Canberra mornings: July 10, 2015

Griffith Narrabundah Community Association says no to MOCCA relocation

A day after Chief Minister Andrew Barr said planning would continue for the relocation of a Manuka childcare centre to the Telopea Park School's tennis courts, community opposition to an alternative site in Griffith has escalated.

Griffith Narrabundah Community Association president John Edquist wrote to Mr Barr on Thursday to formally object to development of a site next to the Griffith shops, after association members voted for a resolution opposing rezoning.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has faced a slew of conflict of interest allegations over informal deals struck with employers which delivered millions of dollars to the Australian Workers Union while he was secretary.
The husband to Australia's former ambassador to Spain has been cleared of the primary and most serious charges in his child abuse trial.
Retired military personnel and public servants around Australia were left in financial limbo on Thursday after the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation failed to pay their pensions.
The fairness of Q&A host Tony Jones will be scrutinised as part of the ABC's far-reaching independent editorial review of the program, which is currently being boycotted by Abbott government ministers
The ACT unemployment rate has dropped for the eighth consecutive month, with business leaders confident the economy is recovering from public service cuts.

Canberra mornings: July 10, 2015

Australia took on South Africa in a one-day international at Manuka Oval in November. Photo: Matt Bedford

Canberra will become a fixture on the international cricket calendar for at least the next four years under an agreement between the ACT government and Cricket Australia.

Manuka Oval will host either a one-day international or a Twenty20 international featuring the Australian cricket team every summer from this year to 2018-19.

As part of the deal, Australia will take on India in a 50-over fixture under lights on January 20 next year.

Chris Rogers fell agonisingly short of a century as England applied the pressure on on the second day of an absorbing first Ashes Test in Cardiff.
Canberra cyclist Mathew Hayman is "wallowing in self pity" after doing all the necessary training only for Orica-GreenEDGE to leave him out of its Tour de France team, but he hopes the silver lining will be a strong showing in next year's Spring Classics.
A little-known 21-year-old from Spain, who was eight years old when Serena Williams won her first Wimbledon title in 2002, stands between the American and her 21st grand slam triumph.
Former Queensland stars Allan Langer and Gary Belcher insist playing just two days after the biggest moment of his career will help Josh Papalii avoid an "emotional letdown" against Newcastle on Friday.
ARLC chairman John Grant believes Alex McKinnon has lost some of the support of the rugby league community following his public stoush with Queensland captain Cameron Smith.
With a heavy heart in a storm, Port Adelaide mustered all of its will-to-win to upset Collingwood in a three-point thriller at Adelaide Oval.

7.36am: Cameron Avenue in Belconnen has been reopened to traffic. ACT Police has warned drivers to be careful in the wet weather.

7.27am: A motorcycle crash has closed Cameron Avenue between Chandler Street and Belconnen Way. ACT Police are diverting traffic from the area.

Another accident has blocked one lane of Hindmarsh Drive eastbound near Ainsworth Street near Swinger Hill. A car is being towed from the scene. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area and drive safely on the roads.

7.19am: Emergency Services are on the scene of an accident on Cameron Avenue and Chandler Street in Belconnen.

If you are stuck in traffic or have any info on the Friday morning commute, let us know whenever it is safe to do so: morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes

Our Lifestyle editors have been hard at work finding fun things for you to check out in Canberra Weekender.

The Canberra Raiders will take on the Newcastle Knights at Canberra Stadium. Game starts at 7.45pm.

Bangarra Dance Theatre's 2015 performance can be seen at the Canberra Theatre from 7.30pm. More on this below.

The National Film and Sound Archive is celebrating 100 years of local animation with a selection of some of the best Australian animated features of the last 25 years.

The 14th Australian Ceramics Triennale 'Stepping Up' exhibition at the Australian National Botanic Gardens will present new ceramic works from a select group of award winning and emerging Ernabella artists. Entry is free.

All this week there will be great films showing, just in time for school holidays. Check out The Magic Pudding, Happy Feet, The Lego Movie and FernGully: The Last Rainforest.

For more information call 02 6248 2000 or visit the NFSA website.

Canberra mornings: July 10, 2015

Scenes from the Bangarra Dance Theatre production, Lore. Photo: Jeffrey Chan

A dance story of land and sea representing the passage of stories from one generation to the next has reached Canberra.

Lore is Bangarra Dance Theatre's 2015 performance with artistic director Stephen Page presenting the double bill as a celebration of Torres Strait islander stories.

"Lore is an indigenous perspective about the caretaking and the practices of our cultural customs that play a big part in our story telling," Mr Page said.

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