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Santas needed! Surprising Christmas shortage spells job openings for Aussie grandads

A nationwide Santa shortage has many shopping centres hoping for a Christmas miracle, before festive families line up in droves for a snap with Father Christmas. According to talent agency <a href="https://scenetobelieve.com.au/santa-jobs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scene to Believe</a>, who are responsible for hiring Santas in over 180 around Australia, there are not have enough applicants for Santa roles this December. The agency's head Christmas recruiter, Viviana Diaz, told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/santa-jobs-go-unfilled-despite-fall-in-aussie-job-ads/news-story/de7f3c5b6d95c6f78f9718d1bb60a099" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> that the seasonal shortfall was nationwide, but the situation was more pronounced in Sydney. The company said issue has been growing over the last three years, with the problem believed to have stemmed from the Covid pandemic. Ms Diaz said that contrary to popular belief, Santas can come in all shapes, sizes and ages, and that women are also eligible to apply. “Sometimes they think they have to look like Santa,” Ms Diaz said. “But we provide a full Santa suit and they don’t have to have a real beard.” Previous experience is also not required, as Scene to Believe runs a dedicated Santa School where new incoming Santas can learn tips from experienced Santas. The company states that Santas “need to be jolly, have a great HOHOHO and enjoy working with children”, while a genuine love of the festive season, patience and compassion, and good communication skills. A current Working with Children Check and Police Check, or willingness to get these, are also important. Ms Diaz added, “Being a shopping centre Santa is a perfect job for Aussies looking to help their hip pocket come Christmas time, with flexible working arrangements and casual rates.” Experienced Santa Tony Hooper said it’s “perfect for older Australians wanting to dip their toe back into the workforce”. “Being a Santa is by far the best work I’ve ever done. It’s flexible, I work when I want and I spend my days talking to young families and getting in the festive spirit.” “It’s also a great way to earn extra cash right before Christmas, which is when I need it most. And the best part is, I can still receive my pension!” Ms Diaz said failing to fill its Santa positions was not an option, and they would do everything in their power to have a flock of Santas ready to spread Christmas cheer on December 1st. “We have to find a lot of people because Santa has to be there. We will perform a Christmas miracle!” <div> </div> Image credits: Getty Images

Retirement Income

Is it normal to forget words while speaking? And when can it spell a problem?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greig-de-zubicaray-1468234">Greig de Zubicaray</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> We’ve all experienced that moment mid-sentence when we just can’t find the word we want to use, even though we’re certain we know it. Why does this universal problem among speakers happen? And when can word-finding difficulties indicate something serious? Everyone will experience an occasional word-finding difficulty, but if they happen very often with a broad range of words, names and numbers, this could be a sign of a neurological disorder. <h2>The steps involved in speaking</h2> Producing spoken words involves several <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190672027.013.19">stages of processing</a>. These include: <ol> <li> identifying the intended meaning </li> <li> selecting the right word from the “mental lexicon” (a mental dictionary of the speaker’s vocabulary) </li> <li> retrieving its sound pattern (called its “form”) </li> <li> executing the movements of the speech organs for articulating it. </li> </ol> Word-finding difficulties can potentially arise at each of these stages of processing. When a healthy speaker can’t retrieve a word from their lexicon despite the feeling of knowing it, this is called a “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon by language scientists. Often, the frustrated speaker will try to give a bit of information about their intended word’s meaning, “you know, that thing you hit a nail with”, or its spelling, “it starts with an H!”. Tip-of-the-tongue states are relatively common and are a type of speech error that occurs primarily during retrieval of the sound pattern of a word (step three above). <h2>What can affect word finding?</h2> Word-finding difficulties occur at all ages but they do happen more often as we get older. In older adults, they can cause frustration and anxiety about the possibility of developing dementia. But they’re not always a cause for concern. One way researchers investigate word-finding difficulties is to ask people to keep a diary to record how often and in what context they occur. <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01190/full">Diary studies</a> have shown that some word types, such as names of people and places, concrete nouns (things, such as “dog” or “building”) and abstract nouns (concepts, such as “beauty” or “truth”), are more likely to result in tip-of-the-tongue states compared with verbs and adjectives. Less frequently used words are also more likely to result in tip-of-the-tongue states. It’s thought this is because they have weaker connections between their meanings and their sound patterns than more frequently used words. Laboratory studies have also shown tip-of-the-tongue states are more likely to occur under <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13825585.2019.1641177">socially stressful</a> conditions when speakers are told they are being evaluated, regardless of their age. Many people report having experienced tip-of-the-tongue problems during job interviews. <h2>When could it spell more serious issues?</h2> More frequent failures with a broader range of words, names and numbers are likely to indicate more serious issues. When this happens, language scientists use the terms “anomia” or “<a href="https://www.aphasia.com/aphasia-library/aphasia-types/anomic-aphasia/">anomic aphasia</a>” to describe the condition, which can be associated with brain damage due to stroke, tumours, head injury or dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, the actor Bruce Willis’s family <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/16/health/frontotemporal-dementia-definition-symptoms-wellness/index.html">revealed</a> he has been diagnosed with a degenerative disorder known as primary progressive aphasia, for which one of the earliest symptoms is word-finding difficulties rather than memory loss. Primary progressive aphasia is typically associated with frontotemporal or Alzheimer’s dementias, although it can be associated with other <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3637977/">pathologies</a>. Anomic aphasia can arise due to problems occurring at different stages of speech production. An assessment by a clinical neuropsychologist or speech pathologist can help clarify which processing stage is affected and how serious the problem might be. For example, if a person is unable to name a picture of a common object such as a hammer, a clinical neuropsychologist or speech pathologist will ask them to describe what the object is used for (the individual might then say “it’s something you hit things with” or “it’s a tool”). If they can’t, they will be asked to gesture or mime how it’s used. They might also be provided with a cue or prompt, such as the first letter (h) or syllable (ham). Most people with anomic aphasia benefit greatly from being prompted, indicating they are mostly experiencing problems with later stages of retrieving word forms and motor aspects of speech. But if they’re unable to describe or mime the object’s use, and cueing does not help, this is likely to indicate an actual loss of word knowledge or meaning. This is typically a sign of a more serious issue such as primary progressive aphasia. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroimaging">Imaging studies</a> in healthy adults and people with anomic aphasia have shown different areas of the brain are responsible for their word-finding difficulties. In <a href="https://direct.mit.edu/jocn/article-abstract/35/1/111/113588/Neural-Correlates-of-Naturally-Occurring-Speech">healthy adults</a>, occasional failures to name a picture of a common object are linked with changes in activity in brain regions that control motor aspects of speech, suggesting a spontaneous problem with articulation rather than a loss of word knowledge. In anomia due to primary progressive aphasia, brain regions that process word meanings show a loss of nerve cells and connections or <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0148707">atrophy</a>. Although anomic aphasia is common after strokes to the left hemisphere of the brain, the associated word-finding difficulties do not appear to be distinguishable by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010945215003299">specific areas</a>. There are <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02687030244000563">treatments</a> available for anomic aphasia. These will often involve speech pathologists training the individual on naming tasks using different kinds of cues or prompts to help retrieve words. The cues can be various meaningful features of objects and ideas, or sound features of words, or a combination of both. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002199241730014X">Smart tablet</a> and phone apps also show promise when used to complement therapy with home-based practice. The type of cue used for treatment is determined by the nature of the person’s impairment. Successful treatment is associated with changes in activity in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093934X14000054">brain regions</a> known to support speech production. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for primary progressive aphasia, although <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2019.1617246">some studies</a> have suggested speech therapy can produce temporary benefits. If you’re concerned about your word-finding difficulties or those of a loved one, you can consult your GP for a referral to a clinical neuropsychologist or a speech pathologist. <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/212852/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greig-de-zubicaray-1468234">Greig de Zubicaray</a>, Professor of Neuropsychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-it-normal-to-forget-words-while-speaking-and-when-can-it-spell-a-problem-212852">original article</a>.

Mind

This new tech could spell end for mouse plagues

Invasive mice populations could be a thing of the past, thanks to a new genetic tool developed by a team of Australian scientists. Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed t-CRISPR, which uses gene editing technology to alter the fertility gene in laboratory mice to make females infertile. “This is the first time that a new genetic tool has been identified to suppress invasive mouse populations by inducing female infertility,” said lead researcher Professor Paul Thomas. “The t-CRISPR approach uses cutting-edge DNA editing technology to make alterations to a female fertility gene. Once the population is saturated with the genetic modification, all the females that are generated will be infertile. “We are also developing new versions of t-CRISPR technology that are designed to target specific pest populations to prevent unwanted spread of the gene drive.” The new tool is based on an existing technology, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, which has largely been applied to limiting the spread of malaria by making male mosquitoes infertile. CRISPR 101 Since it was unveiled in 2012, the CRISPR method has been used to edit pieces of DNA inside the cells of organisms, primarily insects. “Up until now, this technology has been aimed at insects to try and limit the spread of malaria, which causes up to 500,000 deaths worldwide per year,” Luke Gierus, a post-graduate student and the paper’s co-first author, said. The technology relies on the Cas9 protein found in bacteria, which scientists can program to find and bind to almost any 20-letter sequence of DNA in a gene with the help of a piece of RNA that matches the target DNA sequence. When it finds the target, standard CRISPR cuts the DNA, and the process of repairing the DNA introduces mutations that can disable the gene. Other variations of CRISPR can also replace faulty genes, turn genes on or off, or change one letter of the DNA code to another. In this study, the team simulated what would happen when an edited version of a fertility gene on chromosome 17, which affects the ability of sperm to swim, was introduced to populations of mice. Males who carry one copy of this gene are infertile, while females are still fertile but only have one functioning version of the gene and can pass on either the functioning or non-functioning version to their offspring. In females that had a second edited chromosome that affected their fertility, they found that male offspring would all be infertile, while only 50 percent of female offspring would be fertile. They found that 250 mice with modified genes could eradicate a population of 200,000 mice on an island in around 20 years. “The use of t-CRISPR technology provides a humane approach to controlling invasive mice without the release of toxins into the environment. We are also working on strategies to prevent failed eradication due to the emergence of gene drive resistance in the target population,” Gierus said. While t-CRISPR has been developed to specifically target mice, CSIRO Group Leader for Environmental Mitigation and Resilience Dr Owain Edwards said it could be developed to use on other invasive animals. The researchers, who collaborated with CSIRO, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, the Genetic Biocontrol for Invasive Rodents (GBIRd) consortium and the US Department of Agriculture, were supported by both the South Australian and NSW governments. “These promising findings demonstrate how gene drive technology may be a game changer in managing the impacts of mice on our environment, community, and agricultural sector,” South Australian Deputy Premier Dr Susan Close said. “This cutting-edge research also highlights the global leadership of the South Australian research sector, in finding solutions to social, environmental and economic challenges. “The South Australian Government is proud to have supported this proof-of-concept, having granted the University of Adelaide $1 million through the Research and Innovation Fund.” They published their findings in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2213308119" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>. Image: ABC News

Family & Pets

New poll spells trouble for Prince Harry and Meghan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are preparing to celebrate their third wedding anniversary as a poll has revealed more than four in 10 people think they should lose their titles. Harry and Meghan tied the knot during an extravagant ceremony on May 19, 2018, and are most likely to celebrate the milestone privately at their Californian home. The wedding was the beginning of a new chapter for the monarchy as it was welcoming a person of mixed race into the family for the first time in centuries. But 18 months later, the Sussexes moved to North America with their son Archie and have never permanently returned to their UK home. A UK poll carried out on Monday found 44 per cent of 4567 adults questioned thought the couple should no longer have the title of Duke and Duchess. While 20 per cent believed they should keep their titles but not use them, 17 per cent said they should not lose their titles or stop using them ad 20 per cent did not know. The past few months have been a tumultuous time for the couple after their bombshell TV interview with Oprah Winfrey. The pair let all their grievances out and came clean on what it was really like to be a part of the royal family. A few days after their wedding anniversary Harry and Meghan, who is expecting a daughter in the summer, will appear in the first episode of the duke's mental health documentary series with Oprah Winfrey.

Relationships

Woolworths left red-faced over huge spelling mistake on popular item

Woolworths have been left red-faced after a shopper pointed out a massive mistake on one of their most popular products. Taking to Facebook, customer Melissa posted a photo of the supermarket’s own brand Multigrain bread as she pointed out a spelling mistake most people would have missed. “Not sure if you are aware of the spelling mistake?” she wrote. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwoolworths%2Fposts%2F3878250745580361&width=500" width="500" height="613" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Once you dive a little deeper, you can see that “Multigrain” contains an extra “i” in the bread’s main label – making it “Mulitigrain”. This isn’t the first time the supermarket giant has failed to proofread the words on their packaging. In December, Woolworths’ festive beer stubbies had to be recalled when “Christmas” was misspelt to read “Christhmas”.

Food & Wine

The relief of rain after bushfires spells disaster for Aussie river systems

When <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-bushfires-are-horrendous-but-expect-cyclones-floods-and-heatwaves-too-129328">heavy rainfall</a> eventually extinguishes the flames ravaging south-east Australia, another ecological threat will arise. Sediment, ash and debris washing into our waterways, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin, may decimate aquatic life. We’ve seen this before. Following 2003 bushfires in Victoria’s alpine region, water filled with sediment and debris (<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2008.01851.x?casa_token=agMBKaIwouEAAAAA%3APypMeV5ZvxP-FB88fNaZ2E_Fyr1NCEkdPf8Q1CHfCEb8peTY_fT83a-tc86NZaix_Dbr7MpJfV9XVuk">known as sediment slugs</a>) flowed into rivers and lakes, heavily reducing fish populations. We’ll likely see it again after this season’s bushfire emergency. Large areas of northeast Victoria have been burnt. While this region accounts only for 2% of Murray-Darling Basin’s entire land area, water flowing in from northeast Victorian streams (also known as in-flow) contributes <a href="https://www.water.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/421639/NorthEast_SDS_WEB.pdf">38%</a> of overall in-flows into the Murray-Darling Basin. Fire debris flowing into Murray-Darling Basin will exacerbate the risk of fish and other aquatic life dying en masse <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/18/the-darling-will-die-scientists-say-mass-fish-kill-due-to-over-extraction-and-drought">as witnessed in previous years.</a>. What will flow into waterways? Generally, bushfire ash comprises <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935115300177">organic carbon and inorganic elements</a> such as nitrogen, phosphorous and metals such as <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Singarayer_Florentine/publication/317106161_Risk_of_post-fire_metal_mobilization_into_surface_water_resources_A_review/links/59de6f650f7e9bcfab24033e/Risk-of-post-fire-metal-mobilization-into-surface-water-resources-A-review.pdf">copper, mercury and zinc</a>. Sediment rushing into waterways can also contain large amounts of soil, since fire has consumed the vegetation that once bound the soil together and prevented erosion. And <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169410006748">carcinogenic chemicals</a> – found in soil and ash in higher amounts following bushfires – can contaminate streams and reservoirs <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ldr.3427">over the first year after the fire</a>. <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VwPnKCx2SNM"></iframe></div> How they harm aquatic life Immediately following the bushfires, we expect to see an increase in streamflow when it rains, because burnt soil <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jof/article/102/6/16/4613173">repels</a>, not absorbs, water. When vast amounts of carbon are present in a waterway, such as when carbon-loaded sediments and debris wash in, bacteria rapidly consumes the water’s oxygen. The remaining oxygen levels can fall below what most invertebrates and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2008.01851.x">fish</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169412003691">can tolerate</a>. These high sediment loads can also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135408001401#bib20">suffocate</a> aquatic animals with a fine layer of silt which coats their gills and other breathing structures. Habitats are also at risk. When sediment is suspended in the river and light can’t penetrate, suitable fish habitat is diminished. The murkier water also means there’s less opportunity for aquatic plants and algae to photosynthesise (turn sunshine to energy). What’s more, many of Australia’s <a href="https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/etc.4400">waterbugs</a>, the keystone of river food webs, need pools with litter and debris for cover. They rely on slime on the surface of rocks and snags that contain <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/fwb.12778">algae, fungi and bacteria</a> for food. But heavy rain following fire can lead to pools and the spaces between cobbles to fill with silt, causing the waterbugs to starve and lose their homes. This is bad news for fish too. Any bug-eating fish that manage to avoid dying from a lack of oxygen can be faced with an immediate food shortage. We saw this in 2003 after the sediment slug penetrated the Ovens River in the north east Murray catchment. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2008.01851.x?casa_token=GQgDJxvEkN4AAAAA%3ATNhhYCetOkbRaRUSA57m9ERqH1ZFgXwauB_OdBAh4ofE089LGsi4WT9Bbax0PtxxkN2CrpqD71ybsPBS">Researchers</a> observed dead fish, stressed fish gulping at the water surface and freshwater crayfish walking out of the stream. Long-term damage Bushfires can increase the amount of nutrients in streams <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es500130g">100 fold</a>. The effects can persist for several years before nutrient levels return to pre-fire conditions. More nutrients in the water might sound like a good thing, but when there’s too much (especially nitrogen and phosphorous), coupled with warm temperatures, they can lead to excessive growth of blue-green algae. This algae can be toxic to both people and animals and often closes down recreational waters. Large parts of the upper Murray River catchment above Lake Hume has burnt, risking increases to nutrient loads within the lake and causing blue-green algae blooms which may flow downstream. This can impact communities from Albury all the way to the mouth of the Murray River in South Australia. Some aquatic species are already teetering on the edge of their <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-015-3463-7">preferred temperature</a> as stream temperatures rise from climate change. In places where bushfires have burnt all the way to the stream edge, decimating vegetation that provided shade, there’ll be less <a href="http://www.publish.csiro.au/mf/MF04120">resistance to temperature changes</a>, and fewer cold places for aquatic life to hide. Cooler hide-outs are particularly important for popular angling species such as trout, which are highly <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/eco.1653">sensitive to increased water temperature</a>. But while we can expect an increase in stream flow from water-repellent burnt soil, we know from previous bushfires that, in the long-term, stream flow will drop. This is because in the upper catchments, regenerating younger forests use more water than the older forests they replace from <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wrcr.20351">evapotranspiration</a> (when plants release water vapour into the surrounding atmosphere, and evaporation from the surrounding land surface). It’s particularly troubling for the Murray-Darling Basin, where large areas are already enduring ongoing drought. Bushfires may exacerbate existing dry conditions. So what can we do? We need to act as soon as possible. Understandably, priorities lie in removing the immediate and ongoing bushfire threat. But following that, we must improve sediment and erosion control to prevent debris being washed into water bodies in fire-affected areas. One of the first things we can do is to restore areas used for bushfire control lines and minimise the movement of soil along access tracks used for bushfire suppression. This can be achieved using sediment barriers and other erosion control measures in high risk areas. Longer-term, we can re-establish vegetation along waterways to help buffer temperature extremes and sediment loads entering streams. It’s also important to introduce strategic water quality monitoring programs that incorporate real-time sensing technology, providing an early warning system for poor water quality. This can help guide the management of our rivers and reservoirs in the years to come. While our current focus is on putting the fires out, as it should be, it’s important to start thinking about the future and how to protect our waterways. Because inevitably, it will rain again.<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/129449/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-mcinerney-428290">Paul McInerney</a>, Research scientist, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/csiro-1035">CSIRO</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gavin-rees-csiro-au-932733">gavin.rees@csiro.au</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/csiro-1035">CSIRO</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/klaus-joehnk-932732">Klaus Joehnk</a>, Senior research scientist, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/csiro-1035">CSIRO</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-sweet-relief-of-rain-after-bushfires-threatens-disaster-for-our-rivers-129449">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

Massive spelling slip-up! Trinny Woodall drops C-bomb on The Sunday Project

Triny Woodall left The Sunday Project panel in shock after dropping the C-bomb on-air. The style queen appeared on the Channel 10 show alongside hosts Lisa Wilkinson, Tommy Little, Susie Youssef and Peter Van Onselen. It was during the live episode when Woodall made a grave mistake and accidentally spelt out the “c-bomb” on air. Speaking of her former What Not to Wear co-host Susannah Constantine, the English celebrity said the pair were still great friends who always “call each other rude names — like c-u-*-* …”. The hosts sat speechless and Woodall also appeared to be mortified, going on to explain that she meant to leave out a few letters. The video was not made immediately available on 10Play as it usually is, and still remained unavailable on early Monday morning. Video of Woodall’s segment was posted to The Project’s Facebook page — with the offensive moment being cut out. <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=448807716019558" data-width="500" data-show-text="true"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> The fabulous Trinny reveals the hilarious reason she can't tell if Aussies are friendly or tipsy, the makeup message she wants people to hear, and the current state of her friendship with Susannah. Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheProjectTV/">The Project</a> on <a href="https://developers.facebook.com/TheProjectTV/videos/448807716019558/">Sunday, October 20, 2019</a></blockquote> </div> It’s not the first time Woodall has sparked controversy, after she told Stellar magazine she “didn’t know” her partner had been photographed holding his ex Nigella Lawson by the throat when they met. The 55-year-old makeup and fashion maven has been linked to billionaire art dealer Charles Saatchi — the ex-husband of worldwide famous chef Nigella Lawson — for almost six years. Woodall claims she didn’t know about the incident even though the photograph made headlines around the world. “Really weirdly, I still didn’t know any of that sh*t,” she told Stellar. She said she had only asked a mutual friend one question about Saatchi: whether he was “kind”. “I would ask that of anyone,” Woodall said. “I realised in my 50s I wanted a kind heart.”

Can you pass this quiz of 4th grade spelling words?

Spelling can be tricky, even more so when you've realised it's been years since you've been tested on your ability to spell. No peeking at a dictionary or Google for this quiz of primary school level, but surprisingly tricky, words. Some of them are harder than you think, with some words sounding like others or spelt similarly. Scroll through the gallery for the questions and answers. Good luck! <div id="page29" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> Written by Meghan Jones. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/can-you-pass-quiz-4th-grade-spelling-words">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/can-you-pass-quiz-4th-grade-spelling-words"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Mind

“Day zero”: What it is and why it spells danger for Aussie communities

Almost a dozen towns across regional NSW and Queensland are staring down a crisis that’s been called “day zero”. “Day zero” is known as the risk of running out of drinking water as the ongoing drought impacts tens of thousands of Australians in dry communities. Local Government NSW president Linda Scott said that a number of regional cities and towns are preparing for a day zero that’s less than 12 months away. “And in some areas, it’s probably a matter of weeks,” Ms Scott told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/the-australian-towns-facing-a-looming-day-zero-crisis/news-story/afd564ca4c78fa7a50db7f02b77d72cd">news.com.au</a>. “This is very serious. Carting water in trucks for hundreds of kilometres on dirt roads is going to be the only way some councils can provide drinking water to locals.” Many are aware that it won’t last. “We pump that bore for two days and then give it a spell for a few days, to let it replenish, and in those two days, it puts roughly a day’s use back into the dam,” Tenterfield Shire Council Mayor Peter Petty said. “I’m no mathematician but to me that’s going out the back. It won’t last. “Our concern is that if the bore sh*ts itself, we’re buggered. It’ll be 200 days left of water and we don’t want that to happen.” In Queensland, Stanthorpe could reach its day zero by Christmas with nearby Warwick at risk of running dry in 17 months’ time. “This is the worst drought we’ve ever had in our region and it’s really biting hard,” Southern Downs Regional Council Mayor Tracy Dobie said. “We haven’t had rain since March 2017. In the past, it rains here in summer. That hasn’t been the case for a while now. “The issue we’re facing is the dams and creeks are all dry and so the inflows into our urban water storages have ceased.” Ms Scott has explained that it’s different in each area. “I was visiting towns a few weeks ago that are soon going to need to transport water in trucks for hundreds of kilometres over dirt roads to reach drought-affected communities. In some areas, there’s already a need to help councils fund the carting of water.” Petty explained that the council is in discussions with the State Government to help fund a $3.2 million project to search for new bores. “We sit on top of the Great Dividing Range here so we haven’t got a water system we can pump out of. So, we’re looking for two or three bores to supplement the water supply. Last week, the testing people have found four places of interest,” Mr Petty said. “It usually takes 12 months, but we won’t be here in 12 months. We want to try to get it done quicker. We’ll get the test bores in and then we’ll find out how much is there, all that, it’s a long process.” In Orange, it’s a bit more complex. A spokesman for Orange City Council has said that the water outlook is “much more complex”. “Here, it takes into consideration factors like our stormwater harvesting system, our water pipeline (and) the reduced water use due to tighter water restrictions,” he said. Ms Dobie has said that the impact of a drought is long lasting. “A bushfire is one thing, a flood is one thing, but a drought is horrific and slowly deteriorates your wellbeing,” she said. “It’s a wonderful time to travel and see regional NSW and support these communities. It’s the most practical way of communities in the city to support the regions. “Instead of going overseas, come to regional NSW and see the beautiful things on offer and inject some money into the communities. “This is a practical way for Sydney to support their neighbours in regional NSW.”

Domestic Travel

Bill Gates gets candid about rival Steve Jobs: He “cast spells on people”

According to Microsoft founder Bill Gates, his rival Apple CEO Steve Jobs “cast spells on people” to keep Apple profitable during the dark days of the company. Both men are known for creating an intense workplace culture and being tough leaders. Gates realised that Jobs’ leadership style was a good example of “don’t do this at home”. Gates spoke to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/08/tech/bill-gates-on-steve-jobs/index.html">Fareed Zakaria from CNN</a> about his relationship with Jobs. "I have yet to meet any person who in terms of picking talent, hyper-motivating that talent and having a sense of design, of 'this is good, this is not good.' So he brought some incredibly positive things along with that toughness." Gates reflected on Jobs and the way he “cast spells on people”. "Steve is really a singular case where the company was on a path to die and it goes and becomes the most valuable company in the world with some products that are really quite amazing. There aren't going to be many stories like that." Gates also admitted that his intense workplace culture went “too far”, especially in the early days of the company. "We had, to some degree, a self-selected set of people who were mostly males, I'll admit, and yes, we were pretty tough on each other," Gates said. "We counted on each other to work very long hours and I always wanted to set the best example of that. I think that intensity, even though a little bit it went too far, was great for my 20s, 30s, 40s."

Technology

Things heat up between Grant Denyer and Tom Gleeson: "Could spell the end of the Logies"

Grant Denyer has opened up about being upset with comedian Tom Gleeson after his campaign to win a Gold Logies award this year turned into “taking the piss” in order to win. Denyer took out the top award last year for the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television and this week he expressed his concerns on his 2Day FM breakfast show, saying he was disappointed with Gleeson’s methods. “It's become a joke this year,” Denyer vented to co-hosts Ed Kavalee and Ash London. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> To win the Gold Logie you have to fight dirty. Going negative works. Here's my Amanda Keller attack ad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tvweeklogies?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tvweeklogies</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gleeson4Gold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gleeson4Gold</a> Vote here now: <a href="https://t.co/oIgKOm3nip">https://t.co/oIgKOm3nip</a> <a href="https://t.co/G85CVsC6lM">pic.twitter.com/G85CVsC6lM</a> — Tom Gleeson (@nonstoptom) <a href="https://twitter.com/nonstoptom/status/1142931605310205952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2019</a></blockquote> “Two of the loudest Gold nominees are just effectively taking the piss.” It seems that the former Logie winner is referring to fellow nominee and Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac, who is currently touring around Australia in an over-the-top campaign bus, while beloved Aussie comedian Tom Gleeson appears to be releasing a number of tongue-in-cheek advertisements attacking his fellow nominees. The Hard Quiz host has also mocked all his fellow candidates in interviews. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> To win the Gold Logie you have to fight dirty. Going negative works. Here's my Waleed Aly attack ad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tvweeklogies?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tvweeklogies</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gleeson4Gold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gleeson4Gold</a> Vote here now: <a href="https://t.co/oIgKOmkYGZ">https://t.co/oIgKOmkYGZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/DJ26Md2A2Q">pic.twitter.com/DJ26Md2A2Q</a> — Tom Gleeson (@nonstoptom) <a href="https://twitter.com/nonstoptom/status/1144017497131294726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2019</a></blockquote> p>“He’s slagging everyone off,” Denyer said about Gleeson. “He’s having a crack at Amanda Keller. She’s divine, she deserves to win. She’s been in it for 35 years. She’s not doing it because it’s a joke, she’s not ripping the heart out of the Logies. It would mean the world to her to win. “She is a game-changer and a groundbreaker, she’s wonderfully warm, incredibly whip smart and deserves it, however Tom Gleeson is just taking all the headlines,” Denyer explained. “I’m worried if he wins, that’s it for the Logies forever.” In the past and during his campaign to win the top dog award, Gleeson has publicly voiced he thinks the Logies are a joke, however, is adamant he still wants to win. “I’m in this weird position. I do think the campaigning is funny, and I don’t take the awards seriously at all — but that just makes the idea of winning it even more hilarious,” he said to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/tom-gleeson-the-people-s-hope-irks-industry-with-gold-logie-campaign-20190625-p5213u.html" target="_blank">Sydney Morning Herald</a>. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> To win the Gold Logie you have to fight dirty. Going negative works. Here's my Rodger Corser attack ad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tvweeklogies?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tvweeklogies</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gleeson4Gold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gleeson4Gold</a> Vote here now: <a href="https://t.co/oIgKOm3nip">https://t.co/oIgKOm3nip</a> <a href="https://t.co/XrY2QbYl9g">pic.twitter.com/XrY2QbYl9g</a> — Tom Gleeson (@nonstoptom) <a href="https://twitter.com/nonstoptom/status/1143302898345885696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2019</a></blockquote> “The idea of my name being called out and me getting my hands on it … It just sort of makes me laugh. “I’m just reminding everyone not to take the Logies too seriously, and I suspect that’s the way most of Australia sees it. “I feel like if people are being offended by my antics, maybe they should reflect on their own ambitions.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> To win the Gold Logie you have to fight dirty. Going negative works. Here's my <a href="https://twitter.com/MrSamMac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrSamMac</a> attack ad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tvweeklogies?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tvweeklogies</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gleeson4Gold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gleeson4Gold</a> Vote here now: <a href="https://t.co/oIgKOm3nip">https://t.co/oIgKOm3nip</a> <a href="https://t.co/2j0U8sHOm6">pic.twitter.com/2j0U8sHOm6</a> — Tom Gleeson (@nonstoptom) <a href="https://twitter.com/nonstoptom/status/1143661559106830336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2019</a></blockquote> Denyer has also pointed out his distaste for Gleeson’s antics last year when the voting period for the 2018 Logies Awards was coming to a close. “He [Gleeson] jumped on at the eleventh hour and basically took over my campaign,” the dad-of-two recalled on air. “I didn't ask him to, I didn't really want him to, but I had no choice in that. Everybody in the country now thinks I won the award because of him, and if I'm honest, that s---s me. “He's done interview after interview after interview claiming the victory last year,” Denyer added. “Forget the 20 years of work I put in to get to that particular point… I didn't even ask for him to jump on board my campaign.” The TV WEEK Logie Awards are on this Sunday, June 30. The Red Carpet Arrivals show starts at 7 pm on Channel 9, and the live broadcast of the awards begins at 7.30pm.

News

Can you spot it? The irresponsible spelling mistake on the new $50 note

The Reserve Bank has been left scrambling to come up with answers after radio staton TripleM posted an image to social media which revealed a very embarrassing blunder. The photograph shows the RBA’s new and revered $50 note under a magnifying glass, revealing an embarrassing typo in the text. An excerpt from Edith Cowan’s maiden speech to Western Australian Parliament in 1921 showed an incorrect spelling of the word “responsibility.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> We have exclusively revealed that there’s a spelling mistake on the new $50 note this morning after a Hot Breakfast Hot Tip from a listener. READ MORE: <a href="https://t.co/lYQoX0VGrw">https://t.co/lYQoX0VGrw</a> <a href="https://t.co/K0UIfwZsBY">pic.twitter.com/K0UIfwZsBY</a> — Triple M Melbourne (@TripleMMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/TripleMMelb/status/1126253354768785408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2019</a></blockquote> In the phrase “it is a great responsibility to be the only woman here”, the word “responsibility” is misspelt as “responsibilty” a total of THREE times. The new note, which has been in circulation since last October, is quite similar to the old $50 note, but was made with features to aid visually impaired people to distinguish between different denominations. A spokesperson for the RBA said they were aware of the blunder. “The spelling will be corrected at the next print run,” they said. All the new $50 bank notes with the embarrassing error feature four tactile dots along the long edge of the bill to help blind people or low-vision people. At the time the note was introduced to the public, treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it had new and extensive security features. “This latest and important upgrade not only marks a hugely significant step towards equal access to society for people who are blind or have low vision, but also incorporates new, innovative security features that further protect against counterfeiting,” the politician said at the time. “The application of the tactile features to the $50 note is particularly important given that it’s the most widely circulated banknote, with 46 per cent of all banknotes in circulation being the $50 note.”

Retirement Income

Criminal profiler speaks out: Why Borce Ristevski’s daughter is under killer dad's "spell"

The daughter of convicted wife murderer Borce Ristevski gave her father a glowing character reference because she was under his “coercive control”, a criminal profiler has claimed. Sarah Ristevski’s decision to give her father a glowing character reference following his murder confession has shocked many. The 23-year-old waived her right to submit a victim impact statement after Borce confessed to killing her mother Karen, and instead provided a two-page document in which she described her father as “loving”, “sympathetic” and “protective”. In the statement, Sarah wrote: “Since the act of violence, my dad has experienced job loss, a loss of respect within the community and the loss of close long-term friendships. “The circumstances have left me without both of my parents and I know there is nothing I can do to change that, but all I can try to do is communicate the truth of how good of a dad and husband he was to my mum and I.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Sarah Ristevski's glowing character reference for her father Borce - written AFTER he confessed to killing her mother: "All I can do is communicate the truth of how good of a dad and husband he was to mum and I."<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9news?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9news</a> <a href="https://t.co/THMICdX96h">pic.twitter.com/THMICdX96h</a> — Brett Mcleod (@Brett_McLeod) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brett_McLeod/status/1110789298482114560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2019</a></blockquote> UK criminal behavioural analyst Laura Richards said the positive reference may suggest that Sarah is under Borce’s “spell”, which allows him to “manipulate and control those around him”. Richards, who specialised in domestic violence risk assessment and homicide prevention at New Scotland Yard, urged Victoria’s Director of Public Prosecutions to review the case. “Sarah, Karen’s daughter, declined to write a victim impact statement, an impact statement about her mother being brutally killed by her father,” Richards wrote in a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.laurarichards.co.uk/my-two-cents/dear-director-of-public-prosecutions-victoria/?fbclid=IwAR0Emqdu_BcSz8eHeeLneXKWKrJMwxO36gBC8Wogt9EL-YFeP5XdxqfrYYQ" target="_blank">letter</a> published on Sunday. “Her voice about the impact of her mother’s brutal killing is yet to be heard, despite the fact she was close to her mother. She is no doubt conflicted but this is also instructive. Instead she wrote a glowing reference for her father – a man who lied to her and everyone else. “This makes little sense unless it is understood that she too may be under his spell, which talks to his ability to manipulate and control those around him. Coercive control impacts children as well.” Richards said Borce should be charged for murder instead of manslaughter to ensure longer punishment, comparing his sentence to one-punch attacker Joseph Esmaili who received <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-17/joseph-esmaili-sentenced-for-killing-melbourne-heart-surgeon/11020218" target="_blank">10 years and six months’ jail time</a>. Two weeks ago, the 55-year-old Victorian man was sentenced to nine years in jail for the manslaughter of his wife in 2016 with a non-parole period of six years. “If a one punch offender, Mr Esmail, receives 10 years, to serve 10 before he is eligible for parole, how can the brutal killing of Karen carry nine years, eligible for parole in six? What sort of message does that send out to society about the worth of a woman’s life?” Richards wrote. “On good authority male neighbours of the Ristevskis are joking that you can kill your wife and serve a few years behind bars – it might be worth it in the long run. Urgent law reform is needed. “Respectfully review this case and bear in mind the message it sends out about domestic abuse. Your law and training really does need to catch up and reflect the reality of domestic abuse in all its guises.” Last month, Borce <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/borce-ristevski-sensationally-pleads-guilty-to-killing-wife-karen" target="_blank">pled guilty</a> to killing Karen after two years of claiming he had nothing to do with his wife’s death. He admitted to murdering Karen on the day she disappeared on June 29, 2016, with her body being discovered eight months later on February 20, 2017.

Legal

This tricky quiz will test you: Can you pick the correct spelling?

A new quiz that tests your spelling has left many adults stumped, with only 6 out of 100 college students acing every question. The creator of the test, which was posted to Playbuzz, says only players with an above-average IQ will be able to score full marks. So, just how good is your spelling? Take the 15-question test below to find out. <div class="playbuzz" data-id="3b752634-f477-44d5-8107-54590b4201e3" data-show-share="false" data-show-info="false"></div> How did you score? Let us know in the comments below.

Mind

Under the spell of The Ghan

Justine Tyerman boards The Ghan, the famous transcontinental train, from Darwin to Adelaide. Here is the first of a four-part series about her journey. The sleek silver Ghan, with the twin bright red diesel-electric locomotives throbbing at her prow, was a magnificent sight at Darwin’s Berrimah Railway Station as coaches and taxis arrived with 285 excited passengers ready to embark on our great train adventure from Darwin to Adelaide. We were about to travel through the ‘Red Centre’ of Australia, a 2979km journey spread over four days and three nights. The sheer size, length and spectacle of the 903m, 38-carriage, 1700 tonne train set my heart pounding. I instantly fell under the spell of this iconic train originally named the Afghan Express after the 19th century Afghan cameleers who helped blaze a trail through the country’s remote interior. Although construction began in 1878, it wasn't until 2004 that the last section of the railway track from Alice Springs to Darwin was finally completed. The locomotives and the carriages all proudly bear the emblem of an Afghan riding a camel. My Gold Service cabin with ensuite bathroom was mid-ships so the walk with my small wheelie case was manageable in the tropical heat but those at the extremities of the train were shuttled in style. <img style="width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821396/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7c7198d49e814601b592acf4840077e3" /> My ensuite bathroom with lovely Appelles bath and body products. My hospitality attendant Aaron greeted me with a beaming smile and soon after appeared in my cabin to chat about what excursions I wanted to do during the days ahead. “All of them,” I said, unable to choose from the fabulous selection available each day. Having done the excursions, Aaron helped me come to a decision in no time. Train manager Bruce then welcomed us all aboard via the in-cabin radio which also broadcast an excellent commentary and a series of stories about the places, events and people along the route. Restaurant manager Nick popped by to discuss my preferred dining times in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant. The cuisine on The Ghan and her sister The Indian Pacific, a trip I completed in June, is as legendary as the history of these great train journeys. Not to mention the beverages … A glass of champagne mysteriously found its way into my hand as the massive train slid so smoothly from the station, I was only aware we were moving by watching the people waving on the platform slowly disappear from view. A toast to The Ghan seemed a fitting way to celebrate the departure of such a majestic train on another epic journey across the continent. The Ghan has a presence, history and grandeur like no other and to be finally embarking on the trip sent bubbles of excitement through my veins. They matched the effervescence in my glass. <img style="width: 333.3333333333333px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821395/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bfe4305a9cd6419fa6045699e220b978" /> A toast to The Ghan seems a fitting way to celebrate the departure of such a majestic train on our epic journey across the continent. “This is the life,” I thought as I settled into my super-comfortable cabin and watched the Northern Territory countryside flicker by. Tall termite mounds like cylindrical chimneys scattered the bushy terrain which had been recently scorched in a controlled burn-off. The ant-like insects build amazingly clever dwellings for themselves with a central vent for air-conditioning. They devour an enormous quality of matter and return all the nutrients to the earth. The structures are aligned north-south to catch the sun. You learn all sorts of fascinating things by listening to the commentary on The Ghan. Soon after, we crossed the broad Elizabeth River and it was lunchtime. I dined in the ornate Queen Adelaide Restaurant on tropical chicken salad with fresh mango, flat beans, red onion, bamboo shoots, macadamia, lotus root, coriander and mesclun with lime pepper dressing, followed by a divine mango parfait with wild berry salsa. White tablecloths, fine china, waiters, wine … and that was just a light lunch. Travelling solo, Nick seated me with a variety of different people at every meal. On this occasion I lunched with three highly-entertaining Australian widows, one of whom knew a family from my hometown of Gisborne, New Zealand. Such a coincidence. As we chatted, we travelled through sparsely-vegetated hilly terrain cut by dry river beds, and rocky outcrops as though it had rained massive boulders. Unlike the Indian Pacific where there were hours of on-train time to daydream and relax, the daily excursions on The Ghan Expedition took up the bulk of the daytime hours. Early afternoon, we arrived at the Northern Territory town of Katherine to be met by coaches waiting to take us on a variety of excursions. Following Aaron’s advice, I chose a cruise and hike in two of the 13 gorges on the Katherine River in the 292,000-hectare Nitmiluk National Park. We boarded barges and cruised slowly up a spectacular steep-sided, rocky sandstone gorge carved by the Katherine River over millions of years. The commentary of our skipper-guide Sam added wonderful layers of meaning and history to the experience. Nitmiluk means ‘cicada country’ to the indigenous Jawoyn people, she said. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9a899824b5844b6381ffc5b4cb074710" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821397/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9a899824b5844b6381ffc5b4cb074710" /> Cruising the Katherine River in the spectacular Nitmiluk Gorge. “Listen and you’ll hear the buzzing sound, especially in the evening,” Sam explained. She also pointed out huge gashes in the rocks on both sides of the river indicating fault lines, and trees like the paperbark with uses such as cooking foil and the larruk with anti-inflammatory and insect repellent properties. The white sandy beaches alongside the river looked like idyllic spots for picnics and swims until Sam drew our attention to the signs: “Crocodile nesting area – do not enter.” They’re mainly freshwater crocs here, not the monster ‘salties’ I’d seen in Darwin, but you still wouldn’t want to get anywhere near them. Thereafter I imagined I saw many crocodiles submerged in the river, but they were “probably rockodiles” according to Sam. The kayakers we passed on the river must have been incredibly brave or foolhardy – I couldn’t decide which. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821398/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/050daa96945643b9a174632cd393abda" /> Kayakers on the Katherine River near a croc nesting beach. Turning my attention upwards while keeping my arms well clear of the water, I was transfixed by the staggering height of the sheer cliffs on either side of our barge, reaching 60 to 100m high, depending on the depth of the river. The Katherine rises up to 9-10 metres during times of flood – the extreme sideways lean of the trees are an indication of the strength of the current. Today the river was so low we had to hike between the two gorges, boarding another barge on the other side. Between the gorges, Sam pointed out aboriginal paintings etched in the rock walls high above us, still intact after thousands of years. Some indigenous art in the region dates back 40,000 years, the oldest known art forms on the planet. <img style="width: 333.3333333333333px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821399/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/65609f519a0f409b9cdcff88e5259132" /> Aboriginal paintings etched in the rock walls are still intact after thousands of years. As we neared a deep pool in the upper reaches of the second gorge, Sam told us a Dreamtime story of the Jawoyn people. “According to legend, Bolung, the rainbow serpent, carved the gorge in his own image then laid to rest in the 40m deep pool right below us. “There’s a whirlpool here and Jawoyn people won’t swim, fish or drink water from the pool for fear of a flood or other calamity. “The serpent is one of few common threads in aboriginal culture. Indigenous people in the Flinders Ranges area have a similar story.” Sam also explained the kinship system of the aboriginal people whereby a skin name is handed down by your mother meaning those of the same name cannot marry. The penalties for breaking the rules are severe – a spear to the back of the legs. We passed by an impressive towering rock known as Jedda Rock after the 1955 Australian-made movie of the same name, the first feature film to star aboriginal actors. The rocks in the Katherine Gorge are around 1.6 billion years old, Sam explained. As we neared the end of the cruise, I spotted a large cage on the water’s edge. “It’s a croc trap,” said Sam just in case we had forgotten we were in crocodile country. Jay, a cheery Jawoyn lad with a huge smile shouted “Boh boh” to us as he tethered the barge to the jetty and we disembarked. The Jawoyn don’t say “Goodbye”, they say “Boh boh – See ya later”. A huge plume of smoke threatened to obliterate the sunset as we bused back to the train. A controlled burn was taking place somewhere in the distance, turning the sun into a fiery red ball in the western sky. Later, as I emerged wet and drippy from the shower, I discovered we were actually travelling right through the fire, hot and red and fiery with flames leaping up trees and lots of smoke. It was really dramatic. Travelling through an Aussie bush fire, courtesy of The Ghan. That evening, I just had to try the crocodile sausage entrée with a lemon aspen sauce on the dinner menu. Having been warned by my Aussie mates that croc was bland, I found it surprisingly tasty. Sticking with exotic, I had an excellent chickpea saffron dahl served with pickled okra and basmati rice as a main course, and yummy ginger and macadamia nut pudding with caramel sauce and coconut ice-cream for dessert. As I snuggled into my comfy bed beautifully-made by Aaron with crisp white linen in the air-conditioned comfort of my cosy cabin, I looked back over the photos I’d taken that day. The grandeur of the Katherine Gorge was quite overwhelming. The deeply-furrowed, weathered old faces of the rocks towering above the river gave me a powerful sense of the ancientness and dignity of the land. Truly one of the Australia’s most stunning natural wonders. FACTBOX: * The Ghan Expedition is a 2979km four-day, three-night train journey through the ‘Red Centre’ of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide or vice versa *Justine travelled courtesy of international rail specialists Rail Plus and Great Southern Rail. * Visit <a href="https://www.railplus.com.au/australia-by-rail/australias-great-train-journeys/the-ghan-expedition/ghan-expedition-prices-book.htm">https://www.railplus.com.au/australia-by-rail/australias-great-train-journeys/the-ghan-expedition/ghan-expedition-prices-book.htm</a> for more information on The Ghan and <a href="https://www.railplus.com.au/great-train-journeys/">https://www.railplus.com.au/great-train-journeys/</a> for other epic train adventures around the world. *A veteran of many rail journeys organised through Rail Plus, I’ve also travelled on the Indian Pacific (see my series of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/domestic-travel/what-it-s-like-travelling-across-australia-on-board-the-indian-pacific">four stories</a>); and the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/international-travel/a-day-on-the-tranzalpine">TranzAlpine</a>. *Rail Plus has a dedicated team of experts to advise you on Great Train Journeys all around the world including The Deccan Odyssey between Mumbai and New Delhi in India <a href="https://www.railplus.com.au/great-train-journeys/deccan-odyssey/prices-info.htm">https://www.railplus.com.au/great-train-journeys/deccan-odyssey/prices-info.htm</a> another epic journey I'm dreaming of doing some day. The eight-day, seven-night journey recaptures the pomp and pageantry of India's royal past visiting beaches, sea forts and world heritage cave frescoes of Western India and the Deccan plateau including the city of Goa.

Domestic Travel

New spelling quiz: Can you spell all 24 of these words correctly?

If you believe you are a master speller, this quiz is perfect for you. The new quiz by Playbuzz challenges participants to spell 24 words that commonly confuse people. The creator of the multiple-choice quiz, Cody Cross, claims that only the smartest people will be able to get 21 or more of the answers correct. Cody is based in the US, so two of the words have the American spelling. If you think you are a spelling whiz, take the test below and see how well you can score. <div class="playbuzz" data-id="579718aa-bdf3-47d6-aefa-baa56c93f1e9" data-show-info="false" data-comments="false" data-show-share="false"></div> How did you score? Let us know in the comments below.

Mind

Can you score full marks on this spelling quiz?

A new online spelling quiz is putting player’s knowledge to the test, claiming it is so difficult that no one will score full marks. The test, posted to Playbuzz, asks players to select the correct spelling of nine common words. The incorrect words only have just one or two letters out of place, so the quiz might make you stop and think. See how well you can score on this multiple-choice quiz. <div class="playbuzz" data-id="d1dcedcd-cf7a-4225-9bf0-7af0159d7305" data-show-info="false" data-comments="false" data-show-share="false"></div> How did you score? Let us know in the comments below.

Mind

Can you pass this difficult spelling test on common misspelt words?

Most people would like to think they are a spelling whiz, but a new quiz puts even the brightest brains to the test. Rather than testing people on long words that no one has heard of before, it tests the common words that are most often misspelt. The test, posted on Playbuzz, labels itself as “The Most Tricky Spelling Drill Ever” as it challenges players to score at least 20 out of 30 questions. Do you think you can pass the test with top marks? <div class="playbuzz" data-id="dc7bacb5-d8da-4025-bab9-c4fe1b2fcc0f" data-show-info="false" data-comments="false" data-show-share="false"></div> How did you score? Let us know in the comments below.

Mind

Can you pass this high school spelling test?

Can you pass this spelling test aimed at high school students? A new quiz shared by <a href="https://www.playbuzz.com/terrystein10/no-one-can-score-19-19-in-this-impossible-english-spelling-test#eightieth">Playbuzz</a> puts your spelling skills to the test, using 19 of the most commonly misspelled words in the English language. Although it may look straightforward, the creator of the quiz Terry Stein claims that of 40 high school students who tried his challenge, not a single one scored higher than nine. Ready? Take the quiz below and let us know your score in the comments below. <div class="pb_feed" data-embed-by="0b63bda6-9ef8-47b6-abb4-7474ed187ba2" data-item="23301d18-fdc5-4969-8c89-f90f8f82ae37" data-recommend="false" data-game-info="false" data-comments="false" data-shares="false"></div>

Mind

Can you spell the winning word from the junior spelling bee?

It was a big week for Lena Zhu, who was officially crowned New South Wales 2017 Best Junior Speller. The nine-year-old out-spelled 44 finalists from all around the state to claim the prestigious prize, but how do you think you would’ve gone? Could you have spelled the winning word, “irrevocable”? Lena got the word perfect (I-R-R-E-V-O-C-A-B-L-E) and claimed the prize in the biggest state final of the Premier’s Spelling Bee since the competition was introduced in 2004. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Congrats to Oatley Public School's Lena Zhu, 2017 NSW Premier's Spelling Bee Junior Champion. An irrevocable title! (And Lena's final word.) <a href="https://t.co/Z9r0RRGlPb">pic.twitter.com/Z9r0RRGlPb</a> — ABC Sydney (@abcsydney) <a href="https://twitter.com/abcsydney/status/928101732466470912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2017</a></blockquote> “My dad helped me practise and I read lots of books,” Lena said. NSW premier Gladys Berejicklian acknowledged the difficulty of the competition which had many children spelling out words they’d never even heard before. “I did misspell a few of them,” Gladys Berejicklian admitted. “I think I definitely would have had a few of them wrong.” Do you think you would’ve got the winning word? Image credit: Twitter / ABC Sydney

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New spelling quiz: Can you spell all 24 of these words correctly?

Can you score full marks on this spelling quiz?

Can you pass this difficult spelling test on common misspelt words?

Can you pass this high school spelling test?

Can you spell the winning word from the junior spelling bee?

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