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Should you be worried about the amount of coffee or tea you drink?

Before you reach for that cup of coffee or tea, have you ever thought about whether that caffeinated beverage is <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/debunks-vices-coffee-caffeine/">good or bad for you</a>? <iframe title="Vices: Is coffee good or bad for you?" src="https://omny.fm/shows/debunks/vices-is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/embed?style=Cover" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0"></iframe> Most of us will drink coffee or tea each day. It helps keep us alert, especially in a world of the nine-to-five grind. Some workers rely on caffeine to get them through shift work and night shifts. Many, like me, would just collapse in a heap if it weren’t for that liquid black gold to keep us peppy in the morning. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is caffeine?</h2> To get a better picture of how coffee or tea affects us, let’s examine the active ingredient: <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/podcast/huh-science-explained-stirring-the-science-of-caffeine/">caffeine</a>. Caffeine is a <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/caffeine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drug</a>. It’s a white, odourless substance known to chemists as 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine and is made up of 8 carbon, 10 hydrogen, 4 nitrogen and 2 oxygen atoms. Caffeine occurs naturally in coffee beans, cocoa beans, kola nuts, and tea leaves. It is an adenosine antagonist, blocking the A1, A2A, and A2B receptors in the brain and body to promote wakefulness. Normally, adenosine (a chemical compound with a similar 3D structure to caffeine) binds to its receptors, slowing neural activity and making you sleepy. When caffeine, instead, binds to the receptors, adenosine is blocked and brain activity speeds up, making you feel more alert. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">History lesson</h2> Tea and coffee are the most common way for humans to get their caffeine fix. Drinks made using coffee beans date back more than a thousand years to the coffee forests of the horn of Africa. Legend says that, around 800 CE, an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats were energetic and didn’t sleep when they ate the coffee beans. Coffee then spread eastward to the Arabian Peninsula, reaching Yemen in the 15th century, and Egypt, Syria, Persia and Turkey in the 1500s. From their it made it to Europe and eventually the whole world. But caffeine is also present in other beverages like tea, cola and even some foods like chocolate. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is it bad for you?</h2> Given how prevalent the drug is, are there negative side effects we should be worried about? For one thing, it is an addictive substance. And the more you drink, the more you need. “Our body tends to adjust to a new level of consumption,” Kitty Pham, a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia and expert in nutritional and genetic epidemiology, tells Cosmos. “Your body does develop a tolerance to the caffeine. So, you start to need to drink more and more to feel the same effect as before.” Caffeine can also act as an anxiogenic – a substance that can trigger heightened levels of anxiety. Pham notes some risks associated with too much caffeine consumption over a long period of time. “Greater than 6 cups per day, we did see an increase in dementia risk,” she notes. “There’s also some research on how it might increase your cholesterol. There’s a substance in coffee called cafestol that can regulate your blood cholesterol. If you’re drinking too much coffee, it might be increasing your cholesterol. So, there are risks, but often they are at really high consumption.” <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s the limit?</h2> So, how much caffeine is too much according to science? “That’s, the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” Pham laughs. “There’s a lot of varying research on it. It’s hard to tell a definite limit. But generally, most studies really agree that one to two cups of coffee, or an equivalent of 100 to 200 milligrams of caffeine is safe and okay.” The average cup of coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine. On average, instant coffee with one teaspoon of powder contains about 70 mg of caffeine, while a coffee pod has 60–90 mg. Other drinks containing might have even more caffeine, making it important to monitor your consumption more carefully. A 355 mL can of Red Bull energy drink has more than 110 mg of caffeine. Meanwhile, an average bar of dark chocolate has about 70 mg of caffeine. Many people are moving away from coffee to drinks like tea and matcha which may have <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/flavonoids-black-tea/">additional</a> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/tea-drinkers-may-well-live-longer/">health</a> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/black-tea-mortality-risk/">benefits</a>. A 100-gram cup of black tea has only about 20 mg of caffeine, while matcha can have 140–170 mg of caffeine! “Looking at the US, they usually recommend less than 400 milligrams. So overall, moderation and keeping your consumption to one to two cups – that’s what I’d recommend.” Now that I’ve written about caffeine, I think I need another cuppa. It’s only my second of the day, I swear. Image credits: Getty Images <div> <h3><a href="https://link.cosmosmagazine.com/JQ4R"><noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-198773" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/ret_img/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Apple-Podcasts.svg" data-spai-egr="1" alt="Subscribe to our podcasts" width="300" height="54" title="should you be worried about the amount of coffee or tea you drink? 2"></noscript></a><a href="https://link.cosmosmagazine.com/JQ4U"><noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-198773" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/ret_img/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Spotify.svg" data-spai-egr="1" alt="Subscribe to our podcasts" width="300" height="54" title="should you be worried about the amount of coffee or tea you drink? 3"></noscript></a></h3> </div>  <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/coffee-tea-caffeine-debunks/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/evrim-yazgin/">Evrim Yazgin</a>.

Body

Eating leafy greens could be better for oral health than using mouthwash

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mia-cousins-burleigh-1201153">Mia Cousins Burleigh</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-west-of-scotland-1385">University of the West of Scotland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/siobhan-paula-moran-1506183">Siobhan Paula Moran</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-west-of-scotland-1385">University of the West of Scotland</a> Over half the adult population in the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26052472">UK and US</a> have gum disease. Typical treatments include <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61912-4">mouthwash</a> and in severe cases, <a href="https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/vetn.2017.8.10.542">antibiotics</a>. These treatments have side effects, such as dry mouth, the development of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30967854/">antimicrobial resistance</a> and increased <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61912-4">blood pressure</a>. But research has indicated that a molecule called <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69931-x">nitrate</a>, which is found in leafy green vegetables, has fewer side effects and offers greater benefits for oral health. And it could be used as a natural alternative for treating oral disease. Inadequate brushing and flossing leads to the build up of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69931-x">dental plaque</a>, a sticky layer of bacteria, on the surface of teeth and gums. Plaque causes tooth decay and gum disease. Sugary and acidic foods, dry mouth, and smoking can also contribute to bad breath, tooth decay, and gum infections. The two main types of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. <a href="https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/etm.2019.8381">Gingivitis</a> causes redness, swelling and bleeding of the gums. <a href="https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/etm.2019.8381">Periodontitis</a> is a more advanced form of gum disease, causing damage to the soft tissues and bones supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease can therefore, lead to tooth loss and, when bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream, can also contribute to the development of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2015163">systemic disorders</a> such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. <h2>Leafy greens may be the secret</h2> Leafy greens and root vegetables are bursting with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666149723000312">vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants</a> – and it’s no secret that a diet consisting of these vegetables is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight, boosting the immune system, and preventing <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2048004016661435">heart disease, cancer and diabetes.</a> The multiple health benefits of leafy greens are partly because spinach, lettuce and beetroots are brimming with <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69931-x">nitrate</a>, which can be reduced to nitric oxide by nitrate-reducing bacteria inside the mouth. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7zrRlMGeBes?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Popeye knew a thing or two about the health benefits of eating leafy greens. Boomerang Official, 2017.</figcaption></figure> Nitric oxide is known to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006295222004191">lower blood pressure</a> and improve <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0243755#:%7E:text=Nitrate%2Drich%20beetroot%20juice%20offsets,healthy%20male%20runners%20%7C%20PLOS%20ONE">exercise performance</a>. However, in the mouth, it helps to prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria and reduces <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0243755#:%7E:text=Nitrate%2Drich%20beetroot%20juice%20offsets,healthy%20male%20runners%20%7C%20PLOS%20ONE">oral acidity</a>, both of which can cause gum disease and tooth decay. As part of our research on nitrate and oral health, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0243755#:%7E:text=Nitrate%2Drich%20beetroot%20juice%20offsets,healthy%20male%20runners%20%7C%20PLOS%20ONE">we studied competitive athletes</a>. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9839431/">Athletes are prone to gum disease</a> due to high intake of carbohydrates – which can cause inflammation of the gum tissues – stress, and dry mouth from breathing hard during training. Our study showed that beetroot juice (containing approximately 12 <a href="https://www.nursingtimes.net/students/an-easy-guide-to-mmols-09-02-2012/">millimole</a> of nitrate) protected their teeth from acidic sports drinks and carbohydrate gels during exercise – suggesting that nitrate could be used as a prebiotic by athletes to reduce the risk of tooth decay. Nitrate offers a lot of promise as an oral health <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69931-x">prebiotic</a>. Good oral hygiene and a nitrate rich diet could be the key to a healthier body, a vibrant smile and disease-free gums. This is good news for those most at risk of oral health deterioration such as <a href="https://www.news-medical.net/health/Periodontitis-and-Pregnancy.aspx">pregnant women</a>, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8771712/">the elderly</a>. In the UK, antiseptic mouthwashes containing <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61912-4">chlorhexidine</a> are commonly used to treat dental plaque and gum disease. Unfortunately, these mouthwashes are a blunderbuss approach to oral health, as they indiscriminately remove both good and bad bacteria and increase oral acidity, which can cause disease. Worryingly, early research also indicates that chlorhexidine may contribute to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30967854/">antimicrobial resistance</a>. Resistance occurs when bacteria and fungi survive the effects of one or more <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4768623/">antimicrobial drugs</a> due to repeated exposure to these treatments. Antimicrobial resistance is a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02724-0/fulltext">global health concern</a>, predicted to cause 10 million deaths yearly by the year 2050. In contrast, dietary nitrate is more targeted. Nitrate eliminates disease-associated bacteria, reduces oral acidity and creates a balanced <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2944498/">oral microbiome</a>. The oral microbiome refers to all the microorganisms in the mouth. Nitrate offers exciting potential as an <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69931-x">oral health prebiotic</a>, which can be used to prevent disease onset or limit disease progression. <h2>How many leafy greens for pearly whites?</h2> So how much should we consume daily? As a rule of thumb, a generous helping of spinach, kale or beetroot at mealtimes contains about 6-10 mmol of nitrate and offers immediate health benefits. Work we have done with our collaborators has shown that treating <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69931-x">plaque samples</a> from periodontal disease patients with 6.5 mmol of nitrate increased healthy bacteria levels and reduced acidity. For example, consuming <a href="https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/JPER.20-0778">lettuce juice</a> for two weeks reduced gum inflammation and increased healthy bacteria levels in patients with gum disease. Growing evidence suggests that nitrate is a cornerstone of oral health. Crunching on a portion of vegetables at mealtimes can help to prevent or treat oral disease and keeps the mouth fresh and healthy.<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/221181/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mia-cousins-burleigh-1201153">Mia Cousins Burleigh</a>, Lecturer, School of Health and Life Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-west-of-scotland-1385">University of the West of Scotland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/siobhan-paula-moran-1506183">Siobhan Paula Moran</a>, PhD candidate, School of Health and Life Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-west-of-scotland-1385">University of the West of Scotland</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/eating-leafy-greens-could-be-better-for-oral-health-than-using-mouthwash-221181">original article</a>.

Body

Aussie grandma and former Greens candidate jailed in Japan claims she was scammed

Donna Nelson, a 57-year-old Perth grandmother, has found herself entangled in a nightmarish situation in a Japanese prison, accused of a crime she vehemently denies. Nelson, an Aboriginal health advocate and former Greens candidate, has been incarcerated for nearly a year without a trial date set, facing allegations of attempting to smuggle two kilograms of meth into Japan. However, her plight is not as straightforward as it may seem, and her family and legal team are tirelessly fighting to clear her name. The ordeal began on January 4, when Nelson was arrested at Narita Airport in Tokyo. Authorities claimed to have discovered drugs concealed within a false compartment in her luggage. According to the prosecution, a customs officer suspected her of acting suspiciously. But the narrative has taken a complex turn as Nelson's defence team unveiled a shocking revelation: she alleges she was deceived and manipulated by a Nigerian scammer who had groomed her for two years. Since her arrest, Nelson has been confined to Chibu prison, located an hour outside Tokyo. Her living conditions are appalling; she spends 23 hours a day isolated in her cell, showers are allowed only every three days, and communication with other inmates and visitors is strictly prohibited. This form of treatment is a reflection of Japan's infamous "hostage justice" strategy, aimed at coercing confessions from detainees. The only individuals granted access to Nelson are her lawyers, Australian embassy representatives, and a pastor. Legal representatives have identified a significant issue with translation throughout the case, and it could very well hinge on an inaccurate translation by the customs officer at the time of her arrest. Rie Nishida from Shinjuku International Law Firm, one of Nelson's lawyers, explained, "The main evidence from the prosecution is mainly a customs officer who said she acted suspiciously. There's a lot of mistranslation that's also the difficulty in this case." This mistranslation issue is not trivial; it extends to the messages exchanged between Nelson and the man she believed she had a romantic connection with, who ultimately turned out to be a scammer. Matthew Owens, another member of the legal team and a translator for the case, noted, "Some of them were completely wrongly translated, so we had to re-translate those messages and submit them back to the prosecutor." Nelson remains steadfast in her conviction that she is innocent of the accusations against her. Her lawyer, Owens, relayed her message, saying, "Donna wants to say that she is going to be able to prove her innocence, she's 100 per cent confident of that, and she wants everyone in Australia and the world to know she is innocent." If found guilty, Nelson could face a harrowing 20-year sentence in a Japanese prison, a terrifying prospect for both her and her family. Her five daughters and grandchildren are distraught, but they are not giving up the fight to prove her innocence. They believe they have evidence to substantiate the claim that she was scammed and unjustly accused. Image: Australian Greens

Legal

Why does my hair turn green from the swimming pool?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/magdalena-wajrak-1432339">Magdalena Wajrak</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720">Edith Cowan University</a> If you are a blonde like me and enjoy laps in a swimming pool, you may have noticed your hair acquires a green tint after frequent swims in chlorinated water. This happens to both bleached and natural blondes. In fact, the green tinge happens to everyone, but it’s less visible on dark hair and those whose hair isn’t damaged by chemical treatments such as bleaching. But what exactly causes this green discoloration, and what can we do about it? Most of us blame the chlorine in the pool water. However, although chlorine does play a part, it is not the main culprit. <h2>Which chemicals in the pool turn the hair green?</h2> The element to blame for the green staining of hair is copper. The main source of copper is copper sulfate (CuSO₄), a compound added to swimming pools to prevent the growth of algae. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568988320301803?via%3Dihub">Contact with algae</a> can cause skin irritation and respiratory issues, and ingesting water with algae can lead to serious gastrointestinal problems. Only a small amount (around 0.5mg per litre or 0.5 parts per million) of copper sulfate is needed to prevent algal growth. However, copper can also enter swimming pools through the corrosion of water pipes, so concentrations may be higher in some pools. Copper sulfate crystals are greenish-blue in colour. So, when hair comes into contact with copper ions – a positively charged variant of a copper atom with extra electrons – those ions get absorbed by the hair and cause the greenish hue. Scientists were fascinated by the green “pool hair” phenomenon as far back as the 1970s, so we actually have research data on copper being the cause. One very <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/538197">interesting study in 1978</a> performed experiments by immersing hair samples into water containing different concentrations of copper ions, chlorine and various pH values (neutral and basic). Their results showed hair exposed to free copper ions does turn green. Furthermore, when hair is oxidised (meaning electrons are removed from the hair proteins) by chlorine, it actually damages the hair, enhancing the absorption of copper ions. Hair submerged in water with chlorine but without copper ions did not turn green. Meanwhile, hair exposed to water with only copper ions and no chlorine still formed a green colour. Hence, chlorine by itself does not play a role in causing the green hue we see in “pool hair”, but it does exacerbate it. <h2>So, how does copper get into the hair?</h2> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0943-7_24">Other research teams</a> have conducted <a href="https://doi.org/10.1071/ch9682437">more extensive studies</a>, using sophisticated instruments, such as scanning electron microscopy, to examine how exactly copper ions attach to the hair. Our hair is predominantly composed of protein called keratin. Keratin is classified as a “structural fibrous protein”, meaning it has an elongated, sheet-like structure. The keratin structure is composed of various <a href="https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/University_of_Kentucky/UK%3A_CHE_103_-_Chemistry_for_Allied_Health_(Soult)/Chapters/Chapter_4%3A_Structure_and_Function/4.4%3A_Functional_Groups">chemical groups</a> (types of atom groupings with similar properties), such as carboxyl groups, amino groups and disulfide groups. Copper ions have the ability to form bonds with these groups, forming a copper-keratin complex. This complex remains in the hair, causing it to appear green. Interestingly, the most recent study <a href="https://doi.org/10.32657/10356/142466">conducted in 2020</a>, showed copper ions mainly bind to the disulfide groups. This study also found other metal ions such as zinc, lead, chromium and mercury also bind to hair in the same way. This is very useful in <a href="https://theconversation.com/forensic-breakthrough-study-suggests-humans-can-be-identified-by-the-proteins-in-their-hair-65051">forensic analysis</a>, for example, because forensic scientists can analyse hair samples to determine if a person has been exposed to a particular metal. Light-coloured hair already has the most visible green discoloration, but research has shown that damaged hair, caused by bleaching, straightening, or exposure to sun, is the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19586601/">most susceptible</a> to the binding of copper ions. This is because in damaged hair the disulfide groups have “broken bonds” (the link that holds the elements within these groups together is broken), making it easier for the copper ions to bind to the hair. <h2>Can I prevent the green colour or get rid of it?</h2> To prevent your hair from turning green in a swimming pool, you have two basic options. The first is a physical barrier – just wear a swim cap. The second option is chemical – you can pre-treat your hair with an alkaline shampoo. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891584918310050">Studies have shown</a> under alkaline pH conditions, the copper ions won’t attach to the hair. To treat your hair before going to the pool, you can either use a shampoo with a pH higher than 7, or you can even try mixing some baking soda into your regular shampoo. But what can you do if your hair has already turned greenish? Well, you can try washing your hair with a shampoo designed to achieve this, typically marketed as a “chlorine removal” shampoo. These products contain a chemical called EDTA – it can bind to metal ions (such as copper) and thus will remove copper from the hair. You may have heard tomato sauce or ketchup is a good way to get the green out of your pool hair – potentially because the red pigments are supposed to “cancel out” the green ones. However, I’m not aware of any scientific evidence this would work. Correction: This article has been amended to clarify that alkaline shampoos have a pH higher than 7, not lower.<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/211736/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/magdalena-wajrak-1432339">Magdalena Wajrak</a>, Senior lecturer, Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720">Edith Cowan University</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/why-does-my-hair-turn-green-from-the-swimming-pool-211736">original article</a>.

Beauty & Style

My Royal Melbourne Seniors Classic Adventure: A day on the greens (and in the bunkers!)

G'day to all past, present, and emerging golf enthusiasts! If you're a senior golfer like me, hunting for inspiration, adventure, and authentic golf yarns — this is for you. Picture this: a crisp August morning, and sixty-two senior golfers gathered on Royal Melbourne's West Course for the Vic Seniors Classic 2023. Here's the story of how it all went down... Before anything else, I mustered the guts to jump in. Ever heard of "imposter syndrome"? Trust me, I was its best mate. But the requirements were clear: age 55+ (I'm a proud 65-year-old), GA Handicap under 24.5 (18.5), and a $225 entry fee. Wait, $225? Given that Royal Melbourne's green fees dance around $1000, caddy fee included, it was a no-brainer. Fueled by the temptation of playing a top-notch course for a quarter of the fee, I submitted my application without hesitation. Before I knew it, my name adorned the list of players. As the day approached, I was geared up to tackle the Royal Melbourne challenge. The 8 am shotgun start meant groups teed off from various holes. I found myself at the 11th tee, flanked by two fierce competitors: Peter (Daily Handicap 1) and Damian (12). Yours truly? A modest 20. Standing over the ball, knees a tad wobbly, I swung that driver. The ball sailed gracefully, landing centre fairway, while their shots had taken a wilder route into the rough. The lesson? 'How near,' not 'how far'. Now, let's talk about those Royal Melbourne greens. Rumour had it, they were "super fast". Super fast? Imagine sliding a ball across your kitchen's polished tiles — yep, that rapid. Around the course, bunkers became my stern mentors — big, deep, and oh-so unforgiving. Post 18 holes, scorecards were in, followed by the triumphant crowning of winners over lunch. Rodney Ware (75 gross) and Kevin Naismith (81 gross) led in men's gross, while Wayne Moon (72 net) and Craig Lonsdale (73 net) dominated the net division. Melinda Crawford (16, scratch stableford) and Louise Yuen (29 handicap points) shone in the women's. Kudos to winners, fellow players, Royal Melbourne and Golf Australia for the unforgettable day. By the way, can you see yourself on those hallowed Royal Melbourne greens? If your inner golfer nods, I'm your cheerleader. Consider joining me for the 2024 Royal Melbourne Seniors Classic. And as I wrap up, let me leave you with the timeless words of the legendary Peter Thomson: "Golf is a game of how near, not how far". Until next time, keep those swings buttery, putts steadfast, and steer clear of those tricky bunkers. PS: My result? T43rd (net) among the 48 male players. Next time I'll be swinging even better. About the Writer: Mike Searles is a Melbourne retiree who's living the golfing dream. Image credits: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

The hilarious reason Dolly Parton turned down tea with Princess Kate

It's been a remarkable year for country legend Dolly Parton, that she even received an invitation to tea with Princess Kate Middleton. Unfortunately, the icon had to decline and shared the hilarious reason why on her latest interview with BBC Radio 2. “This time, Lordy, I even got invited to have tea with Kate but I couldn’t even go," the country queen revealed about her time in London. “I thought it was very sweet and nice of her to invite me and one of these days I’m going to get to do that – that would be great," she added. When asked why she couldn't attend the prestigious afternoon tea, Parton joked: “She wasn’t going to promote my rock album so I had to say no.” On a more serious note, she said that despite her love for the people and London, she "unfortunately" doesn't have enough time to explore the city while she's there on business. The icon has been booked and busy with an upcoming rock album that is set to be released on November. Earlier this month she released Let It Be, a cover of the iconic Beatles song which she sang with two members of the band Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. She's also been very active in her charity work, particularly her Imagination Library, which she founded and is currently expanding to help more children get free books up until they turn five. Images: Getty

Relationships

Mystery object washed up on WA beach finally identified

Ok space enthusiasts and beachcombers. Here's one for the X-Files – Intergalactic Travel edition. Picture this: A strange and baffling object, looking like it's straight out of a sci-fi flick, decided to take a little trip to Green Head beach, about 250 kilometres north of Perth on the pristine WA coastline. As soon as the locals caught sight of this extraterrestrial-looking thingamajig, the news spread like wildfire, and it made international headlines faster than a speeding rocket, with all kinds of fascinating theories popping up as to what on Earth (or not on Earth) it could be. Was it a UFO? A top-secret government experiment gone awry? Well, turns out it was nothing that exciting. The Australian Space Agency put on their Sherlock Holmes hats and deduced that this enigmatic piece of debris probably came from a satellite launch vehicle. Eureka! Case closed! Of course, when something weird and otherworldly shows up on your doorstep, you can't be too careful. So, the local authorities played it safe and put the object under police guard for an entire week. (Better safe than sorry, right?) And who needs a red carpet when you have a front-end loader to transport your newfound cosmic artifact? The experts were summoned to figure out where this space junk came from, and they concluded it was most likely a fuel tank from some rocket launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Professor Alice Gorman from Flinders University explained to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-31/australian-space-agency-identifies-space-junk-green-head/102669472" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a> that this fuel containment vessel was meant to fall off after launch. And it turns out that statistically, we've been pretty lucky not to have had more collisions with falling rocket parts. Imagine explaining that to your insurance company? "A rocket booster landed on my house. Is that covered?" But here comes the tricky part: What to do with all of this space garbage? Should they ship it back to India like some interstellar postcard, or leave it Down Under as an intergalactic souvenir? While India is technically (and legally) responsible for their space debris, they could decide to gift it to Australia if they so choose. It could be like an exotic space decoration for the country - "The Land of Kangaroos and Rocket Wreckage." Even better, the Green Head community itself appear to have come up with a few fabulous ideas. Forget the Sydney Opera House: let's make the space debris a tourist attraction! Move over, Eiffel Tower - we've got our own piece of space history right here. The WA Premier even suggested storing it next to space debris from NASA's Skylab space station (remember that?) in some kind of attempt to build a cosmic cabinet of curiosities. Of course, the local council is also very keen on keeping this celestial treasure. They're hoping the Indian government won't come back to claim it, to the point that everyone in the surrounding Shire of Coorow is buzzing with excitement over the possibility of having their very own space souvenir to draw crowds of star trekkers. And so while the mystery of the object on the beach has been solved, the debate over its fate is just beginning. Will it become a star attraction in a local park? Or will it be shipped off to India like an interplanetary package return? Only time will tell. Images: Nine News

Travel Trouble

Raise a cup: Founder of beloved tea dies aged 93

Tributes are pouring in after news of the passing of Merrill J. Fernando, the visionary founder of the renowned Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company. At the age of 93, surrounded by his beloved sons and grandchildren, Fernando breathed his last in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Fernando's impact on the tea industry was profound, and he became well-known for his memorable line in advertisements, urging people to "do try it." As a true teamaker, disrupter, and servant, he dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in tea. In a heartfelt statement shared on social media, Dilmah Tea paid tribute to this legendary figure, acknowledging his invincible faith, integrity, and love for both tea and family. He was a man of unwavering devotion, tirelessly striving for integrity and quality, all while maintaining a humble and kind demeanour. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Surrounded by family, iconic Teamaker, Disrupter and Servant Merrill J Fernando passed this morning. His greatness was in kindness & humility, enabled by invincible faith. He pursued passion for tea to serve others. His generations will follow as he rests in the arms of his Lord. <a href="https://t.co/F90OgaCQZS">pic.twitter.com/F90OgaCQZS</a> — The Dilmah Family (@TheDilmahFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDilmahFamily/status/1681844254681776129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2023</a></blockquote> Fernando's journey from humble rural beginnings to global prominence was shaped by the Christian family values instilled in him during his upbringing. He lived by these values throughout his 93 years, leaving a legacy that touched countless lives. Beyond his entrepreneurial prowess, Merrill J. Fernando was a disruptor with a mission to better the lives of others through his passion for tea. He firmly believed that tea could bring positive change to the world. The statement highlighted his commitment to making the world a better place through the goodness of Ceylon Tea. In memory of the great man he was, a <a href="https://mjf.dilmahtea.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memorial website</a> has been set up on the Dilmah website. This platform allows the public to pay their respects and share their tributes to the industry giant who forever changed the landscape of tea. Merrill J. Fernando's departure leaves a void in the tea community, but his legacy will continue to inspire and shape the industry for generations to come. His dedication, humanity, and relentless pursuit of ethical purposes will forever remain an integral part of the Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company's identity. As we remember him, let us raise our cups in tribute to this remarkable man, who truly lived his life with taste, goodness, and a profound sense of purpose. Images: Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company

Caring

Mysterious liquid turns popular rock pool green

A mysterious liquid has turned a popular public rock pool at Cronulla beach fluorescent green. The liquid, believed to be a natural fluorescent dye, fluorescein, was seen pouring into the usually clear waters of the pool on Friday. The dye is often used to help experts track the flow of water to identify any leaks and has low toxicity, which means it is harmless despite the daunting colour. “We believe the discolouration is likely to be fluorescein dye, which is commonly used in plumbing/drain testing and dissipates quickly once diluted,” a spokesperson for the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority said. According to Australian dye manufacturer, Tintex, the dye is also used to “locate leaks in plumbing, tracing pipe locations, detect drain damage and water pathways,” and is odourless and non-toxic to the environment. However, in a safety data sheet, Tintex has also warned about the potential health effects which include eye irritation, skin irritation, irritation of the digestive tract and respiratory tract irritation. Many locals are cautious despite the claim that the dye is mostly harmless. One user wrote on a Facebook page for Cronulla locals that dye was “legal to use in a stormwater drain”. “Doesn’t look good whatever it is,” another responded, while other cautious residents replied that they wouldn’t swim in the area until the dye fully dissipates. Images: Facebook

Travel Trouble

How to make your next holiday better for the environment

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-canavan-228682">Brendan Canavan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-nottingham-1192">University of Nottingham</a> Being an environmentally friendly tourist can be challenging. Tourism is an industry that brings many <a href="https://www.unwto.org/EU-guidebook-on-sustainable-tourism-for-development">negative environmental impacts</a> – our pleasure often comes at the expense of local habitats or wildlife. Maya Bay on Thailand’s uninhabited Phi Phi Leh island became famous as the location of the 2000 Hollywood movie The Beach. But this led to rapid growth in visitors to the bay – as many as 8,000 a day at its peak – and put enormous strain on the bay’s natural habitats. In 2018, the bay was <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/maya-bay-thailand-recovery-c2e-spc-intl/index.html">closed to tourists</a> for four years to let its coral reefs and wildlife recover. But tourism can also be an inspiring way to connect with oneself, with others and with new places. As tourists, we can learn, share and contribute to positive environmental practices. As a tourist, you also have influence. The money you spend, the social interactions you have and the resources you consume all <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261517715300224?casa_token=TaXMOLW6Sp4AAAAA:PEnSG1AaAZ-MiuTNZ1wJfLRrzaNVIbaBsk1cKsP8M-_6KjruLO9tp09BqqzGnJTIZbN8_CoP4Q">help to shape an area</a>. So here are four pieces of advice for making your next holiday better for the environment. <h2>Spend locally</h2> We’ve all heard variations on the mantra “<a href="https://cleanisland.org/history-of-the-leave-only-footprints-initiative/#:%7E:text=%E2%80%9CTake%20only%20memories%2C%20leave%20only,the%20Leave%20Only%20Footprints%20program.">take only memories, leave only footprints</a>”. This message of less consumption and lower impact is a good ethos for environmentally sensitive tourism. The first thing to do is think about how you can leave more positive footprints behind. An excellent way to make the most of your economic footprint is to stay and shop in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09669580802359293?casa_token=eNeLWWRPHxIAAAAA:9bT4S5-0O5b2JQWrYKgmjtDxrZzlv0P-H-9T2SoWT1fX6tFRkoVenNNcfmJbHV9ebhF2kP7XIEgz">independent businesses</a>. These businesses tend to pay local taxes and are owned by and employ local people. More of the money you spend stays in the immediate area as a result. Where tourist money directly benefits local people and businesses, their support for conservation is <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26069456.pdf?casa_token=rdKkHk5QviUAAAAA:2ZCqsGG1f-2wFTIdmptbrJDVo8iPjYnam7QPdHXviRy_e0wA7YMY7fc0Qm1smIII4cg6_WriJ1OQwPvxMibmeHQxnO81NPd9jwoeVRudUS2TVv2TNeg">often encouraged</a>. Tourists <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517709000120#sec5">visiting rhino sanctuaries</a> in Botswana, for example, bring income and support jobs. In 2010, the country’s Khama Rhino Sanctuary employed 26 permanent staff and many more casual labourers. This economic security can, in turn, prompt local people to appreciate the importance of protecting vulnerable animal species like rhinos. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09669582.2021.1932927?casa_token=rffO3wgsu6UAAAAA:7dounwsgVunXCW4-NERDNDX9Ks_OVfa3z5TfZDojAdiVVKuXbU52_3DnRNfALNjMCW0PzGPPOu0MQQ">Separate research</a> on people living around Kenya’s Maasai Mara nature reserve found that people whose livelihoods were dependent on tourism were more likely to support efforts to conserve local wildlife. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524360/original/file-20230504-19-znuosc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524360/original/file-20230504-19-znuosc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524360/original/file-20230504-19-znuosc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524360/original/file-20230504-19-znuosc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524360/original/file-20230504-19-znuosc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524360/original/file-20230504-19-znuosc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524360/original/file-20230504-19-znuosc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Two white rhinos drinking from a pond." /><figcaption>Two white rhinos at Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/white-rhinoceros-ceratotherium-simum-squarelipped-khama-2060738441">Al Carrera/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>Tread lightly</h2> Tourism creates waste and uses up resources. Treading carefully will minimise the environmental impact you have on your holiday destination. A simple way to lower your environmental footprint is to use fewer resources at every stage of your holiday. A single tourist uses <a href="https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284414529">300 litres</a> of water in their holiday accommodation on average each night. Reusing towels, flushing the toilet less and shortening your shower time can all help to reduce demand for water resources. Thinking about the footprints you leave as a tourist is a useful mindset. You may even become more aware of the positive legacy you can leave behind. Learn about the local area and the environmental issues that matter there. If habitat loss is a problem, contribute to local organisations that support conservation. Organisations like the <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays">National Trust</a> even offer holidays in the UK that help to fund their work. <h2>Place matters</h2> Tourism shifts you away from the familiar and gives you <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738312001211?casa_token=zHTCleS_F3kAAAAA:jWMOOtEJzH8OXySUqafP5Z7koLFOtNSJ2Ik4ncoA9wPCHTW-1MRNJJwRvYtoopoSqCwTRm_TeA">space for self-reflection</a>. Research has found that people have been <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02508281.2017.1342349?role=button&needAccess=true&journalCode=rtrr20">inspired by travel to make life changes</a> such as relocating or shifting career. Many keen rock climbers, for instance, adopt a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17450101.2014.977667?casa_token=gCsYfe0mSDkAAAAA:q8f6HbQ9rlwXS5_DGl3De1XUnHXX6U0EC3QUNz65pFivUgPo7RDH0-zGXvspjrTrv73FKkouDPM-">minimalist and mobile lifestyle</a>. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14616688.2012.762691?needAccess=true">One study</a> on climbers’ lifestyles in the US showed that the challenges of life on the road, gatherings at campgrounds and the considerable amount of time spent in nature can be enriching. Rock climbers’ lifestyles are inspired by and connected to natural settings. And many alternative types of tourism are too. These tourists can become powerful advocates for the protection of the places they care deeply about. Surf tourists, for example, have driven <a href="https://www.sas.org.uk/">various campaigns</a> against the discharge of sewage into UK bathing waters. You and those you travel with can be similar cheerleaders for the places you care about. Join organisations fighting for their conservation, contribute to their sustainable development and share your appreciation of these places with others. <h2>Stay curious</h2> A final thing you can do as a tourist is to keep exploring. It can be tempting to stay in a <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/40970087.pdf?casa_token=zGlcyUgr_JcAAAAA:TzIuU8wrbvXyjAxawpea1Nw35y-5DSZX-MShnpndR4iEwzOQqCul3Hn61SFdotC4dO3hMZ6ddpOI-O0v45K7Jwo6TY9I4FVbUaE8QMuGo7qsBFbvbXE">tourist bubble</a> and not leave the confines of your resort or stick with familiar travel groups and activities. Cruises are a classic example of bubble tourism. The places visited do not really matter; the floating hotel is the main attraction. But cruise tourism rarely benefits local populations and brings <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261517717302418?casa_token=dz_gzPmnVTsAAAAA:o6WggzlegsnTGIh9__NvL7POYKzGB3pHd44TNswicbl0sOSc5uTUYG-G_qZroQ3gaQVchZR5Gw">significant negative environmental impacts</a>. In the Trujillo Bay area of Honduras, for example, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517717302418?casa_token=DDSyzNJhU5sAAAAA:vqMQqzyKJMXHLZmVfcuYesAmc-0KsqzR8GdX97r0AzecrnXCRPNMC7_lHBKyqYKzLbMoHh83zQ#sec7">increases in garbage and sewage</a> have been reported since commercial cruise tourism began operating in the area in 2014. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524072/original/file-20230503-28-w8obuy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524072/original/file-20230503-28-w8obuy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524072/original/file-20230503-28-w8obuy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524072/original/file-20230503-28-w8obuy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524072/original/file-20230503-28-w8obuy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524072/original/file-20230503-28-w8obuy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524072/original/file-20230503-28-w8obuy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A beach full of tourists from the cruise ship moored nearby." /><figcaption>A cruise ship moored near Mahogany Bay beach, Honduras. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mahogany-bay-beach-full-tourists-cruise-1647866578">Ramunas Bruzas/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> Similar concerns have prompted calls to restrict cruise tourism in popular European destinations like <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/25/cruise-passengers-shuttled-into-venice-by-motor-boat-to-dodge-big-ships-ban">Venice</a>, <a href="https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/09/01/stop-cruises-50000-people-sign-petition-to-regulate-polluting-ships-in-marseille">Marseille</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/09/a-plague-of-locusts-barcelona-battles-port-authorities-to-curb-cruise-tourists">Barcelona</a>. In 2022, more than 50,000 people signed a petition to ban cruise ships from Marseille. Going beyond familiar or fashionable tourist bubbles can help you avoid such negative associations. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517709001113?casa_token=SHXc1sqnFOkAAAAA:T8KwGbxBT_jHQv1RMWfJaQagU4C_XnnOKxxwNqODHpboL6YRkzRsr-C9W6mgRHQDa-M6vcAYAA#sec7">Short-haul city breaks</a> are a more environmentally friendly option. Travellers to these destinations are more likely to use means of transportation that are associated with <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-and-environment-statistics-autumn-2021/transport-and-environment-statistics-autumn-2021#:%7E:text=The%20biggest%20contributors%20to%20this,of%20emissions%2C%2019%20MtCO2e%20">less CO₂ emissions</a> than long-haul travel, such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652613005131?casa_token=INw7hbOMnDEAAAAA:Do8AzrmSnJZtOHdqWtc7QLFhgrWF520ej0-_gt0rcZmhzyLGT5DSS3SdmRR6tnxC3qtOHXIThQ">trains or coaches</a>. And in urban areas, their activities are likely to take place in a concentrated geographical area. Thinking about the footprints you leave and the memories you take can help you to become a more environmentally aware tourist. Leave positive imprints behind, tread carefully, put yourself out there and keep exploring. This is a mantra to adopt and share with your travel groups to get the most out of your holiday experiences while simultaneously reducing your impact on the planet.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/203445/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-canavan-228682">Brendan Canavan</a>, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-nottingham-1192">University of Nottingham</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-your-next-holiday-better-for-the-environment-203445">original article</a>. Images: Getty

International Travel

"Downhearted": Rod Stewart reveals sad reason for cancellation

Fans of Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens were left devastated after the trio’s highly anticipated performance was cancelled hours before they were due to take the stage. The sad announcement was made just after midday, with the trio set to perform at 4 pm at A Day on the Green festival in Mt Duneed Estate in Geelong, Victoria. Stewart took to Instagram to share his heartfelt apology, “Hello, my friends. I’m absolutely downhearted that I’m disappointing my fans who bought tickets to A Day on the Green. “Late this morning I was advised that I have a viral infection and my throat is too irritated to sing. I’m only human and sometimes get sick just like you do. “My greatest joy is performing for you, so I’m doing everything I can to get on the mend and back on stage!” <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/p/Cp7XzziNTVN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp7XzziNTVN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sir Rod Stewart (@sirrodstewart)</a> </div> </blockquote> On Saturday, the promoters of the event posted an online statement confirming that the show was cancelled. The statement read: “Live Nation and Roundhouse Entertainment regret to announce that tonight’s performance, Saturday 18 March 2023, by Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens at Mt. Duneed Estate, Geelong will not go ahead, due to illness.” Ticketmaster also apologised for the cancellation and to hold on to their tickets while they wait for further updates regarding the show. Hundreds of fans have shared their disappointment, with some saying they had travelled just for the show. “Would’ve been good to receive an email/text and not have to find out from a random in a cafe. Booked a weekend away for my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday which is today, we’re beyond devastated,” one person commented in an Instagram post from A Day on the Green. “A text or email would have been lovely, we just arrived after driving 5 hours and our notification was the sign out the front. This was my partner's dads Christmas present,” commented another. <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/p/Cp6WmRLOsHo/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp6WmRLOsHo/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by A Day On The Green (@adayonthegreenofficial)</a> </div> </blockquote> Others have expressed their sympathy in response to the statement shared by Stewart. “It's all good Sir Rod.. Take care of your people first.. The rest can be sorted out afterwards…” wrote one user. “I hope it's nothing too serious. Sending hugs. 💜” shared another fan. “Hope you feel better soon. Must have been an awful decision to make to cancel at such short notice,” wrote a third. Image: Oscar Gonzalez/Getty Images

Music

Does black tea improve heart health?

Tea is full of flavonoids: a class of substances thought to have a range of health benefits. They also appear in fruits and vegetables like berries, oranges and apples – as well as red wine and dark chocolate. An international team of researchers, based in Western Australia, has found a link between flavonoids and better arterial health. The study, which looked at the diets of 881 women aged between 78 and 82, found that those who consumed a lot of flavonoids – which in this group, mainly came from black tea – were less likely to have an extensive build-up of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). AAC is a process in the body’s biggest artery (the aorta), and it’s a predictor of a range of health conditions including heart attacks, strokes and late-life dementia. “This research is really exciting because it’s the first time we have seen in humans, that higher long-term dietary flavonoid intake appears to protect against vascular calcification,” says lead researcher Ben Parmenter, a researcher at Edith Cowan University’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute. “While several studies have shown a potential link in rodents, ours is the first human study, linking total dietary flavonoid consumption with a lower propensity of the abdominal aorta to calcify.” The researchers examined data from the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women, a long-term study done on older, white Western Australian women to investigate bone health and calcium intake. “Recruitment for this study took place in 1998—back when I was in primary school!” says Parmenter. “It was at this time that the medical examinations and participant questionnaires were collected.” The researchers compared the diets each woman reported to their AAC. Black tea was the biggest source of flavonoids in the study, accounting for 76% of total flavonoid intake. Those who drank between two and six cups daily had a 16-42% lower chance of having extensive AAC. “Out of the women who don’t drink black tea, higher total non-tea flavonoid intake also appears to protect against extensive calcification of the arteries,” says Parmenter. Participants who had higher flavonoid intake in total had a 36-39% lower chance of extensive AAC. But some specific flavonoid sources – red wine, fruit juice and chocolate – weren’t associated with better AAC. Parmenter says that, since this study was done on a fairly select demographic, it’s hard to tell if the results would be similar younger people, males, or other ethnicities. “Although we hypothesis that the benefits are likely to extend to these demographics – ultimately, further research is needed to investigate this.” Next, the researchers are interested in looking at the relationship between flavonoids and stroke. “We previously released findings showing that higher habitual dietary flavonoid consumption associates with lower long-term risk of stroke, but we have now gone further, to investigate specific mechanisms,” says Parmenter. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/flavonoids-black-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. Image: Shutterstock

Body

How Jamie Durie is revolutionising greener building

Jamie Durie is using his knowledge and expertise to help educate people on the importance of greener building. The celebrity gardener has partnered with Victorian boutique builder <a title="Chatham Homes" href="https://chathamhomes.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chatham Homes</a>, to help the home construction industry in confronting the challenges of living through the ongoing climate crisis. Jamie told <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/property/homes/how-jamie-durie-is-encouraging-greener-building/a751b122-af38-48e7-a729-b961eafb5a78" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine</a> that he doesn't know "of any other builder in Australia that has gone to these sorts of lengths to ensure Australian families and the environment end up with a healthier future." Through his work, Jamie said he is particularly keen on shedding light on the damaging nature of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can be found in the home. With Jamie's assistance, Chatham Homes has made it their priority to ensure their homes are not only using low VOC paint, but also zero VOC glue in their joinery systems. VOCs are described as a large group of chemicals that are found in the products used to construct and maintain our homes, and can be found in paints, upholstery, glue and laminates. According to the <a title="Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water" href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/npi/substances/fact-sheets/total-volatile-organic-compounds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water</a>, dangerous side effects of inhaling VOCS can include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, loss of coordination, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system. "There are a lot of builders out there who don't know what VOCs are," Jamie tells Nine. "And you look at Chatham and they're not only using low VOC paints, they're using zero VOC glue in their joinery systems. It's really quite amazing." "They proof-test the entire home, they vacuum-test. So it's an 8.2 energy star rating which is the highest level of any home builder in Australia." Jamie reveals that the impacts of VOCs are only starting to become common knowledge. "The average new home has around 20 times the acceptable level of VOCs that a human being should experience. A lot of it is just coming to the surface," he says. "It's about building healthy buildings and providing wellbeing to Australian families. A lot of people don't realise these VOCs are carcinogenic." "[Chatham Homes] have taken it upon themselves to investigate and incorporate these as standard building practices in all their homes," says Jamie. Image credits: Instagram

Real Estate

Are herbal teas good for you?

If you’re a regular sipper of something herbal, chances are good that you’ve chosen your blend based on the way it tastes and the apparent health benefits of the blend in question. You might brew up a chamomile of an evening or put on a pot of peppermint when your tummy feels upset. But do these teas actually do what they say on the label? The short answer is yes! Herbal teas are a fantastic way to enjoy the medicinal properties of herbs in a safe and easily accessed way. If you’re keen to expand your “herbal tea wardrobe” try picking up a packet of one of the following next time you’re out shopping. 1. Green tea One of the herbal staples, green tea is often touted as a ‘super food’ (or drink) due to its high level of antioxidants. Recent research has also found that it contains high levels of L-thenanine, an amino acid that helps calm and soothe your system. If you’re not a fan of the taste of traditional blends, try Japanese green tea, which tends to be milder on the palette. 2. Chamomile tea Regularly drunk as a night time tea, chamomile flowers have a calming effect on the nervous system as well as on your digestive system, making them a great choice for when your tummy is unsettled or if you suffer from conditions like IBS. 3. Peppermint tea One of the most popular and easy to find teas, peppermint is widely regarded as a great digestive soother. These potent plants also have energy boosting properties and can help you remain alert. 4. Ginger tea Whether you use teabags or freshly grated root ginger, a ginger infusion is fantastic for increasing circulation and easing inflammation. This makes it especially good for the cooler months or for those who suffer joint problems. Image: Getty

Body

Mortali-tea! Black tea drinking linked to lower risk of dying

The health benefits of green tea are well-established, but black tea might be a good idea too, according to a new analysis. The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, draws on data from nearly half a million people to find a link between black tea drinking and lower mortality risk. The researchers, who are based at the US National Institute of Health, examined data from the long-term UK Biobank study, which tracked a cohort of 502,488 UK residents aged between 40 and 69. Between 2006 and 2010, participants in this study regularly logged a range of lifestyle, and health-related information via touchscreens at assessment centres. This information included tea drinking, by number of cups per day. Among the 498,043 participants who logged tea-drinking information, 85% reported regularly drinking tea. Nearly a fifth of participants (19%) reported drinking more than six cups of tea per day. A separate survey of a smaller cohort of participants suggested that 89% of the tea drinkers drank black tea, while 7% drank green tea. According to the UN, the UK consumes around 100,000 tonnes of tea each year – or about 1.5 kilograms per person. The American researchers combined the tea-drinking information in the UK with mortality data. Once they’d adjusted for age and demographics, they found that participants who drank at least two cups of tea per day had a 9-13% lower risk of dying. Drinking 2-3 cups per day was associated with the lowest mortality risk, but even drinking 10 or more cups was linked to a lower mortality risk than drinking no tea at all. In their paper, the researchers say that their findings reflect similar studies based in China and Japan, where green tea is much more common than black. “Fewer studies have assessed tea intake and mortality in populations where black tea is predominantly consumed, such as in the United States and Europe, and results have varied across studies,” write the researchers. They point out, however, that they didn’t track some “potentially important aspects” like tea strength or cup size, making it harder to draw precise conclusions. While the study is observational and thus can’t establish a cause, the researchers point out that the polyphenols and flavonoids in black tea have been linked to a variety of health benefits in small randomized-control trials – including lower cholesterol, and a lower risk of carcinogenesis and type 2 diabetes. “These findings provide reassurance to tea drinkers and suggest that black tea can be part of a healthy diet,” write the researchers. This article originally appeared in <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/black-tea-mortality-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Paul Green farewelled

NRL legend Paul Green has been farewelled in an emotional service in Queensland following his devastating death. The legendary coach and former player was just 49 when he was found dead at his home in Brisbane on August 11. More than 700 people attended the service at Kougari Oval, the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls’ home ground, including rugby league greats Allan Langer, Andrew Gee, Shane Webcke, Ben Ikin and Jason Taumalolo. John Lang, Steve Renouf, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Todd Payten, Neil Henry, Brad Thorn, Kevin Walters, Brad Fittler, Trent Robinson and Bryan Fletcher were also in attendance. Paul Green’s wife Amanda delivered a heartfelt speech speaking of when the pair met and their love for one another. “Paul and I met at the Mad Cow in Townsville, an establishment of many relationships,” she said. “The day Paul proposed he said to me you better strapped yourself because it’s going to be one hell of a ride, and that it was. “We had the deepest love and he made me feel deeply loved … we’ve always been a team. “As heartbroken as I am today, I’ve loved every moment with Paul. I loved you yesterday, I love you today and I will love you tomorrow.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Paul Green’s wife Amanda has delivered the most moving tribute to her late husband as family and friends remember the legendary player and coach. Pictures from the service: <a href="https://t.co/bBOWY77XFj">https://t.co/bBOWY77XFj</a> <a href="https://t.co/dTDjE93KJ5">pic.twitter.com/dTDjE93KJ5</a> — Courier Mail Sport (@cmail_sport) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmail_sport/status/1564426956770201601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2022</a></blockquote> Their daughter Emerson then got up and delivered a heart-warming speech saying she will cherish their memories forever. “He always knew what to say and when to say it. He would always tell you it doesn’t matter what people think of you,” she said. “He knew how to bust a move and liked to think he had an amazing voice. If there was music on, I could always count on Dad dragging me onto a dancefloor. “He taught me to be the best version of myself. I will cherish our memories forever and will continue to do you proud. “I was always your little angel, but now you are mine.” Jed also said a few words, thanking his dad for being the “best dad ever”. “Thanks for being the best dad ever. You were so silly sometimes and that you made the best dad,” he said. “I am going to miss you so much.” Paul’s family announced a few weeks after his death that they <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/paul-green-s-brain-donated-to-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donated his brain to science</a>. The Australian Sports Brain Bank said Paul’s brain will help aid research into concussion-related condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a common injury amongst NRL players due to the nature of the game. "In memory of our beloved Paul, we ask that you support the pioneering work of the Australian Sports Brain Bank,” their post read. "Paul was known for always looking out for others. We are proud that part of his legacy will be looking out for the brain health of all others involved in the game that he loved. "Amanda, Emerson and Jed." Paul had an incredible NRL career, playing 162 first grade matches between 1994-2004 and winning the prestigious Rothmans Medal in 1995 as the game's best and fairest. He played for several different clubs including Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos. Green eventually swapped his playing boots to coaching ones as he took on the North Queensland Cowboys from 2014-2020. If you are experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit lifeline.org.au or beyondblue.org.au. Images: Twitter

Caring

"It's mad!" Steve Price goes ballistic over Greens rent freeze proposal

Steve Price has clashed with a Greens MP over their party's idea of a rent freeze, calling the proposal "mad". Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather spoke with the The Project on Thursday night to discuss the Greens' proposal, which was met with a frosty reception. Earlier this week, The Greens urged the government to impose a nationwide rent freeze for two years, citing the sharp increases in rent that have outstripped wage rises in recent months. The minor party has also called for future rent increases, beyond the proposed freeze period, to be capped at 2 per cent every two years. When Mr Chandler-Mather explained the proposal to the panel, the questions came flooding in. “Max, this does sound vaguely like socialism, possibly even communism. How would it work in practice?” host Hamish Macdonald asked. “I wouldn’t call it socialism or communism. I’d call it what is being done around the world, and (what has) worked. Victoria froze rents for six months during the pandemic, and what we are saying now is we are in a worse housing crisis even than in the pandemic, and we need an urgent national response," Mr Chandler-Mather replied. “What we’re proposing today is a two-year national rent freeze, because rents are out of control. They’ve increased seven times faster than wages since the pandemic began.” “It is not a crazy proposal ... I think it is a moderate proposal for what is a national crisis," he said. As he went on to cite other global examples of a similar scheme working to protect renters, Steve Price jumped in. “Max, you call it moderate. I call it mad,” he said. “What do you say to landlords who, over the next two years or so, are going to have an increase to their mortgage repayments, council rates are going up, repairs on rental properties are going up, it’s hard to get tradesmen – they are just expected to wear this increase in cost with no rent going up." “They’re going to bail on the market, they’re going to sell their properties, and you’re going to collapse the real estate market. It’s mad, mate!” “Well I don’t think the real estate market collapsed in Victoria when they froze rents for six months,” Mr Chandler-Mather said. “There was a six-month rent freeze in Victoria, but similarly in British Colombia or in New York or Scotland-” said the Greens MP. Price interrupted saying, “We’re not in British Columbia, New York or Scotland, we’re in Australia.” “We’ve got a rental system that works. There are a lot of great landlords. There are even landlords who, during Covid, made the rent cheaper for people because they wanted to look after good tenants. You’re trying to blow up a system that actually works.” “I think you just need to talk to the 2.7 million renters who are in severe rental stress at the moment and ask them if the housing market is working,” countered Mr Chandler-Mather. The pair continued their feisty back and forth before the interview drew to a close, where Macdonald thanked the MP for being “a good sport”. Image credits: The Project

Real Estate

Homemade snack eaten by the Queen every day for over nine decades

A former royal chef has revealed that Queen Elizabeth II has been eating one particular snack ever since she was first served it as a child in the royal nursery. Darren McGrady worked for the royal family for almost two decades according to The Sun, and has since revealed some of the Queen’s favourite dishes and frequent requests, including one known as Jam Pennies. McGrady described Jam Pennies as a simple sandwich of “bread and jam with a little butter - usually strawberry jam”, and said the Queen has been eating them every day for 91 years. “We’d make the jam at Balmoral Castle with the gorgeous Scottish strawberries from the gardens,” he said. Meanwhile, another former royal chef has said the Queen is partial to a tuna and mayonnaise sandwich, a popular combination among Brits, but with her own twist. Owen Hodgson told the Telegraph that the monarch prefers hers well-buttered with cucumbers and pepper. Aside from sandwiches, McGrady has shared more insights into Her Majesty’s dining habits, including her insistence on having afternoon tea no matter where in the world she happens to be. The chef recalled one particular instance when he flew to Australia and settled aboard a royal yacht at 5am local time, which was five in the afternoon for the Queen - meaning his first task was to make scones. “In terms of scones - one day plain and one day with raisins folded through,” he said of the Queen’s usual afternoon tea spread. “Also, tiny pastries like raspberry tartlets and a cut cake, honey and cream sponge, fruit cake, banana bread, or her favourite chocolate biscuit cake. “It would all be washed down with a delightful steaming hot cup of Earl Grey tea.” Image: Getty Images

Food & Wine

Paul Green’s brain donated to science

Paul Green’s brain has been donated to the Australian Sports Brain Bank to help with science. The legendary coach and former player Paul Green was just 49 when he <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/rugby-league-icon-dead-at-49" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was found dead</a> at his home in Brisbane on August 11. It is confirmed that the father-of-two died from suicide. His family has now confirmed that his brain will be donated to the <a href="https://www.mycause.com.au/page/290298/in-memory-of-paul-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Sports Brain Bank</a> to help aid research into concussion-related condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a common injury amongst NRL players due to the nature of the game. "In memory of our beloved Paul, we ask that you support the pioneering work of the Australian Sports Brain Bank,” their post read. "Paul was known for always looking out for others. We are proud that part of his legacy will be looking out for the brain health of all others involved in the game that he loved. "Amanda, Emerson and Jed." They are hoping to raise $150,000 to help with the research. Michael Buckland, the director of the Australian Sports Brain Bank, thanked Green’s family for their donation. "This is an incredibly generous donation and will be an invaluable part of our research into the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts in sport and elsewhere," he said. "We at the Australian Sports Brain Bank are blown away by the fact that in their time of grief, Amanda and the rest of the family thought of how they could help others." Green had an incredible NRL career, playing 162 first grade matches between 1994-2004 and winning the prestigious Rothmans Medal in 1995 as the game's best and fairest. He played for several different clubs including Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos. Green eventually swapped his playing boots to coaching ones as he took on the North Queensland Cowboys from 2014-2020. If you would like to donate to the research, click <a href="https://www.mycause.com.au/page/290298/in-memory-of-paul-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. If you are experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">lifeline.org.au</a> or <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">beyondblue.org.au</a>. Image: Australian Sports Brain Bank

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NRL great's cause of death sparks emotional pleas

Content warning: This article includes mentions of suicide. TV personality and mental health advocate Gus Worland has issued an emotional plea to Australians to ask for help when they need it in the wake of the sudden death of Paul Green. The 49-year-old NRL coach was found dead on Thursday, with the cause of death later revealed to be suicide. Police were called to Green’s family home in Brisbane after he was found unresponsive in the garage. A police spokeswoman told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nrl/article-11101165/How-Paul-Green-died-Police-speak-cause-death.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia </a>that Green was declared dead by paramedics at the scene, saying that the circumstances surrounding his death are not suspicious. Worland - the founder of the Gotcha4Life charity - spoke to Nine’s NRL broadcast in the wake of Green’s death, sharing a message for the nation. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Important words from <a href="https://twitter.com/GusWorland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GusWorland</a> on a very sad day. Please talk to someone. I’m always here for my Twitter friends, as I know you all are for me. ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/IWtz3uySuL">https://t.co/IWtz3uySuL</a> — Gavin Flanagan (@gavflano) <a href="https://twitter.com/gavflano/status/1557687402696962048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2022</a></blockquote> “Seven Australian men that wake up this morning won't wake up tomorrow morning, two women, and we have people attempting suicide at such a rapid rate," Worland said. "It was so sad to hear about Greeny, and I think this is a line in the sand as a sport and as a nation to say enough is enough. "Let's stop talking about it, let's stop talking about awareness, let's put some action into place. "It's all about manning up and speaking up now, not manning up and shutting up, which is what we've been told all our lives to do. "Put your hand up if you need some help and support. That's the bravest thing you can do, ask for help when you need it. "Why are we so good in this country at helping people, but not at asking for help? That's what we need to change." Nine News presenter Peter Overton echoed Worland’s message during the 6pm bulletin on Thursday, calling for Aussies to speak up about their mental health. “If you are struggling with your mental health, please talk to someone,” he began. “Ask, ‘Are you OK?’ “Take a friend for a coffee, a walk; confide in your GP. “Share your feelings with your family. “Just talk to someone. You might be surprised how many people you know have the same struggles. “You are not alone. “One of the best places you can call is Lifeline. They are there to listen, they are there to help.” Green’s passing comes 11 months after he was sacked as the head coach of the Maroons, having been in the role, which he described as “every Queenslander’s dream”, for just a year. As the coach for the North Queensland Cowboys, Green took the team to their first ever premiership in 2015 and stayed in charge until the end of 2020, when he was replaced by Todd Payten. Following his departure from the Maroons, Green had been in talks with Wayne Bennett about making a return to NRL and joining the Dolphins, who enter the competition next year. Laurence Lancini, a former chairman of the Cowboys, told the <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/paul-green-death-cowboys-pay-tribute-and-reveal-devastating-detail-of-his-passing/news-story/5e687ee90f3a5e183f618fcd8e407337" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Courier Mail</a> that Green seemed fine when they spoke just three days before his death and said they should catch up for a beer soon. But, he said “the last few years had been tough” for Green. “Greeny mentioned he was keen to coach again and had some options and I asked Greeny if he really wanted to go back into it again,” Lancini said. “I said to Paul, the last club you coached, you took the Cowboys to the premiership and you took us to two grand finals. Just leave coaching behind and do something else. “But Greeny still had that real drive. He wanted to coach again. “Greeny has come from a position where he coached a club to a premiership and a second grand final. He has coached State of Origin. He has coached at the highest levels and I think Greeny was a bit lost and confused about where his life needed to be without coaching. “The thing about Greeny is he was a high achiever and high achievers always want to be achieving something. “The last few years have been a bit tough on him because he hasn’t been coaching in the NRL. “I said to Greeny, just take your time and the right opportunity will come along.” If you are experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifeline.org.au</a> or <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beyondblue.org.au</a>. Image: Getty Images

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