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"It was beautiful": Rare rainbow cloud stuns small farming town

<p>The locals of a small farming town in Western Australia have been delighted with the sighting of a rare rainbow cloud. </p> <p>The colourful weather phenomenon appeared above the town of Goomalling, about 130km northwest of Perth in Western Australia, on Tuesday morning.</p> <p>Jenni Shaw was at her family-owned business when she got a text from a friend instructing her to look up at the sky. </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"We all went out the front and had a look and there was some bright, rainbow-type clouds in the sky that we hadn't seen before," she </span>told <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-24/rainbow-cloud-iridescence-irisation-delights-wheatbelt-community/103016928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></p> <p>“It was beautiful,” she said.</p> <p>“But we were a bit like ‘why is that like that? Should we still be outside looking or not?’”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flang.lefroy.7%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02h2HTyVYSVda8NkewrireTWPS4P6wKTnuJxhBWfkNhbxGn3QzHweELRNFQczM8GsPl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="645" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Ms Shaw said the rainbow-coloured cloud was visible for just a few minutes.</p> <p>"It was not there long, just long enough for us all to get some photos," she said.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Jessica Lingard from the Bureau of Meteorology said rainbow clouds, known as cloud iridescence, form in the same way as rainbows - when sunlight diffracts off water or ice crystals in the sky.</p> <p>"It's quite a rare phenomenon to catch in person," she said.</p> <p>"It's the perfect storm of conditions: the sun's at the right angle, the clouds are not too thin and not too thick that they're being blocked out, and the sunlight has just created this spectacle of coloured light."</p> <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> <p>"It's an absolutely stunning photo."</p> </div> <p>Lucky local residents said it wasn’t the first time they’d seen the special clouds in the area.</p> <p>“I have seen clouds like this a few times in my travels, mostly in the Wheatbelt,” Jill Lefroy wrote on Facebook. </p> <p>“Pretty awesome seeing a rainbow with no rain!”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Breeder faces the consequences for “squalid” puppy farm

<p>A 60-year-old man from Western Australia has been dealt over $100,000 in penalties, an animal cruelty charge, and a 40 year animal ownership ban in the wake of RSPCA inspectors seizing 39 dogs from him. </p> <p>The horrific conditions in which the dogs were living were brought to their attention after a customer came by to purchase a dog from the man’s Bridgetown property in January 2022. He was asking for $5000 a puppy, despite the filth the dogs were being forced to live in - reportedly facing everything from infection to drinking from sewage pipes. </p> <p>In a post to RSPCA WA’s Facebook account, it was revealed that the man “has been given what amounts to a lifetime ban from breeding animals after RSPCA inspectors seized 39 labradoodles from his Bridgetown home in January.</p> <p>“The offender was banned from owning any animal for 40 years, with one notable exception; the Magistrate ruled he could have up to three sterilised dogs.</p> <p>The offender, who pleaded guilty to 28 charges of animal cruelty, has also been fined $112,000, $64,000 of which was suspended for two years.” </p> <p>It went on to outline the conditions the inspector had encountered, and that - importantly - the “The dogs continue to recover in the care of RSPCA WA.”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRSPCAWA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02kdjk1JMbPpBanhpEFJGKd2wB9sCzuhHi4EivkDEckADnUFNgJb24Wmdgt8MuLDaRl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="708" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Kylie Green, Inspector Manager for RSPCA WA, explained that the dogs were examined by a veterinarian after they were removed from the property, and discovered that they were suffering from a whole host of conditions - with everything from ear infections to matted fur, dental disease, and conjunctivitis. </p> <p>“A lot of the dogs and puppies were also suffering from significant psychological harm, as determined by a veterinary behaviourist,” she added. </p> <p>“Some of them just stood in their kennels for weeks after they first came here, staring at the wall and refusing to interact.</p> <p>“It’s a credit to our expert staff and network of dedicated foster carers that they’ve come as far as they have, but this is what people need to stop and consider when they are looking to buy a ‘cute’ puppy.”</p> <p>Kyle went on to stress the importance of evaluating the conditions any puppy is being raised in before buying, whether “you buy from an unregistered breeder, if you buy off the internet or social media”. As without “clean, safe conditions” and a “happy and healthy” mother, “there’s a chance you are supporting this kind of cruelty.” </p> <p><em>Images: RSPCA WA / Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“You won’t believe it”: An a-moo-sing new addition for one Victorian farm

<p>Megan and Barry Coster, two dairy farmers from Victoria’s West Gippsland region, were given the smiling surprise of a lifetime during their latest round of calving. </p> <p>“My husband was collecting calves to bring in for the day,” Megan told ABC’s rural reporter Annie Brown. “And I think I was off with the kids at sport, and I just got this text message of this calf, and he’s [Barry] like ‘you won’t believe it’.</p> <p>“Originally when he got the calf up he didn’t notice, and then he turned around and looked on the other side, and couldn’t believe it.” </p> <p>The calf, affectionately named ‘Happy’ by the family, had been born with an award-winning grin - just not where one would expect. On his side was a very unique marking - two eyes, a nose, and a big smile. </p> <p>When asked how old Happy was, Megan explained that he had only been born three or four days prior to the discovery, and went on to add that they had a lot of calving going on, so it was a busy time for them, and likely why they hadn’t immediately noticed what made Happy so special. </p> <p>“We’ve seen some number sevens, or love hearts on the head, and a few strange markings but we’ve never seen anything that resembles a smiley face before … we’ve had thousands over the years, and we’ve never had anything like it,” Megan said. </p> <p>“I couldn’t believe it,” she went on, before admitting she’d checked to ensure none of their staff had added any of the lines to the young cow. “And then I was pretty quickly sharing it with some of my friends - none of them could believe it either.” </p> <p>Megan went on to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1591950161115622/permalink/3523334507977168/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post to Facebook</a>, sharing a photo of their spectacular latest addition with the caption “the funniest marking we’ve had for a while”, to the delight of fellow dairy fans around the world. </p> <p>“They look fake! How awesome,” wrote one individual, who seemed to share Megan’s initial disbelief, “best marking I’ve seen.”</p> <p>“I guess that's his good side,” joked another. </p> <p>“Love it. That's got to be a keeper as a pet,” said one, unaware that the family had every intention of keeping Happy on a pet - though he might also have to pull his weight as a lawn mower.</p> <p>“One very happy calf,” came one declaration. </p> <p>One person hit the nail on the head when they said “this one will always put a smile on your face every time u c [you see] it.” </p> <p>Although not everyone was quite so onboard with the lovefest, with one woman admitting that she found it to be “a little bit clown-creepy”. </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Prawn Peeling 101

<p>Prawns are a classic Aussie seafood delicacy.</p> <p>You’ll find them on almost every Australian Christmas lunch or dinner table this year and they can be enjoyed countless different ways, in countless different recipes.</p> <p>While fans of the delicious crustacean will certainly be diving into them this festive season, there is one aspect of prawns people hate: peeling them.</p> <p>Chef and TV host Courtney Roulston speaks about the humble prawn and even shares her number one tip for mess-free peeling.</p> <p>"I'm old school," Roulston, who is a spokesperson for the Marine Stewardship Council's new "Peel The Difference" campaign.</p> <p>"I know there's loads of gadgets and I've seen people do it with a fork and a spoon.</p> <p>"I think prawns are the ultimate finger food, you need to get your hands involved. I rip off the head, get my thumb underneath the first three sections and [opposite hand's] forefinger underneath the rest and peel.</p> <p>"I'm quick enough that I can do it in six or seven seconds."</p> <p>Roulston is a big fan of incorporating prawns into multiple dishes on Christmas Day.</p> <p>"They go really well with a glass of champagne and are great for the start of a Christmas party," she revealed.</p> <p>"Prawns integrate really well into other recipes, whether it be a salad or a classic prawn roll or a prawn cocktail."</p> <p>Prawns served on Christmas Day or during the warmer months are often paired with the classic “Marie Rose” sauce, which uses tomato and tabasco or Worcestershire sauce mixed with mayonnaise.</p> <p>Roulston instead opts for a healthier dipping suace, which she calls the “green goddess” sauce.</p> <p>"You blitz up avocados with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar with salt and pepper with a load of herbs," she explains.</p> <p>"It's like a healthier version of the Marie Rose, it's simple and perfect for the warmer weather.”</p> <p>Let us know your favourite prawn hacks as we head into the festive season!</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Alan Jones offloads farm home for less than expected

<p dir="ltr">After a seven-month campaign, Alan Jones’ farm in the NSW Southern Highlands has finally sold, and is believed to have resulted in a smaller profit than initial hopes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The home was sold for an undisclosed price by Liam Griffiths of Inglis Rural Property to a buyer on a walk-in, walk-out basis, meaning that extras such as furniture are included in the sale.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, it is understood that the property sold for less than the initial desired price of $16-$17.5 million, per <em><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/alan-jones-sells-southern-highlands-farm-discounted-from-17-5m-high-hopes-2-1186063/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">First listed in April this year, Griffiths took over the listing in October with a price range of $15 to $16 million.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jones has owned the property, known as Elizabeth Farm and Charleville in honour of his parents, since 2003 and has commissioned a major redesign that saw the two main residences link up with a mutual courtyard, creating a ten-bedroom home.</p> <p dir="ltr">Out of a total of 25 bedrooms, Jones has resided in a two-bedroom wing with a formal and informal living and dining room, a central living room and a home office, while his niece Tonia Taylor and her family have lived in a wing with eight bedrooms, a rumpus room, and central living and dining room.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the home was recently marketed based on its equestrian facilities, it also boasts a tennis court and pavilion built for Taylor and her tennis coach husband, as well as a separate two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage, and a “hootenanny” shed.</p> <p dir="ltr">The property also features landscaped gardens, a private natural forest called Wombat Woods, life-sized elephant and giraffe sculptures, and an ornamental lake and island with dyed water.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the sale of the Fitzroy Falls farm, Jones’ portfolio consists of his Circular Quay apartment purchased for $10.5 million in 2017, as well as his riverfront home in Southport, which he paid $12.25 million for in 2021.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6a27e41f-7fff-4553-90ba-677859c83832"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images, Inglis Rural Property</em></p>

Real Estate

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Christmas is coming early: Aldi announces return of cult favourite

<p>Aldi has announced that their iconic festive seafood range will be hitting shelves early this year, giving Aussies the chance to get their hands on their favourite items. </p> <p>In order to help shoppers spread out their spending and beat the December crowds, Aldi's highly anticipated frozen seafood range will be available in stores from Wednesday October 26th.</p> <p>Top of the list is lobster, with the supermarket's Ocean Royale Lobster Tails expected to once again be in high demand for those wishing to enjoy the delicacy at a budget price.</p> <p>"The Ocean Royale Lobster Tails are a limited edition, seasonal product that we're so excited to bring back to customers in 2022," Aldi Shopping Expert Kylie Warnke explained to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/aldi-announces-early-return-christmas-seafood-items-230006914.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a>.</p> <p>"Due to high demand for these lobsters over the past few years, we expect this product will quickly be snapped up by seafood lovers to be enjoyed or stored away in their freezers for festive gatherings closer to Christmas. We're prepped for their popularity and have forecasted demand."</p> <p>"We know Aldi shoppers who snap up these showstopping lobster tails will be sure to add a touch of elegance to their dining experience this year."</p> <p>Other popular family seafood items returning to Aldi's shelves will be tiger prawns, Atlantic salmon, garlic butter lobster tails, and Scallops with herb de Province butter. </p> <p>Also on offer will be a range of gourmet canapés, such as salmon wellington in a cheese and dill sauce and wrapped in puff pastry, salmon puff pastries with cheese and dill sauce, lobster with dill and cheese sauce puff pastries, and extra-large scallops wrapped in maple-flavoured bacon.</p> <p>Fans of Aldi's festive seafood range will want to mark Wednesday 26th October in their calendars as these items are expected to be scooped up fast.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Aldi</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Where is your seafood really from?

<p>Fake foods are invading our supermarkets, as foods we love are substituted or adulterated with lower value or unethical <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFC-09-2020-0179/full/html">goods</a>.</p> <p>Food fraud threatens human health but is also bad news for industry and sustainable food <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8791EN/">production</a>. Seafood is one of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X14003246">most traded food products</a> in the world and reliant on convoluted supply chains that leave the the door wide open for seafood <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12571-018-0826-z">fraud</a>.</p> <p>Our new <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12703">study</a>, published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12703">Fish and Fisheries</a>, showcases a new approach for determining the provenance or “origin” of many seafood species.</p> <p>By identifying provenance, we can detect fraud and empower authorities and businesses to stop it. This makes it more likely that the food you buy is, in fact, the food you truly want to eat.</p> <h2>Illegal fishing and seafood fraud</h2> <p>Wild-caught seafood is vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.</p> <p>Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing can have a devastating impact on the marine environment because:</p> <ul> <li> <p>it is a major cause of overfishing, constituting an estimated one-fifth of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12462">seafood</a></p> </li> <li> <p>it can destroy marine habitats, such coral reefs, through destructive fishing methods such as blast bombing and cyanide fishing</p> </li> <li> <p>it can significantly harm wildlife, such as albatross and turtles, which are caught as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320714003140">by-catch</a>.</p> </li> </ul> <p>So how is illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing connected to seafood fraud?</p> <p>Seafood fraud allows this kind of fishing to flourish as illegal products are laundered through legitimate supply <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8791EN/">chains</a>.</p> <p>A recent <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2003741117">study</a> in the United States found when seafood is mislabelled, it is more likely to be substituted for a product from less healthy fisheries with management policies that are less likely to reduce the environmental impacts of fishing.</p> <p>One <a href="https://usa.oceana.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/fraud_gap_report_final_6_6_16.pdf">review</a> of mislabelled seafood in the US found that out of 180 substituted species, 25 were considered threatened, endangered, or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).</p> <p>Illegal fishing and seafood fraud also has a human cost. It can:</p> <ul> <li> <p>adversely affect the livelihoods of law-abiding fishers and seafood <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128015926000048">businesses</a></p> </li> <li> <p>threaten food security</p> </li> <li> <p>facilitate human rights abuses such as forced labour and <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-030-32811-5_127-1.pdf">piracy</a></p> </li> <li> <p>increase risk of exposure to pathogens, drugs, and other banned substances in <a href="https://usa.oceana.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/fraud_gap_report_final_6_6_16.pdf">seafood</a>.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>The chemical fingerprints in shells and bones</h2> <p>A vast range of marine animals are harvested for food every year, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca9229en/">echinoderms</a>.</p> <p>However, traditional food provenance methods are typically designed to identify one species at a time.</p> <p>That might benefit the species and industry in question, but it is expensive and time consuming. As such, current methods are restricted to a relatively small number of species.</p> <p>In our study, we described a broader, universal method to identify provenance and detect fraud.</p> <p>How? We harnessed natural chemical markers imprinted in the shells and bones of marine animals. These markers reflect an animal’s environment and can identify where they are from.</p> <p>We focused on a chemical marker that is similar across many different marine animals. This specific chemical marker, known as “oxygen isotopes”, is determined by ocean composition and temperature rather than an animal’s biology.</p> <p>Exploiting this commonality and how it relates to the local environment, we constructed a global ocean map of oxygen isotopes that helps researchers understand where a marine animal may be from (by matching the oxygen isotope value in shells and bones to the oxygen isotope value in the map).</p> <p>After rigorous testing, we demonstrated this global map (or “isoscape”) can be used to correctly identify the origins of a wide range of marine animals living in different latitudes.</p> <p>For example, we saw up to 90% success in classifying fish, cephalopods, and shellfish between the tropical waters of Southeast Asia and the cooler waters of southern Australia.</p> <h2 class="align-center zoomable" style="text-align: left;">What next?</h2> <p>Oxygen isotopes, as a universal marker, worked well on a range of animals collected from different latitudes and across broad geographic areas.</p> <p>Our next step is to integrate oxygen isotopes with other universal chemical markers to gives clues on longitude and refine our approach.</p> <p>Working out the provenance of seafood is a large and complex challenge. No single approach is a silver bullet for all species, fisheries or industries.</p> <p>But our approach represents a step towards a more inclusive, global system for validating seafood provenance and fighting seafood fraud.</p> <p>Hopefully, this will mean ensure fewer marine species are left behind and more consumer confidence in the products we buy.</p> <p><em>Dr Jasmin Martino, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, contributed to this research and article.</em><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/189471/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/zoe-doubleday-393169">Zoe Doubleday</a>, Marine Ecologist and ARC Future Fellow, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/where-is-your-seafood-really-from-were-using-chemical-fingerprinting-to-fight-seafood-fraud-and-illegal-fishing-189471">original article.</a></p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Farm shooter had gun ban revoked

<p dir="ltr">The farmer who allegedly shot at four family members killing three of them actually had his gun ban revoked. </p> <p dir="ltr">Darryl Young is accused of murdering three of his neighbours following a dispute of boundary lines on their land in Bogie, near Collinsville in Queensland. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, court documents have revealed that the 59-year-old had his gun ban revoked almost a decade ago after a successful appeal saying he needed it for his “business”.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Young was granted his gun licence in 1992, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/for-my-business-alleged-farm-massacre-culprit-darryl-youngs-prior-police-stoush-over-gun-licence-revealed/news-story/5d29e6d9f1922a2d4009f8d17eb60ea1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">Young was allowed to hold four rifles and two shotguns with his licence. </p> <p dir="ltr">Then in 2010, Young went to renew his licence but Queensland Police refused on the basis that it was “not in the public interest”. </p> <p dir="ltr">In his response to the refusal, Young explained that he needed the licence to control the feral animals on his farm.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is no were (sic) in the laws of the gun laws that I have broken to stop me having a gun licence,” his application read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I need my gun licence for my business. I hope the Tribunal over turns (sic) the decision so I can have my licence.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The tribunal accepted Young’s explanation which saw him get his licence again. </p> <p dir="ltr">Last week, in matters unrelated, Young was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/man-accused-of-shooting-family-of-four-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged with the murder</a> of his neighbours Mervyn, 71, Maree Schwarz, 59, and their son Graham Tighe, 35, following a dispute of boundary lines on their land in Bogie near Collinsville in Queensland.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was also charged with one count of attempted murder after Mervyn and Maree’s other son Ross Tighe survived following a gunshot wound to the abdomen.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police will allege Young invited the three members to the edge of his property on August 4 before shooting them “execution style”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Young allegedly shot at Ross who managed to escape the farm in a ute and alert police to the horrific attack against his family.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police charged Young with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder and he appeared briefly at Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday with his lawyer asking for the case to be transferred. </p> <p dir="ltr">Young was reprimanded in custody and will reappear in court on November 1.</p> <p dir="ltr">Acting Superintendent Tom Armitt said it was incredible Ross was able to survive due to the properties being so far apart.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s actually a 45-minute drive between the neighbours,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At the crime scene, which is at the front gate of one of the premises, it is a 3km drive between the gate and the house at that location.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

Legal

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From a series of recipes designed by Xali: Baked Barramundi with lemon and assorted greens

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Baked Barramundi with lemon and assorted greens</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Xali is Australia’s first training, dietary and wellness program to cater to women going through biological changes with a focus on perimenopause and menopause. </p> <p dir="ltr">As women go through menopause they often experince tummy bloating from a change in hormones. Pickled foods are great to help reduce bloating, as fermented foods nourish the lining of your stomach. </p> <p dir="ltr">This recipe was designed by award-winning clinical nutritionist, Samantha Gowing to help woman reduce symptoms of tummy bloating as they are going through menopause.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Prep</strong>: 20 mins</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Cook:</strong> 15 mins</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Yields:</strong> 1 serve</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">2 tsp macadamia, olive or peanut oil</p> <p dir="ltr">½ bunch asparagus, trimmed
</p> <p dir="ltr">1 cup spinach</p> <p dir="ltr">½ cup silverbeet</p> <p dir="ltr">200 gram Barramundi, or other white fish</p> <p dir="ltr">Salt</p> <p dir="ltr">Cracked black pepper</p> <p dir="ltr">½ lemon, cut into wedges</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Method:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">1. Preheat the oven to 170 C.</p> <p dir="ltr">2. Line a small baking dish with baking paper.</p> <p dir="ltr">3. Place asparagus, spinach and silverbeet on the baking dish, top with fish and drizzle with oil and season.</p> <p dir="ltr">4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, check fish is cooked through by flaking gently with a fork.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2cf9307c-7fff-c5e6-a472-5acce2b6bf11"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">5. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with wedges of fresh lemon.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Food & Wine

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What happens when a petting zoo visits an aged care home

<p dir="ltr">In June 2022, residents, families and team members at Arcare North Lakes had an a-moo-sing time with the beloved animals from mobile petting zoo, Amazing Animals. </p> <p dir="ltr">Residents had the opportunity to feed and pat the farm animals which included ducks, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, sheep and baby animals such as piglets, a one-month-old calf and a three-week-old goat.</p> <p dir="ltr">While holding onto the baby goat, resident Joyce Crawford said, “I love you! I would take you home in a flash; I just need a bag big enough to steal him,”</p> <p dir="ltr">Joyce’s husband John, who is also a resident at Arcare North Lakes and is visually impaired, spent quality time with the animals as the Lifestyle team made sure to bring them close to him. He fed and cuddled them and enjoyed the sensory experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I had a great time with the animals and I’m glad we could spend time with them today,” John said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The residents enjoyed their visit so much that they have already booked them in for another visit.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Animal therapy is a wonderful way to support aged care residents as it promotes confidence, supports sensory and tactile stimulation and enables them to relive memories as many of the residents grew up on farms. One question was asked time and time again "can we keep them!" it was such a special moment for them to enjoy.” - Lifestyle Coordinator Maree said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There were smiles, laughs and enthusiasm as resident’s shared stories and fond memories of their own experiences working on their farms,” lifestyle Coordinator Maree said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fab907f1-7fff-bd8d-2734-04ce2488949d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Check out the adorable gallery below.</p>

Retirement Life

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‘Neighbours’ star Ryan Moloney lists sprawling farm for sale

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australian TV star Ryan Moloney, known for his role as Jarrod “Toadie” Rebecchi on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Neighbours</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, has put his luxurious acreage on the market with hopes of selling for $7.5-$8 million.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The actor and his wife Alison are selling their four-bedroom home that sits on a 4.33-hectare block in Merricks on the Mornington Peninsula in southeastern Melbourne.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Highlights of the property include a pool, gym, half basketball court, barn, riding arena and stables.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to CoreLogic records, the Moloneys have owned the property since 2015.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple said they had loved “watching the storms roll in from the south or (the) sunrises in the east” through the home’s expansive windows.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The house is designed to create a connection with the outdoors, and the quietness and seclusion is perfect for our lifestyles to relax and unwind,” the couple </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/ryan-moloney-toadie-neighbours-actor-lists-luxe-merricks-property/?rsf=syn:news:nca:news:spa" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Moloney has starred in the Aussie soap opera since 1995, he also spends his time operating a beekeeping and honey business, Beach Box Honey, with Alison from their farm.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWug4cpA3DT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWug4cpA3DT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Neighbours (@neighbours)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The property is also quite close to the beach, which Homes and Acreage director Grant Perry said was a rare thing for acreages in the area.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It will really appeal to someone with horses,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You can ride straight out from the property down to Balnarring Beach, where you are allowed to ride on the beach.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The sprawling property also scores points for eco-friendliness, with solar panels, its own dam, orchard, chook pen, and 280,000 litres of water storage.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The “virtually off-grid” home would also suit a buyer looking for a “walk-in” property, Mr Perry said, since it doesn’t require any renovations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Perry said Merricks was becoming one of the Mornington Peninsula’s standout suburbs, due to its quieter coastal lifestyle and shorter commute to Melbourne than hotspots such as Portsea or Sorrento.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Getty Images, Realestate.com</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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From Love Actually to Christmas On The Farm: how rom-coms became a festive season staple

<p>It is a visual language with which we are almost all familiar. It’s cold and snowing outside, but inside, next to a crackling fire, it’s warm and cosy. The tree is a deep green, festooned with fairy lights, glinting off the wrapping of the presents below. There is hot chocolate and sugar cookies and eggnog and candy canes, and the only things that can be heard are carols and the joyous laughter of our nearest and dearest.</p> <p>This image of Christmas is, of course, vastly different to what we usually experience in Australia – extreme heat, seafood platters, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q" target="_blank">white wine in the sun</a> – but it is still one with which we are very familiar. It’s present in all our retail settings, with their fake snow and holly and Santas sweating in their suits.</p> <p>And of course, it’s all over our media, in the increasingly ubiquitous Christmas romantic comedy film.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436574/original/file-20211209-138695-5pacow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;rect=8%2C17%2C5982%2C3970&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436574/original/file-20211209-138695-5pacow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;rect=8%2C17%2C5982%2C3970&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <em><span class="caption">In The Knight Before Christmas (2019), a medieval knight is transported to the present day, where he falls for a high school science teacher who’s lost her belief in love.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Brooke Palmer/ Netflix</span></span></em></p> <p><strong>Counting down to Christmas</strong></p> <p>Christmas movies have a long history, dating back to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3ei1tseeM" target="_blank">1898 short film Santa Claus</a>, but the Christmas rom-com really hit its stride in the 21st century.</p> <p>Love Actually (2003), an ensemble film featuring multiple intertwined stories, is perhaps the best-known example. However, in terms of sheer quantity, it is difficult to look past the company that has made Christmas their core business: Hallmark.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437057/original/file-20211212-17-9ikar9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437057/original/file-20211212-17-9ikar9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <em><span class="caption">Love Actually (2003) is one of the most popular examples of the Christmas rom-com.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMDB</span></span></em></p> <p>Since 2009, the Hallmark Channel have run a seasonal block of programming called Countdown to Christmas, central to which are their Hallmark Christmas movies. Countdown to Christmas has become increasingly extravagant: <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/hallmark-christmas-movies-2021/" target="_blank">in 2021</a>, it began on October 22, and will feature a total of forty new movies, along with a (very) large number from previous years.</p> <p>While Hallmark Christmas movies have been a cultural touchstone for many years in North America, that hasn’t been the case to the same extent in Australia, because we haven’t had widespread access to the flood of programming.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437059/original/file-20211212-23-16hf6i3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437059/original/file-20211212-23-16hf6i3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <em><span class="caption">In Write Before Christmas (2020), a Hallmark Channel original movie, recently single Jessica sends Christmas cards to five people that have impacted her life. As each person receives Jessica’s card, they are sparked to act in their own lives to make them better.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Hallmark</span></span></em></p> <p>However, the advent and popularity of Netflix’s Hallmark-style Christmas movies, beginning with A Christmas Prince and Christmas Inheritance in 2017, have led to a growing familiarity and engagement with the Christmas romance genre from local audiences.</p> <p>As a result, after many years with <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/a-very-aussie-christmas-70647" target="_blank">a dearth of local Christmas programming</a>, Stan released A Sunburnt Christmas last year, their first Australian Christmas original film. This year, they have another original Australian Christmas offering in rom-com <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_oEqfyLpMQ" target="_blank">Christmas on the Farm</a>, which premiered on December 1.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r_oEqfyLpMQ?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Christmas on the Farm is missing a key ingredient of the Hallmark Christmas romance: snow (in the Hallmark universe, the characters <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/12/14/16752012/hallmark-christmas-movies-explained" target="_blank">“can’t be waiting for the snow, there has to <em>be</em> snow”</a>). However, it boasts a screenwriter with Hallmark credentials in Jennifer Notas Shapiro, and draws on plenty of other tropes of the Christmas rom-com.</p> <p><strong>What makes a Christmas rom-com?</strong></p> <p>Hallmark has a reputation for conservatism, and we cannot fail to note that for many years, their movies featured exclusively <a rel="noopener" href="https://thewalrus.ca/the-unwatchable-whiteness-of-holiday-movies/" target="_blank">straight, white, middle-class characters</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.vulture.com/2021/11/gac-family-christmas-movies-cable-tv.html?utm_campaign=nym&amp;utm_medium=s1&amp;utm_source=tw" target="_blank">falling in love</a> (although they are slowly beginning to diversity their casts).</p> <p>It is perhaps surprising, then, that Christmas rom-coms do not tend to be particularly religious. Instead, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/what-makes-christmas-movies-so-popular-127972" target="_blank">as S Brent Rodriguez-Plate argues</a>, there’s a more secular reason for the season underpinning these films – “the power of family, true love, the meaning of home or the reconciliation of relationships”.</p> <p>Christmas rom-coms thus have a particular aesthetic (snow, mistletoe, ugly-but-snuggly jumpers), and a particular set of core values: family, community, selflessness, kindness, love. They’re rarely overtly supernatural, but the Christmas setting often gives rise to a little bit of “Christmas magic” or a “Christmas miracle”, which pushes our protagonists towards embracing these values.</p> <p>As a result, there are some very common plots, settings, and themes in the Christmas rom-com.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437069/original/file-20211212-23-d89k1x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437069/original/file-20211212-23-d89k1x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <em><span class="caption">In Happiest Season (2020), Abby, a lesbian, plans to propose to her girlfriend, Harper, in front of Harper’s family members. But she is in for a shock when she learns that Harper is yet to come out to her parents.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Netflix</span></span></em></p> <p><strong>Home for the holidays</strong></p> <p>This plot is Hallmark’s bread and butter. One of our protagonists – usually the heroine – returns home for the holidays. This is often against her will: she’s usually a city-dwelling career woman, leaving behind a similarly career-driven boyfriend.</p> <p>But going home for Christmas reveals to her that although she might be successful, she hasn’t been happy. With the help of family and/or community and almost always a handsome hometown hunk (usually dressed in flannel), she learns to slow down and embrace what really matters to her.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437060/original/file-20211212-13-i6giq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437060/original/file-20211212-13-i6giq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <em><span class="caption">Time For Them To Come Home For Christmas (2021). During the holidays, a woman with amnesia catches a ride with her handsome nurse to investigate the only clue to her identity.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMDB.</span></span></em></p> <p><strong>Small towns</strong></p> <p>Our heroine is almost exclusively returning home to a small town, often with a Christmassy name and one or more struggling local businesses – a bakery, an inn, a Christmas tree farm.</p> <p>She must learn that work does not bring her joy, and that she needs to slow down and take stock. However, she nearly always finds herself using her corporate skills to re-energise and revive these businesses. For films which make it clear that we should not dream of labour, a surprising amount of attention is paid to stimulating the economy of small towns.</p> <p><strong>Christmas kingdoms</strong></p> <p>If our heroine is not going home for the holidays, she might find herself in a small, ambiguously European and unambiguously Christmassy kingdom. There, she’ll have a run-in with some local royalty, with whom she’ll swiftly fall in love.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437055/original/file-20211212-13-ln91xn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437055/original/file-20211212-13-ln91xn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <em><span class="caption">In A Christmas Prince (2017), a young journalist is sent abroad to go undercover to get the scoop on a playboy prince who is destined to be king, all in the lead up to Christmas.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Netflix</span></span></em></p> <p>Netflix has leaned into this plot extensively in their Christmas rom-coms – it’s the foundation of both the Christmas Prince (2017-19) and Princess Switch (2018-21) trilogies.</p> <p><strong>No Grinches allowed</strong></p> <p>This is arguably the defining characteristic of Christmas rom-coms: they are sincere. Any cynicism towards the season is swiftly quashed. It is only by embracing the genre’s key values that the happy ending of the rom-com can be reached. Our protagonists must fall in love not only with each other, but also with Christmas.</p> <p><strong>A happy ending</strong></p> <p>Christmas rom-coms always end happily, with our central couple in love and everyone having a very merry Christmas. There is a familiar pattern to them - one does not watch these films to be surprised.</p> <p>Like many of the trappings of Christmas, watching these movies is a holiday ritual for many people, as comforting as putting on a Christmas jumper. They’re films to snuggle into, secure in the notion that for now, all’s right in the world.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171819/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jodi-mcalister-135765" target="_blank">Jodi McAlister</a>, Lecturer in Writing, Literature and Culture, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757" target="_blank">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/from-love-actually-to-christmas-on-the-farm-how-rom-coms-became-a-festive-season-staple-171819" target="_blank">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Netflix</em></p>

Movies

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From Love Actually to Christmas On The Farm: how rom-coms became a festive season staple

<p>It is a visual language with which we are almost all familiar. It’s cold and snowing outside, but inside, next to a crackling fire, it’s warm and cosy. The tree is a deep green, festooned with fairy lights, glinting off the wrapping of the presents below. There is hot chocolate and sugar cookies and eggnog and candy canes, and the only things that can be heard are carols and the joyous laughter of our nearest and dearest.</p> <p>This image of Christmas is, of course, vastly different to what we usually experience in Australia – extreme heat, seafood platters, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q">white wine in the sun</a> – but it is still one with which we are very familiar. It’s present in all our retail settings, with their fake snow and holly and Santas sweating in their suits.</p> <p>And of course, it’s all over our media, in the increasingly ubiquitous Christmas romantic comedy film.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436574/original/file-20211209-138695-5pacow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;rect=8%2C17%2C5982%2C3970&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436574/original/file-20211209-138695-5pacow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;rect=8%2C17%2C5982%2C3970&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">In The Knight Before Christmas (2019), a medieval knight is transported to the present day, where he falls for a high school science teacher who’s lost her belief in love.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Brooke Palmer/ Netflix</span></span></p> <h2>Counting down to Christmas</h2> <p>Christmas movies have a long history, dating back to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3ei1tseeM">1898 short film Santa Claus</a>, but the Christmas rom-com really hit its stride in the 21st century.</p> <p>Love Actually (2003), an ensemble film featuring multiple intertwined stories, is perhaps the best-known example. However, in terms of sheer quantity, it is difficult to look past the company that has made Christmas their core business: Hallmark.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437057/original/file-20211212-17-9ikar9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437057/original/file-20211212-17-9ikar9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">Love Actually (2003) is one of the most popular examples of the Christmas rom-com.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMDB</span></span></p> <p>Since 2009, the Hallmark Channel have run a seasonal block of programming called Countdown to Christmas, central to which are their Hallmark Christmas movies. Countdown to Christmas has become increasingly extravagant: <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/hallmark-christmas-movies-2021/">in 2021</a>, it began on October 22, and will feature a total of forty new movies, along with a (very) large number from previous years.</p> <p>While Hallmark Christmas movies have been a cultural touchstone for many years in North America, that hasn’t been the case to the same extent in Australia, because we haven’t had widespread access to the flood of programming.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437059/original/file-20211212-23-16hf6i3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437059/original/file-20211212-23-16hf6i3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">In Write Before Christmas (2020), a Hallmark Channel original movie, recently single Jessica sends Christmas cards to five people that have impacted her life. As each person receives Jessica’s card, they are sparked to act in their own lives to make them better.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Hallmark</span></span></p> <p>However, the advent and popularity of Netflix’s Hallmark-style Christmas movies, beginning with A Christmas Prince and Christmas Inheritance in 2017, have led to a growing familiarity and engagement with the Christmas romance genre from local audiences.</p> <p>As a result, after many years with <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-very-aussie-christmas-70647">a dearth of local Christmas programming</a>, Stan released A Sunburnt Christmas last year, their first Australian Christmas original film. This year, they have another original Australian Christmas offering in rom-com <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_oEqfyLpMQ">Christmas on the Farm</a>, which premiered on December 1.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r_oEqfyLpMQ?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Christmas on the Farm is missing a key ingredient of the Hallmark Christmas romance: snow (in the Hallmark universe, the characters <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/12/14/16752012/hallmark-christmas-movies-explained">“can’t be waiting for the snow, there has to <em>be</em> snow”</a>). However, it boasts a screenwriter with Hallmark credentials in Jennifer Notas Shapiro, and draws on plenty of other tropes of the Christmas rom-com.</p> <h2>What makes a Christmas rom-com?</h2> <p>Hallmark has a reputation for conservatism, and we cannot fail to note that for many years, their movies featured exclusively <a href="https://thewalrus.ca/the-unwatchable-whiteness-of-holiday-movies/">straight, white, middle-class characters</a> <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2021/11/gac-family-christmas-movies-cable-tv.html?utm_campaign=nym&amp;utm_medium=s1&amp;utm_source=tw">falling in love</a> (although they are slowly beginning to diversity their casts).</p> <p>It is perhaps surprising, then, that Christmas rom-coms do not tend to be particularly religious. Instead, <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-makes-christmas-movies-so-popular-127972">as S Brent Rodriguez-Plate argues</a>, there’s a more secular reason for the season underpinning these films – “the power of family, true love, the meaning of home or the reconciliation of relationships”.</p> <p>Christmas rom-coms thus have a particular aesthetic (snow, mistletoe, ugly-but-snuggly jumpers), and a particular set of core values: family, community, selflessness, kindness, love. They’re rarely overtly supernatural, but the Christmas setting often gives rise to a little bit of “Christmas magic” or a “Christmas miracle”, which pushes our protagonists towards embracing these values.</p> <p>As a result, there are some very common plots, settings, and themes in the Christmas rom-com.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437069/original/file-20211212-23-d89k1x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437069/original/file-20211212-23-d89k1x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">In Happiest Season (2020), Abby, a lesbian, plans to propose to her girlfriend, Harper, in front of Harper’s family members. But she is in for a shock when she learns that Harper is yet to come out to her parents.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Netflix</span></span></p> <p><strong>Home for the holidays</strong></p> <p>This plot is Hallmark’s bread and butter. One of our protagonists – usually the heroine – returns home for the holidays. This is often against her will: she’s usually a city-dwelling career woman, leaving behind a similarly career-driven boyfriend.</p> <p>But going home for Christmas reveals to her that although she might be successful, she hasn’t been happy. With the help of family and/or community and almost always a handsome hometown hunk (usually dressed in flannel), she learns to slow down and embrace what really matters to her.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437060/original/file-20211212-13-i6giq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437060/original/file-20211212-13-i6giq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">Time For Them To Come Home For Christmas (2021). During the holidays, a woman with amnesia catches a ride with her handsome nurse to investigate the only clue to her identity.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMDB.</span></span></p> <p><strong>Small towns</strong></p> <p>Our heroine is almost exclusively returning home to a small town, often with a Christmassy name and one or more struggling local businesses – a bakery, an inn, a Christmas tree farm.</p> <p>She must learn that work does not bring her joy, and that she needs to slow down and take stock. However, she nearly always finds herself using her corporate skills to re-energise and revive these businesses. For films which make it clear that we should not dream of labour, a surprising amount of attention is paid to stimulating the economy of small towns.</p> <p><strong>Christmas kingdoms</strong></p> <p>If our heroine is not going home for the holidays, she might find herself in a small, ambiguously European and unambiguously Christmassy kingdom. There, she’ll have a run-in with some local royalty, with whom she’ll swiftly fall in love.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437055/original/file-20211212-13-ln91xn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437055/original/file-20211212-13-ln91xn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">In A Christmas Prince (2017), a young journalist is sent abroad to go undercover to get the scoop on a playboy prince who is destined to be king, all in the lead up to Christmas.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Netflix</span></span></p> <p>Netflix has leaned into this plot extensively in their Christmas rom-coms – it’s the foundation of both the Christmas Prince (2017-19) and Princess Switch (2018-21) trilogies.</p> <p><strong>No Grinches allowed</strong></p> <p>This is arguably the defining characteristic of Christmas rom-coms: they are sincere. Any cynicism towards the season is swiftly quashed. It is only by embracing the genre’s key values that the happy ending of the rom-com can be reached. Our protagonists must fall in love not only with each other, but also with Christmas.</p> <p><strong>A happy ending</strong></p> <p>Christmas rom-coms always end happily, with our central couple in love and everyone having a very merry Christmas. There is a familiar pattern to them - one does not watch these films to be surprised.</p> <p>Like many of the trappings of Christmas, watching these movies is a holiday ritual for many people, as comforting as putting on a Christmas jumper. They’re films to snuggle into, secure in the notion that for now, all’s right in the world.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171819/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jodi-mcalister-135765">Jodi McAlister</a>, Lecturer in Writing, Literature and Culture, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></span></p> <p>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/from-love-actually-to-christmas-on-the-farm-how-rom-coms-became-a-festive-season-staple-171819">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Netflix</em></p>

Movies

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Australia has a heritage conservation problem. Can farming and Aboriginal heritage protection co-exist?

<p>Rio Tinto’s destruction of the 46,000 year old Juukan Gorge rock shelters has led to recommendations by the Parliamentary Inquiry on <a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportjnt/024757/toc_pdf/AWayForward.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf">how Australia can better conserve Aboriginal heritage sites</a>.</p> <p>Around the time the recommendations were made, Queensland’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act faced an important test when a pastoralist who cleared 500 hectares of bushland at Kingvale Station in Cape York <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/qld-country-hour/scott-harris-cleared-of-breaching-cultural-heritage-act/13592850">was charged</a> with failing to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage.</p> <p>The charges were eventually <a href="https://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/story/7474626/cultural-heritage-charges-against-scott-harris-dismissed/">dismissed</a> but the prosecution, the first of its kind in Queensland, highlights weaknesses in the law.</p> <p>Like related legislation in other Australian states and territories, Queensland’s law requires landholders to conserve Aboriginal heritage sites or risk prosecution.</p> <p>But the law has been criticised by many Aboriginal people and heritage specialists for allowing destructive development by removing any ability for government to independently assess how proposed clearing would affect Aboriginal heritage.</p> <p>Under the “duty of care” provisions in the Act, Aboriginal heritage must be protected even if it is not known to landholders. However, as the Kingvale clearing case heard, if Aboriginal heritage is not known, how can it be shown to have been lost?</p> <h2>What we learned from the Kingvale clearing case</h2> <p>In 2013, the former Newman government in Queensland removed protection for the environment by introducing the Vegetation Management Act which enabled clearing of what they deemed as “high value agricultural projects” in Cape York.</p> <p>The World Wildlife Foundation argued this would see large areas of forest and bushland destroyed. Advocates for the new Act <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2013-05-22/veg-law-pass/4705890">argued</a> primary producers are “acutely aware of their responsibility to care for the environment”.</p> <p>In opening up new areas of Cape York to clearing, this legislation posed new threats to heritage sites. In this context the landholder of Kingvale decided he did not need to assess cultural heritage when clearing 500 hectares.</p> <p>At the conclusion of the hearing into this case, Judge Julie Dick of the Cairns District Court instructed the jury to return <a href="https://www.cairnspost.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CPWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&amp;dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cairnspost.com.au%2Fnews%2Fcairns%2Fcape-york-grazier-cleared-of-criminal-land-clearing-charges%2Fnews-story%2F1d124158e58936a302f1ee5d159ad841&amp;memtype=anonymous&amp;mode=premium">a not-guilty verdict</a>, exonerating the landholder, as the offence could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.</p> <p>The landholder’s legal team noted in the media if their defendant had been found guilty, every landholder (including freeholders) who had cleared land, built a fence or firebreak, ploughed a paddock, or built a road or airstrip since 2003 would potentially be guilty of a criminal offence.</p> <p>The defendant argued the ramifications of the legal case were significant</p> <blockquote> <p>for the rest of Queensland […] anyone who mowed a lawn or cut down a tree since 2003 would be automatically liable.</p> </blockquote> <p>In our view, this is hyperbole. <a href="https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/inforce/2016-09-27/act-2003-079">Section 21 of the Act</a> makes explicit a person’s right to enjoy the normal and allowed use of their land to the extent they don’t harm Aboriginal heritage.</p> <p>Further, a person doesn’t commit an offence if they take into account the nature of the activity and the likelihood of it causing harm. Mowing the lawn is quite different to clearing 500 hectares of native vegetation.</p> <p>The setting of this activity is also important. Kingvale Station is located 100 kilometres west of the national heritage listed Quinkan Country. Heritage studies in similar landscapes across Cape York have identified scarred trees, artefact scatters, stone arrangements and cultural burial places.</p> <p>Based on our heritage experience across Queensland, it would be surprising not to find Aboriginal heritage sites at Kingvale.</p> <p>To reduce heritage risks, we assess the potential impacts of an activity, and talk with relevant Aboriginal groups about their sites and heritage values. Archaeologists and anthropologists also develop models to predict where unknown sites are likely to be found.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431020/original/file-20211109-23-aylfq7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">Recorded archaeological sites across Cape York. The distribution pattern reflects several key heritage surveys. It is expected that cultural sites would be found across the cape, including within the 500 hectares cleared at Kingvale. Image by Kelsey M. Lowe.</span></p> <h2>Can farming and the conservation of Aboriginal heritage co-exist?</h2> <p>The best way to conserve heritage is for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians to work together to identify, document, and protect places. An important example is the discovery of human remains from a mortuary tree west of St George, southern Queensland.</p> <p>The site was discovered during fence clearing by the landholder, who contacted the police. We worked with the landholder who has supported the Kooma nations people to conserve the mortuary tree and enable it to remain on country.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qKJs23hwLXA?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><span class="caption">Courtesy of Tony Miscamble, NGH Consulting.</span></p> <p>A further example from Mithaka Country saw a spectacular stone arrangement discovered by a pastoral station manager, who notified the native title holders.</p> <p>All are now engaging with researchers to <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&amp;dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Fstones-point-way-to-indigenous-silk-road%2Fnews-story%2F8318b531d82263beab4afd089fd8d559&amp;memtype=anonymous&amp;mode=premium">investigate the site’s history</a>.</p> <p>Dozens of other examples around the state illustrate collaborative approaches to heritage conservation. But more effective legislation is urgently needed in response to Kingvale’s failed prosecution.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/430631/original/file-20211107-10010-f752su.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">A spectacular stone arrangement from Mithaka country. Image courtesy of Lyndon Mechielsen</span></p> <h2>How can we improve cultural heritage protection?</h2> <p>The Juukan Gorge case highlighted how Australia has a problem protecting its Aboriginal cultural heritage. The final report of the parliamentary inquiry into the disaster made several <a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportjnt/024757/toc_pdf/AWayForward.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf">recommendations</a> that could help pave a way forward.</p> <p>Instances like Kingvale emphasise more work needs to be done. The Queensland government needs to act now to address the glaring problem with its heritage legislation.</p> <p>Heritage management investment will also help. Victoria provides an example of how to improve Aboriginal heritage management. A standout action is the roll-out of a Certificate IV in Aboriginal cultural heritage management, with over 500 Aboriginal graduates to date.</p> <p>This program is decentralising heritage management and empowering Aboriginal people across Victoria, building a level of professionalism rarely seen in other states.</p> <p>Establishing treaties and agreements similar to those in Canada and New Zealand could go a long way to enable First Nations people in Australia to authoritatively protect their respective cultural heritage sites.</p> <p>Heritage conservation will remain challenging, particularly in resource-rich states like Queensland. But we can do better.</p> <p>Judge Dick’s ruling, while frustrating for the effort to conserve heritage, is crucial as it highlights weaknesses in the law.</p> <p>This trial, along with the Juukan Gorge incident, may represent a critical tipping point in the struggle to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in Queensland and across Australia.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/170956/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-westaway-118240">Michael Westaway</a>, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Archaeology, School of Social Science, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-gorringe-1237694">Joshua Gorringe</a>, General Manager Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/indigenous-knowledge-4846">Indigenous Knowledge</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kelsey-m-lowe-1287335">Kelsey M. Lowe</a>, Senior Research Fellow, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-martin-595866">Richard Martin</a>, Senior lecturer, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ross-mitchell-1288513">Ross Mitchell</a>, Common Law holder and director of Kooma Aboriginal Corporation Native Title PBC, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/indigenous-knowledge-4846">Indigenous Knowledge</a></em></span></p> <p>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/australia-has-a-heritage-conservation-problem-can-farming-and-aboriginal-heritage-protection-co-exist-170956">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Dave Hunt/AAP Image</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Shocking discovery: Headless skeletons found on a farm

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Archaeologists have found an “exceptionally high” number of decapitated bodies at three Roman cemeteries in Cambridgeshire, England, which experts believe were the result of judicial executions.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) were excavating Knobb’s Farm in Somersham when they found 52 burials, 13 of which were prone burials where the bodies were face down.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many of the decapitated bodies had their heads placed at their feet and some were kneeling when they died, according to the research paper published in the Britannia journal earlier this month.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the Roman Empire hasn't ruled Britain since 410 AD, some towns still have medieval walls partially built from Roman fortifications.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many of the remains found on the farm were in poor condition, with some no more than shadows in the sand. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With no evidence of defensive injuries and a general “lack of trauma” before death - aside from the decapitation - experts see it as evidence that the deaths were organised.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the researchers, the number of bodies found was “exceptionally high” in comparison to other Roman cemeteries in Britain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They added that 33 percent of the bodies were beheaded, a much higher proportion than the 2.5-6.1 percent found in other cases.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the reason why some of the burials were prone is unclear, the researchers argue “the practice cannot have been a mistake” as 13 people were buried in that manner. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841616/719f8d4c9f4e185e2009713b88559075350652fe.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c74a81b528c54592b9dd59e014277c7d" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“These settlements were extensive rural settlements that provided grain and meat to the Roman army,” said Isabel Lisboa, archaeological consultant on the project.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lisboa also said the most likely reason for the large number of decapitated bodies could be as a form of execution for crimes, though ritual practice is another potential explanation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the latter part of Rome’s occupation of Britain, the number of crimes punishable by death increased from 14 to 60.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Roman laws seem to have been applied particularly harshly at Knobb’s Farm because it was associated with supplying the Roman army, so there were many decapitations,” said Lisboa.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Crimes normally would have been let go, but there were probably tensions with the Roman army.”</span></p> <p><strong>Mysterious identities</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“DNA shows there were nine different types of groups that had come from various places,” said Lisboa.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the research, most of the skeletons are believed to be from adults over the age of 25, with some also showing signs of anaemia and tooth decay.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Archaeologists found pots and miniature pottery goods dating from the third and fourth century A.D., as well as a comb that may have been in a woman’s hair when she was beheaded.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Dave Webb / Cambridge Archaeological Unit</span></em></p>

International Travel

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Eagle-eyed shopper reveals secret meaning behind code on ALDI packaging

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>An eagle-eyed ALDI shopper has found a little known fact on the back of several supermarket goods.</p> <p>She shared the findings on the popular Facebook group ALDI Mums and pointed out an easy-to-miss code on the back of ALDI's seafood products that provides information about which country and region the fish originated from. </p> <p>Australian products are required to have location details on the packs, but the extra known detail allows customers to source even more information.</p> <p>All you have to do is flip your ALDI seafood item over and locate a number and use the digits to look up the information.</p> <p>“I know seafood gets a bad call out,” the shopper posted to the group.</p> <p>“I just wanted to share something with you all that I learnt and hopefully it will solve all the ‘do you know where your fish comes from’ dramas.”</p> <p>She went on to explain that each box has a “code” for the fish area/catchment area it is caught.</p> <p>“You can then look it up to know which areas your fish has come from and what practices they use.”</p> <p>The shopper shared an image of her seafood buy, sharing the code "FAO 81", which reveals the catchment covers a significant part of the Southwest Pacific.</p> <p>“Hope this helps everyone in the future,” she wrote.</p> <p>Many of the Facebook members thanked the woman for sharing her handy tip.</p> <p>“That’s great info! Thanks for sharing,” one person wrote.</p> <p>“This is so helpful, thank you,” said another.</p> <p>“Very useful information thanks for sharing,” a third commented, while a woman added, “Very interesting. I looked it up on Google. Great how it shows the world areas.”</p> <p>The original poster explained that she understands that the German supermarket chain is making "great progress to be sustainable, responsible and accountable".</p> <p>“Personally, I don’t buy non-Australian and was pleasantly surprised to see this info.”</p> </div> </div> </div>

Home Hints & Tips

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To Vietnam and back: Asian seafood journey dubbed "crazy"

<p>A surprised Coles customer has taken her voice to Facebook after discovering something interesting about her seafood. Avid shopper Bronwyn read the small print on a packet of Coles Australian Whiting Mini Fillets, only to discover that the fish was “filleted in Vietnam” despite being made in Australia from at least 95% Australian ingredients.</p> <p>She questioned why Australian fish is sent all the way to Vietnam to be prepared, only to be sent back to Australia.</p> <p>“Could someone please explain why this is necessary, to transport Australian fish thousands of kilometres to Vietnam to be filleted?” asked Bronwyn.</p> <p>“I bought these yesterday noting the Australian Whiting and 95% Aussie ingredients ... Then have just noticed the filleting in Vietnam.</p> <p>“Not so keen to eat them now. Fresh, I think maybe not. No way of knowing how old they might actually be!”</p> <p>A Coles spokesperson explained to<span> </span>7News<span> </span>that the fish has met its “country of origin” obligations with the products packaging.</p> <p>“All Coles Own Brand seafood including seafood available at the deli, canned Own Brand tuna in the grocery aisle and frozen Own Brand products such as fish fingers have been responsibly sourced since 2015,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p>“This product uses Australian whiting, which is filleted overseas, but is then crumbed and processed back in Australia.</p> <p>“In line with our Country of Origin obligations, this is clearly labelled on the front of the pack.</p> <p>“As always, customers who are unhappy with a Coles Brand product can return it to any store for a full refund.”</p> <p>Learning this information has put Bronwyn off, saying that the realisation was “crazy”.</p> <p>“Crazy isn’t it?” responded Bronwyn to Facebook users in disbelief at the new information.</p> <p>“But how old is the fish now, lol? And how many times has it been frozen?”</p> <p>Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/its-crazy-coles-shoppers-outrage-over-new-asian-seafood-scandal-c-1071915" target="_blank">7news</a></p>

International Travel

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A must try! Lemony seafood crêpes

<p>Serve these creamy crêpes with a green salad as a light meal, or one per person as an enticing entrée. They can be filled with whatever seafood or any vegetables you have on hand.</p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <ul> <li>50g butter</li> <li>1 small leek, washed well, white part only, chopped</li> <li>1 clove garlic, chopped</li> <li>400g green prawns, peeled, deveined, chopped</li> <li>200g piece salmon fillet, skin off, pin-boned, cut into bite-sized chunks</li> <li>1 lemon, juiced</li> <li>Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to taste</li> <li>1 bunch chives, chopped</li> <li>120g gruyère cheese, grated</li> <li>Béchamel Sauce</li> <li>25g butter</li> <li>2 tablespoons plain flour</li> <li>300ml milk</li> <li>Pinch salt</li> <li>Pinch freshly grated nutmeg</li> </ul> <p><strong>Crêpes</strong></p> <ul> <li>¾ cup plain flour</li> <li>Pinch salt</li> <li>1¼ cups milk</li> <li>3 eggs</li> <li>40g butter, melted</li> </ul> <p><strong>Directions</strong></p> <p><strong>Make Crêpes </strong></p> <p>1. Sift flour into a bowl, add salt and make a well in the centre. Combine milk and eggs and slowly pour into the well, whisking to incorporate the flour; stop whisking as soon as all flour is incorporated and batter is smooth. </p> <p>2. Stir in butter and strain into a jug.</p> <p>3. Heat a heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat and grease with very little butter. Pour in just enough batter to coat the pan, swirling quickly to cover the base evenly. Cook for about 30 seconds, until the edges begin to curl and the base is golden brown. Loosen the edges then turn the crêpe with fingers or an egg lift and cook for another 20 seconds or so until golden and dry. </p> <p>4. Slide out of the pan onto a clean cloth. Repeat with remaining batter, stacking cooked crêpes on top of one another.</p> <p><strong>Make Béchamel Sauce</strong></p> <p>1. Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in flour and cook for about 4 minutes over a low heat until mixture crumbles and comes together. Gradually add milk, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon. Add salt and nutmeg and stir until sauce comes to the boil. Remove from heat.</p> <p>2. Pre-heat oven to 180°C.</p> <p>3. Melt butter, add leeks, garlic and salt and cook over a low heat, covered, for about 5 minutes, until soft. Increase heat to medium, push leek mixture to 1 side of the pan, add prawns and salmon, and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning to colour all sides. Remove from heat. Stir in Béchamel Sauce, lemon juice, salt, pepper, chives and a third of the cheese.</p> <p>4. Place 1 heaped tablespoon of the mixture in the centre of a crêpe, fold in sides to partially enclose then tuck other ends under to form a parcel. Place in a greased baking dish, seam-side down. Repeat with remaining crêpes, forming a single layer. Sprinkle remaining gruyère over the top and bake for 15-20 minutes until filling is heated through and cheese is lightly browned.</p> <p><strong>Tips</strong></p> <p>Alternative species: Blue-eye trevalla, bugs, crabmeat, ling, marron, redclaw, yabby. </p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/lemony-seafood-cr%C3%AApes.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

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