About John Thistleton
John Thistleton’s 30-plus years in the print media began at Cowra, and includes stints in Young, Wellington, Leeton, Crookwell, Queanbeyan, Goulburn, and, over 12 years, the Canberra Times.
As a reporter and managing editor John has watched the media fragment into numerous new opportunities.
A highlight for him at Goulburn was switching off a national wire service and relying on local staff and news to refresh content and see the paper flourish.
Moving to property and planning rounds in Canberra, John covered battles east and west of the city when retailing, residential and rural landscapes swiftly changed to accommodate a fast-growing population.
After leaving for a brief stint at the National Capital Authority as media manager he returned to the Canberra Times as the business editor, then a reporter covering the broader ACT region.
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News
Four years ago Adam and Brooke Bantock, temporarily in Murrumbateman after five years in hospitality in Hong Kong and Shanghai, took such a shine to Yass they bought a big weatherboard home and opened a 50-seat bistro, Clementine, now a one-hat restaurant with a rising reputation. Four years ago, a juice van operator, Sophie Peer, and a coffee van operator,...
Property
A leading Canberra real estate principal says first home buyers will have a better shot at home ownership in the new financial year. McIntyre Property founder Col McIntyre says the new rate of concession on stamp duty that comes into effect on July 1 will be welcomed. Stamp duty is a transactional tax which adds to the cost of buying...
Expert Advice
Arising from accidents which cause serious injury, legal decisions can be confronting and as life-changing as the initial trauma. But there are two sides to every story. Kate and Bill are part of the Litigation group at Bradley Allen Love Lawyers, Canberra and specialise in insurance and personal injury litigation. Their high-quality legal advice and representations to clients comes from...
Property
Vantage Strata’s remarkable growth over its four years in existence is a part of the evolving Canberra story about how we choose to live, and the need for more professionalism and expertise in managing the increasing number of multi-unit properties that more and more are calling home. Vantage's partners saw the changing landscape and a gap in the market, but...
Family Law
Let’s be honest, a prenuptial agreement can take the gloss off a romantic relationship. Yet an experienced family law specialist in Canberra, who has been writing such agreements for more than 18 years, believes strongly in them for minimising risks and giving couples peace of mind. DDCS Lawyers partner Phillip Davey says while they’re generally known as a ‘pre-nup’, a...
News
Free of screens and the addiction of checking them repeatedly, Carly Saeedi found her children happier, calmer and busy exploring their own backyard over the last summer holidays. “When we didn’t have to worry about screens for homework or any other purpose, they disappeared, the kids forgot about them,” Carly says. “The kids had this wonderful summer outside, we took...
News
For almost 13 years, Canberra legal firm Bradley Allen Love Lawyers’ Directors and their staff have been developing their own leading health and wellbeing program. In 2015 BAL sought recognition from ACT Healthier Work for a 12-month health and well-being plan. Four years on, in January 2019, after assessing the comprehensive program that addresses mental health, physical health and wellbeing,...
Expert Advice
At some stage, we all come to the realisation we are not getting any younger and must begin planning for our future. So, when the inevitable events beyond our control arrive, the key to peace of mind is not only having our affairs sorted out, but a plan in place, and a guide for the rest of our lives. Phillip...
News
Club Lime’s arrival in Goulburn has been such an outstanding hit a second club will open nearby, with exciting new features for members who are rolling up in just about every age group. Operating in Hume Street, Goulburn, and growing rapidly in regional NSW, Club Lime (part of the VIVA Leisure group) is one of Australia's largest privately-owned health and...
Expert Advice
What happens to our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts when we die? Many people may not be aware they have digital assets and many more people would be unaware of their value. So how do you identify your digital assets and make provisions for them in your Will? This could be a significant question for millennials with broader, more comprehensive...
Events
Anyone entering a sales profession, in any field, would do well to follow the winning ways of John Warren, one of the big winners at Dexar Group’s Stars of Real Estate awards. After all, that is what John did. He chose mentors at the top of their game and followed their winning formula intently. Vowing to learn and train as...
News
Viva Leisure, Australia’s fastest-growing health club owner is set for a stellar 2019. After beginning in Canberra in 2004 with a clear mission to open more clubs and get more people fit and healthy, Viva Leisure is on track to be the largest and most frequented health club operator in the markets which it serves. Already 17 new locations are...
Local Leaders
Observing how businesses market on digital platforms, Kevin Bhadra quickly identifies the difference between an outstanding campaign and failure. Getting the messaging right is the key challenge says the founder and chief strategist of Canberra-based Exalted Digital. Specialising in search engine marketing (SEO, SEM, PPC and Adwords), social media marketing, programmatic and content marketing, Mr Bhadra says hitting the target...
Local Leaders
A strong team culture has set high-performing Belle Property Kingston agency on a speedy growth trajectory. Co-principal Dan McAlpine says the surge in sales and property management last year led to 10 new staff joining the Kingston Foreshore office, including established agents from elsewhere in the ACT. Belle Property Group’s quality marketing, branding and team culture have been irresistible draw-cards....
News
Progressive Canberra businesses are putting the health of their staff front and centre with a wide range of wellness incentives. Property managers, accounting and bookkeeping specialists and professional service providers are eating nutritious food, signing up for free gym memberships and are working outside of traditional hours to spend more time with their loved ones. Vantage Strata managing director Chris...
Local Leaders
In a market much smaller than those of his interstate rivals and despite writing smaller loans in his first year as a mortgage broker, Nitish Kumar has finished in the top 30 brokers listed by industry magazine, The Adviser. The list recognising brokers under the age of 30 has ranked Mr Kumar 14th, a remarkable achievement in his first year...