The Devonport community is dealing with the unimaginably tragic news that five children have died, and three remain in hospital in a critical condition after the inflatable jumping castle and zorb balls they were playing on as part of end of school celebrations, were blown into the air yesterday by a gust of wind. According to eyewitness reports to police, the children from years 5 and 6 fell from a height of around 10 metres.
Guest/Audio: Devonport Mayor, Annette Rockcliff.In central Queensland, locals from the small community of Baralaba have long fought against a proposed coal mine on a flood plain – about 10 kilometres from their town. Back in May, they thought they had won when owner Liberty Mutual revealed it was no longer pursuing its plans to develop the Baralaba South mine after a complaint was made to the United Nations. But the US giant is in the process of selling Baralaba Coal to American Metals and Coal International – AMCI – along with its current application.
Guest/Audio: Save the Dawson community group chair, Lex Webb. Environmental Defenders Office managing lawyer, Revel Pointon.A new wing of the Yaandina aged care centre out of Roebourne was officially opened this week. But staffing issues means the 10-roomed building will remain empty until further notice.
Surveys have begun all along the Murray River system to track the nests of freshwater turtles, who’s numbers have been in steady decline in recent decades. The new project sees citizen scientists trained up to monitor nests on their own time and report back with an app. The project aims to eventually find one million baby turtles.
Guest/Audio: Volunteer, Steven Gilgen. Wetland ecologist, Courtney Monk. La Trobe University researcher, James Van Dyke.A 40-year-old mystery has been solved thanks to a family’s persistence, a little luck, and a police officer willing to go the extra yard. A unique set of six war medals has been returned to their grateful, and rightful owners.
Guest/Audio: Kristen Russel. Bill Russel.
Source : abc.net.au