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David and Victoria Beckham recreate iconic purple wedding look

David and Victoria Beckham have slipped back into the infamous purple wedding outfits to mark their 25th anniversary. The pair have shared a bunch of photos on social media from the lead up to their wedding in July 1999, giving fans a more detailed insight into the big day. "Looking back on the days leading up to our wedding 25 years ago brings back so many amazing memories… I love you so much," Victoria captioned one of the posts, before tagging David. The photos included a picture of the pair testing their iconic thrones for size when they were first delivered, Victoria's final fitting for her wedding dress and David fully concentrating while writing his vows among a few other special moments. In another post, the couple released a series of shots of them sitting on the reupholstered thrones, wearing their iconic Antonio Berardi wedding reception outfits. "Yep, still got it! 🤣 Can’t believe it’s been 25 years and they still fit!" Victoria captioned the photo before tagging all of their kids on social media. It wasn't an easy process getting into clothes from 25 years ago, and the pair even documented the former Manchester United player struggling to get into the suit, as their 12-year-old daughter Harper was heard giggling in the background. In the Instagram story David can be heard saying "I'm in!" before hearing a pop as he put on the waistcoat making everyone burst into laughter. Fans were thrilled to see the post and loved the Beckhams' sense of humour. "This is the only monarchy I recognise. 👑 Happy anniversary, kids," wrote one fan. "Why does this still look as iconic as the first time!!!" added another. "Going to tell my kids these are the Queen and King of England," joked a third. Images: Instagram

Relationships

Outraged Qantas flyer captures "absolutely unacceptable" act

Qantas staff have been condemned for leaving a pet crate abandoned on a Sydney tarmac in torrential rain. An outraged passenger captured the moment she saw the pet carrier, and a trolley full of suitcases, left in the rain at Sydney Airport on Friday, and shared it to social media. Sydney was hit with heavy rain on Friday, with some parts of New South Wales recording a month's worth of rainfall within a single day. After passengers had been loaded onto the Qantas aircraft, the concerned traveller noticed the animal had been abandoned in the rain. "Unfortunately the weather was unavoidable, but this luggage was left out in the open in Sydney for 30 mins and the animals for 15 minutes — one facing the rain," the furious passenger wrote on Facebook. Travellers on the same flight were quick to comment on the woman's post, saying their luggage had arrived soaking wet. "[I was on] on same flight, my luggage came home wet. Thinking a cover in these conditions would be nice," they wrote. Others expressed their concerns for the animal left in the crate in the rain, saying it was "animal abuse" to leave a furry friend in those conditions. "Those poor fur babies," one person wrote. "I'd report this if I saw it. Should have brought this to the attention of ground crew ASAP." A third added, "I'm unimpressed by the luggage but those pet carriers out there is absolutely unacceptable. I'd be fuming if my boy was stuck on the tarmac in a cage in torrential rain, making an already stressful situation even worse." "Disgusting to leave those fur babies out in the rain. Almost animal abuse," another said. A spokesperson from Qantas told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/qantas-photo-catches-airline-in-unacceptable-act-id-be-fuming-222149288.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a> that they are investigating the incident and that the airline "takes the safety and welfare of pets travelling with us very seriously". Image credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Bold idea sees hotel offer thousands in cash back if it rains

In a move that's making waves in the travel industry, a posh hotel in the heart of Singapore has rolled out a revolutionary offer: rain insurance. Yes, you heard it right – rain insurance! InterContinental Singapore, a sanctuary for jet-setters seeking respite from both the humidity and the occasional tropical deluge, has unleashed a game-changer for travellers. Dubbed the "Rain Resist Bliss Package", this offer promises to keep your spirits high even when the rain gods decide to throw a dampener on your plans. Picture this: you've booked your suite at this 5-star haven, eagerly anticipating your Singapore escapade. But lo and behold, the forecast takes a turn for the soggy, threatening to rain on your parade – quite literally. Fear not, dear traveller, for with the Rain Resist Bliss Package, you can breathe easy knowing that if your plans get drenched, your wallet won't. Now, you might be wondering, how does this rain insurance work? Well, it's as simple as Singapore Sling on a sunny day. If the heavens decide to open up and rain on your parade for a cumulative 120 minutes within any four-hour block of daylight hours (that's 8am to 7pm for those not on island time), you're entitled to a refund equivalent to your single-night room rate. The package is available exclusively for suite room bookings starting from $SGD850 per night – so that’s around $965 rain-soaked dollars back in your pocket, no questions asked. No need to jump through hoops or perform a rain dance – just sit back, relax, and let the rain do its thing. And fret not about having to keep an eye on the sky – the clever folks at InterContinental Singapore have got you covered. They're tapping into the data from the National Environmental Agency Weather Station to automatically trigger those rain refunds. It's like having your own personal meteorologist ensuring that your plans stay as dry as your martini. But hey, if the rain does decide to crash your party, fear not! The hotel has an array of dining options to keep your tastebuds entertained while you wait for the clouds to part. And let's not forget, Singapore isn't just about sunshine and rainbows – there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you occupied, from feasting at Lau Pa Sat for an authentic hawker experience to retail therapy at Takashimaya. And here's a silver lining to those rain clouds: fewer tourists! That's right, while others might be scrambling for cover, you could be enjoying shorter lines, less crowded attractions, and even snagging better deals on accommodations. Plus, let's not overlook the fact that the rain brings a welcome respite from the tropical heat, making outdoor adventures all the more enjoyable once the showers subside. So, pack your umbrella and leave your worries behind. With InterContinental Singapore's Rain Resist Bliss Package, you can embrace the unpredictable and turn even the rainiest of days into a memorable adventure. After all, as they say, when life gives you lemons, make Singapore Slings and dance in the rain! Images: InterContinental Singapore / Getty Images

International Travel

Oprah reveals measly salary from The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey has shared the shockingly low salary she received for starring in the 1985 film The Color Purple. Ahead of the release of the reimagined movie musical, Oprah opened up about the experience making the original film, and the measly salary she received for her role. She revealed that “they were only offering $35,000 (A$55,500) to be in this film,” but she deemed it “the best $35,000 [she] ever earned.” “It changed everything and taught me so much,” she said. “It is God moving through my life.” The film was a global sensation, grossing nearly $100 million in 1985 dollars (the equivalent of $286 million when adjusted for inflation) and earning 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Winfrey. In an interview with Essence conducted between Winfrey, who is an executive producer on the upcoming film adaptation, and some members of the new cast before the SAG-AFTRA strike, Winfrey said that she couldn’t “even begin to tell [them] what it means to [her]” that they chose to take on this project. “A person who wanted nothing more in my life than to be in The Color Purple,” she continued. “God taught me to surrender — that was the big lesson for me.” During the interview, Danielle Brooks, who is taking on Winfrey’s iconic role of Sofia in the adaptation, thanked Winfrey for “laying the blueprint for Sofia.” “Because I know that she’s changed your life, and I can feel that mine is about to shift, too,” she added. “Thank you for leaving space for me but also being there, to hold my hand and answer that phone call when I needed you. You have been such a light, such a beautiful soul.” Image credits: Getty Images

Movies

Streets of purple haze: how the South American jacaranda became a symbol of Australian spring

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-k-martin-107846">Susan K Martin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a> Jacaranda season is beginning across Australia as an explosion of vivid blue spreads in a wave from north to south. We think of jacarandas as a signature tree of various Australian cities. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth all feature avenues of them. Grafton in New South Wales hosts an annual <a href="https://www.jacarandafestival.com/">jacaranda festival</a>. Herberton in Queensland is noted for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jacarandafestivalherberton/">its seasonal show</a>. There are significant plantings in many botanic, public and university gardens across Australia. Jacaranda mimosifolia (the most common species in Australia) doesn’t generally flower in Darwin, and Hobart is a little cold for it. So showy and ubiquitous, jacarandas can be mistaken for natives, but they originate in South America. The imperial plant-exchange networks of the 19th century introduced them to Australia. But how did these purple trees find their stronghold in our suburbs? <h2>Propagating the trees</h2> Botanist Alan Cunningham sent the first jacaranda specimens from <a href="https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/dream-tree-jacaranda-sydney-icon/">Rio to Britain’s Kew gardens</a> around 1818. Possibly, jacaranda trees arrived from Kew in colonial Australia. Alternately, Cunningham may have disseminated the tree in his later postings in Australia or through plant and seed exchanges. Jacarandas are a widespread imperial introduction and are now a feature of many temperate former colonies. The jacaranda was exported by the British from Kew, by other colonial powers (Portugal for example) and directly from South America to various colonies. Jacarandas grow from seed quite readily, but the often preferred mode of plant propagation in the 19th century was through cuttings because of sometimes <a href="https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/dream-tree-jacaranda-sydney-icon/">unreliable seed</a> and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/histres/article/93/262/715/5938031?login=true">volume of results</a>. Cuttings are less feasible for the jacaranda, so the tree was admired but rare in Australia until either nurseryman Michael Guilfoyle or gardener George Mortimer succeeded in propagating the tree in 1868. Once the trees could be easily propagated, <a href="https://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/library/local_history/woollahra_plaque_scheme/plaques/michael_guilfoyle">jacarandas became more widely available</a> and they began their spread through Australian suburbs. <h2>A colonial import</h2> Brisbane claims the earliest jacaranda tree in Australia, <a href="https://blog.qagoma.qld.gov.au/godfrey-rivers-under-the-jacaranda-a-quintessential-image-of-brisbane-queensland/">planted in 1864</a>, but the Sydney Botanic Garden jacaranda is dated at “around” 1850, and jacarandas were listed for sale in <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13055858?searchTerm=Jacaranda%20OR%20Jakaranda">Sydney in 1861</a>. These early park and garden plantings were eye-catching – but the real impact and popularity of jacarandas is a result of later street plantings. Jacaranda avenues, in Australia and around the world, usually indicate wealthier suburbs like Dunkeld in <a href="https://www.wisemove.co.za/post/top-10-richest-suburbs-in-johannesburg">Johannesberg</a> and Kilimani in <a href="https://gay.medium.com/hashtag-jacaranda-propaganda-2f20ac6958b9">Nairobi</a>. In Australia, these extravagant displays appear in older, genteel suburbs like Subiaco and Applecross in Perth; Kirribilli, Paddington and Lavender Bay in Sydney; Parkville and the Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy in Melbourne; Mitcham, Frewville and Westbourne Park in Adelaide; and St Lucia in Brisbane. The trend toward urban street avenue plantings expanded internationally in the <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.2307/3983816?journalCode=foreconshist">mid 19th century</a>. It was particularly popular in growing colonial towns and cities. It followed trends in imperial centres, but new colonial cities offered scope for <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/whp/eh/2009/00000015/00000003/art00004">concerted planning of avenues in new streets</a>. Early Australian streets were often host to a mix of native plants and exotic imported trees. Joseph Maiden, director of the Sydney Botanic Gardens from 1896, drove the move from mixed street plantings towards avenues of single-species trees in the early 20th century. Maiden selected trees suitable to their proposed area, but he was also driven by contemporary aesthetic ideas of <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/whp/eh/2009/00000015/00000003/art00004">uniformity and display</a>. By the end of the 19th century, deciduous trees were becoming more popular as tree plantings for their variety and, in southern areas, for the openness to winter sunshine. It takes around ten years for jacaranda trees to become established. Newly planted jacarandas take between two and 14 years to produce their first flowers, so there was foresight in planning to achieve the streets we have today. In Melbourne, jacarandas were popular in post-first world war plantings. They were displaced by a move to native trees after the second world war. Despite localised popularity in certain suburbs, the jacaranda does not make the list of top 50 tree plantings for <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/220356756/714CC7FF6134038PQ/6?accountid=12001">Melbourne</a>. In Queensland, 19th-century street tree planting was particularly ad hoc – the <a href="https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=602440">Eagle Street fig trees</a> are an example – and offset by enthusiastic forest clearance. It wasn’t until the early 20th century street beautification became more organised and jacaranda avenues were planted in areas like New Farm in Brisbane. The popular plantings on the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland occurred later, in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/queensland-review/article/abs/for-shade-colour-and-in-memory-of-sacrifice-amenity-and-memorial-tree-planting-in-queenslands-towns-and-cities-191555/459CD1E02E7FD581B4B89ADD7073D705">1930s</a>. <h2>A flower for luck</h2> In Australia, as elsewhere, there can be too much of a good thing. Jacarandas are an invasive species <a href="https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/jacaranda">in parts of Australia</a> (they seed readily in the warm dry climates to which they have been introduced). Parts of South Africa have limited or banned the planting of jacarandas because of their water demands and <a href="http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0006-82412017000200020">invasive tendencies</a>. Ironically, eucalypts have a similar status in South Africa. Writer <a href="https://gay.medium.com/hashtag-jacaranda-propaganda-2f20ac6958b9">Carey Baraka argues</a> that, however beloved and iconic now, significant plantings of jacarandas in Kenya indicate areas of past and present white population and colonial domination. Despite these drawbacks, spectacular jacaranda plantings remain popular where they have been introduced. There are even myths about them that cross international boundaries. In the southern hemisphere – in Pretoria or Sydney – they bloom on university campuses during examination time: the first blooms mark the time to study; the fall of blooms suggests it is <a href="https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/dream-tree-jacaranda-sydney-icon/">too late</a>; and the fall of a blossom on a student bestows <a href="https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/34">good luck</a>.<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/214075/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-k-martin-107846">Susan K Martin</a>, Emeritus Professor in English, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/streets-of-purple-haze-how-the-south-american-jacaranda-became-a-symbol-of-australian-spring-214075">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

10 driving tips to stay safe in wet weather

Driving in the rain? Follow these tips for safe driving in wet weather This should go without saying, but reducing your speed – as long as you continue to keep with the flow of traffic, of course – is imperative when driving in the rain. After all, between the downpour and spray from other vehicles, heavy rain reduces visibility in all directions, and you need more time to react. Keep your distance Driving in the rain can be hazardous, and if ever there is an incident that requires you – or the driver in front you – to brake unexpectedly, you’ll want to have ample stopping distance on wet roads. Avoid heavy breaking While driving in the rain, you may find yourself in situations – whether you’re hydroplaning or finding yourself in a skid – that will tempt you to hit the brakes abruptly. Do your best to curb that impulse. Brakes can be affected greatly by water, losing a bit of their power when wet, which can be disastrous in an emergency. Easing off the brakes, slowing down and maintaining control of your vehicle is your best bet. Keep both hands on the wheel Control is of utmost importance when driving in the rain. After all, you need to be in command of your vehicle should an incident occur, and having both hands on the wheel while driving in the rain (no snacking or fiddling with the radio!) will ensure you can get out of a sticky situation quickly and efficiently. Keep windows from fogging up When driving in rain, windows tend to fog up as a result of the difference in temperatures inside and outside the car and can lead to decreased visibility. To stay safe and avoid accidents, simply press your car’s defrost button to clear-up the window. Turn on your A/C or roll down the windows by a couple of centimetres to remove the humidity from the vehicle and lower the temperature inside the car. If the issue persists, you may want to purchase a windshield cleaner and defogger. Beware of hydroplaning Hydroplaning happens when your car travels above the water without touching the ground. Given that a driver is left with little-to-no grip with the road and, thus, less control, this can be a dangerous set of circumstances. If you find yourself in such a situation, stay calm, ease off the brakes and do not turn your steering wheel; let your car slow down and the tires reattach to the road surface. Avoid puddles Windshield wipers should always be in working condition. Be vigilant about replacing them once per year, or whenever they start to leave streaks on the glass. Having wipers blades in tip-top shape ensures the best possible visibility when driving in the rain. Stay home if you can If you have no choice but to head outside during a heavy downpour, be sure to follow these driving tips. However, if you don’t have anywhere pressing to be, consider staying home and waiting it out until the storm subsides. Keep your headlights on With wet weather often comes fog and overall gloominess. With your surroundings slightly darkened, turning on your headlights ensures that you can see the road in front of you, and that other drivers can see you. Ensure windshield wipers are in working order Windshield wipers should always be in working condition. Be vigilant about replacing them once per year, or whenever they start to leave streaks on the glass. Having wipers blades in tip-top shape ensures the best possible visibility when driving in the rain. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/10-driving-tips-to-stay-safe-in-wet-weather" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Travel Tips

US school teacher sacked after reading Aussie book to class

A US primary school teacher is forced to resign or terminate her contract after reading an Aussie book to her class. Katie Rinderle, from Cobb County, Georgia wanted to teach her fifth graders about inclusion and acceptance through Aussie author Scott Stuart’s book, My Shadow is Purple. The book itself explores this through the theme of “gender beyond the binary” and the story of a child who neither identifies as a boy or girl. Rinderle discussed the main message behind the book before asking them to reflect and write their own poem, which has been praised by some parents. However, not all of them were happy about Rinderle’s initiative and one parent filed a complaint which led to an investigation. Rinderle was sacked for violating the Divisive Concepts law, which disallows teachers from educating about divisive concepts and was given the notice of termination on June 6. Investigators reportedly deemed the book to be “pornographic” material which included “inappropriate topics”. Stuart, the author of the book, responded to the situation and shared his “disgust” on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.creates/video/7247741499775995137?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>. “A teacher’s just been fired for reading one of my books,” he said in the video. “(She) had parents reaching out saying that this kind of lesson was something that they wanted in the class. This is a teacher who gets phenomenal feedback from the principal, the students, the parents. “Her teaching is described as transformative and key to the school’s success,” he defended Rinderle. “This whole thing just really goes to show how much more interested the school system in the US is in playing politics than they are in educating kids,” he added “It’s gross. It’s disgusting.”. Cobb County School District has responded to the situation in a statement to FOX 5 and claimed that any action taken was “appropriate considering the entirety of the teacher’s behaviour and history”. “The District remains committed to strictly enforcing all Board policy, and the law,” the statement concluded. Rinderle will face a termination hearing in August. <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, Rubik, 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;">Images: TikTok

Books

Purple Wiggle Lachy Gillespie's beautiful wedding

The Purple Wiggle – AKA Lachy Gillespie – has married fiancee, Dana Stephensen. The beautiful ceremony included their twin daughters, Lottie and Lulu, as well as Stephensen’s son, Jasper. "Our little world - our colours," The Wiggles star captioned a photo of their big day on Instagram. <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/ClLgLyzrl4S/?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/ClLgLyzrl4S/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Lachy_Wiggle (@lachy_wiggle)</a> </div> </blockquote> The couple sparked wedding rumours after sharing a series of professional photos on social media accounts which showed Dana in a full-length white dress and Gillespie in a suit, as they posed outdoors. "Always, always, always. Ever, ever, ever," the ballerina captioned the post. The comment section was flooded with well-wishes and congratulations for the newly weds. The wedding photos were taken by Bayleigh Vedelago. Gillespie and Stephensen welcomed twin daughters Lulu and Lottie in September 2020 and announced their engagement in April that year. Gillespie and Stephensen met when The Australian Ballet began recording a DVD with The Wiggles. Images: Instagram

Relationships

"I have to protect my property": Neighbours at war go viral

In Sydney's western suburbs, a war has broken out between two neighbours over something neither of them can control: the rain. Valentina lives in Edensor Park, and is sick of her neighbour Connie's rainwater flooding her property. Connie's house sits higher than her neighbour's, meaning as Australia endures yet another year of heavy rain, Valentina's property has been "flooded" from all sides. Valentina said, "She is sending her water onto ours and flooding our property." Connie, however, insists, "It is surface water from the sky, not stormwater and I can't control it." During every downpour, the neighbours have been filming each other and their properties to get to the bottom of the issue, which has resulted in Valentina opting to build a retaining wall. However, when tradies arrives at the house to begin construction, all hell broke loose. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 619px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7154780121252105473&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40tinnnkerrr%2Fvideo%2F7154780121252105473%3Fis_copy_url%3D1%26is_from_webapp%3Dv1%26q%3Dtinnnkerrr%26t%3D1667254770444&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2F4857bc7856be4b3ca3649e65d365a66a_1665852081%3Fx-expires%3D1667275200%26x-signature%3DKt58vf2CjTbrAe%252BhhlapesHYRI8%253D&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <div>"She thinks our house is supposed to collect all of her rainwater," Valentina said.</div> So during construction of "the great wall" of Edensor Park, the iPhone videos were running hot. On one side, Connie and her husband are trying to stop the construction, on the other Valentina and her parents are shouting to stop. "The council policy says the water flow must not be obstructed by kerbing, fencing, retaining walls," Connie said. The stoush was posted online and has generated more than seven million views, with neither neighbour backing down. "I won't give up, the police can arrest me," Connie said. "But I have to protect my land." Image credits: A Current Affair

Real Estate

Garden fixes after heavy rain

Better Homes and Gardens’ resident landscaper, Jason Hodges, shares his advice for tending to the garden after heavy rain. When it comes to the garden and heavy rain, you need to be prepared. Where does water sit? What gets washed away? How are your drains working or failing? All things you can repair and get working for the future success of your garden. The heavy rain has saturated our soil, and strong winds have toppled over trees all week, but long-term, the saturated soil can hurt all plants in the garden. When the soil is water-logged the root system can drown from lack of oxygen. The first thing I would do is rake some mulch away allowing for some evaporation, either with a garden fork or even something like a cricket stump. Make some holes to allow air in and for the water to fill and again evaporate. Snails and slugs are opportunists and thrive and reproduce when times are good – they love the rain and the wet conditions afterwards. To control them I like to use a take-away container with a splash of beer in it. Placed level with the garden bed the snails go in and never leave. If your garden was flooded don’t be too quick to think the water’s gone down and everything’s fine. If they’re in the garden, avoid eating leafy vegetables such as lettuce, kale and spinach. They may have been contaminated by the flood water. Fruit trees such as citrus should be fine within a short period of time. Now that it has stopped raining it’s never too late to clean the gutters. Overflowing gutters can damage gardens and undermine the footings of your house. When you’re up a ladder either doing the gutters or any other job in the garden I recommend you have a second person with you, an extra set of hands to hold the ladder, spot problems and just pass you tools. It makes the process a lot safer and quicker. Look out for mould, moss and mildew that might grow on shady, damp paths over the next few weeks. A blast with a pressure washer will be a quick fix and a lot more enjoyable than slipping A over Z. A weak solution of vinegar and water will kill mould and mildew if you don’t have a pressure washer. Look for branches that may have been damaged but are still hanging in the tree. They will become more obvious as the foliage browns off and dies. Cleaning up the tear and damage will give the tree a better chance of recovery. If you have a watering system, override it and turn it off for a couple of weeks. The last thing the garden needs is a drink. If your pots were full of water remove the saucers and allow them to drain. It’s a hard time to garden after heavy rain, but let’s be thankful for it and hope we can enjoy the long-term benefits of having moisture deep down in our soil. Written by Jason Hodges. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain.com.au.</a> Image: Getty

Home & Garden

Meteors seem to be raining down on New Zealand, but why are some bright green?

<h1 class="legacy">Meteors seem to be raining down on New Zealand, but why are some bright green?</h1> <figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476788/original/file-20220731-19335-76trxr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=5%2C304%2C3828%2C1851&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" /><figcaption>Greg Price, Author provided</figcaption></figure> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jack-baggaley-1366298">Jack Baggaley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canterbury-1004">University of Canterbury</a> New Zealand may seem to be under meteor bombardment at the moment. After a <a href="https://theconversation.com/equivalent-to-1-800-tonnes-of-tnt-what-we-now-know-about-the-meteor-that-lit-up-the-daytime-sky-above-new-zealand-186636">huge meteor exploded</a> above the sea near Wellington on July 7, creating a sonic boom that could be heard across the bottom of the South Island, a smaller fireball was captured two weeks later above Canterbury. <a href="https://fireballs.nz/">Fireballs Aotearoa</a>, a collaboration between astronomers and citizen scientists which aims to recover freshly fallen meteorites, has received a lot of questions about these events. One of the most frequent is about the bright green colour, and whether it is the same green produced by auroras. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476789/original/file-20220731-20-zrewrz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&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/476789/original/file-20220731-20-zrewrz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476789/original/file-20220731-20-zrewrz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476789/original/file-20220731-20-zrewrz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476789/original/file-20220731-20-zrewrz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476789/original/file-20220731-20-zrewrz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476789/original/file-20220731-20-zrewrz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="An image of an aurora australis" /><figcaption>An aurora australis observed from the international space station. Wikimedia Commons, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></figcaption></figure> Green fireballs have been reported and filmed in New Zealand regularly. Bright meteors often signal the arrival of a chunk of asteroid, which can be anywhere between a few centimetres to a metre in diameter when it comes crashing through the atmosphere. Some of these asteroids contain nickel and iron and they hit the atmosphere at speeds of up to 60km per second. This releases an enormous amount of heat very quickly, and the vapourised iron and nickel radiate green light. But is this the same as the bright green of an aurora? For the most recent meteor, the answer is mainly no, but it’s actually not that simple. <h2>The colours of a meteor trail</h2> The green glow of the aurora is caused by oxygen ions in the upper atmosphere, created by collisions between atmospheric oxygen molecules and particles ejected by the sun. These oxygen ions recombine with electrons to produce oxygen atoms, but the electrons can persist in an excited state for several seconds. In an energy transition known as “forbidden” because it does not obey the usual quantum rules, they then radiate the auroral green light at 557nm wavelength. A meteor can also shine by this route, but only if it’s extremely fast. Very fast meteors heat up in the thin atmosphere above 100km where auroras form. If you want to see a green auroral wake from a meteor, watch out for the Perseid meteor shower, which has now started and will peak on August 13 in the southern hemisphere. Also arriving at about 60km per second, the Perseids are extremely fast bits of the <a href="https://www.space.com/33677-comet-swift-tuttle-perseid-meteor-shower-source.html">comet Swift-Tuttle</a>. Some Perseids trail a beautiful, glowing and distinctly green wake behind them, particularly at the start of their path. Once the Canterbury meteor hit on July 22, the capricious winds of the upper atmosphere twisted the gently glowing trail, resulting in a pale yellow glow towards the end (as seen in the GIF below, also recorded by Greg Price for an earlier meteor). This is caused by sodium atoms being continually excited in a catalytic reaction involving ozone. <img src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/2231/The_22_July_meteor_-_persistent_train_-_credit_Greg_Price.gif?1659310010" width="100%" /> <h2>Are we being bombarded by meteors?</h2> Yes and no. The arrival of big, booming green meteors and the dropping of meteorites isn’t rare in New Zealand, but it is rare to recover the rock. Fireballs Aotearoa is working to improve the recovery rate. In an average year, perhaps four meteorites hit New Zealand. We’re encouraging citizen scientists to build their own meteor camera systems so they can catch these events. By comparing the meteor against the starry background and triangulating images caught by multiple cameras, we can pin down the meteor’s position in the atmosphere to within tens of metres. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476790/original/file-20220731-43929-h2dp31.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&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/476790/original/file-20220731-43929-h2dp31.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476790/original/file-20220731-43929-h2dp31.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476790/original/file-20220731-43929-h2dp31.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476790/original/file-20220731-43929-h2dp31.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476790/original/file-20220731-43929-h2dp31.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476790/original/file-20220731-43929-h2dp31.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="The July 22 meteor as seen by a specialised meteor camera near Ashburton." /><figcaption>The July 22 meteor as seen by a specialised meteor camera near Ashburton. Campbell Duncan/NASA/CAMS NZ, Author provided</figcaption></figure> Not only does that help us find the rock, but it tells us what the pre-impact orbit of the meteoroid was, which in turn tells us which part of the solar system it came from. This is a rather efficient way of sampling the solar system without ever having to launch a space mission. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476791/original/file-20220731-31484-7i4x0t.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&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/476791/original/file-20220731-31484-7i4x0t.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476791/original/file-20220731-31484-7i4x0t.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476791/original/file-20220731-31484-7i4x0t.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476791/original/file-20220731-31484-7i4x0t.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=553&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476791/original/file-20220731-31484-7i4x0t.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=553&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476791/original/file-20220731-31484-7i4x0t.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=553&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Map of witness reports and cameras." /><figcaption>Witness reports and high-resolution meteor cameras help to calculate a meteor’s trajectory. This map shows the approximate trajectory of the July 22 meteor at the top of the red shape in the centre. Fireballs Aotearoa and International Meteor Association, Author provided</figcaption></figure> Fireballs Aotearoa is rapidly populating Otago with meteor cameras and there are half a dozen more in other parts of the South Island. The North Island isn’t well covered yet, and we’re keen for more people (in either island) to build or buy a meteor camera and keep it pointed at the sky. Then next time a bright meteor explodes with a boom above New Zealand, we may be able to pick up the meteorite and do some good science with it. <hr /> Many thanks for the input from Jim Rowe of the UK Fireball Alliance, and Greg Price who photographed the July 22 meteor and the persistent train.<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/187836/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jack-baggaley-1366298">Jack Baggaley</a>, Professor Emeritus Physics and Astronomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canterbury-1004">University of Canterbury</a> 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/meteors-seem-to-be-raining-down-on-new-zealand-but-why-are-some-bright-green-187836">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

Natural disaster declared for NSW

The Australian Government has declared a natural disaster for parts of New South Wales. Torrential rain has continued to batter the state as tens of thousands of residents have evacuated flood prone areas, others have been left stranded waiting to be rescued by the SES, and 21 people are stuck in a cargo ship following an engine failure. The SES said there were 5,300 calls for help, 252 people were rescued overnight and a further 45,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. Despite the rain expecting to ease today, SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns there’s concern for certain areas. "Our biggest concern today is ongoing riverine flooding along the Hawkesbury, Nepean and the Georges rivers, with our focus areas being McGraths Hill, Pitt Town, Woronora, Liverpool and Milperra," he said. A natural disaster has been declared in 23 Local Government Areas which have been left submerged by rising waters. The residents in the 23 LGAs affected by the severe storms and flooding since June 27, will now be eligible for disaster relief payments funded by the NSW government and the Commonwealth. The LGAs include Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Canterbury Bankstown, Campbelltown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Kiama, Lithgow, Liverpool, Northern Beaches, Penrith, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Sutherland, The Hills, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong. “We have seen some of these impacted communities being hit by floods for a third and fourth time in 18 months, which is extremely distressing to the residents of these communities,” Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Watt said. “The Australian and New South Wales governments have worked very cooperatively through this latest flood emergency, to ensure defence and other resources were deployed early and fast. “Similarly, we’re now working hard together to make sure that impacted communities get the financial and other assistance they need as soon as possible.” It comes as a delicate rescue operation continues for bulk carrier ship Portland Bay after it lost power on Monday leaving 21 crew members stranded. The ship then began drifting towards the coast of the Royal National Park, south of Sydney but the crew managed to drop two anchors in the wild 5.5m swells. John Finch, chief operating officer at Port Authority, said the main objective was to move the ship to deeper waters. "The priority is getting this vessel and its crew into safer waters and away from land and the potential of grounding," he said. "All tugs have now arrived and connected to the ship so the operation has commenced to raise its anchors and move this ship safely out to sea in a slow and controlled manner. "The conditions make the towage operation quite difficult. In eight-metre swell, the vessel is going to be rising and falling and rolling. That's going to put a lot of stress on the equipment and the tug lines." The port authority has managed to move the ship about 20 nautical miles offshore and out of immediate danger. Images: SES/Nine News

News

Man drowns in Sydney flood waters amid fears "the worst is yet to come"

A man has drowned and tens of thousands of New South Wales residents have been warned to stay alert and ready to evacuate amid fears “the worst is yet to come”. Horrific torrential rain is hammering the east coast of Australia with the wild weather expected to continue throughout the week. Warragamba Dam has begun to spill at an extreme rate compared to the floods in March and April which has prompted the SES to order almost 32,000 people to evacuate their homes. Overall, that is a total of 41 evacuation orders and 44 evacuation warnings issued to communities in the Illawarra, Western Sydney and Hawkesbury-Nepean areas. Since the freaky weather hit, heroic SES members have responded to 3,111 requests for help and have rescued 137 people. It comes as a man has died after being pulled unresponsive from the Parramatta River on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services attempted to revive the man but were unsuccessful. “We saw a helicopter out there with essentially a team of police jumping into the water, trying to save someone,” witness Luke Touma told 7NEWS. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the weather event is once again testing the resilience of NSW. “It’s hard to put into words what some communities across NSW are going through, again," he said. “We’re seeing distressing scenes from the flood zones across our state. “Times like these are difficult. It will test our resilience. But it is also in these times that we see the best in people and the best in our communities. “We have mobilised significant resources and all relevant agencies to get help to those in need. And we will pull together, as we always do, to get through this.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that 100 ADF personnel are on standby to help. “Our government is monitoring the NSW floods carefully and has already made ADF support available. If you live in an affected area, please follow the @NSWSES advice and make safe decisions.” Images: 7News

News

Sydney thrown into chaos by extreme floods

In just 24 hours, Sydney has been thrown into chaos by bouts of heavy rain, leading to extreme flooding all through the city. Residents woke up to road closures, flooding homes and rising water levels, with an extreme weather warning continuing to linger. Suburbs in Sydney's southwest were ordered to evacuate overnight, with public transport delays and cancellations affecting the whole city. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts another day of heavy rainfall and damaging winds, with severe weather warnings issued for parts of the Hunter, Metropolitan Sydney, Illawarra, south coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and parts of Mid North Coast, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory. The damage has been widespread, with the M5 Citybound tunnel flooding and closing as a result. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Sydney M5 tunnel has become Venice. Travel safe everyone <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydneyflood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydneyflood</a> <a href="https://t.co/yWq871iA9k">pic.twitter.com/yWq871iA9k</a> — Shan (@shanshanw) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanshanw/status/1501053311902183426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> Meanwhile in the eastern suburbs, a portion of the ceiling at Bondi Junction Westfield collapsed, narrowly missing unsuspecting shoppers. Footage shared by ABC journalist James Valentine showed chunks of the ceiling on the escalators however no shoppers appeared to be hurt or injured. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This collapsing ceiling at Westfield Bondi Junction, missed me by two metres! <a href="https://t.co/pyxBF1YXIS">pic.twitter.com/pyxBF1YXIS</a> — James Valentine (@Valentine702) <a href="https://twitter.com/Valentine702/status/1501025638089592837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> In Sydney's south, entire roads near Bankstown were underwater, preventing travellers from getting home and out of the wild weather. The water from Georges River spread quickly, inundating parked cars with water. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Western Sydney Floods ( very rare that floods happen in this part ) <a href="https://t.co/IB42cFz6Nb">pic.twitter.com/IB42cFz6Nb</a> — @Georgebakhos1 (@GeorgeBakhos1) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeBakhos1/status/1500818701859553290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote> In the inner west suburb of Rhodes, flood waters tore through homes and wrecked furniture, while firefighters were called to help. They turned off the power supply to the homes, removed compromised power boards and helped residents to bail out as much water as they could. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We are flooding in Condell Park <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSW</a> and SES are not picking up and the water is inside now all over the house!<a href="https://twitter.com/NSWSES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NSWSES</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7NewsSydney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@9NewsAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abcnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BOM_NSW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SBSNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBSNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSWFloods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSWFloods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/floods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#floods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydneyfloods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydneyfloods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydney</a> <a href="https://t.co/OM1mco0lXn">pic.twitter.com/OM1mco0lXn</a> — Nasem Allam (@nasemallam) <a href="https://twitter.com/nasemallam/status/1500761403472617480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This is about a 7 minute drive from my place. Taken from a FB group. I’ve never seen flooding like this near me in Sydney. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydneyflood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydneyflood</a> <a href="https://t.co/WlFRO5ljM3">pic.twitter.com/WlFRO5ljM3</a> — Claudia Zappia 🩰🎭🎧🎤❤️‍🩹 (@Claudia_Zappia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Claudia_Zappia/status/1500983335761235969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote> Tragically, two lives have been lost from the floods, as police located two bodies in a stormwater canal in Sydney's western suburb of Wentworthville. The flood warnings remain in place, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with authorities warning residents not to make any non-essential trips, and to stay out of dangerous flood waters. Image credits: Facebook / Twitter

News

Small town receives "one in a thousand year" flood warning

With water levels continuing to rise during a "one-in-a-1000-year" flooding event on the NSW far-north coast, locals are being warned not to be complacent. Ballina Lord Mayor Sharon Cadwallader told Today she had a sleepless night at a local evacuation centre, fielding calls from her anxious community about what the freak weather event would do next. "Water is unpredictable - you really don't know what it's going to do today," said Mayor Cadwallader "It is an evolving situation so we're monitoring it very closely. We've got some excellent staff working on this as we speak. We really don't know." Ms Cadwallader warns with the volume of water coming down the Wilsons and Richmond rivers, evacuations were a necessary precaution. "We can't rest on our laurels or become complacent about this - Sometimes in Ballina we do see high tides and water build-up in some of our streets," she said. "But not like this. We don't want people to think this is a normal event - It is far from a normal event, it's a one-in-1000-year flood, in fact." Authorities remain fearful the Richmond River will break its banks, with water continuing to spill over and flood the streets of Ballina. Emergency crews have been sandbagging and water could reach up to one metre at street-level. The SES is warning of life-threatening flooding over the next 24 hours with the Ballina Hospital already evacuated overnight. Images: Getty

Travel Trouble

Is purple your favourite colour? This wine is for you

Whether you prefer your wine to be red, yellow or pink, you’ve never seen wine in this shade before. An Australian winery has created a purple wine, made from a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc with an infusion of botanicals. <a href="https://purplereign.com.au/">Purple Reign Wine</a>, the vineyard behind this unique wine, says they have “harnessed nature’s rarest colour and most powerful visible wave-length to create a popular style of wine embellished with mystery and nobility.” <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CH7Jf2ij2Ck/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CH7Jf2ij2Ck/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The World’s First Purple Wine! (@purplereignwine)</a> </div> </blockquote> The winery goes on to say the drop “is infused with natural, organic, plant-based botanicals to minimise the use of sulphites.” The move away from using sulphites in wine stems from a theory that avoiding synthetic additives like sulphites could lessen a hangover. According to this theory, natural wines that replace synthetic additives with botanicals have less acetaldehyde, a chemical that your body breaks down after drinking alcohol. A <a href="https://www.saveur.com/story/drink/truth-about-natural-wine-and-hangovers/">2013 study</a> by the University of Rome found lower amounts of acetaldehyde in blood meant the liver had less work to do and could process alcohol faster. Co-developer Ross Stewart told <a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/travel/food-wine/worlds-first-purple-wine-purple-reign-developed-in-wa-and-it-might-lessen-your-hangover-ng-b881858722z">Perth Now</a> that one customer claimed the wine didn’t trigger his asthma like other drops. “We’ve had many similar stories from customers over the last two years,” Mr Ross said. “We believe using antioxidant rich compounds in winemaking could also translate to a clearer, less foggy head after drinking, compared to other wines.” Mr Ross added, “We’ve also found that when our wines are stored correctly after opening, they stay fresh for longer than other wines, all by using natural means.” As for the flavour profile, Purple Reign says the “lush style wine exhibits a hint of grass and a touch of minerals with a perfect balance of natural acidity and freshness complemented by a crisp dry finish.” Image credit: Purple Reign Wine / Instagram

Food & Wine

Princess Anne leads Anzac Day commemorations in purple "mourning" coat

Princess Anne has attended Anzac commemorations in London, representing the royal family just a week after the funeral of her father Prince Philip. The Princess Royal was accompanied by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence for the dawn service at the Australian and New Zealand war memorials at Wellington Arch in London. Princess Anne laid a wreath at the memorial and signed a book of remembrance. The couple attended the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey afterwards. Anzac Day has been commemorated in London since the first anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli in 1916, when King George V attended a service at the Abbey. Princess Anne opted for a bright purple coat for the service, which was a far cry from the black she was seen wearing for her father's funeral. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/COGQAWNHfSJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COGQAWNHfSJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a> </div> </blockquote> Former royal family lady's maid Alicia Healey says purple has long been associated with mourning. "While the official period of Royal mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh is over, purple is often a colour that is worn after black when in mourning," Healey explained on her official <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COFaLNxHgCu/" target="_blank">Instagram account</a>. "So, it was an apt colour choice for today's remembrance service in honour of Australians and New Zealanders who have died in war. Healey worked at Buckingham Palace from 2006-2010, which is where she learned the rules around which colours are suitable to wear at various events. "In Victorian times full mourning lasted a year followed by half-mourning where purple, lilac, grey and white were worn," Healey concluded.

Beauty & Style

"A first for me”: QLD snake catcher’s deadly find during heavy rains

A prolonged heatwave followed by a downpour of heavy rain has created ideal conditions for snakes, with catchers in Southeast Queensland scrambling to relocate reptiles from homes and backyards. Noosa-based catcher Luke Huntley said “wildlife is thriving” compared to last summer when conditions were drier and destructive bushfires provided less water for snakes. Mr Huntley spoke to NCA Newswire and said he’s currently busy retrieving snakes from different hiding spots across the region, even spotting his first ever brown snake - one of the world’s most deadly - in the popular beachside town. “In the suburb of Noosaville, bang in the middle of Noosa,” he said. “I thought it was going to be a tree snake and I rocked up and I saw quite a big head and little neck poking out of a fence near a pool and I thought ‘wow, that is a big brown snake right in the middle of Noosa’. “That was a first for me. “Brown snakes are the second most venomous land animal, so they’re definitely one to show respect and keep away from or call a professional.” Mr Huntley said the perfect conditions for snakes had him relocating five reptiles by mid-afternoon on Monday, as Queensland was met with heavy rain for four consecutive days. “For the first couple of days of heavy rain, it’s quiet,” the operator of Snake Catcher Noosa said. “And the reason for that is all the snakes are sheltering — in holes underground, little caves, sometimes they go into roofs. Basically anywhere that’s dry. “As the water level increases as it rains and rains more, a lot of those underground little places get flooded so then snakes then come out the ground, out of their little holes and that’s when they come into houses.” The snake catcher has issued a warning to residents, saying it’s important to keep screens, garages and doors closed to make sure your home isn’t inviting to snakes. “Having screens and keeping everything closed, is going to absolutely ensure there is a very small chance of anything getting in,” he said. “If you do have it in the house — if it’s in a room, close the door and put a towel under the door and call a snake catcher. “If it’s in a big open area, remove any pets or kids and keep an eye on it from a very safe distance, like well over six metres away. “Same with if it’s in the garden — either wait for the snake to go away by itself, take any pets or kids out of the area so there’s no risk, and just let it do its thing. “Or if you don’t feel comfortable with that and you want it gone, just call your local snake catcher and they’ll come out and relocate it.”

Travel Trouble

Princess Mary looks pretty in purple as she reveals annual Christmas stamp

It seems like time has flown by and with Christmas less than two months away, Crown Princess Mary just kickstarted the official countdown. Stepping out in her home country on Tuesday, the Danish royal launched the annual Christmas stamp - an iconic moment which takes place every year in the Scandinavian country marking the start of the festive season. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG0B2mAgAks/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG0B2mAgAks/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Lanceringen af årets julemærke fandt i dag sted på Julemærkehjemmet Liljeborg i Roskilde. Her afslørede Hendes Kongelige Højhed Kronprinsessen sammen med kunstneren Tomas Björnsson årets Julemærke, der har titlen 'Jul i Fællesskab'. Julemærket er i år en kærlig hilsen til 100-året for genforeningen af Danmark og Sønderjylland samt en hyldest til det fællesskab, som børn på Julemærkehjemmene bliver en del af.⁣ ⁣ Kronprinsessen er protektor for Julemærkefonden, der hvert år hjælper omkring 1.000 børn i alderen 7-14 år til en bedre tilværelse på de fem Julemærkehjem.⁣ ⁣ Den 16. november 1904 blev verdens første Julemærke præsenteret i Danmark. Motivet forestillede en fotografisk gengivelse af Christian 9.s hustru Dronning Louise omgivet af en ornamental ramme bestående af kroner, våbenskjold og juleroser holdt i violet. Siden da er der hvert år blevet præsenteret et nyt Julemærke, der har til formål at indsamle penge til børn på et af Danmarks fem Julemærkehjem. På hjemmene kan 1.000 børn årligt tage ophold og modtage hjælp til at bekæmpe ensomhed, mobning, social isolation og overvægt.⁣ 📸 Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix©️</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/detdanskekongehus/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰</a> (@detdanskekongehus) on Oct 26, 2020 at 9:10am PDT </div> </blockquote> And Christmas can’t be celebrated without the perfect holiday outfit, and Princess Mary delivered in the style department. The Princess opted for a full purple ensemble featuring a loose fitting top with a keyhole neckline as she joined guests at Julemaerkehjemmet Liljeborg in Roskilde. She paired it with a set of wide-legged trousers and kept her hair straight and simple. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG0Z4C4gDyj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG0Z4C4gDyj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Samfundsansvar, bæredygtighed og klima var på programmet, da Hendes Kongelige Højhed Kronprinsessen i dag uddelte CSR Prisen til Arla Foods, A.P. Møller-Mærsk og Ørsted på Børsen i København.⁣ ⁣ Det var syvende år i træk, at Kronprinsessen overrakte CSR Prisen 2020 til de virksomheder, der har udgivet Danmarks bedste rapporter om samfundsansvar.⁣ ⁣ Bag prisuddelingen står revisorforeningen FSR – danske revisorer. Med CSR Prisen ønsker de at anerkende store danske virksomheder, som i deres årlige rapporter skaber gennemsigtighed og troværdighed om virksomhedens samfundsansvar, og som på den måde kan være en inspiration for andre.⁣ ⁣ 📸 Carsten Lundager og Martin Høien / Aller Foto & Video©️</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/detdanskekongehus/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰</a> (@detdanskekongehus) on Oct 26, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Later on, she attended another event to present the Corporate Responsibility Award, a recognition of companies that have kept social responsibility top of mind in their practices.

Beauty & Style

How bushfires and rain turned our waterways into ‘cake mix’, and what we can do about it

As the world watched the Black Summer bushfires in horror, we warned that when it did finally rain, our aquatic ecosystems would be <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-sweet-relief-of-rain-after-bushfires-threatens-disaster-for-our-rivers-129449">devastated</a>. Following bushfires, rainfall can wash huge volumes of ash and debris from burnt vegetation and exposed soil into <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13241583.2020.1717694?journalCode=twar20">rivers</a>. Fires can also lead to soil “hydrophobia”, where soil refuses to absorb water, which can generate more runoff at higher intensity. Ash and contaminants from the fire, including toxic metals, carbon and fire retardants, can also threaten biodiversity in streams. As expected, when heavy rains eventually extinguished many fires, it turned high quality water in our rivers to sludge with the consistency of <a href="https://theconversation.com/before-and-after-see-how-bushfire-and-rain-turned-the-macquarie-perchs-home-to-sludge-139919">cake mix</a>. Join 130,000 people who subscribe to free evidence-based news. Get newsletter In the weeks following the first rains, we sampled from these rivers. <a href="https://publications.csiro.au/publications/#publication/PIcsiro:EP206535">This is what we saw</a>. Sampling the upper Murray River Of particular concern was the <a href="https://www.visituppermurray.com.au/self-drive-touring/">upper Murray</a> River on the border between Victoria and NSW, which is critical for water supply. There, the bushfires were particularly intense. When long-awaited rain eventually came to the upper Murray River catchment, it was in the form of large localised storms. Tonnes of ash, sediment and debris were washed into creeks and the Murray River. Steep terrain within burnt regions of the upper Murray catchment generated a large volume of fast flowing runoff that carried with it sediment and pollutants. We collected water samples in the upper Murray River in January and February 2020 to assess impacts to riverine plants and animals. Our water samples were up to 30 times more turbid (cloudy) than normal, with total suspended solids as high as 765 milligrams per litre. Heavy metals such as zinc, arsenic, chromium, nickel, copper and lead were recorded in concentrations well above guideline values for healthy waterways. We took the water collected from the Murray River to the laboratory, where we conducted a number of toxicological experiments on duckweed (a floating water plant), water fleas (small aquatic invertebrates) and juvenile freshwater snails. What we found During a seven-day exposure to the bushfire affected river water, the growth rate of <a href="https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/Duckweed">duckweed</a> was reduced by 30-60%. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/water-flea">water fleas</a> ingested large amounts of suspended sediments when they were exposed to the affected water for 48 hours. Following the exposure, water flea reproduction was significantly impaired. And <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/freshwater-snail">freshwater snail</a> egg sacs were smothered. The ash resulted in complete deaths of snail larvae after 14 days. These sad impacts to growth, reproduction and death rates were primarily a result of the combined effects of the ash and contaminants, according to our preliminary investigations. But they can have longer-term knock-on effects to larger animals like birds and fish that rely on biota like snail eggs, water fleas and duckweed for food. What happened to the fish? Immediately following the first pulse of sediment, dead fish (mostly introduced <a href="https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/european-carp-cyprinus-carpio/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhb36BRCfARIsAKcXh6FgK-8QaDVfHBgGRa_sUuqssocPb-i-0QBxs_JG98YNMek7AHgl-u8aAmRwEALw_wcB">European carp</a> and native <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/fish-species/species-list/murray-cod">Murray Cod</a>) were observed on the bank of River Murray at Burrowye Reserve, Victoria. But what, exactly, was their cause of death? Our first assumption was that they died from a lack of oxygen in the water. This is because ash and nutrients combined with high summer water temperatures can trigger increased activity of microbes, such as bacteria. This, in turn can deplete the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water (also known as <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/publications/factsheet-hypoxic-blackwater-events-and-water-quality">hypoxia</a>) as the microbes consume oxygen. And wide-spread hypoxia can lead to large scale fish kills. But to our surprise, although dissolved oxygen in the Murray River was lower than usual, we did not record it at levels low enough for hypoxia. Instead, we saw the dead fish had large quantities of sediment trapped in their gills. The fish deaths were also quite localised. In this case, we think fish death was simply caused by the extremely high sediment and ash load in the river that physically clogged their gills, not a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water. These findings are not unusual, and following the 2003 bushfires in Victoria fish kills were attributed to a combination of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2008.01851.x?casa_token=Anjq4f3ZTWoAAAAA%3AM_B988ns0XYPpiKIDh38yznV8YK-JjB-i-wVNxzs90goAS4tc0TwfNCEQ4Iao5UTgwwKCO9_t4tq4W4p">low dissolved oxygen and high turbidity</a>. So how can we prepare for future bushfires? Preventing sediment being washed into rivers following fires is difficult. Installing sediment barriers and other erosion control measures can protect specific areas. However, at the catchment scale, a more holistic approach is required. One way is to increase efforts to re-vegetate stream banks (called riparian zones) to help buffer the runoff. A step further is to consider re-vegetating these zones with native plants that don’t burn easily, such as <a href="https://apsvic.org.au/fire-resistant-and-retardant-plants/">Blackwood</a> (Acacia melanoxylin). Streams known to host rare or endangered aquatic species should form the focus of any fire preparation activities. Some species exist only in highly localised areas, such as the endangered native <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery-plans/national-recovery-plan-barred-galaxias-galaxias-fuscus">barred galaxias</a> (Galaxias fuscus) in central Victoria. This means an extreme fire event there can lead to the extinction of the whole species. That’s why reintroducing endangered species to their former ranges in multiple catchments to broaden their distribution is important. Increasing the connectivity within our streams would also allow animals like fish to evade poor water quality — dams and weirs can prevent this. The removal of such barriers, or installing “<a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/rehabilitating/fishways">fish-ways</a>” may be important to protecting fish populations from bushfire impacts. However, dams can also be used to benefit animal and plant life (biota). When sediment is washed into large rivers, as we saw in the Murray River after the Black Summer fires, the release of good quality water from dams can be used to dilute poor quality water washed in from fire affected tributaries. Citizen scientists can help, too. It can be difficult for researchers to monitor aquatic ecosystems during and immediately following bushfires and unmanned monitoring stations are often damaged or destroyed. CSIRO is working closely with state authorities and the public to improve citizen science apps such as <a href="https://www.eyeonwater.org/apps/eyeonwater-australia">EyeOnWater</a> to collect water quality data. With more eyes in more areas, these data can improve our understanding of aquatic ecosystem responses to fire and to inform strategic planning for future fires. These are some simple first steps that can be taken now. Recent investment in bushfire research has largely centred on how the previous fires have influenced species’ distribution and health. But if we want to avoid wildlife catastrophes, we must also look forward to the mitigation of future bushfire impacts. Written by Paul McInerney, Anu Kumar, Gavin Rees, Klaus Joehnk and Tapas Kumar Biswas. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-bushfires-and-rain-turned-our-waterways-into-cake-mix-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-144504">The Conversation.</a>

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