e- Mag

The Belconnen e-Mag - the online voice of Belconnen

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2006 Census

The median age has increased to 34.0 years from 31,8 years, and in 2006 9.3 per cent of the population was 65 and over compared to 7.4 per cent in 2001.

The population increased by 2.6 per cent (0.5 per cent per year) to 84,382.

Catholics are the most numerous religious group but over 23 per cent claimed to have no religion at all. To see data Discover Belconnen

*What is a median? It divides a data set in two, as the median strip divides a road. One half the values are below it and one half above.

Like dogs? Want make a practical contribution to the welfare of hundreds of dogs in the ACT? More click here

A second chance for dogs by Domestic animal service

Building underway on Belconnen Community Arts Centre

Good news for Belconnen. Construction work has commenced on the centre.

Architects Williams Ross of Melbourne have been engaged to design the Centre. They have designed many regional arts centres in Victoria and have designed buildings at Canberra Girls Grammar and the ANU.

Stage 1 should be opened in mid 2009. Stage One will include the following:

• Visual arts gallery
• Outdoor sculpture gallery
• Dance studio/rehearsal room and change rooms
• Wet/dry creative workshops
• Large foyer
• Community meeting room
• Arts Lounge
• Studio/office areas for artists and arts organisations
• Café/kiosk
• Reception and administrative area

Stage 1 will consist of a Gallery, Dance Theatre, Wet and dry studios, studio spaces, a multi media studio, gathering space, an outdoor exhibition area and a cafe/kiosk. More details can be found at http://www.arts.act.gov.au/pages/page128.asp

The development of the Centre will be overseen by an advisory group, the members are:

• Roberta McRea (Belconnen Community Servoce)
• Stephen Bounds (Belconnen Community Council)
• Jan Wawrzynczak (Belconnen Community Servoce)
• Anita McIntyre (Stathnairn Arts Association)
• Francesca Rendle Short (University of Canberra)
• Wendy Morrow (Ausdance ACT)
• Noonee Doranila (ACT Cultural Council)
• Evol McLeod (Director Tuggeranong Arts Centre)

Stage 2 will come later and will include a theatre.

A community Arts Centre has operated successfully in Tuggeranong for some time. The director of that centre, Evol McLeod, said that lessons learnt from Tuggeranong would be applied in a way that would make the Belconnen centre even more effective.

The Belconnen arts centre takes shape (photo early January 2009)

For details on the new Belconnen Arts Centre (expressions of interest, hiring charges and what spaces will be available for hire) go to the What's on page

NEW ASSOCIATION TO MANAGE BELCONNEN ARTS CENTRE

INVITES MEMBERSHIP NOMINATIONS

Belconnen Arts Centre Incorporated became registered as a not for profit community association on 11th May 2009. Established to manage and operate the new Belconnen Arts Centre currently nearing completion on Emu Bank, the association is now inviting membership by organisations and businesses that have an interest in Belconnen.

“We have waited many years for this time and are very pleased to see the building nearing completion” said Ms Roberta McRae, chairperson for the Interim Board. “This is a now a great opportunity for local organisations to assist us in making the future of Belconnen Arts Centre sustainable”

The Vision for the association is to be the centre for the arts in Belconnen by making it a welcoming place for the community and by nurturing the development of the arts and artists of Belconnen”.

Over the next month the association will finalise the program of activities and its business plan and sign-off on the Licence and the Deed of Grant with the ACT Government.

“A considerable amount of work has been going on behind the scenes in consultation with the previous Advisory Group, the arts community and key stakeholders” “We are now keen for businesses, arts and community organisations, schools and other agencies to get behind the centre and join the association to make this an amazing centre for the arts in Belconnen”.

Membership of the new association is open to arts and community organisations and businesses only.

“By having arts and community organisations and business members, Belconnen Arts Centre can have a wide reach across the arts and throughout the communities of the Belconnen and the wider ACT region.“

Individuals keen to support the Belconnen Arts Centre are invited to become involved as artists, as students of a wide range of creative and performing arts or as volunteers and supporters. Contact the Development Team by visiting the website or give them a call to receive more information.

“The Belconnen Arts Centre is on track to open to the public at the end of winter this year,”

Ms McRae said.

For information on and apply for membership and to arrange interviews on Belconnen Arts Centre Incorporated, please contact the Belconnen Arts Centre development team on 02 6205 2657 or belconnenartscentre@gmail.com

Today's new poetry

Flaming fools Click here to experience

Washing line - a hot new e-Poem by Maria Josey (click on image to access)

TravelSmart

The TravelSmart - Belconnen project is a large-scale Voluntary Travel Behaviour Change Project intended to encourage the use of healthier, more sustainable transport modes. read more....

Belconnen Community Service Newsletter

Keep up to date with Belconnen read the BCS Newsletter by Clicking here This link will require Adobe Reader, if you don't have it you can obtain it free from Adobe www.adobe.com Also it's a big document so if you have a slow connection you'd better make a cup of tea or coffee to drink while you wait!

Latin Dance the new sensation - black is the new black

Latin rhythms have always evoked notions of exotica and fun. 1930's band leader Xavier Cugat put Latin sound into the popular idiom, the sixties saw the Bossa nova come and go and in the nineties it was the Lambada. In the new century Latin dance is more popular than ever. Read more.

Hazel's budget travel in RSA, Zimbabwe, Central Queensland, Round the World, Kimberley and the CCE's Tuscany and Sicily study trip is now included by Hazel (just click on the Italy 2005 option)

Opinion evenly divided on Summernats

Our last survey on Summernats found the opinion was evenly divided on both questions.

Should Summernats stay in ACT?

50 per cent Yes 50 per cent No

Should the ACT Government finanvially assist summernats to keep it in the ACT?

50 per cent Yes 50 per cent No

Note: As this is not a scientifically conducted poll the results cannot be taken seriously

The poll for this month concerns Untidy streets and properties to access poll click here

Don't forget you can suggest poll topics contact the Webmaster

Migration Issues

‘Temporary visa holders face uncertain future’, writes Nicholas Houston of VisAustralia

Skilled workers employed by Canberra companies on temporary work visas (Subclass 457 visas) are facing an uncertain future. The current economic downturn is giving rise to a fear that these workers could lose their jobs and with it their right to remain in Australia.

The Subclass 457 visa allows Australian companies to employ overseas workers for a period of between three months and four years. Skilled workers can bring in family members including children who are enrolled in local Canberra schools.

In the boom years the Subclass 457 visa was an ideal way for local companies to employ people with skills that could not be found locally. In tough times these same workers are left vulnerable to the loss of their employment.

If a company ends the employment relationship the employee is given 28 days to leave Australia or to find another sponsor and apply for another visa.

The 28 day period can have an immediate and catastrophic impact on the visa holder and family members. For example, children enrolled in local schools could be compelled to leave the school within 28 days of their mother or father losing their job. Further, because the work rights of a spouse are dependent on the primary visa holder, when the primary visa holder is made redundant the spouse effectively loses their job - and a local employer loses a valuable staff member.

Where to go for assistance?

Canberra based VisAustralia International has been assisting skilled people apply to migrate for many years. It has also been assisting overseas students apply for permanent residence after completing their studies and advising Australian families who want to sponsor family members to migrate to Australia from overseas.

Tel: 6281 5941
Or email.
info@visaustralia.com www.visaustralia.com

‘New migration pathways facilitate family sponsorship’, writes Nicholas Houston of VisAustralia

The migration pathway – what is it?

Recent changes to the Migration Regulations allow people to actively support family members to migrate to Australia. Overseas family members do not need to have qualifications, work experience, or speak English to start on the migration pathway.

The migration pathway for family sponsorship is a new feature of the Australian migration program. To access the pathway involves supporting a family member through two years of study in Australia and then in sponsoring them for the skilled visa at the end of the studies.

The pathway arises as an implication of changes made to the visa rules and is a by-product of the growth of the international education industry.

The migration pathway opens the way for local Canberra families to support family members under the age of 45 years migrate from their home country to Australia.

Support Asian Women's Friendship Association

The Support Asian Women's Friendship Association is a women's organisation, which provides support and assistance to cultural and linguistically diverse background women. To find out more click here

e-Poems by Anonymous

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