Cafe Hoz owner Richard Butler who finishes up a "terrific" 20 years of operating the cafe at Canberra Hospital on May 1 after losing the tender. Photo: Jeffrey Chan.
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Twenty years running the Canberra Hospital cafe has put Richard Butler firmly in touch with what's important in life, and after losing the cafe tender he plans to spend time "down the beach and playing golf".
It's the emotional aspect of hospital life that sticks in Mr Butler's mind.
"Every morning there's at least one or two family groups who have been there all night with a sick child or a dying mother and they're pretty stressed out and they're just looking for a bit of comfort and compassion," he said.
- Employment Minister Eric Abetz indulged in "lurid fantasies" about a public servant who claimed workers' compensation for injuries sustained while having sex in a motel room, the woman's barrister says.
- Domestic violence sufferers who seek protective court orders in the ACT are being unnecessarily re-victimised, a report has found.
- The Belconnen suburbs of Liberal Speaker Vicki Dunne and transport spokesman Alistair Coe have been shifted into a new Gungahlin-based electorate, forcing the pair to rethink where they might stand at the 2016 election.
- ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has dismissed discussion of changing the GST as a waste of breath, with no chance of states and territories reaching agreement.
- An anti-drugs lobby group has told the Legislative Assembly that medical marijuana could act as a "Trojan horse" for illegal drug use in the ACT and any change to current laws could prompt an increase in addiction.
Fan zone: The Brumbies are hoping to get more fans to the clash against the Cheetahs. Photo: Jay Cronan.
They are adamant a mid-season Wallabies camp will not derail their preparations to play the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday night, insisting it will light a fire for World Cup hopefuls left out of a 51-man squad.
The Brumbies will play at home for just the third time this season when they host the Cheetahs in a traditionally low-drawing battle.
- Canberra Raiders youngster Edrick Lee has revealed the club's outside backs discussed their defensive deficiencies immediately after they were exposed by the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
- Canberra trainer Steven O'Brien says the ACT's representation at the $300,00 NSW Country Championships at Randwick on Saturday shows how strong racing is in the region and justifies the $50,000 Canberra Racing paid to be included.
- Brumbies under-17s coach Paul Simonsson has backed some of his star players to rise through the ranks to earn Australian representative honours after their drought-breaking national title triumph on Sunday.
- Brandie O'Connor's world championships silver medal means more than a quarter of Australia's para-cycling track medal haul came from Canberra cyclists, continuing the ACT's ability to punch above its weight on the world cycling stage.
9.03am: There has been a three vehicle crash on Wimmera St in Harrison. It's outside Harrison School, police say the cars have been removed from the road. Ambulance paramedics are on the scene assessing a 41-year-old woman for minor injuries.
Fairbairn Avenue will be closed between Northcott Drive and Majura Road, and Morshead Drive will be closed to northbound traffic between Fairbairn Avenue and Pialligo Avenue from 6.30pm to 5am each night this week as work on the Majura Parkway continues.
If you are stuck in traffic or have any info, let us know: morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes
Today is the last day to see Let Me Be Myself - The Life Story of Anne Frank at the National Jewish Memorial Centre in Forrest.
New Snowy Hydro SouthCare helicopter chief executive Chris Kimball with his children Violet and Noah.
The former face of ABC Canberra's current affairs programming, Chris Kimball, has been announced as the new chief executive of Snowy Hydro SouthCare rescue helicopter trust.
Kimball, who decided to leave the ABC at the end of last year after the network scrapped its local weekly 7.30 bulletin, takes over from former Brumbies captain Owen Finegan, who has moved to Sydney for family reasons after four years at the helm of the rescue service.
Touch or click through for more David Pope
As the sun sets over the Tidbinbilla Range, smoke from hazard reduction burns in the Cotter River and Paddy's River area, gives the sky an eerie orange glow. Photo: Graham Tidy.
Today: Mostly sunny with light winds and a forecast minimum of 7 degrees and a top of 26 degrees.
The rest of the week: Wednesday, partly cloudy, patchy fog in the early morning and light winds - min 9, max 27. Thursday, partly cloudy, medium chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. light winds - min 12, max 26. Friday, cloudy with a slight chance of a shower - min 10, max 22.
