Little Noah Leighton Hutchinson is well on his way to coming a fashionista.
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The nine-week-old son of Fashfest fashion festival organisers Clinton and Andrea Hutchinson already has wardrobe to die for.
‘‘He has a bigger shoe collection than both of us combined,’’ Clinton said.
‘‘Some of the designers at Fashfest also made outfits for him. We’ve got a few custom-made onsies.’’
The adorable little boy was born on October 17 at John James Hospital, the first child for Clinton, the managing director of the Zoo advertising agency and Andrea, the managing director of Haus Models.
Andrea had always loved the name Noah and Leighton is after Clinton’s younger brother. Noah weighed 3.9 kilos, was 51cm long and arrived with that amazing shock of hair already in place.
‘‘Andrea and I were the same with the hair so the little guy had no choice of not coming out with a full head of hair,’’ Clinton said.
The couple says they are so far managing to juggle parenthood with their busy careers.
‘‘It’s definitely life-changing but we’re very lucky, he’s a very good baby. He’s very relaxed,’’ Andrea said.
Clinton says being a dad has been ‘‘so much fun’’.
‘‘He’s such a relaxed, chilled little boy and he’s happy,’’ he said.
‘‘And bath-time is dad and son time, no matter what happens, I do the bathing.’’
Each with a sibling close in age, Andrea and Clinton say they are keen to add to the family.
‘‘We definitely want a second one,’’ she said.
The family is now off to Andrea’s homeland of Switzerland to be with her family and celebrate a white Christmas.
Natasha follows family tradition
Farrer’s Mario Despoja was one proud dad this week when his daughter Natasha Stott Despoja was named as Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls.
‘‘She’s following in her father’s footsteps, now she is a diplomat, an ambassador,’’ he said.
The 75-year-old Despoja famously served as the charge d’ffaires at the symbolic Croatian Embassy in Canberra from November, 1977 to October, 1979.
The quasi-embassy was opened in a rented house in Forrest by Australian Croats to protest the inclusion of Croatia in a Yugoslav state and it became an instant sensation.
In her new role, Natasha Stott Despoja, the former leader of the Australian Democrats, will have a particular focus on the Pacific region, promoting women’s leadership, economic empowerment and safety.
Her father points out they also have a common bond in graduating in history and politics from a South Australian university, he from Flinders and she from Adelaide. He expects her to be a thorough professional but no yes woman for the government.
‘‘She’ll do a very good job,’’ he said.
Badge of honour
We hear Chief Minister Katy Gallagher spent $350 on Skywhale paraphernalia at Shop Handmade in Canberra. Obviously a fan.
Not sure if she purchased one of these, but we do love the Skywhale badges available at the shop in City Walk for just $5.
Chinese whispers
One of the people to pop into Friday’s outside broadcast by 666 ABC Canberra presenter Ross Solly was the man who used to occupy his seat, Chris Uhlmann.
Uhlmann, who since went on to helm 7.30, revealed he, with co-author Steve Lewis, is writing a sequel to their political satire The Marmalade Files, due out next year, probably around Father’s Day.
‘‘We’ve got a few working titles, one of which is Chinese Whispers,’’ Uhlmann told us, as he was hard at work in front of the computer on Friday.
Rhys goes to school
Play School’s naughtiest presenter (well, at least since John Hamblin), Rhys Muldoon, apparently gave a rollicking speech to graduating students at Hawker College this week.
The Hawker College old boy (1982-83) and well-known actor mesmerised the 200 year 12 students with a speech that many regarded as the best given at the school - not least for its lack of pretense and genuine motivational force.
When he wasn’t joking about growing up in Canberra, knife fights at Belconnen and all, Muldoon was offering some salient advice to the students.
He quoted Winston Churchill (‘‘never, never, never give up’’) and reckoned no matter what they studied at university, the important thing was to finish whatever they started, principal Peter Sollis said.
Muldoon also reckoned the students should take any job because one opportunity usually led to another and they would find their niche.
There were some important messages but all delivered with the trademark Muldoon irreverence.
Sollis said he was doubly impressed by Muldoon, who lives in Newcastle and was booked to fly to Canberra on Brindabella Airlines, only to be caught out by the airline going into receivership this week. Muldoon apparently reorganised to fly with another airline from Melbourne, where he does a lot of his work, because there was no way he was going to miss his commitment to Hawker.
Romance seen in the right light
Friday night was expected to see the third marriage proposal at the world-record-breaking Christmas lights at Forrest. And, don’t forget, the lights also hosted a wedding before they opened to the public.
The spectacular display is definitely inspiring the romantic side of more than a few people.
And it’s also encouraging visitors to show their generosity.
The gold coin donation entry to the lights has so far raised close to $75,000 for SIDS and Kids ACT, which means the overall event will probably raise more than the 2011 total of $77,000. Up to 5000 people a night have been visiting the display with an estimated 45,000 visiting to date.
The lights will be open to the public at 3 Tennyson Crescent, Forrest, every night for the next few days - including Christmas night - and will finish up on Boxing Day night.
Owner David Richards was also proud to receive a prize on Friday from radio station MIX 106.3 for the best Christmas lights in Canberra, as voted by the public. He is donating the $1063 prize to SIDS and Kids.
What’s on
- The Gorman House Christmas markets are on Saturday from 10am to 4pm in Ainslie Avenue, Braddon.
- The Made with Love Christmas market, with an emphasis on goods for children, is on Saturday from 8am to 1pm at the Weston Creek Community Centre in Parkinson Street, Weston.