The executive director of the Australian National Committee for UN Women is profiled among a group of women who are “changing the world, challenging old orders and inspiring the next generation”.

Ms McKay, 30, sits alongside some other notable Canberra names including Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

She was busy on Friday commenting about the horrific case in London of three women allegedly kept in domestic slavery for three decades, saying “modern slavery is a real and pressing issue”.

“It also demonstrates that slavery is not just a ‘Third World issue’ and can happen anywhere, including here in Australia,” she said.

Her organisation will also be focusing on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Monday.

That dumped car on State Circle seemed to have been almost installed as a new Canberra monument, left there for seemingly endless days.

It was removed, perhaps after a letter to the editor thundered about the disgrace of the “Beirut-like bombed out car” being left at the foot of Parliament House for so long.

Finding out what actually happened and why the vehicle was not removed immediately has not been easy. Territory and Municipal Services tells us in this case it was the responsibility of ACT Policing. We asked ACT Policing for a comment, but after two days still had no answer.

The owner of Dial An Ironer did tell us he put a sign on the car, thinking it was in such a high-profile position for so long that it was an opportunity too good to ignore.

It’ll be all things Dr Who at Dendy Cinemas in Canberra on Sunday, where so far 2385 fans across nine sold-out sessions will watch the 50th anniversary episode of the classic sci-fi series. ABC-TV has also confirmed that the anniversary a special – The Day of the Doctor – will screen in Australia on ABC 1 on Sunday at 6.50am, joining 75 countries around the world to simultaneously broadcast the highly-anticipated event. It will be shown again at 7.30pm.

Tickets still available for screenings at Dendy at 8pm on Sunday and 7pm on Wednesday.

Those Freemans are a talented lot.

Former Canberra girl Alex Freeman has made a real name for herself with her Polka Luka range of contemporary resin jewellery and homewares. She is now based in Melbourne but always work part of the year in Bali.

The range was launched in Canberra in 2007 and is now sold in independent stores and galleries throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Her latest collection, Dusk, was inspired by her travels, as “a love letter to the beauty and cultural richness of South East Asia”.

Freeman will be having an exhibition of the Dusk range as well as homewares and other jewellery at The Front Cafe and Gallery in Lyneham from December 5 to December 22, with the opening night on Thursday, December 5 at 6pm.

Meanwhile, her father, heritage architect Peter Freeman, has his own creative ventures going on.

His book The Wallpapered Manse has just been published, putting the focus on his cherished home in Moruya on the South Coast.

The book details the restoration of the historic Presbyterian manse, built in 1865, and the history of Moruya. He will be discussing The Wallpapered Manse at the National Library of Australia on Tuesday, December 3 at 6.30pm. The event is free but bookings at 6262 1424 or nla.gov.au/bookings

Look to the skies over Canberra on Monday morning to see Qantas fly its new 737 aircraft with indigenous livery over the national capital.

The 737-800 aircraft is adorned with a design adapted from the painting Medicine Pocket by Aboriginal artist Paddy Bedford, which is in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.

For the first time in the airline’s 93 year history, the iconic Qantas tail has been included in the design, with the usual red tail colour behind the white kangaroo altered to match the earthy tones of Bedford’s art work.

The aircraft will arrive in Canberra on Monday as QF803 at 8.15am. It will then be taken across to a hangar for a media preview.

Now finished his mission to Afghanistan, singer and diplomat Fred Smith has hardly had time to acclimatise back into Canberra life, instead getting back on the road touring.

He’s performing at the All Saints Church in Ainslie on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm and tickets are available at the door.

Smith will still be working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, around the Australian Civil-Military Centre, which helps develop national civil-military capabilities to prepare for conflicts and disasters overseas.

Smith and his partner Maryanne Voyazis are expecting their first child in January. Does that influence his decision to return to a potentially dangerous posting?

“I’ll never say never but I think I’ll be kicking around Canberra for a while,” he said.

Smith was the first Australian diplomat on the ground in Afghanistan and the last to leave earlier this month as part of the drawdown of Australian mission in Uruzgan Province.

He said the Australian forces helped improve security in the province and allow the development of roads and heath facilities and schools.

“We’ve clearly made a difference,” he said.

Is he confident the security will last?

“Confident would be too big a word. Anything can happen in Afghanistan. The signs this year are that the security situation has held in Uruzgan,” he said.

The Art and Design Christmas Twilight Markets are at the Belconnen Arts Centre on Saturday from 1pm to 6pm.

There will be music and works on sale from local artist from jewellery to ceramics to textiles and more. Pictured here is a dream catcher by Annette Boyd. The centre is on Emu Bank in Belconnen.

The Braddon Punters Club is a group of public servants who used to meet at the Braddon Club (but now head to the Canberra City Bowling Club) to punt on various ventures.

For what it’s worth, they have former Australian Defence Force chief General Peter Cosgrove as favourite in the “Governor General Stakes” at 5-2 with former prime minister John Howard next in line at 4-1.

A video will be screened on the side of the new Griffin Centre in Genge Street in Civic on Saturday at 9pm comprising interviews with people who worked or used services in the old Griffin, along with photos and other memorabilia.

It was created by video artist Chris Hahn as part of the Changing Places arts project run by the Mental Health Foundation ACT.

Here at Private Capital, we love a good fete. Tell us about yours.