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No gavels, no hearsay and lots of drinking: a law expert ranks legal dramas by their accuracy

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dale-mitchell-1468293">Dale Mitchell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a> From Elle Woods in Legally Blonde to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10383441.2015.1087367">Jennifer Walters in She-Hulk</a>, Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird to Denny Crane in Boston Legal, our popular culture is often where we first see and witness legal practice. Sometimes this comes via the silver screen, other times television. But it would be wrong to think that all we see on legal television shows is accurate – even when it claims to capture reality. Most legal dramas are terrible at capturing the realities of law. <h2>Not accurate: Law(less) and (dis)Order</h2> Law and Order (1990-) innovated television drama by showcasing both the investigation of a crime by police, and then its prosecution in court. With its multiple spin-offs, including Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-) and the shortlived Law and Order: Trial by Jury (2005-2006) (which had the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aolG65V1Dx8">best theme song of all the series</a>), the Law and Order franchise is a televisual legal juggernaut. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aolG65V1Dx8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> As with most serials, Law and Order presents the criminal justice system as moving quicker than you can say dun dun. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The mean duration of criminal law matters in Australian higher courts was <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/criminal-courts-australia/latest-release">almost one year</a> (50 weeks) across 2021-22. While <a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_reg/ucpr1999305/s5.html">procedural rules in civil matters</a> require courts to facilitate the “just and efficient resolution of disputes at minimum expense”, in criminal law, speed and efficiency must not be prioritised over accuracy: a person’s liberty is at stake. Most criminal matters do not proceed to a full trial as an accused will often plead guilty to the charges. As a result, the matter proceeds to sentencing without prosecutors needing to prove the offence. The rates of this occurring are quite alarming. <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/criminal-courts-australia/latest-release">Data across 2021-22</a> reveals over 75% of defendants in Australian courts entered a guilty plea, and almost four in five criminal convictions (79%) resulted from a guilty plea. <a href="https://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1705761/32_1_8.pdf">Research suggests</a> defendants plead guilty for a variety of reasons, including to avoid the cost of a trial and to receive a lesser sentence. <a href="https://theconversation.com/pandemic-pushed-defendants-to-plead-guilty-more-often-including-innocent-people-pleading-to-crimes-they-didnt-commit-165056">Data from the United States</a> suggests the pressures of the pandemic led to innocent people pleading guilty to crimes they didn’t commit. If Law and Order was a more accurate reflection of criminal law, matters would proceed immediately to sentencing due to guilty pleas. And should an accused be found guilty, a chunk of their sentence would be reduced by time served awaiting trial. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/60GV5lv8h3o?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Not accurate: Suits</h2> Suits (2011-19) centres around law firm partner Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and his mentorship of Mike Ross (Patrick Adams) – the “lawyer” who never graduated law school and provides legal advice thanks to his photographic memory. This is, obviously, a brutal ethical breach for all involved, and clearly fraud. In Australia, law students who present themselves to be lawyers are <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-07/law-graduate-jacob-reichman-fined-posing-solicitor-gold-coast/7824324">subject to sanctions</a> by the Legal Services Commission. They can <a href="https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/35821-fake-lawyer-cops-suspended-jail-sentence">cause harm to clients</a> who have hired their services. And the Legal Admissions Board may <a href="https://www.qlsproctor.com.au/2020/11/chief-justice-wants-answers-before-considering-lawyer-impersonators-bid-to-become-legal-practitioner/">deny their entry</a> into the profession. (Spoilers) Ross is eventually sentenced to two years in prison for this fraud, a similar sentence to <a href="https://www.law.com/thelegalintelligencer/almID/1202786675709/">a recent case in the United States</a>, but he only serves three months before solving a crime and earning early release. More unrealistic than this early release is that Ross does fairly quickly thereafter gain admission to the profession, which seems unlikely to occur so soon after such an act of fraud. While Suits has left its mark(le) on the popular imagination of law, it fails to address one of the primary duties of civil litigation: the duty of disclosure. The MacGuffin-ing of law is common in TV serials. It’s the “smoking gun” found on the day of the trial, or for the lawyers in Suits, the random document which shows up during the trial to turn the case - dramatically presented by our protagonists as they flail into court armed with this data sans ethics. This is not quite accurate. In adversarial legal systems like Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US, civil litigation rules <a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_reg/ucpr1999305/s211.html">require parties</a> to disclose to one another all documents in their possession or control which are directly relevant to a matter in dispute. This is a continuing duty, so if you discover such a document at any time during the case, it must be disclosed. While <a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_reg/ucpr1999305/s212.html">exceptions</a> based on various privileges may apply, this essentially means civil litigation must be run in an “all cards on the table” manner. Randomly producing undisclosed material at trial requires the leave of the court and may result in orders of contempt and <a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_reg/ucpr1999305/s225.html">cost penalties</a>. It’s not like the lawyers of Suits have ever really been concerned about ethics, though. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wUh9jomHZp4?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Not accurate: How to Get Away with Murder(ing rules of evidence)</h2> While most lawyers would support making it a criminal offence to critique Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder (2014-20) presents one of the most common offences within legal dramas: the haphazard approach to rules of evidence. Annalise Keating (Davis) and her ragtag team of morally illiterate law students (although I never see them studying?!?!) manipulate people to obtain evidence and then dramatically prompt witnesses on the stand to read this information into the record, or otherwise “sneak” it into the trial. This is not accurate. And it ignores the basic reality that so much of legal practice is about not just obtaining evidence, but ensuring that evidence is admissible in court. One of the most important rules of evidence deals with <a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ea199580/s59.html">hearsay evidence</a>. A court cannot allow evidence to be considered if its reliability is unable to be interrogated. Witnesses can only present evidence that they saw, heard or perceived themselves. Unless an exception to the hearsay rule applies, such evidence would be inadmissible. Like in Suits, these approaches to presenting evidence may have serious implications. This poor trial management results in <a href="https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/rpp074.pdf">delays to criminal trials.</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rMB_Gw5-T-I?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Accurate: Fisk</h2> Fisk (2021-) follows Helen Tudor-Fisk (Kitty Flanagan), an established contract lawyer whose personal dramas lead her to move to the boutique Melbourne probate law firm of Gruber and Gruber (played by Marty Sheargold and Julia Zamero). Fisk excels in showing the importance of lawyer-client relations and the word-of-mouth that sustains much of small legal practice. It’s the anti-Suits, and Fisk is more powerful for it. The discussions of wills and estates and most basic legal principles in Fisk are mostly sound – and the show doesn’t need to get into “legalese” as matters are resolved out-of-court. This is a distinct reality of law: litigation is a last resort. Forms of <a href="https://www.qls.com.au/Practising-law-in-Qld/ADR/Alternative-Dispute-Resolution/Types-of-Alternative-Dispute-Resolution-(ADR)">alternative dispute resolution</a>, including mediation, negotiation and conciliation, have become the primary way of resolving legal disputes. Fuelled by <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/legal-system/alternative-dispute-resolution/civil-dispute-resolution-act-2011">legislative changes</a> which require the exhaustion of alternative dispute resolution measures before proceeding to litigation, and a pursuit of reduced costs, the drama of trial is not something anyone should yearn for. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N1Qt0Wo1gGo?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Accurate: Rake</h2> Cleaver Greene, a character said to be loosely based on the career of a Sydney barrister, shows us the absolute madness of work as a “<a href="https://nswbar.asn.au/the-bar-association/senior-counsel#:%7E:text=Senior%20counsel%20are%20barristers%20who,a%20QC%20or%20queen's%20counsel.">silk</a>”. Rake excels at showing the reality of law. The show raises interesting and accurate questions of law (yes, it is true there is no <a href="https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/18992/1/2011006119.pdf">explicit offence</a> of cannibalism in New South Wales) and presents Australian court process accurately. Thankfully, there’s not a gavel in sight. <a href="https://www.survivelaw.com/post/941-working-hardly-random-facts-about-the-gavel">Australian courts do not use gavels</a>, and their presence in legal dramas in Australian and UK courts shows a lack of attention to detail. The presence of the gavel as a symbol of justice is <a href="http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/NSWBarAssocNews/1994/17.pdf">an entirely American invention</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qWWI2EdOssk?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Rake is accurate, in part, because the site of drama is rarely the courtroom, but rather Greene’s personal life. The accuracy of that element for law I will leave up to the jury. But with a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13218719.2013.822783">2014 study</a> finding 35% of lawyers engaged in hazardous or harmful drinking and another showing <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-15/study-finds-high-rates-anxiety-depression-in-legal-profession/11412832">high rates of anxiety and depression</a> in the legal profession, the evidence is compelling.<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/212880/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dale-mitchell-1468293">Dale Mitchell</a>, Lecturer in Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-gavels-no-hearsay-and-lots-of-drinking-a-law-expert-ranks-legal-dramas-by-their-accuracy-212880">original article</a>.

Legal

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

"Get my voice back": Kathy Griffin's intense pre-op drama

Kathy Griffin has shared footage of her pre-operation appointment before she undergoes vocal cord surgery in an effort to save her voice. The American comedian took to TikTok to show fans the process of her surgeon sticking a camera scope up her nose and through to her vocal cord to get a clearer view of the damage. "First step is the numbing spray. Then the scope goes up the nose, down into the vocal cords!" she explained with captions. "As you can see, the left chord is paralyzed.” After she was instructed to make noises to test the cords, Griffin is seen following the doctor’s orders and watching her vocal cord movement on the screen. Griffin reflected post-operation in the same clip, with the 62-year-old lying in a recovery bed following the surgery. <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7242029180651687214&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40kathygriffin%2Fvideo%2F7242029180651687214&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp19-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F202ea4a9813e435c92a1c6996f018c11_1686166329%3Fx-expires%3D1686236400%26x-signature%3D%252Bk5fTTtG0O6jMWR7Pnky9ekvIlw%253D&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> "I just had my latest surgery on my left vocal cord, because I want to be in good shape for my big Vegas show," she said. "This is just part of my recovery post-lung cancer surgery," she added. "I'm cancer-free, so anyway a little scratchy today, but I'll be in good shape.” "I so appreciate you guys following along on my journey to get my voice back after lung cancer,” Griffin captioned the video, also sharing it to her Instagram. Griffin had part of her lung removed in 2021 after being diagnosed with lung cancer and was in remission four months later. Her latest hospital visit comes after she revealed her diagnosis of “complex PTSD” in early 2023. Griffin shared her diagnosis in a TikTok in April, asking her followers for recommendations on how to cope with anxiety and depression. "Let's talk about PTSD. Never talked about it publicly," she said. "You can laugh or whatever, but I've been diagnosed with complex PTSD, and it's called an extreme case." Image credit: TikTok

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

Cafe owner responds to extortionate avocado drama

A Sydney cafe has responded after being slammed for their $10.90 side of avocado. Little Jack Horner, situated right in front of Coogee Beach, also charges $11.90 for halloumi and $9.90 for a side of bacon, all of which are meant to be shared. Cafe owner BJ McHatton spoke to 9Honey about the avocado side dish that made waves. "The smashed avocado is portioned at almost one and a half avocados, as well as containing other ingredients to make it a dish, not just an avocado in a bowl," he said of the dish. "The price of avocados does fluctuate, two months ago we were paying double what we are today," he said, adding that the venue works with local providers who go to the market daily to provide them with quality produce. "Of course, this comes at a higher cost that allows us to have a quality offering for our customers.” He pointed out that this is the first price increase in 10 years, with "the hospitality industry as a whole all the way from the suppliers to the actual venues himself have seen prices explode over the last 12 months.” McHatton added that the cafe is in a prime location, with live music five nights a week, 160 indoor plants that are professionally cared for, and their efforts to support local teams, clubs, schools and charities all contribute to their prices. "Obviously, running a business of this size, and in this destination has a lot of associated expenses. All of this has to be taken into account when we set prices for our products.” Despite increased media coverage, McHatton says they haven’t received any backlash. "Obviously being on a few radio stations and covered by a few news stations it has generated some interest on those stories. However, after reading the comments, most of them are supportive. Most people genuinely seem to understand how hard running a business is the associated cost to come with running a business," he told 9Honey. However, he expressed disappointment at the Google reviews that were allegedly left overnight by people who had never been to the cafe. "[It's] disappointing that people will go to the trouble of leaving a review having never actually experienced the venue. If anyone has ever been to our place, they know it's a lot more about an experience, which includes the food than just the food and the price," McHatton said. Other reviewers have dubbed the food “grossly overpriced”, with one reviewer revealing their Easter lunch of two breakfasts and fruit juice was almost $100. Another added that the prices were "pushing close to that of what you would expect for dinner," though they did say the food "was great". Image credit: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

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

Ita Buttrose slams Meghan Markle’s drama toward Royal Family

Ita Buttrose has slammed Meghan Markle and her recent attacks on the Royal Family in her podcast Archetypes and <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/meghan-markle-gets-candid-in-groundbreaking-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with The Cut</a>. The ABC chair appeared at her old workplace at Studio 10 where she called out the Duchess of Sussex for continuing to cause drama for the royals. “I don't want to be unkind, but she's just a celebrity,” the 80-year-old said. “There's nothing wrong with being a celebrity, but she's one of many. “[She and Prince Harry] don't have the royal family to fall back on [anymore]. So they have to make every interview count. “So, because of the other plans she's got – you know, the books, the movies, whatever – she wants to make sure she stands out in a crowd. So she makes provocative statements. “Once, she was a princess of the realm. [Now] she goes on about her business of being a celebrity.” Meghan has released two episodes from her podcast Archetypes as well as The Cut interview where she spoke of the Royal Family’s “red flags”, the difficulty of moving to California, losing her father and trying to "forgive" her in-laws. She also compared herself to Nelson Mandela, saying that a cast member of the Lion King that South Africans “danced in the street” when she married Prince Harry - just like when “Mandela was freed from prison”. Some of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/australia-s-top-breakfast-tv-hosts-attack-meghan-markle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia’s top TV show hosts</a> called out the Duchess for her “tone deaf” comments. Images: Getty

News

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

Grace Tame delivers snide dig amid ScoMo’s cabinet drama

Amid the news that Scott Morrison reportedly gave himself powers to run three government portfolios, activist Grace Tame has joined in with a scathing hot-take of her own. “You see now, we had to stop him from swearing himself in as Australian of the Year 2022,” the 27-year-old tweeted, sharing the infamous photo of herself with the former Prime Minister when she met him at the Lodge at the start of the year. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> you see now, we had to stop him from swearing himself in as Australian of the Year for 2022 <a href="https://t.co/qlWsxyHi4f">pic.twitter.com/qlWsxyHi4f</a> — Grace Tame (@TamePunk) <a href="https://twitter.com/TamePunk/status/1559022544518545408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></blockquote> Many were quick to praise Tame and jump in on the fun, joking that Mr Morrison made himself the ‘minister for side-eyeing’ and the minister for women. “You had him figured from the start Grace,” New England MP Tony Windsor commented. “Who didn't know that he was a risky choice from day one? He is a friend of Harvey Norman for God’s sake,” another wrote. Tame’s jab comes after the current Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced that the government would investigate claims that Mr Morrison secretly appointed himself as the minister for health, finance, and resources during the pandemic. Mr Albanese said the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is seeking legal advice from the solicitor-general in the wake of the claims, published by <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Fscott-morrison-appointed-by-gg-to-take-control-of-department-of-industry-science-energy-and-resources-11months-before-he-scuttled-offshore-gas-project%2Fnews-story%2F38338e07f09df91fa68409cde43e013c&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-low-test-score&V21spcbehaviour=append" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian</a> and <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/scott-morrison-shocked-minister-by-secretly-swearing-himself-into-cabinet-portfolio/news-story/ac7505f1648a335ccd01f88faf881086" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>’s coverage of Plagued, a new book from political journalists Simon Bensen and Geoff Chambers. Governor-General David Hurley confirmed that he secretly signed instruments to allow Mr Morrison to administer the portfolios, “consistent with section 64 of the constitution”. Mr Hurley said it wasn’t uncommon for ministers to be appointed to other departments, but that the decision to publicise it “is a matter for the government of the day”. The <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-15/scott-morrison-secret-ministry-appointments-to-be-investigated/101332916" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a> reported that then-Health Minister Greg Hunt was aware of Mr Morrison’s joint position and agreed to it as a safeguard in case he was struck down by COVID-19, but that Matthias Cormann, the former Finance Minister, wasn’t told the Prime Minister had appointed himself as joint finance minister. Keith Pitt, the former Resources Minister, told the ABC that Mr Morrison used his self-appointment to the resources portfolio to stop a controversial gas drilling project on the NSW south coast. Mr Albanese said the revelations were “extraordinary” and “just weird”. “The people of Australia were kept in the dark as to what the ministerial arrangements were, it’s completely unacceptable,” he said on Monday. “This is very contrary to our Westminster system. It was cynical and it was just weird that this has occurred.” Mr Albanese said the allegations were serious, and that they might explain the controversial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines at the height of the pandemic. “Perhaps this explains why we didn’t order enough vaccines. I mean, the Minister for Health might have thought the Prime Minister was ordering them because he was also the Minister for Health, and he thought the Minister for Health was ordering them,” Mr Albanese said. According to Sky News, Mr Morrison has declined to comment on the accusations, claiming he hasn’t “engaged in any day to day politics” since his election loss in May. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> .<a href="https://twitter.com/Kieran_Gilbert?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kieran_Gilbert</a> asked former Prime Minister Scott Morrison whether he wished to respond to today's revelations & PM Albanese. Mr Morrison said -- "No, haven’t seen what he has said. Since leaving the job I haven’t engaged in any day to day politics". <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNewsAust?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkyNewsAust</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> — Cam Reddin (@CamReddin) <a href="https://twitter.com/CamReddin/status/1559032433529393152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></blockquote> “No, haven’t seen what [Mr Albanese] has said,” Mr Morrison told Sky News reporter Kieran Gilbert. “Since leaving the job I haven’t engaged in any day to day politics.” Meanwhile, AAP New Zealand correspondent Ben McKay confirmed that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hasn’t engaged in similar behaviour. “Thought best to double check. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she has never secretly sworn herself into other ministeries,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/benmackey/status/1559025854914895872" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>. Image: Twitter

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