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Parents whose newborn died at Northern Beaches Hospital speak out

<p>The grieving parents of a newborn who died following a series of medical delays at Sydney’s Northern Beaches Hospital say their daughter’s death was “completely avoidable” – and are calling for the facility to be returned to full public control.</p> <p>Harper Atkinson died in February, a day after experiencing severe complications at birth at the 488-bed hospital, which operates under a controversial public-private partnership model. Her parents, Leah Pitman and Dustin Atkinson, believe she could have been saved if urgent care had been available when it was needed most.</p> <p>“She should be here. She should be in our arms,” Leah <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-16/harper-atkinson-death-northern-beaches-hospital-parents-speak/105180276" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told ABC’s 7.30</a>. “But she’s not – and it’s because there was no urgency. No theatre ready. No proper staffing. And now we’ve lost her.”</p> <p>Harper’s death is the second tragedy in recent months to put Northern Beaches Hospital under scrutiny. In September 2024, toddler Joe Massa collapsed and later died after a three-hour wait in the hospital’s emergency department. Healthscope, the private operator of the facility, admitted that was an “unacceptable failing”.</p> <p>The NSW government has since vowed never to repeat the public-private model used at the hospital, which serves around 350,000 people on Sydney’s northern beaches.</p> <p>Leah was initially sent home from the hospital on a Friday due to staff shortages. She returned the next evening after going into labour at home. Though her midwife had prepared a bath for a water birth, things quickly went wrong.</p> <p>“I felt this intense pain in my lower back, and then my waters broke – with blood,” Leah recalled. “I looked down and just thought, ‘Oh God, is that normal?’”</p> <p>By 9:30pm, concern was mounting. But it wasn’t until around 10:30pm that an obstetrician arrived and diagnosed a suspected placental abruption – a life-threatening condition for both mother and baby. He immediately called for a Category One caesarean section, the most urgent level of surgical intervention.</p> <p>But despite the emergency, Leah was left waiting.</p> <p>“They kept saying, ‘Theatre’s not ready. Theatre’s not ready,’” she said. “I assumed it was busy. We later found out there is no 24/7 theatre.”</p> <p>Northern Beaches Hospital operates its operating theatre using an on-call model on weekends. Staff must be within 30 minutes’ reach – a delay Leah and Dustin believe cost their daughter her life.</p> <p>“I was on the operating table 33 minutes after the call,” Leah said. “Harper wasn’t delivered until nearly an hour after the emergency was declared.”</p> <p>When she was born at 11:52pm, Harper was unresponsive. It took 21 agonising minutes before she drew her first breath.</p> <p>The following day, Leah and Dustin were told Harper would not survive. They made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support.</p> <p>“I should be holding her for the rest of my life, not just once,” Leah said through tears. “Once isn’t enough.”</p> <p>The family says they were told during a hospital debrief that it was not “economically feasible” to run a 24/7 theatre service. For Dustin, that explanation only deepened their pain.</p> <p>“Prioritising profit over healthcare. That’s what went wrong,” he said.</p> <p>Northern Beaches Hospital has launched a review into Harper’s death. But her parents say the issue is already painfully clear. “Time delays,” Leah said. “Things weren’t urgent enough.”</p> <p>The couple is now calling for the hospital to be brought fully back under public control – and for systemic change in how emergency obstetric care is delivered across the state.</p> <p>“I feel incredibly angry,” Leah said. “Her death, we feel, was completely avoidable.”</p> <p>“We’re sharing this because Harper deserves to be more than just another sad story,” she added. “We want change – so this never happens to another family.”</p> <p><em>Image: YouTube / ABC</em></p>

Caring

Good news for beach lovers

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Picture this: you’re lounging on a beautiful beach, soaking up the sun and listening to the soothing sound of the waves. You run your hands through the warm sand, only to find a cigarette butt. Gross, right?</p> <p>This disturbing scene is typical of coastal pollution in Australia. But fortunately <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25003261">our new research</a> shows the problem is getting better, not worse. Over the past ten years, the amount of waste across Australian coastal cities has reduced by almost 40%. We’re also finding more places with no rubbish at all.</p> <p>We surveyed for debris in and around six Australian urban areas between 2022 and 2024. Then we compared our results to previous surveys carried out a decade ago. We found less coastal pollution overall and reset a new baseline for further research.</p> <p>Our study shows efforts to clean up Australia’s beaches have been working. These policies, practices and outreach campaigns have reduced the extent of pollution in coastal habitats near urban centres. But we can’t become complacent. There’s plenty of work still to be done.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/658227/original/file-20250328-62-jmuk08.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/658227/original/file-20250328-62-jmuk08.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/658227/original/file-20250328-62-jmuk08.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658227/original/file-20250328-62-jmuk08.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658227/original/file-20250328-62-jmuk08.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658227/original/file-20250328-62-jmuk08.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658227/original/file-20250328-62-jmuk08.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658227/original/file-20250328-62-jmuk08.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A beautiful sandy beach, as seen from the cliff top." /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">One of the many beaches surveyed by CSIRO.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">TJ Lawson</span></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>What we did</h2> <p>In Australia, three-quarters of the rubbish on our coasts is <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fee.1447">plastic</a>. Even cigarette butts are mainly made of plastic.</p> <p>To tackle the pollution effectively, we need to understand where the waste is coming from and how it gets into the environment.</p> <p>Research has shown much of the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep44479">coastal debris</a> comes from local inland areas. Poor waste management practices can result in debris eventually making its way <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15611">through rivers</a> to the coast and <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1260352">out to sea</a>.</p> <p>We focused on urban areas because high population density and industrial activity contributes to waste in the environment. We examined six areas across Australia:</p> <ul> <li>Perth in Western Australia</li> <li>Port Augusta in South Australia</li> <li>Hobart in Tasmania</li> <li>Newcastle in New South Wales</li> <li>Sunshine Coast in Queensland</li> <li>Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.</li> </ul> <p>These places represent a starting point for the national baseline. At each location we studied sites on the coast, along rivers and inland, within a 100 kilometre radius.</p> <p>We inspected strips of land 2m wide. This involved two trained scientists standing in an upright position looking downward, slowly walking along a line surveying for debris items. Together they captured information about every piece of debris they came across, including the type of material and what it was originally used for (where possible).</p> <h2>What we found</h2> <p>On average, we found 0.15 items of debris per square metre of land surveyed. That’s roughly one piece of rubbish every five steps.</p> <p>Plastic was the most common type of waste. But in many cases it was unclear what the item was originally used for. For example, fragments of hard plastic of unknown origin were found in a quarter of all surveyed areas.</p> <p>Polystyrene fragments were the most common item overall (24% of all debris fragments). Other frequently encountered items included food wrappers or labels, cigarette butts, and hard plastic bottle caps or lids.</p> <p>We found more waste near farms, industry and disadvantaged areas.</p> <p>The types of waste varied among cities. For example, cigarette butts were the most prevalent items in Newcastle, Perth and the Sunshine Coast. But food wrappers and beverage cans were more prevalent in Port Augusta and Alice Springs, respectively.</p> <p>Hobart had the highest occurrence of beverage bottles and bottle fragments.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/659486/original/file-20250403-56-enmjio.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/659486/original/file-20250403-56-enmjio.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/659486/original/file-20250403-56-enmjio.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659486/original/file-20250403-56-enmjio.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659486/original/file-20250403-56-enmjio.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659486/original/file-20250403-56-enmjio.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659486/original/file-20250403-56-enmjio.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659486/original/file-20250403-56-enmjio.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Map of Australia showing the cities surveyed and their most prevalent waste item." /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">The most common type of waste varied among cities.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">CSIRO</span></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Targeting problem items</h2> <p>Identifying the different types of litter in the environment can help policymakers and waste managers target specific items and improve waste recovery.</p> <p>Research has shown container deposit legislation, which enables people to take eligible beverage containers to a collection point for a refund, has reduced the number of beverage containers in the coastal environment by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X17305377">40%</a>. Hobart did not have a container deposit scheme in place at the time of our survey.</p> <p>Plastic bag bans can reduce <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31109543/">bag litter</a>. Now polystyrene food service items are becoming increasingly targeted by <a href="https://digital.detritusjournal.com/articles/policy-instruments-to-reduce-consumption-of-expanded-polystyrene-food-service-ware-in-the-usa/284">policymakers</a>.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"></figure> <h2>Making progress</h2> <p>When we compared our results to the <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/fee.1447">previous survey</a> from 2011-14 we found a 39% decrease in coastal debris. We also found 16% more areas where no debris was present.</p> <p>Our results <a href="https://theconversation.com/local-efforts-have-cut-plastic-waste-on-australias-beaches-by-almost-30-in-6-years-184243">support previous research</a> that found an ongoing trend towards less waste on Australian beaches.</p> <p>We think our research demonstrates the effectiveness of improved waste management policies, campaigns such as the “Five R’s – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, then Recycle” – as well as clean-up efforts.</p> <p>It’s likely that increased awareness is making a big dent in the problem. But reducing the production of plastic, and invoking changes further up the supply chain, would likely further help reduce mismanaged waste in the environment.</p> <h2>Implications for the future</h2> <p>Measuring and monitoring litter can inform policymaking and waste management. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25003261">Our research</a> serves as a benchmark for evaluating and informing future efforts to reduce plastic waste.</p> <p>We are heartened by the findings. But continued effort is needed from people across government, industry and Australian communities. Everyone needs to address how we produce, use and dispose of plastic for a cleaner and healthier planet. <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/253221/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephanie-brodie-1492706">Stephanie Brodie</a>, Research Scientist in Marine Ecology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/csiro-1035">CSIRO</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/britta-denise-hardesty-2907">Britta Denise Hardesty</a>, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Environment, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/csiro-1035">CSIRO</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/good-news-beach-lovers-our-research-found-39-less-plastic-waste-around-australian-coastal-cities-than-a-decade-ago-253221">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Domestic Travel

Major inquiry launched into Northern Beaches Hospital following child's death

<p>A parliamentary inquiry into the Northern Beaches Hospital’s services will be launched following the tragic death of two-year-old Joe Massa.</p> <p>NSW Health Minister Ryan Park announced on Friday that he has asked parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to investigate the safety and quality of care provided by the hospital.</p> <p>The inquiry will examine services dating back to the hospital’s opening in October 2018 on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Joe Massa suffered a cardiac arrest at the hospital and died in September last year. His parents, Elouise and Danny Massa, claim Joe was incorrectly triaged and left waiting for hours, leading to brain damage.</p> <p>The grieving parents have urged the state government to review the hospital’s systems and protocols and take immediate action to upgrade its facilities.</p> <p>“We want change at that hospital so no other parent, no one of our family or friends, has to go through what we’ve gone through,” they said.</p> <p>The couple met with Minister Park, Premier Chris Minns, and NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce in February, when the parliamentary inquiry was discussed. On Friday, Park confirmed the inquiry would investigate accessibility issues that contributed to Joe’s death.</p> <p>“We made a commitment to Elouise and Danny to undertake the necessary reviews to understand how they and their son have been let down, as well as to learn what changes need to be made to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again,” Park stated.</p> <p>The inquiry will scrutinise past incidents at the hospital, including those subject to serious adverse event reviews (SAERs), assess the hospital’s responses, and determine whether necessary improvements were implemented. Additionally, it will examine patient and carer escalation systems, particularly the REACH (Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help) protocol, which was found to be insufficiently accessible in Joe Massa’s case.</p> <p>The inquiry will also evaluate the hospital’s measures to prevent adverse events, as well as staff standards and capabilities. Park noted that a previous parliamentary inquiry in 2019 examined the hospital’s operations and management. The upcoming inquiry will specifically focus on patient safety and care quality while considering whether past recommendations have been acted upon.</p> <p>Public Accounts Committee chair Jason Yat-Sen Li expressed his commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation. “I understand the strong community interest in this matter, and I am confident the committee is well placed to undertake this important inquiry,” he said. “I am determined to get this inquiry underway as quickly as possible, but I also want to get it right. We will announce the opening of submissions as well as hearing dates in due course.”</p> <p>The NSW Health Services Union (HSU), which has raised concerns about the hospital’s operations since its opening in 2018, said the investigation is long overdue. “We have consistently seen evidence that Northern Beaches Hospital prioritises commercial interests over patient care,” said HSU secretary Gerard Hayes.</p> <p>“From renting out maternity wards to film crews while mothers struggle with understaffed services, to charging grieving families unnecessary fees to release their loved ones’ bodies – these practices reveal a disturbing pattern.</p> <p>“We hope this inquiry will finally address the systemic issues our members have been reporting for years and put patients before profits at Northern Beaches Hospital.” </p>

Caring

"Makes me sick": Amanda Keller weighs in on Marty Sheargold controversy

<p>Amanda Keller has unleashed on Marty Sheargold, calling out his "embarrassing" <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/disgusting-radio-host-slammed-over-women-s-sports-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comments</a> about the Matildas. </p> <p>The radio host reacted to the news that Sheargold has been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/marty-sheargold-axed-from-triple-m-after-matildas-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let go</a> by Triple M after his comments about women's sport caused a wave of backlash online. </p> <p>Addressing the controversy on her own radio program, Keller took aim at Sheargold and the state of radio in Australia. </p> <p>“This embarrasses everyone who works on radio because it gives everyone a chance to say commercial radio is filled with old dinosaurs,” Keller began.</p> <p>“This thinking, this way of thought is so privileged, outdated and boorish.”</p> <p>She noted that Triple M has honed a reputation as being a home for both sport and comedy, saying, “Well, he’s pissed over both. He really has. And he’s punched down at women.”</p> <p>She called his comments “outdated, dumb, disrespectful and incorrect,” and noted that while radio hosts are paid to voice their opinions on-air, “if our network or if our audience say too far, then they’re the arbiters of what we do. And people here have said too far.”</p> <p>Keller further slammed the industry model, “particularly at Triple M”, of pairing “boorish” male comedians with female co-hosts “whose job it is to say, ‘Oh stop it.’ That is so boring.”</p> <p>She went on to remind viewers of Sheargold's previous program with Fifi Box, and how Marty admitted himself that he had become "a giant A-hole" on the show. </p> <p>“He said, ‘I battered that woman down. Show after show. And I don’t blame Fifi for wanting to get out.’ This is what he said at the time,” she claimed.</p> <p>“And here we are again. How many chances do these men get? I’m hoping that the tide has turned. The outpouring of horror has been so loud.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGjS9F5Tjhm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGjS9F5Tjhm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Amanda Keller Brendan Jones (@jonesyandamanda)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Later on in the show, Sheargold’s former colleague Gus Worland joined Amanda to discuss the scandal, praised Triple M’s decision to part ways with the presenter.</p> <p>Worland, who worked Triple M’s drive shift for three years before Sheargold replaced him, said the comedian had skirted “close to the line many, many times” over the years. </p> <p>“Firstly, he was wrong yesterday in the information that he gave out. Secondly, the way that he did it made us all feel really, really sad. And I’m glad that they [Triple M] made the decision to give him the flick. The apology was never going to be enough, and we just need to change the way that we look at things at Triple M,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Triple M / Instagram </em></p>

Music

Viral sensation to represent Australia for Eurovision 2025

<p>Australia has announced the latest artist set to represent the country for Eurovision 2025 - the world's biggest song competition.</p> <p>Go-Jo – also known as Marty Zambotto – will represent the country when the iconic singing contest returns in Basel, Switzerland from May 13-17. </p> <p>Zambotto, who grew up in Manjimup, Western Australia, will perform his song <em>Milkshake Man</em> which was released on Wednesday. </p> <p>"Ahh it's a dream to be a part of Eurovision 2025 and so proud to be representing AUS!" he wrote under the music video posted by his official Go-Jo Youtube channel.</p> <p>"The Milkshake Man's purpose is to inspire people to embrace the loudest and proudest version of themselves, and I can't think of a better place to share that message than the Eurovision stage," Zambotto said.</p> <p>"It's an absolute dream come true to represent such a beautiful and diverse nation, and I've never been more excited to share my art and vision with the incredible Eurovision fans around the world."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgVXHCJzsn/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgVXHCJzsn/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by SBS Australia (@sbs_australia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Zambotto's mother, who fronted a local rock act, inspired his music career after buying him is first electric guitar when he was a teenager. </p> <p>He was also a promising Aussie Rules football player, with the Western Australian Football League even bringing him to Perth to develop his talent, but he ended up choosing music, describing it as "the universe flickering its high beams" at him.</p> <p>Zambotto has more than 1.4 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.</p> <p>He was the ninth-most streamed Australian artist in the world, and has even toured nationally and internationally in Europe, the US and South-East Asia. </p> <p>His hit single <em>Mrs Hollywood </em>has more than a billion views across all platforms, and more than 60 million digital streams.</p> <p>Eurovision 2025 will mark Australia's 10th year of participation in the iconic competition. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Music

Hugh Jackman performs touching duet with Aussie schoolmate

<p>Hugh Jackman has performed a special duet with an old friend from kindergarten. </p> <p>On a recent trip to New York, Gus Worland - the founder of Gotcha4Life foundation campaigning for better awareness around depression, anxiety and emotions among Aussie men - went to see his childhood friend, Hugh Jackman's new one man show at Radio City Music Hall.</p> <p>Jackman wanted to perform a few songs in honour of the work Worland does in the mental health field, and invited his old Aussie schoolmate on stage for a duet. </p> <p>"He didn't tell me he was going to do that before hand," Worland told <em>Today</em>.</p> <p>"But we sang a song from the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack about having someone in your life who you can have those warts and all conversations with and he and I have been that since we were at kindy together at Pymble Public School.</p> <p>"And 51 years on, obviously his life is incredible and but he's been through a lot these past few years and he's needed his village around him to help."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFZOjgWvtpa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFZOjgWvtpa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Gus Worland (@gusworland)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Many followers praised the duo's performance, with one writing: "Wow what a voice Gus. Amazing pair of Aussies."</p> <p>"This is wonderful!! you can feel how much you guys love and care for one another. thank you for sharing," another added. </p> <p>"The greatest showman!!! And @thehughjackman," quipped another. </p> <p>Worland also spoke about the release of his book <em>Boys Do Cry</em> and the inspiration behind it. </p> <p>"We've got way too many people at the moment who have their emotional tap turned off really, really quickly in their life, so we want to try to get to the little ones to say, 'it's all right to show your emotions,'" Worland told <em>Today</em>.</p> <p>"Because we go through stuff and being human means we go through ups and downs."</p> <p>He hopes that the new book would help break the stigma around boys being taught not to show any emotion. </p> <p>"I talk to blokes now in their 20s, 30s and 40s, who from a very young age, five, six, seven and eight in the schoolyard that you can't show emotion, you can't cry," he said.</p> <p>"And they never turn that tap back on again which means we've now got all these guys out there who are really struggling with their emotional muscles."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Music

Jimmy Barnes shares huge announcement

<p>Jimmy Barnes has made a huge career announcement much to the delight of fans everywhere, just days after being released from hospital. </p> <p>After undergoing hip replacement surgery, the Aussie rocker has announced a new album called <em>Defiant</em>, and a tour to celebrate the new release. </p> <p>In a press release, Barnes shared, "I'm really looking forward to getting back on stage with my band again. I'm so proud of this new record – all the songs mean a lot to me and I can't wait to share them with you. It's going to be some serious fun!"</p> <p>He added on Instagram, "If you've been to one of my shows before, you know we don't hold back – and this one will be no different."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGZC9EgzY6Z/?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/DGZC9EgzY6Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jimmy Barnes (@jimmybarnesofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Cold Chisel frontman will be taking to the stage in June, playing highly-anticipated shows across Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra.</p> <p>The news comes less than a week after he returned home from the hospital, following his third major surgery in over a year.</p> <p>Sharing a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, he thanked Jane for being with him and by his side "the entire time" and sharing details of his recovery. </p> <p>"I can't tell you how great it is to be home, to sleep in my own bed," he began.</p> <p>"Thank you to the medical teams at St Vincent's and St Luke's hospitals who have got me back on my own two feet."</p> <p>His health battle first started in November 2023 when he announced he was being treated for a bacterial infection, shortly after having to undergo open heart surgery in December.</p> <p>In August 2024 he felt a hip "twinge" which required yet another unexpected surgery.</p> <p>It was just two weeks ago when he confirmed he was going under to "have his hip replaced with a permanent joint".</p> <p><em>Image credits: Frontier Touring</em></p>

Music

Nine pulls reality TV series off the air over "staging" claims

<p>Channel Nine's real estate reality show <em>Find My Beach House</em> has been pulled off air after producers were caught out "staging" scenes for the cameras.</p> <p>The show hosted by <em>The Block's </em>Shelley Craft, focuses on couples hunting to buy their "dream home".</p> <p>However, according to Media Watch, one couple featured on the show already owned the property that was showcased on a recent episode. </p> <p>According to the Media Watch report, couple Toneya and Lochie had owned the luxury pad for eight years.</p> <p>"In fact, days after the show was broadcast, Toneya and Lochie put the house on the market – asking price $3.8 to $4.15 million. Can’t buy advertising like that," Media Watch host Linton Besser said.</p> <p>Media Watch also claimed that another property featured on the show was owned by "home seeker" Kirsty, who had it listed on Airbnb for $4,000 a week. </p> <p>The show was pulled from 9Now after Media Watch made their enquiries </p> <p>In a statement shared with viewers of Media Watch, the producers admitted "reversed engineered the house-hunting process". </p> <p>"Abode Entertainment produces Find My Beach House, which is licensed to Channel 9,' the statement began. </p> <p>"The show is designed as light entertainment, offering viewers engaging tours of stunning homes. </p> <p>"At its core, the series follows a couple’s journey, adding a compelling narrative that keeps audiences invested," they continued. </p> <p>"To enhance storytelling and ensure a satisfying viewing experience, we sometimes reverse-engineer the house-hunting process." </p> <p>"Each episode is based on real property searches and purchases. In some cases, aspects of the home-buying journey have been reconstructed for storytelling purposes. </p> <p>"This means the buyers have already purchased their home before filming, and we then showcase additional properties to capture their reactions and insights authentically.</p> <p>"Moving forward we are making the change to include a disclaimer on each episode."</p> <p><em>Image: Nine</em></p>

Readers response: Who is your favourite Australian artist, writer, or musician?

<p>We asked our readers who their favourite Australian artist, writer, or musicians are, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said about their favourite homegrown talents. </p> <p><strong>Greg Curtin</strong> - Judith Durham. Her voice had an amazing quality.</p> <p><strong>Julie Richardson</strong> - Australia has a number of top artists, my personal favourite is John Farnham.</p> <p><strong>Gail Ladds</strong> - Russell Morris. Absolutely brilliant voice.</p> <p><strong>Denise Houlihan</strong> - Such a tough one, so many great musicians, one under the radar was Mark Gillespie, he always made good music. Top of the voices would have to be John Farnham, but so many!</p> <p><strong>Neil Watt</strong> - So many brilliant artists in this country. Joe Camilleri is a particular fave.</p> <p><strong>Faye Inskip</strong> - My favourite writer is Fiona Macintosh...her books are well researched and well written.</p> <p><strong>Catherine Borthwick</strong> - Any member of Powderfinger for sure! They were all brilliant.</p> <p><strong>Vicki Coulta</strong> - John Farnham, Shirley from Skyhooks, Jimmy Barnes, Russell Morris, Michael Hutchence from INXS, Bon Scott from AC/DC and so many more!</p> <p><strong>Dianne Strachan</strong> - John Williamson.</p> <p><strong>Sue Pentecost</strong> - Delta Goodrem! Great singer. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Music

Cabana drama: 5 expert tips on how not to be branded a twit when using a beach tent

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samuel-cornell-1418374">Samuel Cornell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Debate erupted this week over the growing number of beach tents, or “cabanas”, proliferating on Australian beaches. The controversy, which <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@gunclediaries/video/7453200613170564370">began on social media</a>, was fuelled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who declared it was “not on” for beachgoers to reserve a spot on the sand by erecting a cabana then leaving it vacant for hours.</p> <p>Albanese <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/television-interview-today-show-19">told</a> Nine’s Today show “everyone owns the beach” and staking a claim on the sand was “a breach of that principle, really”.</p> <p>Other critics deem beach cabanas an eyesore. And lifeguards say <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-21/busy-beaches-noosa-cabana-craze-surf-lifesavers/101875660">the structures can</a> obscure their view of the water, which poses a safety risk.</p> <p>Beach cabanas do, however, serve <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962208007330?via%3Dihub">a valid purpose</a>. They provide some <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-cant-get-sunburnt-through-glass-shade-or-in-water-right-5-common-sunburn-myths-busted-150640">protection against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays</a> and, from a recreational perspective, can enable people to spend longer at the beach on hot days than they might have otherwise.</p> <p>I’m a member of the University of NSW <a href="https://www.beachsafetyresearch.com">Beach Safety Research Group</a>, and I’ve worked with local councils and national parks to address health and safety issues on beaches. So let’s look at how to strike the right balance between personal convenience and public safety when using a cabana.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U4W_2ti5QUk?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>A fair go for all?</h2> <p>In years past, Aussies came to the beach with a towel and maybe a book, stayed a little while then left.</p> <p>But more recently, the use of beach tents and cabanas has grown. It’s likely the result of Australia’s <a href="https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/coasts/pressures/population">growing coastal population</a>, and a rising awareness of the dangers posed by sun exposure.</p> <p>These days, it’s not uncommon to visit a popular beach in summer and find a village of cabanas stretching as far as the eye can see.</p> <p>It’s great to see so many people using the beach. Beaches and oceans are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935120310665">health-giving places</a>, though they come with inherent dangers.</p> <p>And of course, in Australia the beach is free for all who wish to use it. It’s an approach in line with our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/12/even-without-private-clubs-the-egalitarian-australian-beach-is-a-national-myth">supposedly egalitarian culture</a>, in which everyone gets a “fair go”. Here, beaches are a place to be shared, no matter what your income or social status.</p> <p>The approach contrasts to many destinations in Europe, the United States and elsewhere, where large sections of beaches are reserved for private use. At Waikiki beach in Honolulu, for example, people <a href="https://www.waikikibeachservices.com/royal-hawaiian/beach-umbrella-chair-rental/">pay US$100 or more</a> to hire an umbrella and chairs, and a place on the sand for the day.</p> <p>To some naysayers, cabana use in Australia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/07/everyone-owns-the-beach-prime-minister-anthony-albanese-weighs-in-cabana-debate">challenges the notion</a> that the beach is for everyone. They question whether people should be allowed to mark out beach territory no-one else can use. That’s why in 2020, a bid by a private company to introduce paid cabanas on Sydney’s Bondi Beach <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-petition-to-open-paid-cabanas-on-sand-amalfi-beach-club/ef1ddae5-e24e-4dd8-810d-f0d9ba5c2971">prompted a public outcry</a>.</p> <p>Cabanas bring practical challenges, too. They represent an unplanned influx of temporary infrastructure into busy public spaces. Left unchecked, they could cause pedestrian congestion and become a flashpoint for disagreement between beachgoers.</p> <p>The current debate may prompt Australian beach authorities to consider bringing in cabana regulation, similar to what’s in place for <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/does-sydney-need-us-style-cabana-ban-to-curb-beach-spreading-20230202-p5chgi.html">some beaches in the US</a>.</p> <p>In the meantime, here are five tips for safe and fair use of beach cabanas:</p> <p><strong>1. Placement:</strong> Erect your cabana at the back of the beach and away from lifeguard towers or lifesaver tents to avoid obstructing lifeguards’ views. Clear sightlines to the water are essential for ensuring timely emergency responses. This positioning also leaves space closer to the water for other beachgoers, including children playing at the water’s edge.</p> <p><strong>2. Tying down:</strong> Secure your cabana firmly in the sand to prevent it from being blown away by strong winds. Flying cabanas are a danger to other beach users, potentially causing injuries and damage to property.</p> <p><strong>3. Spacing:</strong> Avoid overcrowding by maintaining two to three meters between structures. This ensures free movement and accessibility for all beachgoers, and ensures families and groups can enjoy the beach without feeling cramped. Also, stay within the boundaries of your cabana and don’t claim territory outside its boundaries.</p> <p><strong>4. Emergency access:</strong> Keep pathways and access points clear at all times. This is crucial for lifeguard vehicles, ambulances and surf rescue teams. Unobstructed access can make the difference between life and death in an emergency.</p> <p><strong>5. Common sense:</strong> As with using any shared space, consider the needs of others and apply common sense. How would you feel if someone set up a structure right in front of you, blocking your view of the waves or ruining your vibe? Or if you or a loved one needed medical attention on a beach, would you want an ambulance crew obstructed by an unbroken line of tents?</p> <h2>Looking ahead</h2> <p>In the past, some have called for <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/calls-grow-to-ban-cabanas-on-aussie-beaches-get-out-and-leave-051701259.html">a ban on beach cabanas</a>. But the structures appear here to stay – and that’s not a bad thing. Skin cancer <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-in-adolescents-and-young-adults-in-australi/contents/summary">affects more young Australians</a> than any other cancer, and the Cancer Council <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-26/cancer-council-beach-cabanas-skin-cancer-rate-highest-in-qld/101887320">applauds the use of cabanas</a>.</p> <p>It’s important to note, however, that cabanas do not <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3873510/">provide complete protection from UV rays</a>. If you’re at the beach all day, <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-beach-cabanas-actually-protect-you-from-the-sun-199102">you might still get too much sun</a> even under a tent.</p> <p>When it comes to your next visit to the coast, by all means pack your cabana. But make sure you use it carefully and responsibly, so everyone’s day at the beach is safe and enjoyable.<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/246882/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samuel-cornell-1418374"><em>Samuel Cornell</em></a><em>, PhD Candidate, UNSW Beach Safety Research Group + School of Population Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/cabana-drama-5-expert-tips-on-how-not-to-be-branded-a-twit-when-using-a-beach-tent-246882">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Tips

Readers response: Who's your favourite vocalist of all time?

<p>We asked our readers who their favourite vocalist of all time is, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. </p> <p><strong>Regina Johnson</strong> - Barbra Streisand. </p> <p><strong>Vicki Bell</strong> - Roy Orbison, hands down.</p> <p><strong>Anne Denise Houghton</strong> - I think it’s a tie between Roy Orbison and Freddie Mercury.</p> <p><strong>Christine Phillips</strong> - Elvis Presley. That was voice straight out of heaven.</p> <p><strong>Barbara Moretti</strong> - Luciano Pavarotti and Barbra Streisand.</p> <p><strong>Marilyn Sheldrick</strong> - Tom Jones.</p> <p><strong>Sue McKinnon</strong> - Eric Clapton, plus his guitar ability!</p> <p><strong>Kristeen Collison</strong> - John Farnham! Australian legend.</p> <p><strong>Lyn Gardiner </strong>- Male: Elvis. Female: Karen Carpenter and Linda Ronstadt. Can't separate them.</p> <p><strong>Mary Bartlett </strong>- Don Williams, the gentle giant.</p> <p><strong>Deb Wagner</strong> - Leonard Cohen. </p> <p><strong>Cheryl Barrett</strong> - Freddie Mercury hands down. </p> <p><strong>Peter Brady</strong> - Aretha Franklin. </p> <p><strong>Karen Turner</strong> - Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams and John Farnham.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Music

Few Australians know the second verse of our national anthem – or how out of date it is

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wendy-hargreaves-1373285">Wendy Hargreaves</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a></em></p> <p>There are two verses to Advance Australia Fair, but do you know the second? Probably not.</p> <p>It’s in our citizenship booklet, <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/test-and-interview/our-common-bond">Our Common Bond</a>, suggesting Aussies know it and new citizens could be questioned on it in their citizenship test.</p> <p>Yet <a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/honours-and-symbols/australian-national-symbols/australian-national-anthem/australian-national-anthem-use-and-protocol">official protocol</a> makes singing it optional. And who’ll choose to sing both verses when thousands of sporting fans just want the game to start?</p> <p>There are living generations who never properly learnt Advance Australia Fair. Before 1984, <a href="https://theconversation.com/50-years-on-advance-australia-fair-no-longer-reflects-the-values-of-many-what-could-replace-it-226737">most school students</a> sang God Save the Queen. Schools today teach verse one, but whether we learn verse two is haphazard.</p> <p>If school students sing along to a pre-recorded accompaniment with two verses, we’ll learn verse two. If we sing along with a squeaking school beginner band, one verse is probably all we’ll endure.</p> <p>I suspect if we knew the second verse our common bond would be arguing about it. Australians <a href="https://theconversation.com/outrage-over-schoolgirl-refusing-to-stand-for-anthem-shows-rise-of-aggressive-nationalism-103160">acted passionately</a> when debating one word in verse one, yet verse two barely raises an eyebrow. It’s the controversy we need to have (after we’ve googled the lyrics).</p> <h2>The birth of our second verse</h2> <p>The problem with verse two comes from its origins. It wasn’t in Peter Dodds McCormick’s original 1878 composition. His <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62087415">second verse</a> championed gallant Cook sailing with British courage to raise old England’s flag, proving “Britannia rules the waves”. His third and fourth verses weren’t any more appropriate.</p> <p>So, before Advance Australia Fair became our anthem in 1984, the National Australia Day Council made shrewd edits.</p> <p>Instead of using verse two from McCormick’s original version, they turned to <a href="https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-165919018/view?partId=nla.obj-165919026">another version of Advance Australia Fair</a> written for federation in 1901.</p> <p>The federation version introduced a new commemorative verse, the only other verse the council kept:</p> <blockquote> <p>Beneath our radiant Southern Cross we’ll toil with hearts and hands </p> <p>To make our youthful Commonwealth renowned of all the lands </p> <p>For loyal sons beyond the seas we’ve boundless plains to share </p> <p>With courage let us all combine to Advance Australia Fair.</p> </blockquote> <p>Next, the council fixed the gendered language in the federation verse. “Loyal sons” became “those who’ve come”. They deleted “youthful” with an uncanny premonition that age would become sensitive.</p> <p>(For verse one, Australians resolved the debate ingeniously in 2021 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/31/we-are-one-and-free-australian-anthem-to-change-in-attempt-to-recognise-indigenous-history">by replacing</a> “young and free” with “one and free”.)</p> <p>But that’s all the council changed in verse two. They endorsed the rest.</p> <h2>What’s wrong with verse two?</h2> <p>The federation verse, understandably, celebrated the politics of 1901.</p> <p>The lyrics begin mildly but repetitively, “Beneath our radiant Southern Cross we’ll toil with hearts and hands”. I’m not sure why we’re toiling in both verses. Perhaps Aussies have an exceptional work ethic.</p> <p>In the next line, the word “commonwealth” was included to mark federation. The forming of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 marked a transition from six British colonies (New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland) into one nation.</p> <p>On one hand, it celebrates unity and cooperation between colonies. But by singing the intended meaning of the verse, that the nation began when the colonies united, we disrespect the knowledge Australia already was many nations of First Peoples.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/643701/original/file-20250121-15-cbyhoq.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/643701/original/file-20250121-15-cbyhoq.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/643701/original/file-20250121-15-cbyhoq.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=806&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/643701/original/file-20250121-15-cbyhoq.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=806&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/643701/original/file-20250121-15-cbyhoq.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=806&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/643701/original/file-20250121-15-cbyhoq.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1013&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/643701/original/file-20250121-15-cbyhoq.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1013&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/643701/original/file-20250121-15-cbyhoq.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1013&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Illustration: White Australia - the great national policy song" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">The federation verse says Australia has ‘boundless plains to share’ – but many were excluded from this vision of Australia.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White_Australia_-_the_great_national_policy_song_.webp">Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>The second questionable lyric in verse two is “for those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share”.</p> <p>In 1901, Australia’s idea of sharing land was specific. We recruited enthusiastically for more British immigration, yet rejected migrants who weren’t white.</p> <p><a href="https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/immigration-and-citizenship/immigration-restriction-act-1901">The Immigration Restriction Act 1901</a>, one of our parliament’s first laws, allowed immigration officers to set near impossible dictation tests in any European language. In effect, this meant anyone could be excluded from immigrating by what would be known as the White Australia Policy.</p> <p>Australia’s 21st century approach to sharing with foreigners also draws media attention. The breach of human rights at <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-un-says-australia-violated-human-rights-law-but-its-unlikely-to-change-the-way-we-treat-refugees-247096">detention centres</a> and the limiting of <a href="https://theconversation.com/international-student-numbers-in-australia-will-be-controlled-by-a-new-informal-cap-heres-how-it-will-work-246318">international student visas</a> to stem migration suggest we have “bounds” after all.</p> <h2>The way forward</h2> <p>If the federation verse is theoretically testable for new citizens, then we should check if the values of 1901 and 2025 still match. Without checking, Australia is stagnating, not advancing.</p> <p>The way forward is in the last line of verse two: “With courage let us all combine to Advance Australia Fair”.</p> <p>In 1901, that was a plea for spirit and cooperation between colonies when forming a national parliament.</p> <p>Yet, there’s a timeless truth in those words. By debating our anthem courageously, we can be united by challenge, enriched by diversity and ingenious at rewriting lyrics.<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/246678/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wendy-hargreaves-1373285"><em>Wendy Hargreaves</em></a><em>, Senior Learning Advisor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Izhar KHAN/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/few-australians-know-the-second-verse-of-our-national-anthem-or-how-out-of-date-it-is-246678">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Music

Despite decades of beach safety ads, at least 55 people have drowned in Australia this summer. It’s time to change tack

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samuel-cornell-1418374">Samuel Cornell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Australia is considered a nation of beach lovers. But with all this water surrounding us, drownings remain tragically common. At least <a href="https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/research-and-policy/drowning-research/summer-drowning-toll">55 people have drowned</a> in waterways in Australia so far this summer, most of whom drowned at the beach. And the season’s not over.</p> <p>Every drowning is a tragedy, and Australia is nowhere near the federal-government supported <a href="https://www.watersafety.com.au/australian-water-safety-strategy/">goal of zero drownings</a>.</p> <p>Public health agencies are <a href="https://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/australia-in-the-grip-of-a-disturbing-rise-in-summer-drownings/news-story/bf2b1595f36bb4b458b371b9fab4f7ed">concerned</a> about the drowning numbers. So how do we fix it? An important factor to consider is how beach safety messages are communicated.</p> <h2>Another season, another campaign</h2> <p>The peak water safety bodies in Australia, <a href="https://sls.com.au/">Surf Life Saving Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/">Royal Life Saving Society – Australia</a>, work to reduce drownings in all Australian aquatic locations, from swimming pools to rivers to beaches.</p> <p>Their public safety campaigns aim to raise awareness of drowning and risks around the water. Australians are undoubtedly safer because of the work and advocacy of these organisations – but drowning numbers remain stubbornly high.</p> <p>Surf Life Saving Australia is running a new campaign this summer – <a href="https://sls.com.au/surf-life-saving-calls-in-hollywood-actor-angus-sampson-to-help-reach-men-at-high-risk-of-drowning/">Stop, Look, Stay Alive</a> – featuring Australian-born actor and filmmaker Angus Sampson.</p> <p>This campaign is one of many in recent years urging Australians to stay safe near the water. Others include:</p> <ul> <li>the “swim between the flags” message</li> <li>the “<a href="https://sls.com.au/surf-life-saving-australia-launches-new-summer-safety-campaign-give-an-f-about-the-flags/">give an F about the flags</a>” campaign</li> <li>the <a href="https://sls.com.au/slsa-draws-the-line-on-rips/">“think line”</a> campaign, which urges people to “stop, look and have a plan”</li> <li>the <a href="https://www.floattosurvive.au/">“float to survive”</a> campaign, which urges people to <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7cf9fd8c3f251339c3dfa8/t/65ea851cbcbf287ede28cdc3/1709868332878/Float+to+Survive+Report.pdf">float if they’re in trouble in the water or stuck in a rip</a></li> <li>the <a href="https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/campaigns-and-programs/respect-the-river">“respect the river”</a> campaign.</li> </ul> <p>But the tragic number of drownings, particularly during summer, suggests not everyone is heeding the message. In fact, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278434322000760#:%7E:text=However%2C%20there%20is%20no%20evidence,and%20hazards%20to%20the%20public.">Australian researchers in 2022 found</a> no evidence to suggest beach drowning deaths in Australia have reduced over the long term. This, the researchers said:</p> <blockquote> <p>rais[es] questions regarding the effectiveness of existing strategies designed to communicate messages and information about beach safety and hazards to the public.</p> </blockquote> <h2>Changing how we communicate</h2> <p><a href="https://sls.com.au/surf-life-saving-calls-in-hollywood-actor-angus-sampson-to-help-reach-men-at-high-risk-of-drowning/">According to Surf Life Saving Australia</a> the current Angus Sampson campaign aims to be:</p> <blockquote> <p>appealing to more Aussies, in particular men who continue to swim at unpatrolled locations and take unnecessary risks.</p> </blockquote> <p>As the <a href="https://sls.com.au/surf-life-saving-calls-in-hollywood-actor-angus-sampson-to-help-reach-men-at-high-risk-of-drowning/">organisation notes</a>, 86% of all drowning deaths on Australia’s coast last year were men.</p> <p>The campaign involves ads on television and online, as well as outdoor advertising. The decision to use a mix of platforms is wise.</p> <p>But the use of a TV and movie celebrity may not be effective. A <a href="https://archive.acrs.org.au/files/arsrpe/RS030057.pdf?utm">review looking at road safety campaigns</a>, for example, found limited evidence of celebrity effectiveness in improving safety outcomes.</p> <p>Could it be more effective to, for example, <a href="https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/38/2/daad034/7143327">use a TikTok star</a> who is hugely popular among young males?</p> <p>Research suggests using the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/28355245.2024.2350155">right platform</a> and “<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7501494">voices that matter</a>” offer benefits when delivering safety messages. This is in part due to the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17524032.2023.2237693">emotional connection</a> people form with these social media stars, which can result in behaviour change.</p> <p>When asked for evidence to show the current public messaging campaigns are working, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) told The Conversation:</p> <blockquote> <p>SLSA is committed to preventing drowning through holistic, evidence-based approaches, combining awareness programs like Stop Look Stay Alive with lifesaving services, in-person programs, and education. This summer alone, lifesavers have performed over <a href="https://sls.com.au/coastal-safety/sls-research/national-summer-coastal-drowning-data/">2,500 rescues and 700,000 preventative actions</a>.</p> <p>Despite population growth, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023000961">coastal drowning has remained stable</a>. This summer, 32 coastal drownings have been reported, fewer than the <a href="https://sls.com.au/coastal-safety/sls-research/national-summer-coastal-drowning-data/">same period last year</a>. SLSA focuses on behaviour change through initiatives like beachpassport.org.au (with 21,000+ “passports” issued already!), and on-beach programs that have provided active community learning <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420924007040">opportunities</a>.</p> <p>It’s too early to comment on the broader effectiveness of Stop Look Stay Alive, however preliminary campaign results show positive impact and an evaluation will be conducted by <a href="https://www.beachsafetyresearch.com/">UNSW Beach Safety Research Group</a> later this year.</p> </blockquote> <h2>Rethinking ‘swim between the flags’</h2> <p>Many current beach messaging approaches, <a href="https://sls.com.au/1281-reasons-swim-flags/">including “swim between the flags”</a>, compel people to fit into what the system wants.</p> <p>But many beaches <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-beachgoers-are-told-to-always-swim-between-the-flags-but-what-if-there-arent-any-220043">don’t have flags</a>. And not everyone stops or looks for flags, signs, or even the conditions before they go into the water.</p> <p>And studies show while most domestic beachgoers know to swim between the flags, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278434322000760#:%7E:text=However%2C%20there%20is%20no%20evidence,and%20hazards%20to%20the%20public">many choose not to</a> because, for example, people are located closer to beaches without flags or lifeguard patrols.</p> <p>What’s more, research suggests overseas visitors to Australia do not always understand <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925753522003058">what “swim between the flags” means</a> or terms often used on common beach safety <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753523003089">signage</a> such as “shore dump” and “shore break”. One 2021 <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753523003089">study</a> found 21% of international students perceived “always swim between the flags” to mean that beachgoers who don’t or can’t swim need to stay outside the flags.</p> <p>This shows that current strategies aren’t resonating with all beach users, and there’s a need to reassess beach safety messaging.</p> <h2>Changing tack</h2> <p>Other forms of public safety messaging should also be considered when trying to reduce drowning numbers in Australia.</p> <p>For example, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hpja.785">people who have been caught in rip</a> might be encouraged to tell their stories publicly. Research into other areas of <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10732748241237328">public health communication</a>, such as vaccines, suggest this can form the basis of an effective campaign.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278434322000760#:%7E:text=However%2C%20there%20is%20no%20evidence,and%20hazards%20to%20the%20public.">Research also suggests</a> teaching beachgoers about coastal science can improve beach safety behaviour. For example, people can be taught about how rip currents work, using images of dye released into the water.</p> <p>Crucially, consensus is needed on which <a href="https://www.jsams.org/article/S1440-2440(06)00231-3/abstract">key messages to prioritise</a>. Too much differing messaging <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8807320/?utm_source">may lead to message fatigue or confusion</a> about which message is most important to follow.</p> <p>Messaging on beach safety to date has surely prevented drowning. But the stubborn drowning toll highlights the need to evaluate what is not working. Clear and consistent messaging, using modern platforms and engaging influencers may help us to get to zero drownings sooner.<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/245747/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samuel-cornell-1418374">Samuel Cornell</a>, PhD Candidate, UNSW Beach Safety Research Group + School of Population Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/despite-decades-of-beach-safety-ads-at-least-55-people-have-drowned-in-australia-this-summer-its-time-to-change-tack-245747">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Domestic Travel

Council cracks down on odd beach trend

<p>A local council on the NSW South Coast has had to put a stop to the latest bizarre measure people have been taking to reserve a spot at the beach. </p> <p>Signs have been raised along Cliff Road in North Wollongong to not use glad wrap to secure public gazebos. </p> <p>"This is a shared public space," the sign read. "The use of cling wrap or any material to enclose picnic shelters is prohibited."</p> <p>Lord Mayor of Wollongong Tania Brown told <em>Today</em> that "it is crazy" council had to even take this kind of action, following the rise in incidents where people were cling-wrapping cabanas and picnic benches at local parks and beaches. </p> <p>"It doesn't happen very often, but it's certainly around those peak days of Christmas, New Year's Eve and we've got Australia Day coming up, so we've seen it starting to increase," Brown said.</p> <p>"So that's why we put signs up as preventative measures to remind people that this is prohibited, that our beach huts are there in public spaces for the benefit of all in our community and they cannot be reserved."</p> <p>Brown said that the signs were put in place so people can come and enjoy what Wollongong has to offer, including 17 of the state's best patrolled beaches. </p> <p>"We've just got to make sure that everybody shares that public space in a courteous and respectful manner," she said.</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Six covers of Bob Dylan songs that were better than the originals

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/glenn-fosbraey-424079">Glenn Fosbraey</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-winchester-743">University of Winchester</a></em></p> <p>He may never have strayed far from the minds of many music fans, but with his biopic A Complete Unknown hitting UK cinemas on January 17 and heartthrob Timothée Chalamet in the lead role, Bob Dylan may be about to gain an entirely new audience.</p> <p>Considered by many to be the <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/bob-dylan-on-the-simple-reason-he-became-a-songwriter/">greatest songwriter of all time</a>, Dylan’s influence on music can’t be understated. His voice, however, has divided listeners over the decades. Some find it <a href="https://www.insidehook.com/music/bob-dylan-singing-voice#:%7E:text=His%20voice%20has%20articulated%20an,has%20sounded%20like%20him%20since.">“mesmeric”</a> and others have likened it to that of <a href="https://www.insidehook.com/music/bob-dylan-singing-voice#:%7E:text=His%20voice%20has%20articulated%20an,has%20sounded%20like%20him%20since.">“a dog with his leg caught in barbed wire”</a>.</p> <p>Despite having, as a researcher of songwriting, something of a penchant for Dylan’s idiosyncratic and character-filled style, here are six covers of his songs which I believe outperform his versions.</p> <p><iframe style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/7epeDOmTqTFJbJ4q8P5RtW?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" loading="lazy"></iframe></p> <h2>1. Girl from the North Country by Eels</h2> <p>Girl from the North Country first appeared on Dylan’s 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. But it featured again on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je4Eg77YSSA">Nashville Skyline</a> in 1969 as a duet with Johnny Cash. That version has been praised for the <a href="https://www.musicradar.com/news/bob-dylan-making-of-nashville-skyline">skip and groove of the acoustic guitar performances</a> and how Dylan and Cash’s vocals are <a href="https://www.musicradar.com/news/bob-dylan-making-of-nashville-skyline">instinctive and spontaneous</a>.</p> <p>Another view would be that the guitars are out of time and the vocals are under-rehearsed – and the same shortcomings are on display during the song’s performance on the <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/johnny-cash-bob-dylan-duet-girl-north-country/">Johnny Cash show</a>. Far superior in my humble opinion is the 2005 version by alt-rock band Eels.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OOCOxRIB2Zo?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Girl from the North Country by Eels.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The band performed the song for their <a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xv3eel">Eels with Strings: Live at Town Hall</a> DVD and album. Band leader Mark Everett switched it from acoustic guitar to piano. His gentle arpeggiated playing complemented his <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/feb/27/popandrock.mainsection">gruff yet tender</a> vocals and drew every drop of emotion out of the lyrics and melody. He keeps in time, too.</p> <h2>2. Mr Tambourine Man by The Byrds</h2> <p>A masterclass in lyric writing, Mr Tambourine Man (1965) saw Dylan <a href="https://genius.com/Bob-dylan-mr-tambourine-man-lyrics">flexing his linguistic muscles</a> to reel off dozens of intricate internal and end rhymes, including my personal favourite:</p> <blockquote> <p>Though I know that evening’s empire has returned into sand<br />Vanished from my hand<br />Left me blindly here to stand, but still not sleeping.</p> </blockquote> <p>The Byrds’ version, released in the same year and hitting number one in both the US and the UK, isn’t better than the brilliant original (how could it be?) but it is brilliantly different.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Swqw5a8I4b4?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">The Byrds’ version of Mr Tambourine Man.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Abridging Dylan’s version in order to make for a more palatable running time for the singles market, what it lacks in lyrics it more than makes up for in melody. The harmonies in the chorus add to Dylan’s main vocal line. It was an era-defining moment that launched the folk-rock genre.</p> <h2>3. All Along The Watchtower by The Jimi Hendrix Experience</h2> <p>Dylan may have released the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT7Hj-ea0VE">original version</a> of All Along The Watchtower on his John Wesley Harding album in 1967, but it was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY">The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s cover</a>, released just six months later, which has largely been accepted as the definitive recording.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NdSyFxTDQUM?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">All Along the Watchtower performed by Jimi Hendrix.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Taking Dylan’s gentle acoustic guitar and harmonica number and feeding it through his legendary white Strat, Hendrix rocks seven shades of summer out of the song until it takes on a completely new life.</p> <p>So great was his reinterpretation (it seems derisive to merely label it a “cover”) that as well as being ranked at number 40 in Rolling Stone’s <a href="https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-30065/the-jimi-hendrix-experience-all-along-the-watchtower-30527/">500 Greatest Songs of All Time</a> list, Dylan amended the song’s structure for <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/what-did-bob-dylan-think-jimi-hendrix-version-along-the-watchtower/">later live performances</a> in order for it to be more like Hendrix’s.</p> <h2>4. If Not For You by George Harrison</h2> <p>Granted, I only heard Dylan’s recording of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyouhbgAiCA">If Not For You</a> after already being familiar with George Harrison’s version included on his 1970 album <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XscuV_R6tr4">All Things Must Pass</a> for several years, so it was always going to feel slightly foreign to me.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E28E1hEZN8g?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">George Harrison performs If Not For You.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>What I wasn’t expecting, though, was how unimpressive and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyouhbgAiCA">strangely flat</a> it seems compared to Harrison’s recording. Dylan’s run-together vocal lines were backed by oddly jaunty and accented side-stick drumming (with the snare struck on the second beat but then a quaver before the fourth instead of on the fourth itself) and punctuated with glockenspiel. It all adds up to a slightly confused and messy arrangement, which takes attention away from the sincerity of the lyrics.</p> <h2>5. If Not For You by Olivia Newton John</h2> <p>When Olivia Newton-John issued her own cover of If Not For You in 1971, she wisely opted for the <a href="https://americansongwriter.com/how-bob-dylan-and-george-harrison-helped-olivia-newton-john-land-her-first-hit/">same arrangement</a> as Harrison’s, thankfully, minus Phil Spector’s muddy over-production – and scored an international hit with it in the process.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aJvwcpkBN3A?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">If Not For You performed by Olivia Newton John.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>To my mind If Not For You remains one of Dylan’s most simplistic, beautiful songs – so long as he’s not singing it.</p> <h2>6. Ballad of Hollis Brown by David Lynch</h2> <p>Appearing on The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964), Dylan presents the five-minute <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8xkxy3tXTA">Ballad of Hollis Brown</a> as its title suggests, as a <a href="https://pressbooks.pub/shawangunktest/chapter/pounding-in-your-brain-form-in-dylans-ballad-of-hollis-brown/#:%7E:text=%E2%80%9CHollis%20Brown%E2%80%9D%20is%20most%20assuredly,that%20plays%20is%20Dylan%27s%20guitar.">traditional ballad in both form and theme</a>. His voice is backed by a lone acoustic guitar, minus even his ever-present harmonica.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AXnqohIm9g4?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">The Ballad of Hollis Brown by David Lynch.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Nearly half a century later, director David Lynch took time out from his day job to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXnqohIm9g4">reimagine the song</a> as drum-heavy claustrophobia, twisting the original until it would have been unrecognisable if not for its title and lyrics. Dylan diehards may want to give this one a miss, but for those of us who enjoyed the music from the Roadhouse in Twin Peaks series three, this is a winner.<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/246909/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/glenn-fosbraey-424079">Glenn Fosbraey</a>, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-winchester-743">University of Winchester</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/six-covers-of-bob-dylan-songs-that-were-better-than-the-originals-246909">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Music

Ray Hadley announces 2GB replacement

<p>Ray Hadley has announced his replacement on 2GB's morning show, following his shock <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/the-time-has-come-ray-hadley-announces-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retirement announcement</a> last month. </p> <p>Hadley told listeners live on-air that Mark Levy would be stepping up to the mic as early as next Monday. </p> <p>“That’s Mark Levy in the studio. He is my replacement as of next Monday, actually, he’s taking over,” Hadley told 2GB listeners on Tuesday morning. </p> <p>“So that’s wonderful news for the station and wonderful news for our listeners as well.”</p> <p>Hadley explained that he'd been receiving emails from listeners who wanted Levy to become his replacement, and his response at the time was: “I’ve written back … and said ‘It’s not my decision, it’s a decision for management, and it’s been taken, and I can only hardly endorse the decision they’ve made’.”</p> <p>Levy, who hosts 2GB’s Wide World of Sports has previously filled in for Hadley, and said he felt "extremely honoured" to be taking on the role. </p> <p>“As a young kid I grew up listening to the talkback kings and to be taking over a timeslot that’s been owned by a mentor and a friend for the last 20 years is something I am excited about and extremely honoured to do,” Levy said.</p> <p>“I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and I can’t wait to speak to our loyal listeners every morning about the issues affecting them in what’s shaping up as an important election year.”</p> <p>The change comes after Hadley announced his retirement in November, with his last day tipped to be December 13. </p> <p>“It’s been a hell of a ride from a young bloke who wanted to call the races, but the time has come for someone else to do the job,” Hadley told listeners at the time. </p> <p><em>Image: 2GB</em></p>

Music

"No one cares": Albo roasted over Spotify Wrapped

<p>At the end of each December, music streaming service Spotify share their results to each individual user of their most played songs of the year. </p> <p>As is tradition, many people share their results on social media, sparking worldwide commentary about people's listening habits over the last 12 months. </p> <p>Joining in on the fun this year was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who took to Instagram to share his top five songs he had on repeat in 2024. </p> <p>His top song was <em>Australia</em> by G-Flip, with each of his top five tracks coming from Australian artists, such as Angie McMahon, and bands Lime Cordiale, Hockey Dad and King Stingray. </p> <p>Despite his representation for local music, many were quick to call out Albo for sharing his Spotify Wrapped at all. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDK7lLHTrAF/?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/DDK7lLHTrAF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Anthony Albanese (@albomp)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“No one gives a frig what’s on your Spotify list. What they want to hear is what you are actually doing to bring the cost of living issues down and what you are doing with the housing affordability crisis,” read one brutal comment under his post. </p> <p>“No one cares. Do your job,” another person said, while someone else wrote, “The country is f***ed & your tweeting about Spotify #priorities.”</p> <p>“WTF? my electricity bill just went up 20% this morning and you’re show me this !!” another added. </p> <p>One comment simply wrote, "Explains why he hasn’t had time to listen to those who voted for him."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram/LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Music

Another ABC reporter announces shock departure

<p>Another ABC reporter has announced their departure. </p> <p>Music reporter Zan Rowe has announced her exit from ABC Breakfast after ten years on the program. </p> <p>Rowe is the popular host of the <em>Take Five</em> series and has been a star for the ABC, on both radio and television. </p> <p>"As just announced on news breakfast I'm gonna be winding up my weekly music news segment next week will be my final week," she told her followers in an Instagram story. </p> <p>"I've been doing it for ten years," she continued.</p> <p>"It's an idea that i pitched a decade ago. I've had such a good time doing it both in Sydney remotely and then on the couch in Melbourne.</p> <p>"It's been amazing to bring music news but also music analysis and discussions around what's happening with artists these days," she added. </p> <p>"It's been a real pleasure and privilege to do that." </p> <p>The presenter then signed off by saying: "Take away one thing and you can make space for other things.</p> <p>"2025 the land of opportunity." </p> <p>Her departure follows Michael Rowland's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/abc-veteran-announced-his-departure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> that he will also step down from the program on December 13, after 15 years on the show. </p> <p>The ABC is yet to announce the new host for the breakfast show, but it is rumoured that the frontrunner to replace Rowland is former ABC correspondent James Glenday, who has been the presenter of ABC Canberra’s news bulletin for the past year. </p> <p>Last month he announced his departure from the Canberra role, on the same day as Rowland's departure, with Glenday saying that he was looking forward to an “exciting new role” in 2025.</p> <p>In just four months, the breakfast show have lost four of their experienced presenters, including Lisa Miller's departure in August, and Tony Armstrong's departure in September. </p> <p><em>Images: Zan Rowe/ Instagram</em></p>

Music

Readers response: What's one song that never fails to make you cry?

<p>We asked our readers what song always fills them with emotion, whether because of the lyrics or being associated with a heartfelt memory. Here's what they said.</p> <p><strong>Kathryn Sands</strong> - Dance with my Father by Luther Vandross.</p> <p><strong>Carol Hanson</strong> - Amazing Grace. Was played on the bagpipes at my mum's funeral.</p> <p><strong>Matthew Walter</strong> - Probably "When You Kiss Me" by Shania Twain, as it's the song my wife walked down the aisle to on our wedding day. The other one would be "What I Never Knew I Always Wanted" by Carrie Underwood, which played after my son was born. Just sums up parenthood perfectly!</p> <p><strong>Patricia Sundin</strong> - “I was only 19”. Makes me think of all my friends who were conscripted to go to fight in Vietnam. Not a happy time.</p> <p><strong>Janette Willis</strong> - What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong. </p> <p><strong>Trish Watts </strong>- If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks.</p> <p><strong>Jan Palmer</strong> - Imagine by John Lennon. </p> <p><strong>Adelle Ellmers</strong> - Sounds of Silence cover by Disturbed. Played at my husband's funeral. It was one of his favourites.</p> <p><strong>Gay Sharran Gold</strong> - At Last…. I have to turn it off when it plays. My daughter married her partner two days before she died and had that playing for their song.</p> <p><strong>Heather Widjaja</strong> - Monsters by James Blunt. Always reminds me of the last days of my Dad's life.</p> <p><strong>Jeanette Heaton</strong> - Forever Young by Bob Dylan. Reminds me of my beloved - lost too soon.</p> <p><strong>Laraine Hughes</strong> - Because by Mario Lanza. Walked down the aisle and played at my beloved husband's funeral. Started and ended our life together.</p> <p><strong>Rhonda Leaman</strong> - Somewhere Over The Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Music

Sir Bob Geldof reveals new version of iconic Christmas song

<p>Sir Bob Geldof has shared the details of the 2024 reprise of the iconic song <em>Do They Know It's Christmas?</em>, revealing why the new version of the song will be the last. </p> <p><em>Do They Know It's Christmas?</em> was first released in 1984, and was sparked by Bob Geldof being disturbed by a news report on the famine in Ethiopia. </p> <p>He enlisted big names such as Bono, Boy George, Sting and George Michael to join in on the song to raise awareness and money for the famine.</p> <p>"I was sickened by it. I mean, that is really it," Geldof told <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p>"I sat down and turned on the TV, and here was this devastating thing that put, you know, my pathetic, puny personal problems in a horrifying perspective."</p> <p>Since then, three more versions of the charity song have been made, in 2004, 2014 and now, in 2024 to mark the 40th anniversary of the original track. </p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CDiYk07FG1Y?si=TwdiduKB5vPX56V7" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Instead of recruiting new artists, this time Bob Geldof has remixed famous renditions from previous versions to combine the greatest voices of our time.</p> <p>Despite each iteration of the song having its own unique charm and voice, Geldof says it will be the last hurrah for the iconic Christmas tune.</p> <p>"I personally think, it's the definitive one and there will be no more," Geldof said.</p> <p>"The world has never been more fragile in my life, and I'm old, and I don't think people can take on board any more horror. They cannot absorb any more, but it's happening."</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair </em></p>

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Parents whose newborn died at Northern Beaches Hospital speak out

Good news for beach lovers

Major inquiry launched into Northern Beaches Hospital following child's death

"Makes me sick": Amanda Keller weighs in on Marty Sheargold controversy

Viral sensation to represent Australia for Eurovision 2025

Hugh Jackman performs touching duet with Aussie schoolmate

Jimmy Barnes shares huge announcement

Nine pulls reality TV series off the air over "staging" claims

Readers response: Who is your favourite Australian artist, writer, or musician?

Cabana drama: 5 expert tips on how not to be branded a twit when using a beach tent

Readers response: Who's your favourite vocalist of all time?

Few Australians know the second verse of our national anthem – or how out of date it is

Despite decades of beach safety ads, at least 55 people have drowned in Australia this summer. It’s time to change tack

Council cracks down on odd beach trend

Six covers of Bob Dylan songs that were better than the originals

Ray Hadley announces 2GB replacement

"No one cares": Albo roasted over Spotify Wrapped

Another ABC reporter announces shock departure

Readers response: What's one song that never fails to make you cry?

Sir Bob Geldof reveals new version of iconic Christmas song

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