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Tragic confirmation of Julian Sands' death

<p>Missing British actor Julia Sands has been confirmed dead at age 65.</p> <p>Californian hikers <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/human-remains-found-in-search-for-missing-actor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discovered human remains</a> in the surrounding area where the actor was said to have vanished, and the remains have now been identified as Sands, according to authorities.</p> <p>"The identification process for the body located on Mt. Baldy on June 24, 2023, has been completed and was positively identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood," the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said in a statement.</p> <p>"The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results," it continued.</p> <p>"We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to locate Mr. Sands.”</p> <p>Sands’ tragic death comes days after a search and rescue was resumed by the San Bernardino Sherrif’s Office, which had been leading the searches for the missing actor over the past six months.</p> <p>The local region experienced wild and uncharacteristic weather which led to a more difficult search.</p> <p>Sands was first reported missing in January after setting out to hike the notoriously dangerous Mount Baldy, which rises more than 10,000 feet (approx. 3048 metres) east of Los Angeles and has been hit with severe storms during their winter season.</p> <p>"We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer," the statement said.</p> <p>Sands’ family released a statement at the time of his disappearance, saying, "Our heartfelt thanks to the compassionate members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department who are coordinating the search for our beloved Julian, not least the heroic search teams listed below who are braving difficult conditions on the ground and in the air to bring Julian home,”</p> <p>Sands’ son Henry also released a statement in April to praise the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department for their continued efforts in rescuing his father.</p> <p>"I am hugely appreciative for all the efforts made so far from the volunteer search and rescue climbers and the San Bernardino county sheriff team to bring my father home," Henry Sands told <em>The Times</em>.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

News

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"I'm scared": Chloe Lattanzi's sneak peak of tribute song for Olivia

<p>Chloe Lattanzi has posted a heart-warming tribute to her late mother Olivia Newtown-John in an upcoming song.</p> <p>The 36-year-old told fans on Instagram that she was “terrified” when writing the track. While she did not yet release the song itself, Lattanzi shared a clip, which served as an excellent sneak peak into the writing process.</p> <p>Standing by a microphone, Chloe said she let the inspiration flow before launching into the song.</p> <p>She said: “Oh shit I’m scared. This is a scary place right now because there is so much inside and I don’t know how to put it into words. I don’t know what to say. I’m terrified.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiWlV5TDzll/?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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiWlV5TDzll/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She then began to sing, but chose to mute the song for now, with plans to release it when it's finished.</p> <p>Chloe is the only child of the late Olivia Newton-John and her ex-husband Matt Lattanzi. In a recent interview, Chloe revealed she married her long-time fiancé in a secret ceremony officiated by her late mother.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram </em></p>

Music

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"Count them up": The mounting signs you could end up with long Covid

<p dir="ltr">People who suffer from more than one symptom from Covid for a prolonged period of time are likely to end up with a debilitating condition. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Anthony Byrne from St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney said the more symptoms one experiences due to Covid will see them more susceptible to long Covid.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to NSW Health, long Covid refers to prolonged symptoms or lasting effects of a Covid-19 infection.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some of the long-term symptoms include extreme tiredness, chest pain, shortness of breath, brain fog, memory loss and changes to taste and smell.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The more symptoms you show when you have a diagnosis acutely, the more likely you are to go on to have long Covid,'' Dr Byrne told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10717207/Australias-long-Covid-doctor-Anthony-Byrne-reveals-major-signs-it.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">“So if you just have the sniffles, that's probably fine, but if you've got a headache, shortness of breath, fever... count them up. If there's more than five, there's an increased risk of long Covid.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Byrne said we needed to remove the impression that young people are not susceptible to long Covid. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I saw a high functioning, young individual, he was in a high-flying job, who got Covid in December and he hasn't been able to work since,” he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Byrne explained that the patient now suffers sleep issues, crippling fatigue and his brain “doesn’t function properly” which is why he couldn’t go back.</p> <p dir="ltr">There are different factors such as vaccination status, health conditions and old age, that could contribute to how someone experiences Covid and long Covid.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Caring

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The stunning tourist spot that gives you that sinking feeling

<p dir="ltr">Umpherston Sinkhole, also known as the Sunken Garden, is fast becoming a “must-see” tourist destination for local explorers of South Australia and its beautiful surrounds. </p> <p dir="ltr">The stunning garden used to be a limestone cave in Mount Gambier, and is a five-hour drive from Adelaide or Melbourne.</p> <p dir="ltr">The sinkhole became a garden in 1886 when Scottish emigrant farmer James Umpherston purchased the land after the cave’s chamber collapsed. </p> <p dir="ltr">A gorgeous picturesque landscape, the sinkhole offers stunning views of a fountain, hydrangeas and tree ferns. Sheltered areas and easily accessible barbecue facilities make it the ideal place for a picnic – but be warned that unfortunately, access to the Garden is not currently pram or wheelchair friendly.</p> <p dir="ltr">The garden is open every day from dawn till dusk, with possums emerging from their hiding spots to eat. Guests are even welcome to bring their own snacks to feed them.</p> <p dir="ltr">City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said the Garden is a place to enjoy a unique experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Set in a beautifully maintained park, this century-old Sunken Garden is home to an oasis of flowering hydrangeas,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Appreciate its size from the viewing platforms at the top then wander down into the sinkhole to take in all its beauty. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Enjoy a unique experience with a picnic or barbecue in the gardens and return at dusk to meet the resident possums who enjoy being fed fresh fruit.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Take a trip through an ancient home in Pompeii

<p dir="ltr">Archeologists have recreated a Pompeiian villa that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E.</p> <p dir="ltr">Through the use of VR (virtual reality), researchers have carefully created a digital model of the ancient residence to better understand how visitors would have seen the home, according to <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/reviewing-pompeian-domestic-space-through-combined-virtual-realitybased-eye-tracking-and-3d-gis/E82035C72C580D9602CCF00D625BC65D">the recently published paper in the </a><a href="https://www.artnews.com/t/archaeology/">archaeology</a> journal Antiquity.</p> <p dir="ltr">The villa, known as the House of the Epigrams, was excavated in the 1870s and so named because it contains mythical paintings accompanied by Greek epigrams.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the identity of the owner is impossible to determine, researchers have suggested it may have belonged to a Lucius Valerius Flaccus due to a signet ring bearing his sigil being discovered there.</p> <p dir="ltr">The paper, titled “Re-viewing Pompeian domestic space through combined virtual reality-based eye tracking and 3D GIS,” was written by PhD. candidate Danilo M. Campanaro and Professor Giacomo Landeschi, who are both affiliated with the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University, Sweden.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9t39at8xgLw" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">Through extensive research, the authors of the paper have been able to determine what decorations to use in the recreation, as well as uncovering how the opulent villa would be viewed by residents of Pompeii of various social and economic classes. </p> <p dir="ltr">This recreation is the first of its kind in the studies of ancient Pompeii, with the research findings showcasing a different quality of life for locals before their city was destroyed. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: YouTube</em></p>

Art

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The uncertain future of Mount Everest

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each year, thousands of eager travellers flock to the mountain of Nepal to try their luck at climbing Mount Everest: the world’s highest peak. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the country had a seven-month ban on international travellers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the borders have opened again and people from all over the world are keen to get out and explore again, some Nepal officials are encouraging adventurers to come and tackle the mountain. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each year, Everest expeditions are a huge contributing factor to the nation’s economy, with the odyssey bringing in more than $300 million in 2019, according to </span><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-everest-reopening-sherpa-supply-chain/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bloomberg</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The price of the climb starts at a </span><a href="https://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2021/02/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-climb-mount-everest-2021-edition/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">whopping $45,000</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, with prices increasing depending on guides, routes and conditions.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845037/everest-price.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c854f126661d44618279a8bc090e0386" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: alanarnette.com</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the economic significance of the expedition, many are calling for the way Mount Everest is conquered and controlled to be reconsidered.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the international borders reopened in Nepal's spring season, a record of 408 permits were issued for the summit. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The government also broke its permit record in 2019, when it issued 381.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite a record number of travellers flocking to the Himalayas, the climbing season coincided with a new wave of Covid-19 infections, with many experiencing coronavirus symptoms at base camp. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This drastic increase in climbing numbers in 2021 poses more of a risk to the increase of deaths on the mountain, as overcrowding has led to a surge in fatalities. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eleven people died climbing the world’s highest peak in 2019, with four deaths blamed on overcrowding. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On one day, 354 people were lined up to reach the top from Nepal’s southern side and Tibet’s northern approach.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To prevent overcrowding and a lack of resources, Nepal’s tourism ministry has announced they will be capping the number of people who can summit the mountain, in accordance with the small window of suitable weather. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another issue threatening the expedition is the amount of pollution that is generated from each climbing season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each year, Nepal has struggled to deal with the amount of waste that comes with thousands of people flocking to the mountain. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A team of researchers in April this year made a worrying discovery when they found the highly-toxic PFAS chemicals near the summit.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Everest is treasured very highly as a unique monument for the globe,” Rainer Lohmann, a PFAS researcher from the University of Rhode Island told the </span><a href="https://www.wsj.com/?mod=wsjheader_logo"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wall Street Journal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s kind of sad to see very high concentrations at some places on the mountain. We say, ‘Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints,’ but we leave chemicals.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Travel Tips

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Did you know these 5 places could disappear in your lifetime?

<p>When places are well-known and popular – historical and modern alike – we might take it for granted that they’ll be around forever. But sadly, many of the world’s best known and culturally significant landmarks are in jeopardy. Human activity has had a devastating effect on many valued places, including massive milestones of human achievement. And many of these are so much more than just tourist attractions – they’re unique, valuable remnants of ancient times and civilizations.</p> <p><strong>The Great Barrier Reef </strong></p> <p>This massive, once-thriving coral reef has suffered enormously over recent years, with coral bleaching – caused by climate change – stripping the coral of its nutrients. This, in turn, harms the rich marine life that calls the reef home. And, of course, this also depletes it of the dazzling colours that once were a hallmark of the Great Barrier Reef’s underwater wonder. The reef remains the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, but projections have warned that the damage to it could become irreversible in the next 10 years.</p> <p><strong>Old City of Jerusalem </strong></p> <p>One of the world’s most spiritually significant places, the Old City of Jerusalem, is in danger of disappearing, UNESCO has found. The walls of the Old City are one of its trademark features. Most famously, the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, is a valuable pilgrimage site for people of the Jewish faith, one that dates back to around 20 BCE. The Wall is the only remnant of the city’s Second Temple. The city was actually listed on UNESCO’s list of endangered cultural sites in the 1980s. Widespread urbanisation has been found to pose a significant threat to the city.</p> <p><strong>Everglades National Park </strong></p> <p>This stunning Floridian wildlife sanctuary has sadly found itself fighting for its life in recent years. As ‘the largest designated subtropical wilderness reserve’ in North America, according to UNESCO, it’s been a beloved travel destination for American citizens for decades, but the ravages of time and human activity have not been kind to it. Its survival first came into question after it was battered by Hurricane Andrew in 1993. But it’s human influence that has posed the primary threat, as water flow to the site has decreased and the impacts of pollution have increased, resulting in harmful algal blooms. Its vast, diverse wildlife is more threatened than ever before.</p> <p><strong>The Taj Mahal </strong></p> <p>It’s hard to imagine this monolithic structure, located in Agra, India, being in danger. The structure itself is in some jeopardy from the elements, but the primary reason for concern is that the Indian Supreme Court could potentially close the attraction. The court has butted heads with the government, claiming that unless the government does a better job of preserving it, they’ll have to shut it down. Pollution is visibly altering the Taj’s pristine surface. It’s also experienced insect infestations. Flies of the genus Geoldichironomus, which breed in the heavily polluted Yamuna River, neighbouring the Taj, have encroached upon the structure in recent years.</p> <p><strong>Mount Kilimanjaro’s peak </strong></p> <p>This revered mountain, one of the Seven Summits, proves that even giants can fall to climate change. While the mountain itself, located in Tanzania, isn’t in imminent danger, its iconic snow cap might vanish – and shockingly soon. Research found that the snow cap had lost 85 per cent of the total area of its ice fields between 1912 and 2007, and the remaining ice could be history as early as 2030.</p> <p><em>Written by Meghan Jones. This article first appeared in </em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/travel-hints-tips/10-top-tourist-attractions-that-could-disappear-in-your-lifetime">Reader’s Digest</a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Travel Tips

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Italy’s Mount Etna has a new peak

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the craters on Italy’s Mount Etna has grown in height after six months of activity, making Europe’s tallest active volcano even taller.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The southeastern crater, one of the volcano’s youngest and most active, has risen to a new record of 3,357 metres above sea level, according to the National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Catania, Sicily.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Thanks to the analysis and processing of satellite images, the southeast crater is now much higher than its ‘older brother’, the northeast crater, for 40 years the undisputed peak of Etna,” INGV said in a press release.</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/CLicTK6nemz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CLicTK6nemz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Your Authentic Italian Page (@italian_vacations)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The “conspicuous transformation of the volcano’s outline” has come after about 50 episodes of volcanic activity that has seen ash and lava belched from the crater since mid-February.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the volcano poses little damage to surrounding villages, Sicily’s government estimated in July that 300,00 metric tonnes of ash has been cleaned up so far, after dirtying streets, slowing down traffic, and damaging crops.</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/CLZ0KpuAIJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CLZ0KpuAIJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Growing Up Italian™ (@growingupitalian)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Living in Catania, a two-hour drive away from Mount Etna, pensioner Tania Cannizzaro told AFP that the volcano was both beautiful and annoying, with ash that sometimes falls “like rain”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Depending on the wind, the rumblings of the volcano reach Catania and make the windows shake,” she said, adding that the streets and balconies turn black under the ash.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But there is also the spectacle, especially in the evening, when you see this red plume that moves.”</span></p>

International Travel

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Climbing England’s deadliest peak

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though most consider hiking a popular pastime, it forms the core part of one of the strangest jobs in all of Britain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zac Poulton is a Fell Top Assessor in the Lake District National Park. Everyday of the past four winters, Poulton has hiked up Helvellyn, England’s third highest and most dangerous mountain, to report the weather and write a colourful account that can be used, understood, and acted on by the public so they can climb safely.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Poulton isn’t the only one with the odd title. Colleagues Jon Bennett - who has submitted Helvellyn more than 600 times - and Wes Hunter - who started the job just before the coronavirus pandemic in October 2019 - also take on the climb.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each day from early December through til late April, at least one of the trio must reach the 950m summit.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There has been a Fell Top Assessor making the hike since the first role was first introduced in 1987, and Poulton, Bennett, and Hunter have spent 126 consecutive days reaching the top in all manner of weather this year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the potential for blasting winds and summit temperatures of -7C, Poulton said: “Some days are better than others.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Helvellyn is more commonly hiked during summer, it looks its best in the colder months. With three deep glacial coves, two incisor-shaped ridges, and alpine plants that don’t grow anywhere else in the country, it’s a sight to see.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Helvellyn also poses many of the similar dangers its more famous counterparts in the Alps, Andes or Himalayas do too, according to Poulton.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People get lost. Break bones. Get caught in avalanches. You won’t slide as far as you would on Everest here, but you’ll still bump off rocks and the result will be the same,” he said. “I meet lots of people with good intentions, but they don’t often recognise the risks.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once they’ve reached the peak, the assessor produces a report with as much detail as possible, which will be published daily on the official Lake District Weather Line website and to 19,000 social media followers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alongside meteorological notes, the reports often provide potential climbers with tips on how to best approach the mountain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What you can’t get from a weather station forecast is the experience of the mountaineer,” Poulton said. “A fully-automated system misses the human perspective. And our photos, tweets and descriptions create a 360-degree picture. We tell the wider story of life on the mountain.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their presence on the mountain also means they can help out when things go wrong.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’ve prevented hundreds of mountain rescues,” said Poulton.</span></p> <p><strong>Bridging a knowledge gap</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, with more people attempting the mountain following pandemic-induced lockdowns, the knowledge held by the Fell Top Assessors is more crucial than ever.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We know how important the Lake District is going to be in the coming months to help with people’s health and wellbeing,” said Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority. “Our message is whether coming for the first or 50th time, is plan ahead; try to discover something that’s new to you; and enjoy your time here, but please leave no trace.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Fell Top Assessors</span></em></p>

International Travel

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The sad truth about Mount Everest

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More than three tonnes of trash and at least four dead bodies have been collected from Mount Everest since mid-April, with plenty more to come, according to recent reports.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During a campaign to clean the mountain, which began on April 14 in Nepal, decomposing bodies have been discovered among the rubbish, according to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Himalayan Times</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Officials expect that they will remove 11 tonnes of garbage by the end of the 45-day campaign period.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our goal is to extract as much waste as possible from Everest so as to restore glory to the mountain. Everest is not just the crown of the world but our pride,” Dandu Raj Ghimire, Nepal’s tourism director, said, according to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Hindu</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Everything on Everest, other than rock and snow, will be brought back,” Tika Ram Gurung, secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said according to The Kathmandu Post. “The goal is to send the message that we should keep this mountain pollution free.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to ABC, 5,200 people have hiked to the top of Mount Everest and another 775 are planning to try it this year.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Several high altitude tourists, Sherpas ascending/descending at death zone of Mt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Everest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Everest</a> on 22 May, 2019. <a href="https://t.co/LzeFw6AErk">https://t.co/LzeFw6AErk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Everest2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Everest2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/sNoXQsj00o">pic.twitter.com/sNoXQsj00o</a></p> — Everest Today (@EverestToday) <a href="https://twitter.com/EverestToday/status/1132197122646913024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">25 May 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because the trip is so challenging, some people meet a more harrowing fate, which has claimed the lives of almost 300 climbers. This is due to global warming, as the bodies are now coming to the surface.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Because of global warming, the ice sheet and glaciers are fast melting, and the dead bodies that remained buried all these years are now becoming exposed,” Ang Tshering Sherpa, former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, told the news outlet.</span></p>

Travel Trouble

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Downton Abbey movie sneak peak: The King and Queen are coming!

<p>It’s 1927 and the King and Queen are coming to stay. Welcome back to <em>Downton Abbey</em>.</p> <p>Much to fans disappointment, the wildly successful show ended its reign in 2015, but now, four years later, the trailer for the highly anticipated movie has been released, and it’s everything you hoped for and more.</p> <p>The trailer gives a sneak peak into what you can expect, showing Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham, reading a letter from the royal family, announcing that George V and Queen Mary are staying over.</p> <p>With all the magic and original cast returning, the movie is sure to be a hit. Dame Maggie Smith will reprise her role as Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot and Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tu3mP0c51hE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The movie seems to include all of the banter and wit of the original TV series, with the announcement met with plenty of excitement and sarcasm from Lady Violet – “Here we go …” she says.</p> <p>Despite the film heavily focusing on the royal visit, <em>Downton Abbey</em> isn’t complete without romance and secrets.</p> <p>The trailer shows a moment where Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is kissing a mystery man, adding intrigue to the entire story.</p> <p>Guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the movie plays out.</p> <p><em>Downton Abbey<span> </span></em>the movie will be premiering in Australian cinemas on September 12.</p>

TV

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Concern mounts for Australian Idol star: "He has been seriously ill"

<p>There is mounting concern for Australian Idol star Stan Walker, who won the seventh and last season of Australian Idol in 2009, over his recent health struggles.</p> <p>Speaking on Thursday's The Morning Show, entertainment reporter Peter Ford said that that the 27-year-old had been battling a rare genetic mutation.</p> <p>“It turns out he's been really seriously ill,” Peter said. “It turned out he has a rare gene mutation that required his stomach to be removed.”</p> <p>Peter added: “If he hadn't got his stomach removed he would have almost certainly gotten cancer.”</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ieCLzImvNk?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>A documentary about the Australian-New Zealand recording artists’ illness is set to air in New Zealand on Sunday night.</p> <p>On Tuesday, Stan shared a preview clip of the doco, which will cover the last nine months of his life and his battle with his ill-health.</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: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 28.10185185185185% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgiSFT9H3a0/" target="_blank">A post shared by Stan Walker (@stanwalker)</a> on Mar 19, 2018 at 11:54pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He is seen lying in a hospital bed, saying to the camera: “They're all expecting me to get up and walk around, but I'm scared.”</p> <p>His mum then speaks to camera: “I'd rather I go before my children – any mother and any parent would.”</p> <p>Stan goes on to say: “It's been hard for my mum, she cries every day and she blames herself too.”</p> <p>He adds: “What if there's complication and I die?”</p> <p>Alongside the video, Stan wrote on his Instagram: “This Sunday night 8.40 pm on @threenewzealand watch my documentary Stan.</p> <p>“I bet half the people thinking I was on crack or whatever y'all were saying are feeling pretty dumb right now.</p> <p><img width="468" height="282" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/20/14/4A5FD9F000000578-5522969-Staying_strong_Stan_goes_on_to_say_it_s_been_hard_for_my_mum_she-a-12_1521557941997.jpg" alt="Staying strong: Stan goes on to say: 'it's been hard for my mum, she cries every day and she blames herself too'" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-e1ed931e73423fb3"/></p> <p>“This is bigger than all the talkers talking. It's bigger than me. It's bigger than what's happened &amp; is happening to me.</p> <p>“There is always someone worse off going through a lot worse. All I’m going to say is that I'm blessed to be alive and well.”</p> <p>Referring to a native Maori term for family, he added: “God is good &amp; I've been blessed with a back bone of whanaua and friends that go through the highs and the lowest of lows with me.”</p>

Music

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Panic as Bali’s Mount Agung volcano erupts

<p><span>After months of intensive monitoring and extensive local evacuations, Bali’s Mount Agung volcano has erupted.</span></p> <p><span>The eruption has been confirmed by the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre.</span></p> <p><span>“Already, it’s already erupted,” PVMBG head, I Gede Suantika, said.</span></p> <p><span>“There is already ash fall,” Suantika said.</span></p> <p><span>The volcano erupted at 5:05 pm local time (8:05 pm AEDT).</span></p> <p><span>“Smoke is observed with medium pressure with a thick grey colour and with a maximum height of about 700m above the peak,” local authorities said.</span></p> <p><span>Locals are being urged not to panic.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Erupsi Freatik Gunung Agung sejak jam 17:02 WITA. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GunungAgung?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GunungAgung</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GunungAgungSiaga?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GunungAgungSiaga</a> <a href="https://t.co/0mtz7H3yX4">pic.twitter.com/0mtz7H3yX4</a></p> — BNPB Indonesia (@BNPB_Indonesia) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNPB_Indonesia/status/932915203309576192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2017</a></blockquote> <p><span>Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said the eruption remained small so far, but a thick grey ash cloud was being emitted by the volcano.</span></p> <p><span>More than 140,000 people fled their homes around the crater last month in fear of the looming eruption.</span></p> <p><span>The evacuation zone extends between 6 to 7.5 kilometres from the summit.</span></p> <p><span>Mount Agung last erupted in 1963 and nearly 1600 people died.</span></p> <p><span>Officials said the recent rumblings, which started in August, did not pose an immediate threat to those who live nearby.</span></p> <p><span>The alert level remains at three after it fell from the maximum level of four on October 29.</span></p> <p><span>“At this point this is very, very small,” tweeted New Zealand volcanologist Dr Janine Krippner. “Right now this is not a serious eruption but of course this can change,” Dr Krippner said.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Agung?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Agung</a> is not spewing, people are not panicked. At this time the eruption is small and everyone should be encouraged to stay calm, be alert, and watch official information sources. <a href="https://t.co/VIw6j5HRUR">https://t.co/VIw6j5HRUR</a></p> — Dr Janine Krippner (@janinekrippner) <a href="https://twitter.com/janinekrippner/status/932936707112128512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2017</a></blockquote> <p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p> <p><span>“Time to make sure you are prepared and keep an eye on official Agung information,” Dr Krippner said.</span></p> <p><span>Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport remains open at the moment.</span></p> <p><span>Concerns over the eruption are believed to have cost Bali at least $110 million in lost tourism and productivity as many local residents move to shelters.</span></p>

International Travel

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What the Mount Isa Rodeo is like

<p>The chute gates burst open and the crowd in the Buchanan Park stadium roars as yet another rider is thrown to the red dirt of the enclosure floor. The bull, a tonne of raging muscle, circles the arena as the rodeo clowns attempt to distract it, to get it away from the limping rider and back in the gates before the next round.</p> <p>It is opening night at the Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo, the biggest event of the year for the Queensland mining city and the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere. Around 30,000 people flock to the rodeo each year, a veritable sea of cowboy hats, boots, belt buckles and thousands of cans of beer. They come from all over the state, from all over Australia and the surrounding towns, driving thousands of kilometres just to take part in the annual bonanza.</p> <p>Contrary to the saying, this is my first rodeo and I feel a little out of my depth, but everyone I sit beside in the stands is happy to take the time to point out the rules.</p> <p>Eight seconds, that is how long each rider has to last before making it to the next round of the bull riding competition. They get scored based on their style and how the animal performs, namely how hard it bucks to dislodge the rider and the flank strap wrapped just in front of its hind legs.</p> <p>Old rock music blares as the commentators work the crowd, feeding the hype, the surge of electricity that sweeps the stadium whenever another bull rushes out of the gates.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Day 3 at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isarodeo?src=hash">#isarodeo</a>! Brodie Adams scored 71 points to rank second in the Bareback Bronc! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thisisqueensland?src=hash">#thisisqueensland</a> <a href="https://t.co/7AqspefHX0">pic.twitter.com/7AqspefHX0</a></p> — Isa Rodeo (@isarodeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/isarodeo/status/764613499678896128">August 14, 2016</a></blockquote> <p>Heading out to the back of the stands, where the rows of food carts and stage sits, I get talking to a former rider, Andrew Dineen. He compares bull riding to cricket, long periods of waiting and then absolute adrenaline, for both the rider and the spectators.</p> <p>They start young too, an event on the third day involves children, around 10-years-old, getting on poddy calves and bucking in miniature. One gets stretchered off with a broken arm, leaving the arena to a round of sympathetic applause from the audience.</p> <p>"Some kids grow up with footy and some kids grow up playing with animals," Andrew says.</p> <p>Bull riding, he tells me, is just showing off, but other events at the rodeo like steer wrestling are examples of the kind of skills country people need on the farm.</p> <p>The rodeo also gives people a chance to come together, Andrew says. For some outback farmers their nearest neighbour might be hundreds of kilometres away, so the rodeo gives them a chance to catch up and celebrate.</p> <p>One rider who went the extra distance to make the rodeo is Haider Alhasmawi, the son of an Iraqi refugee who moved to Australia in 2009. I get a chance to speak to Haider on the third day of the meet, under the blaring Queensland sun that does away with any idea that it might be winter.</p> <p>Talk about dedication, to attend the rodeo the 17-year-old sold his road bike and bought a secondhand car to drive nearly 1400 kilometres from Catherine, a small town near Darwin. He got into bull riding at the age of 15, when one of his friends bought him a ride to another rodeo.</p> <p>That first time he admits to being nervous as hell, but he was hooked so the next rodeo that came up he bought a bus ticket and went along by himself. I ask him what exactly he likes about it, the adrenaline of course is the answer, and what he thinks about in the chutes.</p> <p>"If you think too much it messes with your head, so you try block everything out, just focus on getting on and riding the bull," he says.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Yeehah! Sonny Schafferius had his hands full on board a high kicking, high jumping bull called 'Mud Slide' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isarodeo?src=hash">#isarodeo</a> <a href="https://t.co/zi1bkvuGWD">pic.twitter.com/zi1bkvuGWD</a></p> — Isa Rodeo (@isarodeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/isarodeo/status/764426334298746880">August 13, 2016</a></blockquote> <p>"You just go for it, you just hope to ride him and stick with him buck for buck."</p> <p>As well as the stadium events, the Mount Isa rodeo also boasts a host of other attractions, like the carnival, the music at nights from popular country artists, and lots of food carts and the market. Taking a wander through the carnival area, set behind the animal holding pens, is a pretty amazing experience, like going to an A&amp;P Show but on a much larger scale. The rows of rides include shooting galleries, big mechanical rigs hurling people through the air, and scare tours inside grotesque looking haunted houses.</p> <p>My favourite, and perhaps the most bizarre experience of the rodeo though was a trip to the last remaining travelling boxing troupe in Australia and, perhaps, the world. Perched on a wooden platform, Fred Brophy looks down at the assembled crowd waiting to enter his tent. It is the second day of the rodeo, and I had been looking forward to this since I met the grumpy old fighter earlier in the day. Painted onto the big canvas walls behind him are images of his boxers, fighting legends who have duked it out with anyone brave or drunk enough to get in the ring with them.</p> <p>"Give 'em a rally," he cries, banging a drum.</p> <p>Further down the platform a stocky woman in a boxing gown stands ringing a bell. Pointing to her, Fred introduces the sole female fighter in his troupe.</p> <p>"The Beaver has hairs on her legs that would spear a rat, she'll fight and sheila here tonight," he bellows.</p> <p>"Give 'er a rally!"</p> <p>One by one, the challengers from the crowd mount the platform and line up alongside the other boxers, who sport names like Billy the Kid and The Cowboy.</p> <p>When I met him earlier I asked Fred to describe the experience of his boxing tent, which has been in his family for four generations.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Cameron Milner clocking 11.6 secs in the Rope &amp; Tie <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isarodeo?src=hash">#isarodeo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thisisqueensland?src=hash">#thisisqueensland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/visitqueensland?src=hash">#visitqueensland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/outbackqueensland?src=hash">#outbackqueensland</a> <a href="https://t.co/Md3eT1zayE">pic.twitter.com/Md3eT1zayE</a></p> — Isa Rodeo (@isarodeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/isarodeo/status/764328635167744000">August 13, 2016</a></blockquote> <p>"You can't describe it, someone's going to ask you, 'how were the fights last night?" and you won't be able to describe it," he says.</p> <p>"There's nothing like it in the world."</p> <p>Fred and his troupe travel Queensland, which he describes as the last true frontier of Australia, putting on fights at other big events around the state.</p> <p>"The reason why you've got to come up to Queensland to see the real thing is because the politicians and the bureaucrats, they want me to change this boxing tent to suit them and their rules, but I'm not going to do that, this tent belongs to everyone in Australia and I'm keeping it going," he cries from the stage.</p> <p>The crowd filters in through the tent doors, surrounding the ring in the centre, which Fred strides around imperiously dressed in a red satin shirt.</p> <p>Each fight lasts for three rounds of three minutes a piece, as the challengers, mostly burly Mount Isa locals throw punches hard and fast at the boxers, whose skill and footwork quickly becomes apparent as they tease and feint their way to easy victories.</p> <p>But win or lose, it doesn't matter, Fred says.</p> <p>"It's the Australian way, and they can say they've had a fight in my tent, and whether you win or lose that's irrelevant, you've had a go."</p> <p>The Mount Isa rodeo, spread over the course of three days, nearly doubles the population of the mining city, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy. It was started in 1959 to raise the profile of the city, and since then, helped largely by an army of volunteers, it has become the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere with the richest prize pool in Australia.</p> <p>By the end of the three day event, I was as much caught up in the drama and thrill of it as the other spectators, shouting down at the riders and having a fine old time.</p> <p>If you only ever go to one rodeo, make it it this one.</p> <p>Have you ever been to the Mount Isa rodeo?</p> <p><em>Written by Oliver Lewis. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. Image credit: Twitter / Isa Rodeo</em></p>

International Travel

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There’s a lot to like about Mount Isa

<p>Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, large white gumboots and a hard hat with a torch on the front we descend into the mine.</p> <p>I'm in Mount Isa, deep in the north-west of the Queensland Outback. It is a city built by mining, rising from the arid red dirt of the landscape in 1923, after prospector John Campbell Miles first discovered lead ore here.</p> <p>From the air, the land surrounding Mount Isa, or The Isa as it is known by locals, looks like the scarred surface of an alien planet. From my window seat in the plane, the rocks below reflect back beams of light from the setting sun, hinting at the great seams of zinc, copper, lead and silver buried under the dirt.</p> <p>We're on the Hard Times Mine Underground Tour, just beside the Outback at Isa visitor centre, in the middle of the city of around 22,000. Because of health and safety precautions, tours into the actual mines closed a few decades ago, so the city built its own mock mine, with around 1.2 kilometre of tunnels.</p> <p>Our tour group is led by Alan Rackham, a miner of 49 years who over the course of the next two-and-a-half hours takes us through the history of mining in the area.</p> <p>Going down the lift shaft, around 20 to 30 metres below the surface, I get a faint tinge of claustrophobia, but the area down below is well ventilated. The blasted rock surfaces of the tunnels are covered with wire netting, with thick screw pieces drilled in every metre or so to support the load.</p> <p>To explain the mining process Rackham employs the metaphor of a street system, with the first tunnel we go down functioning as the main street.</p> <p>"If you drive into a small town, this is the main street, it's hooked up to the lift and the air flow," he says.</p> <p>The smaller tunnels off the sides are suburban streets, access ways to the houses or yards which contain the columns of ore.</p> <p>"When we get into your yard, we put a tunnel down both of your fence lines and one at the back," he says.</p> <p>The column then gets blasted out and removed, with more levels created further down to get at the rest of the ore, which Rackham compares to a multi-level carpark.</p> <p>Throughout the network of tunnels, old mining machinery donated by Mount Isa Mines is scattered around. Each of the tour party strap on ear muffs and has a go on a hand-held borer, a massive drill piece that bites into the rock to stuff in charges.</p> <p>The night before, fresh off the plane from Brisbane I had woken up from a nap to a huge rumbling noise, which at the time I thought was an earthquake. Apparently though, 8pm is the time the mines set off charges, huge explosions that are capable of shifting hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rock.</p> <p><strong>Symbiotic relationship</strong></p> <p>The city has a symbiotic relationship with the mines, which are run now by Swiss mining giant Glencore, employing around 4000 people. Those not directly employed by the company either work in supply businesses, or depend on the success of the mineral market for things like accommodation and the money it brings into the town.</p> <p>My first day in the city, I met Steve Carson, a miner of 44 years who also happens to drive a tour bus for North West Tours. Hopping on the bus along with a bunch of older Australian tourists, Carson introduces himself with a joke, describing how his father decided to uproot the family from England in the 1960s.</p> <p>"I thought, the old man hasn't waited for us to die, he's taken us to hell while we're still living," he says.</p> <p>But it quickly becomes apparent just how much he loves the city, and how he cherishes its brief history. Driving through the streets, Carson calls out a running commentary over the intercom laced with jokes and stories about the early mining pioneers.</p> <p>On flood days, miners used to cross the Leichhardt River and get themselves stranded at hotels and bars so they could spend several boozy days away from their wives and families. This strategy may have contributed to the record the town used to hold for the most beer consumed per capita anywhere in the Commonwealth.</p> <p>On the day we crossed the river it was down to a trickle, something Carson put down to months of drought, so we carried on up to the mines, a hulking industrial estate set toward the rear of the city.</p> <p><strong>Copper and zinc</strong></p> <p>Mount Isa Mines has several sites in the area focusing on two main mineral streams, copper and zinc. The mine has one the largest network of underground tunnels in the world, almost two kilometres deep and stretching to a length of around 1600 kilometres.</p> <p>"You can drive from here to Townsville and halfway back again," Steve says.</p> <p>The scale of the operations is immense, attracting people from all over the world to work underground. At one point, Carson tells us, there used to be 52 nationalities living in Mount Isa, creating a multicultural society bonded by work, something which continues to this day.</p> <p>"We have physical distance among the people but emotional closeness," he tells me at a cafe later.</p> <p>"You can sit next to people in Brisbane or Sydney or Melbourne and they'll all be looking in different directions, but here we'll all start talking to each other," he says.</p> <p>I get the same message from many other people I speak to, Kylie Rixon, for example, the tourism manager at Outback at Isa. The information centre is a must see, along with the underground tour, it has numerous displays about the history of the area, including a focus on the Kalkadoon people, the original inhabitants of Mount Isa.</p> <p><strong>Fossil field</strong></p> <p>There is also an extensive exhibit about the Riversleigh Fossil Field, a World Heritage site a few hours north of the city. The fields have provided a wealth of information about the ancestors of animals living in Australia, with the finds there making up half of what is known about the evolution of mammals over the past 30 million years. Some of the standout creatures include a marsupial lion, the wakaleo, flesh-eating kangaroos and the largest marsupial ever to have lived, the diprotodon, which grew to a whopping three metres long and two metres high.</p> <p>Taking a drive outside the city, to look at some granite rock formations I came across one kangaroo, but unfortunately it was dead by the side of the road.</p> <p>The other place to look for wildlife is a lake just south of Mount Isa called Lake Moondarra, which was created by the mines as a water catchment. White splashes of pelicans and their babies dotted the deep blue of the lake, which is also home to pythons and freshwater crocodiles.</p> <p><strong>Underground hospital</strong></p> <p>Another highlight is the Underground Hospital, which was built by the miners during the Second World War because of the fear of Japanese air raids. The Beth Anderson Museum has a collection of old medical equipment and information about the hospital, which was never used.</p> <p>It also features The National Trust Tent House, the last remaining example of the kind of quick-fix accommodation miners built for themselves and their families. Made of canvas walls with a tin roof, the tent house has been lovingly preserved by volunteers, offering an insight into the way miners used to live.</p> <p>Like most things in the city, the tent house is only a short stroll from my accommodation, the Burke and Wills Motel, which offers charred crocodile and kangaroo fillets on its extensive dinner menu. Everything is walking distance in the central part of Mount Isa, which claims being the second largest city in Australia on a technicality; Camooweal, a suburb is 188 kilometres away.</p> <p>The central city is full of restaurants, bars and cafes, one of which, the popular Isa Hotel, was humming throughout the rodeo weekend, with a mechanical bull providing plenty of entertainment for the wannabe riders.</p> <p>The city was one built on mining, something which will continue to play a crucial role in its development, but as Carson says every tonne of ore taken from the ground brings the mines one tonne closer to closing.</p> <p>Which is why tourism is becoming a focus for the city, and with its wealth of attractions there is already plenty to see and love about The Isa.</p> <p>Have you ever been to Mount Isa?</p> <p><em>Written by Oliver Lewis. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=travel-insurance%20%20%20" target="_blank">To arrange a quote, click here.</a></span> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=travel-insurance%20%20%20" target="_blank"></a>For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p>

International Travel

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Climbers confirm part of Mount Everest has collapsed

<p>A British mountaineer has confirmed the Hillary Step, a famous rocky outcrop located near the peak of Mount Everest has collapsed, making the climb more dangerous.</p> <p>Climbers believe the 2015 Nepal earthquake is the reason the formation, which was named after legendary mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, has been destroyed.</p> <p>The 12 metre rocky crag was a near-vertical climb on the south-east ridge of the mountain and represented that last final effort climbers had to make before the summit.</p> <p>British mountaineer Tim Mosedale said, “It was reported last year, and indeed I climbed it last year, but we weren’t sure for certain that the step had gone because the area was blasted with snow. This year, however, I can report that the chunk of rock named the Hillary Step is definitely not there anymore,”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">It's official - The Hillary Step is no more. Not sure what's going to happen when the snow ridge doesn't form beca… <a href="https://t.co/8yednCrfgB">https://t.co/8yednCrfgB</a> <a href="https://t.co/tnhAaYu2VT">pic.twitter.com/tnhAaYu2VT</a></p> — Tim Mosedale (@timmosedale) <a href="https://twitter.com/timmosedale/status/864776626898382848">May 17, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Mosedale told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/au" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Guardian</strong></span></em></a> that he felt emotional when he saw the collapsed step.</p> <p>“It’s a piece of mountaineering history that has disappeared. Even non-mountaineers know the name and the association of the infamous Hillary Step,” he said.</p> <p>Do you think adventure tourist should be allowed to scale Mount Everest?</p>

International Travel

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The ages you peak at everything through life revealed

<p>Like a fine wine, we all like to think we simply get better with age. Now, a new article from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-age-for-everything-2017-3/?r=AU&amp;IR=T" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Business Insider</span></strong></a> has distilled dozens of scientific studies into a handy infographic showing the ages we peak at everything throughout our lives, and it’s utterly fascinating.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="558" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36232/age-you-peak-at-everything-graphic_500x558.jpg" alt="Age You Peak At Everything Graphic"/></p> <p>While your body may decline in the second half of life, it has been found that older people are much more psychologically strong. Beyond 60, there are a number of key life perks to look out for.</p> <ul> <li>At the age of 69, you reach peak life satisfaction.</li> <li>At 71, your vocabulary is at its richest.</li> <li>Around the age of 74, you’re most happy with your body.</li> <li>At 82, your psychological wellbeing peaks.</li> </ul> <p>So, there you have it! Growing older isn’t all doom and gloom – there’s always something to look forward to. Tell us in the comments below, do you agree with these findings?</p> <p><em>Source: Skye Gould/<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-age-for-everything-2017-3/?r=AU&amp;IR=T" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Business Insider</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

Mind

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The forgotten gold mine in Queensland

<p><em><strong>Anne Sinclair, 68, was born in England but spent most of her youth in Darwin, Northern Territory. Now in a position to travel and explore the world, Anne looks forward to sharing her personal experience and encourages others to step out and have fun.  </strong></em></p> <p>If you are travelling along the central coastal region through Queensland, and if you are up to discovering yet another great treasure – then please, please include a trip to Mount Morgan. The Mine stands, only about a 30 minute drive inland from Rockhampton.</p> <p>Described as revealing a ‘dramatic landscape’ the Arthur Timms Lookout shows stark proof of this old Gold mining town, and the aging Gold Mine. In the foreground on this landscape is the gold room – reported as being constructed in 1884.</p> <p>The Mine is steeped in glorious history – one only wishes one could paint and recreate this glorious historical vision. The Mine buildings were built in three stages of construction; and besides the general office, also offered some workers their accommodation.</p> <p>The main stack was completed in 1905, using up to 750,000 bricks, and is Australia’s tallest free standing brick chimney. This stack was built to direct fumes away from the town.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34567/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (135)"/> </p> <p>The staff, working at the Railway Station and Information Centre building in Mt. Morgan - which was built in 1898; will provide mud maps – encouraging you to tour the town and view the many unique and heritage listed buildings. They eagerly highlight the enormous role Mt. Morgan Gold Mine had played during the first and second world wars.</p> <p>The Victor Jones suspension bridge was so named, after the first Australian soldier to die overseas in the imperial service.</p> <p>Built in 1899 and Heritage listed the Queensland National Hotel tower was used as a spotting tower during World War two. This hotel closed in 1992 and is now up for sale – if anyone is interested?</p> <p>The Gold Mine made such a mighty contribution to the health, wealth and growth of Australia – that, trying to absorb all of this history, I have experienced a little sadness for those many unsung mining heroes!</p> <p>The site of Arthur Timms Lookout invites you to take a moment ....to close your eyes. You are also invited to imagine the laughter of children, the hum of machinery – and to picture the men scurrying across the incredibly large landscape, of this mining site.</p> <p>Then, when you have lost yourself in this magical moment – imagine the hooter sounding – and the relieved cries and sighs of workers - knocking off for the day. Feel that moment!</p> <p>Depending on your needs – accommodation for the night or two (or more) is readily available. Staying at the Leichhardt Hotel for a mere $30 a night – the building takes you back to the 1950’s with high timber ceilings – such a delight. There is a camping area – and other hotels which offer you a bed for the night. It’s all here.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34568/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (136)"/></p> <p>There is so much to see and take in. Little Ireland is there – with the area boasting all Irish street names. And, built in 1890 and located on the corner of East and Bridge streets, is a General Store, run by the same Chinese family for generations. Just such an amazing mixture and blending of cultural contributions.</p> <p>One of the oldest Primary Schools in Queensland – opened here in 1887 as mixed school for boys and girls. You will find this Primary school, standing on East Street. One can only imagine the contributions of the children educated at this wonderful school – as they entered adulthood and passed their cultural upbringing down their ancestral lines.</p> <p>It’s not too hard to have mixed emotions as the Mt Morgan Gold Mine stands proudly...perhaps a little older, perhaps a little rusty around the edges – but never will it lose its gift to Australia and the enormous contribution to the wealth of our great nation.  </p>

International Travel

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Video shows what it’s really like to climb Mount Everest

<p>Google Maps announced in a blog post on Thursday that it has officially made it to Mount Everest.</p> <p>Google has teamed up with Ava Sherpa, a Nepalese mountaineer who has reached the summit of the world's most famous mountain a record 21 times as well as nonprofit Story Cycle to bring the rest of the world digitally to the Khumbu region in Google Maps.</p> <p>The pictures don't take armchair travellers to the top of the mountain — yet — but around the region and communities at the base of the mountain, such as the Phortse, Khumjung, Thame, Lukla, and the Namche Bazaar.</p> <p>"In the shadow of Mt. Everest lies a group of sacred valleys known as the Khumbu," the landing page on Google Maps reads.</p> <p>"For centuries this remote mountainous region has been the homeland of the Sherpa people. Discover the hidden treasures along the trail and off the beaten path."</p> <p>Google takes you to each village and lets viewers explore medical centres, churches, see the "yak parking lot," and even meet the people who live there including Kancha Sherpa, the last living survivor of the first expedition to summit Mt. Everest.</p> <p>"Our region is famous for being home to Everest, but it's also the home of the Sherpa community and has been for centuries," Ava Sherpa, who also has started the Ava Sherpa Foundation, a nonprofit that works to give more opportunities to the children in Khumbu, said in his Google blog post. "The region has much more to offer than just the mountain. So last year, I guided the Google Maps team through my home region to collect Street View imagery that improves the map of our community."</p> <p>The goal of the project is for the world to have a better understanding of the rich history of Khumbu and its people.</p> <p>What did you think of the video? Doesn’t it look incredible? Share your thoughts in the comments.</p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/03/teen-saves-flying-sheffield-to-essex-via-germany/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Teen saves money by flying from Sheffield to Essex via Germany</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/controversial-idea-to-shorten-airport-queues/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Controversial idea to shorten airport queues</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/5-ways-to-avoid-being-stuck-in-the-middle-seat/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">5 ways to avoid the middle seat on planes</span></em></strong></a></p>

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