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Mother booted off ride share app for her unusual name

A young Sydney mother has been booted off popular ride sharing app Uber, after they deemed her birth name too inappropriate. Swastika Chandra's first name means good luck and prosperity in her native Sanskrit language, and holds a lot of cultural significance and connection to her Hindu heritage. However, to global transport app Uber, her name was deemed too offensive to be let on the platform, as they said her name violates their terms and conditions. The 35-year-old grew up in Fiji, where she says her name was commonly heard in classrooms throughout her childhood. "It is a very common name. I personally know four or five other girls with the same name," she told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/uber-bans-sydney-woman-from-using-service-because-of-her-first-name/2771dd1f-b9fd-4ba6-8045-671145bc0c02" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "In school, we had two or three other girls with the same name. It means good luck. It means good things for me." Chandra didn't run into any issues using her name on her birth certificate, Australian citizenship paperwork, her health care card or her driver's licence. However, last October Uber banned her account, claiming her name was a violation of their terms of use due to its appropriation by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party and neo-Nazis. Coinciding with the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Uber brought in new guidelines on words that could be offensive - including swastika. Inadvertently caught up in the middle of a policy which had the best of intentions, Chandra was told she would have to change her name to get back on the app. "I was putting in an order for food one afternoon and went to the payment stage and this pop-up came up saying, 'Your first name is in violation and you need to change your name on the app'," she explained. Chandra has a deep understanding of her name's very troubling double meaning, but she says the community needs to know the word's origins. "They don't know that the Hindus used it for thousands of years before Hitler used it in the wrong way," she said. "A bit of education, I think, is needed. I'm very proud of my name. I believe in the good that comes with it and I'm not changing it for anyone." Five months later, Uber has backed down from their decision and allowed her to rejoin the app, although it took intervention from Australia's peak Hindu body, The Hindu Council, support from the Jewish community and the NSW attorney-general to make it happen. The Jewish Board of Deputies also backed Chandra's fight, telling A Current Affair: "There is a difference between Ms Chandra innocently using her name and the deployment of a sinister symbol." The young mum has a message for all the other young girls who might have a different name to others, saying "Don't let the past be a stepping stone for your future." "Be proud of your name. It's your identity - it's who you are." Image credits: A Current Affair

Legal

Victorian man rides lawn mower for 800km to speak to the PM

You know the saying: mow big or mow home. And one man risked it all in hopes of scoring a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In an incredible 11-day journey Warren "Woz" Acott made the 800km journey from Central Victoria to Canberra to try and speak with the Prime Minister about motor neurone disease (MND). He left his home in Toolleen in Central Victoria on March 11, with no guarantee that anyone was going to meet him at the end of his journey. But his efforts have been fruitful, because by the time he arrived in Canberra this morning, he had a booking with the PM. "I've shuffled my schedule around to fit him in. I'd better go see him," Woz joked when he was told he had a meeting with the PM Albanese met met Woz in the Prime Minister's courtyard, and a crowd of families affected by MND were also waiting outside parliament to welcome Woz. "I'm overwhelmed. But it's not about me. It's about MND and the families and the carers and everybody else," Woz told A Current Affair. Woz, who lives with MND, wants the condition to be added to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS). This is because NNDSS conditions "a threat to public health in Australia" and are given additional funding for research." "We'll give consideration to all these things. You're a champion, mate," Albanese said. "It's all over my head. I mean, I'm a truck driver at the end of the day. But I know that if (MND is added to the NNDSS), it's more trackable, more funding, and everything else," Woz said. Robyn Sneddon, who lost her husband Ian to MND, praised Woz for his effort. "The effort he has made has been incredible. He is just a champion," she told A Current Affair. "I'm very proud of him," Snedden added. Images: A Current Affair

Caring

Woman riding e-bike hit with almost $3k in fines

A woman has been slapped with multiple fines while taking her child to school on an e-bike. The 42-year-old woman was travelling in Liverpool, in Sydney's south-west, on the motorised bicycle when she was pulled over by police. According to the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Facebook page, police said the woman had been pulled over for not complying with a number of road rules, including riding an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, not having the correct licence, and carrying a passenger under eight years old on the bike without using a sidecar. Police allege that the child was only five-years-old and was riding on the back of the bike. "Police would like to remind the community that these E-Bikes are considered motor vehicles in the state of New South Wales and are required to comply with all ADR (Australian Design Rules)," police wrote on Facebook. "They need to be road registered, display official number plates issued by Service NSW and the rider must hold a Class R driver licence and wear the correct protective helmet as per AS/NZS 1698." The woman's fines for the multiple offences added up to $2,575. The Facebook post was flooded with comments, as people shared their own stories of how dangerous e-bikes and e-scooters can be. Another commenter simply remarked, "That's an expensive school trip." Image credits: NSW Police

Legal

We were told we’d be riding in self-driving cars by now. What happened to the promised revolution?

According to <a href="https://electrek.co/2015/12/21/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-drops-prediction-full-autonomous-driving-from-3-years-to-2/">predictions</a> <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/09/lyfts-president-says-car-ownership-will-all-but-end-by-2025">made</a> nearly a decade ago, we should be riding around in self-driving vehicles today. It’s now clear the autonomous vehicle revolution was overhyped. Proponents woefully underestimated the technological challenges. It turns out developing a truly driverless vehicle is hard. The other factor driving the hype was the amount of money being invested in autonomous vehicle startups. By 2021, it was estimated more than <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/02/04/self-driving-cars-why/">US$100 billion</a> in venture capital had gone into developing the technology. While advances are being made, it is important to understand there are multiple levels of autonomy. Only one is truly driverless. As established by <a href="https://www.sae.org/blog/sae-j3016-update">SAE International</a>, the levels are: <ul> <li> level 0 — the driver has to undertake all driving tasks </li> <li> level 1, hands on/shared control — vehicle has basic driver-assist features such as cruise control and lane-keeping </li> <li> level 2, hands off – vehicle has advanced driver-assist features such as emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, auto park assist and traffic-jam assist </li> <li> level 3, eyes off — vehicle drives itself some of the time </li> <li> level 4, mind off — vehicle drives itself most of the time </li> <li> level 5, steering wheel option — vehicle drives itself all the time. </li> </ul> <h2>Why the slow progress?</h2> It’s estimated the technology to deliver safe autonomous vehicles is about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/27/how-self-driving-cars-got-stuck-in-the-slow-lane">80% developed</a>. The last 20% is increasingly difficult. It will take a lot more time to perfect. Challenges yet to be resolved involve unusual and rare events that can happen along any street or highway. They include weather, wildlife crossing the road, and highway construction. Another set of problems has emerged since <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonmainwaring/2022/08/22/cruise-ride-hailing-goes-green-and-driverless/?sh=6a7439376843">Cruise</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/19/23467784/waymo-provide-fully-driverless-rides-san-francisco-california">Waymo</a> launched their autonomous ride-hailing services in San Francisco. The US National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/16/cruises-autonomous-driving-tech-comes-under-scrutiny-from-safety-regulators/">opened an investigation</a> in December 2022, only six months after the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/03/california-driverless-taxi-cars-san-francisco">services were approved</a>. It cited incidents where these vehicles “may have engaged in inappropriately hard braking or became immobilized”. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/01/technology/self-driving-taxi-san-francisco.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>, "[I]n the months since the initial approval of autonomous taxi services in June 2022, Cruise AVs have made unplanned and unexpected stops in travel lanes, where they obstruct traffic and transit service and intrude into active emergency response scenes, including fire suppression scenes, creating additional hazardous conditions." In several cases, Cruise technicians had to be called to move the vehicles. <h2>What’s happening now?</h2> Active autonomous vehicle initiatives can be grouped into two categories: ride-hailing services (Cruise, Waymo and Uber) and sales to the public (Tesla). Cruise is a subsidiary of General Motors founded in 2013. As of September 2022, it operated 100 robotaxis in San Francisco and had plans to increase its fleet to 5,000. Critics said this would increase city traffic. Cruise also began to offer services in Chandler (a Phoenix suburb), Arizona, and Austin, Texas, in December 2022. Waymo, formerly the Google Self-Driving Car Project, was founded in January 2009. The company lost <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/11/23453262/waymo-av-driverless-taxi-phoenix-california-dmv-progress">US$4.8 billion in 2020 and US$5.2 billion in 2021</a>. Waymo One provides autonomous ride-hailing services in <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/28/23617278/waymo-self-driving-driverless-crashes-av">Phoenix as well as San Francisco</a>. It plans to expand into <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/19/23410677/waymo-los-angeles-autonomous-robotaxi-service-launch">Los Angeles</a> this year. Uber was a major force in autonomous vehicle development as part of its business plan was to replace human drivers. However, it ran into problems, including a crash in March 2018 when a self-driving Uber killed a woman walking her bicycle across a street in Tempe, Arizona. In 2020, Arizona Uber sold its AV research division to Aurora Innovation. But in October 2022 Uber got back into autonomous vehicles by <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabuelsamid/2022/10/06/motional-and-uber-announce-10-year-deal-to-deploy-automated-vehicles-in-multiple-us-markets/?sh=44d83a84273e">signing a deal</a> with Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv. Motional will provide autonomous vehicles for Uber’s ride-hailing and delivery services. Lyft, the second-largest ride-sharing company after Uber, operates in the US and Canada. Like Uber, Lyft had a self-driving unit and in 2016, Lyft co-founder John Zimmer <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/09/lyfts-president-says-car-ownership-will-all-but-end-by-2025">predicted</a> that by 2021 the majority of rides on its network would be in such vehicles (and private car ownership would “all but end” by 2025). It didn’t happen. By 2021, Lyft had also <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/26/lyft-sells-self-driving-unit-to-toyotas-woven-planet-for-550m/">sold its self-driving vehicle unit</a>, to Toyota. In 2022, Zimmer <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/20/lyft-co-founder-says-autonomous-vehicles-wont-replace-drivers-for-at-least-a-decade/">said</a> the technology would not replace drivers for at least a decade. However, Lyft did partner with Motional in August 2022 to launch <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lyft-and-motional-deliver-the-first-rides-in-motionals-new-all-electric-ioniq-5-autonomous-vehicle-301606519.html">robotaxis in Las Vegas</a> and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/lyft-motional-launch-robotaxi-service-los-angeles-2022-11-17/">Los Angeles</a>. Telsa is the <a href="https://www.ev-volumes.com/">world leader in sales</a> of battery electric vehicles. It also purports to sell vehicles with full automation. However, by the end of 2022, no level 3, 4 or 5 vehicles were for sale in the United States. What Telsa offers is a full self-driving system as a US$15,000 option. Buyers acknowledge they are buying a beta version and assume all risks. If the system malfunctions, Telsa does not accept any responsibility. In February 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration <a href="https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2023/feb/16/tesla-recall-full-self-driving-cars">found</a>, "[Fully self-driving] beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash." This led to Tesla <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/feb/16/tesla-recall-full-self-driving-cars">recalling 362,000 vehicles</a> to update the software. Another setback for autonomous vehicle sales to the public was the October 2022 announcement that Ford and VW had decided to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/26/ford-vw-backed-argo-ai-is-shutting-down/">stop funding autonomous driving technology company Argo AI</a>, resulting in its closure. Both Ford and VW decided to shift their focus from level 4 automation to levels 2 and 3. <h2>So, what can we expect next?</h2> Autonomous vehicle development will continue, but with less hype. It’s being recognised as more an evolutionary process than a revolutionary one. The increasing cost of capital will also make it harder for autonomous vehicle startups to get development funds. The areas that appear to be making the best progress are autonomous ride-hailing and heavy vehicles. Self-driving car sales to the public are <a href="https://www.drive.com.au/news/level-4-self-driving-technology-mercedes-benz/">further down the track</a>. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-were-told-wed-be-riding-in-self-driving-cars-by-now-what-happened-to-the-promised-revolution-201088" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: Getty

Technology

“Barbarian” Aussie rides moped in Pompeii

An Aussie tourist has been dubbed a “barbarian” after stupidly driving a moped in the ancient site of Pompeii. The 33-year-old was spotted on CCTV entering the historic site where construction vehicles were allowed in which prompted them to chase him down immediately. It is alleged the man rode the moped for almost 2km before he was captured by police and charged with “unauthorised access”. "The route taken is a dirt road outside the ancient city walls, used by site vehicles for excavation works," the park said in a statement. "It is safe, restored, and not accessible to the public. So there was no danger for either visitors or for the archaeological heritage at any point." The man claims that he did not know he was riding through an ancient site which was destroyed from a volcanic eruption in 79AD. It has been confirmed that luckily the man did not destroy anything of the 2,000-year-old historic site. Image: CCTV

Travel Trouble

Who’s liable if you’re injured or killed riding an e-scooter?

The rental e-scooter craze is sweeping the globe, with millions of the vehicles dotting pavements in <a href="https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_gl/topics/automotive-and-transportation/automotive-transportation-pdfs/ey-micromobility-moving-cities-into-a-sustainable-future.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 600 cities</a>. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200608-how-sustainable-are-electric-scooters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studies predict</a> there will be 4.6 million shared e-scooters in operation worldwide by 2024. While e-scooters <a href="https://www.mearth.com.au/blogs/news/why-electric-scooters-are-greener-than-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have been praised</a> as a greener form of transport, they have also caused scores of injuries and even deaths. Australia’s e-scooter fleet is comparatively small at <a href="https://micromobilityreport.com.au/infrastructure/bike-scooter-share/2022-a-year-of-change/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 10,000 units</a>, yet major hospitals in <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/melbourne-emergency-department-sees-escooter-injuries-daily/9cdd73d5-0bee-4546-ab65-2cf650201e5b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melbourne</a>, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-22/electric-e-scooter-e-bike-injuries-brisbane-emergency-department/100313526" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brisbane</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-15/warning-issued-to-escooter-riders-in-perth/101242834" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Perth</a> are reporting “daily” presentations with e-scooter related traumas to both riders and pedestrians. Worse, according to media reports at least seven Australians have been killed through falls or collisions since their <a href="https://raine.co/blogs/news/electric-scooter-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduction in 2018</a>, including a <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/qld/queensland-boy-15-dies-five-days-after-suffering-critical-injuries-in-e-scooter-crash-c-7563230" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15-year-old Queensland boy last week</a>. Although the National Transport Commission <a href="https://www.ntc.gov.au/sites/default/files/assets/files/NTC-Decision-RIS-PMDs.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommended</a> in 2020 that e-scooters be limited to a speed of 10 km/hr on footpaths and 25km/hr on roads or bike lanes, most states have allowed higher speeds on footpaths. Many riders also shun the helmet requirement imposed by the e-scooter terms of use and the <a href="https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/__legislation/lz/c/r/australian%20road%20rules/current/2014.205.auth.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Road Rules</a>. It therefore seems that more carnage is on the horizon. We need a uniform regulatory framework balancing the risks and benefits of e-scooters, and clarifying avenues for compensation. <h2>Who’s liable for e-scooter injuries?</h2> The <a href="https://pcc.gov.au/uniform/Australian-Road-Rules-10December2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Road Rules</a> empower the states to prohibit e-scooters on public roads and footpaths. Most states have banned them by default, but many local councils have authorised <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-safety-programs/e-scooter-trials-in-victoria" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporary trials</a>, which are still in effect. Obviously, if you crash due to your own misuse or recklessness, you are personally responsible for your injuries or those you cause to others. But if the accident is caused by a fault with the e-scooter, that might be different. Some of the e-scooter companies, such as Neuron, <a href="https://www.rideneuron.com/terms-of-service/au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state that they exclude liability</a> for injury except where it’s caused by their negligence. Where you’ve crashed due to uneven pavement or damaged road, the disrepair will generally need to be known or otherwise significant to prove the local council breached its duty of care to you. You would then seek compensation through the council’s public liability insurer. You would likely have to try to do the same if you trip over a dormant e-scooter that has been dumped in random locations, as they often are. Third parties who are injured by an e-scooter rider are in a difficult position. This is because <a href="https://jade.io/article/67447" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only parties to a contract</a> can incur rights and obligations under the contract. E-scooter contracts are between the user and the respective company, so those who are struck by e-scooters, or trip over a dormant one, have no contractual rights against the company. An injured third party would have to sue the rider directly. But attaining the rider’s personal details could be difficult if they drive off or are evasive, and they will <a href="https://attwoodmarshall.com.au/escooter-laws/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">likely be unable to pay compensation</a>. Complicating matters is the fact minors also ride e-scooters. <a href="https://www.li.me/en-au/user-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lime</a> and <a href="https://www.rideneuron.com/terms-of-service/au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neuron</a> forbid minors from using their vehicles, but <a href="https://global-uploads.webflow.com/5b685812f109cf81a7d99e25/61b3143240d08942f78415ce_Terms%20of%20Services%20-%20Beam%20Australia%20(website)%20-%20December%202021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beam</a> allows people under 16 to ride with parental consent. E-scooters are colourful, funky, and marketed in a manner appealing to young and likely inexperienced riders. Each of the e-scooter companies’ terms warn that breaching the terms of use, such as riding as an unauthorised minor, can void insurance entitlements, meaning many unwary parents or caregivers may be left to foot hefty medical and legal bills. <h2>Excluding liability through the fine print</h2> When a user downloads and accesses the relevant app to activate an e-scooter, they agree to the terms of service. <a href="https://jade.io/article/68500" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The law states</a> that you’re bound by the terms you sign (physically or digitally), even if you don’t read them – and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/03/terms-of-service-online-contracts-fine-print" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most people don’t</a>. Australia’s biggest e-scooter companies – <a href="https://www.li.me/en-au/user-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lime</a>, <a href="https://global-uploads.webflow.com/5b685812f109cf81a7d99e25/61b3143240d08942f78415ce_Terms%20of%20Services%20-%20Beam%20Australia%20(website)%20-%20December%202021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beam</a>, and <a href="https://www.rideneuron.com/terms-of-service/au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neuron</a> – all have lengthy user agreements, each containing exclusion clauses. These clauses restrict or exclude the companies’ liability if you’re injured while using them. But are they watertight? It depends on wording. Beam’s agreement, for example, states that the company isn’t liable to users “for any death, disability or personal injury […] howsoever caused” arising directly or indirectly in connection with use of its e-scooters. Such statements, though broad, are <a href="https://jade.io/article/65000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">generally sufficient</a> to exclude negligence liability. The reference to “indirect” injury also implies a user being injured by a third party (such as an errant rider, driver, or pedestrian) would have no recourse against the company. However, the courts <a href="https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/1953/2.html&query=(white)+AND+(v)+AND+(john)+AND+(warwick)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have also said</a> that where liability can arise on two or more different bases – such as negligence and breach of contract – then you need to use more specific wording in your exclusion clause. Lime, Beam, and Neuron all mention negligence, so they would likely be covered. <h2>Insurance as a panacea?</h2> Compulsory third-party insurance is <a href="https://www.qbe.com/au/news/ctp-explained" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required</a> with motor vehicle registration in Australia. But this isn’t so with e-scooters, as they’re not classified as registrable vehicles. Extending the compulsory third-party insurance scheme to e-scooters might help resolve some of the liability questions that linger. However, the <a href="https://mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/riding_motorised_scooters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Australian Government</a> has observed this isn’t possible because e-scooters don’t meet <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/vehicle-design-regulation/australian-design-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national standards</a> that govern registrable vehicles. While some home and contents insurance policies may offer some coverage for e-scooter injuries, this hasn’t been tested and young victims almost certainly won’t have this insurance. Workplace insurance might also apply if the accident occurred on the way to, or during, work. Again, this will depend on the relevant policy and whether the rider was obeying all road rules and the e-scooter’s terms of use. If a rider is hit by a car, the driver’s compulsory third party insurance would cover any resulting injury or death. The e-scooter companies have started introducing third party liability insurance schemes which might protect riders from claims brought by, for example, injured pedestrians. However, the policies generally have numerous exclusions, such as where riders breach the terms of use (for example for not wearing a helmet or being underage). <h2>The need for a unified approach</h2> Multiple stakeholders are involved in rental e-scooter arrangements. From a regulatory perspective, state and local governments have a duty to consider and protect all members of the community when they allow and control e-scooter trials. The chosen approach can also impact redress mechanisms for those injured by e-scooters. At the moment, there’s different approaches across Australia. So it’s essential that all levels of government work together to craft a uniform regulatory framework. Additional safety measures can help curb the injury and death count, such as more precise “geofencing” to restrict e-scooters to certain areas and remote deactivation for breach of safety rules. Ensuring only those with a driver’s licence are authorised to ride e-scooters could also help, and this could be implemented by linking e-scooter app sign-up to state government licence databases. In the meantime, law enforcement is critical to ensure riders are riding e-scooters in a safe and legal manner. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/whos-liable-if-youre-injured-or-killed-riding-an-e-scooter-187436" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Legal

Screaming onlookers stop Easter Show ride

A children’s ride at the Sydney Royal Easter Show has been shut down shortly after photos emerged of a child “unrestrained” on the ‘Free Fall’. On Sunday, a photo was taken by a bystander and posted online of children on the “thrill seeker” ride. They all appeared to be secured by a harness, except for a four-year-old boy sitting on the right side of the ride. His harness wasn’t secured and he was unrestrained. The boy’s mother said the ride was about to be launched before onlookers yelled to alert staff of the danger. “The (operator) girl stopped the ride but didn’t get out of her booth so another father ended up getting him to climb down to him,” Sky Boustani Curtis told the Daily Telegraph. “Myself and my husband were not tall enough to reach him. “It’s hard to tell how he is doing as he has autism. “He’s 4yrs old. They simply did not pull his harness down didn’t check him.” Another witness said operators were unaware the child was unrestrained in the moments before the ride was to be launched. “They hit emergency stop but it seems like the operator couldn’t bring the ride down and the (someone) actually had to come up there and have his son jump into his arms,” Eva Levy told the Daily Telegraph. Image: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Easing your pups into a stress-free ride

With two long weekends and school holidays fast approaching, Aussies will be hitting the road to enjoy the break. To help all those adorable puppies purchased during lockdowns come to terms with life outside of their kennels, Toyota and Pet Expert Dr Leigh Davidson, <a href="https://www.yourvetonline.com/">director of Your Vet Online</a>, have put together 8 top tier tips to help ease pups' nerves on their first road trip. <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Young travellers </li> </ol> The best way to manage travel anxiety in pets is to familiarise the pet with travelling from a young age so it becomes second nature to them. This doesn’t mean older pets can’t be trained as many take to travelling extremely well. However, depending on their history, older pets may need a slower, unrushed start. <ol start="2"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Buckle up </li> </ol> Decide how you are going to secure your pet (remember it is illegal to have a pet loose in the car with you). Will it be in a crate cage, in a booster seat or simply attached via a seatbelt in the back seat or hatch area? Keep them well secured so that they feel safe and comfortable – while ensuring they can’t cause too many distractions while you’re driving. <ol start="3"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Begin with Basics </li> </ol> Start by simply securing your pet in the car and allow them to sit there with no movement and with the vehicle turned off. Give them their favourite toy and plenty of pats. Start the car and, if your pet seems fine and not showing signs of anxiety such as panting, licking their lips, cowering, tremors or whale eye then you can start to take your pet for short trips. Try to keep to roads that are smooth and straight to begin with to ensure a pleasant ride. <ol start="4"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Stick to routine mealtimes </li> </ol> Many pets have no issues with travelling so there is no need to be too pedantic with the timing of meals. However, for some pets it may be best to try to keep to a routine. If they normally eat breakfast at 6.30am then continue with this. Most pets will also want to go to the toilet after they have eaten therefore, as a rule of thumb to avoid accidents, try to feed your pet at least an hour before travel so they have time to do their business, or take them for a toilet break before you leave on your journey. <ol start="5"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Take a break </li> </ol> There are no dead set rules for how often to stop for breaks when on long journeys. Just like us, pets enjoy the opportunity to have a toilet break and stretch their legs every 3-4 hours. A small drink can also be offered then. A longer run around and opportunity for a snack every 6 hours or so would make for a much happier pet. <ol start="6"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Travel sickness </li> </ol> It’s not uncommon for pets to suffer from travel sickness and this can be particularly trying for everyone. A lot of dogs that show signs of anxiety when travelling may actually be experiencing nausea. In these situations, your veterinarian or your <a href="https://www.yourvetonline.com/">online vets</a> can assist by prescribing medications that can stop nausea. Also ensure your pet has had a small meal an hour or two before they travel. A completely empty stomach can make them feel worse. <ol start="7"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Air Flow </li> </ol> Keep a window down a little so that there is fresh air flowing, but not so low enough for them to escape or let their head out where they could get hit by debris. <ol start="8"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Road Trip equals Fun Trip </li> </ol> Taking pets with you regularly on short trips gets them familiar and comfortable with being in the car. Instead of taking the dog to your regular dog park, drive them to a different one a bit further afield so that they quickly learn that travelling is a good thing<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: #323130; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.

Family & Pets

Teenager dies after being flung from ride

The last words said by a 14-year-old boy who died before falling from a drop tower amusement park ride have been revealed. Tyre Sampson was enjoying a night out with his family and friends at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida on Thursday when he decided to ride the Orlando Free Fall. Described as the world’s tallest freestanding drop tower at 131 metres, the ride spins around the tower when it’s reached the top before dropping at 120km/h. Tyre hopped onto the ride with his two friends who sat next to him, but he felt something was wrong. “When the ride took off, that’s when he was feeling uncomfortable. He was like ‘this thing is moving,’ you know what I’m saying. And he was like ‘what’s going on?’” Tyre’s father Yarnell Sampson told <a href="https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/father-of-14-year-old-killed-on-the-free-fall-drop-ride-wants-answers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WOFL-TV</a>. Tyre began to freak out and asked his friends to deliver a heartbreaking message to his parents. “And he was explaining to his friends, next to him, ‘I don’t know man, if I don’t make it down safely, can you please tell my mamma and daddy that I love them. “For him to say something like that, he must have felt something.” Horrific footage of the incident was shared to social media, showing a body being flung off the ride just before the ride stopped its descent. Mr Sampson said most of the rides rejected his son because of his height and weight, however the Free Fall staff said they could take him. Tyre stood at almost 2m tall and weighed 154kg, which made his father question why his son was allowed on the ride. "This one particular ride said, ‘We can take you, come on! Get on!’ No one else allowed him to get on the ride, so I’m wondering what happened between now and then that made them say, 'Come on, get this ride’. "This should never happen to anyone else's child ever again, and if I have anything to do with this, it will not happen ever again." Emergency calls made when Tyre fell out of the ride were released describing the horrific situation. “The thing (Orlando Free Fall) went down to drop and, like, when they got closer to the bottom, when it hit the break, the guy fell right out of the seat,” one caller told 911, <a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/03/25/hes-not-breathing-calls-to-911-released-after-teens-deadly-fall-from-orlando-drop-tower/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click Orlando</a> reported. “He’s not responsive. It looks like his arms are broken and his legs,” another called said. “He’s face down, there’s blood everywhere. He’s not breathing. I’ve checked his pulse, there’s no pulse.” Investigations into how Tyre died are continuing with ICON Park releasing a statement offering their condolences to the family. "A tragedy occurred last night at the Orlando FreeFall and our hearts are heavy with sadness. "The owner of the attraction is fully cooperating with authorities and ICON Park is doing everything we can to assist. "The Orlando FreeFall will be closed pending a full investigation. Other businesses at ICON Park are scheduled to be open during their normal business hours." OverSixty has chosen not to share the video due to its graphic nature and out of respect to the family. Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Couple's heart-stopping moment as snake hitches ride on windscreen

A North Queensland couple has filmed the heart-stopping moment a large snake hitched a ride as they sped through a busy highway. Melissa Hudson and her partner Rodney Griggs were driving along the Bruce Highway when a 3m carpet snake slithered up the bonnet of the car and onto the windscreen. The video posted to social media shows the pair laughing hysterically as they desperately try to remove the slithering reptile. “What are we going to do Mel?,” Griggs is heard asking while driving. “Just keep driving, you concentrate on the road,” Hudson responded while laughing. “He can’t get in the f****** car can he?,” Griggs asks. “How are we going to get out?” They even turned on their wipers in an attempt to remove the serpent. In the end, they pulled over to the side of the highway where a brave traffic controller removed the snake with his hands.

Family & Pets

Huge snake hitches a ride on moving car

A driver has gotten the fright of his life when a large snake made a surprise appearance on his car window as he and his partner were driving along a road in regional NSW. Couple Rachael Pace and boyfriend Kyle Vella were driving in Stroud, on the NSW mid north coast, when the snake hitched a ride with their car. Ms Pace filmed the terrifying incident, showing the reptile pop up next to her boyfriend's window as he was driving. Mr Vella yelled out "holy s**t" as the snake slithers along his closed window. “Oh my god, what the f*** do we do,” he asked his girlfriend in the video. But the snake seemed to be enjoying the ride as it laid along the base of the window. “What are we going to do?” Ms Pace said. “Look how big it is, it goes back there,” she said as she pointed the camera to the rear of their ute. “It’s going to fall off,” Mr Vella said. He eventually managed to pull over, but as he shook his door to move the snake, it didn't seem to budge. The encounter has since gone viral on social media, garnering over 100 comments and 400 shares on Facebook. “It’s not every day that you’re driving and a snake casually pops up,” she said in the post on New Year’s Eve. Eventually, a kind neighbour who lived across the road from where they parked their car, came out and helped them get the snake off their car. Ms Pace said the snake was released into a nearby creek. NSW Poisons Information Centre Senior Specialist, Genevieve Adamo, said the state’s snake season peaked in late December and January. She urged people to watch out for snakes and spiders outdoors as the weather heated up during the summer holidays. “Australia has some of the most venomous snakes in the world, so it’s important people seek immediate medical assistance for all suspected bites,” she said. “If someone is bitten by a snake you should keep them still, call an ambulance and apply a pressure immobilisation bandage. “Tight tourniquets should not be applied and the bite site should not be washed, cut or sucked.”

Family & Pets

Perfect harmony: Newton-Johns delight with car-ride duet

Olivia Newton-John and her daughter Lattanzi Chloe have surprised fans with a sweet video of the pair singing together in the car. 34-year-old Chloe shared a funny video of the pair heading to the dentist, with a catchy jingle to match. <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/CEz0TujjRYq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEz0TujjRYq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">What we do when we do anything. #sing @therealonj</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/chloelattanziofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Chloe Lattanzi</a> (@chloelattanziofficial) on Sep 6, 2020 at 2:10pm PDT </div> </blockquote> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> "On the way to the dentist, where I will get drilled," the women sing in perfect harmony. "On the way to the dentist, I'd rather have a pill," they continue. "What we do when we do anything. #sing @therealonj," Chloe captioned the post. Fans were thrilled with the glimpse into the daily life of the duo. "So lovely to hear you both sing together. Please post more songs together to brighten the spirits of those in Melbourne in lockdown," a second asked. "Beautiful mother-daughter duo and harmonies," a third said. The pair are incredibly close, with Chloe saying that seeing her mum is "good medicine". "I love seeing my mum. It's good medicine. When I don't see my mum for a long time, it's like I feel ill," Chloe told The Australian Women's Weekly last year. "When I'm with her, it feels like all is right with the world. She makes me feel safe." </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

"Daddy's new wheels": Karl strolls out with baby Harper's fancy new ride

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text ">Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine Stefanovic know what good money can buy, and are keeping the same sentiment for their daughter Harper May, Jasmine, 36, gave fans a sweet glimpse into her luxurious life as a mother to a newborn by shopping a very expensive designer stroller on her Instagram account. <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CARFEwEFJIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/CARFEwEFJIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jasmine Stefanovic (@jasyarby)</a> on May 16, 2020 at 4:16pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The shoe designer showed a snap taken of Karl, 45, posing with their new Joolz stroller, which is believed to have cost close to $2,000. “Daddy's new wheels,” she wrote in a caption on Sunday. The picture taken showed a joyful Karl who posed for the camera wearing a black T-shirt, shorts and a very dad-like pair of sunglasses. The couple's dog, Chance The Yapper, was also tethered to the stroller's handlebar Last week, Karl returned to the Today show after taking about 10 days off following Harper's birth on May 1. <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_00_SslWoa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/B_00_SslWoa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jasmine Stefanovic (@jasyarby)</a> on May 5, 2020 at 4:57pm PDT </div> </blockquote> But the struggle was clearly worth it for Karl, who said about his newest little girl: “She is so gorgeous, 2.9 kilos of just scrumptious delight.” He went on to say: ”She's sleeping okay, three hours on, three hours off. Jasmine has just taken it in her stride. She is feeding really well. It makes me cry already.” Karl already has three children with ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn, including Jackson, 20, Ava, 15, and River, 13.</div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"> <div class="right-box-container"></div> </div> </div> </div>

News

“No dogs”: Bus company apologises after blind woman told she can’t ride with guide dog

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Louise Pearson’s usual trip to work turned into an hour-long standoff as a bus driver refused to let her get on a bus with her guide dog, Arthur. Pearson said to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://10daily.com.au/shows/10-news-first/melbourne/a200218hdatv/bus-company-apologises-after-blind-woman-told-she-cant-ride-with-guide-dog-20200218" target="_blank">10 Daily</a> that she flagged down the bus and the driver said, “no dogs”. She then tried to explain that she had been catching the same bus route for four years and said that Arthur needed to come with her for the journey. "This is Melbourne, Australia, and I always think that we are at the forefront ... that we've got around these issues," she said of the incident. "I didn’t get angry at all with him this morning or say anything that was in any way rude to him, but I just wasn't going to let the point go because otherwise, people don’t learn." Another passenger tried to sway the driver by saying that they see Pearson on the same route every day. "He was sort of moving up and down the bus saying, 'no dogs, you can't have dogs on this bus'," Pearson said. After the hour-long stand off, police officers in Victoria were called to the scene and offered Pearson a ride in their car. However, she refused and was eventually allowed to continue on her bus trip. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Louise says she feels frustrated about being denied entry to a Dysons bus this morning, with her guide dog Arthur. She said more education is needed about ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/GuideDogsVIC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GuideDogsVIC</a>⁩ laws <a href="https://t.co/Mr70Zj9AT2">pic.twitter.com/Mr70Zj9AT2</a> — Yasmin Paton (@yaspaton) <a href="https://twitter.com/yaspaton/status/1229568350667194368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote> Victoria’s head of transport services Jeroen Weimar told reporters that he was “distressed and disappointed” by the incident. "Everybody who uses a guide dog is entitled to travel on our public transport system, whether it be a bus, train or tram," Weimar told reporters. "This is a reminder of how important it is that we continue to educate not only drivers but everyone in society about the importance of guide dogs and also the importance of enabling everybody to live freely and independently." Guide Dogs Victoria chief executive Karen Hayes says that the organisation’s main role is to ensure there is a “voice at the table” for accessible transport for all members in the community. "We need to keep the message out there that we need to continue to educate the community about the fact guide dogs aren't pets," Hayes said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Today our CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/karenlhayes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KarenLHayes</a> fronted the media to address an incident where a Guide Dog handler was refused access to a bus. We are supporting our client through this and acknowledge the need for continued public education about Guide Dog access. Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/ws4edPNKoS">https://t.co/ws4edPNKoS</a> <a href="https://t.co/8eAnVxKfJc">pic.twitter.com/8eAnVxKfJc</a> — Guide Dogs Victoria (@GuideDogsVIC) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuideDogsVIC/status/1229650589199556609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote> "They are working guide dogs to provide freedom and independence to somebody who has blindness or low vision." Bus company Dysons said that the driver misunderstood the rules for assistance animals on public transport and confirmed that the driver had been stood down as investigations continue. "We would like to apologise to the passenger for any distress caused by this morning's incident," it said in a statement. "To ensure this doesn't happen again, we will engage with Guide Dogs Victoria and other applicable organisations to see what training opportunities are available to our company." </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

Riding on the kangaroo’s back: Animal skin fashion, exports and ethical trade

The Versace fashion house recently <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/versace-bans-kangaroo-skin-after-pressure-from-animal-activists">announced</a> it had stopped using kangaroo skins in its fashion collections after coming under pressure from animal rights group <a href="https://www.lav.it/en">LAV</a>. Kangaroo meat and skin has an annual production <a href="http://www.kangarooindustry.com/industry/economic/">value</a> of around A$174 million, with skins used in the fashion and shoe manufacturing industries. There are legitimate questions regarding the ethical manner in which kangaroos are killed. But Indigenous people have long utilised the skins of kangaroos and possums. Versace’s concerns may have been allayed by understanding more about our traditions and practices. Reviving skills There has always been concern around how native animals are treated while alive and how they are killed to cause as little distress, pain and suffering as possible. Campaigners say <a href="https://www.lav.it/en/news/australia-versace-kangaroos">2.3 million</a> kangaroos in Australia are hunted each year. Official <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/natives/wild-harvest/kangaroo-wallaby-statistics/kangaroo-2000">sources</a> cite this figure as the national quota, but put the number actually killed at around 1.7 million. Australian Aboriginal people have for many thousands of years utilised native animals, predominantly kangaroos and possums. Consciously and sustainably, every part of the animal was used. The kangaroo meat was eaten, the skins used to make cloaks for wearing, teeth used to make needles, sinew from the tail used as thread. The cloaks were incised with designs on the skin side significant to the wearer representing their totems, status and kinship. Cloaks were made for babies and added to as the child grew into adulthood, and people were buried in their <a href="https://www.nationalquiltregister.org.au/aboriginal-skin-cloaks/">cloaks</a>when they died. Aboriginal women from New South Wales and Victoria have begun <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/museums/images/content/exhibitions-events/where-we-all-meet/djon-mundine-essay-sectioned.pdf">reviving</a> the tradition of kangaroo and possum skin cloak-making to pass down knowledge of this important practice to future generations. Interestingly, possum skins can only be purchased from New Zealand for these crafts. As an introduced species, they have wreaked havoc on NZ animal populations and the environment, but are a protected species in Australia. Culls and trade In Australia, kangaroos are not farmed but are harvested for meat and fur in the wild under a voluntary <a href="https://www.viva.org.uk/under-fire/cruelty-kangaroos">code of conduct</a>. The code is difficult to monitor and enforcement is <a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/thinkk_production/resources/29/Kangaroo_Court_Enforcement_of_the_law_governing_commercial_kangaroo_killing_.pdf">complicated</a> by federal and state sharing of responsibility. This code is currently under <a href="https://www.agrifutures.com.au/kangaroo-commercial-code-review/">review</a>. The export and import of wildlife is <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/natives">regulated</a> under Australia’s national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Act. In practice, kangaroos are shot in the wild by professional licensed shooters with an intended single shot to the head to kill them quickly. There are <a href="http://thinkkangaroos.uts.edu.au/issues/welfare-and-enforcement.html">concerns</a> over whether shooters should be trained better and whether nighttime shoots with poor visibility result in the killing of alpha males or mothers with joeys in their pouches. If mothers are accidentally shot, the code dictates the joey should be shot too. Sometimes the shot does not kill them instantly and they are then clubbed over the head. Traditionally, Aboriginal people speared kangaroos. This was unlikely to kill them instantly, so they were swiftly killed with a blow to the head by a boondi(wooden club). Why kangaroo? Kangaroo skin is extremely strong and more flexible than other leathers, including cow hide. It is routinely used in the production of soccer boots as they mould to the feet extremely well and don’t need to be worn in like harder leathers. This has led to an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-07-12/kangaroo-skin-hits-fashion-capitals/1799602">increase</a> in the use of kangaroo. LAV <a href="https://www.lav.it/en/news/australian-fire-our-actions-to-save-animals">reports</a> Italy is the biggest importer of kangaroo leather in Europe, where it is used to produce soccer shoes and motorbike suits. They are <a href="https://www.lav.it/en/news/australian-fire-our-actions-to-save-animals">lobbying</a> brands Lotto and Dainese to stop using kangaroo, arguing that shooting animals is not sustainable given the estimated <a href="https://theconversation.com/bushfires-left-millions-of-animals-dead-we-should-use-them-not-just-bury-them-129787">1 billion</a> creatures killed in bushfires this season. In terms of environmental sustainability, kangaroos cause less damage to the environment than cattle. Cows contribute methane gas, their hard hooves destroy the earth, they eat the grass to a point that it does not regenerate. Kangaroos eat the grass leaving a small portion to re-flourish, they bounce across the land without causing damage to it, and don’t produce methane gases. The use of kangaroo skins in fashion can be done ethically if the code is reviewed in consultation with Aboriginal people and enforced properly. The industry has the <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/an/EA03248">potential</a> to produce and support sustainable business opportunities for Aboriginal communities. While celebrities are <a href="https://www.idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/fur/latest-news/kardashians-shamed-among-10-worst-celebrities-fur-animals/">shamed</a> for wearing fur fashion, this relates to the unregulated and inhumane treatment of coyotes, chinchillas, foxes, mink, rabbits, and other fur-bearing animals. In contrast, scientists <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/an/EA03248">consider</a> kangaroo harvest as “one of the few rural industry development options with potential to provide economic return with minimal environmental impact”. Only natural Versace, along with most fashion retailers across the high-end to ready-to-wear spectrum, use synthetic fibres in their fashion products. Such materials eventually <a href="https://theconversation.com/time-to-make-fast-fashion-a-problem-for-its-makers-not-charities-117977">cause more damage</a> to the environment than natural fibres and skins. They don’t biodegrade and many of these fibres end up in landfill, our oceans or in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749119348808">stomachs of fish</a>. Animal skins will always be used in fashion and other products because of the unique properties the skins bring to design and function. While the bushfires have killed millions of Australian native animals, kangaroo culls are managed to have limited impact on the population. We should focus our energy on saving Australian native animals that are <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-bushfires-could-drive-more-than-700-animal-species-to-extinction-check-the-numbers-for-yourself-129773">close to extinction</a> and lobbying for a stricter ethical code for shooters that can be legally enforced to ensure kangaroos are killed humanely. Written by Dr Fabri Blacklock. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/riding-on-the-kangaroos-back-animal-skin-fashion-exports-and-ethical-trade-130207">The Conversation.</a>

Beauty & Style

Now it's real: Edwina Bartholomew opens up on motherhood's "wild ride"

A month into motherhood and TV star Edwina Bartholomew says she has discovered her groove despite dealing with a few bumps along the way. The Sunrise presenter has revealed her “wild ride” for the first four weeks of being a mum to daughter Molly Matilda in a heartwarming yet emotional post on Instagram. “You are a delight, Molly Matilda,” wrote Bartholomew. “Sure, the full throttle crying is not so delightful but thankfully that’s pretty rare. You just get hangry like your Dad.” She continued: “The first 48 hours of motherhood were challenging in a way I wasn’t really prepared for. I was a total mess, actually. I burst into tears in the kitchen when our midwife arrived, I burst into tears when @neilwrites went to sleep and I couldn’t, and a few more times, just because.” Bartholomew and husband Neil Varcoe welcomed the birth of their daughter Molly Matilda Christie Varcoe on Wednesday December 18, a week after she was initially due on December 11. <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/B7UAFdRFtBS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7UAFdRFtBS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">One month old today. What a wild ride. Your Uncle took this photo and I think we both look pretty chuffed with ourselves. You are a delight, Molly Matilda. Sure, the full throttle crying is not so delightful but thankfully that’s pretty rare. You just get hangry like your Dad. The first 48 hours of motherhood were challenging in a way I wasn’t really prepared for. I was a total mess, actually. I burst into tears in the kitchen when our midwife arrived, I burst into tears when @neilwrites went to sleep and I couldn’t, and a few more times, just because. Over the past four weeks we have slowly found our groove. You sleep so well and smile so much (or is it wind?) No matter. I suppose both feel pretty good at this early stage. My goals have changed. Have a shower each day is now number one. Ticked that box. Wash my hair, occasionally. I accept I may never pee with the door closed again and it will be a while before I can eat a plate of food without cutting it up onto small pieces. None of my old clothes fit and, although spirits are high, my boobs are most certainly not. In short, it’s been pretty magical. At times I have looked at you with your Dad and felt like I would explode with love. It could still happen. Be warned. I’ll try not to embarrass you when it does. Don’t grow up too quickly. Your Mum xx</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/edwina_b/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Edwina Bartholomew</a> (@edwina_b) on Jan 14, 2020 at 11:54am PST </div> </blockquote> She measured 53 cm and weighed 3.44kg on arrival. “Over the past four weeks we have slowly found our groove,” wrote Bartholomew. “You sleep so well and smile so much (or is it wind?) No matter. I suppose both feel pretty good at this early stage.” She also spoke about how her daily goals have shifted ever since she became a mum. “Have a shower each day is now number one,” she said. “Ticked that box. Wash my hair, occasionally. I accept I may never pee with the door closed again and it will be a while because I can eat a plate of food without cutting it up into small pieces. “None of my old clothes fit and, although spirits are high, my boobs are most certainly not. In short, it’s been pretty magical. At times I have looked at you with your Dad and felt like I would explode with love. It could still happen. Be warned. I’ll try not to embarrass you when it does. Don’t grow up too quickly.”

News

Queen Elizabeth rides horseback at 93

Queen Elizabeth II has proven that age is no barrier to having fun as she was spotted enjoying her time with a special hobby. The 93-year-old was seen riding horseback on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Monday morning. Accompanied by Head Groom Terry Pendry, the Queen wore a long navy coat, headscarf and sunglasses for the outing. The Queen has been known for her love of horses. She was first given her first horse, a Shetland pony, when she was four years old. Last year, she was photographed riding multiple times, including the morning of the birth of her great-grandson Prince Louis. She also attends the Windsor Horse Show every year and owns racehorses, from which she has <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/the-queens-side-hustle-that-earns-her-14-million">earned approximately £7.7 million since 1988</a>. The Queen’s love for the animals extended to other royal family members. The monarch’s daughter Princess Anne became the first British royal to compete in the Olympics as part of the country’s equestrian team in 1976. Anne’s daughter Zara followed in her mother’s footsteps and won a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Family & Pets

Paramedic bashed during charity ride holds no grudge against teen attackers

Off-duty paramedic Daniel Mansbridge was seven kilometres into a 1000-kilometre charity ride for children’s cancer when he was pushed off his bicycle and beaten up by a group of teenagers on the south coast of New South Wales. The ambulance officer, who has 16 years’ experience was riding on the Windang Bridge, south of Wollongong when a teenager pushed him off his bike just after 11:00 am on Friday. According to Mr Mansbridge, he approached the teenager to inform him how dangerous his actions were and followed him down some stairs under the bridge. “His other two bigger mates saw me as a threat or something and started to punch me out, and when they finished I said to them I just wanted to have a word.” He is now dealing with bruising on his face and a fracture under his eyes that requires surgery. “I’m not going to hit kids,” said Mr Mansbridge, who went on to say that he finds it hard to understand what’s happening. “Bloody hell this isn’t good – they were just kids. I was shocked, I didn’t know what to do. I was just setting out for a big long ride and the next thing I know I was in the hospital.” He believes his attackers were also taken aback by the incident. “Afterwards, they actually went and got my bike and brought my bike down and made sure I was OK. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fabcillawarra%2Fposts%2F2569580803087757&width=500" width="500" height="757" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> “They said they were sorry and felt bad and helped me gather my things. “It was very confusing,” he said. “I think once I said to them, I just want to have a chat about how silly it was, they might have realised they’d gone too far. “I think, to be honest, it started off with a kid showing off to his mates and this is the consequence.” Mr Mansbridge said he chose not to retaliate and doesn’t want the kids to be charged. “We all make mistakes … we can learn a lesson and just be a bit more tolerant of people and aware of the consequences of your actions.” Chief Inspector Terry Morrow from the NSW Ambulance Service said the attack was extremely disturbing. “We are really proud of Daniel and other people in our service, out there riding for the community to raise money for kids with cancer and these sort of things,” he said. “All of a sudden to have one of our officers randomly hit on his bike trying to do the right thing, to receive the injuries that he has sustained, we are appalled by the whole situation.” Mr Mansbridge said that once he recovers from the attack, he plans on completing the charity ride.

Travel Trouble

Dogs could soon ride on Brisbane’s CityCats

Dogs and some other domestic pets may soon be able to travel on Brisbane CityCats and ferries as Brisbane City Council pushes for a trial. South-east Queensland public transport agency TransLink currently bans pets from the water transport services under the Transport Operations Act 1994. According to Morningside Ward councillor Kara Cook, local residents have been asking the government to make the travel option available to dog owners. “It is something that has been long lobbied for and it is now overdue,” she told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/a-very-good-idea-queensland-minister-backs-trial-of-pets-on-citycats-20190812-p52ge1.html" target="_blank">Fairfax</a>. Queensland’s Transport Minister Mark Bailey has expressed support for the idea. “I think this is a good idea if we set the appropriate rules and regulations that might go with it,” he said. “This happens in a number of other states in Australia.” Bailey said the state government will look into concerns such as limitations on pet sizes and customers’ expectation next month. “I know people have been taking pets on public transport in other countries for quite some time and I see no reason why it cannot be done here as long as it is done reasonably.” The RSPCA’s Michael Beatty told <a rel="noopener" href="https://10daily.com.au/news/a190812msigc/dogs-could-soon-be-allowed-to-ride-on-brisbanes-citycats-20190812" target="_blank">10 Daily</a> that Brisbane should catch up with other cities around the world to make public facilities more accessible to pets. “In Australia we end up in unfortunate situations where pets are dumped at home. Retired owners would like to go out with their pets but often don’t have cars to facilitate that,” Beatty said.

Family & Pets

Why you should think twice before riding a donkey in Santorini

The quaint island of Santorini in Greece is never short of tourists who are attracted to the whitewashed cottages and blue-domed churches. Many tourists are arriving by boat, before making their way up hundreds of steep steps to the island’s main town. If you don’t want to walk, there are donkeys available to carry those who can’t or don’t want to journey up the stairs. However, a new campaign has been launched to encourage you to think about the strain that’s being put onto the donkeys. British charity The Donkey Sanctuary has launched the In Their Hooves campaign as a way of improving public awareness about the plight of donkeys. The initiative is the result of a partnership between The Donkey Sanctuary and local Santorini authorities as the strain of passengers who weigh more than 100 kilograms are injuring the spines of the donkeys. "We are excited to launch the In Their Hooves video and we hope visitors to Santorini are able to make informed decisions about the welfare of working equines they will see there," Barbara Massa, The Donkey Sanctuary's regional director for Europe, said in a <a href="https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/news/collaboration-with-cruise-giant-to-protect-santorinis-donkeys">press release</a>. "We will continue to work with the municipality, providing training to equine health service providers and also the animal owners, all of whom are critical to improving the working conditions and practices on the island." The initiative encourages tourists to think about whether or not the animals have access to adequate water and shelter, whether or not their owner treats them respectfully, if they show any signs of injury and whether or not they are expected to carry an acceptable weight. Have you ridden a donkey before? Let us know in the comments.

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