been almost complete radio silence for several months around Canberra’s A-League bid. For the past fortnight I have attempted to determine if the bid remains alive or whether it is on life support. The bid team, led by Michael Caggiano, has remained tight-lipped about the status of the latest bid.
Canberra is an absolute long shot to host a men’s Ashes cricket test, but...
Tim Gavel 27 October 2021 26 October 2021 Could they be playing for a little urn one day at Manuka? Photo: Michael Weaver. Canberra has hosted a number of what would be considered international sporting events, but all would be overtaken in terms of significance if a Men’s Ashes test came to the capital.
Surveyor's Hill small batches are a rare treasure for Canberra locals
Matt Farrah 18 October 2021 18 October 2021 ViChaRo 2016 chardonnay from Surveyor’s Hill Vineyards. Photo: Michelle Kroll. With a huge focus on local produce and the COVID-19 lockdown affecting many of our great producers, it is timely to review the wonderful wines in our backyard. Surveyor’s Hill produces exceptional wines at prices not seen in Canberra since 1999.
A lack of facilities creating logistical nightmare for Basketball ACT
Tim Gavel 9 October 2021 8 October 2021 Basketball’s popularity in the ACT cannot be matched by the number of courts available for participants to play on. Photo: File. When David Simpson took on the role of chief executive of Basketball ACT around two years ago there was little indication of what lay ahead. Since then, basketball in Canberra has been forced to deal with a range of significant issues including bushfires, hail, racial abuse and two COVID-19 lockdowns.
Why Sia Soliola is the greatest clubman in the history of the Canberra Raiders
Tim Gavel 28 September 2021 28 September 2021 Sia Soliola has announced his retirement from the NRL. Photo: Canberra Raiders. Canberra Raiders forward Sia Soliola has announced his retirement after 17 seasons playing professional rugby league in the NRL and English Super League. He will be remembered as a tough, hard-running player, who emigrated from the backline well before he arrived in the ACT, in 2015, where he went on to play 137 games for the Raiders.
NRL season review of the Green Machine: F for 'Faders'
Jack Wighton will need a decent halfback by his side if the Canberra Raiders are going to have any chance of NRL success in 2022. Photo: Canberra Raiders. With the NRL regular season done and dusted, the finals series is now in week two and for the first time since 2018, the Canberra Raiders aren’t there. It was a stinker of a year for the Green Machine.
Estate Forrest has in-built wine cellars, because, wine not?
Lottie Twyford 14 September 2021 13 September 2021 Let your jaw drop when you catch sight of your own cellar. Photo: Addval Developments. You could be forgiven for thinking a personal, custom-built wine cabinet in a climate-controlled communal cellar that also doubles as a function space is beyond reach and the stuff of fantasy. But residents at Estate Forrest will be living that dream, and it’s one a local winemaker is very much impressed by.
Canberra's elite hockey players among local sportspeople impacted by COVID-19 and season cancellations
Tim Gavel 10 September 2021 9 September 2021 Edwina Bone playing for Canberra Chill in pre-COVID-19 times. Photo: Average Jo Photography. The COVID-19 lockdown has curtailed a number of Canberra’s winter sporting competitions. The Canberra Raiders Cup and regional rugby league competitions have finished for 2021 without any finals series. It’s the same for soccer, with Capital Football calling a halt to the season prior to its completion.
Canberra rugby legend Matt Giteau back from LA and assessing his future
Tim Gavel 7 September 2021 6 September 2021 Matt Giteau with his wife, Bianca, and three children. Photo: Supplied. In 2011, at 29 years of age, Matt Giteau signed an 18-month contract with French Top 14 club Toulon, and he was already contemplating life after football. “I thought that would be it and I was wondering what else I was going to do,” he recalls. Ten years later, it appears he has again reached that point of decision.
The legacy of Tim Sheens endures, 25 years after his departure from the Raiders
Tim Sheens embracing protege Ricky Stuart (right) after the Canberra Raiders maiden premiership in 1989. Photo: Canberra Raiders. Legendary rugby league coach Tim Sheens is set to return to the NRL with Wests Tigers in the coming weeks, 25 years after he departed the Canberra Raiders. Having spent the past four years in England coaching Hull KR and then Widnes Vikings, the 70-year-old will take up a role at the Tigers in player recruitment, retention, pathways and junior development.
Do you know a dad keeping community sport alive and kicking?
Former winner of the Community Sports Dad of the Year award, Terry Williams, with kids from his local soccer team in the Hunter region, Westlakes Wildcats. Photo: Community Sports Dad of the Year. Whether distributing carefully chopped oranges on the sideline, nurturing kids’ love of sport with enthusiastic coaching and refereeing, or giving up their weekends to paint clubhouses and fences, community sport would not go ahead without dads.
Have faith! The Raiders might be the real deal in 2021
Tim Gavel 28 July 2021 27 July 2021 The Raiders training on the Gold Coast. Photo: Canberra Raiders. The next month will determine whether the Raiders make the finals. There is no reason why they can’t if they consistently replicate last week’s performance against Parramatta. The Eels dominated practically every aspect of the game. Statistically, the Eels should have won.
The Wallabies return to play at Canberra Stadium for October's Rugby Championships
Tim Gavel 19 July 2021 19 July 2021 Nic White, ACT Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry, Brumbies CEO Phil Thomson and Scott Sio at Canberra Stadium announcing a Wallaby test in Canberra. Photo: Lachlan Lawson/Rugby Australia. The ACT has been in the international rugby wilderness for over four years, but that will change later this year when the Wallabies face Argentina in the Rugby Championship at Canberra Stadium.
Queanbeyan Whites stalwart Grant Jones paving the way for former players to become referees
Tim Gavel 11 July 2021 8 July 2021 Former rugby union player Grant Jones refereeing any team but the Queanbeyan Whites. Photo: Supplied. As a Queanbeyan Whites rugby union player, Grant Jones concedes he had little time for referees and was often quick to offer advice. So it was much to the surprise of many of his former teammates when Grant became a referee. He is currently in the midst of his fourth season with the whistle. However, his route to becoming a referee was far from conventional.
Should the Canberra Raiders make a play for coach Wayne Bennett?
NRL coach Wayne Bennett is a free agent in 2022. Should the Canberra Raiders try to lure him to the national capital? Photo: South Sydney Rabbitohs Facebook. Following the Canberra Raiders’ limp performance against the Gold Coast Titans last weekend, the club’s NRL season is in freefall. The 44-6 hammering at GIO Stadium was one of the worst performances by the Green Machine in many years. The result adds to a forgettable history of Raiders’ home losses to the Titans.
Tennis ACT celebrates 200,000 casual bookings through 'Book a Court' system
Turner Tennis Club has been busy since the ‘Book a Court’ system was introduced. Photo: Zelda Green. After a year when gyms and most team sports had to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tennis emerged as an unlikely winner from all the chaos, with Tennis ACT’s ‘Book a Court’ system recently celebrating the massive milestone of 200,000 bookings.
Refereeing on the world stage: Canberra referee Ben Williams reflects upon his career
Since retiring from refereeing, Ben Williams is now enjoying teaching PE at the UC High School, Kaleen. Photo: Tim Gavel. The most emotional, crazy game in the history of the Asian Cup occurred at Canberra Stadium in 2015. Ben Williams was officiating. The AFC quarter-final between arch-rivals Iran and Iraq saw Ben issue 12 yellow cards and one red. The game was decided in a penalty shoot-out. Ben providing friendly refereeing advice during an Asian Cup game in 2015. Photo: Supplied.
The Brumbies must play in an expanded Super Rugby competition in 2022
Brumbies crowds have been disappointing. Photo: Supplied. Within the first 10 minutes of the Brumbies-Hurricanes game on Saturday night, it was obvious what had been missing from Super Rugby matches at Canberra Stadium. And while the game only featured three tries, the scoreline of 12-10 does little to reflect the high entertainment level of the game for which we can thank the Kiwis. New Zealand teams play rugby as it should be played: at pace and with a genuine desire to play the running game.
History repeating as Canberra Raiders facing another painful rebuild
Coach Ricky Stuart has some tough decisions to make as the Canberra Raiders rebuild their playing roster. Photo: File. Here we go again, Raiders fans. The 2021 NRL season started with so much expectation for the Green Machine, but it has spiralled out of control. On the back of a grand final appearance in 2019 and a preliminary final in 2020, the Green Machine was touted as a contender this year.
The Raiders need to grow a 'spine' to be premiership contenders
Tim Gavel 26 May 2021 26 May 2021 George Williams has been released by the Raiders to return to the UK. Photo: Supplied. Rugby League people talk a lot about the importance of ‘the spine’ – the spine being the combined talents of the hooker, halfback and fullback. In the Raiders glory years of 1989, 90 and 94, the spine was virtually unchanged and had an enormous influence on the team’s success. In 1989/90, Steve Walters was the best hooker in rugby league.
Music's charms soothe the savage beasts at the National Zoo
Dominic Giannini 15 May 2021 14 May 2021 Harpist Alison Ware plays to Ruffed Lemurs at the National Zoo. Photo: Dominic Giannini. From Madagascar to the orchestra, the lemurs at the National Zoo get front row seats to harpist Alison Ware every fortnight as she strikes a chord with the animals. Alison performs for the animals as part of the zoo’s enrichment program, with the soothing tones of the harp reducing the anxiety and stress animals in captivity can experience.
Motion passes to future-proof funding for grassroots sports
The once-bustling Hawker Tennis Centre is one of the ACT sports facilities left to decay in the decade since its closure. Photo: Gavin Dennett. The ACT Government has given Canberra grassroots sports organisations an assurance they will no longer need to come cap-in-hand for funding to make much-needed upgrades to facilities under a motion that passed through the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, 22 April.
The NRL’s proposed conference system: what’s in it for the Raiders and fans?
The conference system could impact crowd numbers at Canberra Stadium if the proposal goes ahead. Photo: Canberra Raiders. Every time rugby league has a ‘vision’ to help the league, it has the potential to cause heart palpitations among Raiders supporters. Remember Super League? That period in the Raiders’ history is lamentable and resulted in fans walking away from the code and the team.
Are Canberra teams really the victims of poor refereeing decisions, or our bad memories?
Tim Gavel 21 April 2021 20 April 2021 How can we forget this one moment in the grand final of 2019? Photo: Twitter. When Ben Cummins or Henry Perenara referee games involving the Raiders, Green Machine supporters develop a nervous twitch. The ‘six again’ controversy from the 2019 Grand Final continues to haunt Raiders fans. Since the grand final episode, there have been some humorous responses, which is great, but the hostile responses had a devastating impact on Cummins.
Footy's return a time for Canberra to come together again
The communion of the stands: time to celebrate getting our lives back. Photo: File. Footy’s back! With full capacity crowd numbers and the prospect that we’ve got this COVID-19 thing beat. We may have to take it one game at a time as the vaccine roll-out continues and the odd evacuation flight brings potential cases to our quarantine hotels, but the communion of the stands takes Canberra further towards functioning as a society again.
Basketball ACT reveals findings of racial slur investigation in under-14s match
Cal Bruton leading a basketball education program. Photos: Daniella Jukic. Basketball ACT CEO David Simpson said that after seven months looking into claims that the Winnunga Warriors Basketball Club’s under-14 girls team was the target of racial slurs during a game in July last year, the independent investigator was satisfied a racial slur was used by an unknown person or persons during the match.
Floros brothers continue to serve Canberra community at Weston Indoor Sports
Henry Jacobs 23 January 2021 18 January 2021 Con and Tony Floros from Weston Indoor Sports have been part of the Canberra sports community for more than 30 years. Photo: Thomas Lucraft. Weston Indoor Sports has been part of the southwest Canberra community for more than 30 years. Each week, the venue provides the opportunity for thousands of people to get valuable exercise and socialise through indoor cricket, netball, volleyball, soccer, dodgeball and parties.
Farrah’s Liquor Collective: Championing local small business through new wholesale operation
Sophia Brady 6 November 2020 5 November 2020 Farrah’s Liquor Collective has moved into wholesale trading. Photo: Thomas Lucraft. With a year of successful trading to the public under its belt, Farrah’s Liquor Collective has moved into the next phase of its venture: wholesale.
Subpar performance not all bad with return of stadium golf
Dominic Giannini 3 November 2020 3 November 2020 Stadium golf is back at GIO this December. Photos: Supplied. It’s a weird day when a subpar performance is welcomed by Raiders’ fans but that’s the beauty of stadium golf. Come December, Canberrans will be able to play 11 holes at GIO Stadium, going from putting in the Brumbies changeroom to trying for a birdie from the stands.
Danielle Cleary is carving a niche for herself
Neha Attre 30 October 2020 29 October 2020 Danielle Cleary (right) with Kristen Davidson at Canberra Fair Take Flight. Photo: Supplied. When Danielle Cleary started volunteering, little did she know that one day it would lead her to launch a successful business of her own. A mother of four, Danielle started volunteering as her children grew older.
Raiders to storm to victory for Victor the Viking
Victor the Viking, aka Tony Wood, took off his mask for the fans after the Raiders won the preliminary final last year. Photo: NRL Photos. Even though the Canberra Raiders’ mascot and arguably the team’s greatest supporter, Tony Wood, won’t be at the preliminary final against the Melbourne Storm in Brisbane on Friday night, he’s got a very good feeling there will be one more chance this year to cheer the team he loves as much as life itself.
Raiders not daunted by flying into the gathering Storm
Tim Gavel 12 October 2020 12 October 2020 Joe Tapine at the Raiders press conference. Photo: Tim Gavel. If you needed any further proof that the Raiders are as close-knit as any team we have witnessed in the NRL, look no further than today’s media session leading into the Friday night preliminary final against Melbourne in Brisbane. The Raiders have been on the road for much of 2020 and are preparing for their 13th away game this year.
Stadium capacity increased to 9,600 ahead of Raiders' home final
Dominic Giannini 28 September 2020 28 September 2020 It won’t be like last year’s sold-out Grand Final, but 9,600 fans will be able to watch the Raiders in the first round of the 2020 finals series. Photo: Jennifer Andrew. Around 9,600 Canberrans will be allowed into GIO Stadium to watch the Raiders take on the Sharks in the first round of the NRL finals this weekend.
Gungahlin kids make a racquet over tennis stars
Michael Weaver 26 September 2020 25 September 2020 Students from Holy Spirit Primary School with their signed tennis racquets. Photo: Supplied. More than 100 kindergarten students in Gungahlin took their first steps towards a tennis career when they received their first tennis racquets from Canberra’s top players – Nick Kyrgios and Alison Bai. The signed tennis racquets were delivered to students at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School as part of the ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Racquet Roadshow.
Brumbies win third Super Rugby title in nail biting home final
Tim Gavel 20 September 2020 20 September 2020 The Brumbies celebrate a hard fought grand final victory. Photos: Brumbies. In a game befitting the two top sides in Australian Super Rugby, the Brumbies withstood a spirited fight back from the Reds to secure the Super Rugby AU title at Canberra Stadium on Saturday (19 September).
From Brumbies to the bush: Josh Mann-Rea finally gets a grand final win
Josh Mann-Rea with his daughters, Avery and Emerson Mann-Rea. Photo: Matt Stadtmiller. They say it’s the game they play in heaven, and on Saturday, 12 September, it must have felt that way for Josh Mann-Rea. The former Waratahs, Brumbies and Wallabies player won his first ever rugby union grand final at 39 years of age, playing for the Harden Red Devils. The Devils overcame Young Yabbies 27-13 in a highly entertaining and bruising encounter to collect the 2020 Oilsplus South West Cup rugby crown.
From real estate to red wine: how Dave became a connoisseur
Dave Winmill from Farrah’s Liquor Collective says there’s no better time to support local suppliers. Photo: Michelle Kroll. Dave Winmill didn’t take the traditional route to become a wine connoisseur. The 26-year-old is now a trusted name in the Canberra wine scene, but five years ago he couldn’t tell the difference between a shiraz and a cabernet sauvignon. “I had to be very upfront with people about my lack of knowledge,” says Dave.
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