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Dutton names future Aussie towns for nuclear power plant locations

Peter Dutton has unveiled a series of locations where he wants to build nuclear power plants if he wins the next federal election. The leader of the opposition has pledged to build at least two nuclear plants between 2035 and 2037 if the Liberal party is elected, with another five on the list to be constructed at a later date. The locations include Gladstone in Queensland, the Liddell power station in the Hunter Valley of NSW, as well as Lithgow in the NSW Central Tablelands, Loy Yang in the La Trobe Valley, Victoria, Callide in Queensland, Muja in Western Australia and Port Augusta in South Australia. The proposal would see the nuclear power plants owned by the government under the same set up as entities such as the Snowy Hydro scheme, in a bid to focus on alternative energy solutions and remain committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. Despite Dutton's enthusiasm about the pitch, treasurer Jim Chalmers slammed the idea as “economically irrational” and “fiscally irresponsible.” “Peter Dutton’s nuclear negativity is economic insanity, pure and simple,’’ he said on ABC radio. “Nuclear takes longer, it costs more, and it will squander Australia’s unique combination of advantages. It is the worst combination of economic and ideological stupidity. “It is economically irrational, it is fiscally irresponsible. And it means if it’s implemented, Australia would fail that grab these vast economic and industrial opportunities with a net zero transformation in the most effective way." Image credits: DEAN LEWINS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial/Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Two iconic locations officially given dual Indigenous titles

In a significant move to recognise and honour the rich cultural heritage of the Indigenous peoples of Australia, two iconic locations in northern NSW will now be officially known by their Indigenous names. This decision comes after impassioned calls from the community to acknowledge the profound significance these sites hold in Indigenous culture and history. Walgan, translating to "shoulder" in the Bundjalung language, has been designated as the dual name for Cape Byron, marking it as the Australian mainland's most easterly point. Cape Byron, situated in the picturesque town of Byron Bay, has long been a hotspot for tourists seeking stunning coastal views. However, beyond its natural beauty, this area holds deep cultural significance for the Arakwal and other Bundjalung people. It has served as a sacred site for important gatherings and traditional ceremonial practices, anchoring it firmly in the cultural tapestry of the region. Similarly, Nguthungulli, referred to as the "Father of the World", will now share its name with Julian Rocks, a renowned diving destination located 2.5km off Cape Byron. This underwater marvel, steeped in Aboriginal lore and legend, is intricately tied to the dreaming stories of the Arakwal and other Bundjalung communities. By bestowing these dual names, authorities aim to not only pay homage to the Indigenous heritage of the land but also to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of its significance among all Australians. The decision to officially recognise these dual names was approved by the NSW Geographical Names Board, following a submission from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Additionally, in a nod to preserving local Indigenous language and culture, a reserve in the suburb of Bangalow will be formally named Piccabeen Park. The term "Piccabeen" originates from the Bundjalung language, referring to the bangalow palm and the traditional baskets crafted from its fronds. Jihad Dib, the Customer Service Minister, emphasised the NSW government's commitment to safeguarding and promoting Indigenous language and culture through place naming. "All Australians share a relationship to the land and the names we give to places convey their significance, sense of history and identity," he said "Dual-naming acknowledges the significance of Aboriginal culture and represents a meaningful step towards the process of unity in NSW." Echoing these sentiments, David Harris, the Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty Minister, underscored the enduring connections that the Arakwal and other Bundjalung peoples have maintained with these sites since time immemorial. "It is only right to honour that history and that connection through names that bring story and language to life for all Australians to enjoy," he said. Image: Getty

Legal

Location, Location, Location host loses both parents in tragic accident

In heart-wrenching news has shaken the world of television, beloved Location, Location, Location host Phil Spencer has spoken out about the devastating loss of his parents in a tragic accident on their family farm. Spencer paid a somber tribute to his father Richard, known affectionately as David, aged 89, and his mother Anne, 82, who were both tragically lost. In a poignant display of love, Phil, now 53, shared an image of the couple and wrote: "Very sadly both of my amazing parents died on Friday. "As a family we are all trying to hold onto the fact Mum and Dad went together and that neither will ever have to mourn the loss of the other one. Which is a blessing in itself." Spencer went on to disclose the harrowing details surrounding the accident, giving a glimpse into the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day: "The car, going very slowly, toppled over a bridge on the farm drive, upside down into the river. There were no physical injuries and I very much doubt they would have even fought it - they would have held hands under the water and quietly slipped away. Spencer acknowledged the heroic efforts of his brother, who valiantly attempted to save their parents in the aftermath of the crash. "As many farmers do - my brother had a penknife and so was able to cut the seat belts - he pulled them out of the river but they never regained consciousness. "Although desperately sad and shocked beyond all belief - all family are clear that if there can ever be such a thing as having a 'good end' - this was it." Spencer also recalled a poignant conversation he had with his mother, a conversation now weighed down by the melancholy of hindsight: "Although they were both on extremely good form in the days before (hence the sudden idea to go out to lunch), Mums Parkinson's and Dads Dementia had been worsening and the long term future was set to be a challenge. "So much so that Mum said to me only a week ago that she had resigned to thinking 'now it looks like we will probably go together'. And so they did." As he concluded his heartfelt statement, Spencer mused on the overwhelming nature of their passing, acknowledging the future comfort that might come from the knowledge that they departed from a place they held dear. "It feels horrendous right now, but after almost 60 years of marriage - to die together on the farm they so loved will, I know, be a comfort in the future. "Mum Dad are together which is precisely where they would have wanted to be. ❤️" <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/CwKpOWJr4Wj/?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/CwKpOWJr4Wj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Phil Spencer (@philspencertv)</a> </div> </blockquote> Kirstie Allsopp, Phil's co-host on Location, Location, Location, a dear friend, was among the first to respond, her words echoing the collective grief felt by many: "Such a brave and loving statement and so typical of you & your lovely family. So many people have you all in their thoughts and prayers. xxx" Tragically, David and Anne were en route to a local pub for lunch when their car veered off the access road, plunging into a shallow river on their estate. Emergency services, fire brigade and police attended the scene, and an air ambulance landing nearby at the Littlebourne farm in Kent. Despite efforts to save them, Richard succumbed at the hospital, with Anne following suit shortly thereafter. Kirstie reflected: “I’ve spoken to Phil and it’s tragic for the Spencer family, but his parents were together and that’s something that is a great source of solace to them all. “The family is very loving and close. There are four children, Phil, Robert, Caryn and Helen, and they had eight grandchildren. “This is awful for all of the family, but they were together at the end and they were lovely people." Images: Instagram

Family & Pets

5 memorable locations from ‘80s films to check out

Everyone loves a good movie, and everyone loves a holiday, so what do you get when you combine the two? The time of your life! It’s widely known that the ‘80s spawned a whole host of films that went on to become cult classics - from the likes of Heathers to Footloose, Dirty Dancing, and The Terminator - and forged the way for cultural changes that ring true decades later. But did you also know that for many of these iconic films, real-life locations served as the inspiration for many memorable scenes? And while some may have changed slightly in the years since cast and crew flocked to them, some are like stepping into a time capsule - or a stage for you to re-enact the films as you see fit. Lake Lure, North Carolina - Dirty Dancing (1987) Anyone who’s seen Dirty Dancing can tell you that ‘the lift scene’ is one of the film’s most iconic moments. And it - along with a few others from the film - were filmed in North Carolina’s very own Lake Lure. And with the spot boasting its very own Lake Lure Inn & Spa - where, coincidentally, the movie’s stars stayed while working on the project - it could be the perfect getaway location for your next holiday. Guesthouse International Hotel, California - National Lampoon Vacation (1983) For those embarking on their very own National Lampoon Vacation, you’re in luck - the hexagonal pool is near exactly the same as it was when Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold enjoyed a nighttime swim with Christie Brinkley’s The Girl in the Ferrari. New York Public Library, New York - Ghostbusters (1984) The 1984 film sparked an entire host of sequels, games, parodies, and conventions for avid fans across the globe - as well as one incredibly catchy song. However, for those that would like to go above and beyond just calling their friendly neighbourhood ghostbusters, the New York Public Library’s flagship Stephen A Schwarzman building is the spot where the team had their very first encounter with the film’s ghosts. Griffith Observatory, California - The Terminator (1984) Fans of The Terminator should immediately recognise this site as the one where Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator arrived in the nude, and basked in the glory of LA at night. It’s a popular location, and while a must-see for fans of the film, it also makes for a good afternoon out - the observatory itself boasts free entry, stunning views, and a range of fascinating exhibits inside to entertain the keen mind. The Grand Hotel, Michigan - Somewhere in Time (1980) The Grand Hotel was the primary location for romantic drama Somewhere in Time, and they’re proud of it. In fact, a poster for the film is reportedly even still on display there, and hosts weekends of celebration for the 1980 hit, too. The island the hotel is set on doesn’t allow cars, so anyone hoping to throw themselves back in time and fully immerse themselves in a ‘different world’, this National Historic Landmark may be just the place to do it. Images: Getty, Booking.net

Movies

Fresh location being searched in Maddy McCann case

Portuguese police have revealed they will resume the search for missing toddler Madeleine McCann who disappeared in the country’s Algarve region in 2007. Portugal’s Judicial police released a statement confirming local media reports that they would conduct the search at the request of the German authorities and in the presence of British officials. A spokesperson from the fire brigade said police were preparing to start searches at a dam in the southern region of Algarve about 50km inland from a beach resort where Madeleine disappeared from a rented apartment while on a family holiday. On May 22, Reuters TV footage showed police erecting tents and cordons in the area by the Arade dam, roughly 50km from Praia da Luza, where the three-year-old was last seen alive. Portugal’s investigative Judicial Police overseeing the operation declined to comment. Another source familiar with the investigation was not confident there would be a breakthrough, saying, “It will come to nothing”. In mid-2020, German police jailed German citizen Christian Brueckner, a 45-year-old convicted child abuser and drug dealer who was in the Algarve in 2007, for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve where Madeleine went missing. He was identified as a suspect in Madeline’s disappearance but has denied any involvement. Brueckner remains under investigation on suspicion of murder in the McCann case but hasn’t been charged. German police said in June 2020 that Madeleine was assumed dead and that Brueckner was likely responsible for it. In April, a German court dismissed additional charges against him related to other Portuguese child rape and sexual assault cases that led to German prosecutors no longer having jurisdiction to investigate the McCann case. Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann were questioned by Portuguese police as formal suspects in 2007 but ruled them out the following year due to lack of evidence that cleared them of any involvement. The parents continue to campaign to attract attention to their daughter’s disappearance, and British public figures from business tycoons to authors and soccer stars have made appeals for information. Rewards for finding Madeleine have reached several million dollars. Image credit: Getty

News

Iconic Madama Butterfly set used for wedding location

A bride has made a unique entrance on her big day, with her and her entourage arriving to the ceremony by crane. Tahu Matheson and Ruth Thomas, both senior figures at Opera Australia, opted for an extraordinary venue for their nuptials, as they said "I do" on the elaborate set of Madama Butterfly: a production set in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens. For an added flair to their already extravagant nuptials, which boasted an uninterrupted view of the Sydney Opera House and glistening harbour waters, Ruth and her bridesmaids arrived via a crane, usually used to help build the set for the production. The pair tied the knot in front of 80 of their family and friends on the floating stage, with Tahu being shocked by his bride's dramatic entrance. "I'd arranged some soft, elegant slow music, Wagner's Siegfried Idyll for her to walk down the aisle to...and suddenly the dramatic March of the Valkyries from the ring cycle starts playing and I see her hovering above us in a crane, I was shocked," Mr Matheson told the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/opera/one-fine-day-indeed-madama-butterfly-stage-provides-set-for-real-life-wedding-20230411-p5czh4.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a>. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/butterfly-wedding-crane.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Ruth and her bridesmaids arrived via the crane usually used to build the stage. Image credit: 9News "It was pretty windy up there we all got a bit giggly and nervous," he added. The crane's cage, which was decorated with flowers and fabric, hoisted the bride and her three bridesmaids up above the wedding party, then lowered them at the feet on the gobsmacked groom. Siobhan Keely, a bridesmaid, joked about overcoming her fear of heights before the stunt. "For someone who does suffer from vertigo, it's an absolute testament of my love for this women that I've agreed to join her in this spectacular entrance," she told 9News. In the production of Madama Butterfly, the two main characters marry in the first act with a nightly fireworks display over the harbour sealing their vows, before their love story ends in tragedy. "I'm hoping that this story will be rather different," joked Mr Matheson. Image credits: 9News

Relationships

Location revealed for The Block 2023

The Block is parting ways with the rolling green hills and is headed back to suburbia with reports that Channel 9 have purchased five brick homes in the Melbourne Bayside area. The Block 2023 location has been confirmed to be in Charming Street, Hampton East, a neighbouring town to The Block 2021’s location on Bronte Court. Filming is rumoured to start mid-March. Although Hampton East is currently considered more affordable than the 2021 location, Channel 9 had to pay up to secure 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 Charming Street in a deal worth an estimated $14.3 million. Hampton East is a Bayside suburb in Melbourne, just 14km from the CBD and a 10-minute drive from Brighton beach. The median house price sits around $1.5 million, with a growth of 7% seen in the past year. 14 Charming street <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/02/14181.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="533" /> Number 14 is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom brick home that was sold in 2021 for $1,440,000, but it’s rumoured Channel 9 forked out $3 million for the property in June. Measuring at 609sqm, it’s one of the biggest of the homes, and despite its dated interiors, it boasts original timber floors, pops of blue and a large wraparound deck that leads to a large backyard with a cubby house. 16 Charming street <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/02/1636.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="533" /> Although positioned on a 594sqm block, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom is the smallest of the lot. It was sold in 2008 for $605,000 at auction before being bought by Channel 9 for $2.3 million. This home has its original brick fireplace in the living room and showcases large, near floor-to-ceiling windows facing out onto the garden. 18 Charming street <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/02/1815.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="533" /> This home, measuring at 574sqm, sold for $1,416,00 back in 2016, but it set Channel 9 back $2.75 million. It has four bedrooms, with the main showing French doors opening out onto the garden. Number 18 also has a double garage with a workspace, including multiple outdoor entertaining areas. 20 Charming street <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/02/20326.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="533" /> This four-bedroom home, originally purchased for $130,000 in 1995, has been reported to have cost Channel 9 $3.5 million making it the most expensive home of the five. Although the interior is yet to be revealed, from the street, the 703sqm property shows what looks like a modern extension and a new brick fence, suggesting it may have been recently renovated. 22 Charming street <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/02/2212.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="533" /> This 1950s brick home was described as “Charming by street, charming by nature” when it sold for $1.889 million back in 2021 before being sold to channel 9 for $2.75 million. It sits on a 632sqm block with a blooming garden, three bedrooms, one bathroom and enough space for four cars. As for this year’s contestants, the application period has closed, suggesting that the new contestants are set in stone. The application form specified candidates must be available for 10-12 weeks in early March 2023, so the renos will be underway in no time. Photo credits: Instagram

Real Estate

Lynette Dawson's body: the location and the obstacles

Police believe they know the location of Lynette Dawson's body, but say “there is no possible way to search” the area. Earlier this week, Justice Ian Harrison SC found former teacher and rugby league player Chris Dawson <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/stunning-chris-dawson-verdict-handed-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guilty of the murder of his wife</a> Lynette in 1982. The 33-year-old nurse was last seen on Friday January 8th, 1982, when she spoke to her mother on the phone. She was never seen or heard from again, and her body was never found. Now, police believe her remains are somewhere in the Central Coast region, just north of Sydney. Chris and Lynette lived together in Bayview Heights after they got married, on Sydney’s northern beaches, within easy reach of the Central Coast. Police dug up that property but Ms Dawson’s remains were not found. “There was the theory that he travelled to the Central Coast on January 9th,” a police source told The <a title="www.dailytelegraph.com.au" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/detectives-who-investigated-lynette-dawson-case-believe-they-know-where-the-body-is-buried/news-story/50416949f5697b44a971633719782bec" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="50416949f5697b44a971633719782bec" data-tgev-label="truecrimeaustralia" data-tgev-metric="ev">Daily Telegraph</a>. However, the police said there was no evidence that suggested the body was in any particular location of the Central Coast, which is around 550 square kilometres in size. “The problem is that there is a lot of regional bush area between their home and when he went up the coast. “There is no possible way to search it, it’s so vast,” the source said. In his marathon five-hour judgment, Justice Harrison said that Dawson had ample time to dispose of his wife’s body as his children were staying with a friend on January 9th. No one can vouch for his whereabouts during that time. “The Crown case is that (Dawson) used that time to dispose of the body,” Justice Harrison said. <div data-type="factbox" data-id="1661757855704"> </div> Without Dawson himself giving up her resting place, police are doubtful they will be able to find Ms Dawson’s remains. The family of Ms Dawson are losing faith that her body will be found. “This is a milestone in our journey, however she is still missing,” Lynette’s brother Greg Simms told reporters outside court. “We would ask Chris Dawson to find it in himself to do the decent thing and allow us to put Lyn to rest.” Image credits: ABC

Legal

Police desperate to locate abducted 5-year-old Grace Hughes

A multi-agency taskforce has now been established in order to further intensify the ongoing search for missing five-year-old girl, Grace Hughes. Northern Territory Police claim that a group peddling "ideologies and false information" abducted Grace last Sunday, and that she was allegedly taken without permission by her mother Laura Hinks, also known as Laura Bolt. The incident took place during a supervised visit in the Darwin suburb of Berrimah on August 7. On Saturday August 13, another Darwin-based woman, 50-year-old Juliet Oldroyd, faced court and was charged with child abduction in relation to the disappearance of the young girl. When she faced local court, she was represented by her husband and flanked by a group of supporters. A special taskforce has now been set up to intensify search efforts, including the Australian Federal Police and other agencies. In a statement, Northern Territory Police said : "The taskforce is committed to locating her and reuniting her with her lawful guardian". "NT Police will continue to target this group and any other persons assisting the ongoing harbouring of Grace. "Police will use every power available to them to locate Grace. Anyone who is found to have harboured those who abducted Grace will face significant charges before the courts." Earlier this week, Detective Superintendent Kirsten Engels said 'some effort' was being put into keeping Grace hidden, and appealed for anyone with information to come forward. 'We know that there will be people in the community that can assist us, they will know where Grace is and they'll be able to help us,' she said. 'We're asking you to do the right thing, reach out and call police and let us know what information you have, no matter how small.' Engels said the five-year-old needed to be returned so she could go to school and be reunited with her friends. 'Whatever issues that are preventing her return should and could be dealt with in appropriate ways, taking Grace in this matter is not appropriate,' she said. 'Our primary concern is the wellbeing and safety of Grace, knowing that this would be a very traumatic event being removed from this meeting and separated from her siblings. 'It is likely to have a detrimental effect on her mental and psychological wellbeing.' Grace is described as having a fair complexion with brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing a short-sleeved white dress, as well as white socks and black sneakers. Her mother has a fair complexion, a slim build and dark hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing a white and green floral-patterned ankle-length dress or skirt, with a white or cream long-sleeved shirt. NT Police urge anyone with any knowledge of Grace's abduction to come forward and contact police on 131 444 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Image: NT Police

News

A regal tour like no other: New Zealand locations with a nod to royalty

From Queen streets and Queen’s parks to the entire town of Queenstown (which was named after Queen Victoria), there are a host of spots named after New Zealand’s head of state that deserve a look-see on your next visit. It isn’t just the Queen who has a Kiwi namesake either, with Albert Town, near Wānaka, named after Queen Victoria’s husband and the town of Alexandra being named after her daughter-in-law. But many of these date all the way back to the Victorian era and places named after the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, are more select. According to the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/queens-birthday-new-zealand-locations-with-a-nod-to-royalty/R7YE2WY5GEJYJEBGTY56HWMTAM/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a>, this list of royally-inspired locations has dwindled to make way for new developments and because of natural disasters. Of those that remain, here’s a list of spots well-worth visiting. Parks galore Queen Elizabeth has been the inspiration for two parks that should be on your royal travel bucket list: one in Masterton and the other on the Kāpiti Coast. Stretching over 638 hectares, Queen Elizabeth Park on the Kāpiti Coast was opened by the monarch during her first royal visit, months after her coronation in 1953. It boasts a vast expanse of beaches, dunes, wetland and farmland, includes a large holiday park and an ancient pā site (a Māori hill fort). <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/qeii-park.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Queen Elizabeth Park features beaches, wetlands, and more, spread across 638 hectares. Image: Greater Wellington Regional Council Masterton’s Queen Elizabeth Park, on the other hand, was founded during Queen Victoria’s reign and later renamed. The park is known as one of the best and most child-friendly parks in the country, with a castle-like playground, flying fox, BMX track, steam-powered miniature train and pedal-boat rides on the lake. It also includes a deer enclosure accessed by a swing bridge across the Waipoua River. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/qeii-park2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Masterton’s park boasts one of the country’s most child-friendly parks, and even houses an deer enclosure.Image: Destination Wairarapa Recreation and sports After Christchurch’s Queen Elizabeth II park - built to host the 1974 Commonwealth Games - had its stadium and pool complex damaged in the 2011 earthquake, the Taiora QEII Recreation and Sports Centre was built in its stead. The big draw for the park is its aquatic centre, with its hydroslide for big kids and its play pool for tiny swimmers, and its spa, sauna and steam room. Image: Destination Wairarapa / Getty Images

Domestic Travel

Targeting shooters: technology that can isolate the location of gunshots

Inexpensive microphone arrays deployed in urban settings can be used to pinpoint the location of gunshots and help police respond instantly to the scene of crimes, scientists say. The process works by recognising that a gunshot produces two distinct sounds: the muzzle blast, and the supersonic shockwave that follows it. Luisa Still of Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Germany, told a meeting of the <a href="https://acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acoustical Society of America in Denver, Colorado</a>, this week that by using those two signals – in a process akin to that by which seismologists track seismic waves from earthquakes – police departments armed with the right equipment could pinpoint the location of the shot within seconds. It’s not as straightforward as it sounds. In an urban environment, buildings and other structures can reflect, refract or absorb sound waves, causing the sounds of the shot to come at the microphones from any number of directions. But it turns out, Still says, that it only takes two such sensor arrays to locate the source of a gunshot — and a good computer can do so very quickly. In tests, her team began on a rifle range, where they confirmed that a pair of such microphone arrays could indeed determine the location of the shooter to a high degree of accuracy. They then moved to an urban environment, where they repeated the experiment, though in this case the shooter was replaced with a propane gas cannon of the type used by farmers to scare away crop-eating birds. Again, two microphone arrays were all that were needed to zero in on the source of the “shot”. Not that this can work anywhere, any time. Still’s signal-location algorithms require maps of the surrounding buildings, the walls of which might affect the sound and, in extreme cases, create “blind spots” if microphone arrays aren’t properly deployed. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p192812-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.61 resetting spai-bg-prepared" action="/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/#wpcf7-f6-p192812-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="resetting"> <input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page spai-bg-prepared" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/" aria-invalid="false" /> </form> </div> </div> She also notes that research is ongoing as to whether it is better to put microphones at ground level or atop neighbouring buildings. There’s also continuing research around how many might be needed in complex urban cores, where there are a lot of buildings of varying height and echo patterns can become very convoluted. “We still need to evaluate [that],” she says. There’s also the need to weed out noises that sound like gunshots, such as firecrackers, car-engine backfires and anything else that makes a sudden bang. “We are working on classification methods,” Still says, noting that these involve computerised “deep learning” methods that can be trained to distinguish such sounds. Could similar sensors be deployed within a school building in order to locate a school shooter even more quickly that is currently possible? Still was asked. “Oh, yeah,” she said. “I think that would be applicable.” Though she noted that it might also be acoustically “very challenging” to put into practice. Later that same day, 19 school children and two adults were killed in Uvalde, Texas, in America’s worst grade-school shooting in nearly a decade. Would the death toll have been lower if gunshot sensors such as Still’s were widely deployed? Who knows? But it was one of the most stunningly prescient scientific presentations imaginable, because she spoke less than an hour before the Uvalde gunman opened fire. It was far too late for her research to be able to deflect the tragedy that was about to unfold, but close enough to it to underscore the urgency of what she was doing.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=192812&title=Targeting+shooters%3A+technology+that+can+isolate+the+location+of+gunshots" width="1" height="1" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/richard-a-lovett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard A Lovett</a>. Richard A Lovett is a Portland, Oregon-based science writer and science fiction author. He is a frequent contributor to Cosmos. Image: Getty Images </div>

Technology

8 spooky real life horror movie locations

You’ve watched these creepy flicks from the comfort of your couch, but would you have the guts to visit the filming locations in real life? Camp No Be Bo Sco, Blairstown, New Jersey, from Friday The 13th <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844829/horror-spot1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3d2ff623ee7f4d9e99d53fe9e7f4645f" /> Image: Enzo Arcamone/Wikimedia Commons Well, what do you know? The kids’ summer camp terrorised by Mrs Vorhees in one of the most iconic horror movies of all time – and then her son, Jason, in umpteen sequels – actually exists. And it actually offers a summer camp program. For kids. Kind of boggles the mind, doesn’t it? The only real difference is that the creepy camp known in the movies as Camp Crystal Lake is actually called Camp No Be Bo Sco. And, of course, it isn’t the location of countless murders. It’s a good thing most of the kids that go to the camp aren’t old enough to have watched Friday The 13th or any of its sequels. Makes you wonder about the parents though. Seneca Creek State Park, Maryland – Blair Witch Project <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844830/horror-spot2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3c329314a1ac40bf8cbbb254309578b1" /> Image: Shutterstock Ever since the release of this now infamous “found footage” horror movie, tourists have flocked to the small town of Burkittsville, Maryland in search of the fabled Blair Witch. For an authentic experience, however, you should travel about 60 kilometres south of the small town to Seneca Creek State Park – that’s where most of the movie was actually filmed. Considering Burkittsville has a population of just 200 people, and probably not much of a night life, getting lost in the woods might just be the best way to spend your time anyway. If you do decide to pitch a tent and spend the night in the woods, make sure to wear bright clothes and watch out for hunters – the type that shoot deer, not the type that ritualistically murder you in the basement of abandoned houses. Toms River, New Jersey – Amityville Horror house <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844831/horror-spot3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ce24cea19367413998741acc6e7874af" /> Image: Seulatr/Wikimedia Commons It’s a true story: a man killed five members of his family before killing himself in his home. About a year later, the home’s new inhabitants claimed to be terrorised by ghosts, inspiring The Amityville Horror. The movie, however, was not actually filmed in the supposedly haunted house in Amityville, New York. Presumably looking to avoid shelling out money to otherworldly extras, The Amityville Horror was actually shot at a non-haunted home in Toms River, New Jersey. It makes sense. The Amityville home – a former crime scene – is one scary spot you might genuinely want to avoid. Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood, Oregon – The Shining <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844832/horror-spot4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/56941ce8f3474375b477b365425a99d2" /> Image: Shutterstock All work and no play making you, well, ready for a holiday? Why not visit the Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon? The now notorious hotel – known in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining as The Overlook Hotel – is a favourite destination among horror movie fans hoping to catch a glimpse of ghostly twins or get lost in a hedge maze. Movie buffs should note, however, that the hotel was only actually used for some exterior shots in the movie. The rest was filmed at a studio. And Stephen King, author of the book that inspired the movie, actually pictured a different hotel when he wrote his spooky story: The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. “The Exorcist Steps,” Washington, D.C. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844833/horror-spot5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0c9d32e142da4d8db0ad7d280734a2f0" /> Image: Shutterstock Think it’s hard enough to get through The Exorcist with your eyes open? Try living in the neighbourhood where the movie many consider to be the “scariest of all time” was filmed. The house itself actually exists in a regular neighbourhood just steps from Georgetown University, but it isn’t quite as seen in the movie. For one thing, you won’t be able to see the window into Regan MacNeil’s room, where the possessed little girl famously terrorised her visitors – the interior of the house was actually filmed in a studio. Nearby, you’ll also find the stone steps down which Father Damien Karras plunged in a bid to purge the demon from his body. On October 30, 2015, the steps were graced with a plaque in honour of the location’s legendary status among horror movie buffs. Monroeville Mall, Pennsylvania – Dawn of the Dead <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844834/horror-spot6.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ced6a8eea24b4290ba121d1b5afc5e57" /> Image: Daveynin/Wikimedia Commons It’s a mall that inspired a mega-horror hit. While walking through the Monroeville Mall – one of the biggest of its kind at the time – horror movie legend George A. Romero supposedly came up with the idea to pit humans against zombies in this temple of consumerism. Production of Dawn of the Dead took place in the mall, during closing hours, in the winter of 1977. One can only imagine what shoppers must have thought about all the fake blood-soaked rags and severed limbs stuffed in the garbage cans. The actual mall is now home to stores like Macy’s, American Eagle and Forever 21, but it pays homage to its role in horror movie history with annual zombie-themed events – including the occasional zombie walk (above). Simi Valley, California – Poltergeist <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844835/horror-spot7.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8db0dd4778274c17adcb7bc0f522d01e" /> Image: Shutterstock As if Poltergeist wasn’t scary enough, some believe the movie, itself, is cursed. Since the making of the first movie in the trilogy, four cast-members have died. Most notably Heather O’Rourke, who played young Carol Anne in all three movies, died of septic shock from bacterial toxins in her bloodstream at the age of 12. The house the movie was filmed in – in Simi Valley, California – was not actually built on an ancient Indian burial ground, however. Santa Cruz Boardwalk, California – The Lost Boys <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844836/horror-spot8.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8ca23b0d8bd54d528ba2eb05fc966053" /> Image: Shutterstock In order to avoid demonising real places with unsavoury plots, horror movie makers usually opt to invent fake settings for their films. When it came to the Joel Schumaker-directed ’80s favourite The Lost Boys, however, moviemakers didn’t work very hard to disguise the fact that the movie was shot in Santa Cruz, California. The movie takes place in a fictional city called Santa Carla and, in many scenes, clearly depicts the flashy Santa Cruz boardwalk, which offered a perfect contrast to the dark deeds of the vampires. If you visit the boardwalk in real life, however, you’re more likely to encounter a pickpocket than a neck-biter. Written by Daniel Reid. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/8-spooky-real-life-horror-movie-locations" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Movies

‘Most mutative’ COVID variant now located

A US expert has told Karl Stefanovic on the Today show about a new COVID variant which is the ‘most mutative’ virus so far and he said “unless you are triple-vaxxed” you’re not protected.” US expert Dr Eric Feigl-Ding, warned two doses of vaccine may not be enough protection against the C.1.2 COVID strain, adding this virus is mutating “so much faster than we expected,” that three doses of vaccine will be required to protect against it. The strain was first identified by scientists in South Africa in May and has since been found in England, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius, Portugal Switzerland and even New Zealand. The C.1.2-strain has almost double the mutation rate Scientists have reported the C.1.2 strain in South Africa has a mutation rate of 41.8 mutations per year, almost double the current global mutation rate seen in any other variant of concern so far. The C.1.2-strain has yet to make its way to Australia, but this new strain has experts on edge, including Dr Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and Senior Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington DC. “It's got lots of troubling mutations and it's the most mutative of all variants,” he told the Today show this week. “It's the most genetically distanced from the Wuhan 1.0 virus. Whether or not it's the next big thing, it's not necessarily that, it's the fact that the virus is mutating so much faster than we expected.” An elimination strategy is required Dr Feigl-Ding, who is a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers program, a Soros Fellowship recipient and a former Democratic Party candidate, said he advocated a COVID elimination strategy. “We can't just keep boosting the vaccines,” he said. “We have to basically stop the transmission worldwide because the more bodies we give the virus, the more practice chances the virus will eventually adapt and become even more evasive or contagious.” He also warned two doses of the vaccine may not be enough with Israel already introducing third booster shots. “Unless you're triple vaxxed, you're not considered fully vaxxed. And that approach as much as it sucks, is the reality that we’re faced with – with these new variants,” Dr Feigl-Ding said. Image: Today Show

News

Join the footloose retirees who are saving money for retirement AND exploring great lifestyle locations

In the space of just six years, NSW couple Vicki and Mark Rayner have been able to save money for their retirement and moved to three different lifestyle-rich locations - all thanks to the land lease living model. The Rayners are part of a growing group of footloose retirees who are exploring the new places and friendly faces which can be found across <a rel="noopener" href="https://hometownaustralia.com.au/" target="_blank">Hometown Australia’s 52 communities</a>. These homeowners are taking advantage of the significant financial benefits of land lease living, which includes being able to release equity from their family home and move without paying stamp duty or exit fees. These same financial benefits make it easy for homeowners to move to, and test out, some of Australia’s best known coastal holiday spots, where Hometown Australia communities are located. Read on to find out more. Rayners have moved three times in six years In 2015, Vicki and Mark Rayner sold their four bedroom house in Penrith and moved to Hometown Australia’s Valhalla community at Chain Valley Bay, on the foreshore of Lake Macquarie. “We loved the area as it was right on the lake and the brand new homes that were on offer were beautiful and were the right price,” Vicki said. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841315/downsizing-article-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e2bf07a40b2943f594435163dffa9944" /> <div> <div style="text-align: center;">Vicki and Mark Rayner at their home at The Dunes in Sussex Inlet</div> </div> By moving to Valhalla, the Rayners were able to top-up their retirement funds, due to the significant price differential between their former house and their new and less expensive three-bedroom land lease home. After three years living at Chain Valley Bay, Vicki and Mark decided on a literal “sea change” to Hometown Australia’s Beachfront community Hallidays Point on the NSW Mid-North Coast. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841314/downsizing-article-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0449900849a24fb7ba79bb2056fd5bd9" /> <div> <div style="text-align: center;">Aerial photo of the Hometown Australia Beachfront community at Halliday's Point on the NSW Mid-North Coast</div> </div> “We came across the beachside properties up at the community at Hallidays Point and we loved the location,” Vicki said. “We were ready for a change and that’s one of the luxuries of land lease living. There were no exit fees, selling fees or stamp duty on our home so financially it was a good move too. “The move was easy. We put our home on the market with Hometown Australia, waited for a buyer and then everything fell into place. The whole process took three months.” When moving into Hallidays Point, Vicki and Mark downsized to a two-bed home with bigger living areas and a bigger backyard and were able to top up their equity again. At the end of 2020, Vicki and Mark moved to another Hometown Australia community, The Dunes at Sussex Inlet on the NSW South Coast. “We’ve always loved the South Coast but couldn’t find anything to buy when we first retired,” Vicki said. “We were down here at the end of last year and came across The Dunes community. It’s a lovely spot so we put our house on the market and here we are.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841313/downsizing-article-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/01236a1d3c7448189abe3673e6013547" /> <div> <div style="text-align: center;">Hometown Australia's Beachfront community at Halliday's Point includes a spacious pool and community centre</div> </div> “The mobility and flexibility of land lease living is absolutely a benefit. “It’s allowed us to move around and live in different areas in a cost-effective way. “Moving between Hometown Australia communities we’ve also had the benefit of knowing what to expect and have always been surrounded by like-minded people of a similar age with similar interests.” “We’ve made friends with many other couples and there’s always so much to get involved in. All locations have a community hall and offer a range of activities and social gatherings. On Australia Day there’s always a sausage sizzle and on Anzac day a small ceremony.” <a rel="noopener" href="https://hometownaustralia.com.au/" target="_blank">Find out more about Hometown Australia’s communities here</a> <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841312/downsizing-article-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a491f77d528c42e882c867d98ae472cb" /> <div style="text-align: center;">An interior photo of the community centre at Hometown Australia's Beachfront at Halliday's Point</div> Hometown Australia land lease living has also provided the Rayners with financial security. “We’ve been really happy with the return we’ve got when we’ve sold our homes,” Vicki said. “They’ve all gone up in value so, while you pay more for your next home, your current one has risen too. “We’ve always felt very secure and looked after as part of Hometown Australia communities. For us it’s been the best move we ever made.” About land lease living in a Hometown Australia community Some 10,000 residents currently live in Hometown Australia’s land lease communities, located across Queensland, NSW and South Australia. These communities are in attractive locations, including Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Gold Coast regions, NSW’s Mid-North, North Coast and Port Stephens regions and South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841311/downsizing-article-5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fd0684eb33ab4b0aa2aaf0035685fe99" /> <div> <div style="text-align: center;">Hometown Australia communities are located right across Australia, including the Sunshine Coast</div> </div> Most communities contain a range of resort-like features to keep residents active and socially connected, including pools, tennis courts, restaurants, community areas and bars. Residents in these communities purchase a dwelling and then benefit from a secure, long-term ground lease for this dwelling with Hometown Australia. The land lease living model provides many financial and lifestyle benefits. Firstly, Hometown community homes start at just $250,000, with most of these having two or three bedrooms, a study, and either 1.5 or two bathrooms. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841310/downsizing-article-6.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d47d86fcc3444129a5d00c15ad1dbd7d" /> <div style="text-align: center;">The Shore Break home design at Hometown Australia's The Dunes community at Sussex Inlet</div> The affordable price point of these homes allows many retirees to top up their retirement savings, after selling their family home and moving into a Hometown community. In addition, because no land is actually being purchased, buyers don’t have to pay stamp duty or ongoing council rates. This is a further saving of many thousands of dollars. In addition, there are no exit fees when you leave a Hometown Australia community. These two features make it easy for residents to move between communities and explore new locations. This compares to owners of general apartments or houses, who need to pay stamp duty every time they move, and residents of retirement villages and some other land lease operators, who need to pay exit fees when they move out. Finally, because of the ground lease arrangement, residents are often eligible to claim rent assistance via the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/rent-assistance/how-much-you-can-get#a1" target="_blank">Commonwealth Rent Assistance </a>scheme, to offset their monthly site fees. <a rel="noopener" href="https://hometownaustralia.com.au/" target="_blank">Find out more about Hometown Australia’s communities here.</a> This article is written in partnership with Hometown Australia.

Downsizing

Catriona Rowntree looks back on her all-time favourite Getaway locations

As Australia’s most iconic travel program, Getaway, celebrates its 30th season, presenter Catriona Rowntree is looking back on her time on the show. Her dream to share people’s stories started when she was just 14, when she was inspired by the passion her friend’s dad, Brian White, had for his job. She never thought that dream would include becoming a presenter on the program, which she joined in 1996. “In one sense you feel nothing but gratitude for the life that it’s given you,” she told 9Entertainment. “Also to be able to be the conduit, to share other people’s stories, different religions, different cuisines, different cultures, with people that may never have the opportunity to experience what you have, and equally to inspire others to maybe take your advice.” Rowntree continued, “It’s humbling to know that we’ve been supported for this long, literally through thick and thin, and you can imagine I say that with all my heart from the year that we’ve experienced, so we just feel incredibly grateful.” To celebrate 30 seasons, Getaway will be airing a special 30th anniversary episode at 5.30pm on Saturday, May 22. As part of the episode, Getaway will also be reminiscing on some of its celebrity appearances, including Catriona’s interview with former US president Donald Trump before he had even considered joining the presidential race. Speaking to Trump about his hotel and tourism empire, Catriona has been reluctant to talk about meeting him in more recent years because people didn’t want to hear any positive anecdotes. “I met him under the best circumstances where I was going to interview him about an award that one of his hotels had won. We shared an interest in travel and tourism, we discovered a shared interest in feng shui, which I had learned about on my travels through Asia, and that he applied to the hotels that he created,” she said. "He was as charming to me as he was to my sound operator, he was generous with his time, and the person that was later depicted was not the person that I met. "However, I found that a lot of people didn't like me telling that story because I didn't have anything negative to say, and so I stopped telling the story. I sensed that people were only interested if I was going to say something derogatory and that wasn't my experience." Another memorable moment that will be appearing in the special episode is her time with business magnate Richard Branson and his family at their home on Necker Island. “"We're both Cancerians, I think we're a day different with our birthdays, and we just clicked straight away, and definitely and he was very generous with his time and unbelievably kind," she recalled. Though Catriona’s experiences with people have been mostly positive, her animal encounters while on the show have left her feeling everything from fear to awe. "Definitely one of the most extraordinary surreal experiences was swimming through jellyfish lake in Palau, where the jellyfish have lost their sting because they have no predators. The jellyfish are through your hair, between your legs, you're smothered in jellyfish and you are totally discombobulated by the experience,” she said. "I'm up for anything because both I and my bosses quickly realised that people found it funny when I showed my fear, so how I react is how most people react, but on TV I think people try to be too cool for school and that doesn't work.” But, it’s this vulnerability that made her so endearing to viewers, and what really warms her heart about her time on Getaway has been how the show has become a part of viewers’ lives. "And sometimes I'll meet people and they'll say that 'Our family puts a picnic blanket down in front of the tele and you take us around the world' — just tiny little comments like that mean the world to me."

International Travel

New COVID alerts list QLD ALDI, Coles and Woolies plus several Byron Bay locations

A number of new COVID alerts have been listed after venues were believed to have been exposed to the virus following Queensland’s latest cluster. On the list of venues are major shopping chains including Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Bunnings, Liquorland, IGA and Cold Rock Ice Creamery. The Greater Brisbane area has been ordered into a snap three-day lockdown in an attempt to stop the growing coronavirus cluster of seven cases. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says that the infected people have been out in the community and travelled to central Queensland and northern NSW. Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands are all in lockdown until Thursday evening. People will only be allowed to leave home to simply do essential work, shop, care for people or exercise. "I didn't sleep last night so I think I am very worried, I'm very concerned," Ms Palaszczuk said. "But we've done it before, we've got through this together, and I'm sure that if everyone does the right thing we will be able to get through it.” Ms Palaszczuk said the lockdown would be reviewed on Thursday, just in time for the Easter lockdown weekend. Thousands of travellers flocked to the airport in an attempt to leave the city before the lockdown came into effect on Monday – leaving bustling crowds in the airport that caused a gridlock on roads surrounding the area. Victoria has declared Greater Brisbane a "red zone" from 6 pm AEDT under its updated travel permit system. All Queenslanders will be locked out of Western Australia from midnight, unless they have an exemption. South Australia imposed a hard border on Monday afternoon, and has banned entry from Greater Brisbane. They are also requiring testing and isolating from those who had arrived since March 20. Restrictions have also been imposed in the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. NSW health has listed several venues as COVID alerts in Byron Bay on the far north coast, after it was revealed two positive cases travelled in the area from Friday, March 26 and Sunday, March 28. Those who have visited Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park communal toilets on March 26, from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm and 9:10 pm to 9:30 pm and on Saturday, March 27 from 3:20 pm to 3:50 pm have been strongly urged to immediately get tested and self-isolate. Below is a full list of the venues that are believed to have been exposed to the virus. Close contacts – quarantine for 14 days and complete the contact tracing self-assessment Friday 26 March 6.50 am - 8.00 am - FitStop Gym, Morningside 10:22 am - 11:23 am - Spinnaker Park Café, Callemondah 7:23 pm - 9.30 pm - Auckland House, Gladstone Central Saturday 27 March 7:33 am - 8:20 am - Auckland House, Gladstone Central Casual contacts – get tested immediately and quarantine until you get a negative result Friday 19 March 12.10 pm - 1.16 pm - Little Red Dumpling, Carseldine 1:10 pm - 1:20 pm - Woolworths, Carseldine 5:10 pm - 5:18 pm - Aldi, Bald Hills 5:30 pm - 5:33 pm - Super Cheap Auto, Bald Hills Sunday 21 March 4:40 pm – 4:50 pm - Liquorland, Dolphins Central Shopping Centre, Kippa-Ring Monday 22 March 7:14 am – 7:27 am - Bunnings, Rothwell 8:51 am - 8:58 am - Café L’avenue, Carseldine 12:05 pm - 12:34 pm - Zambrero, Aspley 12:40 pm - 12:48 pm - Jacobs Bakery, Aspley Tuesday 23 March 7:00 am – 8:00 am - Redcliffe train line – Kippa-Ring to Lawnton 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Redcliffe train line – Lawnton to Kippa-Ring 8:00 am - 8:29 am - Café L’avenue, Carseldine 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm - Sushi Train, Carseldine Wednesday 24 March 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm - Redcliffe train line – Lawnton to Kippa-Ring Thursday 25 March 1:25 pm – 1.26 pm - Gin Gin Public Toilet (male) opposite Gin Gin Bakery, Gin Gin 1:26 pm – 1:33 pm - Gin Gin Bakery, Gin Gin 2:35 pm – 2:45 pm - Miriam Vale Road Star Roadhouse (male toilet), Miriam Vale 3.50 pm - 4.00 pm - Cold Rock Ice Creamery, Raby Bay 4.30 pm - 4.45 pm - Woolworths, Cleveland 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm - Redcliffe train line – Lawnton to Kippa-Ring 8:00 am - 8:29 am - Café L’avenue, Carseldine 12:34 pm - 1:34 pm - Café L’avenue, Carseldine 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Hanwoori Korean BBQ Restaurant, Brisbane City 6:19 pm - 7:50 pm - Wintergarden carpark, Brisbane City Friday 26 March 10.15 am - 10.30 am - Nurse Station cafe (Patrons), South Brisbane 11.30 am - 11.45 am - SPAR Carina Megafresh, South Brisbane 12:09 pm – 12:33 am - Coles, Stockland Gladstone, Gladstone Central 12.55 pm - 1.30 pm - Woolworths, Coorparoo 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm - Redcliffe train line – Lawnton to Kippa-Ring 3:00 pm – 3.20 pm - Woolworths, Peninsula Fair Shopping Centre, Kippa-Ring 4:46 pm – 5:00 pm - Stockland Gladstone (including BWS), Gladstone Saturday 27 March 12:50 pm – 12:55 pm - IGA Redcliffe, Redcliffe Low risk contacts – monitor for symptoms Tuesday 23 March 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Outside Westpac, Peninsula Fair shopping Centre, Kippa-Ring

News

How to save up to $150,000 when downsizing into a new home in great lifestyle locations across Australia

Imagine being able to downsize into a new home for well under the full purchase price, allowing you to put away up to $150,000 into your retirement savings? This, in a nutshell, is how buyers are using the unique shared equity home purchase solution being offered by national over 50s lifestyle community operator Hampshire. The Hampshire Property Group is a family owned Australian company with 20 years’ experience in the retirement living industry. Its 17 communities are located in desirable coastal, regional and outer metropolitan areas across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hampshirevillages.com.au/retirement-villages/" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HAMPSHIRE'S 17 COMMUNITIES HERE</a> <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839761/sponarticle10-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e02341c320e146c081d6b22b24470b91" /> Residents enjoy great facilities at Hampshire's communities, including this pool at Banksia Grove at Williamtown in NSW Hampshire has been offering its shared equity solution for the past 12 years. It allows incoming residents to purchase a new home for as little as 65 per cent of the set purchase price. OverSixty.com.au has spoken to a number of Hampshire community residents, and the company itself, to better understand the shared equity offer. Residents who’ve used shared equity In June 2020, Jim and Lorraine Mountford purchased a new two bedroom home at Hampshire’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hampshirevillages.com.au/rest-point-lifestyle-village-nowra/" target="_blank">Rest Point community at Nowra on the NSW South Coast</a>. However, instead of paying the full $360,000 purchase price, the Mountfords were able to take advantage of Hampshire’s shared equity offer and instead pay $252,000. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839760/sponarticle10-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7c906b4b44f24185bce47c866c6a150a" /> <div style="text-align: center;">Lorraine and Jim Mountford (right) and Maria Zdjelar (left) at Rest Point village</div> This means the Mountfords own 70 per cent of the dwelling, with Hampshire retaining ownership of the remaining 30 per cent. Despite this proportional ownership, the Mountfords are able to enjoy all of Rest Point’s facilities and activities, including its swimming pool and community centre, just like residents who’ve paid full price. Mr Mountford told OverSixty.com.au that his wife and himself had moved from Dapto, in Wollongong’s southern suburbs. “We had a lovely four bedroom house, but it was too big for us and still had a mortgage on it,” Mr Mountford said. “We chose to retire to Rest Point, as it’s still close enough for the rest of our family to easily visit, but it’s also near hospitals and shopping and only 15 minutes from South Coast beaches. “We were very happy with the house we ended up buying at Rest Point. “However, if we’d paid the full purchase price, we would have also had to sell our last investment property, which provides an important rental return for us. “So by using the shared equity offer, we were able to move into the community and home we wanted, but still hold on to our investment property.” Meanwhile, fellow Rest Point resident Maria Zdjelar has used the shared equity home purchase solution on several occasions to help her with everyday living expenses. Ms Zdjelar first moved into Rest Point a decade ago. Since then, she’s moved home three times, each time making a shared equity purchase. By moving into smaller homes and by using the shared equity solution, Ms Zdjelar has been able to unlock retirement funds and also continue to live in the community, which she positively likens to being on a “permanent holiday”. Shared equity an affordable housing solution Hampshire Property Group CEO Frank Sharkey said the shared equity solution was an important tool which helped people to achieve their retirement dreams. “We often find potential buyers have been holidaying for many years in the areas where our communities are located, and they like the area and want to retire there,” Mr Sharkey said. “However, they’ve been unable to afford the full purchase price to move into a new home in one of our communities. This is particularly the case for people who’ve lived for many years in regional areas, where home prices are lower than in capital cities. “Shared equity provides a real affordable housing solution to these buyers. “In addition, we also find buyers who want to use shared equity to free up their retirement savings, so they can do things on their bucket list such as buy caravans and go on holidays, or to help children and grandchildren.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839759/sponarticle10-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/771b646091f349d99efb198ce8d620d2" /> <div style="text-align: center;">A new home with caravan parking at Hampshire's Casino Lifestyle Village in northern NSW</div> Mr Sharkey said new homes in Hampshire’s communities were generally worth between $280-380,000, although could reach up to $500,000. This means using shared equity can deliver a saving of up to $150,000. Importantly, Mr Sharkey said Hampshire didn’t offer “two-tiered pricing” - in other words the full price of dwellings was static and wasn’t influenced by whether it was purchased in full or via the shared equity pathway. Details about the scheme There are some terms and conditions which apply to shared equity offers. For instance, an opportunity fee applies to shared equity purchases. This fee is linked to the value of the home and the length of the stay, and is charged to compensate Hampshire for not receiving the full purchase price. In addition, the shared equity offer is primarily available for newly-built homes and owners are required to maintain, repair and insure the whole of the home. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hampshirevillages.com.au/affordable-retirement-homes/" target="_blank">Please enquire with Hampshire at this web page to learn about other conditions</a>. Mr Sharkey says that, after weighing up all the options, around one in five buyers take up the shared equity solution. Importantly, these buyers reap many of the other financial benefits of land lease living, including owning a dwelling but at the same time being able to avoid stamp duty and council rates and being able to claim government rent assistance (subject to eligibility). Hampshire is the only national land lease community operator currently offering a shared equity solution. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hampshirevillages.com.au/affordable-retirement-homes/" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HAMPSHIRE'S COMMUNITIES AND ITS UNIQUE SHARED EQUITY SOLUTION</a> <div style="text-align: left;">Written by Mark Skelsey. </div> <div style="text-align: left;">This is a sponsored article in partnership with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hampshirevillages.com.au/" target="_blank">Hampshire Villages. </a></div> <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839758/sponarticle10-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0a794252eeec403b89899090fff0ed02" /> <div style="text-align: center;">A new home at Hampshire's Mudgee Lifestyle Village in regional NSW</div> <div style="text-align: left;"></div>

Downsizing

Huge gold nugget found in mystery Aussie location

A gold prospector has unearthed a gold nugget worth over $4,000 less than a metre underground. The prospector, identified as Bill M, took to the Facebook group Detecting Downunder to share a glimpse of the 50.8g piece. The nugget was found on a private property in the Victorian gold rush city Ballarat last week, the prospector said. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836626/gold2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3307221641fc4ae8adb4db8e0869f7db" /> Source: Facebook / <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/DetectingDownunder/posts/1152731228432238?__cft__[0]=AZX2c9RoTLh-2nI_V8X3RRhcsJZHGoburAdwAAbNk7JnoffHBW4UjQVqIdzFWZTvbKLWJDSkYqVh4c46cC_rmU9NmjXgPOCXUcAejayKHlbQbVM32dX4JaxYNNT0J89XS-CxahnsDJKqe6B4hd44VIhkknXIa-OiyFoz0Fn9ls_B9Q&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R" target="_blank">Detecting Downunder</a> “This is straight from a main gold reef,” a related post read. “It was found about 2 feet (60 centimetres) down.” Based on the current gold price of about $81.5 per gram, the nugget is estimated to be worth around $4,140. The finding came a year after a Victorian retiree found <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-27/gold-nugget-found-in-ballarat-by-retiree/11353044">a two-kilogram gold nugget worth about $130,000</a> on the outskirts of Ballarat. In the same year, a family also spotted <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-news-gold-nugget-found-bendigo/bf34fb4a-0124-4694-a1aa-aebe095d5c8d">a 634g nugget worth more than $35,000</a> while walking their dog on Mother’s Day in Bendigo. It is believed more than 2.26 million tonnes of gold remains underground in regional Victoria, the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-27/gold-nugget-found-in-ballarat-by-retiree/11353044">ABC</a> reported.

Domestic Travel

Australia’s most popular locations for over 50s housing

By Mark Skelsey NSW’s Port Macquarie and Queensland’s Toowoomba were Australia’s most searched locations by downsizers during 2019, as consumer interest soared in the over 50s housing sector. Australia’s leading over 50s property portal, <a href="http://Downsizing.com.au">Downsizing.com.au</a>, recently released its key 2019 website statistics, revealing a few new top names when it comes to retirement and downsizing. The NSW Mid-North Coast city of Port Macquarie claimed top prize as Australia’s most popular location for retirement and downsizing property, closely followed by Toowoomba in the Darling Downs region in southern Queensland. Next in line was Chain Valley Bay (NSW), then Hervey Bay (Qld), Burpengary (Qld), Buderim (Qld), Bayview (NSW), Maroochydore (Qld), Bundaberg (Qld) and Mornington (Victoria). Port Macquarie’s rising number of listing views – up from 109,532 in 2018 to 180,668 in 2019 – helped it jump from the nation’s number two most searched locality in 2018 to top spot in 2019. Meanwhile, Toowoomba jumped from the nation’s fifth most regularly searched locality, up to second spot in 2019. “Port Macquarie and Toowoomba both have an attractive climate and relaxing lifestyle, along with a growing range of retirement and downsizing options at a variety of price points,” <a href="http://Downsizing.com.au">Downsizing.com.au</a>’s co-CEO Amanda Graham said. “It’s hardly surprising they have topped the list of our most searched localities for 2019. “Port Macquarie for instance has 17 gorgeous beaches, along with a buzzing city centre with many shopping and business opportunities and a major regional hospital and airport. “Meanwhile, being located 700m above sea level in the Great Dividing Range, Toowoomba has a far cooler climate compared to most other parts of Queensland, which makes it attractive to many downsizers. “The city centre has retained many of its historic buildings, which gives it a charming heritage feel. In addition, being a major regional centre servicing 130,000 people, Toowoomba offers the health services and other services needed by retirees. Both Port Macquarie and Toowoomba have also recently had airport upgrades. Port Macquarie’s $9.875m terminal upgrade was completed in November 2019, while Toowoomba’s Wellcamp airport celebrated its first international flight in 2016. “Importantly, both localities allow you to get into retirement living at a highly affordable price, while also still offering luxury options,” continued Ms Graham. We’ve got properties on our website for as little as $185,000 in Port Macquarie and $163,000 at Toowoomba. “<a href="https://www.downsizing.com.au/news/637/House-price-surge-helps-downsizers-enter-2020-in-market-box-seat">The first half of 2020 is looking to be even better for downsizers</a>, thanks to strong prices being achieved for detached homes on Australia’s east coast. “This means downsizers can take advantage of their strong equity position when selling the family home along with the plentiful supply of new apartments to get a great deal when they downsize. “The retirement industry also recognises this strong market situation, <a href="https://www.downsizing.com.au/news/645/Strong-2020-growth-outlook-for-Australias-retirement-housing-sector">with the latest Property Council of Australia industry sentiment survey</a> reporting that the retirement industry has the most positive outlook of any property sector over the next 12 months.”

Home & Garden

Phone detection camera locations revealed

The new mobile phone detection cameras have caught more than 3,000 drivers illegally using their phones behind the wheel on NSW roads within their first week of operation. Speaking on <a href="https://www.2gb.com/locations-of-secret-phone-detection-cameras-revealed-by-transport-minister/">2GB</a>, Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said eight of the new cameras had been turned on at the start of December on Sydney Harbour Bridge, capturing 179 motorists using phones in four days. 126 drivers were caught out in Nowra, while 210 were caught in Lucas Heights in Sydney’s south. Unlike speed cameras, there are no signages for mobile phone cameras. Constance said the result indicates “a worrying trend”. “We just need everybody to know that it is equivalent to driving drunk at .08 if you are on a mobile phone behind the wheel of a car,” Constance said. “Even if you look down and text for two seconds travelling at 60km per hour, you are going to have your vehicle move 33m on a roadway or in a local backstreet without paying any attention. “When you get up into those higher speeds your car travels even further distance without any attention being paid.” The cameras checked 773,532 vehicles during their first week to catch 3,303 motorists illegally using their phones while driving in various locations across the state, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/on-the-road/hot-spots-where-nsw-drivers-are-being-caught-by-new-mobile-phone-detection-cameras/news-story/51bea4a9f5ce82bf2bc5f00a461b4aee">news.com.au</a> reported. Drivers caught out by the cameras will not incur a fine or demerit points until the grace period ends in March 2020. From then, motorists will receive a $344 fine and five demerit points. Executive Director of Transport for NSW’s Centre for Road Safety Bernard Carlton said the program has proven effective in deterring more drivers from committing the act. “There’s been a reduction in the number of people offending since the pilot,” Carlton told 2GB. “The education is working, less people are offending.”

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How to save up to $150,000 when downsizing into a new home in great lifestyle locations across Australia

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Australia’s most popular locations for over 50s housing

Phone detection camera locations revealed

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