This reminds me of my relationship to my hometown (Minneapolis, MN) -- which also had an incredible music scene in the 80's/90/s/'00s (most famously, Prince is from Minneapolis and used to drop of paper flyers for same-day house concerts at Paisley Park at a local record store). Similarly a kind of boring-on-the-outside city with a great subcultural scene that flourished with low cost of living and is now gentrifying. And similarly, your piece mirrored how my own personal mythology of my hometown has flourished in the distance between leaving almost 15 years ago and now only coming back for visits/remembering my teenage years romping around.
Wow Kate, thank you so much for this! It sounds like we have such similar relationships to our funny little home towns. You’ve made me want to visit Minneapolis!
This was such a lovely and unexpected read. I’m also from Canberra, and have only just recently left to move to the US. I have a love/hate relationship with the place but it was so nice to read about my funky little hometown from someone else’s perspective ☺️ thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the article. I've never been to Canberra, but I knew someone who lived there, David Smith. David was a world class athlete ( race walking ) and my wife and I met him in Copenhagen, at an international sports meeting ( my wife was also a race walker and on the Danish National team and I was their women's trainer ) and got to know him very well, he was quite a character ( as australien's tend to be ) and we met up with him often at various competitions in the mid eighties He lived with us in Odense when he was in the area. We had some good times together, so thanks for bringing back those lovely memories.
Loved the article. No one mentioned Smiths. Once belonging to me and Alan but since has become a live music venue. A very cool place with very smelly toilets.
It actually came a lot in the interview with Jennifer but it somehow didn’t make it into the final piece, which is weird now that I think of it because I love that place.
So so so good
This reminds me of my relationship to my hometown (Minneapolis, MN) -- which also had an incredible music scene in the 80's/90/s/'00s (most famously, Prince is from Minneapolis and used to drop of paper flyers for same-day house concerts at Paisley Park at a local record store). Similarly a kind of boring-on-the-outside city with a great subcultural scene that flourished with low cost of living and is now gentrifying. And similarly, your piece mirrored how my own personal mythology of my hometown has flourished in the distance between leaving almost 15 years ago and now only coming back for visits/remembering my teenage years romping around.
Wow Kate, thank you so much for this! It sounds like we have such similar relationships to our funny little home towns. You’ve made me want to visit Minneapolis!
This was such a lovely and unexpected read. I’m also from Canberra, and have only just recently left to move to the US. I have a love/hate relationship with the place but it was so nice to read about my funky little hometown from someone else’s perspective ☺️ thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Elle! It makes me really happy to hear that another Canberra girl enjoyed it. It was a real joy to write! Have fun in the US!!
Thanks for the article. I've never been to Canberra, but I knew someone who lived there, David Smith. David was a world class athlete ( race walking ) and my wife and I met him in Copenhagen, at an international sports meeting ( my wife was also a race walker and on the Danish National team and I was their women's trainer ) and got to know him very well, he was quite a character ( as australien's tend to be ) and we met up with him often at various competitions in the mid eighties He lived with us in Odense when he was in the area. We had some good times together, so thanks for bringing back those lovely memories.
Jim
This has put a smile on my face! I’m so glad that brought up nice memories for you :)
Great read! And so good to hear a very different angle on Canberra. Mrat is a legend, and his mum has a beautiful garden and is a fantastic chef too!
He is sooo sweet and eloquent. Loved listening to him talk about all this stuff he’s so passionate about.
Loved the article. No one mentioned Smiths. Once belonging to me and Alan but since has become a live music venue. A very cool place with very smelly toilets.
Best venue now!
It actually came a lot in the interview with Jennifer but it somehow didn’t make it into the final piece, which is weird now that I think of it because I love that place.