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Hilarious gift for Home and Away icon after her final scene

<p>After an incredible 33-year run on <em>Home and Away</em>, beloved actress Lynne McGranger has filmed her final scene, marking the end of an era for both the show and its devoted fans. Portraying the iconic Irene Roberts, McGranger’s departure is a moment of celebration and nostalgia for the Australian TV industry.</p> <p>McGranger wrapped up her last scene on the legendary Pier Diner set at Seven’s Eveleigh Studios in Sydney on Wednesday. The emotional moment was met with cheers and heartfelt applause as the cast and crew gathered to witness the final take for the longest-serving female cast member in the show’s history.</p> <p>Producer Lucy Addario led the tributes, presenting McGranger with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the <em>Home and Away</em> production team. Adding a touch of humour and nostalgia, she was also gifted the famous “Hamburger Phone” – a prop synonymous with the Diner – as a token of appreciation for her unforgettable contribution to the show.</p> <p>Grateful and emotional, McGranger reflected on her incredible journey. “I’ve had the ride of my life. And I love each and every one of you so much: The cast – Ray, Georgie, Emily, Shane, Ada, James, all the youngins,” she said. “The art department, the writers, everybody – there’s so many unsung heroes. This show is made up of so many parts. You’re all amazing, and it’s been my great privilege to work with each and every one of you. I’m touched, I’m humbled, and I’m so honoured. Thank you so much.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHp-tuUCy-h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHp-tuUCy-h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 7NEWS Sydney (@7newssyd)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Though McGranger’s time on set has concluded, her character’s exit storyline promises to keep viewers captivated for months to come. Since her debut in January 1993, Irene has been a cornerstone of Summer Bay, known for her toughness, sharp wit and heart of gold. A recovered alcoholic who turned her life around, Irene’s journey has seen her take in numerous foster children and face some of the show’s most dramatic storylines, from battling breast cancer to surviving bomb explosions and plane crashes.</p> <p>Throughout the years, Irene’s signature catchphrases – “girly”, “darl”, and “flippin’ heck!” – have cemented her place in Australian pop culture. In 2023, <em>TV WEEK</em> even ranked her the second Greatest Australian TV Character Of All Time, a testament to McGranger’s unforgettable performance <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">(Alf was No.1, in case you're wondering)</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">.</span></p> <p>Even as fans prepare to say goodbye to Irene Roberts over the coming months, McGranger’s legacy will live on in the hearts of <em>Home and Away</em> viewers. Her unmistakable charm has left an indelible mark on the show, and she will always be remembered as a true Summer Bay icon.</p> <p><em>Images: Network 7</em></p>

To tip or not to tip? Kyle weighs in on the great debate

<p>In a country where tipping is about as popular as warm beer, Kyle Sandilands has somehow managed to ignite a national debate with his bold approach after revealing his personal tipping policy: doubling the bill.</p> <p>While everyday Australians are grumbling about feeling "under surveillance" by watchful waitstaff, Sandilands has effectively turned the concept of tipping on its head by making it rain on every meal.</p> <p>“Whatever the bill is, I’ll pay that again,” he declared on air, leaving co-host Jackie O and newsreader Brooklyn Ross stunned.</p> <p>The revelation has sparked a flurry of reactions, ranging from admiration to outright panic. Many hospitality workers have suddenly discovered a newfound appreciation for Sandilands, with one Sydney waiter reportedly seen frantically Googling his favourite restaurants in hopes of securing a booking.</p> <p>Meanwhile, local economists are nervously clutching their calculators. "If this catches on, we could see a rapid rise in inflation, an economic boom in hospitality, or Kyle Sandilands accidentally becoming Australia's next Reserve Bank governor," speculated one financial analyst.</p> <p>Not everyone, however, is on board with the tipping craze. Outraged anti-tipping Australians have taken to social media, decrying the practice as "un-Australian" and a gateway to the country becoming “the 51st state of America”.</p> <p>One particularly passionate commenter warned, "This is how it starts! First, it's tipping, then it's calling football ‘soccer’, and next thing you know, we’re driving on the right side of the road!"</p> <p>Despite the uproar, Sandilands seems unfazed. With his unique approach, he may have found a loophole in Australia’s new EFTPOS tipping culture – if everyone else sticks to the modest 5-25% suggested range, he might actually be saving money.</p> <p>“You’re doubling the cost,” Ross pointed out in disbelief. “I’ll save big time,” Sandilands responded, seemingly unconcerned with mathematical realities.</p> <p>As for whether his fellow Australians will follow suit or hold the line against tipping tyranny, only time will tell. One thing’s for sure: if you see Kyle Sandilands dining out, you might want to consider switching tables – and bringing an extra billfold.</p> <p><em>Images: KIIS FM</em></p>

Money & Banking

Why do I grieve my childhood home so much now we’ve sold it?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Grief can hit us in powerful and unanticipated ways. You might expect to grieve a person, a pet or even a former version of yourself – but many people are surprised by the depth of sad yearning they can feel after selling the childhood home.</p> <p>In fact, it is <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">normal to grieve a place</a>. And this grief can be especially profound if it coincides with a parent dying or moving into residential aged care, leading to the sale of their house.</p> <p>Grief is the response to the loss of anything to which we have an emotional connection. A <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">growing body</a> of <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203860731/counting-losses-darcy-harris">research</a> is looking at how grief can extend to “non-person” losses such as infertility, loss of religion and, yes, the loss of a former home.</p> <h2>Why would someone grieve a house?</h2> <p>The childhood home can be an important place for many of us. It literally housed our formative development, family bonds, and core memories. Hopefully, the childhood home is where we learned about safety, security and love.</p> <p>It was likely surrounded by our neighbourhood, and close to important places such as school, playgrounds and friends’ houses. It is no wonder we grieve it when it’s gone.</p> <p>It’s normal to <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315126197-20/grieving-lost-home-marc-fried">grieve things we can’t see and touch</a> but are real and valued. Just as a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.70031">serious diagnosis might trigger</a> grief for an imagined future for yourself, or an <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732314538550">identity</a> you once cherished, loss of a childhood home can hit us harder than we think.</p> <p>When you sell a once-beloved home, you don’t just lose the physical space. You also lose all of what that space might represent, such as birthday celebrations, Christmas lunches, sleepovers with friends or many happy hours playing in the garden.</p> <p>The childhood home often is a symbol of family connection and an anchor in the storm of life. Thinking of the home and all it represents can elicit nostalgia. In fact, the word “nostalgia” <a href="https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/nostalgia-cowbells-meaning-life">derives from the Greek</a> words <em>nostos</em> (return) and <em>algos</em> (pain). The word is rooted in the pain we often feel being away from home.</p> <p>And just as siblings are unique – each with different memories of and connections to their childhood home – their responses to its sale can differ markedly. It is normal if your sister or brother grieves the home in a different way to you – or maybe doesn’t even seem to grieve its loss at all.</p> <h2>A complicated grief</h2> <p>When a childhood home is sold because of the death of parents, the feelings of loss about the home are closely linked. The home being sold can be a type of secondary loss that sits in the periphery to the primary loss of parents.</p> <p>Grieving the deaths might, at first, take precedence over the loss of the home.</p> <p>It might only be later that the loss of the home and all it represents becomes apparent. Because the home provides a connection to the deceased person, the loss of the home might add another layer of grief about your parents. Perhaps you find that whenever you recall memories of mum or dad, they seem always to be at the house.</p> <p>It’s also normal if you feel immense <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">guilt</a> about grieving the home. People might chastise themselves for worrying about “silly things” and not grieving “enough” about the person who died. <a href="https://www.agingcare.com/questions/how-do-i-deal-with-the-guilt-of-selling-moms-house-481550.htm">Guilt about selling the home</a> can also be common.</p> <p>Not everyone has positive memories of their childhood home. Difficult family dynamics, maltreatment and abuse can complicate the emotional connection to childhood spaces and the grief response to their loss.</p> <p>In such cases, the loss of the childhood home can elicit grief about the loss of the childhood that could have – and should have – been. The loss of a home that was the site of discord can be even more challenging than for people with more idyllic childhood experiences.</p> <h2>How can I cope with this loss?</h2> <p>Grief from the loss of a childhood home is <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">real and valid</a>. We should recognise this and be kind to ourselves and others experiencing it. We shouldn’t minimise the loss or make fun of it.</p> <p>Usually, the loss is anticipated, and this allows you to take photos, furniture or mementos from the home or garden before you leave or sell.</p> <p>Grief researchers call these “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X20300031">transitional</a> <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13576270412331329812">objects</a>”. They may help you maintain a connection to what is lost, while still grieving the place.</p> <p><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">Social support</a> while grieving is important. Some people share memories and photos of the home with their siblings, or derive comfort from driving by the home.</p> <p>Just be prepared for the possibility it will likely change as the new owners adapt it to their needs. You might feel affronted, but hopefully can eventually accept the property now belongs to someone else.</p> <p>Chat to your doctor if the loss is particularly difficult, and your grief doesn’t change and subside over time. They might be able to recommend a psychologist who specialises in grief.</p> <p><em>If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.</em><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/251058/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-breen-1142446">Lauren Breen</a>, Professor of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873">Curtin University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-grieve-my-childhood-home-so-much-now-weve-sold-it-and-what-can-i-do-about-it-251058">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: </em><em>RDNE Stock project/Pexels</em></p> </div>

Home & Garden

A decade in the making: Jamie Durie finally unveils dream home

<p>After a decade of meticulous planning, popular TV host Jamie Durie has finally revealed his dream home, a breathtaking sustainable property on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.</p> <p>The Seven Network presenter took to Instagram to share an album of images showcasing the eco-friendly sanctuary he built for his family. "Grateful. 10 years of planning, 2 years of construction and we’re finally back home," Durie, 54, captioned the post.</p> <p>The luxurious and environmentally conscious home is now the residence of Durie, his fiancée Ameka Jane, and their two children: three-year-old daughter Beau and one-year-old son Nash.</p> <p>The entire process of planning and construction has been chronicled on Durie’s latest TV venture, <em>Growing Home With Jamie Durie</em>, airing on Seven.</p> <p>"It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to build an off-the-grid house," Durie told <em>Woman’s Day</em> in November. "Ten years ago, I sketched the house. We lodged the plans five years ago, and then the last two years have been dedicated to construction."</p> <p>Durie said that the journey to completion was anything but smooth. "I don’t think poor Ameka had any idea what she was signing up for when we met. But she came up with a number of ideas that added a lot of value to it."</p> <p>He also admitted that building the house tested the family in a variety of ways. "Any family out there who’s building their own house will go through the same as what we’ve gone through," he said. "Huge budget blowouts, rising interest rates, massive construction costs that are constantly going up. We’ve had to go back to the bank four times." </p> <p>Despite the hurdles, Durie and Jane remained committed to using innovative eco-friendly features wherever they could. "We challenged ourselves with new eco-initiatives that not many people would ever dream of trying, or may not even know about," he said, before describing the experience as "the toughest project I have ever taken on in my whole life".</p> <p>Following Durie’s Instagram reveal, a wave of celebrity friends flooded the comments section with praise for the spectacular home. <em>The Morning Show</em>’s Larry Emdur wrote, "Mate!!! Just wow";fFormer Bachelor star Anna Heinrich called it "incredible"; while TV personality Sally Obermeder simply stated, "WOW". </p> <p>Comedian Dave Hughes was equally impressed, writing, "That’s proper wow. My god." <em>Getaway</em> host Catriona Rowntree described the home as "bloomin’ gorgeous".</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Real Estate

Replacing stamp duty with a land tax could save home buyers big money. Here’s how

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Infrastructure Victoria has released a <a href="https://assets.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/assets/Victorias-draft-30-year-infrastructure-strategy.pdf">draft 30-year plan </a> outlining how the state can grow sustainably.</p> <p>It focuses on key areas like transport, housing, energy, and public services to support a growing population and improve liveability. The plan also suggests ways to make the state’s infrastructure and tax system fairer, more efficient and more sustainable.</p> <p>The plan’s recommendations are expected to cost between A$60 billion and $75 billion, mostly spent before 2035. This is around 10% of <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-state-accounts/2023-24-financial-year#data-downloads">Victoria’s yearly economic output</a> in 2023-24, spread over the next decade.</p> <p>With Victoria already spending record amounts on infrastructure, and <a href="https://pbo.vic.gov.au/document/BudgetUpdateSnapshot2024-25">budget deficits forecast</a> until 2025-26, finding the money to fund social housing, transport and other projects is a key challenge. We estimate the Infrastructure Victoria proposals would add between $4 billion and $5 billion to Victorian government expenditure each year.</p> <p>Yet one of its proposals — replacing stamp duty with an annual land tax — would only cost between $1 million and $5 million to implement, but generate substantial gains for Victorian households.</p> <h2>Why replace stamp duty with land tax?</h2> <p>Stamp duty is one of the biggest barriers to moving house in Victoria and other Australian states. This tax, which people pay when they buy property, adds thousands of dollars to the cost of moving.</p> <p>In 2022-23, Victorians paid about <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-state-accounts/2023-24-financial-year#data-downloads">$12 billion</a> to move house. Of this, $3 billion went to actual moving costs (like real estate services, and removalists) and $9 billion was <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/government/taxation-revenue-australia/latest-release#data-downloads">stamp duty</a>.</p> <p>That’s an effective tax rate of 300% on the true cost of moving, and in 2023 <a href="https://www.e-business.sro.vic.gov.au/calculators/land-transfer-duty">added about</a> $40,000, or 5.3%, to the cost of purchasing the average Victorian home.</p> <p>High stamp duty discourages people from relocating, even when their needs change — whether that’s moving for a new job, finding a bigger home for a growing family or downsizing after retirement. This leads to longer commutes, traffic congestion and a less efficient housing market. </p> <p>Switching from stamp duty to an annual land tax would make moving easier and spread the tax burden more fairly.</p> <p>Instead of a large, one-time tax when buying a home, all landowners would pay a smaller tax each year. This would help fund schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure more sustainably.</p> <h2>What can we learn from Canberra?</h2> <p>Victoria University’s Centre of Policy Studies <a href="https://www.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1618407/cops-final-report.pdf">studied a similar reform</a> in the Australian Capital Territory, where stamp duty has been gradually phased out since 2012 and replaced with higher general rates (a type of land tax).</p> <p>Each year, the ACT government sets a target for how much money it needs to raise. Landowners then pay a share of that total, based on the value of their land.</p> <p>One of the biggest benefits of this approach is that it raises money more efficiently. Unlike other taxes, land taxes don’t discourage investment or economic activity.</p> <p>The study found removing stamp duty had a big positive impact on the ACT’s economy. Around 80% of the economic boost came from removing stamp duty, while introducing land tax also had benefits. By studying transaction data from the ACT, we showed each 10% reduction stamp duty rates drove a 6% rise in property transactions.</p> <h2>Would it help housing affordability?</h2> <p>One of the main arguments for replacing stamp duty with land tax is its effect on housing prices. Economists widely agree land taxes reduce land values, which makes housing more affordable. </p> <p>However, the impact of removing stamp duty is less predictable. Our previous research found <a href="https://theconversation.com/swapping-stamp-duty-for-land-tax-would-push-down-house-prices-but-push-up-apartment-prices-new-modelling-finds-184381">the effect on house prices</a> depends on how often properties are bought and sold. Apartments, for example, tend to change hands more frequently than houses. Because of this, removing stamp duty tends to push up apartment prices more than house prices.</p> <p>Even so, the overall effect of the reform is a drop in property prices. The challenge is ensuring this price reduction is evenly spread across different types of housing.</p> <h2>A fairer tax system</h2> <p>To make the system fairer, policymakers could adjust how land tax is applied. One option is to introduce a fixed-rate component, as <a href="https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/previous-schemes/first-home-buyer-choice">proposed </a> in New South Wales. Another idea, suggested 15 years ago in the <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/afts_final_report_part_1_consolidated.pdf">Henry Tax Review</a>, is to base the tax on the per-square-metre value of land.</p> <p>Another key factor is housing supply. If planning laws allow more high-density housing in inner suburbs, price changes could be better managed.</p> <h2>We also need short-term solutions</h2> <p>Replacing stamp duty with land tax is a long-term reform that would take years to fully implement. The ACT, for example, planned a 20-year transition.</p> <p>If all state governments implemented this reform, we estimate Australian households would ultimately be <a href="https://www.copsmodels.com/ftp/workpapr/g-337.pdf">better off by about</a> $,1600 per household per year.</p> <p>In the short term, <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-best-way-to-ease-rents-and-improve-housing-affordability-we-modelled-4-of-the-governments-biggest-programs-225446">other policies </a> could help improve housing affordability. These include increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance and rethinking first-home buyer support. These steps could complement broader tax, infrastructure and housing supply reforms.</p> <p>The Victorian government is <a href="https://engage.vic.gov.au/victorias30yearinfrastructurestrategy">seeking feedback</a> on the draft plan before releasing the final version later this year. This is an opportunity for Victorians to contribute ideas on how to shape the state’s future and ensure its infrastructure and tax system work for everyone.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/251472/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-nassios-318488"><em>Jason Nassios</em></a><em>, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-giesecke-9853">James Giesecke</a>, Professor, Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/replacing-stamp-duty-with-a-land-tax-could-save-home-buyers-big-money-heres-how-251472">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: 7news.com.au</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

How to prepare for a cyclone, according to an expert

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yetta-gurtner-2337172">Yetta Gurtner</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167">James Cook University</a></em></p> <p>Tropical Cyclone Alfred is predicted to make landfall anywhere <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-03/tropical-cyclone-alfred-landfall-thursday-live-updates/105002038">between Bundaberg and northern New South Wales</a> this week. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20023.html">has warned</a> it may bring severe hazards and “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding”.</p> <p>So, how do you prepare for a cyclone – and what do you do if it’s too late to leave?</p> <h2>How to prepare</h2> <p>Your starting point is to consider the risk to yourself and everyone in your household (including pets). Consider ensuring you have:</p> <ul> <li>non-perishable food that everyone in the family will eat (enough for five to seven days)</li> <li>water for drinking and cleaning (three litres per person per day)</li> <li>medication (two weeks worth)</li> <li>toiletries and first aid kit</li> <li>pet food/supplies</li> <li>torches</li> <li>batteries</li> <li>a back up battery for your phone</li> <li>baby formula and nappies if needed</li> <li>protective clothing and closed-in shoes</li> <li>cash in small denominations</li> <li>valuable documents such as passports, title deeds, ID, insurance details, photos (these can be photographed or packed in weather-proof container or envelope)</li> <li>kids’ books, card games, board games, headphones</li> <li>anything else you may need or really value (and isn’t too heavy to carry).</li> </ul> <p>Make sure you have a grab-and-go kit that you can carry by yourself if authorities suddenly tell you to evacuate immediately.</p> <p>Conventional wisdom used to be to prepare enough supplies for three days of disruption. Now, experts recommend having enough for five to seven days. After the initial disaster there may be road blockages or supply chain problems.</p> <p>Ensure you have enough medication for a week or two, because pharmacies may take days or weeks to re-open. And remember that many medications, such as insulin, need to be refrigerated, so consider how you’d keep them cool if the power went out.</p> <p>Fill containers with water and stick them in your freezer now; they can keep your freezer cool if you lose power. They can also become drinking water in future.</p> <p>Talk to your neighbours. Do they have a generator or a camping fridge you can use? This is a great opportunity to get to know your community and pool your resources.</p> <p>Ask yourself if you have friends with whom you or a pet can stay. One of the main reasons people don’t evacuate is because they can’t bring their pets (not all evacuation shelters allow them, so check in advance).</p> <p>Consider what you can do now to prepare your house. One of the most common call-outs the SES receives is about blocked drains and gutters, so check if there’s time to clean your gutters now. You won’t be able to do it during the storm.</p> <h2>Stay informed – and don’t rely on hearsay</h2> <p>Have a plan for getting truthful information before, during and after the cyclone.</p> <p>Rely on the information provided by official sources, as they will tell you when it’s too late to evacuate or when it’s safe to come out. This is highly context-specific and will depend on where you are located.</p> <p>Get advice where possible from your local council’s <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/resources-translations/local-government-disaster-dashboards">disaster dashboard</a> (most councils have one).</p> <p>It should provide information such as where to get sandbags, which roads are closed (which can affect your evacuation plan) and evacuation centre openings and locations.</p> <p>Anyone who monitors social media will see how many amateur meteorologists and maps are out there, but these are often not the best source. Always rely on official sources rather than hearsay, trending footage or amateur “experts”.</p> <p>Always have an battery-operated AM-FM radio. If power goes out, relying on your phone to track information will drain your phone battery very quickly.</p> <p>You may be able to charge it via your car or laptop, but telecommunications networks may not be active.</p> <p>So having a battery-operated radio on hand – and plenty of batteries – is crucial.</p> <h2>What if the cyclone hits while you’re at home?</h2> <p>If it’s too late to evacuate, have a plan for sheltering in place.</p> <p>Find the smallest room in your house with the least windows (which can shatter in a storm). This is often the bathroom, but it could be under the stairs. It is usually on the lowest level of the house.</p> <p>Bring your food, water, radio, blankets and supplies there. Avoid walking around the house during the cyclone to fetch things; there could be glass on the floor or debris flying around.</p> <p>It’s hard to predict how long you will need to shelter there, but it’s important not to leave until official sources say it is safe to do so.</p> <p>Cyclones come in stages. They arrive from one direction, then comes an eerie calm as the “eye of the storm” passes over. Next, the other half of the cyclone arrives. Don’t go outside during the eye of the storm, because it’s not over.</p> <p>Outside the house, there may be powerlines down, broken glass and other hazards. Don’t venture out until you get official clearance from the disaster dashboard or official sources on the radio saying it is safe.</p> <p>For <a href="https://www.ses.qld.gov.au/ses-assistance">non-life threatening emergencies</a> – such as a tree on your roof, or water running through your house – call the SES on 132 500 or register on the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/ses-assistance-qld/id704964892">SES Assistance app</a> (if you’re in Queensland). They will not come during the event itself but will come later.</p> <p>If it’s a life threatening emergency, always call triple 0.</p> <h2>After the storm</h2> <p>After the storm, consider how to make your house more cyclone-ready in future. Many houses in North Queensland are designed for cyclone zones, but not as many further south will be.</p> <p>Climate change means cyclones are likely to be more severe in future. These days, be cyclone-ready 365 days a year.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/251251/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yetta-gurtner-2337172">Yetta Gurtner</a>, Adjunct senior lecturer, Centre for Disaster Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167">James Cook University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: SBS News</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-cyclone-according-to-an-expert-251251">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Tips

Over 350k Aussies to be forced back into the office

<p>Opposition leader Peter Dutton has vowed to end working from home arrangements for public servants, forcing them back into an office five days a week. </p> <p>The leader of the Coalition will end flexible work arrangements for federal government employees, which currently allows them to work from home for two days a week.</p> <p>According to a report in the <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/coalition-to-force-public-servants-to-return-to-the-office-20250303-p5lge3" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline"><em>Australian Financial Review</em>,</a> the Coalition will also make massive job cuts, slashing about 36,000 jobs, which will save about $6 billion per year, if elected in the upcoming federal election.</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned that the drastic move would impact frontline workers, meaning slower delivery times for Aussies on benefits, including veterans.</p> <p>Opposition spokeswoman Jane Hume said the government has offered a “blank cheque to work from home” to employees, saying it was “unsustainable” and “not an arrangement that works for everyone”.</p> <p>On Tuesday, <em>7News</em> reporter Nick McCallum and Founding Director of Western Sydney Women, Amanda Rose, spoke with Nat Barr about the policy on <em>Sunrise</em>.</p> <p>“Nick, would there be a revolt if public servants are ordered back to the office?” Barr asked.</p> <p>“I have no doubt there would be. I actually like the policy. I think it is ridiculous that, what is it now, more than 60 per cent of federal public servants have ability to work at home,” McCallum said.</p> <p>“There is a big ‘but’ to all of this: Peter Dutton, it’s a perfect policy for him to sound tough, sound Donald Trump-like, bang his chest and say ‘I am going to demand they come back’ but they’ve recently signed a workplace agreement and under that there is a presumption that they can work at home."</p> <p>“All people in the public service can at least request it. There is a presumption they can do it and there is no limit on the number of days they can actually work from home."</p> <p>“So, he can’t really change that until 2027 anyway. So, call me cynical but it’s a perfect policy for him but at the moment he can’t do a lot about it.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: STEVEN MARKHAM/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Money & Banking

Albo quizzed over luxury home purchase

<p>Anthony Albanese has been grilled by Karl Stefanovic over the recent purchase of a multi-million dollar home, that was widely slammed by the public as being "out of touch". </p> <p>As part of his pre-election campaign, the Prime Minister and his fiancé Jodie Haydon sat down with <em>60 Minutes</em> where they discussed the controversial real estate move. </p> <p>Karl Stefanovic described as the $4.1 million purchase of the Copacabana holiday home as “harebrained", as Albo defended his decision to buy the home. </p> <p>“Whose harebrained idea was Copacabana?” Stefanovic asked as the program began.</p> <p>Mr Albanese, who is notoriously sensitive about the purchase amid claims it was tone-deaf during a cost-of-living crisis, laughed at the question as he responded, “Look, Jodie and I are getting married.”</p> <p>“What you don’t do is move into the family home where Carmel and I raised Nathan together as a family. And guess what, Karl? At some stage … I won’t be Prime Minister into my 80s and therefore we have bought a place close to where Jodie grew up … where her family are all based.”</p> <p>In the program, Stefanovic observed that, “I’ve spent some time with her these last couple of days and I get the feeling the girl from the Central Coast would sooner rather than later have her feet up at Copacabana, whether you are there or not!”</p> <p>“No — well, she’s a Coastie and a proud one,” Mr Albanese replied. “And it was very much a personal decision, not a political one. And I think Australians get that.”</p> <p>Karl then asked about the controversy around the home, asking the PM, “Did it sting you at all the criticism around that, the perception being during a cost-of-living crisis, the PM shouldn’t be seen as being, you know, so lavish?” </p> <p>Albanese responded, “I’m pretty resilient, Karl, and if you’re worried about every bit of criticism that was out there, then life would be much more difficult than it is."</p> <p><em>Image credits: 60 Minutes </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

Money & Banking

Bunnings workers find deadly snake in gardening aisle

<p>Bunnings workers were stunned to find a tiger snake among the flower pots in the gardening section of the hardware store's Goulburn branch in NSW. </p> <p>Tiger snakes are one of the most venomous snakes in the nation and the "vibrant orange" reptile was trapped in a large pot, before snake catcher Ray McGibbon was called to relocate it. </p> <p>In an interview with Yahoo News, McGibbon said he was stunned by the snake's markings which were "not typical of tiger snakes".</p> <p>"It was very orange and vibrant," he said.</p> <p>"Cool climate reptiles are usually darker colours... it's like us wearing dark clothing in a cooler climate, it will attract the heat faster.</p> <p>"If you look at Queensland in comparison, the reptiles up there are brighter in colour because of the hotter climate."</p> <p>He also doesn't recommend placing a pot over a reptile, and said the best course of action would be to keep your distance, especially if it's venomous. </p> <p>Luckily, the snake was placid and easy to relocate, with McGibbon releasing it in nearby bushland. </p> <p>Tiger snakes account for an estimated 17 per cent of snake bites in Australia with four known deaths recorded, according to Australia Wide First Aid.</p> <p>"It's not really common to find one in Bunnings, they just randomly pop up every now and then. It was a warm day so it will have come inside to sit on the cool concrete. They're cold-bloodied but they're like us, if they're too hot they'll retreat for something cool," McGibbon added. </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Home & Garden

"Absolutely cooked": Old Sydney home sold for over $4.1 million

<p>A one-storey red brick home in Lane Cove, Sydney has sold for a whopping $4,165,000 at an auction on Saturday. </p> <p>The home, which boasts two bathrooms, a backyard, four bedrooms and a “traditional kitchen” has sold for more than $600,000 over reserve, despite being built between the 1920s-1950s and needing renovation. </p> <p>The home was snapped up by a British family after a fierce bidding war with six other registered buyers. </p> <p>“The people who purchased it were the opening bid. (The bidders) were actively bidding into the high threes, and two of them pushed it above the four mark,” said Sam Lloyd from McGrath Estate Agents.</p> <p>“As far as we know, they will definitely do some work to it to make it their family home.”</p> <p>Lloyd added that there was was “plenty of interest” in the 695 sqm property, with its prime location near the suburb's retail and restaurant precinct. </p> <p>The selling agent said that both himself and the owner were “surprised” by the high price of the property – which had a reserve of $3.5 million.</p> <p>“It was definitely above our expectations” he said.</p> <p>According to Domain, the median house price for a four bedroom home in Lane Cove is $3.505 million. </p> <p>Many expressed their outrage over the "crazy" price online, with freelancer chief executive Matt Barrie saying: “Sydney house prices rapidly approaching $5m. Absolutely cooked."</p> <p>“$4 million for the house, plus another $2-3 million to demolish and rebuild. The reality of living in Australia where even the top one per cent income earners face significant costs for home ownership,” another added. </p> <p>“Our economy is out of control, what a ridiculous price for an average house,” a third wrote.</p> <p>“That’s some crazy pricing! I hear Adelaide is lovely this time of year …” a fourth commented. </p> <p><em>Image: Domain</em></p>

Money & Banking

Home and Away icon bids farewell after 33 years

<p>In news that has sent shockwaves through lounge rooms across the country, Lynne McGranger, the heart and soul of <em>Home and Away</em>, is preparing to hang up her iconic apron and bid farewell to her beloved character, Irene Roberts.</p> <p>After an impressive 33 years of delivering heartfelt performances, dishing out sage advice and reminding every misbehaving local to "listen here, girlie", McGranger will be making her emotional exit later this year.</p> <p>Seven has promised fans that Irene’s departure will be one for the history books – no, not via the usual dramatic Summer Bay methods of freak storms, runaway cars or inexplicable amnesia, but an “emotional exit” that “cannot be missed”.</p> <p>While details are tightly under wraps, we can only speculate: Will Irene sail off into the sunset? Open a surf club for wayward teens? Or finally take that well-earned break from all the Summer Bay chaos and settle somewhere where people aren’t constantly getting lost at sea?</p> <p>Fans, naturally, have been left reeling. Social media has been flooded with messages of heartbreak, nostalgia and a desperate plea for Irene to return – even if only for a guest appearance or as a ghostly vision (a <em>Home and Away</em> classic).</p> <p>Lynne herself has spoken out about the farewell, calling it “bittersweet” to leave a role that has been not just a job, but a family. "After almost 33 years in my dream role and working every day with people I love, respect and whom I now consider family, it’s bittersweet to be closing the chapter on what has been the best and longest gig of my life,” she said.</p> <p>Ever the class act, Lynne expressed gratitude to the crew, writers and, of course, the fans – those who have stuck by Irene through every high, low and dramatic face-off at the Diner.</p> <p>And let’s not forget Irene’s legendary status. <em>TV Week</em> readers ranked her as the second Greatest Australian TV Character of All Time (although we suspect if the voting had been left solely to <em>Home and Away</em> die-hards, she’d have taken the crown).</p> <p>Julie McGauran, <em>Home and Away</em>’s Executive Producer, summed it up best: “Lynne’s extraordinary portrayal of down-to-earth Irene Roberts is why the character is held with such great affection by fans around the world.”</p> <p>Despite wrapping up filming in March, Irene will still grace our screens for months to come – enough time for fans to prepare themselves emotionally (and stock up on tissues). In the meantime, Lynne will return to the stage with her comedy show, "The Grandparents Club", proving that she has no plans to slow down anytime soon.</p> <p>The farewell will undoubtedly be a tearjerker, but if we know anything about Irene Roberts, she’ll be leaving Summer Bay the same way she lived in it: with heart, humour and a no-nonsense attitude.</p> <p>As one fan put it perfectly, "Now listen here, girlie, you are going to be missed soooo much."</p> <p>And that, as they say, is the bottom line.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Home and Away co-stars announce the birth of their baby

<p>Former<em> Home and Away</em> stars Luke Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds have announced the birth of their first child. </p> <p>The Aussie actors shared the news that Breeds, 37, had given birth in a joint Instagram post including some gorgeous images of their newborn. </p> <p>Revealing they welcomed a boy, they wrote: "Welcome to the world little man. Thanks for choosing us. We love you beyond words 🙏❤️✨."</p> <p>Fans, friends and former <em>Home and Away</em> alumni raced to the comments to congratulate the family. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTat_vxsSJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTat_vxsSJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Luke Mitchell (@lukemitchell17)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em>Home and Away</em> star Georgie Parker commented: "Oh Luke, huge congratulations to you and Bec. Now the fun begins. Sending love."</p> <p>The pair kept their baby's face concealed, but shared images of his feet, tiny hands and hair, and chose not to announce the baby boy's name.</p> <p>Breeds announced her pregnancy in November, posing on the red carpet and cradling her baby bump for photos. </p> <p>The couple met on set of iconic soap <em>Home and Away</em> and fell head over heels and have now been together for 15 years, tying the knot back in 2013.</p> <p>Image credits: Instagram </p>

Family & Pets

Calls for major shops to ditch "toxic" product

<p>Common poisons sold at Bunnings, Mitre 10, Coles and Woolworths could potentially wipe out five species of carnivorous mammals.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972500467X" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:and a new study by Edith Cowan University;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="12" data-v9y="1">A new study by Edith Cowan University</a> has discovered the impact of these common rat poisons is more widespread than first thought, with predators also being impacted by the toxins as well as the pests.</p> <p>“This is the first documentation of pretty substantial rodenticide exposure in our entire suite of top marsupial carnivores in Australia,” researcher and adjunct lecturer Dr Michael Lohr told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/calls-for-bunnings-mitre-10-coles-and-woolworths-to-ditch-toxic-product-going-to-kill-everything-063045604.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News</em></a>.</p> <p>“Tasmanian devils and quolls are potentially being exposed at rates that could have a substantial impact on the trajectory of their populations going forward, and not in a good way.”</p> <p>The use of second-generation rat baits is currently under review by a government regulator – the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), with Dr Lohr urging retailers to take them off shelves. </p> <p>"I think it's really important for Australia at this point to try to catch up to the rest of the developed world," he said. "Action is needed on this and the world has already agreed on that."</p> <p>The use and sale of these pesticides are heavily restricted in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom, but are freely available in Australia.</p> <p>More than 7,000 people have signed a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/help-wildlife-and-pets-poisoned-dying-in-agony-bunnings-stop-selling-sgar-rat-baits" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:Change.org petition;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="20" data-v9y="1">Change.org petition</a> calling for supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths to ditch these "highly toxic" rat baits which it said can kill pets and native animals.</p> <p>Veteran wildlife advocate Cat Coake told <em>Yahoo</em> retailers have a duty to stop non-targeted poisons, as she said, "Otherwise they're going to kill everything."</p> <p>In a statement, Bunnings noted that it's not the only major retailer in Australia selling second-generation rodenticides.</p> <p>"Like many retailers, we offer a range of rodent control products, including anticoagulant rodenticides and non-poisonous alternatives, to provide choice for customers on the best solution to their specific rodent problem," it said.</p> <p>Bunnings also said it's complying with government regulations on the sale of these poisons. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Home & Garden

Man whose partner lost $1.6 BILLION at a rubbish tip now wants to buy the entire dump

<p>In what can only be described as the most expensive game of "Where’s Wally?" ever attempted, James Howells, 39, is continuing his decade-long battle to recover a hard drive that contains 8,000 bitcoins – now worth a staggering $1.6 billion AUD – from a landfill site in Newport on the southwest coast of Wales.</p> <p>The saga began in 2013 when Howells’ partner, in a move that will forever be known as the most expensive spring cleaning mishap of all time, accidentally tossed out the hard drive. Since then, Howells has been on a mission to reclaim his digital treasure from what is now essentially a very smelly version of Fort Knox.</p> <p>However, Newport City Council has repeatedly refused his requests to excavate the site, citing environmental concerns and, possibly, an extreme reluctance to deal with a man on a personal mission to unearth a high-tech pirate's chest. A recent legal bid to force the council’s hand was swiftly dismissed by the UK High Court, with the judge describing Howells’ plight as "akin to looking for a needle in a haystack" – though in this case, the haystack is 1.4 million tonnes of garbage, and the needle is worth more than most small countries’ GDP.</p> <p>But Howells refuses to be deterred. His latest plan? If he can’t dig through the dump, he’ll just buy it.</p> <p>Yes, the father-of-three is now looking to purchase the landfill site outright, a bold strategy that has left both financial analysts and waste management professionals scratching their heads. “I have discussed this option recently with investment partners, and it is very much on the table,” he told the BBC.</p> <p>This development adds a fascinating twist to the drama, as parts of the landfill are slated to be turned into a solar farm in the coming years. In what might be the most ironic plot twist in financial history, the very place where Howells’ fortune lies buried could soon be used to power the homes of Newport – while he continues to live in metaphorical darkness.</p> <p>“If they had just worked with me, Newport could have looked like Las Vegas or Dubai,” Howells lamented, apparently envisioning a city built on the back of Bitcoin-funded extravagance rather than well-placed street lamps and reliable waste collection.</p> <p>Despite his enthusiasm, Newport City Council remains unswayed. “Excavation is not possible under our environmental permit,” a council spokesman reiterated, likely while rolling his eyes for the hundredth time. “Mr Howells’s claim has no merit, and the council is vigorously resisting it.”</p> <p>Undeterred, Howells insists he has a team of AI experts ready to streamline the search, making the job “as easy as possible”. </p> <p>As things stand, it appears that for now, Newport’s garbage will remain just that – garbage. But if one thing is certain, it’s that Howells is not giving up anytime soon.</p> <p>Whether his future includes billions in Bitcoin riches or simply a very expensive pile of rubbish remains to be seen.</p> <p><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Money & Banking

Today reporter shares joyous news after heartwarming home birth

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Popular <em>Today</em> Entertainment Reporter </span>Renée Bargh has shared an exciting life update: she's welcomed her second child!</p> <p>Bargh and her partner Andrew Lange announced the news in a heartwarming Instagram post recently that they have lovingly welcomed a little girl named Soléil James.</p> <p>"Our beautiful sunshine girl joined us earthside a week early in the most magical birth," <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Bargh told her 106,000 followers</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">. "Born peacefully at home in the water, surrounded by love."</span></p> <p>The journalist shared several black-and-white photos, including one of her holding her newborn daughter after giving birth. She also posted an adorable picture of her nearly two-year-old son, Tide, with his sister.</p> <p>Bargh also expressed her deep gratitude to her midwife and doula: <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">"Forever grateful for our incredible midwife @janineatibirth for creating the most peaceful and safe environment for this to take place and giving us the healing experience we dreamed of," she wrote. "Thank you to our doula @thehealingshed for your tender love, calming presence and support." </span></p> <p>The post was flooded with congratulatory messages from friends and fans. Model Megan Gale commented, "She is precious ♥️ Congratulations beautiful Mama xx."</p> <p>Journalist Lisa Wilkinson added, "These are the magical moments. Congrats Renée, and enjoy every second xx."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF_HWckzF_Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF_HWckzF_Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Renée- Claire Bargh (@reneebargh)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Bargh and Lange welcomed their first child, son Tide, in March 2023.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

How downsizing helps create a more comfortable home

<p><span lang="EN-GB">Many older Australians find their home doesn’t work for them anymore. It might feel like there’s too much space, too much maintenance or simply too many unused rooms. This is a common experience across the country, with more than <a style="color: blue;" href="https://www.downsizing.com.au/news/1391/new-data-shows-top-barriers-to-downsizing"><span style="color: #1155cc;">1.8 million households</span></a> planning to downsize in the next five years.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB">Downsizing offers a fresh start in a space that fits your current priorities, but it’s not always easy to figure out the best way forward. If you’re considering this step, these <a style="color: blue;" href="https://www.metricon.com.au/home-truths/here-are-10-top-tips-to-make-downsizing-into-your-dream-home-easy"><span style="color: #1155cc;">downsizing tips</span></a> from Australia’s leading home builder, <a style="color: blue;" href="https://www.metricon.com.au/">Metricon</a>, can help you get started.</span></p> <h2 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 2pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2025/02/Metricon2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></span></strong></h2> <h2 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 2pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">How does downsizing help you?</span></strong></h2> <p><span lang="EN-GB">There are a lot of ways <a style="color: blue;" href="https://www.metricon.com.au/downsizing"><span style="color: #1155cc;">downsizing</span></a> can make life easier. With less space to look after, cleaning and maintenance become much easier. You’ll spend less time worrying about the house and more time doing things you actually enjoy. Your energy bills might also go down since it takes less power to heat or cool a smaller home.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB">Downsizing can also give you more financial freedom. Selling a larger property means you can put that value toward what matters most, like travelling, pursuing hobbies or helping out loved ones.</span></p> <h2 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 2pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2025/02/Metricon3.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></span></strong></h2> <h2 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 2pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Is downsizing right for you?</span></strong></h2> <p><span lang="EN-GB">When your home starts to feel impractical or harder to manage, downsizing could be the right choice. Unused rooms and constant upkeep can quickly become overwhelming, making it clear that your current space no longer meets your needs. Moving to a smaller, more manageable home can simplify your life and let you focus on what matters most.</span></p> <h2 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 2pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">When should you downsize?</span></strong></h2> <p><span lang="EN-GB">There’s no single right time to downsize, as it depends on your situation. However, moving earlier often makes the transition less stressful and gives you more control over the process. If managing your home is becoming physically or financially demanding, or if the upkeep feels too much to handle, it might be time to consider your options.</span></p> <h2 style="margin: 14pt 0cm 6pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2025/02/Metricon4.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></span></strong></h2> <h2 style="margin: 14pt 0cm 6pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">How to declutter when you’re ready to downsize</span></strong></h2> <p><span lang="EN-GB">Decluttering for downsizing is easier when you focus on what truly matters. Ask yourself if each thing you own is something you use or genuinely value. Anything you no longer need can be donated, sold or given to family or friends. For sentimental items, keep a few meaningful pieces and take photos of the rest to preserve memories without cluttering your new space.</span></p> <h2 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 2pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">What to look for in your next home?</span></strong></h2> <p><span lang="EN-GB">Your downsized home should be manageable, comfortable and practical. Think about how much space you really need. Homes with two to three bedrooms usually provide enough room for guests, hobbies or even extra storage without being overwhelming. To make the most of your new space, look for smart layouts that are easy to navigate and keep organised.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB">Don’t forget about the location. Being close to shops, medical centres, and public transport makes getting around easier and saves you time. You might also prioritise energy-efficient <a style="color: blue;" href="https://www.metricon.com.au/house-designs/melbourne"><span style="color: #1155cc;">house designs</span></a>, open layouts and low-maintenance gardens to enjoy a more manageable lifestyle.</span></p> <h2 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 2pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2025/02/Metricon5.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></span></strong></h2> <h2 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 2pt; line-height: 24.5333px; break-after: auto; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Start downsizing today</span></strong></h2> <p><span lang="EN-GB">Downsizing can feel like a big decision, but it’s also an exciting chance to find a home that fits your lifestyle now and in the years to come. With so many options, having experts guide you through the process can make everything easier.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB"><a style="color: blue;" href="https://www.metricon.com.au/">Metricon</a> offers a wide range of thoughtfully designed, easy-to-manage homes. Visit their website to explore the options or chat to their friendly team today on 1300 786 773.</span></p> <p><em><span lang="EN-GB">Images: Supplied</span></em></p> <p><em><span lang="EN-GB">This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Metricon</span></em></p>

Home & Garden

What are sleep retreats? A sleep scientist explains the latest wellness trend

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-ellis-280919">Jason Ellis</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/northumbria-university-newcastle-821">Northumbria University, Newcastle</a></em></p> <p>Considering the effect of poor sleep on the individual as well as on <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5627640/">society and the economy</a>, it is hardly surprising sleep has become an intense area of research focus in recent years. Most recently we have seen an <a href="https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/beauty/the-beauty-consumer-trends-set-to-define-2025">increase</a> in the <a href="https://www.aspiretravelclub.co.uk/insight/in-focus-the-rise-of-sleep-retreats">offering of and appetite for</a> so-called <a href="https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/style/health-and-beauty/sleep-retreats/">sleep retreats</a>. But what are sleep retreats and are they helpful?</p> <p>As with any specialised retreat, there is no set formula for what a sleep retreat should focus on. As such, the range of what is available is incredibly variable, from retreats that just focus on a sleep-friendly environment (a cool, dark, quiet and comfortable bedroom in a luxurious location) to ones specifically aimed at managing a specific sleep disorder, using evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.</p> <p>There are even ones that provide, among other things, a regimen of vitamins and minerals delivered intravenously. Most, however, fall somewhere between focusing on meditation, exercise and relaxation.</p> <p>Although there is good evidence that exercise, at the right intensity and duration, can be <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen-Driver-3/publication/10948102_Exercise_and_sleep/links/5f578ffca6fdcc9879d67d41/Exercise-and-sleep.pdf">beneficial for sleep</a>, it is unlikely that a lack of exercise alone causes poor sleep.</p> <p>Similarly, there is some, albeit poor quality, evidence that <a href="https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/40186">meditation and relaxation improve sleep quality</a>. As such, it is unlikely that these treatments alone will fix a sleep problem.</p> <p>The main challenge is that sleep, as with diet or exercise, is just an overarching term for a complex behaviour, one that is influenced and can influence almost every area of a person’s life. For example, I am <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12011-022-03162-1">hearing a lot</a> about supplementing with magnesium to aid sleep, but this is only likely to be beneficial if you are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780124201682000314">deficient in the first place</a>.</p> <h2>What to consider before you splash the cash</h2> <p>So, should we approach the sleep retreat with caution? Not necessarily, it is more a case of doing your homework.</p> <p>First, who does the sleep retreat cater for, and what do you hope to get from the retreat? The busy executive who only allows themselves four hours of sleep a night will have very different expectations and experiences to a person who has undiagnosed sleep apnoea and sleeps for nine hours but wants to know why they are so sleepy during the day.</p> <p>This leads to the second consideration: what kind of pre-screening (for conditions that might be causing insomnia) and personalisation do they offer?</p> <p>Many retreats advertise an individual consultation as part of the package but don’t really say what that will cover (a sleep, medical and psychiatric history and lifestyle assessment should be done as a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsr.14035">bare minimum</a>. This is vital when we consider that while well-established, evidence-based treatments for a variety of sleep disturbances and disorders exist, they are not suitable for everyone.</p> <p>Also, there is a <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/fo/d4fo01113a/unauth">perception</a> that non-pharmacological therapies, including nutraceuticals (products derived from food sources that said to have health benefits) and over-the-counter remedies (such as antihistamines, melatonin and valerian), don’t have side-effects, which is <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/fo/d4fo01113a/unauth">not necessarily the case</a>.</p> <p>The final considerations are: who is delivering the retreat? And is what they are offering based on sound scientific evidence?</p> <p>Considering certification in sleep medicine is a hot topic in the sleep community at the moment, it is worth doing some research. For example, in the UK there is no pathway to becoming a sleep medicine specialist, consultant or coach. So who is leading the sleep retreat and is what they offering evidence-based?<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/247632/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-ellis-280919"><em>Jason Ellis</em></a><em>, Professor of Sleep Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/northumbria-university-newcastle-821">Northumbria University, Newcastle</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-are-sleep-retreats-a-sleep-scientist-explains-the-latest-wellness-trend-247632">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Tips

More than 100 people duped in FB scam at Queensland couple's home

<p>Leah and Gerard thought they had the perfect home. Peaceful neighbourhood, quiet street – until they were unwittingly transformed into the hottest discount superstore on Facebook Marketplace.</p> <p>The problem? They weren’t selling anything.</p> <p>“No idea why it’s happened to us,” Gerard told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/scam-sees-a-hundred-people-turn-up-outside-queensland-couples-home/92763d2a-43ac-4596-a4d1-1d97f131ec2c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine News</a>, still baffled by how their address became ground zero for a digital yard sale they never signed up for.</p> <p>It all began with a single, seemingly innocent knock at the door. A woman, hopeful and cash in hand, arrived to claim a bicycle she had “purchased” online. Leah and Gerard, unaware of their new status as involuntary retail moguls, had to break the news.</p> <p>But the knocks kept coming. And coming. And coming.</p> <p>“We had more than 100 people show up to our home looking for items that we supposedly had for sale, that we did not,” Leah said.</p> <p>From TVs to mattresses to outdoor furniture, their house was now the delivery hub of a scammer’s wildest dreams. If only Leah and Gerard had actually been running a secondhand store – they might have made a fortune.</p> <p>It wasn’t just a daytime ordeal either. These determined bargain hunters weren’t about to let something like the absence of an actual seller stop them.</p> <p>“They would arrive anywhere from 7:30 in the morning, right through until 10-10:30 at night,” Leah said.</p> <p>Some shoppers had even paid deposits in advance, while others went the extra mile – hiring Airtaskers to pick up non-existent goods.</p> <p>“So not good,” Gerard added, in what is arguably the understatement of the year.</p> <p>According to cyber support group ID Care, this isn’t an isolated incident. Scammers are increasingly using real addresses to make their fake listings seem legitimate. It’s an ingenious, if completely infuriating, tactic.</p> <p>“We find with many of the victims that are giving money, they’re also giving away scanned copies of their driver’s licence for example,” ID Care chief executive Dave Lacey said.</p> <p>And with identity theft a real concern, it turns out a too-good-to-be-true deal might end up costing you far more than just a missing couch.</p> <p>Leah and Gerard eventually took matters into their own hands, erecting a warning sign in their driveway to spare themselves from yet another disappointed customer.</p> <p>Their makeshift security checkpoint seemed to work, finally deterring the flood of hopeful buyers. Meanwhile, their local MP stepped in to get Meta to remove the scammer’s listing – presumably after realising that Facebook Marketplace doesn’t come with a customer service hotline.</p> <p>For Marketplace shoppers, the lesson is clear: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If the seller doesn’t have a real profile or their photos look like they came from a stock image catalogue, proceed with caution. And, of course, always double-check the pickup address before showing up at a random couple’s doorstep demanding a TV!</p> <p>After all, Leah and Gerard have been through enough. “We’re just thankful that it’s stopped,” Gerard said. And somewhere in Queensland, a fake seller is already on the lookout for their next unsuspecting “storefront”.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>

Legal

To keep your cool in a heatwave, it may help to water your trees

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-moore-1779">Gregory Moore</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><a href="https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/heatwave/">Heatwaves</a> are among the world’s <a href="https://wmo.int/topics/heatwave#:%7E:text=Impact,died%20from%20heat%2Drelated%20stress.">deadliest</a> weather hazards. Every year, vast numbers of people are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901114000999">killed by heat stress</a> and it can worsen health problems such as <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health">diabetes, asthma and heart disease</a>.</p> <p>Unfortunately, the bitumen roads, brick and concrete structures and roofing tiles in cities can absorb and retain vast amounts of heat, much of which is released after the sun has set. This creates what’s known as the <a href="https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/impacts-climate-change/built-environment/urban-heat">urban heat island effect</a>. In fact, temperatures can be <a href="https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/impacts-climate-change/built-environment/urban-heat#:%7E:text=and%20rural%20environments.-,In%20large%20cities%2C%20average%20temperatures%20can%20be%201%C2%B0C,parts%20experiencing%20even%20higher%20temperatures.">significantly higher in cities</a> than in <a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/6-key-things-to-know-about-urban-heat-islands">surrounding or rural areas</a>.</p> <p>Trees and greenspace can <a href="https://wwf.org.au/blogs/trees-lower-temperatures-in-a-sydney-street-by-20-degrees/">drive down urban temperatures</a> – but they must be able to draw water from the soil to achieve these massive cooling effects.</p> <p>In other words, it can sometimes be helpful to water your trees during a heatwave.</p> <h2>How trees keep us cool (and no, it’s not just about shade)</h2> <p>Trees reduce urban temperatures in two significant ways. One is by the shade they provides and the other is through their cooling effect – and no, they’re not the same thing.</p> <p>Water is taken up via a plant’s roots, moves through the stems or trunks and is then misted into the air from the leaves through little holes called stomata. This is called transpiration, and it helps cool the air around leaves.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/640861/original/file-20250107-15-dfepgd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/640861/original/file-20250107-15-dfepgd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/640861/original/file-20250107-15-dfepgd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=615&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640861/original/file-20250107-15-dfepgd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=615&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640861/original/file-20250107-15-dfepgd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=615&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640861/original/file-20250107-15-dfepgd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=772&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640861/original/file-20250107-15-dfepgd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=772&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640861/original/file-20250107-15-dfepgd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=772&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A diagram shows how transpiration happens." /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Transpiration helps cools the air around a plant’s leaves.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/transpiration-stages-plants-roots-absorb-water-1856372440">grayjay/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Water can also evaporate from soil and other surfaces. The combined loss of water from plants and soil is called evapotranspiration.</p> <p>The cooling effects of evapotranspiration vary but are up to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311913605432#:%7E:text=Our%20literature%20review%20suggests%20that,ways%20of%20reducing%20urban%20temperatures">4°C</a>, depending on other environmental factors.</p> <h2>Watering your trees</h2> <p>If heatwaves occur in generally hot, dry weather, then trees will provide shade – but some may struggle with transpiration if the soil is too dry.</p> <p>This can reduce the cooling effect of trees. Keeping soil moist and plants irrigated, however, can change that.</p> <p>The best time to irrigate is early in the morning, as the water is less likely to evaporate quickly before transpiration can occur.</p> <p>You don’t need to do a deep water; most absorbing roots are close to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/here-are-5-practical-ways-trees-can-help-us-survive-climate-change-129753">surface</a>, so a bit of brief irrigation will often do the trick. You could also recycle water from your shower. Using mulch helps trap the water in the soil, giving the roots time to absorb it before it evaporates.</p> <p>All transpiring plants have a cooling effect on the air surrounding them, so you might wonder if trees have anything special to offer in terms of the urban heat island effect and heatwaves.</p> <p>Their great size means that they provide much larger areas of shade than other plants and if they are transpiring then there are greater cooling effects.</p> <p>The surface area of tree leaves, which is crucial to the evaporative cooling that takes place on their surfaces, is also much greater than many other plants.</p> <p>Another advantage is that trees can be very long lived. They <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-trees-and-vegetation-reduce-heat-islands">provide shade, cooling and other benefits</a> over a very long time and at relatively low cost.</p> <h2>Not all trees</h2> <p>All that said, I don’t want to overstate the role of urban trees in heatwaves when soils are dry.</p> <p>Some trees cease transpiring early as soils dry, but <a href="https://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/39/3/109">others will persist</a> until they wilt.</p> <p>Careful tree selection can help <a href="https://treenet.org/resource/it-isnt-rocket-science-street-trees-can-make-a-difference-in-climate-change/">maximise the cooling effects</a> of the urban forest. Trees that suit the local soil and can cope with some drying while maintaining transpiration can provide greater cooling</p> <p>And, of course, it is important to follow any <a href="https://www.water.vic.gov.au/for-households/water-restrictions-and-rules/permanent-water-saving-rules">water restriction</a> <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/environment-land-and-water/drought/water-restrictions">rules</a> or <a href="https://www.sydneywater.com.au/water-the-environment/what-we-are-doing/water-wise-guidelines.html">guidelines</a> that may be operating in your area at the time.</p> <h2>Trees keep us cool</h2> <p>Despite the clear benefits trees can provide in curbing heat, tree numbers and canopy cover are declining annually in many Australian cities and towns.</p> <p>Housing development still occurs without proper consideration of how trees and greenspace improve residents’ quality of life.</p> <p>It is not an either/or argument. With proper planning, <a href="https://theconversation.com/adelaide-is-losing-75-000-trees-a-year-tree-removal-laws-must-be-tightened-if-we-want-our-cities-to-be-liveable-and-green-216990">you can have both</a> new housing and good tree canopy cover.</p> <p>We should also be cautious of <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/trees-butchered-by-power-company-highlight-common-problem-its-sad-012952515.html?guccounter=1">over-pruning</a> urban trees.</p> <p>Trees cannot eliminate the effects of a heatwave but can mitigate some of them.</p> <p>Anything that we can do to mitigate the urban heat island effect and keep our cities and towns cooler will reduce heat-related illness and associated medical costs.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/246486/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-moore-1779">Gregory Moore</a>, Senior Research Associate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/to-keep-your-cool-in-a-heatwave-it-may-help-to-water-your-trees-246486">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Home & Garden

"See a therapist": Jackie O's emotional video sparks frenzy

<p>Fans have been left feeling perplexed over an unusual detail in the background of Jackie O's podcast clips. </p> <p>In a candid moment of vulnerability, the radio host opened up about her struggled with single life, chatting to her friend and co-host Gemma O’Neill about dating. </p> <p>Sitting comfortably on her couch, microphone in hand, the radio star began sharing an emotional reflection on life after dating “the one”.</p> <p>“That person just comes around once in a blue moon, and I just got disheartened,” Henderson says, holding back tears. “I don’t want to cry about it, but you just think of that person and go, ‘Am I ever going to meet someone like that again?’”</p> <p>She then admits that while she’s “fine” and “every day is great”, there are moments when she “can’t help but be sad”. </p> <p>The moment was uploaded to the podcast's Instagram with the caption, “For all the single souls out there, we see you.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFqW9CKpU1R/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFqW9CKpU1R/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Besties (@wearebestiesofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Despite the honest conversation taking place, eagle-eyed fans spotted an unexpectedly hilarious detail in the clip, which has over 20,000 views.</p> <p>In the background, her cleaner was busy doing laundry and ironing bed sheets, going about their duties seemingly unbothered by the ladies on the couch.</p> <p>“Love the cleaner in the background,” one comment read, while another added, “I’m distracted by the housekeeper working their butt off.” </p> <p>One also joked it was the “maid’s five minutes of fame”.</p> <p>Others were quick to slam Jackie O's complaining, as one person said, “All this while the maid cleans your $50 million house!” </p> <p>“Care factor? See a therapist,” another said bluntly. </p> <p>However, many of her fans were not bothered by the cleaner and shared messages of support. </p> <p>“I feel you,” said one, as another wrote, “This feeling is a reminder of what you want.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

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