Newsletters 2023
HCA newsletter 25 Feb 2023
Clean Up Australia Sunday 5 March 2023
The Hackett Community Association is running its annual Clean Up Australia table at the Hackett shops between the hours of 10am and 1pm. You will need to register on the day and if possible, bring your own gloves. Bags will be provided. Volunteers usually give an hour of their time which is greatly appreciated. It is surprising how much rubbish accumulates over the year, especially in parklands and the nature strips on Antill Street and Phillip Avenue, around the oval change rooms and near the SES depot. Any queries, contact Terry de Luca, the site supervisor, via info@hackett.asn.au.
Meet the HCA Sunday 5 March 2023
When you register for Clean Up Australia, take the opportunity to meet the HCA Committee and find out what we have done in Hackett in recent years. We would also like to hear what you would like done to improve our great suburb. If you know people who are not members, please encourage them to come along and join – it’s free. And we will be having a sausage sizzle!!
Meetings
Our next committee meeting will be Tuesday 11 April 2023 starting at 7.30pm via Zoom and then every two months (June, August, October, December). If you would like to participate, please send an email info@hackett.asn.au and we can provide Zoom details.
Hackett Facebook page
If you want to receive more immediate information about Hackett, please join the almost 800 people already on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HackettCommunity/. We use the platform to:
- engage and support our local community, businesses and organisations;
- engage with Federal Members and ACT MLAs;
- interact with the North Canberra Community Council and affiliated suburb associations.
Committee
Hackett Community Association, 25 February 2023
HCA newsletter 25 March 2023
Clean Up Australia Sunday 5 March 2023 – a great success
The Hackett Community Association held its annual Clean Up Australia event on the 5 March. A big thank you to Terry de Luca who has organised this annual event every year in Hackett since 2003. Around 40 people participated, including members of the Majura Scouts who collected much rubbish along Antill St, including two shopping trolleys. In total, the rubbish filled the back of Terry’s ute! We would also like to thank:
- Andrew Leigh (Federal Member for Fenner and Hackett resident), the ACT Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti, and Jenny Geddes, the CEO of Clean Up Australia, for also participating – Jenny came down from Sydney to especially thank Terry.
- Radio FM 104.7 hits van who attended between 11.30am and 12.30pm and promoted the event.
- the Reverend Tim Watson from St Margaret’s Uniting Church for lending us their BBQ for the HCA sausage sizzle – several packs of the uncooked sausages were later donated to Samaritan House and Tuckerbox.
ACT Heritage Festival
The ACT and Region Heritage Festival is on from 11-30 April 2023. While Hackett is not the oldest suburb in the ACT, there are several events being held to highlight some fascinating historical aspects about our great suburb:
Hackett Heritage: A mid-century modern hub
Saturday, 22 April by the National Trust of Australia (ACT)
“A butterfly roof, Besser blocks, crazy paving and cordylines! See them all and how California came to Canberra and developed its own local character in our domestic architecture, gardens and urban development. This walk takes in the simple to the simply stunning, original to latest renovation, mid-century modern has stood the test of time in Hackett and other suburbs established in the 1960s-1970s.” Bookings are essential for this event –https://www.environment.act.gov.au/heritage/heritage-festival/event-details?eventId=2190440
Hackett Mid-Century Modern Exhibition
11 April to 30 April by the National Trust of Australia (ACT)
If you are unable attend the above walk, you can view photos of the houses at the Hackett shops https://www.environment.act.gov.au/heritage/heritage-festival/event-details?eventId=2187284
Opening of Canberra Tracks sign about the Hackett Oval Trees
Tuesday, 11 April 10am
Trees on the eastern side of the Hackett oval have a rich history. Planted in the 1930s to form a screen between a future suburb and a proposed cemetery, almost 100 years later, the trees provide an attractive feature for the oval, school and the broader suburb. The Hackett Community Association received a Heritage Grant to provide a Canberra Tracks sign about the trees on Madigan St. The sign will be unveiled at 10am by the Minister for Heritage, Rebecca Vassarotti. If you would like to attend, and to assist us plan for the event, please send the HCA an email info@hackett.asn.au.
New plants in pots at the shops
Thank you to Hackett resident, Anna Howe, who put some native Dianellas and Lomandras in the three pots in the paved area at the shops – thank you also to the National Trust Of Australia (ACT) for funding these. Anna is leading the mid-century walks and organising the exhibition.
60,000L of leaves
To celebrate 60 years of Hackett, the HCA is working with Capital Scraps to collect 60,000L of autumn leaves in the coming months. We’re particularly interested in leaves that contribute to slippery pavements or likely to be blown into storm water drains. The leaves will be used in local climate action, transforming carbon into healthier soils and contributing to greener community spaces. If you would like to participate, please register your interest through Capital Scraps – https://www.compost.org.au.
Meetings
Our next committee meeting will be Tuesday 11 April 2023 starting at 7.30pm via Zoom and then every two months (June, August, October, December). If you would like to participate, please send an email info@hackett.asn.au and we can provide Zoom details.
Hackett Facebook page
If you want to receive more immediate information about Hackett, please join the almost 800 people already on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HackettCommunity/. We use the platform to:
- engage and support our local community, businesses and organisations;
- engage with Federal Members and ACT MLAs;
- interact with the North Canberra Community Council and affiliated suburb associations.
Committee
Hackett Community Association, 26 March 2023
HCA newsletter 29 April 2023
Hackett’s Heritage celebrated
The ACT and Region Heritage Festival from 11-30 April 2023 was a great success for Hackett with several activities highlighting our heritage. A big thanks to Anna Howe who partnered with the National Trust and the Australian Garden History Society, for a project called Hackett Heritage: A mid-century modern hub. Anna led two walks around the suburb (over 30 people attended each walk) with the aim of demonstrating that heritage is found not only in important public buildings but is all around us, and to help us see our local heritage. The experience was summed up by one person’s comment “I never knew Hackett could be so beautiful and so interesting“.
Anna also prepared a photographic exhibition in line with the Festival theme ‘Sharing Stories’. The exhibition included panels that told the stories of seven Hackett houses:
- two original mid-century modern houses;
- a group of townhouses, then a radical innovation in Canberra’s housing;
- two originals from the 1960s that had been renovated decades later with their style distinctive features retained; and
- two new builds in mid-century modern style, but adding many environmentally friendly features.
The exhibition acknowledged the Ngunnawal people. A grant of $1800 from the ACT Government covered the professional design work and printing of the exhibition panels. North Canberra Osteopathy and The Money Study at the Hackett shops generously allowed their windows to be turned into a gallery to display the exhibition.
Opening of Canberra Tracks sign about the Hackett Oval Trees
On Tuesday 11 April, Minister for Heritage, Rebecca Vassarotti, unveiled the Canberra Tracks sign “Trees to screen a cemetery” at the bus stop opposite 109 Madigan St. The trees on the east side of the oval were planted in the 1930s to form a screen between a future suburb and a proposed cemetery. The HCA received a grant through the ACT Government Heritage Grants program to provide the sign. The sign was made and installed by Screenmakers, Queanbeyan. The HCA later received a letter advising that our application to have the trees placed on the ACT Heritage Register has been accepted. The letter advised as follows:
“Now that the nomination for the Hackett Oval Trees has been accepted, the place will appear on the Register as ‘nominated.’ Nomination represents the initial, threshold step of the heritage-registration process so the place is not yet classified as a final entry on the Heritage Register. However, some provisions of the Heritage Act are now applicable, such as the requirement of the Heritage Council to provide advice to the planning and land authority on the effects of development on likely heritage significance.
Except in case of urgent application, there is no timeframe that says how long places can remain nominated under Heritage Act. However, the next step in the process is for ACT Heritage to complete a draft assessment of the heritage significance of the place for the consideration of the Council. When Council is confident that all aspects of the significance of the place have been adequately considered they will make a decision on Provisional Registration.
If the decision is to Provisionally Register the place, this will be formally notified on the Legislation Register and you (as an ‘interest person’ under the Act) will receive formal correspondence. This decision is followed by a formal public consultation period that lasts for four weeks. After that the Council must consider the submissions on public consultation and make a final registration decision within five months of the date of the provisional registration decision.”
Hopefully a final registration decision will be made later this year or in early 2024.
Gate near entrance to Holtze Close
The government has placed a gate and bollards near the entrance to Holtze Close to stop cars entering and parking under the oval trees. Cars accessing this area over many years have created car tracks under the trees which has caused some of the trees to die. There is parking available near Maitland House.
Submission to ACT Government 2023–2024 Budget Consultation
The HCA provided a submission to the 2023-2024 Budget Consultation process. The HCA requested that funding be provided for provision of tables in all open spaces (Tyron St, French St, Caldwell St, and the ends of the oval), the repurposing of the SES depot, Holtze Close for community purposes, funding to ensure the existing play equipment in the Bragg St Park meet the guidelines for recreation facilities, and provision of a cycle way along Antill St. Visit the Budget consultation website Budget submissions to see our submission (no 26) and others.
Hackett Autumn Leaf Party
To celebrate 60 years of Hackett, the HCA is working with Capital Scraps to collect 60,000L of autumn leaves in the coming months. We’re particularly interested in leaves that contribute to slippery pavements or likely to be blown into storm water drains. The leaves will be used in local climate action, transforming carbon into healthier soils and contributing to greener community spaces. If you would like to participate, please email Brook@compost.org.au or visit https://www.compost.org.au. As part of this community activity, Capital Scraps, Holy Cross and St Margaret’s Churches will be holding an Autumn leaves party on Saturday 20 May 11am-1pm in the church grounds. holycrosshackett.org.au stmargs.unitingchurch.org.au
Rabbit control in the nature reserves
Mount Ainslie and Mount Majura Nature Reserves will closed from 8pm to 3am on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 9-26 May as the ACT Parks and Conservation Service will be conducting rabbit control activities. For further information visit Park closures
Meetings
Our next committee meeting will be Tuesday 13 June 2023 starting at 7.30pm via Zoom and then every two months (August – AGM, October, December). If you would like to participate, please send an email info@hackett.asn.au and we can provide Zoom details.
Hackett Facebook page
If you want to receive more immediate information about Hackett, please join the almost 800 people already on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HackettCommunity/. We use the platform to:
- engage and support our local community, businesses and organisations;
- engage with Federal Members and ACT MLAs;
- interact with the North Canberra Community Council and affiliated suburb associations.
Committee
Hackett Community Association, 29 April 2023
HCA newsletter July 2023
Hackett oval trees
In September 2022, the HCA submitted a nomination to have the trees included on the ACT Heritage Register. In April this year we received a letter advising that “The Hackett Oval Trees are now listed as a ‘nominated’ place to the ACT Heritage Register and in the future will be assessed by the Council against the heritage significance criteria established under the Act.” The timing for a decision is unclear at this stage but hopefully by the end of 2023.
Poem about the oval trees
Canberra poet Penelope Layland was inspired to write a poem about the trees “In expectation of a cemetery that was never built” https://kindredtrees.com.au/poems/in-expectation-of-a-cemetery-that-was-never-built/. Poems about other trees can be accessed at https://kindredtrees.com.au
Farewell to Dimi at Flawless Beauty
The HCA would like to thank Dimi for her contribution to the Hackett shops, since she moved here in 2013, and wishes her all the best in the new shop in Braddon.
Hackett Autumn Leaf Party
To celebrate 60 years of Hackett, the HCA has been working with Capital Scraps to collect 60,000L of autumn leaves. The leaves are being used in local climate action, transforming carbon into healthier soils and contributing to greener community spaces. As part of this community activity, Capital Scraps, Holy Cross and St Margaret’s Churches held an Autumn leaves party on Saturday 20 May in the church grounds. See-Change kindly donated fruit and sausages which the HCA barbequed and gave to people dropping off leaves and for people visiting Tuckerbox– around 70 sausages and fruit were given away. You can see three very full leaf cages on the Phillip Avenue roundabout side of the church – over 64,000 litres have been collected to date.
Request to remove Monash Drive from the NCP not supported
In September 2022, the HCA prepared a letter and background information requesting the removal of Monash Drive from the National Capital Plan (NCP). This letter was sent from the North Canberra Community Council (NCCC) to all Federal ACT Members, Senators, and Members for Kurrajong in the ACT House of Assembly. In May we received a reply from the Hon. Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, advising that the National Capital Authority would not consider removing it until further planning and transport matters for north Canberra have been resolved. The issue of removing Monash Drive has been lobbed backwards and forwards between the ACT and Federal Governments since 2009 (see page 111-113 of the Hackett book for more details of this saga, or visit the NCCC page to see our letter and Minister McBain’s reply https://www.northcanberra.org.au.
Painted Cockatoos in Hackett
People may have noticed ANU researchers in high-vis vests feeding large flocks of cockatoos. The birds are being fed to get them comfortable being near the researchers so that they can put splotches of dye on their backs. This colour coding will enable them to distinguish individuals and monitor their movements, social networks and habits more generally.
They have been marking birds at seven different sites in the inner north (including Hackett oval), and a couple of more distant sites for reference. Birds are marked with either one, three or four colour dabs, with the leading colour denoting the roost at which the individual was marked. Hackett birds all have a leading colour of orange. The dye is non-toxic and will last only until birds moult their feathers. This marking method means the researchers avoid the capture and associated distress of birds, and do not attach things like leg-rings or wing-tags that might bother the birds.
The food is nutritious and only given once every day or two for a select time period within the year. The birds do not become dependent on being fed.
The researchers wear a particular outfit and behave in a particular way so that the birds recognise them individually and know what we do. They become relatively friendly with the researchers but remain generally suspicious of people and are always cautious. They will be studying these birds closely for the next few months, investigating their social lives, foraging habits and cognitive skills. If anyone is interested in helping out, they encourage the photographic reporting of marked birds using a couple of apps: ‘Big City Birds’ or ‘NatureMapr’ or by emailing Helen Osmond – clevercockie.rsb@anu.edu.au
Hackett Facebook page
If you want to receive more immediate information about Hackett, please join the over 800 people already on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HackettCommunity/. We use the platform to:
- engage and support our local community, businesses and organisations;
- engage with Federal Members and ACT MLAs;
- interact with the North Canberra Community Council and affiliated suburb associations.
Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 8 August 2023, 7.30-9.00pm. If you would like to participate, please send an email info@hackett.asn.au and we can provide Zoom details. We are always looking for people to join our committee (you need to be a member of the HCA) – if you would like to nominate, please send an email – we will send you a form to complete and return before the AGM.
Committee
Hackett Community Association, July 2023
HCA newsletter August 2023
Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 8 August 2023, 7.30-9.00pm.
If you would like to participate in the Zoom Meeting please click on this link at 7.30pm on the 8 August:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86745878077?pwd=czhINXFtR3lFZjhLYlNCNTU5M0psUT09
Meeting ID: 867 4587 8077 Passcode: 209430
We are always looking for people to join our committee (you need to be a member of the HCA) – if you would like to nominate, please send an email – we will send you a form to complete and return before the AGM.
Hackett Facebook page
If you want to receive more immediate information about Hackett, please join the over 800 people already on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HackettCommunity/. We use the platform to:
- engage and support our local community, businesses and organisations;
- engage with Federal Members and ACT MLAs;
- interact with the North Canberra Community Council and affiliated suburb associations.
Committee
Hackett Community Association, 2 August 2023
HCA newsletter October 2023
Celebrating Hackett’s 60th birthday on 28 October 2023
The Hackett Community Association (HCA) held its last Party at the Shops in October 2019. With the outbreak of Covid we decided to not have parties in 2020-2022. But we are pleased to advise that the HCA is partnering with the Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting Churches to celebrate Hackett’s 60th birthday.
The event will run from 3.00-8.00pm on Saturday 28 October 2023, in the grounds of the Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting Churches, Antill St, Hackett, and is aimed at building a stronger sense of community within the suburb. There will be stalls, displays, workshops, music and food (e.g HCA sausage sizzle and other great food), as well as attractions for children. The HCA will also run a raffle with fabulous gifts kindly donated by Hackett businesses and artists. Profits from the day will be donated to the Tuckerbox and youth mental health programs run by the churches. Details of all the activities are still be arranged – check out our great promotional poster for the event on our website https://hackett.asn.au/.
Inspired by Hackett – Hackett Art Squares
As part of the event we are calling all artists and photographers who are inspired by Hackett to provide a painting or photo of Hackett. Entries are to be 30cm square in any medium including photographs. They do not have to be mounted on a backing material of any sort, and should not be framed. Your entry must be accompanied by a 50 word statement which explains how your entry links to Hackett or the Hackett community. You do not have to be a resident of Hackett – open to everyone.
Entries to be delivered to the church office, Wed & Fri 10am-2.30pm (Ph 02 6248 0282) by Wednesday 25 October 2023. They will be on display from 27-29 October. A panel of artists will judge the entries, with the following prizes to be awarded:
- first prize $150
- second prize $50
- 12-18 years prize $80
- under 12 prize $40
For further information text Simon on 0400 850 003. Check out the poster on the HCA website https://hackett.asn.au/.
If you would like to display the party and or art squares poster at your work or business, or circulate to your friends or colleagues, please send us an email to info@hackett.asn.au and we will provide to you.
Looking for original residents of Hackett
The first houses in Hackett were built in 1963 (hence our 60th birthday) – in the same year the population was 156 which then grew to 4,018 by 1966. A key activity at the party will be a cake cutting event at 4.00pm to be cut bysome of the original residents of Hackett, as well as ACT MLAs and Federal MPs. We are also planning to interview and film the residents tell us their recollections of early Hackett – this may be shown at the party and then placed on the HCA website for all to see.
If you are an original resident, or know someone, please send email to info@hackett.asn.au or phone Chris Mobbs on 0405 391156
Hackett Facebook page
If you want to receive more immediate information about Hackett, please join the over 800 people already on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HackettCommunity/. We use the platform to:
- engage and support our local community, businesses and organisations;
- engage with Federal Members and ACT MLAs;
- interact with the North Canberra Community Council and affiliated suburb associations.
Committee
Hackett Community Association
1 October 2023
HCA newsletter November 2023
A great celebration of Hackett’s 60th birthday on 28 October 2023
The Hackett Community Association (HCA) partnered with the Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting Churches to celebrate Hackett’s 60th birthday. The perfect weather ensured we had many people attend (est. 500-700 over the day) who enjoyed the delicious food, music and entertainment at the grounds of the churches.
The afternoon started with Welcome to Country by Aunty Vi Sheridan.
60th birthday cake
At 4pm we celebrated with a delicious 60th birthday cake, made by Bec Kelly at the Spence Grocer and donated by the McReynolds family (Home by Holly). The cake was cut by Andrew Leigh, (Member for Fenner, standing in for Alicia Payne, who was overseas), Rachel Stephen-Smith, Minister for Health and Community Services, with assistance from two original Hackett residents, Dorothy MacKenzie and Alison Allen. Dorothy and Alison shared some funny anecdotes from their first few years in Hackett in the mid 1960s.
HCA Raffle
The HCA would like to thank the following Hackett businesses and individuals who kindly donated a great range of prizes for our raffle. Thank you to Kay Murphy and Barbara Mobbs for organising the prizes and then Annette Martin for helping Kay sell tickets on the day.
| Prizes | Donors |
| painting | Peter Engel |
| four vouchers | Elev8 Skin Boutique |
| ceramic piece | Bev Hogg Ceramic Studio |
| two vouchers | Siam Twist |
| one voucher | 3rd Space |
| three vouchers | Monkey Wrench |
| wine | Hackett IGA |
| Two vouchers | Retire Advice |
| hair products | Tarquine Hair Salon |
| textile print | Annie Trevillian textiles +paper |
| Bags to go bag | McReynolds family |
| Voucher for 3rd Space | McReynolds family |
| Voucher for Siam Twist | McReynolds family |
| Ceramic vases | Ceramic Kara |
HCA sausage sizzle
The HCA also held a very successful sausage sizzle – thank you to the BBQuers Terry de Luca, Bruce, Alison, Beatrice and Willow Smith, Maureen Dawes, Barbara Mobbs, and venturers from the Majura Scout Group. Bread rolls kindly donated by the Ainslie Bakehouse.
Cup-cakes – 200 made by the Spence Grocer and donated by the McReynolds family which were sold for a gold coin donation.
Between the raffle, BBQ and cup-cakes, the HCA raised around $1,800 which will be donated to the Tuckerbox. There was also delicious Mexican food provided by Jarochos and desserts and milk shakes provided by Safari Delights.
Children’s entertainment
Christine de Luca for the fabulous face painting with assistance from Terry, Dom and Jo de Luca.
Gecko Gang for the jumping castle.
Funky Fairy for craft activities.
Music and dancing
Signs of Life – from Dickson College
Isabell Ellmers
Good Faith Choir
Folk Dance Canberra
Broad Spectrum
Lucy Sugerman
Chris van der Wielen
Maureen Dawes and members of the ACT Youth Orchestra who played inside the church
Information stalls and displays
John Feehan dung beetles
Hackett Community Fire Unit
Hackett Neighbourhood Watch
Friends of Mount Majura
Meg’s Toy Box
Tuckerbox
Elizabeth Lee, ACT MLA and Member for Kurrajong
Photographic display of mid-century houses of Hackett by Anna Howe
Old photos of Hackett provided by the HCA
Inspired by Hackett – Hackett Art Squares
As part of the event, artists and photographers inspired by Hackett, were invited to provide a painting or photo of Hackett. Entries had to be 30cm square in any medium including photographs and accompanied by a 50 word statement which explains how their entry linked to Hackett or the Hackett community. The entries were judged by Hackett artist, Tony Steel, with the following winners:
- Open Age group – 1st Prize – Brian Rope for his photo of a crimson rosella feeding on a flowering cherry tree. Hackett church bell in the background.
- 2nd Prize – Gill Reeves for her fabric collage “Brindabella Sunset” made with fabric pieces dyed in greens and purples using natural dye materials gathered from the Hackett environment.
- Hon Mention – Robin Bennett for her watercolour “Gateway” of the entrance to the Mt Majura track on Antill St.
- Junior Age Group – 1st Prize – Rose Dyer for her painting of her grandmother’s Hackett house. Rose showed great control of colour and form.
- Hon Mention – Frida Alexander-Brock for her drawing of magpies. Frida’s use of colour and control was exceptional for a 4 year old.
Photos of the art squares can be seen on the HCA Facebook page.
Thank you to the churches
And finally – the event would not have been possible without the great team at the churches – Rev Tim Watson, John Goss, Simon Clarke, Tracey Austwick, Amy Junor, Rachel Mills, Lynda Dyer and Kirsty Baker.
NCCC – Agenda: Annual General Meeting 7pm 15 November 2023
You are invited to attend the North Canberra Community Council’s Annual General Meeting at 7pm on 15 November 2023.
Rebecca Vassarotti, MLA, Member for Kurrajong will provide a Greens perspective on “How the new planning system addresses the climate emergency and housing affordability crisis”. Other MLAs are invited.
The NCCC Chair, Jochen Zeil will provide the 2023 Chair’s Report that will briefly summarize the issues that the Committee has faced in the last year and discuss the future role of NCCC focussing on our stated aim of “Protecting, promoting and enhancing the economic, cultural, social and environmental well-being of the residents of North Canberra”.
Zoom Meeting
Time: Nov 15, 2023 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84447297059?pwd=bHR5b0JJdkphdnZSdUlsdm5qMjdOZz09
Meeting ID: 844 4729 7059
Passcode: 372854
Warm Regards,
Secretary
North Canberra Community Council
secretary@northcanberra.org.au
northcanberra.org.au
Hackett Facebook page
If you want to receive more immediate information about Hackett, please join the over 860 people already on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HackettCommunity/. We use the platform to:
- engage and support our local community, businesses and organisations;
- engage with Federal Members and ACT MLAs;
- interact with the North Canberra Community Council and affiliated suburb associations.
This will be our last newsletter for 2023. All the best for the upcoming Christmas and new year.
HCA Committee meeting
Our next meeting will be Tuesday 13 February 2024.
Committee
Hackett Community Association
November 2023