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Van Badham

@vanbadham

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I write things, mostly for the @guardian. Art hag. Dachshund cultist. Theatre child who grows roses and bakes. Click linktree for joy. #proudtobeunion

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I met the glorious Gloria Steinem when she visited Australia in 2016. She was wise, and she was generous with her wisdom. She was brilliantly clever, very funny and she imparted the lesson of sisterhood and solidarity in everything she did. So should we, who mourn her, so she continues. Vale.

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I am here to fight fascism, not to fuck around. Awesome time at Momentum conference with the ‘rades of the ACTU. @ausunions, you complete me.

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Tell us how cute we are.

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We got another podcast out! Via <buggy> in the highlights, we talk about the NDIS and taxes. It’s fun, though. Promise.

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It’s March 28, 2026 - and all the way from our regional town of Ballarat in Victoria, Australia, we are sending our love and solidarity to our friends protesting Trumpism at the No Kings protests around the world today.

Also pictured: what Trump’s war in Iran is doing to the Australian economy.

NO KINGS. (Not even in Australia, which supposedly has one).

#nokings #fucktrump

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Hey, friends; Ben and I have *finally* made it safely home… despite our intended transit airport of Dubai taking missile fire in the course of Trump’s Distraction War in the Middle East.

I will confess there are worse cities to get stuck in than Berlin.

We are exhausted so we are not going to be back in the fight until tomorrow (Friday).

Please enjoy this photo parade of guerrilla art discovered by me in the lip of sanitary bin in the women’s toilet of the Neue Nationalgalerie, some Antifascist street action at Potsdamer Platz, the wildberry pancakes I ate for breakfast every day, the greatest of all German supermarket teas and me looking like I totally belong at the Hamburger Bahnhof.

Thank you to Marta, Julian, Jacopo and Leni who looked after us like family at the hotel, holy Christ, what a time to be alive.

Berlin forever, and ever, and ever…

Xx Van

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My mother lived in Singapore in the late 1960s. She was in love with a British (?) engineer called Gordon Romeo Richards (if anyone can find him), and she moved to Singapore to be with him, but the relationship fell apart and she came home with a broken heart. Moping, and on the aggressive instruction of her parents, she went on a night out with her brother, and met my dad. It was love at first sight, they were engaged six days later. The point of this story is that there is no such thing as a bad breakup: if she and Gordon hadn’t split, she would never have fallen in love with Dad and I wouldn’t be here. But every time I’m in Singapore - a place that I cherish, and return to as much as I can - I wander around thinking about how the fabric of our lives hangs together with very delicate thread. Mum LOVED it here - she thrived in the cosmopolitanism of the place, and was curious and invested in the local culture and made a broad diversity and of friends, and threw a lot of parties… she could have stayed. I wouldn’t have blamed her doing so. But i’m also glad she didn’t.

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If I told you me and this perfect babe spent yesterday recording a punk EP in Brisbane, would you believe us?

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THAT’S MY WEEKEND SORTED #GHOSTOFYŌTEI

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Pals, you may know that I am afflicted by a few extra jellybeans in the brain jar, and have been struggling with a bit of depression, which is not only yuck to feel but VERY BORING to experience. I was in Melbourne, an episode was coming on and I called Ben. “Get yourself a cold drink,” he reminded, “reset” (there is science for this). So I ambled up Gertrude St, and who appeared - LIKE AN ANGEL? @danaebosler, QUEEN OF COMRADES. And we had a cold drink at the Builders Arms, and suddenly I felt much better. Believe scientists and prosper!

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Had a dazzling fun time at the fabulous French Impressionists exhibition at the @ngvmelbourne. Immersive gallery design was just the mental holiday I needed, and I got to point so eloquently at this painting of Fruit. Displayed. On a. stand.

And the coat was gifted to me by my mum, the much-missed @emuballs, 30 years ago. There were kids born the day she gave it to me who would be throwing their first divorce already. We really are as impermanent as light flickering on haystacks. Maybe those impressionists were onto something.

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Yep, that is your dorky friend meeee with the amazing Kate Jenkins (YES, *that* Kate Jenkins!), genuinely delightful famous person @hannahthewildflower , kick ass legal babe Dina Tutungi and winner of “best shoes” 2025, litigator Joshua Creamer. We were all at the @slatergordonlawyers conference, talking to @wilstracke (who should be in this photo but had to get in the Batmobile and save Gotham) talking about CHANGE MAKING. It was a rad discussion with really good people and therefore a superb morning. Thank you for having me, Slaters!!!

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