The weather began to cool in April just as the political climate heated up with federal election campaigns in full swing and candidates racing each other to the polls.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued to battle on, CW journalist Abbey Halter sat down for an exclusive interview with new Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko.

In local community news, Australia’s very first kava lounge opened in Turner, a Canberra teen made it ‘The Voice’ blind auditions, and to mark World Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a local woman with Parkinson’s disease took part in a study which hopes to achieve a medical breakthrough.

Exclusive: Meet new Ukraine Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko

His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko met CW with a broad smile and a warm handshake. Brand-new to Canberra, the Ambassador’s posting was expedited because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, making him a war-time Ambassador within a few months.

Meeting the local Ukrainian community was at the top of Mr Myroshnychenko’s list when he arrived in Canberra, and the very day after landing, he spent some time at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Turner.

Reflecting on Australia and Ukraine’s current relationship, Ambassador Myroshnychenko had only kind words about his new country of residence and the military support, particularly the supply of Bushmaster vehicles.

Kooyong poll points to loss for Treasurer Josh Frydenberg

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s Victorian seat of Kooyong looked like it could fall to an independent, a new poll showed.

The UComms poll of 847 residents conducted on 12 April found independent candidate Monique Ryan held a 59 to 41 per cent two-party preferred lead over Mr Frydenberg in the inner-Melbourne electorate.

The poll also showed a 44 per cent disapproval rating for Mr Frydenberg’s record as local MP and a 57.2 per cent disapproval rating of Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Australia’s first kava lounge opens in Canberra

The opening of Australia’s first kava lounge at the RUC Turner Bowls Club in April 2022 “marked a milestone of the positive things to come for the kava industry”, said Faonetapu Takiari, who advocated for years for the traditional Pacific beverage to be widely available here.

Islanders have drunk kava – a psychoactive, non-alcoholic substance prepared from the root of the Piper methysticum, mixed with cold water – for 3,000 years.

Medical evidence suggests it is healthy, relieves stress, and encourages communication, but kava has been restricted in Australia since 2007.

Canberra teen makes ‘The Voice’ blind auditions

Imagine your 15-year-old self, standing on stage with bright lights, cameras, a live audience, and a panel of Keith Urban, Jessica Mauboy, Rita Ora, and Guy Sebastian all there to hear you sing.

That was a reality for Canberran Tahalianna Soward-Mahanga, who valiantly made it to the blind audition stage of the 2022 season of The Voice.

While none of the judges’ chairs turned on the night, it was a wonderful experience for the talented teenager.

Tahalianna told CW she took a lot away from the encounter; namely a greater sense of confidence, and that singing is what she wants to do when she finishes school.

Local woman doesn’t let Parkinson’s get her down

Noticing a significant tremor at the beginning of the pandemic, Delwyn Boundy, 64, flagged the symptom with her doctors and was told it was anxiety, or there was no real reason for it, or it was because of her spinal issues. She was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

More than 100,000 Australians live with Parkinson’s and it’s the nation’s second most common neurological condition, but it remains the least understood.

Del put her hand up to be a part of a ground-breaking study in 2022 to assist in identifying genetic factors influencing the risk of developing Parkinson’s. Both her father and her grandfather lived with the disease, and she wants to know if her children are likely to be predisposed to it.

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