The Watson Community Association produces a quarterly newsletter which is delivered by volunteers to every street address in Watson.
From Edition 124 (Winter 2025) this newsletter has moved to a hybrid version, with the traditional printed Watzon complemented by an online version. Scroll down for the latest edition, or skip to the bottom of the page for an archive of over 10 years of the Watzon.
Watzon 129
Spring 2026
The Watson Community Association Inc. acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Canberra and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from across Australia now call Canberra home, and we celebrate their cultures, diversity and contributions to the ACT and region.
What's in the online version of Watzon this season?
In this online edition we have what's in the printed version in your letterbox, plus:
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A few more photos
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Property sales for the last three months
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More Colour!
If there's something else you'd like us to include, please let us know.
Here's what's in this edition (click to go directly to a section):
A Fresh Idea Takes Root in Watson
The Watson Art Scene - new exhibitions at the Potters Gallery and GOST
The Archive - 10+ Years of Watzon
We've spread our sponsors' ads through the page, so there is no single link. Thank you all for your support.
Please note that the views expressed in this Newsletter are those of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Watson Community Association.
This edition of Watzon was compiled and edited by Nora C for the WCA. Online edition created by Mary S.
What's On in Watson?
Local events October to December 2026
Click the images for more detail.
Let us know if you have any events to add!
Every Monday
9:30 till Noon
FOMM Weeding at the Fair
9 October to 1 November
Canberra Potters' Society
Members Exhibition
Until 18 October
Gallery of Small Things
Annual Spring Sale
Sunday 18 October
1:30 till 3
Welcome to Watson
Knox in Watson
Sunday 15 November
9:30 till 11
Friends of Watson Green Space
(FOWGS) Weeding
Billabong Pond
Saturday 24 October
Majura Primary School
Garden Sale
The Watson Community Association Inc. invites newcomers to Watson to a casual, free event!
Friendly locals are also invited to welcome our new neighbours.
18th October 2026 (Sun), 1:30pm – 3pm
The Knox Café, Watson Village Shops
Watson Oak Trees Update
By Melissa Hammond
In 2023, a number of Watson’s original oak trees were removed from Irvine Street near Majura Primary. As the trees could not be saved, I had advocated for their timber to be repurposed rather than seeing our local history turned into woodchips.
This has since developed into a community project with our local school, with consultation recently wrapping up with students and staff. Ideas included outdoor seating for the Kindy play area, planter boxes, bird houses and incorporating an Indigenous gunyah (shelter) into the school. The timber could also feature in the school’s proposed library extension and curriculum.
The ideas will now be presented to the ACT Government, with the hope of turning the timber from these once beautiful trees into something special for our community.
Design by Alice Collett
Volunteers Needed!
By Tammy-Le Purssell
Meg’s Toy Box is a volunteer run, not-for-profit toy library in Hackett, giving local families affordable and sustainable access to a wonderful range of fun and educational toys.
We’re looking for community minded people to help keep this much-loved local resource going.
No young children or previous toy library experience needed - just some time, enthusiasm, or skills you’d like to share.
We urgently need volunteers to join our committee, particularly a Convenor and Volunteer Coordinator. It’s a great opportunity to make a practical contribution and help ensure local families can enjoy Meg’s Toy Box for years to come.
Could you help, or know someone who might?
Contact megstoybox@gmail.com to find out more.
Majura Café Poets
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Community Safety Update
By Michael Cook | WCA Community Safety Sub-group
It was fantastic to have our recent community-safety focussed Association meeting attended by the Officer in Charge of the City Station, Dave Craft. DI Craft was very open and responded constructively to residents’ questions and concerns. The most important point he made was to always report thefts, suspicious activity or criminal damage, so Police can direct resources to the area based on accurate data.
As usual through winter, there has been a dip in reported crime. But there has been a spate of licence plate thefts, for use in other car thefts or criminal activity. Anti-theft licence plate screws can be purchased cheaply at hardware stores or online.
Discovery of used needles in public areas continues to be a concern for residents. I’ve spoken with the Majura PS Principal, Liz, and they are regularly scanning hotspots to reduce risks on school grounds – thanks to BSO Kolin for his regular patrols. Please remind your children to stay away from needles and let an adult know immediately. If you find any, do not touch them – report them to 13 22 81 (Sharps Hotline) for urgent removal. I’ll be raising with Government the need for new sharps bins in hotspots, to reduce this risk.
We’re recommencing community safety sub-group meetings to discuss what else we can do to deter crime and improve safety. These are held as semi-regular weekend coffee discussions at The Knox – get in touch if you’d like to be involved.
As always - if you see an emergency or a crime being committed, call 000 immediately. If you have concerns or suspicions about behaviour, property damage or other non-emergency matters, call the Police Assistance Line on 131444.
Michael Cook
WCA Community Safety Sub-group
michaelcookcanberra@gmail.com and
watsoncommunityassociation666@gmail.com Attn: Community Safety
Watson Buzz - Pollen!
By Aileen Conroy
🐝 🐝 Why am I a beekeeper? Honeybees are fascinating, hardworking insects who share their delicious honey, but I do it to support pollination.
🐝 Bees are efficient pollinators for many of the foods we eat, including fruits and nuts, because on each foraging journey a honeybee gathers from one species of plant.
🐝 Flowering plants use colour, fragrance and nectar to attract pollinators. As bees visit flowers, the tiny hairs on their bodies — even their eyes — become electrostatically charged and attract pollen. They comb it into pollen baskets on their back legs to carry back to the hive.
🐝 Nectar provides the colony with energy, while pollen provides protein and essential amino acids needed for bee health and feeding larvae.
🐝 A bee-friendly garden includes diverse plants flowering throughout the year. Rosemary, lavender, bottlebrush, grevillea, borage, basil and hardenbergia can all help provide valuable pollen and nectar.
Bees on Banksia
Watson Beehive Inspection
Majura Café Poets (continued)
What's Happening in the Watson Art Scene?
The annual Canberra Potters Members’ Exhibition is Canberra's major ceramic exhibition of the year.
The exhibition presents a selection of works created by members over the past 12 months, demonstrating trends in contemporary ceramics and the infinite breadth of current ceramic arts practice. Works featured use different clays and incorporate a wide variety of making, decorating and firing techniques to create works that are unique in form, patterning, texture and colour.
Each year a number of prizes are awarded, made possible through the support of the Canberra Potters Society Board and the generosity of exhibition sponsors.
In 2026, Canberra Potters welcomes guest judge Dr Patsy Hely, a highly accomplished and much awarded ceramic artist, writer and educator based in Canberra.
Canberra Potters Gallery
Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm
Saturday-Sunday, 10am-2pm
Closed Monday
marketing@canberrapotters.com.au
https://canberrapotters.com.au/
Gallery of Small Things (GOST) is pleased to announce our annual Spring show which opens online and in person at 11am, Saturday 26 September.
Eight artists from outside of Canberra have been invited to create new artworks based on their Homage to the Bird. The artists include: Shannon Garson + Fiona Hiscock (Ceramics), Jane Guthleben + Greg Oakley (Painting), Martin King (Print), Vicki Mason (Jeweller), Tom Moore (Glass) and Colleen Southwell (Paper).
If you love the Wattle Bird, Owl, Wrens, Pink Cockatoo (Major Mitchell) and many more birds, you’ll love what they have created.
The exhibition runs 7 days a week, 11am to 4pm till 18 October 2026 at 27 Wade Street.
For more information please visit: www.galleryofsmallthings.com/exhibition.
A Fresh Idea Takes Root in Watson
By Florence Barbara Awino
When my family and I moved to Watson two years ago, we quickly discovered a community with a strong spirit of connection, diversity and people supporting one another.
I’m Florence, a Watson resident and an environmental scientist whose work has explored waste management, sustainability, urban agriculture, food safety and public health. Over time, I became increasingly interested in the connections between our environment, the food we eat and community wellbeing.
One question kept coming back to me: How can we make healthy living easier, more enjoyable and accessible within our communities?
That question inspired our family venture, ABOVE ALL – Ain’t Just Juice, to create delicious and nutritious fresh juices and smoothies using all-natural ingredients. The idea
brings together my interests in fresh food, sustainability, cultural diversity and
community connection.
As we begin this journey, we hope to build relationships with local growers, producers, organisations, businesses and residents, while learning and growing alongside the community we now call home.
Look up ABOVE ALL – Ain’t Just Juice website or Instagram (@aboveall_aintjustjuice).
Watson Property Sales
Coming Soon.... Kindly Provided by Home by Holly