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SBS Australia
2 days ago
- General
- SBS Australia
King's Birthday Honours: Meet the youngest and oldest awardees this year
The achievements and service of 830 remarkable Australians have been recognised in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List. The list includes climate change researchers, businesswomen, activists, former police officers, Indigenous Elders and musicians. Governor General Sam Mostyn announced the honourees on Sunday night, acknowledging their "passion, generosity, energy, and resolve" in their respective fields. One of those being awarded this year is 19-year-old Scott Michael Guerini, who has received a medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through charitable organisations. The West Australian teenager is the youngest recipient of an OAM this year, which honours his fundraising efforts for sick children and infants. He has been raising money for children's charities for most of his life. "It was in kindy, we were learning about charity and helping others in fundraising, and I decided that I really wanted to do something to help others at the young age of four," he told SBS News. "And the hardest thing that I could think of to do at the time was walking from my family farm to the nearest town of Southern Cross. "And after some convincing, my parents finally decided to let me have a go at it." Guerini then walked the 25 kilometres to raise money for Telethon, a charity that supports medical research into childhood diseases and provides equipment and critical services for sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children. He's been walking for donations ever since and went on to found the annual Scott's Great Walk for Telethon. His advice for others? Don't worry about what you can't offer; simply give what you can, however small. "I'd say definitely don't sweat the big things. It's not about us doing as much as possible or a big grand thing. It's about doing those little things every day to really make an impact on other people's lives." Guerini's goal is to raise one million dollars before he turns 90 years old. "I'm going to keep walking for as long as my body allows me — as long as possible," he said. One recipient with decades of service under his belt is Henry Samuel Young. The 101-year-old has been honoured with a medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans as well as to tennis. The centenarian served in several military posts during World War Two and is a long-time member of the Memorial Drive Tennis Club in South Australia. "I'm particularly proud of being a navy pilot. I was in school when the war started," he told SBS News. "Every schoolboy's dream is to be a fighter pilot, and I achieved it. So I've been lucky. I've been very lucky in that." Young is also a formidable tennis player and still competes in tournaments across the country, surprising his younger competitors. "I think I'm a competitive person, and every game you play is win or lose," he said. "It's very nice to be able to go to the net and say you had to work for it." Young will be travelling to Croatia later this year for a tennis tournament. "I'm looking forward to that, very much, to go away overseas. It's a good excuse for a holiday," he said.
News.com.au
25-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tristan Schoolkate, Destanee Aiava and Rinky Hijikata all bundled out on opening day at Roland Garros
The French Open debuts for Australians Tristan Schoolkate and Destanee Aiava ended in defeat with compatriot Rinky Hijikata also bundled out on the opening day of action at Roland Garros. Given a wildcard into the clay court grand slam, Aiava couldn't handle hard-hitting Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, losing 7-5 6-1, and conceded she lost her way after going down an early break. 'It's a different kind of game type that I have to get more experience with. She's obviously a big hitter. It just wasn't as consistent as I liked it to be,' the 25-year-old said. 'I need to get better with controlling my emotions when things look like or feel like they're getting too far away from me. 'Especially going down a break and automatically thinking I've lost … It's kind of a natural response that I have all the time. It's something that I really do need to work on.' Schoolkate went down to the more experienced Marton Fucsovics in a battle that lasted more than two hours and gave the West Australian some confidence with hopes of getting back next year. 'I think it was a great experience, great learning to see the level these guys (achieve). Why they've been at that ranking and are such calibre of players for so long,' he said after the 6-4 6-2 6-2 loss. 'There's a lot I can improve on and I'm happy to do that work and improve and hopefully be back next year and do better again.' Hijikata was the only Australian to win a set, taking the first in just 18 minutes against American Reilly Opelka. But then the big-serving of Opelka became a factor, sending down 22 aces as he took control to run out a 1-6 6-3 7-5 7-6 winner. 'I played a bit of a loose game, then I felt like from there he started really picking it up and in third and fourth (sets), I felt like he served exceptionally,' Hijikata said. 'I didn't really get a look. He played some really good shots. There were one or two chances where I had to capitalise, but I didn't. He came up with some pretty good stuff when he needed to, especially in the fourth set.' 'This is the longest I've spent on clay in a long, long time. I did feel like I was figuring it out, which maybe makes this (loss) a little bit more frustrating, 'I am starting to figure it out. I feel like next year I can come here and feel like I can get some good results. I do think it's a surface I can play on. I think a lot of part of my game now, I've realised can match up well … I'm confident moving forward.' Another eight Australians, including Alexei Popyrin and Maya Joint, will be in action on day two. RESULTS – Roland Garros day 1 Men's singles, first round Reilly Opelka d Rinky Hijikata 1-6 6-3 7-5 7-6(3) Marton Fucsovics d (WC) Tristan Schoolkate 6-4 6-2 6-2 Women's singles first round Dayana Yastremska d (WC) Destanee Aiava 7-5 6-1 COMING UP – Roland Garros day 2 Men's singles, first round (25) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) first match, Court 6 Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Jiri Lehecka (CZE) second match, Court 4 Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v (24) Karen Khachanov third match, Court 12 Chris O'Connell (AUS) v (22) Ugo Humbert (FRA) last match, Court 14 Women's singles, first round (Q) Daria Saville v (7) Madison Keys last match, Simonne-Matthieu Court (17) Daria Kasatkina (AUS) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE) third match, Court 6 Maya Joint (AUS) v Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) second match, Court 9
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Meet the Carnarvon flapjack octopus, a newly-discovered species of rare and unusual octopus
It's a tiny gelatinous deep-sea shapeshifter with large eyes and blood-red tentacles. Meet the Carnarvon flapjack octopus, or opisthoteuthis carnarvonensis, a new species discovered off the West Australian coast. It was collected by scientists during a CSIRO voyage in 2022 from the Carnarvon Canyon Marine Park, but was not named until last week. As one of the smaller members of the flapjack species, the octopus only grows to around four centimetres but shares the species' unique ability to flatten its body into the shape of a pancake — or a flapjack as its name suggests. It's a type of cirrate or "dumbo" octopus, a rare and unusual species that have a pair of fins on the top of their heads that resemble miniature elephant ears and assist with swimming. They reproduce and grow slowly, but, unlike other octopus, they cannot produce ink or change their colour. As hungry dwellers that live more than 1,000 metres deep on the dimly lit sea floor, the Carnarvon flapjacks' large eyes enhance their ability to capture worms and small crustaceans. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery volunteer Tristan Verhoeff is the systematic taxonomist who named the octopus. Dr Verhoeff described the year-long process as "fun". "It is exciting, but at the same time, there is pressure to do it right," he said. The procedure for naming a species involves multiple steps, including collecting measurements, counting suckers, dissecting internal organ systems, and capturing detailed photographs. After that, the results need to be compared with previous research to ensure the species is indeed new. Dr Verhoeff has also helped name six other cirrate octopus species since 2021. Some of those species had been stored in unidentified collections for decades. He said the discovery of the Carnarvon flapjack, along with those he was involved in identifying previously, helped "increase our understanding of Australia's deep-sea ecology and biodiversity". "Describing new species is also essential for future work on their ecology, and assessing populations for conservation." He said research had already found Australia has a higher biodiversity of cirrate octopus species compared with any other country. There are now more than 50 cirrate octopus species identified worldwide, with 15 recorded in Australian waters. Because the Carnarvon flapjack can only be found off north-western Australia, "its presence adds extra value to the recently established marine parks", Dr Verhoeff said. The naming of the Carnarvon flapjack octopus marks the 10th new marine species to be discovered during the research voyage, joining the recently identified painted hornshark and the parallel-spine scorpionfish. The CISRO said that throughout the voyage, scientists used advanced underwater camera systems to survey thousands of metres below the ocean surface. Nets and sleds were then used to collect targeted samples of specimens. Since the voyage, researchers, partner museums and research collections "have been busily working to help identify and describe some of these new species", the CSIRO said. CSIRO Marine National Facility team leader Venetia Joscelyne said the discoveries made "help marine managers, such as Parks Australia, better conserve and protect the incredible diversity of marine life that inhabits Australia's oceans".
ABC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
AFL player Lawson Humphries' sister designs Geelong's Indigenous round guernsey
The Geelong Cats will don a guernsey with northern West Australian flair when they run out for the AFL's annual Sir Doug Nicholls Round. The design on Geelong's Indigenous guernsey was a collaboration with the team's mature-age recruit Lawson Humphries and his family, who originate in the Pilbara, 3,000 kilometres from Geelong's home ground. Humphries' younger sister and Worrora, Oomiday and Nyul Nyul artist, Meeza Humphries, said taking the lead on the design was a dream come true. "We'd always been involved in footy, so it was always a dream," she said. The design incorporates well-known elements of the Geelong jumper and cultural images from the Humphries' country. Humphries and his three siblings turned Geelong's navy-blue hoops into an aspect of their traditional environment. Meeza said it was incredible not only to work with Lawson, but also with older siblings Stephanie and Joshua. "It's really special because [they're] much older, so they have a bit more knowledge than me and Lawson," she said. Ross Humphries, Lawson and Meeza's father, said he was proud to see the siblings collaborating. "Everybody played their little part … it was a lot of work, and to do it as a family is a really great experience," he said. Ross said feedback on the jumper had been "pretty positive" so far, and he hoped to see the design make it to the North West. "I hope I see kids across the Pilbara and Kimberley running around in the jumper," he said. Meeza said colour choices were designed to reflect their vibrant upbringing — from bright turquoise waters to vivid red dirt. The guernsey also features the Oongood — a snake representing Humphries' journey to the AFL from WA's north. Meeza said the guernsey had already made an impact. "I have a friend from Broome that lives in Geelong now — she contacted me and said, 'Thanks for making Geelong a bit more like home'," she said. Meeza will travel to the ground in Adelaide to explain the significance of the guernsey to the playing squad, and then watch her handiwork on the field when Geelong take on Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) in the AFL tonight. "It's pretty surreal," she said. "It's a bit crazy when you think about it, but I'm very proud of everyone involved." Humphries, now in his second year in the AFL, has had a humble beginning to his AFL career. The defender was the second last pick in the 2023 National Draft — somewhat a surprise pick that came less than two months after playing in the WAFL Reserves grand final. Humphries debuted for the Cats in round 16 the following year, wearing another one-off guernsey. That jumper featured his junior club logo — the Wickham Wolves from WA's Pilbara — for Geelong's annual country round. If selected, Humphries will run out this weekend for his 20th game for the club — which includes playing in two matches in the 2024 finals series. "Lawson was out last week with concussion, but he'll be back this week," his father Ross said. "So it's fantastic because he gets to wear the jumper that he helped create." Meeza said it was incredible seeing her big brother play on the big stage. "It's pretty crazy to me — he's just my brother," she said. "I know he's getting famous now, but he's still the same old Lawson Humphries to me." But she said she could not be any prouder. "I always believed he'd make it to the AFL," Meeza said. "I'm so proud of how he's taken it on — he was drafted as a mature-ager, but that didn't stop him, he's put in all the work and definitely deserves to be there."
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Andrew Hastie says he has ‘desire to lead' the Liberal party in future
The shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, has declared his 'desire to lead' the Liberal party in the future after ruling himself out of the race for opposition leader following the Coalition's crushing election defeat. The 42-year-old West Australian MP spoke of his leadership ambitions in an interview on the Curtin's Cast podcast produced by the John Curtin Research Centre, which was published online a day after Sussan Ley was appointed the Liberals' first ever female leader. Hastie confirmed last week he would not be a candidate for the Liberal party leadership despite having been urged by colleagues to stand. On Tuesday, Ley was elected by 29 votes to 25 over the former shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor. Speaking on the podcast with the think-tank's executive director, Nick Dyrenfurth, and RedBridge Group pollster Kos Samaras, Hastie said he decided not to run for the leadership because of his young children and his long commute from Perth. 'I'd be foolish to say I don't have a desire to lead, I do have a desire to lead,' he said. 'But the timing was all out for personal reasons.' Hastie said his three children were aged three, seven and nine and that he would 'never get those years back'. Hastie said while the role of opposition leader was 'really important', leadership 'can't be confined to just the position'. 'We've also got to lead in the battle of ideas as well,' he said. 'And I think that's where I want to make a contribution.' 'I'm keen to understand the problem that we're facing as a party and leadership is going to come in many forms over the next three years,' he said. 'Sussan Ley's just made history as the first female leader of the Liberal party.' Following her appointment, Ley said the Coalition needed to meet voters 'where they're at' and promised to reflect on the recent electoral drubbing with humility. Queensland MP Ted O'Brien, one of the biggest champions of the nuclear power plan the Coalition took to the election, was elected Ley's deputy. The outspoken Country Liberal Party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price had defected from the Nationals to the Liberals in a bid to become the party's deputy leader should Taylor have beaten Ley. Asked by Sky News on Tuesday evening if she would remain in the Senate or attempt to switch to the lower house, Price said the Senate was where the 'biggest battles are going to be fought right now'. The Sky host, Chris Kenny, pressed her and by pointing out the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, had talked about his party not being able to satisfy Nampijinpa Price's ambitions. 'You can get to the top of the Nationals and be deputy prime minister,' he said. 'The only job higher than that is prime minister, and to be prime minister, of course, you'd need to go to the lower house.' Price replied: 'Well, there is that, and I know there's a lot of Australians who'd love to see that, but right now as I said my focus is the Senate.'
