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Acquapole lands in Sydney - Because fitness should never be dry!

Sydney Gymnastic and Aquatic Centre (SGAC) at West HQ is redefining workouts with the launch of Acquapole, an exciting aquatic fitness experience making its splashy debut in Sydney this February. Forget the monotony of the gym or swimming laps – Acquapole combines the resistance of water with the strength-building benefits of pole fitness for a workout that’s effective, accessible and a whole lot of fun. Brad Vella, Aquatics Manager at SGAC, said Acquapole, which was designed in Italy, has proven to be a big hit in Europe given its ability to build strength, improve flexibility, and enhance coordination while being gentle on joints. “It’s a workout like no other, combining the strength-building benefits of pole fitness with the natural resistance of water for a full-body experience that’s as enjoyable as it is effective,” Brad Vella said. “It’s perfect for anyone looking to try something new, from seasoned fitness lovers to those just starting their wellness journey. “Acquapole brings a fresh and exciting approach to fitness for both enthusiasts and beginners. This is exactly what SGAC is all about—making fitness accessible and enjoyable for everyone.” The introduction of Acquapole is part of West HQ’s larger mission to bring cutting-edge fitness experiences to Greater Sydney. Acquapole is one of four innovative aquatic fitness programs now available at SGAC, alongside Acquapole Boxing, Acquapole Elastics, and SAF AQUA Drums Vibes, each offering a unique and engaging way to work out in the water. West HQ CEO, Richard Errington, said SGAC was committed to redefining fitness to ensure its programs continue to be to be relevant, enjoyable and dynamic. “That’s why both SGAC and our One55 fitness centre continually evolve programs to make working out more rewarding by bringing fresh experiences to our members and the local community in Western Sydney,” Mr Errington said. “SGAC’s Acquapole is a perfect example of how we evolve fitness as it combines fun and innovation in a new work out experience.” By combining world-class fitness options with exceptional dining and entertainment, West HQ is continuously enhancing what it means to be an all-encompassing lifestyle destination in Western Sydney. Why Everyone’s Talking About Acquapole: <ul> <li>It’s Fun: Say goodbye to dull workouts and hello to a 45 minute splash of excitement. </li> <li>It’s Low-Impact: Perfect for those looking to stay active without stressing their joints. </li> <li>It’s Inclusive: Whether you’re a fitness pro, a beginner, or somewhere in between, Acquapole welcomes you.</li> </ul> Image credits: Supplied

Body

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

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

Money & Banking

"This ruined my life": Mum still seeking justice after horror e-bike crash

Sarah was crossing on George Street in Sydney's CBD on February 2023 when she was brutally struck by a Lime e-bike rider. At the time of the accident, she was three months pregnant. Speaking to Yahoo News, Sarah explained she had been crossing the street when she heard someone yell "look out!" but before she could react, she was knocked down by the speeding vehicle. She claims that the bike user was illegally riding with a companion on the handle bars at the time, and fled the scene when she cried out "my baby!" Fortunately, Sarah's unborn daughter was unharmed during the incident, but she was left with lifelong injuries. "My foot was crushed, I had dislocations and many broken bones, and I needed 21 screws, two plates and two pins," Sarah said. "As a result of the injury, the skin on my foot began to die with fracture blisters, so I needed skin grafts as well. "I required six surgeries on my foot in total. One on my elbow, which was broken. One big plate and seven screws. Six weeks of non-weight bearing on my arm, and much longer on my foot. Around 12 weeks plus altogether." It took the mum six months after the accident to be able to walk again - three weeks before she gave birth. "The pain was unbelievable," she recalled. "The trauma was unbelievable. It was all just horrible, horrendous. It really was." Her family tried to seek compensation from Lime, but they deflected any blame saying that they would only take responsibility if the accident was caused by a faulty Lime bike, but not reckless riding. Since Lime e-bikes are rented by individuals, liability typically falls on the rider, not the company, they argued. The family's solicitor had also obtained CCTV footage of the incident, and had tried to get police to follow up but have been hit with multiple roadblocks since. "The police had their name, addresses, mobile and photos. [But] they only called one time, and went to the house one time. That's it. A high commissioner rang me to apologise, but then they still did nothing." Now, Sarah and her family are calling for the total ban of e-bikes in Australia. "They should be banned," Sarah said. "The government and Lime have just let loose motorised vehicles that can hurt riders and pedestrians, and have not covered anyone but themselves. "There is no policing how fast they are going. This ruined my body, my life and my first pregnancy. And nobody has been held accountable." While Sarah's baby was unharmed in the accident, nine months after her birth, the baby girl "was found to have tetralogy of Fallot" — a rare but serious heart defect that affects how blood flows through the heart. "She needed open heart surgery and will need it every 10 years. My injuries made everything a lot harder. But hopefully I can change things," Sarah said. "I'm certainly scarred for life." Image: Yahoo News

Legal

Bus crashes into suburban Sydney home

A bus carrying multiple passengers has crashed into a home in south-west Sydney. Emergency services were called to Aplin Road in Bonnyrigg heights on Tuesday morning following reports a bus had smashed into a house. Fortunately nobody was in the house at the time of the crash, according to NSW police. Six people were treated for minor injuries, with the bus driver, a man in his 50s, taken to Liverpool Hospital with minor injuries. The crash caused significant damage to the home, with a part of the roof caving in, however, NSW Fire and Rescue has confirmed that the structure of the home is safe. An investigation into the crash is still ongoing, with a tow truck extracting the bus from the house since the accident. Image: Nine News

Travel Trouble

You can train your nose – and 4 other surprising facts about your sense of smell

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lynn-nazareth-1650578">Lynn Nazareth</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/csiro-1035">CSIRO</a> Would you give up your sense of smell to keep your hair? What about your phone? A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8946147/">2022 US study</a> compared smell to other senses (sight and hearing) and personally prized commodities (including money, a pet or hair) to see what people valued more. The researchers found smell was viewed as much less important than sight and hearing, and valued less than many commodities. For example, half the women surveyed said they’d choose to keep their hair over sense of smell. Smell often goes under the radar as one of the least valued senses. But it is one of the <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.200330">first sensory systems vertebrates developed</a> and is linked to your mental health, memory and more. Here are five fascinating facts about your olfactory system. <h2>1. Smell is linked to memory and emotion</h2> Why can the waft of fresh baking trigger joyful childhood memories? And why might a certain perfume jolt you back to a painful breakup? Smell is directly linked to both your memory and emotions. This connection was first established by American psychologist <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/16002">Donald Laird in 1935</a> (although French novelist <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/07/more-than-cake-unravelling-the-mysteries-of-proust-s-madeleine">Marcel Proust had already made it famous</a> in his reverie about the scent of madeleines baking.) Odours are first captured by special olfactory nerve cells inside your nose. These cells extend upwards from the roof of your nose towards the smell-processing centre of your brain, called the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK55972/">olfactory bulb</a>. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/640871/original/file-20250107-15-vili6v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/640871/original/file-20250107-15-vili6v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/640871/original/file-20250107-15-vili6v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640871/original/file-20250107-15-vili6v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640871/original/file-20250107-15-vili6v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640871/original/file-20250107-15-vili6v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=744&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640871/original/file-20250107-15-vili6v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=744&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/640871/original/file-20250107-15-vili6v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=744&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Diagram showing odour particles travelling through the nose into the brain." /></a><figcaption>Smells are first detected by nerve cells in the nose. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/sense-smell-detailed-illustration-olactory-region-1832630776">Axel_Kock/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> From the olfactory bulb they form direct connection with the brain’s <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/limbic-system">limbic system</a>. This includes the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879729610001237">amygdala</a>, where emotions are generated, and the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/133/9/2509/357465">hippocampus</a>, where memories are created. Other senses – such as sight and hearing – aren’t directly connected to the lymbic system. One <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393203002161">2004 study</a> used functional magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate odours trigger a much stronger emotional and memory response in the brain than a visual cue. <h2>2. Your sense of smell constantly regenerates</h2> You can lose your ability to smell due to injury or infection – for example during and after a COVID infection. This is known as <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00441-020-03381-9">olfactory dysfunction</a>. In most cases it’s temporary, returning to normal within a few weeks. This is because every few months <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-020-0587-9">your olfactory nerve cells die and are replaced</a> by new cells. We’re not entirely sure how this occurs, but it likely involves your nose’s <a href="https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)05979-6">stem cells</a>, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2387238/#:%7E:text=When%20the%20olfactory%20nerves%20and,reestablish%20connections%20with%20the%20bulb">the olfactory bulb</a> and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cne.23694">other cells</a> in the olfactory nerves. Other areas of your nervous system – including your brain and spinal cord – cannot regenerate and repair after an injury. Constant regeneration may be a protective mechanism, as the olfactory nerves are vulnerable to damage caused by the external environment, including toxins (such as cigarette smoke), chemicals and pathogens (<a href="https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/210/3/419/2908527">such as the flu virus</a>). But following a COVID infection some people might continue to experience a loss of smell. Studies suggest <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867421012824?via%3Dihub">the virus</a> and a <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.add0484">long-term immune response</a> damages the cells that allow the olfactory system to regenerate. <h2>3. Smell is linked to mental health</h2> Around <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1945892420946254">5% of the global population</a> suffer from anosmia – total loss of smell. An estimated 15-20% suffer partial loss, known as hyposmia. Given smell loss is often a primary and long-term symptom of COVID, these <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-53919-y">numbers are likely to be higher</a> since the pandemic. Yet in Australia, the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction <a href="https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2021/september/an-approach-to-olfactory-impairments">remains surprisingly understudied</a>. Losing your sense of smell <a href="https://academic.oup.com/chemse/article/doi/10.1093/chemse/bjab037/6342176">is shown to impact your personal and social relationships</a>. For example, it can mean you miss out on shared eating experiences, or cause changes in sexual desire and behaviour. In older people, declining ability to smell is associated with a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/79/1/glad139/7207364?login=true">higher risk of depression</a> and <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0107541">even death</a>, although we still don’t know why. <h2>4. Loss of smell can help identify neurodegenerative diseases</h2> Partial or full loss of smell is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474442217301230?via%3Dihub">often an early indicator for a range of neurodegenerative diseases</a>, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Patients <a href="https://www.neurology.org/doi/abs/10.1212/wnl.0000000000001265">frequently report losing their sense of smell</a> years before any symptoms show in body or brain function. However many people are not <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118971758.ch18">aware they are losing their sense of smell</a>. There are ways you can determine if you have smell loss and to what extent. You may be able to visit a formal <a href="https://www.epworth.org.au/our-services/rehabilitation/brain-injury-and-neurological-disorders/olfactory-impairment-clinic#:%7E:text=Epworth%20is%20the%20first%20rehabilitation,and%20associated%20changes%20in%20taste.">smell testing centre</a> or do a <a href="https://esurvey.uniklinikum-dresden.de/pub/index.php/678693">self-test</a> at home, which assesses your ability to identify household items like coffee, wine or soap. <h2>5. You can train your nose back into smelling</h2> “Smell training” is emerging as a <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-024-08733-7">promising experimental treatment option</a> for olfactory dysfunction. For people experiencing smell loss after COVID, it’s been show to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9309586/">improve the ability to detect and differentiate odours</a>. Smell training (or “olfactory training”) was first tested in 2009 in a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.20101">German psychology study</a>. It involves sniffing robust odours — such as floral, citrus, aromatic or fruity scents — at least twice a day for 10—20 seconds at a time, usually over a 3—6 month period. Participants are asked to focus on the memory of the smell while sniffing and recall information about the odour and its intensity. This is <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2782042">believed to help reorganise the nerve connections</a> in the brain, although the exact mechanism behind it is unclear. Some studies recommend using a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.20101">single set of scents</a>, while others recommend <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lary.25245">switching to a new set of odours</a> after a certain amount of time. However <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lary.26985">both methods show significant improvement</a> in smelling. This training has also been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms and improve cognitive decline both in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/gps.4725">older adults</a> and those suffering from <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34749425/">dementia</a>. Just like physiotherapy after a physical injury, olfactory training is thought to act like <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763422003426#sec0005">rehabilitation for your sense of smell</a>. It retrains the nerves in your nose and the connections it forms within the brain, allowing you to correctly detect, process and interpret odours.<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/245366/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lynn-nazareth-1650578">Lynn Nazareth</a>, Research Scientist in Olfactory Biology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/csiro-1035">CSIRO</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/you-can-train-your-nose-and-4-other-surprising-facts-about-your-sense-of-smell-245366">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Man who worked on Harbour Bridge climbs iconic landmark

An elderly man who worked on the Sydney Harbour Bridge 60 years ago has returned to Australia to climb the iconic landmark. Irishman Patrick Lonergan, 82, was part of a team of men who painted the Harbour Bridge in the 1960s as part of its yearly maintenance. Lonergan then returned to his native Ireland after his work in Sydney and has dreamed of returning ever since. Now in his 80s, the Sydney Bridge Climb official Instagram page has shared that Patrick has ticked off his bucket list dream of climbing the Harbour Bridge. "We’re honoured to have played a small role in helping him relive those special memories and capture a new photo on the Bridge," the account wrote. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DE4XDIMvCgm/?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/DE4XDIMvCgm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by BridgeClimb Sydney (@bridgeclimb)</a> </div> </blockquote> The Instagram page then shared a photo of Patrick from when he was in his 20s standing atop the bridge when he was enlisted to paint, and also a photo snapped after he completed his climb. The post racked up thousands of likes, with dozens of comments praising Patrick's efforts for completing the climb. One person wrote, "Blimey!!! No OH&S precautions back in those days! Welcome back to Oz, Paddy," while another added, "What a fantastic story. Well done Patrick!" Image credits: Instagram - Bridge Climb

International Travel

Ray Martin cashes in after selling luxury Sydney home

Ray Martin has made a whopping $7.1 million after selling the family home he has owned on Sydney's north shore for thirty-five years. The veteran journalist sold the five-bedroom, three-bathroom mansion in the suburb of Waverton for a reported $8 million, after Martin and his wife Dianne bought the luxurious 1930s-era house in 1990 for $900,000. The beautiful home, known as Finisterre, sold for between $8 million and $8.5 million after being listed on January 1st, according to reports from <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/ray-martins-8m-home-sale-bonanza/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a>. Located just 5km from the Sydney CBD, the gorgeous two-storey home features classic period stylings and luxurious interiors. The stunning home boasts impressive features such as grand scale living areas, a beautiful patio for entertaining and a glass-framed mosaic-tiled pool, while a chef's kitchen features the latest appliances and a breakfast island. Other highlights include a 'formal' living room, a separate family room, a home office and an open-plan dining area that opens out to the backyard and patio. The upper level offers a large open terrace which features views of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline. Other luxury features on the estate also include a wine cellar, a second-floor study and landscaped gardens. Image credits: SBS / McGrath Real Estate

Money & Banking

Sydney stages major comeback in World's Best Cities ranking

Sydney has staged a major comeback in the annual ranking of the World's Best Cities, rising 25 places since last year's list. Each year, research firm Resonance compile their list of the best cities in the world, with London coming out in the top spot for 2024 for the 10th time. New York replaced Paris in second place on a top-10 list dominated by European cities, but the most impressive change to the rankings came from Sydney. Sydney leapfrogged Melbourne in the rankings, and jumped from 35th to 10th place in just one year. Melbourne, which was the top-ranked Australian city last year in 31st place, also improved its position to 25th, while Perth at 83rd and Brisbane in 90th rounded out the Aussie cities. The World’s Best Cities rankings combines core statistics from over 400 global cities based on both resident and visitor perception indicators, rankings from trusted sources, and user-generated ratings and reviews. Check out the top 10 list of the World's Best Cities below. 10. Sydney, Australia 9. Berlin, Germany 8. Barcelona, Spain 7. Madrid, Spain 6. Rome, Italy 5. Singapore 4. Tokyo, Japan 3. Paris, France 2. New York, USA 1. London, England Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Beloved Hollywood couple's move to Sydney

Freddie Prinze Jr and Sarah Michelle Gellar have made a very low-key entry into Australia, after they were spotted at Chin Chin, a restaurant in Sydney's CBD on Saturday night with their two children. The beloved 90s stars have reportedly temporarily relocated to the harbour city as they film the next instalment of the I Know What You Did Last Summer horror franchise, 27 years after the release of the first movie, according to The Daily Telegraph. The new film, titled I Never Forget What You Did Last Summer, will see Prinze Jr, 48, reprise his role as Ray Bronson. The horror film is expected to be released next year through Sony Pictures. Prinze Jr and Gellar's first date was not intentional, as they had plans for dinner with a mutual friend who then cancelled. “We decided to have dinner anyway and never looked back,” Gellar told People in 2002. They tied the knot in Mexico that same year. “One day, I just knew we were gonna get married and I knew I was gonna propose. I didn’t know when or how,” Prinze Jr told People in 2020. “And so I did and fortunately, she was on the same page. My instincts were correct.” In 2009 they welcomed their daughter Charlotte and in 2012 they had their son Rocky. Image: Instagram

Relationships

Alan Jones once seemed unassailable. What ended it was a peculiarly Sydney story of media, politics and power

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/denis-muller-1865">Denis Muller</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> For decades it seemed Alan Jones was unassailable. A finding against him of professional misconduct by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (2000); a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/tribunal-upholds-that-jones-incited-hatred-20121002-26x8h.html">finding</a> that he incited hatred, serious contempt and severe ridicule of Lebanese Muslims (2009); propositions of violence against two women prime ministers (<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-20/alan-jones-says-gillard-remark-best-left-unsaid/3579658">2011</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-21/alan-jones-breached-rules-in-jacinda-ardern-comment/12271476">2019</a>); verdicts against him and his employer amounting to millions of dollars in defamation actions (most notably <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-12/alan-jones-defamed-wagners-court-decision-brisbane-qld/10230384">one for $3.75 million</a> in 2018): none of these ended his career. Quite the reverse. Only weeks after the Australian Broadcasting Authority found in its “cash for comments” inquiry that Jones and others had misled their listeners by presenting paid endorsements as editorial opinion, he was hosting an event for then prime minister John Howard. Howard was to become a fixture on the Jones program throughout the 11 years of his prime ministership. The day after the Australian Communications and Media Authority found Jones was likely to have encouraged violence and vilification of Australians of Lebanese and Middle Eastern background, Howard <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/jones-wins-friends-in-high-places-20070412-ge4n4f.html">described him</a> as “an outstanding broadcaster”. “I don’t think he’s a person who encourages prejudice in the Australian community, not for one moment, but he is a person who articulates what a lot of people think.” By 2001, Jones had become a kind of on-air policy-maker for the New South Wales government. In November that year, he dined with the then Labor premier, Bob Carr. They discussed a range of government policies, particularly policing. At that time, Jones was a relentless critic of the NSW police. The following week, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-01/newton-alan-jones/4288824">Carr dispatched</a> his police minister-designate, Michael Costa, to Jones’s home to discuss policing policy. In 2011 he said Julia Gillard, then Australia’s prime minister, should be taken out to sea and dumped in a chaff bag. In August 2019 he said Scott Morrison, who was then Australia’s prime minister, should “shove a sock” down the throat of his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern. He was an outspoken climate-change denier, and these grotesqueries were part of his campaign against political recognition of this reality. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Od6I1YbrBoM?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Jones’s power, which made him so apparently untouchable, came from his weaponising of the microphone for conservative political ends in ways that resonated with his vast and rusted-on audience of largely working-class older people across Sydney’s sprawling western suburbs. These suburbs contain many marginal state and federal electorates where the fates of governments can be decided. Their populations provide fertile ground for seeding by right-wing radio shock jocks, of whom Jones and his rival John Laws were pre-eminent examples. In Australia, this is a peculiarly Sydney phenomenon. It is not seen to the same degree in any other capital city, even though they too have large areas of socioeconomic disadvantage like western Sydney. Why that should be so is a complex question, but there are aspects of Sydney life that mark it out as different. It is really two cities. One is the largely prosperous and scenically dazzling east and north. The other, much larger, consists of dreary tracts of increasingly crowded housing stretching for many kilometres to the west and southwest. In Sydney argot, the inhabitants of these respective worlds are called “silvertails” and “fibros”, the latter referring to the cladding of the homes that proliferated in western Sydney between and after the two world wars. This two-cities effect makes the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” highly visible in a way that has no parallel in other Australian capitals. It engenders deep-seated grievance and cynicism, which the likes of Jones, who lives in a multimillion-dollar apartment on Circular Quay, have relentlessly exploited. Jones coined the term “Struggle Street” to encapsulate the hardships of his listeners’ lives. To these powerless people, Jones and Laws gave a voice, and as their audiences grew, prime ministers and premiers courted and feared them. In the end, Jones’s impregnability was breached by not the power elite turning on one of their own, but by the journalism of a redoubtably tenacious Sydney Morning Herald investigative reporter, Kate McClymont. In December 2023, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/he-d-go-the-grope-alan-jones-accused-of-indecently-assaulting-young-men-20231205-p5epai.html">she claimed</a> Jones had used his position of power, first as a teacher and later as the country’s top-rating radio broadcaster, to allegedly prey on a number of young men. In response to McClymont’s work, the NSW police set up Strike Force Bonnefin, run by the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad, to conduct an investigation into Jones. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0ExkpCtfmA8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> On November 18 2024, Jones was arrested at his Circular Quay home and charged initially with 24 sexual offences against eight males. The following day, two <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-19/alan-jones-charged-with-additional-offences-nsw-police/104617680">additional charges</a> were laid involving a ninth male. Through his lawyers, Jones has denied the charges and was bailed to appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on December 18. He <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/alan-jones-arrested-over-allegations-he-indecently-assaulted-young-men-20241118-p5krdu.html">was ordered</a> to surrender his passport and not to contact or harass the alleged victims. The charges relate to offences alleged to have been committed by Jones between 2001 and 2019, the youngest alleged victim being 17 at the time. Those dates coincide almost exactly with Jones’s most influential years, from 2002 to 2020. McClymont <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-stunning-development-kate-mcclymont-on-alan-jones-arrest-and-what-s-next-20241118-p5krln.html">has spoken</a> about the reluctance of some of her interviewees to speak, for fear of what Jones might do: "People were too afraid to take on Alan Jones. Once a couple of people came forward, and some people were happy to be publicly named, that gave confidence for other people to come forward.<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/243942/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />" <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/denis-muller-1865">Denis Muller</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/alan-jones-once-seemed-unassailable-what-ended-it-was-a-peculiarly-sydney-story-of-media-politics-and-power-243942">original article</a>. </div>

Legal

How hip pain led Sydney karate master to life-changing weight loss journey

<div> Sydney-based karate instructor and personal trainer Glenn Stephenson knows the toll that joint pain and extra weight can take on physical activity. Despite decades of experience as a martial arts coach, Glenn found himself increasingly limited by severe hip pain and unwanted weight gain. </div> <div> In 2021, at 95 kilograms, the 64-year-old’s arthritis and reduced mobility affected not only his work but also his confidence. “I couldn’t move around like I wanted to, and as a master instructor, it felt wrong to be teaching students while carrying so much extra weight,” he admits. </div> <div> Glenn’s pain and discomfort prompted him to make a drastic change. Instead of resorting to extreme dieting, he adopted a more sustainable approach to weight loss to reduce joint and liver inflammation, and regain his mobility. He shed 20 kilograms and now walks four kilometres daily. “I can move better, my mental health has improved, and I feel more capable of guiding my students,” he says. </div> <div> Today, Glenn encourages others struggling with weight to take a balanced approach to fitness and health. “I look the part now, which gives me confidence as a master instructor to show my students that staying active is achievable at any age.” </div> <div> Dietitian Kirby Sorenson, from health platform <a title="https://www.getmosh.com.au/?utm_term=mosh&utm_campaign=Cross_Search_Brand_Mosh&utm_source=paid-search&utm_medium=adwords&utm_content=100740202037&hsa_acc=5792635568&hsa_cam=1701000406&hsa_grp=100740202037&hsa_ad=697110582898&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-295213997936&hsa_kw=mosh&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiAxKy5BhBbEiwAYiW--5qfGzQVQBG-CmA6baVMEeP5Zmk_oB_GOstA1n2vabFrLzbeDrEEnxoCM4YQAvD_BwE" href="https://www.getmosh.com.au/?utm_term=mosh&utm_campaign=Cross_Search_Brand_Mosh&utm_source=paid-search&utm_medium=adwords&utm_content=100740202037&hsa_acc=5792635568&hsa_cam=1701000406&hsa_grp=100740202037&hsa_ad=697110582898&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-295213997936&hsa_kw=mosh&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiAxKy5BhBbEiwAYiW--5qfGzQVQBG-CmA6baVMEeP5Zmk_oB_GOstA1n2vabFrLzbeDrEEnxoCM4YQAvD_BwE" data-outlook-id="bc4b923a-a4a3-4af0-80db-e837cd64b4c7">Mosh</a>, is encouraging Australians to ditch the Body Mass Index (BMI) in favour of more modern diagnostics to determine the risk of disease linked to higher body fat, declaring it’s unfairly categorising people as being overweight. </div> <div> Ms Sorenson says knowing your Body Roundness Index (BRI) as well as your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) can more accurately predict the risk of diseases like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease because it works out body fat levels based on height and waist circumference, rather than the BMI method which relies on height and weight. </div> <div> “BMI has long been criticised for inaccurately categorising people as overweight or obese because it doesn’t differentiate between those who carry a lot of muscle and individuals with fat in the wrong places,” Ms Sorenson says. </div> <div> “The problem is that it only looks at overall weight, while the BRI focuses on fat held around the abdomen which is the riskiest fat in terms of overall health. </div> <div> Once the BRI is determined, Ms Sorenson says it can help to know your Basal Metabolic Rate, which is largely determined by your total lean mass to help determine a healthy path to maintaining a healthy weight range. </div> <div> “The basal metabolic rate or BMR gives you an idea of how many calories your body burns doing the bare minimum; breathing, blood circulation, brain and nerve function. It can vary greatly from person to person, which explains why individual weight loss journeys can be so different,” Ms Sorenson said. </div> <div> For more information visit Moshy’s online <a title="https://www.getmoshy.com.au/weight-loss/basal-metabolic-rate-calculator?srsltid=AfmBOoobS-PiI_4sJn2ykpEG6vzq6qkvQXammfLv4Rm-mS5nwll6EN0m" href="https://www.getmoshy.com.au/weight-loss/basal-metabolic-rate-calculator?srsltid=AfmBOoobS-PiI_4sJn2ykpEG6vzq6qkvQXammfLv4Rm-mS5nwll6EN0m" data-outlook-id="800f9af2-0a34-4ac4-801b-d16714c7ec2e">BMR calculator</a>. Image credits: Supplied </div>

Body

Father breaks silence after wife and two children die in tragic drowning

Hoai Nguyen, 32, and her two children, Mitchell, 7, and Hazel, 5, were enjoying a day out at Shearer Park in south-west Sydney, and were walking down to a small pier on the waterfront before they were spotted <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/unimaginable-sorrow-mother-and-two-children-drown-during-family-outing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">struggling in the Georges River</a> about 10.15am on Saturday. Hoai was pulled to shore shortly afterwards, but despite desperate attempts by rescuers and bystanders she could not be revived. The bodies of the two children were recovered a few hours later, metres from a jetty. The children's father, Dinh Nguyen, had been at work during the incident and only found out about the tragedy when police showed up at his house. He has since broken his silence, and told The Sydney Morning Herald that his wife was navigating a mental illness prior to her death. “She has bipolar disorder, and she has some ups and some downs,” he told the publication. “She takes medicine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.” He also recalled one of the last conversations the couple had, the night prior to the tragedy. “She told me the last night she didn’t sleep so she wanted to stay at home,” he said. According to The Daily Telegraph, detectives are now probing whether the incident was premeditated as they continue their investigations into the tragedy. The southwest Sydney community has since rallied around the family's loved ones, with bouquets of flowers and tributes seen at the riverbank as part of a growing memorial. A close friend of the family, Sarah Vu, has also organised a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hoai-mitchell-and-hazel-nguyen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page for the family which has since raised over $60,600 of their $40,000 goal. “I sincerely thank the entire community for their contributions,” she wrote in a social media tribute on Monday. “The family have decided to bring Hoai and the kids back to Vietnam. “The fund has currently exceeded my expectations, but I will keep the link open for anyone who still wants to donate.” "All we can do now is pray for you and the little ones to depart peacefully,” she added with a video of two young kids holding hands and skipping down a street together. Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. Lifeline: 13 11 14, <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifeline.org.au </a> SANE Support line and Forums: 1800 187 263, <a href="https://saneforums.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saneforums.org</a> Headspace: 1800 650 890, <a href="https://headspace.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">headspace.org.au</a> Beyond Blue: 1300 224 635, <a href="beyondblue.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beyondblue.org.au </a> Images: Facebook/ GoFundMe

Caring

"Unimaginable sorrow": Mother and two children drown during family outing

A mother and two children have died after struggling to swim in a Sydney waterway, with tributes and donations flowing in to support the grieving father. Hoai Nguyen, 32, and her two children, Mitchell, seven, and Hazel, five, were enjoying a day out at Shearer Park in south-west Sydney on Sunday, when they were spotted in distress in the waters of the Georges River. Hoai was pulled from the river, but despite the best efforts of bystanders and paramedics, she was unable to be revived. Police and volunteers from the State Emergency Service launched a large search and rescue operation for the two children, with divers locating their bodies in the water hours later, metres from a jetty. According to <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-news-georges-river-mother-hoai-nguyen-and-children-drown-lansvale/c8601ec9-47a1-4a79-8a12-67c3ff18f3ea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>, the children's father and Hoai's husband had been at work during the incident and was only alerted to the tragedy when police showed up at his house. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hoai-mitchell-and-hazel-nguyen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page has been set up by a family friend to support the children's father, Hoai's husband, and their one-year-old brother during the "time of unimaginable sorrow". "A beloved mother and her two young children tragically drowned... leaving behind a profound void in our hearts and a father and baby who is only 1 years old," the fundraiser reads. An investigation into how the mother and her children ended up in the water is ongoing, as NSW Police acting superintendent Luke Scott yesterday described the tragedy as "beyond words". Image credits: GoFundMe

Caring

Father reveals alarming details after young model found dead in Sydney brewery

Savana Calvo, 27, was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tragedy-as-young-model-dies-in-popular-brewery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found dead</a> in the bathroom of Young Henry's brewery in Newtown, at around 11.30pm on Wednesday. As tributes pour in for the young model, her father, Daniel Paul Calvo has revealed that she allegedly received death threats in the week prior to her death. “As her father, I knew very well that she was being harassed and stalked, and I tried to intervene. Although we were very close, daughters only tell their parents so much,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “There’s more and more coming out, she was involved with some dodgy young guys, owed money, and leading up to last week she was getting multiple death threats.” The death threats that were allegedly sent to her will form part of an ongoing investigation into her death, NSW Police have confirmed. Friends and family have paid tribute to the fallen model, and started a GoFundMe page to cover her funeral costs. They said that “those who knew her best, knew that she went through some trying times." “She was a cherished daughter, sister and friend who brought so much love and light into all of our lives. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.” The fundraiser has since raised over $30,000 for the model. Images: Instagram/ Google Maps

Caring

High-speed rail plans may finally end Australia’s 40-year wait to get on board

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/philip-laird-3503">Philip Laird</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> Australia has debated and studied high-speed rail for four decades. The High Speed Rail Authority has begun <a href="https://www.hsra.gov.au/project">work on a project</a> that could finally deliver some high-speed rail in the 2030s. The Albanese government set up the authority in 2022. It also committed A$500 million to plan and protect a high-speed rail corridor between Sydney and Newcastle. This corridor was prioritised due to significant capacity constraints on the existing line, among other reasons. The ultimate plan is for a high-speed rail network to connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities across the east coast. The network would help Australia in its urgent task to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. These <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/towards-net-zero-transport-and-infrastructure">continue to increase</a> even as emissions from other sectors fall. The authority has now publicly outlined plans for the first stage of this east coast network. After a history of failed proposals dating back to 1984, the new plans provide some cause for optimism that Australia could have some high-speed rail by 2037. <h2>What is high-speed rail and why do we need it?</h2> The International Rail Union of Railways <a href="https://uic.org/passenger/highspeed">defines high-speed rail</a> as new lines designed for speeds of 250km/h or more and upgraded lines for speeds of at least 200km/h. High-speed rail could greatly reduce transport emissions by replacing <a href="https://theconversation.com/wondering-how-to-get-from-brisbane-to-melbourne-without-wrecking-the-climate-our-transport-choices-make-a-huge-difference-237396">air travel in particular</a>. For example, the <a href="https://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/domestic_airline_activity-monthly_publications">7.92 million passengers</a> flying between Melbourne and Sydney in 2023-24 produced about 1.5 million tonnes of emissions. Including <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-air-travellers-can-cut-their-door-to-door-emissions-right-now-by-as-much-as-13-on-the-sydney-melbourne-route-211099">travel to and from airports</a> and other flight routes along the corridor (Sydney or Melbourne to Canberra, Albury etc), this adds up to about 2% of <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/strategies/annual-climate-change-statement-2023">annual domestic transport emissions</a>. A Sydney–Melbourne high-speed rail link could cut emissions to a fraction of those from <a href="https://theconversation.com/wondering-how-to-get-from-brisbane-to-melbourne-without-wrecking-the-climate-our-transport-choices-make-a-huge-difference-237396">air</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-compared-land-transport-options-for-getting-to-net-zero-hands-down-electric-rail-is-the-best-234092">road</a> transport. If Australia is to achieve <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/emissions-reduction/net-zero">net zero by 2050</a>, a <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-compared-land-transport-options-for-getting-to-net-zero-hands-down-electric-rail-is-the-best-234092">shift to rail will be essential</a>. High-speed city-to-city rail services will be needed to become an attractive alternative to air travel. <h2>What is the authority working on?</h2> Early this year the High Speed Rail Authority gained a new CEO, Tim Parker, with extensive experience in delivering mega-projects. In late August, the authority outlined its plans at an industry briefing in Newcastle. The authority has commissioned eight studies, including a business case for a Sydney–Newcastle line. Significantly, it will include the cost of future highway upgrades if high-speed rail does not proceed. This study, along with a report on how high-speed rail will proceed along Australia’s east coast, is due by the end of this year. Also under way is a <a href="https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/all-aboard-high-speed-rail-accelerates-first-investigation-works">geotechnical study</a> that includes drilling 27 boreholes. It will help determine the proposed depths of two long rail tunnels and guide decisions on crossing the Hawkesbury River and the route to the Central Coast and on to Newcastle. All going well, including land acquisition and agreements with the New South Wales government (which could include funding), work could <a href="https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8743698/newcastle-high-speed-rail-possible-by-2037-as-tunnel-plan-emerges">start in 2027 and be completed by 2037</a>. <h2>Many questions remain</h2> Given the time and money required to deliver a Sydney–Newcastle line, bipartisan support will be needed. However, the federal opposition is yet to make a clear commitment to high-speed rail. There are other uncertainties too. Will the trains be operated by the public or private sector? The latter was the intention for projects that were scrapped decades ago, such as the CSIRO-proposed Very Fast Train (<a href="http://www.repositoryofideas.com/VFT_information.html">VFT</a>) linking Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, and the Sydney–Canberra <a href="https://trid.trb.org/View/1203853">Speedrail</a>. And how will the engineering projects be delivered? The new authority must learn from the project management <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/news/independent-review-inland-rail-released">problems in delivering the Inland Rail</a> freight line. The project is running late and costs have blown out. Some major federally funded government projects have worked well. These include upgrades of the national highway system (by state road authorities and contractors) and the new <a href="https://www.westernsydneyairport.gov.au/">Western Sydney International Airport</a>, which is nearing completion. <h2>And what about a full Sydney–Melbourne line?</h2> The big question is when work will start on a Sydney–Melbourne high-speed rail service. In 2019, International High-Speed Rail Association chairman <a href="https://ara.net.au/media-release/ausrailplus-2019-conference-exhibition-3-5-december-2019-in-sydney/">Masafumi Shukuri estimated</a> building this line could take 20 years. The present line is 60km longer than it should be as the route dates back to the steam age. It also has far too many tight curves. This means train travel on this line is slower than cars and trucks. As former NSW State Rail chief Len Harper <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-than-ever-its-time-to-upgrade-the-sydney-melbourne-railway-187169">said</a> in 1995, this railway was already “inadequate for current and future needs” even back then. When the VFT was proposed in 1984, questions were raised as to whether our population was big enough for such a project. Now, more than 15.5 million people live in NSW, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. Melbourne–Sydney is the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/the-world-s-busiest-flight-routes-and-airports-revealed-20231222-p5et7n.html">world’s fifth-busiest flight route</a>. Advocacy group Fastrack Australia <a href="https://www.fastrackaustralia.net/hsr-implementation-plan">has called</a> for a Sydney–Melbourne track built to high-speed standards and able to carry freight. The estimated travel time is four hours. This group and the <a href="https://www.railfutures.org.au/category/submissions/%20July%202024%20reducing%20emissions%20in%20freight">Rail Futures Institute</a> propose the line be built in stages, with priority given to the section from near Macarthur to Mittagong in NSW. This would reduce the current line’s length by about 18km and allow for better Sydney–Canberra train services. Urgent action is needed to protect the rail corridor from encroaching urban development. <h2>Australia needs to catch up</h2> In June 2023, when the new authority started work, I <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-the-new-high-speed-rail-authority-deliver-after-4-decades-of-costly-studies-206287">observed</a> that Australia must surely hold the world record for studies into high-speed rail with no construction. In stark contrast, this October marks the 60th anniversary of the world’s first dedicated high-speed rail line, the Tokaido Shinkansen in Japan linking Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. The network has since grown in stages to about 3,000km of lines. Today, high-speed rail <a href="https://uic.org/passenger/highspeed/article/high-speed-data-and-atlas">operates in 21 countries</a> over about 60,000km of lines – China has about 40,000km. Indonesia’s high-speed rail service between Jakarta and Bandung started running last year. India and Thailand are in the advanced stages of delivering high-speed rail. It’s also under construction in another 11 countries. Australia could finally join them in the next few years if it starts building the Sydney–Newcastle line.<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/238232/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/philip-laird-3503">Philip Laird</a>, Honorary Principal Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</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/high-speed-rail-plans-may-finally-end-australias-40-year-wait-to-get-on-board-238232">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Tragedy as young model dies in popular brewery

A young woman has died suddenly at a popular Sydney brewery. Savana Calvo, 27 tragically passed away at the Young Henry's brewery in Newtown at about 11.30pm last Wednesday. Her death is not being treated as suspicious, but her loved ones have revealed she had been going through "trying times" before her death. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Savana, 27,” the model's friend Adam St John-Foti wrote online. “She was a cherished daughter, sister and friend who brought so much love and light into all of our lives. “She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. “Those who knew her best, knew that she was went through some trying time these past in recent times that led to her tragic passing.” Friends have rallied around her family, with St John-Foti setting up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/savana-calvo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page, which has so far raised over $28,000 to help her family cope with funeral costs. He added that he family were "spellbound" by the outpouring of support. “Your generosity will make a meaningful difference in ensuring that Savana is laid to rest with the dignity, respect, and celebration she deserves,” the page read. “We also appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and messages of support during this difficult time. “Your kindness means the world to Savana’s family as we navigate through our grief.” Another friend of the model has remembered her as a “smiling and a kind gentle soul” who would “be missed so much". “Fly high beautiful angel. I haven’t stopped thinking of you since I found out about your passing ... I will miss you Savvy.” Coopers Hotel, another Newtown institution has also paid tribute to Calvo, saying: “It is with heavy hearts that Newtown grieves the loss of a beloved member of its community Savana C." “Sav’s family has started a go fund me to help with funeral costs, please donate if you can.” Young Henrys was closed to the public on Thursday with police spotted on the outside. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the brewery. Images: GoFundMe/ Instagram

Caring

"Green cordial" water in Sydney harbour baffles residents

A bay in Sydney Harbour has turned neon green, with authorities currently investigating the cause. Locals were baffled when they saw the bay along Hipwood Street in Kirribilli, near Milsons Park, turn bright green at about 3pm on Wednesday, with many calling the incident "unusual". Firefighters said they were "alerted to a large spill of fluorescent green material flowing into the harbour". One local described the water as "green cordial" and said it resembled "radioactive stuff you see in superhero movies". NSW Fire and Rescue then conducted several tests and said the water is not toxic and is currently not harming the environment. The Fire and Rescue team are now trying to flush out the green substance, and said that the incoming rain should help turn the water colour back to normal. Another resident told 9News that they had seen green water in a stormwater drain at Anderson Park, along Clark Road, on Tuesday, before the green colour spread to the bay on Wednesday. Later in the afternoon, a North Sydney Council spokeswoman confirmed that were no major pollutants in the green water: “At this stage our engineers believe the substance is likely to be fluorescein, which is used as a dye for plumbing works. Fluorescein is a non-toxic substance and breaks down with UV light. The green colour is a feature that makes it easy to trace.” Green water was also spotted in Neutral Bay on Wednesday according to another local. Image: Nine

Travel Trouble

"So Australian": Local trust praised for response to illegal tree cutting

A resident's decision to cut down a tree for a better view of Sydney Harbour has backfired after a sign was erected where the tree once stood, to condemn tree vandalism. Following multiple reports of resident carrying out tree vandalism along affluent streets, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust has called out the behaviour by setting up the sign in the Sydney lower North Shore suburb of Woolwich. "Tree vandalism has occurred in this area," the sign read. "The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust protects and manages this land for the enjoyment of the public. "Acts of vandalism like this deprive all of us of the natural environment." The sign also warned that offenders could be subject to fines and/or prosecution as punishment, and urged those who notice any suspicious activity to contact 8969 2100. After an image of the sign was shared to a Sydney group on social media, the local trust's actions have been praised, with many saying they "loved how petty this is" and one even declaring the response "so Australian". "I hope they keep this sign, as a reminder to anyone contemplating doing something similar," one commented. "We're petty but we have a right to be. You don't f**n poison or cut down trees. F**n unacceptable behaviour," another added. Others accused the person who cut down the tree of being "entitled". In last November alone, over 300 native trees and shrubs vanished in front of multi-million dollar homes along the Sydney Harbour waterfront strip. Lane Cove Council believe that hand tools were used to silently cut down the trees, which impacts plants, and local wildlife including wallabies, possums and dozens of other species. On Monday, the council put out a statement saying its "pursuit of justice" is now ramping up, referring to the incident as "the largest tree vandalism case in Lane Cove’s recent history". They are trying to obtain permission to put up a sign to block "the harbour view of the property which would most benefit from the mass clearing of the trees." "As the area is classified as a Threatened Ecological Community and contains some items of Aboriginal Heritage, it was important the appropriate approvals were in place before installing the signage," the council added. "The legal case and banner installation are important steps in our commitment to seeking the strongest possible recourse response to send a message that we stand tall against tree vandalism." Images: Reddit

Legal

Brave bystanders praised after mass Sydney stabbing

New details have emerged after multiple people were stabbed following a car crash in Sydney's south, on Sunday. Emergency crews were called to the intersection of Princes Highway and Old Bush Road at about 9am after receiving several triple zero calls about a crash. A 58-year-old man, who was known to police for "a number of matters" and suspected of carrying out the wild attacks, was allegedly found running from the scene by officers. He was later pursued on foot, tasered and taken into custody, and remains in Liverpool Hospital in serious condition, as he appeared to have inflicted a number of injuries to himself before the police arrived. A policeman was also injured during the arrest after the alleged offender stabbed him on his arm. A woman in her 40s, was allegedly being assaulted by the man as he drove, and is believed to be the partner of the alleged offender. “They were in a domestic relationship, there is no history that we are aware of, there is no apprehended violence orders between the two but definitely domestic related,” Superintendent Donald Faulds told a press conference on Sunday afternoon. “We believe the female was being assaulted in the car while the male was driving the vehicle at the same time. “A number of witnesses mentioned the car was driving quite erratically at the time and we believe that’s when the assault was occurring in the car and as result they then collided with another vehicle.” The female passenger was transported to hospital and is in a critical condition. Three other people were also injured, after they had rushed over to the accident to help. It is alleged that he had a box-cutter. “A number of members of the community stopped to assist occupants from both those vehicles,” the Superintendent said. “As community members were assisting one of the females out of one vehicle, a male got out of that vehicle. He was armed with what we believe to be a box cutter.” One witness reportedly told radio station 2GB that he saw a man get out of the car appearing to be armed with a box cutter, yelling “I’m going to kill you”. A NSW spokesman said of those injured, one male patient had sustained slash wounds to his arms and his neck and has been taken to Liverpool Hospital and is now in a serious but stable condition. A woman in her 40s was taken to St George Hospital with multiple stab wounds and is in critical condition. Another woman was hospitalised in a serious condition with a stab wound to the abdomen. The police officer sustained a large laceration to his arm and is in a stable condition. Superintendent Faulds praised the brave bystanders who went to assist those in the crash, without knowing what was about to unfold. “Amazing work, they’ve just turned up thinking it was a normal motor vehicle accident so they’ve obviously have gone to render assistance to both people and then they were faced with a male armed with a box cutter, quite frightening but very brave on those peoples’ behalf,” he said. He has asked the community to reach out to Crime Stoppers or Sutherland Police if they have any information about the incident. Images: Nine News

Caring

Strength training has a range of benefits for women. Here are 4 ways to get into weights

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/erin-kelly-1497598">Erin Kelly</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> Picture a gym ten years ago: the weights room was largely a male-dominated space, with women mostly doing cardio exercise. Fast-forward to today and you’re likely to see women of all ages and backgrounds confidently navigating weights equipment. This is more than just anecdotal. According to data from the <a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZGU1YWFhZDgtMmRhZi00YTgyLThhMzItYjc2ODk5NTg0MTg1IiwidCI6IjhkMmUwZjRjLTU1ZjItNGNiMS04ZWU3LWRhNWRkM2ZmMzYwMCJ9">Australian Sports Commission</a>, the number of women <a href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/research/ausplay/results#portal">participating in weightlifting</a> (either competitively or not) grew nearly five-fold between 2016 and 2022. Women are discovering what research has long shown: strength training offers benefits beyond sculpted muscles. <h2>Health benefits</h2> <a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/osteoporosis">Osteoporosis</a>, a disease in which the bones become weak and brittle, affects more women than men. Strength training increases <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/strength-training/art-20046670">bone density</a>, a crucial factor for <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1741-7015-8-47">preventing osteoporosis</a>, especially for women negotiating menopause. Strength training also improves <a href="http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40279-015-0379-7">insulin sensitivity</a>, which means your body gets better at using insulin to manage blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Regular strength training contributes to better <a href="https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2020-0245">heart health</a> too. There’s a mental health boost as well. Strength training has been linked to reduced symptoms of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0572">depression</a> and <a href="http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40279-017-0769-0">anxiety</a>. <h2>Improved confidence and body image</h2> Unlike some forms of exercise where progress can feel elusive, strength training offers clear and tangible measures of success. Each time you add more weight to a bar, you are reminded of your ability to meet your goals and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1634127">conquer challenges</a>. This sense of achievement doesn’t just stay in the gym – it can change how women see themselves. A <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1755296623000194">recent study</a> found women who regularly lift weights often feel more empowered to make positive changes in their lives and feel ready to face life’s challenges outside the gym. Strength training also has the potential to positively impact <a href="https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/abstract/2002/11000/Relations_of_Strength_Training_to_Body_Image_Among.25.aspx">body image</a>. In a world where women are often judged on appearance, lifting weights can shift the focus <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0193732502238256">to function</a>. Instead of worrying about the number on the scale or fitting into a certain dress size, women often come to appreciate their bodies for what they can do. “Am I lifting more than I could last month?” and “can I carry all my groceries in a single trip?” may become new measures of physical success. Lifting weights can also be about challenging outdated ideas of how women “should” be. Qualitative <a href="https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/wspaj/aop/article-10.1123-wspaj.2022-0088/article-10.1123-wspaj.2022-0088.xml">research</a> I conducted with colleagues found that, for many women, strength training becomes a powerful form of rebellion against unrealistic beauty standards. As one participant told us: <blockquote> I wanted something that would allow me to train that just didn’t have anything to do with how I looked. </blockquote> Society has long told women to be small, quiet and not take up space. But when a woman steps up to a barbell, she’s pushing back against these outdated rules. One woman in our study said: <blockquote> We don’t have to […] look a certain way, or […] be scared that we can lift heavier weights than some men. Why should we? </blockquote> This shift in mindset helps women see themselves differently. Instead of worrying about being objects for others to look at, they begin to see their bodies as capable and strong. Another participant explained: <blockquote> Powerlifting changed my life. It made me see myself, or my body. My body wasn’t my value, it was the vehicle that I was in to execute whatever it was that I was executing in life. </blockquote> This newfound confidence often spills over into other areas of life. As one woman said: <blockquote> I love being a strong woman. It’s like going against the grain, and it empowers me. When I’m physically strong, everything in the world seems lighter. </blockquote> <h2>Feeling inspired? Here’s how to get started</h2> 1. Take things slow Begin with bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges and push-ups to build a foundation of strength. Once you’re comfortable, add external weights, but keep them light at first. Focus on mastering <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-are-compound-exercises-and-why-are-they-good-for-you-228385">compound movements</a>, such as deadlifts, squats and overhead presses. These exercises engage multiple joints and muscle groups simultaneously, making your workouts more efficient. 2. Prioritise proper form Always prioritise proper form over lifting heavier weights. Poor technique can lead to injuries, so learning the correct way to perform each exercise is crucial. To help with this, consider working with an exercise professional who can provide personalised guidance and ensure you’re performing exercises correctly, at least initially. 3. Consistency is key Like any fitness regimen, consistency is key. Two to three sessions a week are plenty for most women to see benefits. And don’t be afraid to occupy space in the weights room – remember you belong there just as much as anyone else. 4. Find a community Finally, join a community. There’s nothing like being surrounded by a group of strong women to inspire and motivate you. Engaging with a supportive community can make your strength-training journey more enjoyable and rewarding, whether it’s an in-person class or an online forum. <h2>Are there any downsides?</h2> Gym memberships can be expensive, especially for specialist weightlifting gyms. Home equipment is an option, but quality barbells and weightlifting equipment can come with a hefty price tag. Also, for women juggling work and family responsibilities, finding time to get to the gym two to three times per week can be challenging. If you’re concerned about getting too “bulky”, it’s very difficult for <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/0031512520967610">women</a> to bulk up like male bodybuilders without pharmaceutical assistance. The main risks come from poor technique or trying to lift too much too soon – issues that can be easily avoided with some guidance.<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/221307/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/erin-kelly-1497598">Erin Kelly</a>, Lecturer and PhD Candidate, Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</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/strength-training-has-a-range-of-benefits-for-women-here-are-4-ways-to-get-into-weights-221307">original article</a>. </div>

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Strength training has a range of benefits for women. Here are 4 ways to get into weights

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