Now, for some good news: brekkies, birds, the Special Olympics and feeding the hungry

This was the good news happening in Canberra this week.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

or signup to continue reading

Clockwise from top left: University of Canberra vice-chancellor Bill Shorten at OzHarvest's CEO CookOff, Labor MP for Macquarie Susan Templeman and Environment Minister Senator Murray Watt counting birds at Parliament House, the torch relay in Canberra for the Special Olympics and Ciao Cafe and Cakes Queanbeyan owners Connie Zarb and Damien Hick. Pictures supplied

Celebrating our local cafes and restaurants

Ciao Cafe and Cakes Queanbeyan owners Connie Zarb and Damien Hick. Picture supplied

Lots of people already know how good the cakes are at Ciao Cafe and Cakes Queanbeyan, but do you know how good the brekkie is?

Owners Connie Zarb and Damien Hick were celebrating on Friday with the announcement they were in the running to be crowned as having the best breakfast in Australia.

The Crawford Street institution was announced as a national finalist in the Breakfast Restaurant category in the 2026 Restaurant and Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence.

Great news also for Lunetta restaurant in Red Hill which is a national finalist in the Restaurant of the Year award, after opening less than two years ago, in November 2024. It is also a finalist in the premium dining category.

Petrichor Farm at Gundaroo is also in the running for Caterer of the Year and best wedding caterer.

The national winners will be announced in Sydney on October 26.

Damien said they were "ecstatic" to be in the running for best breakfast, for the second year running.

"It's awesome for us, for a Queanbeyan business, to do so well two years in a row," he said.

And if it's in Queanbeyan, butcher and local legend Peter Lindbeck must have something to do with it.

Damien said breakfast staples such as a bacon and egg roll and eggs Benedict were always popular, but so too was its special steak sandwich.

"We use Lindbeck steak, they deliver it to us and we cut it and make steak sandwiches from it," he said.

Mouth watering yet?

Lunetta on Red Hill is in the running to be crowned Australia's Restaurant of the Year, less than two years after opening. Picture by Keegan Carroll

The other local businesses named as finalists in the national restaurant and catering awards were:

European restaurant: Louis Dining, Barton

Family dining: Space Kitchen, Phillip

Indian restaurant: Amara Indian restaurant, Canberra

Italian restaurant (informal): Mezzalira Ristorante, Canberra

New restaurant: Shaw Estate Restaurant, Murrumbateman

Restaurant in a hotel/resort: The Rainforest Cave Restaurant - Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Canberra

Premium dining: Lunetta, Red Hill

Speciality Restaurant: Med, Barton

Restaurant in a pub/club: Chatham House Restaurant - National Press Club of Australia, Barton

Venue caterer: Broadbean Catering & Events - National Museum of Australia, Acton

Events caterer: National Press Club of Australia, Barton

Counting the Birds at Parliament House

Labor MP for Macquarie Susan Templeman and Environment Minister Senator Murray Watt counting birds at Parliament House. Picture supplied

Politicians including ACT independent senator David Pocock and Environment Minister Murray Watt went birdwatching around Parliament House this week to draw attention to BirdLife Australia's Aussie Bird Count.

The bird count is on from Monday, October 19 to Sunday, October 25, with Australians encouraged to step outside and count the birds in their backyards, balconies, parks and schoolyards.

Last year, 64,000 Australians counted more than five million birds.

BirdLife Australia's Sean Dooley said people of all ages and experience levels could take part.

"You don't need to know your rosellas from your wrens to take part, there is a specially designed app to help you along the way," Sean said.

"The beauty of the Aussie Bird Count is its simplicity. Find a spot, spend 20 minutes watching the birds around you and record what you see."

Taking part in the bird count at Parliament House were Bullwinkle MP Trish Cook, Birdlife Australia's Sean Dooley, Kim Farley from Birds Canberra, Labor Senator Murray Watt, Kate, ACT independent Senator David Pocock and Macquarie MP Susan Templeman. Picture supplied

The top three birds most commonly seen across Australia last year were:

1. Australian Magpie
2. Rainbow Lorikeet
3. Noisy Miner

The count gives BirdLife Australia an annual national snapshot of the birds people are seeing around them which can highlight changes for scientists to investigate further or support existing understanding.

Pollies took to the binoculars on Wednesday morning, which was pretty cold and windy, Sean said.

"But we saw about 17 species all up over the morning," he said.

"Even, literally on the doorstep of national parliament, you have an amazing array of small bush birds.

"There were family parties of Superb Fairy-wrens, with the blue males going about nesting. We also think there were some White-browed Scrubwrens nesting in the hedges.

"There were beautiful Eastern spinebills which are a very small, delicate honey-eater, feeding the nectar of some of the native plants. They're the closest thing we have, in a sense, to a hummingbird.

"Then there were other small birds like Brown thornbills, Spotted Pardalotes and we had the usual bigger birds. The Currawongs were looking like they were up to mischief as normal. And there were lots of magpies."

Making meals for the hungry

University of Canberra vice-chancellor Bill Shorten at OzHarvest's CEO CookOff in Canberra this week. Picture supplied

The Red Shed beside Lake Burley Griffin on the Black Mountain Peninsula became a huge kitchen and restaurant this week for OzHarvest's CEO CookOff.

Among the bosses donning the bright yellow aprons were University of Canberra vice-chancellor Bill Shorten, Canberra Southern Cross Club CEO Matt Walshe, Geocon Group CEO Damon Smith, Canberra Airport's head of leasing Lachlan Fitzpatrick and Home by Holly founder and director Holly Komorowski.

Canberra Southern Cross Club CEO Matt Walshe and Geocon Group CEO Damon Smith with OzHarvest's Ronni Kahn and Christine Scott. Picture supplied

OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn was also on hand and the CEOs were guided by chefs including Christine Manfield.

Each of the CEOs raised funds for the night, which go to OzHarvest. The national campaign hopes to raise $2.5 million to deliver five million meals in 30 days to those in need.

The latest OzHarvest 2026 Frontline Report found 31 per cent of ACT residents are seeking food relief for the first time, including mortgage holders and double-income households.

Shining a light on the Special Olympics

Did you see the torch run through Canberra for the Special Olympics?

Patricipants in the torch run in Canberra ahead of the Special Olympics opening ceremony on Monday, October 19. Picture supplied

From October 19 to 23, Melbourne will host the Special Olympics Australia National Games, bringing together thousands of athletes, coaches, volunteers, families and supporters from across Australia for one of the nation's largest celebrations of inclusion through sport.

In Canberra, police officers and athletes on Thursday joined forces to carry the torch from Regatta Point to the National Police Memorial on the northern shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

Law enforcement officers and athletes joined forces for the torch run in Canberra. Picture supplied