Contrary to those who believe in the myth of the "Canberra bubble", residents of the national capital are a diverse, eclectic, curious, caring and outward-looking bunch.
The stereotype of a process-driven, lanyard-wearing, latte-sipping elite is one busted for many new residents once they begin calling Ngunnawal country their home.
And this context is important to understanding Canberra's response (the city, not the federal government) to an influx of protesters in the past couple of weeks.
When demonstrators from the Convoy to Canberra began arriving at the end of January, many locals already had a sense of how the city would be altered during their stay – predominantly via the constant sound of car horns.
The protesters, who came from as far as Western Australia and Queensland, had a variety of grievances and inspirations, covering everything from COVID-19 vaccine mandates, QAnon conspiracies, racist extremism and a disdain for government regulations.
But what also became clear in monitoring their social media streams and other forums was that they had diverse goals, and, at times, conflicting views about how they should make their stand.
Experts who have analysed such behaviours pointed out that the convoy was not so much a group but a series of smaller groups, with overlapping motivations and familiar calling cards of recent Canadian and United States movements.
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As ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr pointed out, while Canberrans are used to their city being the site of federal political debate and demonstrations on a range of topics, its people overwhelmingly accept rational science and health guidance.
It means Canberra citizens have taken up COVID-19 vaccine protection at nation-leading rates, and (except for a few key sectors, such as education, aged care and childcare) there hasn't been a need for broad vaccine mandates.
No Canberran has been asked under law to show their vaccination status to enter a pub or a restaurant. So one of the key concerns demonstrators were making the most noise about is all but a non-issue in the very place they were protesting about it.
"If the objective of these protesters is to win over hearts and minds, they're certainly not doing that," the Chief Minister said last week.
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There is undoubtedly frustration at the constant presence of angry crowds in an otherwise peaceful city, but there is also a sadness that thousands of people felt like they belonged to something that could make a difference when much of their movement is based on false information and empty promises.
There is a sadness that the self-appointed convoy leaders don't appear to be interested in the long-term welfare of their flock, just taking advantage of their short-term anger.
And there is a sadness that the protesters can't see Canberra for what it really is — a caring community that has bound together and done all it can to protect the most vulnerable among us.