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Count Nikolai shares Princess Mary's "survival list" for living abroad

Count Nikolai has shared the "survival list" his Australian-born aunt, Princess Mary, gave him before his big move Down Under. The Count, 24, who is currently undertaking his studies at University of Technology in Sydney, shared the advice his aunt gave him in an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Monday. "She gave me a long list, an itinerary of what to do and what not to do, I can't remember it now but I have it at home," he said. Princess Mary, who was born in Hobart and spent a majority of her life in Australia, knows a few "basic survival skills" to prevent unwanted animals from lurking. "Basic 'survival skills', I would say clap your boots before putting them on, stuff like that, flush the toilet before you use it. I do not (want a snake or spider)," he added. Count Nikolai is currently studying here with his girlfriend Benedikte Thoustrup. The Count, is studying sales management, while Thoustrup is studying economics and business administration at the Copenhagen Business School, which is one of UTS' exchange partners for it's study abroad program. The young royal has been enjoying his time in Australia, having recently celebrated <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/count-nikolai-s-aussie-birthday-bash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his birthday</a> in Byron Bay. Images: Instagram/ Getty

International Travel

"We did it. We survived": Chezzi Denyer's emotional revelation about baby girl

Chezzi Denyer is celebrating a "huge leap" made by her youngest daughter Sunday. Sunday, 2, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia when she was a baby and had to wear a hip brace for nine months. Hip dysplasia occurs when a hip joint doesn't develop properly, and if left untreated can damage the joint over time which causes hip pain and arthritis. Now, almost a year after getting her hip brace, Sunday is running around "unstoppable," and her proud mum took to Instagram to share the highs and lows of the past year. She began the post by encouraging parents who are experiencing a similar diagnosis to "hang in there." "The nights are long and the days even longer when you’re got a baby in a brace or a spica cast," she continued. "It’s absolute torment seeing your baby in pain or uncomfortable. You think you won’t be able to cope. "The lack of sleep. The constant discomfort. The lump in your throat when you encourage your baby to go in for another procedure. Another general anaesthetic. The fear you feel in the pit of your stomach. Trying to keep your eyes on the end goal. "You need to be strong for them. "The heat of the cast. The pressure points. The dry sore skin you massage and moisturise where you can. And the mess. The spica cast mess and the smell…" she wrote. She then listed all of the medical appointments, procedures and tests they had to go through for the past year and how challenging it was having to adjust. “Adapting and changing your entire life for an indefinite period can be paralysing - New prams, specially created car seats, cots, mattresses, high-chairs, specially made clothes, nappies, accessories, activities. “Having to stop work, take leave, giving up daycare with little hope of getting your days back down the track, not being able to travel easily, having to sacrifice activities with older kids, nursing your toddler for hours unable to do much else, trying to keep them occupied when they can’t move and they’re bored… all of these might seem trivial to someone on the outside... “But when you’re in it, every single thing you know or you’ve learnt or even want to do must change to accommodate your hippy baby, and that too can be terrifying," she added. She also shared how "hard and tiring and stressful and scary" it was to take care of not only your baby, but yourself, and encouraged other parents to feel and express these emotions when they can. The wife of former Sunrise weather presenter Grant Denyer also expressed her gratitude towards all the mums that have helped her throughout this journey. “I remember so many experienced parents telling me that their child once was in a cast or a brace and how they remember the time well. “Many of those kind-hearted parents telling me their child now runs or dances etc and you wouldn’t even know… and when I was deep in it, it felt like that was a lifetime away. “But here we are, one year on from getting the rhino brace on, and little Sunday is running around unstoppable.” Although Sunday is "not out of the woods" yet as she will need an operation or two when she is around four years old, the mum of three couldn't help but express how proud she was. “I am celebrating this milestone with so much pride. I’m so proud of her. She’s incredibly resilient.. but I’m also proud of me. We did it. We survived. “We have come out the other side and we are stronger for it. And I hope that can help some other parents either going through this or about to. Xxx,” her post ended. Images: Instagram

Family & Pets

Rescued sailor speaks after being adrift for months with his dog

Australian sailor Timothy Shaddock has spoken up about the three months he spent lost at sea with nothing but his dog Bella. The 54-year-old was rescued by a Mexican tuna boat in the Pacific Ocean after a helicopter spotted his incapacitated catamaran 1900 km from land. When he was found by the Maria Delia crew, which is part of the Grupomar fleet, Shaddock and his dog were in a “precarious” state after surviving three months without provisions and shelter. Shaddock, who was sailing from Mexico to French Polynesia lost contact because his boat’s electronic system was damaged during rough seas. When the helicopter first discovered him, they threw him a drink and flew away before returning with the tuna trawler to rescue him. This was his first contact with humans since early May. Despite the horrifying ordeal and the fear of not being able to survive an impending hurricane, the sailor remained positive and said that he enjoyed being out at sea. "I did enjoy being at sea. I enjoyed being out there," he told reporters during a news conference in Manzanillo, Mexico on Tuesday, after he safely made it back to land. "But when things get tough out there, you know, you have to survive. And then when you get saved, you feel like you want to live. So, I'm very grateful." Shaddock said that he passed the time by fixing things and tried to stay positive by going into the water to “just enjoy” it. The sailor survived on a diet of raw fish after the storm knocked out his electronics and ability to cook. “I did a lot of fishing,” Shaddock said. “There was a lot of tuna sushi.” The emaciated sailor who survived was immediately given food, water and medication upon being rescued. In one of the photos shared by the Grupomar, a thin and bearded Shaddock was pictured in the boat's cabin with a blood pressure cuff around his arm and a huge smile on his face despite the entire ordeal. In a few others, Bella was pictured lying on the deck and receiving pats for being the bravest pup. Shaddock expressed his gratitude for his loyal companion. “Bella found me in Mexico, she’s Mexican. She is the spirit of the middle of the country, and she wouldn’t let me go,” he said. “She’s amazing, that dog is something else. “I’m just grateful she’s alive. She’s a lot more brave than me.” He revealed that the hardest part of surviving was the fatigue, but this incident will not stop him from going into the ocean in the future. “I’ll always be in the water, I don’t know how far out in the ocean I’ll be,” he said. Images: ABC News/ 9news/ Facebook

Travel Trouble

How traditional Indigenous education helped four lost children survive 40 days in the Amazon jungle

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/eliran-arazi-1447346">Eliran Arazi</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/hebrew-university-of-jerusalem-855">Hebrew University of Jerusalem</a> The discovery and rescue of <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/four-missing-colombian-children-found-alive-jungle-sources-2023-06-10/">four young Indigenous children</a>, 40 days after the aircraft they were travelling in crashed in the remote Colombian rainforest, was hailed in the international press as a “<a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/06/11/miracle-in-the-jungle-colombia-celebrates-rescue-of-children-lost-in-amazon-rainforest_6030840_4.html">miracle in the jungle</a>”. But as an anthropologist who has spent more than a year living among the Andoque people in the region, <a href="https://www.academia.edu/100474974/Amazonian_visions_of_Visi%C3%B3n_Amazon%C3%ADa_Indigenous_Peoples_perspectives_on_a_forest_conservation_and_climate_programme_in_the_Colombian_Amazon">conducting ethnographic fieldwork</a>, I cannot simply label this as a miraculous event. At least, not a miracle in the conventional sense of the word. Rather, the survival and discovery of these children can be attributed to the profound knowledge of the intricate forest and the adaptive skills passed down through generations by Indigenous people. During the search for the children, I was in contact with Raquel Andoque, an elder maloquera (owner of a ceremonial longhouse), the sister of the children’s great-grandmother. She repeatedly expressed her unwavering belief the children would be found alive, citing the autonomy, astuteness and physical resilience of children in the region. Even before starting elementary school, children in this area accompany their parents and elder relatives in various activities such as gardening, fishing, navigating rivers, hunting and gathering honey and wild fruits. In this way the children acquire practical skills and knowledge, such as those demonstrated by Lesly, Soleiny, Tien and Cristin during their 40-day ordeal. Indigenous children typically learn from an early age how to open paths through dense vegetation, how to tell edible from non-edible fruits. They know how to find potable water, build rain shelters and set animal traps. They can identify animal footprints and scents – and avoid predators such as jaguars and snakes lurking in the woods. Amazonian children typically lack access to the sort of commercialised toys and games that children in the cities grow up with. So they become adept tree climbers and engage in play that teaches them about adult tools made from natural materials, such as oars or axes. This nurtures their understanding of physical activities and helps them learn which plants serve specific purposes. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532019/original/file-20230614-31-hrdd5z.png?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/532019/original/file-20230614-31-hrdd5z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532019/original/file-20230614-31-hrdd5z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532019/original/file-20230614-31-hrdd5z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532019/original/file-20230614-31-hrdd5z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532019/original/file-20230614-31-hrdd5z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532019/original/file-20230614-31-hrdd5z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A youg girl holding up an insect as her family works alongside" /><figcaption>A local Indigenous girl on an excursion to gather edible larvae. Image courtesy of Eliran Arazi, Author provided</figcaption></figure> Activities that most western children would be shielded from – handling, skinning and butchering game animals, for example – provide invaluable zoology lessons and arguably foster emotional resilience. <h2>Survival skills</h2> When they accompany their parents and relatives on excursions in the jungle, Indigenous children learn how to navigate a forest’s dense vegetation by following the location of the sun in the sky. <figure class="align-left zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532012/original/file-20230614-29-ii5s0u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532012/original/file-20230614-29-ii5s0u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532012/original/file-20230614-29-ii5s0u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532012/original/file-20230614-29-ii5s0u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532012/original/file-20230614-29-ii5s0u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532012/original/file-20230614-29-ii5s0u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=692&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532012/original/file-20230614-29-ii5s0u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=692&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532012/original/file-20230614-29-ii5s0u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=692&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Map of the Middle Caqueta region of Colombia." /></a><figcaption>Map showing where in Colombia the four lost children are from. Gadiel Levi, Author provided</figcaption></figure> Since the large rivers in most parts of the Amazon flow in a direction opposite to that of the sun, people can orient themselves towards those main rivers. The trail of footprints and objects left by the four children revealed their general progression towards the Apaporis River, where they may have hoped to be spotted. The children would also have learned from their parents and elders about edible plans and flowers – where they can be found. And also the interrelationship between plants, so that where a certain tree is, you can find mushrooms, or small animals that can be trapped and eaten. <h2>Stories, songs and myths</h2> Knowledge embedded in mythic stories passed down by parents and grandparents is another invaluable resource for navigating the forest. These stories depict animals as fully sentient beings, engaging in seduction, mischief, providing sustenance, or even saving each other’s lives. While these episodes may seem incomprehensible to non-Indigenous audiences, they actually encapsulate the intricate interrelations among the forest’s countless non-human inhabitants. Indigenous knowledge focuses on the interrelationships between humans, plants and animals and how they can come together to preserve the environment and prevent irreversible ecological harm. This sophisticated knowledge has been developed over millennia during which Indigenous people not only adapted to their forest territories but actively shaped them. It is deeply ingrained knowledge that local indigenous people are taught from early childhood so that it becomes second nature to them. It has become part of the culture of cultivating and harvesting crops, something infants and children are introduced to, as well as knowledge of all sort of different food sources and types of bush meat. <h2>Looking after each other</h2> One of the aspects of this “miraculous” story that people in the west have marvelled over is how, after the death of the children’s mother, the 13-year-old Lesly managed to take care of her younger siblings, including Cristin, who was only 11 months old at the time the aircraft went down. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/532007/original/file-20230614-19-7q92j0.jpeg?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/532007/original/file-20230614-19-7q92j0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532007/original/file-20230614-19-7q92j0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532007/original/file-20230614-19-7q92j0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532007/original/file-20230614-19-7q92j0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532007/original/file-20230614-19-7q92j0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/532007/original/file-20230614-19-7q92j0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Three Indigenous people in western clothes stood under trees in front of a wide building." /><figcaption>Iris Andoque Macuna with her brother Nestor Andoque and brother-in-law Faustino Fiagama after the two men returned from the search team. Iris Andoque Macuna., Author provided</figcaption></figure> But in Indigenous families, elder sisters are expected to act as surrogate mothers to their younger relatives from an early age. Iris Andoke Macuna, a distant relative of the family, told me: <blockquote> To some whites [non-Indigenous people], it seems like a bad thing that we take our children to work in the garden, and that we let girls carry their brothers and take care of them. But for us, it’s a good thing, our children are independent, this is why Lesly could take care of her brothers during all this time. It toughened her, and she learned what her brothers need. </blockquote> <h2>The spiritual side</h2> For 40 days and nights, while the four children were lost, elders and shamans performed rituals based on traditional beliefs that involve human relationships with entities known as dueños (owners) in Spanish and by various names in native languages (such as i'bo ño̰e, meaning “persons of there” in Andoque). These owners are believed to be the protective spirits of the plants and animals that live in the forests. Children are introduced to these powerful owners in name-giving ceremonies, which ensure that these spirits recognise and acknowledge relationship to the territory and their entitlement to prosper on it. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/531997/original/file-20230614-15389-7c6oly.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/531997/original/file-20230614-15389-7c6oly.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/531997/original/file-20230614-15389-7c6oly.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/531997/original/file-20230614-15389-7c6oly.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/531997/original/file-20230614-15389-7c6oly.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/531997/original/file-20230614-15389-7c6oly.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/531997/original/file-20230614-15389-7c6oly.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Woman in pink t-shirt sat on chair inside." /><figcaption>Raquel Andoke, a relative of the missing children and friend of the author. Image courtesy of Eliran Arazi, Author provided</figcaption></figure> During the search for the missing children, elders conducted dialogues and negotiations with these entities in their ceremonial houses (malocas) throughout the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Middle-and-Lower-Caqueta-River-region-State-of-Amazonas-Colombia-Map-from_fig1_255580310">Middle Caquetá</a> and in other Indigenous communities that consider the crash site part of their ancestral territory. Raquel explained to me: <blockquote> The shamans communicate with the sacred sites. They offer coca and tobacco to the spirits and say: “Take this and give me my grandchildren back. They are mine, not yours.” </blockquote> These beliefs and practices hold significant meaning for my friends in the Middle Caquetá, who firmly attribute the children’s survival to these spiritual processes rather than the technological means employed by the Colombian army rescue teams. It may be challenging for non-Indigenous people to embrace these traditional ideas. But these beliefs would have instilled in the children the faith and emotional fortitude crucial for persevering in the struggle for survival. And it would have encouraged the Indigenous people searching for them not to give up hope. The children knew that their fate did not lie in dying in the forest, and that their grandparents and shamans would move heaven and earth to bring them back home alive. Regrettably, this traditional knowledge that has enabled Indigenous people to not only survive but thrive in the Amazon for millennia is under threat. Increasing land encroachment for agribusiness, mining, and illicit activities as well as state neglect and interventions without Indigenous consent have left these peoples vulnerable. It is jeopardising the very foundations of life where this knowledge is embedded, the territories that serve as its bedrock, and the people themselves who preserve, develop, and transmit this knowledge. Preserving this invaluable knowledge and the skills that bring miracles to life is imperative. We must not allow them to wither away.<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/207762/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/eliran-arazi-1447346">Eliran Arazi</a>, PhD researcher in Anthropology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (Paris)., <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/hebrew-university-of-jerusalem-855">Hebrew University of Jerusalem</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-traditional-indigenous-education-helped-four-lost-children-survive-40-days-in-the-amazon-jungle-207762">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Caring

Survival guide for cool-weather camping

Being comfortable is king to enjoying winter camping. Take a look at our suggestions to help you gear up and get out there when the weather is cold but the campfire is hot. Shelter It’s one of the most important aspects of camping in any season! Your bedding and shelter arrangement should be both comfortable and functional so you can always create a home away from home. Winter around the country can mean different things – for instance, some camp spots during winter are often covered in a blanket of snow where as at others the temperature is cool at night and moderate during the day. Depending on the type of winter you’ll be camping in, you’ll need to adjust the shelter and bedding options to suit but there are a few things every winter camper should be aware off. Make sure your tent pegs are suited to the type of ground where you’ll pitch your tent or shelter. For example in light sandy soil conditions a strong sand peg should work well however in snow covered ground or loose sand locations a longer sturdier peg will keep you tent and shelter firmly in place. Laying a ground sheet underneath your tent will help keep the dew and moisture away from your gear. Pitching your tent or shelter in a location that will take advantage of the morning sun is also a nice touch and one that your fellow campers will appreciate! If you’re likely to be camping in light snow or humid conditions, it’s a good idea to pitch a flysheet over your tent or even a tarpaulin. This will trap “dead air” between your tent and the cold air providing extra insulation and will also help reduce moisture and condensation from appearing in your tent. The same principle applies to your swag – a fly and ground sheet will help prevent condensation and creating a layer of dead air will help give you a comfy and warmer sleep. Hot Tip: Using a ground sheet underneath your tent or swag will help prevent moisture from entering your shelter from below. Sleeping What you sleep in or on can also affect your comfort level. In cold conditions the humble airbed isn’t the best insulator so it’s a good option to use a self-inflating or 4WD mattress. These bedding options also trap dead air and your body warmth will help to create a warmer bed of air to sleep on. Your choice of sleeping bag is also important so it’s a good idea to match the bag to the climate. Along with fill material and weight, sleeping bags are also rated on their insulation or temperature rating. Sleeping bags such as the Blackwolf Zambezie sleeping bag are suited to sub-zero temperatures where as less insulating sleeping bags will keep you comfortable in plus zero degree conditions. Some of us “feel the cold” more than others so it’s important to take this into consideration when deciding what sleeping bag you’ll need. We recommend using a sleeping bag rated to below the temperatures you’re expecting – it’s easier to make yourself cool than it is to add extra warmth. Hot Tip: Hot water bottles are great additions for a warm sleep. What to wear Dressing in layers is a great idea as this allows you to adjust your warmth to suit the conditions or activity. A base layer such as thermals will control your core body temperature. An insulating or middle layer such as a fleece jumper will create a micro-climate and trap warmth around your body. An outer or protective layer will protect you from the elements such as wind or rain. How To: As most of your body heat is lost through your extremities don’t forget your accessories such as beanies, scarves and gloves. Cooking Everyone loves a warming winter meal and we all have memories of a great winter stew or roast. Bringing these meals to the campsite in winter and sharing them with family and friends are easily some of the best pleasures of winter camping. Cooking over a fire is a great idea as the campers are able to enjoy the warmth provided by the fire whilst the meal is cooking. Options for cooking over a fire include the traditional cast iron cookware or fire grill and cast iron plate. Cooking options not needing a fire include thermal cookers such as the Dream Pot or a Cobb cooker. These options are perfect for cooking delicious stews, soups and roasts. Hot Tip: When cooking with cast iron, charcoal briquettes provide a long burning and consistent source of heat making cast iron cooking so easy! If firewood is your heat source, don’t forget to bring enough firewood for your heating and cooking needs! With a heap of easy cooking options available there’s no reason why you can’t be sharing a warm and hearty stew or sensational roast on your next winter camping trip. Winter warmers Comfort and warmth are key for enjoying your winter camping experience. Hot showers and gas heaters are just two options that will make your winter camping trip much easier and more comfortable. Gas heaters are great as they are portable and provide a constant source of heat. Water heaters such as the Coleman Hot Water on Demand system are popular options for winter campers – who can say no to an instant warm shower or hot cuppa? First appeared on the Ray’s Outdoors website. <a href="http://blog.raysoutdoors.com.au/expertadvice?category=Camping" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit them </a><a href="http://blog.raysoutdoors.com.au/expertadvice?category=Camping" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here for more camping advice</a>. Image credit: Shutterstock Related links: <a href="../lifestyle/caravan-camping/2015/05/4-campfire-recipes/">4 simple and delicious campfire recipes you should try</a> <a href="../lifestyle/caravan-camping/2015/05/outdoor-photography-tips/">Outdoor photography tips to help you take shots like a pro</a> <a href="../lifestyle/caravan-camping/2015/03/bush-damper-recipe/">How to make bush damper</a>

Domestic Travel

How to survive in 8 terrifying travel emergencies

It’s every traveller’s worst nightmare to be caught in an emergency while on holiday overseas, and while it’s a rare occurrence, it’s still something everyone needs to be cautious of. So, we’ve got eight life-saving tips from the experts themselves, and trust us, you’ll want to commit them to memory. 1. Falling from a cruise ship It’s estimated that just 20 people fall from cruise ships annually, but it’s still important to be prepared. “Everyone who falls unexpectedly into cold water wants to follow the same instinct, to swim hard and to fight the cold water,” explains ocean safety organisation RNLI. “But when people fight it, chances are, they lose. If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, do as little as possible, and float.” 2. Avalanches Snow lovers around the world dread the “A” word, but it is possible to survive one. If caught in the path of one, the Association of British Travel Agents advise skiing sideways to try and remain on the surface of the slide. Then, ditch the poles and “swim” in the direction of the slide and try to grab hold of a tree. Always carry a locator beacon with you to aid the efforts of search and rescue. 3. Quicksand Quicksand is made up of waterlogged sand or clay which may appear solid but liquefies upon impact. Stay calm and avoid making any quick movements, as you could create air pockets which will only pull you deeper into the ground. Shed any extra weight (e.g. backpacks, hats), then lean backwards and spread out – more surface area means you’ll be lighter. From there, move sideways until you reach terra firma. 4. Rip currents These are found on most surf beaches and can pull swimmers out to sea at a speed of up to 8km per hour. The RNLI advise against fighting the rip, instead treading water and conserving energy until the current grows weak enough for you to swim back to shore. Another option is following the current, which will take you in a semi-circle. Wait until you reach a weaker point, then swim back to shore. 5. Safari attacks Stuck in the presence of a lion? Avoid the temptation to turn and run. Instead, make direct eye contact and back away very slowly. If it’s a leopard, do the opposite – avoid any eye contact and hope they lose interest. With elephants, simply stand your ground and try to look brave. Buffalos are almost impossible to outrun, so your best bet is to climb a tree. 6. Lost on a hike Adventure blogger <a href="http://hikingdude.com/default.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hiking Dude</a> recommends sticking by the acronym STOP when lost. Stop exactly where you are, think (try to retrace your steps, but do not move unless you’re sure you know where you’re going), observe how much daylight (and supplies) you have left and pay attention to any weather changes, then plan a route back to a safe place. Unless you’re absolutely confident, it’s best to stay put. 7. Snake bite If you encounter a snake, back away very slowly and choose a different route. If it seems to be following you, stamp on the ground – the vibrations should drive it away. If bitten, ensure the affected area is moved lower than your heart (this will slow the spread of venom) and get to the closest hospital. If possible, try to remember (or even photograph) the snake – this will help doctors identify the required anti-venom. 8. Plane crash If you’re unfortunate enough to be caught in a plane emergency, there are two immediate hurdles – surviving the impact of the crash, then surviving what follows – fire, smoke and drowning. Get the oxygen mask on immediately (20 seconds is enough to make you lose consciousness) and abandon your belongings. According to a simulation conducted using a Boeing 727, it’s actually safer to book a cheap seat at the back, as the front of the plane will bear the most impact. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

How to survive the cruise ship buffet

Every few months another horror story appears in the news of an entire cruise ship struck down by norovirus. It happens even on the most expensive lines with perfect health and safety records. And the finger is generally pointed at the self serve, all you can eat buffet. Stay healthy on your next cruise with these tips. Wash your hands This seems like a no brainer, but the main culprit for many outbreaks on ships is people who haven’t washed their hands correctly. Use soap and water whenever you can and make use of the auto-dispensers of hand sanitisers that are scattered throughout the shop – especially on the way into the restaurants. If you don’t like the really astringent feel of these products bring your own antiseptic with you – Aesop make a great one that’s only around $10 a bottle. Cooked to order Breakfast generally begins at 7am so unless you’re one of the first up there, there’s a good chance that a lot of that food has been sitting around for a while. Eggs are the thing to be most careful about here. Scrambled eggs have often only been partially cooked in the kitchen and then finish cooking in the warming tray, which has potential disaster written all over it. Go for an omelette or fried eggs cooked to order so you know it’s been freshly prepared. Same goes for lunch. Many buffets will do pasta or stir fries cooked fresh (or at least put together in front of you) so you can avoid the warmed over dishes that have been sitting in the bain-marie for hours. Stay fresh Fresh, uncooked vegetables (like salads) are generally considered one of the more dangerous options on any buffet. There’s the questionable quality of the water they’ve been washed in coupled with the fact that there is no heat from the cooking process to kill any nasty bugs. Once again, freshness is key here. Go to lunch early so the salads have just come from the fridge or watch for when they refill the station. Many ships also have a separate café where a chef will make you up a salad from separate fresh ingredients. You can be sure these haven’t been sitting in soggy dressings for too long and that other passengers haven’t been poking at them. Don’t go crazy A lot of people who become unwell on a cruise might not actually have any kind of gastro; they’ve just overindulged. In the face of all that food it’s tempting to go a little crazy with rich dishes, lots of meat and double desserts. This can be a big shock to your system that’s usually used to eating just some cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch. It’s your holiday so you should definitely indulge, but try to be sensible. Pace yourself, save the blowouts for one meal a day and try to eat some healthy stuff too. Image credits: Getty Images

Cruising

Jackie O survives "hectic" auction by dropping $13.25m on new home

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has dropped an eyewatering $13.25 million on a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The radio star recently made the purchase at an auction and was congratulated by her team when she was back on-air. “I don’t know if you liked it, but how good that the paps were filming you,” the show’s newsreader said, referring to pictures taken of Jackie O at the auction that were published in several media outlets. “Actually, you know what? That was kind of good, to have that moment. You would never film yourself at an auction,” Jackie O said, calling the auction “hectic.” The KIIS FM co-host, who recently sold her Woollahra mansion for $13 million, purchased a fixer-upper with breathtaking ocean views in Clovelly. Jackie, 48, was seen at the auction with her daughter Kitty, according to The Daily Telegraph. She came out on top in a relentless bidding war against two others, winning the six bedder with gorgeous views of Gordons Bay. Photos in the publication showed her celebrating with her daughter and financial advisor, David O’Callaghan. The publication also shared artist’s impression of approved plans for a new building on the site. The reason for the move came from privacy concerns in Woollahra, with sources claiming the narrow street made it difficult for her to avoid paparazzi. She initially purchased it in June 2020 for $11 million after leaving her previous Vaucluse home that she shared with her ex-husband Lee Henderson, whom she divorced in 2018 after 18 years of marriage. Kylie Sandilands and Jackie re-signed a contract with ARN in 2019, guaranteeing the pair will remain on-air until the end of 2024. The deal means they get paid more than $39,000 each per show. <a href="http://news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News.com.au</a> reported that the new contracts mean Kyle and Jackie receive $7-8 million each per year. The iconic pair told <a href="http://news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News.com.au</a> in November that retirement plans are not yet foreseeable. “The day I die,” Kylie said in reference to retirement. “We already know Jackie is going to stay on air crying and wearing black for the rest of her life. And then there’ll be 15 years of re-runs. Just like a Friends cast member.” Image credit: Instagram

Real Estate

“You wouldn’t believe all I had to do to survive”: Man rescued after 31 days in the jungle

A Bolivian man has survived 31 days in the Amazon jungle. Jhonattan Acosta, 30, was hunting in northern Bolivia when he was separated from his four friends. He told United TV he drank rainwater collected in his shoes and ate worms and insects while hiding from jaguars and peccaries, a type of pig-like mammal. Acosta was finally found by a search party made up of locals and friends a month after he went missing. “I can’t believe people kept up the search for so long,” he said in tears. “I ate worms, I ate insects, you wouldn’t believe all I had to do to survive all this time.” He also ate wild fruits similar to papayas, known locally as gargateas. “I thank God profusely, because he has given me a new life,” he said. His family said they will still have to string all the details together regarding how Acosta got lost and how he managed to stay alive but will ask him gradually as he is still psychologically damaged after the experience. There has also been significant physical changes. Acosta lost 17kg, dislocated his ankle and was severely dehydrated when he was found, but according to those who found him, he was still able to walk with a limp. “My brother told us that when he dislocated his ankle on the fourth day, he started fearing for his life,” Horacio Acosta told Bolivia’s Página Siete newspaper. “He only had one cartridge in his shotgun and couldn’t walk, and he thought no one would be looking for him anymore.” As for his encounters with wild animals in the jungle, including a jaguar, his younger brother said that his brother used his last cartridge to scare off a squadron of peccaries. After 31 days, Acosta spotted the search party about 300m away and limped through thorny bushes, shouting to draw attention to him. Acosta’s brother, Haracio, said that he was found by four local people. “A man came running to tell us they’d found my brother,” he said. “It’s a miracle.” Acosta has since decided to give up hunting for good. “He is going to play music to praise God,” Haracio said. “He promised God that, and I think he will keep his promise.” Image credit: BBC News

Travel Trouble

Pregnant wife of surviving police officer opens up

Constable Randall Kirk was one of four officers who attended a remote property in Queensland to conduct a welfare check, before they were ambushed and shot at by the residents. While Constable Kirk is now recovering in hospital, his colleagues, 29-year-old Constable Rachel McCrow and 26-year-old Constable Matthew Arnold, were murdered during the execution-style ambush. The gunmen, Gareth Train and his brother Nathaniel, a former Queensland school principal, were killed in a police firefight later that night. Constable Kirk was able to escape the terrifying scene despite being shot in the leg and showered in glass after the gunmen fired at his escaping vehicle. “I’m feeling fine, just a little sore,” Constable Kirk said to Warwick Stanthorpe Today on Tuesday. “My main thoughts are with the other police families at this awful time.” Constable Kirk’s wife Breanna said he had “minor surgery” in Toowoomba on Tuesday morning and was “doing well”. “When I first spoke to Randall at the Chinchilla Hospital (on Monday night), his first thoughts were for his colleagues,” she shared. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Randall’s deceased colleagues.” Mrs Kirk, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, said they were overwhelmed with support from the community and their policing family. “Randall and I are very grateful for the overwhelming support from the Chinchilla and Stanthorpe communities,” she said. “We have spoken to the Police Minister Mark Ryan (Tuesday) morning, and he has offered wonderful encouragement and support.” Image credits: Facebook

Caring

Double Olympic champ survives plane crash

David Rudisha, a double Olympic champion in middle distance running, is reportedly very lucky to be alive after walking away unharmed following a plane crash in his home country of Kenya. The light airplane, which was carrying 33-year-old Rudisha and five other passengers, came down in Kajiado county in southeast Kenya on Saturday, with images showing it lying upside-down in a paddock. Rudisha later described it as a "scary episode". Rudisha won gold medals in the 800m at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, as well world titles in 2011 and 2015, setting a world record (1min 40.91sec) in the 2012 London Olympics final. “All was well close to seven or eight minutes into the flight when the engine of the plane suddenly went quiet,” the he told Kenya’s The Daily Nation. "[The pilot] saw some clear space where he tried to land the plane, but one of its wings hit a tree as the plane started to spin before landing on the rocky field. "The pilot did an incredible job to keep the plane afloat and stable for long.” Rudisha also survived a car accident in Kenya in 2019 when a tyre burst and his SUV collided with a bus. Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

How to survive camping in bad weather

When the elements are wild and unpredictable it can make for an unpleasant camping trip. Here are our top tips to surviving camping in bad weather. Don’t go This seems like the obvious choice but many people still move forward with their trip as it’s a waste of all the time, planning and preparation. However, nobody is likely to have a good time, especially grandchildren, if you’re cooped up in a tent or caravan for the entire weekend. If it’s possible to postpone the trip, then do it. Location Even if conditions are sunny and perfect when you arrive at your campsite, always think about the best location to pitch your tent if it does happen to rain and storm. Where will the water run? When the water hits the tent, will it pool in the indentation you set up? Steer clear of gullies, river banks in case of flash flooding. Extra shelter When you’re camping in the winter months, even if it’s forecast to be clear, it’s always a good idea to bring extra shelter. You can use this extra shelter to provide protection for your camping gear, provide an area to cook and eat, and if there is a leak in your tent, use as a tarp. Wet-weather gear When you need to move around a campsite in the rain, appropriate wet-weather gear will keep you dry and warm. That means waterproof jackets and hoods, ponchos and rubber boots – and when it comes to camping gear, you do usually get what you pay for. Make sure you have a few sets of spare clothes as well in case you do get a drenching. Waterproof bags Sometimes your gear will get wet and since you don’t want wet things in your sleeping area, store them in bags. Ensure dry things stay dry by also storing them in waterproof bags. Wet weather activities Be prepared with an arsenal of wet weather activities such as cards, board games, puzzles and crosswords to do. Otherwise, go for a drive and explore the area – you could find some great spots to check out when the weather is dry or have some fun splashing in the mud and rain with the grandkids. Image: Getty

Domestic Travel

Melissa Doyle draws inspiration from powerful survival tales in her new book

Like millions of people around the world, Melissa Doyle's life was thrown in to disarray when the pandemic hit in March 2020. While being between jobs, stuck at home, and feeling like an empty nester after her eldest child left for university overseas, Melissa found herself at what she describes as "a loose end". While reflecting on her decades-long career and the countless inspirational stories she had heard along the way, she decided to start writing her first book, titled 15 Seconds of Brave. "I wasn't quite sure what to do so I wrote a book about eight different people who have been through extraordinary experiences, some of them pretty harrowing," she told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/melissa-doyle-15-seconds-of-brave-new-book/5172dc27-f0c6-4530-97ae-a60427f75796" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Today Extra</a>. "Some of these stories I'd held in my hand for many, many years until the time was right to do something with them and this just felt right." Doyle revealed the intricate detail she went into to ensure she did the stories justice, with some of the interviews even taking one whole year to properly unravel. From a child bride who was abducted and turned into a soldier, to people who have battled inner demons and substance abuse, Doyle revisited each one with respect and dignity. "We had to go really gently, a lot of these people I have interviewed previously and I have a habit of keeping in touch with them," she said. "I can't sit down and get them to tell the most traumatic experience of their life and walk away - I check in." 15 Seconds of Brave is available now at all good bookstores. Image credits: Instagram

Books

10 great tips for surviving challenging moments in relationships

While it can be tempting to turn tail and run when the going gets tough, studies have shown time and time again that taking a deep breath and trying to work through your issues gives you the best chance of salvaging and maintaining your relationship. Here are our top 10 tips for working it through when times get tough. <ol> <li>Remove your emotions from the equation – It may be tricky but an emotionally charged conversation never ends well. If you’re feeling furious, try and put a pause on things till you’ve calmed down.</li> <li>Forget right or wrong – Delegating parties as “right” or “wrong” is a great way of ensuring arguments remain unresolved. It’s important to bot take responsibility for your actions.</li> <li>Walk the high road – Work out what works best for you as an individual couple. It’s all about equality and contentment in your own circumstances.</li> <li>Be humble, always – We all make mistakes. Reminding or gloating over the ones your partner makes never ends well.</li> <li>Agree to disagree – A healthy relationship will often have topics where each party holds a differing view to the other. This is normal and can be a great vehicle for discussion. It’s important though that you both value and respect the others opinion, even if it differs from your own.</li> <li>Be mindful of others – Difficult conversations are best held in private, away from those whose input may be unhelpful.</li> <li>Consider all your options – If you’re facing an issue as a couple, remember to consider all your options for a resolution. This often requires some brainstorming and partnering together to find a positive solution.</li> <li>Don’t rush into a decision – If you’re struggling to reconcile what you think with certain actions, take a step back and sleep on it.</li> <li>Stay optimistic – Approaching a discussion positively can make the process much easier.</li> <li>Review and consolidate – When you reach a conclusion, reaffirm it a few times before agreeing to move on.</li> </ol> Image: Getty

Relationships

One of Australia’s last surviving ‘Rats of Tobruk’ passes away aged 102

Dennis Davis, a World War II veteran and one of Australia’s last surviving ‘Rats of Tobruk’ has passed away aged 102. Mr Davis was one of 14,000 diggers who held out against German and Italian forces in the 241-day siege on Libya’s Tobruk port in 1941. The Aussie soldiers, along with another 5,000 allied soldiers, were dubbed the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ for their efforts over the eight-month campaign. After falling ill in the days before Anzac Day this year, Mr Davis secured a leave pass from the hospital so that he could still attend an Anzac ceremony at Sydney’s Town Hall, where he laid a wreath in honour of his fellow veterans. “It was harder to get out of the hospital than it was to get out of the army,” he joked to his family, according to the Australian Remembrance Foundation. During Channel 7’s ‘Lest We Forget’ concert tribute to the ANZACs earlier this year, Mr Davis was the subject of a Veteran’s Tribute, before he laid the wreath at the Town Hall Anzac Day service. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oaq3RS9Rffk?start=904&end=1174" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> On Monday, August 15, Mr Davis attended a ceremony at the cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place with fellow veterans to mark the 77th Victory in the Pacific Day. The foundation announced Mr Davis’ passing on Thursday, August 18, as reported by the AAP. <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/stories-service/veterans-stories/dennis-daviss-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">His story</a> is also included in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs stories of service program, which shares the experiences of veterans to support education in Australia’s military history. After migrating from London to Australia, Mr Davis enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1940, serving in the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo during WWII. Following his involvement in the Seige of Tobruk and battles at El Alamein, Mr Davis was sent to serve in a newly formed ski unit. On his return to Australia, he married his fiancé Margaret before departing again to serve in New Guinea and Borneo. Mr Davis was finally discharged in November 1945 and returned to his job at the tax office. He was married to Margaret for 61 years before she passed away in 2004, and they are both survived by two children, seven grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. Image: Veterans’ Foundation (Facebook)

Caring

“Come to the theatre!”: Why the survival of the arts post-Covid relies on us

The Covid-19 pandemic - and the lockdowns that were introduced to curb its spread - has taken a wide-ranging toll on individuals, companies, and even entire industries – with the field of creative arts no exception. For instance, even as many of us have returned to a mask-free existence that comes close to our pre-pandemic lifestyles, those working on Opera Australia’s latest season of productions are still following strict precautions – just so that the show can go on. <a href="https://opera.org.au/artist/shaun-rennie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shaun Rennie</a>, assistant director of Il Trovatore, tells OverSixty that while a “more relaxed” view of Covid is great for audiences, catching the virus can be particularly devastating for those putting on the show. “It's a really interesting time in the arts, because I sort of feel that, for the most part, the rest of the world has become much more relaxed about COVID, and is getting on with things and has a lot less fear around COVID, or even going out, or catching it,” he says. “That’s great, because audiences are confident and then coming back. “The challenge is that in the arts, if Covid does get into a company, it can still be really devastating. And so I still find there’s quite a bit of a disconnect between my life outside the theatre and coming into work.” <a href="https://opera.org.au/artist/warwick-doddrell/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Warwick Doddrell</a>, assistant director of La Traviata, was the staging director for Turandot at the start of 2022 and says they didn’t expect to have to face a Covid outbreak. “With Turandot at the start of the year … we thought that COVID was kind of over, naively,” Doddrell recalls. “But then very quickly we started to lose people. And just by the nature of how the state government policies and work and health recommendations were at the time, it was all very serious, [with] very serious impacts on [the] rehearsal schedule, so we would lose days at a time because we had to do … all the risk management. So we would lose multiple days at a sudden notice. “For us, that meant we had to be really adaptive. And we had to suddenly try to get through as much content as we possibly could at a bare minimum kind of level because … this might be the only day that we have to do Act Three. So let's do Act Three as best we possibly can. Let's get to the end. So that at least next time we've got you, people have some idea of where they're going and what the story is that they're telling, even if it's not as detailed as perhaps we would like it to be. But that there is something there; that there is some semblance of a story that we're telling.” Mask-wearing, daily RATs (Rapid Antigen Tests), and even keeping the cast members, musicians, and crew separate between productions are normal aspects of work now, says <a href="https://opera.org.au/artist/shane-placentino/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shane Placentino</a>, revival director for Madama Butterfly. “It's become the norm to test every day, to wear a mask, to sanitise your hands, to wash your hands, all those sorts of things, and that's impacted everyone from makeup and hair especially, and wardrobe, mechanists, stage crew, and orchestra,” he says. Having worked as revival director and choreographer for The Merry Widow, which marked the return of operas to the stage in 2021, Placentino says the rules that were initially met with some resistance are now routine, with the emphasis on reducing the risk of clusters and ensuring that audiences feel safe enough to come back and watch live performances. “We're finding that more and more people are coming back to live theatre,” Placentino says. “I think people are feeling comfortable now that the majority of the population are vaccinated or at least double vaccinated.” With many of us turning to streaming entertainment during lockdown, Placentino says it’s shown that the demand for the arts has still been there throughout. “It seemed to be a mix of people that were craving to come back and see live theatre. The thing that I found quite interesting during those lockdowns was how much streaming of the arts, through social media and internet and on TV, there was quite a lot of access to the arts,” he says. “Companies around the world gave access to productions that had been filmed or videoed and I thought that really indicated that people want to come back. They're just waiting for it to be safe – or safer.” Coming out of the lockdowns, Doddrell believes there’s an appetite for the arts but that companies have had to become more flexible and adaptable, which can come with some new costs. “I think it's going to be interesting to see [what] long, major or lasting changes this has on the industry,” he says. “Particularly because a lot of smaller companies, smaller work now had to have understudies and covers and such things, which was never something smaller companies did before, but now it's kind of your requirements. And it just makes things more expensive. And … if those costs are going to be permanent for the foreseeable future… that will drive up the cost of tickets … I think it's a really tricky situation. Because obviously, theatre is quite expensive compared to some of the other entertainment options people have these days. “And so I think the last thing we want is for prices to go out in such a way that it keeps audiences away.” Interestingly, many industry members were forced to find alternative work at the onset of the pandemic as show after show simply shut down – and yet many haven’t returned despite the curtains rising once more. “We have lost a lot of people in the industry at all levels,” Doddrell says. “People who couldn't just make it work, you know, so they had to find other jobs, they had to move on to something else, and they haven’t come back, which is, you know, good for new people to come in. But it's also [meant that] we've lost a lot of knowledge and a lot of expertise and a lot of history from people who've just had to move on.” Placentino says audiences continuing to come and watch operas, musicals and other live events as they return is crucial for people to come back to working in the arts and for these events to continue. “Initially, [attendance] numbers weren't as high as pre-COVID levels, but we're finding that now it's getting stronger and stronger. And obviously we hope that people feel really safe to come to the theatre and that they do,” Placentino explains. “The more the audience comes to see us, the more people we can employ. That's what we want to happen… so come to the theatre!” Image: Jeff Busby

Domestic Travel

Heat yourself, not your house: how to survive winter with a 15℃ indoor temperature

How high should you put the heating up over winter? If you don’t mind the bills and ecological impact, you have the encouragement of the World Health Organization to keep the house warm. They recommend an indoor temperature of <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/275839/WHO-CED-PHE-18.03-eng.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least 18°</a>, declaring that you face health risks at lower temperatures. This advice is echoed by the <a href="https://www.energy.gov.au/households/household-guides/seasonal-advice/winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian government</a>. The tone of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535294" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some reports</a> is monitory and severe. Based on these instructions, anyone would feel a reflex to bump up the thermostat. But before you brace for the bill-shock amid soaring energy prices, consider a different approach. Some people cope positively with the freeze and others face deep winter with panic. Given the range of psychological responses, I can only imagine there would be a difference in how people’s health would fare. If I’m full of dread at the prospect of feeling chilly, this stress could aggravate existing health issues. It is entirely possible to avoid heating your entire house to 18℃ to stay warm. If you view your cold house as a project, you can take pleasure in the power of staying warm in your modern cave, while remembering that we evolved to withstand the cold with fewer options than we have today. Staying warm in a cold house Over the last couple of winters, I’ve discovered many strategies for comfortable living at lower room temperatures. To add to traditional methods such as multiple layers of clothing and physical activity, there are now excellent appliances to fend off the chill. Personal heating devices have become rightly popular, such as electrical heated throw rugs to <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/90022948" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warm your clothing</a> rather than ambient air. These new devices – think a more flexible electric blanket – are extremely efficient. Canberra energy efficiency enthusiast David Southgate found using these devices rather than heating the air <a href="https://southgateaviation.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/2019-annual-report-v2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cut his heating bill</a> by 95%. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/472222/original/file-20220704-18-sz6rcn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/472222/original/file-20220704-18-sz6rcn.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/472222/original/file-20220704-18-sz6rcn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/472222/original/file-20220704-18-sz6rcn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/472222/original/file-20220704-18-sz6rcn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/472222/original/file-20220704-18-sz6rcn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/472222/original/file-20220704-18-sz6rcn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/472222/original/file-20220704-18-sz6rcn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="electric throw" /></a><figcaption>Electric throw rugs and other personal heating devices are gaining popularity. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> Personally, I have found adequate clothing makes a temperature of 15℃ acceptable. In fact, dressing warmly poses more risk of overheating with low levels of activity. It’s satisfying to create your own warmth rather than rely on artificially supplied warmth. You start to notice thermodynamic properties of clothing that you’d never appreciate by relying on a thermostat. If you wear a hooded gown, you’ll find not only that your ears are warm from being covered, but your uncovered face becomes flushed. That’s because warmth generated by your body wafts upward to escape through the aperture of the hood. As a result, the air that you breathe is also warm. When it comes to clothing, we can equate warmth simply with insulation. In turn, we assess the insulating qualities of textiles with their thickness or <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/warmest-materials-fabrics-winter-clothing/101155486" target="_blank" rel="noopener">air-trapping abilities</a>. We often tend to overlook the design of the clothing, which plays a key role in funnelling body warmth to exposed skin. The archetype of the hood was known two millennia before thermostats in both Greece (the garments μαφόρτης and κάλυμμα) and Rome (the garments cucullus, lacerna and tunica palliolata). They’re just as effective today. Wearing a cowl won’t warm up your hands; but if the rest of you is warm – especially your feet – your exposed hands will benefit by the circulation. For anyone unconvinced by this assurance, fingerless gloves are a backstop. The way medical science has catastrophised indoor temperatures lower than 18℃ wouldn’t be so bad if it were only incurious and unimaginative. Alas, there are alarming ecological consequences of a population believing that they’ll automatically get sick in the cold. Carbon emissions from domestic heating are significant. You get a picture from gas bills in Queensland, which go up 1.4 times from summer to winter. In colder states, the figure is <a href="https://www.energycouncil.com.au/analysis/winter-energy-bills-avoid-a-shock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">much higher</a>: 3.5 times in Victoria and 5.2 times in nippy Tasmania. We have to scrutinise if we really need our thermostats pegged at 18℃. Before we accept recommendations on indoor temperatures by medical authorities, we need to know if the science has grappled with different experiences of cold. Future research must distinguish between people in a cool room who feel cold and miserable or feel protected against cold by a range of practical measures. Understanding the effect of these variables is urgent, because current authoritative guidance pushes us into heating our houses more than we have to. For most of the world, that means burning fossil fuel.<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/185587/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-nelson-1355694" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robert Nelson</a>, Honorary Principal Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The University of Melbourne</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/heat-yourself-not-your-house-how-to-survive-winter-with-a-15-indoor-temperature-185587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

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Schoolgirl reveals how she survived Texas massacre

An 11-year-old girl has recalled the moment she survived the horrific Texas school shooting which saw her classmates and teacher shot dead. Miah Cerrillo, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas spoke to lawmakers in a pre-recorded interview at the House of Representatives committee on Wednesday. She explained how she smeared her dead classmate’s blood on her and played dead to avoid being shot by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos on May 24. "He... told my teacher 'good night' and then shot her in the head. And then he shot some of my classmates and the whiteboard," Miah said. Miah then grabbed her dead teacher’s mobile phone and dialled 911 - which has since seen police’s response <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/texas-police-admit-wrongdoing-following-school-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heavily criticised</a> for not doing anything while they were being attacked. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NOOIN48HnxE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> The fourth grader fears that another mass shooting would occur at her school and called for “more security”. Gunman Salvador was armed with a gun when he stormed Robb Elementary School on May 24 and shot dead 19 children and two teachers. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw admitted that the tactical decisions made during the response to the events leading up to the shooting were wrong. “From the benefit of hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision. There’s no excuse for that,” he said. “A decision was made that this was a barricaded subject situation, there was time to retrieve the keys and wait for a tactical team with the equipment to go ahead and breach the door and take on the subject at that point. “That was the decision, that was the thought process at that particular point in time.” According to audio evidence from the time of the shooting, Ramos fired almost 100 shots inside classrooms 111 and 112 about 11.30am. Two minutes later, three officers entered the school from the same back door Ramos came in from. About 12.03pm, there were at least 19 officers standing in the hallways but it was only at 12.50 pm that police used a key from the janitor to open the classroom doors. It was then they shot Ramos dead. Images: YouTube

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"I'm not sure I will survive": Elderly woman's devastating cost of living confession

An elderly woman has shared a devastating confession about her living costs, revealing she is struggling to survive as the cost of living continues to rise. Pat Isaacs, from the Central West town of Orange, says she is in a constant state of anxiety as she battles with rising prices while living on the Age Pension payments. The 78-year-old doesn't have any superannuation or investments and relies solely on the government payments of just $900 a fortnight. Pat lives on a vegetarian diet because she can't afford to buy meat, never buys new clothes, and luxury expenses such as alcohol and cigarettes are completely out of the question. As grocery prices have increased in recent months, she has struggled to stretch her money beyond the essentials. "Long term, I'm not sure I will survive," she said. "What would (Prime Minister) Scomo and his mates know about my reality? They get a third of my week's income for meal allowance each day." "They are so out of touch with real issues." Pat is not alone in her frustrations, as it is estimated 1.5 million older Australians rely on the age pension as their main source of income, which equates to just over $900 a fortnight for singles or just over $25,000 annually. Shockingly, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed countless pensioners have endured the highest annual increase in living costs in 16 years. Ian Henschke is the Chief Advocate for National Seniors, a not-for-profit organisation campaigning for better outcomes for older Australians, and is devoting his time to advocating for the needs of seniors on both a state and federal level. "We've got pensioners living in poverty and they are out of sight, out of mind," Henschke told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-pensioners-forced-into-poverty-as-inflation-soars/eacb55e7-4f62-4665-b34e-b562ab12c02f?ocid=Social-9News&fbclid=IwAR3DznDLZMPhVUoRHix1GEGQfIWofQH4OKQwcRSp-YZzZ1VF7GmWCadaCO0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">Nine News.</a> "And no one is caring about it. The age pension is not adequate to provide for all Australians." Image credits: Daily Mail Australia / Getty Images

Retirement Life

Some endangered species can no longer survive in the wild. So should we alter their genes?

Around the world, populations of many beloved species are declining at increasing rates. According to one <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/30/world-plant-species-risk-extinction-fungi-earth">grim projection</a>, as many as 40% of the world’s species may be extinct by 2050. Alarmingly, many of these declines are caused by threats for which few solutions exist. Numerous species now depend on conservation breeding programs for their survival. But these programs typically do not encourage species to adapt and survive in the wild alongside intractable threats such as climate change and disease. This means some species can no longer exist in the wild, which causes major downstream effects on the ecosystem. Consider, for example, how a coral reef would struggle to function without corals. What if there was another way? My colleagues and I have developed an intervention method that aims to give endangered species the genetic features they need to survive in the wild. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/411140/original/file-20210714-13-1bf7ccv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="bleached coral with fish" /> Genetically altering coral may help them survive in a warmer world. Rick Stuart-Smith <h2>Bringing theory into practice</h2> Over generations, natural selection enables species to adapt to threats. But in many instances today, the speed at which threats are developing is outpacing species’ ability to adapt. This problem is especially apparent in wildlife threatened by newly emerging infectious diseases such as chytridiomycosis in amphibians, and in climate-affected species such as corals. The toolkit my colleagues and I developed is called “targeted genetic intervention” or TGI. It works by increasing the occurrence or frequency of genetic features that impact an organism’s fitness in the presence of the threat. We outline the method in a recent <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169534721003384">research paper</a>. The toolkit involves <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/artificial-selection">artificial selection</a> and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00175/full">synthetic biology</a>. These tools are well established in agriculture and medicine but relatively untested as conservation tools. We explain them in more detail below. Many tools in our TGI toolkit have been discussed in theory in conservation literature in recent decades. But rapid developments in genome sequencing and synthetic biology mean some are now possible in practice. The developments have made it easier to understand the genetic basis of features which enable a species to adapt, and to manipulate them. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442166/original/file-20220124-19-xc82dx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="frog on wet rock" /> Some animal species cannot adapt in time to survive threats such as disease. Shutterstock <h2>What is artificial selection?</h2> Humans have long used artificial (or phenotypic) selection to promote desirable characteristics in animals and plants raised for companionship or food. This genetic alteration has led to organisms, such as domestic dogs and maize, that are dramatically different from their wild progenitors. Traditional artificial selection can lead to outcomes, such as high inbreeding rates, that affect the health and resilience of the organism and are undesirable for conservation. If you’ve ever owned a purebred dog, you might be aware of some of these genetic disorders. And when it comes to conservation, determining which individuals from a species are resistant to, say, a deadly pathogen would involve exposing the animal to the threat – clearly not in the interests of species preservation. Scientists in the livestock industry have developed a new approach to circumvent these problems. Called genomic selection, it combines data from laboratory work (such as a disease trial) with the genetic information of the animals to predict which individuals bear genetic features conducive to adaptation. These individuals are then chosen for breeding. Over subsequent generations, a population’s ability to survive alongside pervasive threats increases. Genomic selection has led to disease-resistant salmon and livestock that produce more milk and better tolerate heat. But it is yet to be tested in conservation. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442161/original/file-20220124-27-11vyq0z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="cows in green field" /> Artificial selection has been used to develop traits that humans desire in livestock. Shutterstock <h2>What is synthetic biology?</h2> <a href="https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Synthetic-Biology">Synthetic biology</a> is a toolkit for promoting change in organisms. It includes methods such as transgenesis and gene editing, which can be used to introduce lost or novel genes or tweak specific genetic features. Recent synthetic biology tools such as <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/genomicresearch/genomeediting/">CRISPR-Cas9</a> have created a buzz in the medical world, and are also starting to gain the <a href="https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/48408">attention</a> of conservation biologists. Such tools can accurately tweak targeted genetic features in an individual organism – making it more able to adapt – while leaving the rest of the genome untouched. The genetic modifications are then passed on to subsequent generations. The method reduces the likelihood of unintended genetic changes that can occur with artificial selection. Synthetic biology methods are currently being trialled for conservation in multiple species around the world. These include the <a href="https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/resistance.htm">chestnut tree</a> and black-footed <a href="https://neo.life/2021/05/cloning-wildlife-and-editing-their-genes-to-protect-them-and-us/">ferrets</a> in the United States, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/gene-editing-is-revealing-how-corals-respond-to-warming-waters-it-could-transform-how-we-manage-our-reefs-143444">corals</a> in Australia. I am working with researchers at the University of Melbourne to develop TGI approaches in Australian frogs. We are trialling these approaches in the iconic southern corroboree frog, and plan to extend them to other species if they prove effective. Worldwide, the disease chytridiomycosis is devastating frog populations. Caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, it has led to the extinction of about <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/amphibian-apocalypse-frogs-salamanders-worst-chytrid-fungus">90 frog species</a> and declines in as many as 500 others. Many frog species now rely on conservation breeding for their continued survival. No effective solution for restoring chytrid-susceptible frogs to the wild exists, because the fungus cannot be eradicated. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442155/original/file-20220124-23-cebr8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="gloved hand removed portion of DNA strand" /> CRISPR technology could potentially be used to edit the genes of endangered species. Shutterstock <h2>Looking ahead</h2> As with many conservation approaches, targeted genetic intervention is likely to involve trade-offs. For example, genetic features that make a species resistant to one disease may make it more susceptible to another. But the rapid rate of species declines means we should trial such potential solutions before it’s too late. The longer species are absent from an ecosystem, the greater the chance of irreversible environmental changes. Any genetic intervention of this type should involve all stakeholders, including Indigenous peoples and local communities. And caution should be taken to ensure species are fit for release and pose no risk to the environment. By bringing the concept of TGI to the attention of the public, government, and other scientists, we hope we will spur discussion and encourage research on its risks and benefits.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/175226/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tiffany-kosch-1304685">Tiffany Kosch</a>, Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</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/some-endangered-species-can-no-longer-survive-in-the-wild-so-should-we-alter-their-genes-175226">original article</a>. Image: Melbourne Zoo

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