Latest news with #Yugambeh
ABC News
23-07-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Do dogs actually need to wear jackets in winter in Australia?
As large parts of the country shiver through winter, making sure our loved ones are rugged up in their warmest clothes is a top priority. And for many of us, that includes our four-legged family members. But does your dog actually need to wear a jacket? According to experts, that depends on a variety of factors, including their size, breed and how cold it gets where you live. One of the main determining factors for whether your dog needs a jacket is how small they are, according to Susan Hazel, an associate professor from the University of Adelaide who specialises in research into animal welfare, behaviour and ethics. Dr Hazel says dogs that are less than 10 kilograms "and ones that are less than 5kg, even more so" are likely to benefit from wearing a jacket when it is cold, particularly if they are venturing outdoors. "Smaller dogs, because their body surface area to body mass has a different ratio, they will get cold," Dr Hazel says. Breeds including Italian greyhounds, French bulldogs, chihuahuas, toy poodles, pugs, Maltese and Yorkshire terriers are among those that can benefit from wearing a coat in colder weather. Shaun Naylor and his husband Benny Cole live on the Gold Coast, on the traditional lands of the Yugambeh people, and have recently welcomed Louis, a four-month-old Italian greyhound, into their family. Shaun said it quickly became clear that Louis "definitely needs a jacket" when it's cold. "He gets really, really cold as soon as the temperature drops," he says. "He might be sitting with us on a couch with a blanket and you might move the blanket and there's a breeze and he just starts to shiver. "We'll get up in the morning and take him out to the garden so he can go to the toilet, and as soon as you pick him up and move him away from the heater or anything, his whole body shakes. "We have had him less than two weeks and he currently has three knitted jumpers, one hoodie, a reflective woolly coat for when he goes walking and some pyjamas." Larger dog breeds — particularly those with double coats such as golden retrievers, labradors, huskies, German shepherds, border collies and Newfoundlands — are more easily able to regulate their body heat, even if they are out walking in cold or wet weather. "They really are wearing a heavy fur coat and even when it rains, the rain doesn't tend to get through that double layer," Dr Hazel says. However, some larger breeds with single coats or shorter hair, such as greyhounds, have low body fat, which means they don't have much insulation from the cold. "If your dog gets cold, it will shiver in the same way that we do if we get really cold, so people will know if their greyhounds are a bit cold," Dr Hazel says. If your dog is sleeping inside, there's generally no need to dress them in jackets or pyjamas overnight, provided they have warm bedding. Dr Hazel says there are more important considerations than a jacket if your dog sleeps outdoors at night, including a kennel that is protected from wind and rain. She says it's important they have "somewhere they can keep warm and [have] some bedding" and "not just a bit of concrete". "The smaller the dog, the more important that would be, and the colder the area, the more important that would be." Shaun also owns a Maltese–chihuahua cross named Dylan, and says he has "lots of fur, so I guess it's a little bit more for the people than for him when you put him in clothes". "But he does like to have a jacket when it's cold … he'll come to you and let you know he wants his jacket." Dr Hazel says, "dogs are people pleasers" and "if the dog tolerates it … [and] you're not using aversive methods", there is generally no harm dressing them in clothes. "You get the full range with dogs, with some of them that love wearing a coat, some of them that are ambivalent but put up with it and some that hate it." She says she would "never, ever recommend trying to force a jacket on a dog that didn't like it" and "if you did that, every time you did it, it's going to get harder and harder". Owners should also make sure any jackets or jumpers fit their dogs properly and regularly check that there are no ill-fitting straps, Velcro or other material that is rubbing on their skin and causing pain or discomfort. Mount Gambier vet Teresa Priddle recently told the ABC that jackets should always be taken on and off every day and it was worth "checking daily that it's fitting correctly and there are no rub marks".
Otago Daily Times
07-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Wildlife shines on Gold Coast
Even in winter, the sun-soaked shores of the Gold Coast have enough to keep even the most reluctant of surfers entertained, writes Tim Scott. For this predominantly land-based and heat-adverse journalist, Queensland's Gold Coast — known for its world-famous beaches and surfing fanaticism — was not particularly high on my travel agenda. Were it not winter, it would be the last place you would find me. But despite a proclivity for the cold plains and Gothic vistas of my Otago homeland, across the Ditch I was pleasantly surprised by the range of activities at my disposal which involved keeping two feet planted firmly on dry land. Within a single jam-packed day, I was immersed in Australian Aboriginal culture, had a (literal) taste of nature, introduced myself to the native wildlife and sampled the area's luxury accommodation and hospitality offerings. A quick taxi from my beachfront accommodation, Tessa's on the Beach, in Bilinga, brought me to the small swimming hotspot of Talle (Tallebudgera) Creek. The driver tells me people jump into the creek in the summer from the nearby bridge. Sandwiched between Palm Beach to the south and Burleigh Beach to the north, it is a more sheltered and low-key coastal retreat. With a helping of sweet potato fries from the nearby Custard Canteen to start the day, a brief stroll over the aforementioned bridge to the other side of the creek brought me to the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre — right next to Burleigh Head National Park — for a walkabout tour. I am introduced to a brief history about the Yugambeh people and the local Kombumerri clan and learn "talle" translates in Yugambeh to "fish", and "jellurgal" means "honeycomb". My guide points towards a mountain visible on the horizon beyond the bridge known as Wollumbin, meaning "cloud catcher", or Mt Warning, which is the first place in all of Australia to see the sunlight every morning. On our journey, I sample some bush tucker including lilly pilly. It has the sourness of a green apple, in contract with the native sarsaparilla berries, which are aptly described as having the texture of the dehydrated peas in two-minute noodles. Later I sit down under a tree on a seaside embankment to be told an Aboriginal dreamtime story, or creation story. I hear of Javreen the giant Aboriginal man and his war club, and the formation of what would become the Gold Coast. Listening to this story under the shade as surfers splash into the ocean and a warm breeze passes over us, I could stay here forever. Having made our way through the national park, the walkabout concludes at Burleigh Heads, where the landscape opens up into towering high-rises and the golden expanse of Burleigh Beach. For some light retail therapy or a coffee fix, James St is a short walk away. One of the more recent additions to the area is the Mondrian Gold Coast. With 11 locations around the world including in Los Angeles, Ibiza and Hong Kong, the 24-storey five-star hotel marks the global hospitality chain's debut, not just in Queensland, but all of Australia. I am told it opened about three weeks before my visit. It is one half of a two-tower development, the other being a residential complex. The interior was designed in a coastal palette with natural finishes to resemble an old European building, to give the impression it could have been open for a hundred years, or is run by some old Greek grandfather. To contrast, its dimly lit corridors are to make guests feel as though they are traversing a cave or some passageway before emerging into their well-lit ocean view room. The hotel also boasts two restaurants and its bio wellness-focused CIEL Spa. It is kitted out with all the bells and whistles, such as a cryo-therapy float tank, red light bed and a healing Himalayan salt room. I dine at the in-house seafood restaurant, Haven, which continues the hotel's European influence with wicker chairs and ceiling fans. I have a tuna nicoise ($38) and a charred lemon and thyme house soda ($12), topped off with the restaurant's "signature" pavlova ($20). The latter arrives constructed upon the plate in a ring-like shape with a lemon sauce. Despite the dispute over which southern nation the meringuey dessert originates from, I am yet to see a pavlova from New Zealand engineered in such a manner. Worth a taste — at least for the novelty. The highlight of my trip was the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. It was founded in 1947 by, of all people, New Zealander Alex Griffiths on his family property — the 27ha later given to the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) and enshrined as a not-for-profit organisation. A local beekeeper and flower grower, Griffiths began feeding wild rainbow lorikeets the honey from his beehives in a bid to stop them feasting on his gladioli blooms. His morning and afternoon routine of feeding the lorikeets has since been preserved as tradition at the sanctuary, remaining a key attraction to this day. It is open to the public and the feeding is free to watch. The money the sanctuary does make goes towards funding conservation projects and running its wildlife hospital. Griffiths' own miniature steam train also remains at the sanctuary, in addition to two diesel trains which transport visitors around the property. As per the employee handbook, staff are required to wave and smile at every passing train. But what about the animals? The sanctuary is home to more than 1100 animals — most native Australian species — including red panda, capybaras, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, macaws and lemurs. The resident critters I met up close included "Curly" the emu and "Rhubarb" the joey. Despite his mawkish appearance and awkward frame, I am reassured that Curly is "a big flirt". And the deep rumbling sound he makes is his way of letting people know he is happy, just like a purring cat. The sanctuary also comes with its own koala nursery. The endangered marsupials are on track to be extinct in this part of Australia by 2050, mainly due to chlamydial disease, and the sanctuary is actively involved in efforts to protect them. A five-year vaccine research trial at the wildlife hospital is about to wrap up, which also tends to about 450 injured koalas a year, as the nursery focuses on breeding a strong genetic population. Other attractions include an indigenous culture show every afternoon and a Zipline course over nine freshwater crocodiles dubbed the "Croc Shock". It also has a fantastic gift shop — as any good zoo should. I later returned to the wildlife sanctuary, this time under the cover of darkness, to experience its recently opened multi-sensory light and sound experience, Astra Lumina. The premise is an "enchanted night walk amongst the stars" through 10 distinct stops in the sanctuary. It is about a 1.5km bushland walk and touted as the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Odds are, you will not see any wildlife on this walk — instead illuminated "stars" and other projections accompanied by a synchronised soundscape. While essentially a set of fancy flashing lights, these are impressive technical feats that make the most of the sanctuary's natural scenery. Lasers and pulsing orbs of light penetrated the thicket as alien-like sonars wailed in the night. At one point, the musical score combined with a ripple of gentle flickering lights made me feel like I was in a Disney movie. At times mysterious, others magical, Astra Lumina is a fun and uncomplicated little experience you can savour at a snail's pace, as I did. You can also buy some "Milky Way" hot chocolate to take along on your lunar voyage. What a great idea — and one space explorers of all ages will enjoy.
ABC News
27-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Drinking less alcohol is hard. But there are ways to get started
Megan Lee is halfway through reaching her goal of a year without drinking alcohol. The assistant professor in psychology at Bond University on the Gold Coast/Yugambeh language region specialises in nutritional psychiatry. Dr Lee says despite her scientific background, she is "still in this crazy system" of pro-alcohol messages, which is why she was motivated to try a year off booze. "Most of us who are doing research on these things [it] is because we are interested in our own drinking behaviours," the 45-year-old says. "We are also struggling with moderation, just as much as everyone else." And Dr Lee says while many people find it hard to reduce their alcohol intake, the benefits are significant and there are some strategies that can help get you started. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to our health. They estimate that alcohol consumption plays a causal role in over 200 diseases, injuries, and other health conditions. That includes the biological health risks such as cancer and liver disease, as well as things like car accidents, drownings and suicide. Director of the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University Emmanuel Kuntsche says while sticking to the Australian Alcohol Guidelines (no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day) reduces the risk, it doesn't eliminate it. When you drink less, our experts say you may notice improvements quite early on. Improved sleep quality, higher energy levels, clearer skin and possibly even weight loss, or at the least, reduced weight gain. "There's this permanent hangover state that we kind of get used to if we drink every day — even one or two drinks every day, that goes away as well," says Dr Lee. When it comes to drinking less, knowing your "why", and having clear goals, will help you be successful, says Dr Lee. For her, it's about control, and enjoying life more. "I didn't like my relationship with alcohol. I wasn't even a big drinker, but I still don't like it controlling me over me controlling it. "Right at the beginning of my one year … before I started, we went to a wine tour in the Hunter Valley and my son's father doesn't drink and he was out in the vineyard kicking a football with my son. "Looking out the window, watching them play football in the sun … they were having the best time. "I was sitting there by myself, drinking my poison. I was like, 'I want to be out there'." A recent poll shows 44 per cent of Australians who drink alcohol want to drink less or stop altogether. Three in four respondents said drinking less was about improving their physical health, half wanted to improve mental health, and just over a third said they were looking to sleep better. Dr Lee says cutting down on drinking is often part of someone's plan to achieve better overall health. Positive role modelling for children is another common incentive to drink less, according to Dr Lee. Professor Kuntsche says negative experiences with alcohol will often inspire people. "That can be arguments with family, accidents, hangovers … but also life transitions like becoming a dad, for example, [or] turning 40." A deeply ingrained drinking culture and prolific positive messaging around alcohol makes cutting back or stopping drinking alcohol especially hard, says Dr Lee. She adds that alcohol is attached to everything we do, and we're often discouraged by those around us when we want to stop drinking. Professor Kuntsche says even for moderate drinkers, the psychological and physiological effects of alcohol can be difficult for people to go without. "You might have a nice little relaxing glass of wine each evening while cooking or watching TV, your body very quickly becomes used to that. "It's very difficult to change." Having days off drinking helps prevent your body developing a tolerance to alcohol's effects, therefore reducing a dependence on the drug. Committing to alcohol-free days each week can be useful, says Professor Kuntsche. For example, only drinking on weekends. "Or maybe it's 'Whenever I play soccer, the day before I don't drink'." Dr Lee suggests starting with one alcohol-free day the first week, then working up to more until you reach a week. "After seven days of not drinking any alcohol, your system is then free of alcohol, so you've detoxed." Working up to a month-long challenge like Dry July is ideal, she says. What works for you will sometimes come down to trial and error, says Professor Kuntsche, and taking a longer break like Dry July is always a good experiment. "If you drink it's a very good idea to abstain from time to time. "See what's happening to yourself, what is happening to your environment. How hard is it? How beneficial is it?" Dr Lee says after 30 days, you may feel you can go longer. "After the 30 days it actually becomes easier because you're not … focusing all the time on not drinking. "It becomes a part of your lifestyle." Strategies such as drinking a glass of water or non-alcohol drinks between alcoholic drinks may help some people reduce their intake, says Professor Kuntsche. He also suggests avoiding buying rounds with friends, and having smaller serves of alcohol, for example. Dr Lee says drinking less is easier when supported by those around you. Taking a challenge with your partner or friend can provide accountability and motivation. Joining communities such as Facebook groups of programs like Hello Sunday Morning can be helpful for these same reasons. "It's good to surround yourself with other people who don't drink," says Dr Lee. Dr Lee is a big fan of reading books and listening to podcasts to learn more about alcohol and strategies to drink less. Professor Kuntsche suggests counselling services if you need more support. Ultimately, Dr Lee says it doesn't matter what the goal is, or the framework of how you achieve it, as long as you're moderating in some way "then you're succeeding". "And you can build on that."
ABC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Feature Video: Selve - Breaking Into Heaven
KICK THAT F@#&ER INNNNN! This week's Feature Video from Selve, 'Breaking Into Heaven', smashes through the pearly gates with a glass brick in this atomic launch of their sophomore studio album. The Yugambeh-based band's first official music video in over a year is quite literally a runway to lift off co-directed by Selve's frontman and proud Jabirr Jabirr man (with a universal plan) Loki Liddle and Brisbane based filmmaker (and longtime collaborator) Josh Tate. 'Directing this video with Loki to break this momentous narrative into the stratosphere and his trust in me to collaborate on this beautiful First Nations story is something I'm so grateful for' says Josh. 'We've been friends and collaborators for years but making this together and sharing filmmaking knowledge has made this one of the most significant music videos I've ever made. Shared knowledge is power.'
ABC News
14-05-2025
- ABC News
Kristyn's TikTok videos with her toddler had millions of views. She chose to delete them
Kristyn Sommer vividly remembers when she began to feel uneasy about her children being so prominent on her social media platforms. Dr Sommer, from the Gold Coast/Yugambeh language region, has a PhD in developmental psychology and currently conducts research into the topic at Griffith University's School of Applied Psychology. She has more than half a million followers on TikTok and Instagram. Her Reels and TikToks include practical advice and "hacks" to help parents deal with behavioural challenges, boundary setting and helping kids build emotional regulation skills. One of her posts about travelling more than 24 hours from Brisbane to Scotland with a toddler even amassed more than 18 million views. But as an "online expert", she says, people were looking at her to set an example and she "felt the weight of that immensely". We spoke to Dr Sommer about her decision to remove her children from her socials, and why she deleted old content that had amassed millions of views. These are her words. I have been phasing my children — aged five and one — out of my content online over the last few years. As my first child approached school age last year, she felt like a distinctly separate person from me with her own life and I started to discriminate between what was my story to share versus what was hers. She was less present in my content, but my younger child was a baby, and it felt like we were the same person and had the same stories to tell. This meant that I didn't quite discriminate between their stories and my own the same way I did for my older child. [When it came to removing my children from social media entirely], a few things happened all at once. A criminal case involving an infant and an influencer flipped a switch in me. This was the biggest catalyst for my very public change in sharing of my children. I started deleting historical content and started very loudly sharing about this choice I had begun to make almost two years ago on my social media platforms. At the same time as the initial trigger, one of my children started at a new childcare service, and I recognised a child I had never met. They were the child of an influencer. I knew their [child's] name. I knew what they had for breakfast. I knew their most embarrassing stories. They were three years old, playing with their educators and they had no idea a stranger knew this much about them. It shook me that people could have similar relationships with my own children [as a result of my posting]. I have always been recognised in public [from my social media content], whether it be in Scotland, or by the midwife admitting me for preterm labour. It was normal to me and didn't often feel disconcerting. Have you changed your approach to posting your kids on social media? We'd love to hear at what age and why. Email lifestyle@ But on several occasions, I received messages from kind and well-meaning followers saying they saw my children today. Not me. Just my children. Out with a grandparent or playing at child care. The cumulative effects of these occurrences emphasised my need to bring my children's privacy to the forefront of my parenting and professional roles. Call it the rigid black and white thinking of my autistic brain, but I felt positively towards removing this content [even those with 18 million views]. Removing it brought me in line with my internal values. It felt right to do. My online community has been endlessly supportive and celebratory. For me, this change has been entirely positive. I was always interesting on my own [due to my educational background and style of content] and my platform originally went viral with just my face and not that of my children's. Furthermore, social media was never my main source of income. I had a research career, and social media was a hobby and a space for outreach, engagement and social connection. I had no ambitions for growth or extraordinary monetisation. The culmination of these factors meant that it was not a hard choice or action for me to take my children offline. I am happier, more connected, more patient and more understanding now that I'm not constantly considering what could be content, what could be educational, what is the next developmental milestone I could film and share. I never used to be without my phone. I always knew exactly where it was. It was almost always a moment away from recording. Now I lose it more often than not. My camera roll is full of happy snaps of moments I don't want to forget, but it's also missing moments because I didn't capture them in my phone. Instead, they are imprinted in my memory and my child's without the big black brick in my hand.
