Latest news with #Bundaberg
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Trinity Bates and Daniel Morcombe's families call for child killers to be blocked from parole
Dallas Hanlon chokes back tears at the memory of his 8-year-old granddaughter Trinity Leigh Bates who was murdered and dumped in a drain 15 years ago. The man convicted of Trinity's 2010 murder, Allyn John Slater, will be eligible to apply for parole at the end of August. Slater's ability to apply for parole is a "devastating" reminder of what the family has lost. "This person has destroyed the lives of everyone that knew Trinity," Mr Hanlon said, speaking on behalf of the family. "He can't be given parole, the risk is too high that it would be done to another family. Slater was given a life sentence in 2012 for the murder in Bundaberg, 400 kilometres north of Brisbane. Slater took Trinity from her bedroom while she was sleeping, strangled her, and left her to drown in a stormwater drain in February 2010. Her body was found the next day. Slater, a family friend, was aged 19 at the time of the offence and has never given any reason for murdering Trinity. He was due to become eligible to apply for parole from February this year, but in May was further convicted of making and possessing child exploitation material in jail. The conviction pushed his parole eligibility until August. Mr Hanlon and Trinity's parents, Amanda Clarke and Damian Bates, met with Bruce and Denise Morcombe for the first time in Bundaberg today. The Morcombes' son Daniel was abducted from the Sunshine Coast and murdered in 2003 when he was aged 13. Mr Morcombe said the child killer should not be let out of jail and is calling on the parole board to declare Slater a restricted prisoner. A Queensland Corrective Services spokesperson said under Queensland legislation, in the event someone convicted of murdering a child applied for parole, the president of Parole Board Queensland may make a restricted prisoner declaration. This would prevent them from applying for parole again for up to 10 years. Mr Morcombe said the law — known as Sian's law in honour of 12-year-old schoolgirl Sian Kingi who was killed in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast in the 1980s — should be automatically implemented. He said the parole process for convicted killers took a significant toll on families who had lost a child. "It puts incredible pain and revisits that tragic event over and over and over again, and I think as a society we can do better than that," Mr Morcombe said. "It's absolutely devastating to think that my child's killer could potentially be walking the streets and I might bump into them at the supermarket or the hardware [store] or wherever." The Morcombes are circulating an online petition to keep Slater in jail, calling on the community to add their signatures. At a press conference in July, Premier David Crisafulli said Slater should not be released from prison. "As an individual and a premier I think about what that would mean to that family, and I can only imagine what the prospect of him being outside does to them. "I think that individual should never be released from jail. Never would be too soon."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Property owners warned after council finds 'significant' invasive weed in Aussie garden
A stern warning has been issued to Aussies after a 'vigilant' council worker stumbled upon a 'significant" invasive weed and several other prohibited species in a homeowner's garden. A land protection officer for Bundaberg Regional Council was wandering near the property when they spotted three mature yellow fever trees — a potentially dangerous weed that is banned in Queensland over fears it could become a major pest. The concerning sight prompted the council worker to alert authorities through the state's Weed Spotters Network, and on closer inspection by Biosecurity Queensland, additional prohibited species were also located in the yard. In total, 31 problematic trees, along with thousands of seeds and seedlings, were removed and destroyed. What are yellow fever trees? Yellow fever trees are native to southern and eastern Africa, but like most of Australia's environmental weeds they were introduced to the country as ornamental plants. They can grow up to 25 metres tall and have a smooth bark coated in a greenish-yellow powder that can easily rub off. Its name is believed to reflect the bark and the plant's tendency to grow in swampy areas of Africa, where malaria is common. While yellow fever trees have been found in gardens around the country, the species doesn't appear to have naturalised. However, due to concerns it could escape cultivation and spread, the Queensland government has deemed it a target for eradication. A spokesperson for the state's Department of Primary Industries told Yahoo News yellow fever trees pose a 'similar weed risk to prickly acacia', which has invaded 'more than six million hectares' and is considered to be 'one of Queensland's most invasive weeds'. Prickly acacia, a thorny shrub that can form dense thickets, currently costs the state's grazing industry $3 to $5 million a year. 🌱 Council's warning as backyard plant sprouts up in 'hectic' Aussie location Aussies urged to dig up invasive plant that becomes 'very difficult to remove' 🍄 Cyclists' discovery in forest highlights growing Aussie issue: 'Prolific' What other prohibited species were removed? The spokesperson said three other 'suspected exotic acacia species' found on the property included paperbark thorn, monkey thorn and ana tree. 'The prohibited exotic acacia trees were mechanically removed and Biosecurity Queensland officers collected seed from the surrounding area,' they explained. 'Long-term surveillance on the infected property and surrounding area may be required to prevent germination of new plants and achieve eradication.' Exotic acacia species are listed as prohibited under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014. All sightings of the species are required to be reported to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 within 24 hours. The homeowner was not aware that the plants were banned and has been supportive of the eradication, the spokesperson said. 'Members of the community can help reduce the spread of exotic acacia species by reporting any suspect sightings and taking care not to move seeds or young plants,' they added. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Stephanie Tierney makes dream start after relaunching her riding career at age 39
If it's true that life begins at 40, then the future looks bright for apprentice jockey Stephanie Tierney. The Kiwi hoop had a dream start to her first day as an official rider in Australia last weekend, winning a double on the Bundaberg dirt track on Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick 's gallopers Hot Flamingo and Maximum Output. Not many jockeys start their apprenticeship at age 39 but former dairy farmer Tierney realises that life is too short for regrets and she is willing to take the calculated gamble in pursuit of her dream. 'It was a bit of a hold up getting through the apprenticeship stage because I had to go back and do all the courses again,' said Tierney, who also finished runner-up to Villaden in the Bundaberg Cup (1380m) on the Kendrick-trained Under The Cap last Saturday. 'But in hindsight it's done me the world of good because I've had to knuckle down and get serious about it. 'It is a lot harder on the body when you're older but I ride a lot of serious trackwork and hard horses most of the time and I've got a good base fitness there. 'I put 100 per cent into my trackwork, as I would race day, so that wasn't too much of a big step. 'For me it was more about getting back into that race-day saddle and getting used to that feeling because I was a little like a flapping flamingo, no pun intended. 'It was good to get that first day out of the way and realise it wasn't as scary as I thought it'd be.' Tierney worked as a dairy farmer in her native New Zealand until age 20 when she moved to Western Australia, where she learned to ride for trainer Warwick Bradshaw in Bunbury. She rode several winners on the amateur circuit in WA before returning to New Zealand in 2010 for family reasons, working alongside her partner in a pre-training business and gaining her licence as a trainer. The couple ended up in Scone, NSW in 2022 but their hopes of reopening the business never eventuated and they travelled north to Queensland. After an amicable relationship split and then the tragic death of her 21-year-old nephew early last year, Tierney felt lost before finding her calling at Kendrick's stables on the Sunshine Coast. The idea to become an apprentice jockey in her late thirties was sparked after riding trackwork on four-year-old gelding Defiant Spirit early last year. 'It was definitely the moment where I said 'yep, I'm going to do this',' she recalled. 'I had ridden a lot of jumpouts for Stuart and he was encouraging me to do more. 'I was quite proud that Stuart trusted me with the horse. I had a ball that day and couldn't believe that I was given the privilege to sit on that calibre of horse.' Tierney is back working at the stable while Kendrick takes a break but she is keen to resume race riding when her boss returns. 'I don't want to put too much pressure on myself or the stable,' she said. 'I just want to make sure everything's running smoothly here and we hold the fort down OK while Stuart enjoys a holiday with his family. 'I do have long-term goals but I want to keep them close to my chest. I'd love to keep riding and get as far as I can. 'I think I've got another 10 years left in me. I want to make the most of it. It's just surreal to be on the other side of the fence.'
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
‘Fighting words': Debate erupts online as Aussies reveal the iconic national dishes they secretly hate
An Australian Reddit user has sparked debate after asking others to reveal iconic Aussie dishes they secretly hate, with the poster starting the debate with the classic dessert pavlova. The post asks 'What's an Australian dish, snack, dessert or the like that you hate but everyone else seems to love?' The user goes on to say they 'can't stand' pavlova, which seemed to be popular among responders. Many others agreed pavlova is 'overrated,' and not as delicious as it's made out to be. 'I hate the texture of the pavlova base, it's just awful,' one said. But others hit back, arguing a homemade pavlova will beat a storebought one any day. 'I hate a store pav, but a good homemade pav can be excellent,' one commenter said. The most liked response was from a user stating apricot chicken was 'disgusting' and their least favourite meal. Most replies agreed, and said it was a 'hated' yet classic meal from their childhoods. 'It's been like 25 years since I have thought about apricot chicken. Agreed! Mum whipped it out every now and then,' one wrote. 'You've just opened up a part of my brain that's been locked since childhood,' replied another. Another popular response was chiko rolls, with many agreeing that unless you had them as a child, they have 'no redeeming qualities.' 'They always seem to have this chalky feel to them, I don't like eating chalk,' one said. 'I don't see how anyone likes them,' said another. Tim Tams, bread and butter pudding, lamingtons, cherry ripe and Bundaberg rum also made the list. 'Tim tams – I can't stand them! They are too sweet.' 'Bread and butter pudding. Hate that sloppy egg mess, everyone else seemed to love it.' 'Cherry ripe, so many people I know love them, I can't get behind them.' 'Bundy rum is appalling, it's so bad that it doesn't actually taste like any other rum I've tried, Bundy is unique in its awfulness.' The bold posts were met with backlash from other Australians, who made it no secret there are still lovers of classic Australian dishes. 'Thems fighting words,' said one. 'Please know that I am giving you a death stare through my phone,' said another.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Farmers seek direct partnerships with meal kit and ready-made meal makers
Boxes of produce fly out the door at a food distribution centre in Sydney's west, with a conveyer belt whisking away packed meal kits in a high-tech warehouse. The meal kits typically include portioned ingredients such as fresh vegetables, meat, sauces, spices and a recipe card with step-by-step instructions. HelloFresh was one of the first entrants into the Australian meal kit market, now estimated to be worth more than $1 billion a year, with new brands continuing to enter the competitive space. Chief executive Tom Rutledge said the company's new distribution centre opened in 2024. "We handle 250 tonnes of fruit and veg every week through this facility," he said. "We get that from a network of suppliers." The rising popularity of meal kits in Australia has created new opportunities for farmers to bypass traditional supply chains and sell their produce directly to those companies. Bundaberg-based farming operation Sunripe has diversified its business by growing tomatoes, capsicums and zucchinis for HelloFresh. Director Luke De Paoli said prices were locked in for 12 months at a time, in contrast to the more common week-to-week negotiations. "We get an eight-week forecast on volume, so we can adjust what we're doing elsewhere to make sure we've got the volume for HelloFresh." Tomatoes have recently been in short supply across Australia, reaching as high as $100 a box, the highest price since Cyclone Debbie hit in 2017, according to Mr De Paoli. But Sunripe has no regrets about its fixed price arrangements and is more interested in the long game and setting up long-term relationships. Mr Rutledge established HelloFresh in Australia in 2012 and said the connections built with growers have been "hugely important". "To make sure we're getting sufficient volumes, we want to have long-standing relationships with our suppliers, so they understand what our needs are and are able to supply us in time with the right, quality ingredients," Mr Rutledge said. He said the business model, which included extensive planning and seasonal menus, allowed them to accept more varied specifications from producers. "We can take a different spec to what is required by supermarkets because we know the intended use of those items [in recipes]," he said. This gives Sunripe more flexibility when fulfilling orders. Mr De Paoli said it meant his customers — which also include major retailers and food service suppliers — were less likely to be competing for produce with the same specifications. "If it's a capsicum they [HelloFresh] will take a half-red, half-green one [at the] mid-ripening stage," he said. Ready-made meal offerings are also growing in Australia, both in supermarkets and via home delivery. Options are vast and include calorie-controlled, high-protein and vegan meals. The Dinner Ladies is a Sydney-based food service that specialises in "home-style" cooking at scale. One of its key target markets is young families and the home-delivered meals are particularly popular with new mothers. The Dinner Ladies CEO Brad Rom said their kitchens produced more than 40,000 frozen meals each week, with plans to double that in coming years. He said the COVID-19 pandemic had changed many people's opinions and created positive perceptions about home deliveries. "Our customers who are busy, who are time poor and who like good quality food are prepared to pay for a service such as ours," he said. Mr Rom said when dealing with direct suppliers it was important to have similar values. "It's also really important to our customers. We get questioned quite a lot about where our ingredients come from," he said. Farmer Luke Winder owns Tathra Place Free Range and supplies free-range ducks to The Dinner Ladies. Each week he delivers about 150 kilograms of duck from his farm near Taralga. "That can go right up to well over 200 kilos a week so it's pretty amazing," Mr Winder said. He said cutting out the intermediary and layers of logistics meant a better, cheaper, and more consistent product. "It's very cost effective and they're getting their margin and I'm getting mine and there's no-one in between and it's fantastic." The ducks are used in a rotating menu of duck confit, duck ragu and duck red curry with lychee. Rendered fat is also used for duck fat potatoes. Joshua Guild is the head of planning at The Dinner Ladies and said waste was kept to a minimum. "[We also make] duck confit of course and duck sausage rolls." Mr Guild would like to emulate this type of direct relationship with more suppliers, particularly local ones. "We want to partner up with as many feel-good producers and people who are doing good things for the environment and good things for the animal," he said. Watch ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm AEST on Sunday or stream anytime on ABC iview.
