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Tasmanian teen’s mum breaks down as she pays tribute to daughter

Shyanne-Lee Tatnell’s mum Bobbi-Lee Ketchell broke down as she paid tribute to her daughter, on what would’ve been her 15th birthday. The 14-year-old’s <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/human-remains-found-in-search-for-missing-teenager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remains were found on July 26</a> in a bush track near Nabowla, a rural locality northeast of Tasmania. A 36-year-old man from Scottsdale has since been <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/man-charged-with-murder-over-disappearance-of-missing-tasmanian-teen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> for her alleged murder. Shyanne-Lee’s family gathered at City Park in Launceston over the weekend to celebrate what was supposed to be a happy occasion, as she would have turned 15 on Tuesday. Her mother broke down in tears as she spoke publicly for the first time since the teen’s remains were found. Bobbi-Lee Ketchell told 7News that finding her daughter’s remains “doesn’t make it hurt any less”. “This was not the outcome that we had hoped,” she added. “But I'm a blessed mum to have my child, to be able to farewell her. And she was taken too soon and she had her life ahead of her.” The picnic in the park featured plenty of teal, Shyanne-Lee’s favourite colour, and her mother thanked the community, her friends and family for their endless support. She also thanked emergency services for working tirelessly to find her daughter. Ketchell also thanked everyone who paid tribute to her daughter by creating a memorial for her on the Henry St Bridge, where she was last seen alive. “I can’t thank the people enough who did the memorial on the bridge,” she said. “It means a lot to our family,” she added. Shyanne-Lee’s siblings have remembered her as a kind sister who always made them laugh. “She was really nice,” her sister Lakeesha said. “A nice person, and a nice friend.” Images: 7News

Family & Pets

Man charged with murder over disappearance of missing Tasmanian teen

A tragic turn of events has led to a murder charge after the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/human-remains-found-in-search-for-missing-teenager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discovery of remains</a> believed to belong to Shyanne-Lee Tatnell, a 14-year-old who had been missing in Tasmanian bushland for three months. The arrest of a 36-year-old man from Scottsdale, a rural town in the state's north-east, came after an extensive search in nearby Nabowla. The suspect is now in custody and expected to appear in Launceston Magistrates Court for further proceedings. Tasmania Police confirmed that the remains found on a bush track in Nabowla were human and likely to be Shyanne-Lee's, who was last seen in Launceston on the night of April 30. Northern district commander Kate Chambers expressed her heartfelt sympathy for the community and reaffirmed their commitment to seeking answers and closure for Shyanne-Lee's family and loved ones. While forensic testing on the remains is underway, it may take up to a week for conclusive results. Shyanne-Lee's mother, Bobbi-Lee Ketchell, posted an emotional message to her daughter following the revelation of the remains. The message accompanied a photo of the young girl with a beaming smile, and it read, "I'm home," which was a heartbreaking change from the previous plea, "Help bring me home." In the past two months, police have seized several items during their search efforts. A property in Scottsdale was declared a crime scene and thoroughly investigated. The search in Nabowla involved a massive team of 180 people, including helicopter crews and search-and-rescue volunteers on horseback. Shyanne-Lee was last seen on CCTV near the North Esk River in Launceston, approximately 50km southwest of Nabowla. Despite extensive searches in the river area, no trace of the teenager was found. She had been staying in youth accommodation for two weeks before her disappearance and was en route to visit a friend in nearby Ravenswood when she vanished. In June, more than 100 people, including Shyanne-Lee's family members, gathered for a touching vigil to remember her. The community has been deeply affected by this heartbreaking event, and authorities are dedicated to finding the truth and providing closure to the grieving family. Images: Facebook / PR Handout

Legal

“Once-in-a-lifetime”: Tasmanian property named Australian Home of the Year

A “once-in-a-lifetime” home sitting on a cliff edge in Tasmania’s south has been named Australian Home of the Year. On May 20, Lane Group Construction took home the crown at the HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards for its single-level home in Tinderbox, 19km south of Hobart. The four-bedroom house boasts floor-length windows, a billiards room, a library and an underground wine cellar. HIA judges described the property, designed by architects from Studio Ilk, as a “a once-in-a-lifetime build for Tasmania”. “The cliff-hugging Tinderbox residence is a spectacular single-level, sprawling property anchored to its windswept, bushland location by a series of heavyset stone pavilions,” HIA said. HIA praised the property for its “expertly wrought stonework featured so prominently in the home” and said the indoor/outdoor infinity pool was an “indulgent addition to this entertainer’s domain”. The rural home has been built with bushfire-resistant materials and focuses on sustainability with solar panels and geothermal heating. HIA managing director Graham Wolfe said the Australian Housing Awards recognised the best in the industry. “The HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards allow us to acknowledge their skill and their commitment to quality in design, material selection and construction,” he said. “HIA Award winners build with exceptional workmanship; demonstrated in projects that push the boundaries in design and innovation." The eco-friendly property also scored the Australian Custom Built Home award. Image credit: HIA

Real Estate

Historic church hits the market - with a catch

A magnificent country church has been through the works and is now perfectly habitable for modern living - but there’s a catch. Covering 2000sq m of land, No. 2 Chauncy Vale Rd, Bagdad was originally the congregational Bagdad Chapel, established in 1842. It later became part of the Uniting Church in 1977, before its de-consecration in 2006. Harcourts Signature property representative Leesa Harrison said the former church has been transformed into a unique residence. She described the property as an “incredibly rare” opportunity to purchase a piece of Tasmanian history. “It is a property with a wealth of historic heritage significance,” she said. It’s undeniably enticing, so, what’s the catch? There is a cemetery on the property and Ms Harrison has said the buyer will have to become a cemetery manager, but that hasn’t prevented the public’s interest. “The property has generated a significant amount of inquiry, well above average. Inquiries are coming in from local Hobart buyers, plus statewide and interstate interest, too,” she said. “Most purchasers are looking for a property with a difference, or former churches specifically. “Many have a keen interest in history or a desire to preserve history.” Ms Harrison added that it was a property with a lot of highlights. “There are many standout features, starting with the incredible stone architecture,” she said. “The stunning renovation the current owners have lovingly undertaken, where history meets the present as you step from the original building into the newer area. It is fantastic. “The original features and heritage pieces that stay with the property are a major talking point.” Many authentic pieces will remain with the property, such as the pulpit, organ and flower stands, original light fittings, glass windows and stained glass gazed with religious scenes. There is now a formal living and dining area, which has been designed to maintain the integrity of the historic construction while complying with the Heritage Council’s guidelines. In the 1950s, an extension was built for a Sunday school. In a more modern section of the interior, there is a contemporary kitchen and a second living area. The kitchen has new light fittings, modern cabinetry, countertop space, a large island bench and stainless steel appliances. The property has a generously sized master bedroom with a large four-door built-in wardrobe and a large bathroom with a separate shower bay and a corner spa bath. Access the outdoors via the kitchen with views of the lush surroundings. So long as you’re happy to be take on the responsibility of a cemetery manager, No. 2 Chauncy Vale Rd, Bagdad could be yours. Image credit: Realestate.com.au

Real Estate

Thousands of Tasmanian devils are dying from cancer – but a new vaccine approach could help us save them

Tasmanian devils are tough little creatures with a ferocious reputation. Tragically, each year thousands of Tasmanian devils suffer and die from contagious cancers – devil facial tumours. We have discovered that a modified virus, like the attenuated adenovirus used in the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, can make devil facial tumour cells more visible to the devil immune system. We have also found key immune targets on devil facial tumour cells. These combined advances allow us to move forward with a vaccine that helps the devil immune system find and fight the cancer. And we have a clever way to deliver this vaccine, too – with edible baits. A puzzling cancer Tasmanian devils mainly suffer from the original devil facial tumour, or DFT1. A second type of devil facial tumour (DFT2) has begun emerging in southern Tasmania that further threatens the already endangered devil population. DFT1 and DFT2 are <a href="https://www.tcg.vet.cam.ac.uk/about/DFTD">transmissible cancers</a> – they spread living cancer cells when the devils bite each other. This has presented a puzzle: a cancer cell that comes from another animal should be detected by the immune system as an invader, because it is “genetically mismatched”. For example, in human medicine, tissue transplants need to be genetically matched between the donor and recipient to avoid the immune system rejecting the transplant. Somehow, DFT1 and DFT2 seem to evade the immune system, and devils die from tumours spreading throughout their body or from malnutrition due to the facial tumours disrupting their ability to eat. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/495558/original/file-20221116-12-jv29a8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/495558/original/file-20221116-12-jv29a8.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/495558/original/file-20221116-12-jv29a8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/495558/original/file-20221116-12-jv29a8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/495558/original/file-20221116-12-jv29a8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/495558/original/file-20221116-12-jv29a8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/495558/original/file-20221116-12-jv29a8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/495558/original/file-20221116-12-jv29a8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Close-up of a Tasmanian devil held by human hands, with a tumour on its lower jaw" /></a><figcaption>A Tasmanian devil with DFT1. Andrew S. Flies @WildImmunity</figcaption></figure> On the bright side, the immune systems of a few wild devils have been able to overcome DFT1. Furthermore, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep43827">previous vaccine and immunotherapy trials</a> showed the devil immune system can be activated to kill DFT1 cells and clear away sizeable tumours. This good news from both the field and the laboratory has allowed our team to zoom in on key DFT protein targets that the devil immune system can attack. This helps us in our quest to develop a more effective and scalable vaccine. How can we vaccinate wild animals? Even if we succeed in producing a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14760584.2020.1711058">protective DFT vaccine</a>, we can’t trap and inject every devil. Luckily, clever researchers in Europe in the 1970s figured out that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003953">vaccines can be incorporated into edible food baits</a> to vaccinate wildlife across diverse landscapes and ecosystems. In 2019, we hypothesised an oral bait vaccine could be made to protect devils from DFT1 and DFT2. Fast forward to November 2022 and the pieces of this ambitious project are falling into place. First, using samples from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-021-03601-x">devils with strong anti-tumour responses</a>, we have found that the main immune targets are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.220208">major histocompatibility proteins</a>. These are usually the main targets in transplant rejection. This tells us what to put into the vaccine. Second, we tested a virus-based delivery system for the vaccine. We used a weakened adenovirus most of the human population has already been exposed to, and found that in the lab this virus can enter devil facial tumour cells. Importantly, the weakened adenovirus can be modified to produce proteins that can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001812">stimulate the devil immune system</a>. This means it forces the devil facial tumour cells to show the major histocompatibility proteins they normally hide, making the cells “visible” to cancer-killing immune cells. This vaccine approach is much like the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that uses a weakened chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver cargo to our immune system, getting it to recognise SARS-CoV-2. <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nepa/states/US/us-2019-onrab-ea.pdf">Adenoviral vaccines have also been widely used</a> in oral bait vaccines to protect raccoons from the rabies virus. Edible protection But there were additional challenges to overcome. Our collaborators in the USA who research and develop other wildlife vaccines suggested that developing an effective bait for devils might be as challenging as making the vaccine itself. Our first studies of placebo baits in the wild confirmed this. Contrary to previous studies which showed devils eating most of the baits, we found the baits were also readily consumed by other species, including eastern quolls, brushtail possums, and Tasmanian pademelons. This led us to test an automatic bait dispenser supplied by our collaborators at the US Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center. The <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/WR/justaccepted/WR22070">dispensers proved quite effective</a> at reducing the amount of “off target” bait consumption and showed devils could successfully retrieve the baits with their dexterous paws. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5BEBfFqOY8k?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Tasmanian devil retrieving a placebo bait from an automatic bait dispenser.</figcaption></figure> Encouragingly, a recent mathematical modelling study suggests an <a href="https://lettersinbiomath.journals.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/lib/article/view/555">oral bait vaccine could eliminate DFT1</a> from Tasmania. Successful delivery of the vaccine would be a demanding and long-term commitment. But with it, we could prevent the suffering and deaths of thousands of individual devils, along with helping to reestablish a healthy wild devil population. Can’t stop now A bit of additional good news fell into place in late 2022 with the announcement that our international team was awarded an Australian Research Council Linkage Project grant to develop better baits and ways to monitor wildlife health in the field. These oral bait vaccine techniques that eliminate the need to catch and jab animals could be applied to future wildlife and livestock diseases, not just Tassie devils. Building on this momentum, we are planning to start new vaccine trials in 2023. We don’t know yet if this new experimental vaccine can prevent devils from getting devil facial tumours. However, the leap we have made in the past three years and new technology gives us momentum and hope that we might be able to stop DFT2 before it spreads across the state. Perhaps, we can even eliminate DFT1.<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/194536/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Writen by Andrew S. Flies, Chrissie Ong and Ruth Pye. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/thousands-of-tasmanian-devils-are-dying-from-cancer-but-a-new-vaccine-approach-could-help-us-save-them-194536" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Tasmanian tower on the edge of the world finds new owner

A mediaeval Tasmanian house that appears to teeter on the edge of the world now has a new owner, who must really enjoy the solitude. Marketed recently for $3.5 million, "The Keep" in Tasmania's far northeastern region has to be one of the world's most stunning and remote properties. Constructed in the image of a Scottish fortified tower, the amazing structure at 535 New England Road in Goulds Country sits atop a 650-metre pinnacle, and its lonesome presence has made it a favourite of tourists and travel photographers alike. From its incredible vantage point, the property takes in 360-degree Bass Strait, forest and valley views, on the very edge of Tasmania's wild coastline. The only neighbours are the lights of the Eddystone Lighthouse at night, and myrtle, sassafras and tree ferns in the surrounding Blue Tier Forest Reserve. Built in 2009, The Keep has only just allowed tourists to see inside for the past two years – and since opening, has been at 90% occupancy, according to the listing. The owners who bought the property in 2019 transformed it from a private residence to guest accomodation - adding one of the greatest attractions, an outdoor granite bath. Images: Domain

Real Estate

Mountain biking gives this Tasmanian town a sustainable future. Logging does not

In the late 19th century it was tin mining that drove the economic life of Derby, about 100 km from Launceston in north-eastern Tasmania. But the mine has long closed. From a peak of more than 3,000, by the 2016 census Derby’s population <a href="https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC60149">was 178</a>, with a 20% unemployment rate. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431452/original/file-20211111-17-1hl4tek.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="Map of Derby's location in northeast Tasmania." /> Derby’s location in northeast Tasmania. What has saved Derby from becoming another <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-21/world-class-mountain-bike-trail-transforms-derby-from-ghost-tow/9677344">mining ghost town</a> is finding a more sustainable mountain resource: mountain biking. This transition could be considered a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-08/mountain-bike-boom-a-boon-for-country-towns/9153572">role model</a> for the world, a story of hope for mining communities seeking to transition away from unsustainable resource extraction to something more about maintaining balance with nature. But there’s something competing against this vision. As in many parts of Tasmania, and elsewhere, the forests through which the Blue Derby Trail Network trails have been built are still threatened by logging. <h2>Origins of the the Derby venture</h2> In 2015, with funding from the federal government, two local councils (Dorset Council and Break O'Day Council) opened the first 20 km section of the Blue Derby Trail Network, a system of mountain-bike trails that now extends 125 km through temperate old-growth rainforest, catering to a range of skill levels and riding styles. There are easy trails such as “Crusty Rusty”, a “mostly undulating” track with two crossings of the local Cascade River. There are extremely difficult trails, such as “23 Stitches”, 800 metres of “fast, descending jump trail, littered with dirt jumps, rollers and tabletops”. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3MJEoTyXbcg?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The 23 Stitches, rated ‘extremely difficult’ The attractions of Blue Derby Trail Network were quickly acknowledged by interstate and international mountain-bike enthusiasts. By 2017 Dorset Council mayor Greg Howard was boasting the trails were attracting <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-26/mountain-bike-trails-driving-major-change-in-derby/9276384?nw=0">30,000 visitors</a> a year, with the initial investment of $3.1 million returning $30 million a year. <h2>Turmoil amid renewal</h2> Logging of Tasmania’s public forests is overseen by the state-owned business known as Sustainable Timber Tasmania (previously Forestry Tasmania). It manages 816,000 hectares of public forest designated as “Permanent Timber Production Zone land”. This area represents about 12% of Tasmania’s total land area and 24% of its forests. Each year Sustainable Timber Tasmania is required to extract 137,000 cubic metres of sawlogs from these forests. It maintains a “Three Year Plan” for what parts of Tasmania it is going to log. It updated this document in July 2021. This plan includes logging two coupes (<a href="https://www.sttas.com.au/forest-operations-management/our-operations/three-year-wood-production-plans/3yp-north-east-region">CC105A and C119A</a>) covering 85 hectares that border the Blue Derby Trail Network by the end of the year. A third coupe, covering 40 hectares, is scheduled for <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7070498/protesters-descend-on-mountain-bike-trails/">clear-felling in 2022</a>. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431419/original/file-20211111-21-jy54dd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431419/original/file-20211111-21-jy54dd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Part of the Blue Derby trail system." /></a> Part of the Blue Derby trail system. <a href="https://www.ridebluederby.com.au/" class="source">Blue Derby Pods Ride</a>, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" class="license">CC BY</a> Local views on this logging are mixed. Dorset Council mayor Greg Howard has said <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-31/derby-mountain-bike-trail-logging-concerns/12502316">it won’t make any difference</a> to the mountain bike trails. Conservationists and others are more defiant. Local conservation group Blue Derby Wild has <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7070498/protesters-descend-on-mountain-bike-trails/">organised protests</a>) involving cyclists, hikers and activists. This battle between logging and outdoor recreation in Derby exemplifies the conflict between extraction and conservation affecting communities across Tasmania, Australia and the world. <h2>The value of mountain bike tourism</h2> This week more than 180 Tasmanian tourism businesses signed <a href="https://tasmaniantimes.com/2021/11/on-forestry-tourism/">an open letter</a> calling for the state government to end logging in native forests. The letter says: <blockquote> Brand Tasmania promises an island at the bottom of the world where ancient forests and wild rivers await to reconnect people to their wild side, through nature based tourism experiences found nowhere else on earth. </blockquote> Mountain biking has become an increasingly valuable part of this tourism mix since the late <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222216.1997.11949800">1990s</a>, when communities in iconic destinations such as Moab, Utah and Whistler, British Columbia began building mountain-bike trails. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431415/original/file-20211111-21-1hob0f3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431415/original/file-20211111-21-1hob0f3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Mountain biking in Canyonlands National Park, near Moab, Utah." /></a> Mountain biking in Canyonlands National Park, near Moab, Utah. Shutterstock While the size and value of the industry internationally is difficult to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1354816620901955">assess</a>, mountain bike tourists are <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1356766719842321">typically affluent</a>. They travel an average 12 nights a year, spending US$130 to US$23O each day of their visit. A <a href="https://www.auscycling.org.au/nat/news/mountain-biking-australia-economic-and-participation-analysis">study</a> published in March 2021 (commissioned by the group AusCycling and funded by the federal government’s <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/regions/regional-community-programs/building-better-regions-fund">Building Better Region Fund</a>), estimates Australia’s mountain bike market is worth <a href="https://www.auscycling.org.au/nat/news/mountain-biking-australia-economic-and-participation-analysis">about A$600 million a year</a>, supporting more than 6,000 jobs. How does the mountain-bike tourism compare with the value of logging? Again, while there are no studies that directly quantify this, comparisons between logging and ecotourism more generally point strong to the latter. A study on the economic contribution of ecotourism versus logging in the <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Securing_the_Wet_Tropics.html?id=N9UshWGGUAIC&redir_esc=y">Wet Tropics of Queensland area</a>, for example, found ecotourism was worth up to ten times more than logging. In Tasmania, the tourism industry directly employs about <a href="https://www.tra.gov.au/data-and-research/reports/national-tourism-satellite-account-2019-20/national-tourism-satellite-account-2019-20">21,000 poeple</a>, compared with about 2,500 in logging (at the time of <a href="https://www.tffpn.com.au/forest-facts/">the 2016 census</a>). <h2>Clear-cut choice</h2> Derby has been pioneer in mountain-bike tourism. Communities looking to emulate its success include <a href="https://lalarrbagauwa.harcourt.vic.au/">Harcourt</a> in Victoria, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-05/york-trails-adrenaline/100350674">York</a> in Western Australia. and <a href="https://aboutregional.com.au/mogo-locals-worry-about-the-impact-of-logging-on-mountain-bike-tourism/">Mogo</a> in New South Wales – which is also battling logging plans threatening the mountain bike trails. Mountain bikers predominantly seek out destinations based on the quality of the trail systems, the attractiveness of the terrain and appeal of the natural <a href="https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jsm/30/3/article-p265.xml">scenery</a>. But just as important is <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14775085.2016.1164069">support from the local community</a> and <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/tri/2014/00000018/00000001/art00002">politicians</a>. In Derby the choice between logging and sustainable tourism should be clear-cut. Mining didn’t last. Nor can logging. Long-term protections are needed now.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/166176/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-buning-943392">Richard Buning</a>, Lecturer in Tourism, School of Business, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</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/mountain-biking-gives-this-tasmanian-town-a-sustainable-future-logging-does-not-166176">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

New “umbrella” species would massively improve conservation efforts

According to new research done by the University of Queensland, the introduction of “umbrella” species would massively improve conservation efforts. Umbrella species are species which when preserved indirectly protect many other animals and plant species. UQ PhD candidate Michelle Ward said different choices in Australia could provide more assistance for threatened species. “The Australian Federal Government’s umbrella prioritisation list identifies 73 species as conservation priorities,” she said. “But this only ends up benefiting six per cent of all Australia’s threatened terrestrial species. “This figure could be increased to benefit nearly half of all threatened terrestrial species for the same budget. “One of the main reasons is that many umbrella species are chosen based on their public appeal, rather than their efficiency for protecting other species – we want to change that.” Researchers investigated what umbrella species could maximise the flora and fauna benefitting from management while considering costs, actions and threats. “The koala, red goshawk, matted flax-lily and purple clover are more efficient umbrella species, yet none of these appear on the existing federal government priority species list,” she explained. “Australia has committed to prevent further extinction of known threatened species and improve their conservation status by 2020. “Yet, with limited funding committed to conservation, we need better methods to efficiently prioritise investment of resources.” Professor Hugh Possingham said that in a time of crisis, smart decision making was vital. “Now is precisely the time where governments need to get their investment in nature to be as efficient as possible,” he said. “Nations around the world can significantly improve the selection of umbrella species for conservation action by taking advantage of our transparent, quantitative and objective prioritisation approach. “With a species extinction crisis, looming international deadlines and limited conservation funding globally, we need better methods to efficiently prioritise investment of resources in species recovery.” The study, published in Conservation Biology (<a href="https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/50178/3ct4h/2808599/Ds2b._AP0gyT630EB6_aQlNZXn05sHJG_MdYR0Ar.html">DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13430</a>), was conducted by UQ, <a href="https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/50178/3ct4h/2808600/Ds2b._AP0gyT630EB6_a6jGpUsKkQsMprfjcLi0h.html">The Nature Conservancy</a>, the <a href="https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/50178/3ct4h/2291364/Ds2b._AP0gyT630EB6_aeAh0IAz4MZ87vQ.Ij7du.html">Wildlife Conservation Society</a> and the <a href="https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/50178/3ct4h/2808601/Ds2b._AP0gyT630EB6_aXgEzA0c2ovhFWY3HjXCB.html">United Nations Development Program</a>.

Domestic Travel

The result of Australia's extinct species is saddening and devastating

It’s well established that unsustainable human activity is <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/all_publications/living_planet_report_2018/">damaging the health of the planet</a>. The way we use Earth threatens our future and that of many animals and plants. <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-mass-extinction-and-are-we-in-one-now-122535">Species extinction</a> is an inevitable end point. It’s important that the loss of Australian nature be quantified accurately. To date, putting an exact figure on the number of extinct species has been challenging. But in the most comprehensive assessment of its kind, our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000632071930895X">research</a> has confirmed that 100 endemic Australian species living in 1788 are now validly listed as <a href="http://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news/a-review-of-listed-extinctions-in-australia">extinct</a>. Alarmingly, this tally confirms that the number of extinct Australian species is much higher than previously thought. The most precise tally yet Counts of extinct Australian species vary. The federal government’s list of extinct <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=flora">plants</a> and <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna">animals</a> totals 92. However 20 of these are subspecies, five are now known to still exist in Australia and seven survive overseas – reducing the figure to 60. An RMIT/ABC fact check <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-19/fact-check-does-australia-have-one-of-the-highest-extinction/6691026">puts the figure</a> at 46. The states and territories also hold their own extinction lists, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature keeps a global database, the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org">Red List</a>. Our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000632071930895X">research</a> collated these separate listings. We excluded species that still exist overseas, such as the <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=24168">water tassel-fern</a>. We also excluded some species that, happily, have been rediscovered since being listed as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-13/seed-bank-holds-the-forgotten-conservation/10610418">extinct</a>, or which are no longer recognised as valid species (such as the obscure snail <a href="https://bie.ala.org.au/search?sortField=&dir=desc&q=Fluvidona+dulvertonensis">Fluvidona dulvertonensis</a>). We concluded that exactly 100 plant and animal species are validly listed as having become extinct in the 230 years since Europeans colonised Australia: <ul> <li>38 plants, such as the <a href="https://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/91897">magnificent spider-orchid</a></li> <li>1 seaweed species</li> <li>34 mammals including the <a href="https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/australia-over-time/extinct-animals/the-thylacine/">thylacine</a> and pig-footed bandicoot</li> <li>10 invertebrates including a funnel-web spider, beetles and snails</li> <li>9 birds, such as the <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=723">paradise parrot</a></li> <li>4 frogs, including two species of the bizarre <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2013/03/15/resurrecting-the-extinct-frog-with-a-stomach-for-a-womb/">gastric-brooding frog</a> which used its stomach as a womb</li> <li>3 reptiles including the Christmas Island forest skink</li> <li>1 fish, the Pedder galaxias.</li> </ul> Our tally includes three species listed as extinct in the wild, with two of these still existing in captivity. The mammal toll represents 10% of the species present in 1788. This loss rate is far higher than for any other continent over this period. The 100 extinctions are drawn from formal lists. But many extinctions have not been officially registered. Other species disappeared before their existence was recorded. More have not been seen for decades, and are suspected lost by scientists or Indigenous groups who <a href="https://theconversation.com/eulogy-for-a-seastar-australias-first-recorded-marine-extinction-103225">knew them best</a>. We speculate that the actual tally of extinct Australian species since 1788 is likely to be about ten times greater than we derived from official lists. And biodiversity loss is more than extinctions alone. Many more Australian species have disappeared from all but a vestige of their former ranges, or persist in populations far smaller than in the past. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/303097/original/file-20191122-74593-1qdj0uz.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> The geographical spread of extinctions across Australia. Darker shading represents a higher extinction tally. Dating the losses Dating of extinctions is not straightforward. For a few Australian species, such as the Christmas Island forest skink, we know the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vale-gump-the-last-known-christmas-island-forest-skink-30252">day the last known individual died</a>. But many species disappeared without us realising at the time. Our estimation of extinction dates reveals a largely continuous rate of loss – averaging about four species per decade. Continuing this trend, in the past decade, <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cobi.12852">three Australian species have become extinct</a> – the Christmas Island forest skink, Christmas Island pipistrelle and Bramble Cay melomys – and two others became extinct in the wild. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/303096/original/file-20191122-74584-f59vt8.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> Cumulative tally of Australian extinctions since 1788. The extinctions occurred over most of the continent. However 21 occurred only on islands smaller than Tasmania, which comprise less than 0.5% of Australia’s land mass. This trend, repeated around the world, is largely due to small population sizes and vulnerability to newly introduced predators. We must learn from the past The 100 recognised extinctions followed the loss of Indigenous land management, its replacement with entirely new land uses and new settlers introducing species with little regard to detrimental impacts. Introduced cats and foxes are implicated in most mammal extinctions; vegetation clearing and habitat degradation caused most plant extinctions. Disease caused the loss of frogs and the accidental introduction of an Asian snake caused the recent loss of three reptile species on Christmas Island. The causes have changed over time. Hunting contributed to several early extinctions, but not recent ones. In the last decade, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/534437a">climate change</a> contributed to the extinction of the Bramble Cay melomys, which lived only on one Queensland island. The prospects for some species are helped by legal protection, Australia’s fine national reserve system and threat management. But these gains are subverted by the legacy of previous habitat loss and fragmentation, and the ongoing damage caused by introduced species. Our own population increase is causing further habitat loss, and new threats such as climate change bring more frequent and intense droughts and bushfires. Environment laws have demonstrably <a href="https://theconversation.com/environment-laws-have-failed-to-tackle-the-extinction-emergency-heres-the-proof-122936">failed to stem the extinction crisis</a>. The national laws are now under review, and the <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-nature-laws-are-being-overhauled-here-are-7-things-we-must-fix-126021">federal government has indicated</a> protections may be wound back. But now is not the time to <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/about/review">weaken</a> environment laws further. The creation of modern Australia has come at a great cost to nature – we are not living well in this land. <hr /> The study on which this article is based was also co-authored by Andrew Burbidge, David Coates, Rod Fensham and Norm McKenzie.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/127611/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-woinarski-16660">John Woinarski</a>, Professor (conservation biology), <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brett-murphy-11434">Brett Murphy</a>, Associate Professor / ARC Future Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dale-nimmo-15432">Dale Nimmo</a>, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-f-braby-511682">Michael F. Braby</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877">Australian National University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-legge-413029">Sarah Legge</a>, Professor, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877">Australian National University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-garnett-4565">Stephen Garnett</a>, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/scientists-re-counted-australias-extinct-species-and-the-result-is-devastating-127611">original article</a>.

Family & Pets

Pain relief without the risks: World-first discovery of opioid alternative found in Tasmanian mud

Australian scientists think they have found the world’s first alternative to opioid pain relief. The catch? It is in the form of a tiny fungus. The organism was discovered 16 years ago embedded in mud on a boat ramp in Huon Valley, Tasmania. Researchers at the University of Sydney and Queensland University told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/health-news-pain-killing-drugs-alternative-to-opioids-found/7e2e1c11-4895-47b8-b060-86963cef3b69" target="_blank">9News</a> they discovered the fungus had an unusual molecule which looked almost identical to endorphins, used as a natural pain relief mechanism. "The molecules we've found hit that opioid receptor just as potent as morphine, but we are very hopeful we have good scientific evidence to believe that they will not have the same adverse side effects," Professor Rob Capon from the University of Queensland said. "No one has ever looked at microorganisms, bacteria and fungi before as a source of pain drugs." One of the dangerous side effects of opioids is that they are able to induce respiratory depression. However researchers are confident this new drug will provide the same pain relief without that risk. "Overdose deaths should decrease dramatically with this drug" Professor Macdonald Christie from the University of Sydney told reporters. "If it's not addictive, then that's even better, because part of the problem is people become addicted to opiates, they use too much, they start to use them illicitly and that's where the problem is." The drug is currently in the discovery phase and scientists are looking for industry partners to take up licenses to their patent. However, it may still be decades before the product hits shelves.

News

Why don’t Tasmanian magpies swoop?

The magpie swooping season is in full swing. There have been nearly 3,000 reported attacks so far this year across Australia – but one state has managed to remain largely unscathed. Magpies in Tasmania have been known not to swoop humans. While mainland states such as Queensland and Victoria have reported hundreds of attacks so far in 2019, the island state only had one recorded incident from September. BirdLife Tasmania ornithologist Eric Woehler said it was unclear why Tasmanian magpies are not as aggressive towards people. “Whether it’s just simply that they are a bit more chill down here and a bit less stressed about people or that they don’t breed close to people, which brings out this defence behaviour, we don’t know,” Woehler told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-02/why-dont-tasmanian-magpies-swoop/11561036">ABC</a>. He said the few reports of swooping magpie in the Apple Isle were the result of human provocation. “When we have had records in the past of kids being swooped it turns out the kids were throwing rocks at them or something and the birds are simply being aggravated rather than it being a natural behaviour.” Woehler said Tasmanian magpies had no clear difference with the mainland birds. “They may have a slightly different genetic make-up or a slightly different colouration, but fundamentally the Australian magpie is found over much of Australia,” he said. “I’m not aware of any indications or efforts to isolate Tasmania’s birds from the mainland.” According to the <a href="https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/goodliving/posts/2017/08/magpie-swooping-season">South Australian Department for Environment and Water</a>, magpies display aggressive behaviour – including clapping beak, screeching and flying fast above people’s head – to protect their eggs or newly-hatched chicks during breeding season, which commonly takes place between August and October every year. Despite their notoriety, only eight to ten per cent of magpies swoop people, the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-12-11/magies-ten-things-you-didnt-know/9245780">ABC</a> reported.

Home & Garden

“We’re working very long hours”: Tasmanian MP demands pay rise after claiming $190,000 isn’t enough

Sue Hickey has previously been known for speaking out on social issues such as homelessness, but now, The Clark MP is making headlines for completely different reasons. The Tasmanian parliamentary speaker believes that she deserves to earn more than her $190,000 annual salary. According to Hickey, Tasmania’s Speaker and Legislative Council President were the worst-paid presiding officers in the country and argued that the salary should be increased to make sure that those who are the most qualified are attracted to the role. She did admit that her position was an unpopular opinion. “I recognise that most of our public servants believe they’re underpaid, and a lot of people would like to see Newstart increased, and we do look like we’ve got significantly larger salaries,” she said. “But I can tell you we’re working very, very long hours, seven days a week, and sometimes putting ourselves at great risk. “I would just like to see it commensurate with our peers on the mainland.” But despite Legislative Council President and Labor MP Craig Farrell also earning $190,000, he disagrees with Hickey’s stance as he believes they’re paid more than enough. “I think after listening to some of the stories I’ve listened to this weekend [at the Labor conference] about public servants battling, people having to take two jobs, I don’t think I’ll be standing up saying, ‘please give me more money’,” said Farrell. In the ACT, which has a significantly smaller population to Tasmania, Speaker Joy Burch is on an annual salary of over $260,000. Northern Territory Speaker Kezia Purick earns almost $270,000.

Money & Banking

Leave your lunch at home and head down to your local Bunnings!

Leave your lunch at home today and enjoy an Aussie staple to help out those in need. Bunnings around the country are firing up their barbecues to raise much-needed money that go towards those who have been impacted by the Townsville floods and the Tasmanian bushfires. <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/BtZxJabhhSv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading&utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" 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/BtZxJabhhSv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading&utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" target="_blank">Fires, emergencies, smoke, ash, evacuations, despair, anxiety, charred forest are some of the adjectives to describe the last few weeks in little old Geeveston , Huon Valley, Tasmania. 📷abchobart Though not displaced by home, we are certainly displaced by our business in being one of the numbers in this little community. Thank the Lord, thank the TFS, Tas Police & local authorities in sparing lives in this story so far though it’s not over yet ! Geeveston will rebirth, regenerate and literally rise from the ashes when this passes 🙏🏻 Please look forward to the next chapter ... Sincere heartfelt thanks to the many private and other messages to date including @lukewmcgregor @louiselovebrand @stevecumper1 among many others. 💕 • • • #tasmanianfireservice #tasmanianbushfires #geeveston #rosehaven #geevestontasmania #risefromtheashes #therealalannahhill</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/theoldbankofgeeveston/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading&utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" target="_blank"> The Old Bank Of Geeveston</a> (@theoldbankofgeeveston) on Feb 2, 2019 at 6:19pm PST </div> </blockquote> Bunnings will have the barbecues running from 9 am to 4pm, so you’ve got plenty of time to get down and help out. <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/Bt181HWgFrG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading&utm_campaign=embed_locale_control" 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/Bt181HWgFrG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading&utm_campaign=embed_locale_control" target="_blank">Grab a snag tomorrow from 9am to 4pm at your local store to support our national fundraiser for @givit_aus 🌭 Stores across the country will be behind the BBQ raising funds for the Townsville flood emergency, while the Tassie team will be supporting the recent Tasmania bushfires.</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/bunnings/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading&utm_campaign=embed_locale_control" target="_blank"> Bunnings Warehouse</a> (@bunnings) on Feb 13, 2019 at 5:00pm PST </div> </blockquote> Bunnings partnered with GIVIT, who are directing funds directly to those who need it most in the impacted communities around Australia. GIVIT founder and Director Juliette Wright is on the ground in Townsville, lending a hand to those who have lost everything in the floods. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823297/queensland-flood-gallery-5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/569e6a56b98a4f68b1a9bf33e82f2105" /> The Townsville floods “Front line services, charities and counsels are telling us what people need. And we ask generous Australians to fill that need,” Juliette told <a rel="noopener" href="https://kitchen.nine.com.au/2019/02/14/15/55/bunning-stores-host-sausage-sizzle-for-townsville-floods" target="_blank">9Honey Kitchen.</a> “It’s about making sure the people in need get exactly what they need when they need it. Like a mum who has a newborn and a one-year-old and cannot afford an electric kettle,” Juliette added. “We’re focusing on essential items. Safety equipment and cleaning equipment as they’re still in the early phases of recovery.” Will you be heading down to Bunnings today to help raise funds for the victims of the Townsville floods and Tasmanian bushfires? Let us know in the comments.

Money & Banking

You can live on this island for free

The daily grind is getting you down and those fantasies of running away to a deserted island are growing stronger. Here's a way to test if that's what your soul really needs. The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service is advertising for a couple to take on the job of looking after Maatsuyker Island off the island state's south coast. It's a six-month contract, the rent is free and the views are stunning (in between rain showers). But there is a catch. No internet, no TV and the relationship better be rock-solid because you might go months before you see anyone else other than your beloved partner. The island has Australia's most southerly lighthouse but the island caretakers aren't lighthouse keepers - it works automatically. Instead, the chores include ocean observations, weather readings, maintaining buildings, lawnmowing, brush cutting, clearing stormwater drains, maintaining the short-tailed shearwater colony's landing pad. Nearly all transport to and from the island is by helicopter and there is one re-supply visit after three months. This means caretakers are expected to be largely self-sufficient, including organising and packing their own supplies. That's another catch. There's no supermarket, deli or dial-up pizza. However, you can take up to 800 kilograms of food, clothing and bedding. The ranger in charge of Maatsuyker Island, Jeremy Hood, says all sorts of people have been caretakers including retirees, sailors, artists and authors. "It's usually older people but we have had young couples. We do need a minimum of two people so it tends towards couples, but not always." The accommodation is the former Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage. It has four-bedrooms and a space heater, radio and telephone. But no internet or TV. That Facebook page will have to take a break. Despite the island's isolation, Hood says former caretakers are positive about the stay. "They are so glad they took the time in their life to have that experience." Would you consider an experience like this? Written by Ewan Sargent. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

International Travel

5 Tasmanian national parks you must visit

It might be small, but Tasmania has an incredible diversity of pristine natural wilderness not found anywhere else on earth. These are some of the best ntional parks you must visit next time you’re on the Apple Isle. 1. Freycinet National Park Tasmania’s oldest national park, Freycinet was officially designated in 1916. It really has everything – towering forests, rugged pink granite mountains, soaring sea cliffs and white sand beaches, including Australia’s prettiest crescent-shaped bay, the stunning Wineglass Bay. Keep your eyes peeled for sea eagles or tottering little penguins along the shore. If you don’t fancy roughing it, Freycinet is also unmatched in terms of luxury accommodation and after a day of exploring you can retire to the plush Saffire Freycinet lodge. 2. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park The jagged peak of Cradle Mountain is one of Tasmania’s most recognisable landmarks and is the centrepiece of this park. The environment here is made up of lush temperate rainforest and alpine mountains dotted with cascading waterfalls and tranquil lakes. It’s also one of the best places in the state for wildlife with abundant wombats, possums, quolls, echidnas and wallabies, and even some elusive Tasmanian devils. Try one of the great multi-day hikes in the park, including the famed Overland Track. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34199/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (107)"/> 3. Tasman National Park The word ‘dramatic’ can be overused in travel circles, but there really is no other way to describe the Tasman National Park. It clings onto the edge of the Tasman Peninsula off the southeast coast, close to historic Port Arthur, and striking rock formations meet the pounding ocean. If you’re feeling brave, you can stand on the edge of Australia’s highest sea cliff, some 300 metres above the water. The newly opened Three Capes Track runs for 46 kilometres through the park’s stunning natural landscapes. 4. Maria Island National Park The whole of Maria Island, off the east coast of Tasmania, is included within the national park, which also includes a marine national park extending out into the waters. There are no vehicles or shops on the island, just peaceful beaches, open forests, rolling grassland and rocky slopes. It is also home to the country’s most intact convict probate station, giving a fascinating insight into the island’s history. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34200/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (108)"/> 5. Bay of Fires Conservation Area While technically not a national park in its own right, this glorious region along the northeast coast of Tasmania is too good to miss. Impossibly blue waters lap against sparkling white sands while huge, orange flecked granite boulders dot the landscape and look like they have been dropped from the sky. Lonely Planet chose this region as one of the world’s top destinations only a few years ago, yet you can go for days and never see another person. What’s your favourite Tasmanian national park? Share in the comments below.

International Travel

What you didn’t know about feeding Tasmanian devils

Auckland zoo have posted a video giving viewers a backstage pass into how they feed their Tasmanian devils. Zookeeper Anneke Haworth loves the native Aussie animal so much she hopes everyone else will fall in love with them. <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/57062666983/posts/10154361693036984" data-width="600"> <div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> <blockquote> Zookeeper Anneke would like everyone to fall in love with Tasmanian devils as much as she has! Head to our devil encounter at 2.45pm today and find out why they're so special and why this precious species needs our help. Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/57062666983">Auckland Zoo</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10154361693036984">Friday, 10 February 2017</a></blockquote> </div> </div> Anneke wore a GoPro camera on her arm to capture what is involved in feeding these tiny carnivores. Anneke explains in the video the diet and eating habits that Tasmanian devils have. In the video, Anneke explains that although they only weigh around 8kg, “They have the bite of about a 40kg dog, so it’s more similar to a hyena.” Two of the Tasmanian devils’ favourite foods are possums and rabbits. To find out more about the Tasmanian devils eating, watch the video above. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/03/kangaroo-bouncing-through-melbourne-streets/">Kangaroo spotted bouncing through Melbourne streets</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/03/emu-loves-morning-cuddles/">Sweet emu loves her morning cuddles</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/02/joyful-giraffe-plays-soccer/">Joyful giraffe plays soccer</a>

News

Tasmanian government flags potential campervan ban

Tasmania could ban the "vile, sexist and misogynistic" Wicked campervans from entering the state, says Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding. The vans are emblazoned with controversial slogans, often insulting women and girls and also depict cartoon characters using drugs and alcohol, and can spend up to three months in Tasmania. "I have been investigating possible regulatory or legislative options to stop these vile, sexist and misogynistic vans from operating in Tasmania," Mr Hidding said. On Thursday, Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said the government would introduce legislation that would see vehicles with slogans that "fail to comply with determinations by the Advertising Standards Bureau" face deregistration. <img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26944/shutterstock_354404441_500x334.jpg" alt="wicked campers" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> However, the legislation would only affect Wicked Campers' Queensland-registered vehicles, meaning there was nothing to stop the company's interstate-registered vehicles being driven on the state's roads. Meanwhile, another Wicked campervan was recently classified as objectionable and banned by the NZ Classification Office. The van has a picture of Goofy smoking a bong, with the statement: "Stoned!" The censors said it was another example of the chain using a well-known children's character to present drug use in a subversive way. Do you agree with the potential ban? What’s your take on the situation? Let us know in the comments below. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/travel/international/2016/07/6-best-animal-experiences-you-can-have-in-australia/">6 best animal experiences you can have in Australia</a> <a href="/travel/international/2016/07/5-of-the-best-national-parks-in-australia/">5 of the best national parks in Australia</a> <a href="/travel/international/2016/07/5-reasons-to-book-a-winter-trip-in-australia/">5 reasons to book a winter trip in Australia</a>

International Travel

Tasmanian woman becomes oldest in Australia to give birth

A Tasmanian woman has made history becoming the oldest woman in the country to give birth. The 63-year-old woman welcomed the arrival of a baby girl at Frances Perry House Private Hospital in Melbourne on Monday. The unidentified woman and her 78-year-old partner conceived through IVF overseas, using a donor embryo. The baby was born by caesarean section, and both baby and mother are said to be progressing well. The birth has made Australian history, with the previous record set by a 60-year-old woman in 2010. Related links; <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/expert-tips-for-connecting-with-your-grandchildren/">5 expert tips for connecting with your grandchildren</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/life-lessons-my-96-year-old-mother-inadvertently-taught-me/">Life lessons my 96-year-old mother inadvertently taught me</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/raising-my-grandchild-is-tough-but-amazing/">Taking over raising our grandchild was tough but the most amazing thing we’ve done</a>

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5 Tasmanian national parks you must visit

What you didn’t know about feeding Tasmanian devils

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Tasmanian woman becomes oldest in Australia to give birth

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