Belinda Neame

I’m 5 weeks into stepping away from the APS and going all in on The Forage. And something has been sitting with me…I don’t think I was ever meant to go back. I spent the first 5 years of my career in the APS and at the time, it made sense. It was stable, structured, safe and a great place to start until I figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up 😂 But most of my career since then has been in the private sector or working for myself — building, creating, moving quickly, backing ideas. Stepping back into the system recently made something clear. I don’t belong there. Not because it’s wrong.
But because it’s not how I’m wired. I struggle in environments where things move slowly, where ideas get stuck in layers, where you can feel the gap between what could happen and what actually does and where hierarchy can outweigh experience. And if I’m honest, The Forage has been calling me to make space for it for over two years. I just wasn’t listening because the fear of a stable income was loud. But I got to the point where I couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t feel like myself and I didn’t like who I had become. Negative, defensive, argumentative, my self confidence was at an all time low and every inch of my body felt like it was in white knuckle mode. I knew something had to shift. Now I’m out I can’t even begin to explain the person I am. I have clarity, energy, momentum, true creative freedom and purpose. But the biggest shift has been my mindset. I’ve moved from “what if this doesn’t work?” to “what if this does work?” and that has changed everything. This is definitely not the easy path, but it’s the right one for me. And sometimes that’s the realisation you need, not when things fall apart, but when you step away and finally see what fits… and what never really did. Images @timbean_photography and @collectionsfromhim #selfreflection #empowerment #creativelife

Gus | Fruit 1 June 2014 – 3 March 2026 The heart of our family. Our beautiful Gus. The best boy. 90 kilos of the best boy. Your name was Gus but you had several other names, and you answered to all of them. Your stubbornness rivalled mine. You loved BBQ nights. Pumpkin. Fruit – watermelon, mangoes, bananas. Zooper Doopers. Ice cream. And you always had a little of whatever we had for dinner with your own. You drank a bucket of water a day. You could smell pancakes from a mile away. You loved your teddies. Your tail wagged 24/7 – even while eating. You snored like nobody’s business. You loved being blow-vacced 😂 Every night you wandered to Tilly’s room to check for leftovers on her bedside table. You would stare me down at the deck door until I let you inside. You put slobber everywhere and now I never want to clean it off the glass. You swallowed a spoon. You always knew when we were going away and hated it. When we came home you’d be peeping at the back door with your teddy in your mouth. When you were younger and came into our room at night you would reverse out because you were too big to turn around. You were stubborn. You were gentle. You were well-mannered. You were hilarious. You loved every one of us equally. You were the glue of our family for twelve beautiful years. Most of all, you just loved being loved and being with us every moment of every day. In the end your back legs could no longer hold you and you were so tired. You didn’t deserve to be in pain, so we let you rest peacefully. Our house feels empty without you. I miss our quiet moments together where we spoke through touch. But I would feel the pain of losing you a thousand times over just to know the love you gave us. I would rather carry this grief than to have never had your love in our lives. Thank you for twelve years of loyalty, protection, laughter and the most intensely beautiful, unconditional love. You were the best boy, Gus. Always 💔😭🕊️🪽🤍

In two weeks, I’m stepping away from government employment and, after 12 years, finally stepping into @theforage full time. The Forage has never been “just an event”. It’s a Canberra community asset. It’s a platform where small businesses start their journey. It’s a connector, a testing ground, and a place where people find their people. For the first time in a long time, I feel truly aligned with where I’m going. I can’t explain how excited I am to finally have the space to give this what it truly deserves. When something you’ve built over 12 years doesn’t just survive, it grows, that’s not by accident. It needs care, it needs me to execute my vision. It needs 100% presence. And right now, it needs me. AND I NEED IT. And honestly, so does this community. This is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m excited to be back in the room with my people. To listen, to connect, to collaborate, to build. To take The Forage beyond its event roots and into something bigger, deeper, and more impactful. Here’s to backing yourself.
Here’s to purpose over safety.
Here’s to the next chapter. And I’m bringing you all with me 😎 Images @collectionsfromhim #TheForage #CanberraEvents #SmallBusinessSupport #CommunityFirst #NextChapter BuiltWithHeart

Artwork is deeply personal. A painting can hang on a wall and barely register for one person yet completely stop another in their tracks. And that’s exactly what happened to me with this piece. I was standing in @dirtyjanes_canberra looking at a piece of furniture, when I suddenly felt the urge to turn to my right. So, I did. And there it was. I gasped. Out loud. I looked around for Tim, but he wasn’t there. So, I just stood still, staring, completely transfixed by it. The mood.
The layers.
Questions about the story.
The emotion. I rushed off to find Tim and said, “OMG, you should see…”
Before I could finish, he replied, “The train painting?” We hadn’t even been together and it had stopped us both. in that moment, we knew. We had to have it. Signed on the back by the artist, it’s an original oil painting by David Robert Hill, titled The Last Steam Train to Central (1978). David is an Australian artist and we would love to contact him to find out more. It now hangs from the original picture rail at @hold_cottage and I love how it doesn’t just fill the wall, it fills the space with feeling. This is what we’re always chasing.
Spaces that feel layered, lived-in, and full of story. Because interiors aren’t just styled… they’re felt. Image @timbean_photography #HoldCottage #ArtInTheHome #StyledWithSoul #CreativeSpaces #InspiredLiving

- CONFESSION POST - . I’m a lazy baker 🤭 . You all know baking is my happy place. It’s where I go when I’m needing to withdraw, focus and slow the noise down in my head. But I will only ever bake a recipe if it’s quick and easy. Bake and ice and be done with it. . When I saw this @deliciousaus recipe show up on my feed, I knew I had to bake it. But I didn’t read the entire recipe and method did I 🙄 . Half way through I just wanted to throw it in the bin. And of course in my little inpatient tantrum, I cooled the icing too much so it didn’t spread, ripped the cake and I lost half of it to the baking tray. Then let’s not talk about trying to get the coconut to stick to the sides 🫠 . Anyway, I think it was worth it. The sponge is amazing and all that cream makes me happy. Would I make it again? My lazy baker self says no! . Images @timbean_photography . #cakebaker #ilovecake #lamingtonloaf #homebaker

HOME. . This year we have lived in our little home for 30 years. TBT to 1996, we were only 20 years old when we became home owners. Yellow brick, completely trashed and deemed a drug house, this little ugly duckling needed work. . Still not quite there but so close. She might not be architectural designed or big but she oozes HOME. . And for all my lovely followers who have been asking about the runners and rugs we have, they are from @tomolly_carcoar . You can order online and Bels will have them delivered to your doorstep or you could always take a drive to her beautiful store in Carcoar. . Images @timbean_photography Floor rug @tomolly_carcoar Couch @earlysettlerfurniture @pony_rider cushions from @tomolly_carcoar Reclaimed timber bench and bench top @tomolly_carcoar by @the_rusty_arm Books and bowls @tomolly_carcoar Banjo the horse is from @hilltop.eco print by @timbean_photography Candle from @huntercandles . #homedecor #interiorphotography #lifeofastylist

EATS OF 2025 It’s our 6th year of bringing you the greatest and most delicious food highlights from our region and beyond of the past year from our favourite local foodies, public figures, visual communicators, travellers, makers and creators. Next up on this years list is the extremely hard working, Intelligent, driven, Canberra loving, capital visionary, food loving, family focused, passionate event mastermind and our friend @beeneame founder and curator(with her amazing and lovely husband) of @theforage . “My fav dish for 2025 was the Seafood Medley Taco by Clover Dining created especially for The Forage. We changed things up in 2025 and no menu items were to be over $18 and Clover Dining hit this challenge head on and these little flavour bombs were $8 each of 2 for $15. Flavour, freshness, street food friendly (can eat while standing up talking to friends!), the Clover team really nailed the brief.” @clover.dining are very much a favourite in 2025. 📸 by our the phenomenally excellent @timbean_photography #brandedcontent #wearecbr #eatsof2025

First bake of 2026! A Baileys Chocolate cake by @cristysharp_ . This recipe was another one in my Instagram saved folder so I’m proud of my continued commitment to actually trying these recipes 😂 . This cake is rich and not for the faint hearted or those who don’t like coffee. Finished with mascarpone and fresh cream icing which means it has to be stored in the fridge. I like cake at room temp so it’s definitely a different style to what I usually make. . Chocolate and coffee lovers, this one is for you 🍫🍫🍫 . Images @timbean_photography . #chocolatecake #homebaker #letthemeatcake

When I think of 2025, heavy comes to mind. I lost a dear cousin, my high school best friend, our little cottage to water damage (although she’s being restored) AND I lost my job. 2025 was a bit unbearable at times, challenging my strength and mindset like never before. Out of loss comes reality checks, resilience and new versions of yourself. I’ve learnt how lucky I am to have such a close knit family and circle of friends. Friends who I might only see once a year but friends I could call on at any moment and they’d be there. Friends who feel like home. I’ve learnt no matter how hard you work, how good your results are, in the wrong place, you won’t be valued. At first it feels deeply personal but when you are forced to step out, you realise it isn’t you. It’s a blessing in disguise because you just don’t belong in that place. 2025 was also a year of simple highs. Our kids have both found their stride, Tim has landed his dream project at work, we took more road trips, celebrated my girls 21st, sat by the fire during the cold winter days, made improvements to our home, and best of all, held the biggest @theforage since it began in 2014. I delivered the most impactful marketing campaign I’ve ever produced alongside our tiny team of 3. And as a result nearly 15,000 people came together around Canberra’s best street food in the city. It was an incredible achievement with some incredibly grateful vendors in what has been a VERY hard year for small business, especially in hospitality. The future of The Forage is uncertain going into 2026 but boy 2025 was a good one if that’s where it ends. I never set goals or expectations for a new year. My world already feels pressured, and adding more only leaves me overwhelmed and disappointed in myself if I fall short. Instead, I reflect on the year that was, the emotions and lessons I’m ready to let go of, and the moments I want more of. I don’t need a checklist to get there. I’m just running with intention over expectation, and alignment over self-criticism. Happy New Year friends. Thank you all for being here in my little squares. It’s a place of such support, kindness and beauty. Exactly why I’m here 🫶🏼

That’s a wrap on Xmas 2025! I’m so grateful for the time I had off leading up to Xmas this year. It gave me the space and time to fully immerse myself in creating again and whole heartedly being in the moments of our Xmas traditions. . The step-by-step rhythm of baking is my kind of mindfulness. Slow, intentional and grounding. And for me, it’s also an act of love. It’s how I show I care. Small things made slowly, for the people I love most. It brings everyone together around a shared table and it’s these moments that build the foundation of our family. . Our Xmas breakfast consists of gingerbread waffle cakes (like pancakes but light and airy), served with handmade honeycomb butter, bacon, banana and generous amounts of good quality maple syrup. This dish only ever comes out on Xmas morning so it’s very sort after! . I hope you all had a wonderful Xmas, however you chose to spend it 🌲🌲🌲 . Images @timbean_photography . #familyxmas #ourxmastable #xmasbreakfast #homebaker

For over 10 years I’ve been hand making gingerbread houses for my kids and nieces and nephews. It’s a labour of love and one that I thought would have stopped years ago but the ‘kids’ keep on coming back! . It’s still as messy now as it was when they were 10! Half of the icing ends up in their mouth instead of on the house and you step on 100’s and 1000’s for days afterwards. . But for me Xmas is all about the chaos! The chaos that creates the memories. The noisy get togethers, the baking of handmade sweets, catching up with those you love the most over delicious food and a drink or two. This is Xmas. . Happy Xmas Eve everyone 🌲🌲🌲 . Images @timbean_photography . #familytraditions #xmaschaos #gingerbreadhouse

These Red Velvet cookies are the latest bake in my ‘saved recipe list’ 🍪 . Red Velvet cupcakes were one of the most popular flavours when I had my little cupcake shop so it was nice to taste those flavours again in cookie form. . This recipe by @juliemarieeats will definitely stay in the saved list! I over cooked them slightly so I would back off a little next time. These would make the perfect Xmas dessert and would look stunning on the Xmas table 🌲🌲🌲 . Images @timbean_photography . #xmasbaking #homebaker #redvelvetcookie