Region Canberra

JML Trades director Joshua Michael Lewis takes us through his business journey, providing insight into the life of a plumber and tradesman.

Canberra IT firm OPC has been helping Vinnies upgrade their tech for years, but last month, a scheduled "look and see" session unexpectedly turned into boots on the ground — and an eye-opening experience. OPC CEO Clinton Henderson and Account Manager Mayuka Gunaratne expected to be quiet observers, but when a couple of scheduled volunteers had to pull out, St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn Night Patrol Team Leader Di Brookes didn't miss a beat. "I need three people per shift, and if I don't have enough people in my van for the night, I can't go out. That means people are waiting for a van that doesn't show up," she says. "I know Clinton's the CEO of OPC, but in my van, he's Joe Blow, there to help. So I put them to work. And honestly, they smashed it out of the park. After packing the two Night Patrol vans, the team set off to deliver the service Vinnies provides seven nights a week. Each van makes two stops — one to Queanbeyan and Dickson, the other to Veterans Park and a newly scheduled stop at the Belconnen interchange. Read the full story here - https://lnkd.in/gnc-b5-6

Another feather in the cap for Region Riverina's Oliver Jacques! 👏

From paying $4000 for a Weetangera block to gifting the summit of Mount Jerrabomberra for just $1, local legend Ross Barrett has spent over 50 years helping build Canberra and watching a quiet garden city evolve into the thriving capital we love today. https://lnkd.in/eWH6krSb

As Australia transitions into a buyer’s market, defined by tight stock and post-budget uncertainty among investors, timing is everything for first-home buyers. Yet many are still making a cardinal error that could cost them their dream property, according to one local expert. Loan Market Canberra owner Nitish Kumar says many first-home buyers are approaching mortgage brokers far too late. If you’ve already found your dream home before you start tackling financing, you may be behind the eight ball. And if you walk into an auction weekend without your financing sorted, the clock has certainly run out. Read the full story here - https://lnkd.in/gRiSzqRh

After many months of careful planning, soil has officially turned on the new Master Builders ACT charity house in Whitlam. The four-bedroom architect-designed house will stand on a large block with sweeping views of the Molonglo River and mountains. It will be auctioned on completion, with profits from the sale benefiting local charities working on crisis response, longer-term care and support, and breaking cycles of family violence. The project is overseen by Master Builders ACT in collaboration with Hands Across Canberra, the ACT’s community foundation. The ACT Government and Suburban Land Agency have also shown their support by helping secure a prime block for the build. All funds generated by the project will remain in the Canberra community. Heading up the build is Darrell Leemhuis, principal of construction firm A+P Leemhuis Builders. He sees the charity house as a values-based proposition, and says getting involved was a no-brainer. “For me, building a house to help out just makes sense; it’s what we can do. When I was approached about the project, I said, ‘Mate, I’ll build it. You don’t have to even ask the question,'” he says. “A+P Leemhuis have started to really push on philanthropy over the past few years, and this is a way to inspire others in the industry to do the same. “My son is coming up now as a young builder, and when you sit down at the dinner table each night, it’s good to talk about more than bricks and mortar and business. I want to show him you can work with integrity and grace by giving back to your community.” Read more about this incredible project here - https://lnkd.in/gzhVas_X

Upgrading your home during a cost-of-living crunch is tough, but prices are only going one way. Here are some simple ways to save thousands. https://lnkd.in/gNSB4BWS

Buying a property post-separation can be one of life’s most challenging moments, pairing high emotional stress with complex financial decisions. You might want someone in your corner.

Imagine finding your dream rural getaway, securing council approval for a stunning lakeside renovation and clearing the site, only to discover you legally cannot lay a single brick. Why? Because an agreement signed decades ago gives your neighbour the permanent right to drive a tractor straight through your future living room. Welcome to the world of the easement: a legal, non-possessory right to use or access someone else's property for a specific purpose. These rights cover a wide range of scenarios, from a utility company running underground power lines to a neighbour using a shared driveway to reach a landlocked block. For many property owners, an easement never impacts daily life. But things can easily go spectacularly south. Like the notorious Coopers Island Road dispute, in which decades of public access to a popular waterway clashed with a private landowner's attempts to block a road running through their property. Or the historic Old Canberra Inn, which required complex easement adjustments just to accommodate kitchen expansions, accessible bathrooms and outdoor dining. Easement disputes may seem like bizarre modern inconveniences, but they are rooted in decades of property law, BDN Lawyers solicitor Aedan Billiards says. Read the full story here - https://lnkd.in/gpvu5MmH

There was a time when Woolley Street in Dickson wasn't lined with bustling restaurants and late-night diners. It was full of mechanics. "If your car failed registration inspection, chances are it ended up in Woolley Street," Matthew Herbert laughed. "Thirty-five years ago, it was full of motor mechanics. Now it's full of restaurants." For LJ Hooker Gungahlin franchise owner Matthew Herbert, that one street tells the story of Canberra. Cities don't change overnight. They evolve quietly - one suburb, one café and one family at a time. He has spent more than 50 years watching Australia's capital grow up. Mr Herbert arrived in Canberra as a 12-year-old in the early 1970s. His first school was Woden Valley High, which no longer exists. Years later, after finishing school, he and his mates gathered at pubs that have since disappeared. "The places that we frequented after we left school were probably bars and pubs, and most of them are gone," he said. "They've either been renovated into something else or something new has come up." While much of the Canberra he remembers has changed, one thing hasn't. Four generations of his family now call the city home. His 95-year-old mother still lives here. Three of his children stayed, and many of his 10 grandchildren are now growing up in Canberra, some attending the same schools their parents once did. "My mother's very grateful that the family moved to Canberra because it opened up possibilities that wouldn't have existed living on the South Coast," he said. "For me, family's number one. If you can keep the family together, that's much better than having people living all over the place." Many of his friends left for Sydney, Melbourne or overseas. The Herberts stayed. Does your family have deep roots in Canberra? We'd love to hear your story and how you've seen the city change over the years. Get in touch with us at nalvi@region.com.au. Read the full story about Matthew, the Herberts and how they've seen Canberra change over the years here - https://lnkd.in/g_Dj3QFQ