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HMAS Stuart Rescues Hostages off Somalia

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HMAS Stuart has intercepted a Yemeni-flagged dhow and rescued three crew members who were being held hostage by Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa. The Royal Australian Navy frigate is deployed to the Middle East, conducting maritime security, counter-terrorism and counter-piracy operations with the Combined Maritime Forces.

The interdiction occurred on the morning of Monday, 11th April 2011, after HMAS Stuart had been monitoring suspected pirate activity in the area for several hours.

The Chief Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said he was very pleased with the way HMAS Stuart’s crew handled a difficult and dangerous mission. No shots were fired by either HMAS Stuart or the pirates during the interdiction and no threats were made by the pirates to harm the Yemeni crew once they saw the boarding party rapidly secure the dhow,” Lieutenant General Evans said.

Stuart’s boarding party did extremely well in maintaining the safety of the dhow’s crew and ensuring a potentially challenging situation did not escalate.”

The Al Shahar 75 was attacked and seized by pirates about 20 days ago. Fifteen Somali pirates surrendered to HMAS Stuart’s boarding party as they approached the Al Shahar 75.

During a search of the dhow, the boarding party located 11 AK-47 assault rifles with 16 magazines, a large quantity of small arms ammunition and a Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher with grenade. The weapons were catalogued and then disposed over-board.

The unarmed pirates were released in their skiff after being provided with adequate water, food, fuel and communication equipment to make the nearest land-fall off the Somalia coast. The Yemeni vessel was safely escorted from the area by HMAS Stuart.

Submitted by: Defence Media Operations

 

Gardening Superstars to Converge on Toowoomba

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The first event on the annual Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers calendar, Gardenfest, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, with Phil Dudman, Colin Campbell and Annette McFarlane heading up the who’s who of garden gurus attending.

The television and media personalities head up a list of local and national talent ready to encourage people from south-east Queensland to get out in their gardens, re-build after flood damage and talk about the changing face of gardening now the dams are full again. It is the first time in around a decade that the Toowoomba region has not had some area drought declared” so while water wise techniques have become part of the community’s psyche, there are now more opportunities than ever to have a fabulous garden in the Garden City.

The first event on the annual Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers calendar, Gardenfest, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, with Phil Dudman, Colin Campbell and Annette McFarlane heading up the who’s who of garden gurus attending. The television and media personalities head up a list of local and national talent ready to encourage people from south-east Queensland to get out in their gardens, re-build after flood damage and talk about the changing face of gardening now the dams are full again.

It is the first time in around a decade that the Toowoomba region has not had some area drought declared” so while water wise techniques have become part of the community’s psyche, there are now more opportunities than ever to experience fabulous gardens in the Garden City.

There has been a lot of damage to the open spaces and private gardens in and around Toowoomba after the January floods and this will be a chance for everyone to come together and celebrate this community event, get some great advice from true professionals and plant for spring,” event organiser Emily Murphy said.

Fabulous foodie Julie Ray from Northern NSW and TV personality Phil Dudman

Phil Dudman is a new addition to this year and his expertise in sustainable gardening will be a great addition and he’ll join chef Julie Ray in the kitchen for a punnet to plate experience that will have to be tasted to be believed!
Colin Campbell has been involved in the growth of Gardenfest pretty much since it started in Toowoomba 30 years ago and he’s really excited about travelling from the Sunshine Coast.”

Meanwhile, joining author and radio personality, Brisbane’s, Annette McFarlane in the Speaker’s Tent will be horticulture teacher, tour guide and TV presenter Brian Sams and organic gardener Justin Russell.

The cooking demonstration area features local chefs cooking their favourite meals, members of the clergy competing against each other in celebrity cook-offs as well as civic and public figures and the second annual Brian Sams versus Colin Campbell sizzle-off.

For more information
Emily Murphy
Event Manager
Heritage Building Society Gardenfest
0438 866 020
www.gardenfesttoowoomba.com.au

 

 

A Cool Vegetable Hot in the Fight Against Cancer

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Health-conscious Australians may soon be adding watercress to their plates.

Watercress sandwiches - one of the best ways to eat watercress

Mounting evidence shows watercress may combat certain types of cancer and food scientists at the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) are investigating the most nutritious ways of preparing and cooking the leaves.

Watercress has had a place on tables in Asia and Europe for centuries. Even Socrates was convinced of the health promoting abilities of the vegetable. He built his first hospital next to natural springs growing watercress so he could easily reap the benefits of this potent food. The cancer fighting capability of watercress, a member of the brassica family, is due to the high levels of phytochemicals known as isothiocyanates (ITCs). These are the same disease fighting components found in broccoli and cabbage.

But despite its popularity around the world, the peppery flavoured plant is seldom used in Australia.

Scientist Dr David Williams

According to DEEDI scientist Dr David Williams it is the ITCs that provide the plant’s hot and tangy flavour.

Watercress is a bit of a paradox,” Dr Williams said.

As a fresh salad vegetable it is cool when first experienced, and then hot when chewed.

In cancer-fighting terms, watercress is best eaten raw either in salads or in sandwiches as spicy filler.
Eating it raw has the advantage of stopping the breakdown of the vitamins A, B1, B2, C and folate, as watercress is also a rich source of these vitamins.

Our results have shown when watercress is cooked it releases large amounts of ineffective compounds called nitriles. The high levels of iron in watercress are a disadvantage in these circumstances as it enhances this formation. While further research is needed to fully understand this anti-cancer capability of watercress, results so far confirm a significant health gain from adding this highly nutritious plant to your daily diet.”

Submitted by David Burgin
Corporate Communications
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
GPO Box 46, BRISBANE QLD 4001

 

 

Humble Onion May Improve Quality of Life

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An onion a day may keep a cold at bay but also it has the potential to combat obesity, diabetes and an increased blood pressure, according to a new study by University of Southern Queensland (USQ) biomedical scientists.

The study showed that rutin extracted from onions reversed fat stores in laboratory rats, lowered blood pressure, reversed glucose problems and improved liver damage. The USQ research was conducted by Professor Lindsay Brown, Sunil K Panchal, Hemant Poudyal and Thiruma Arumugam and will be published in next month’s prestigious Journal of Nutrition.

Rutin is a non-nutritive component of many foods such as onions, apples, tea and red wine, and has shown health-improving effects in different animal studies but this is the first study concentrating on diet-induced health problems.

USQ Professor Lindsay Brown has studied the effects of rutin on obese laboratory rats.

The study, led by Professor Brown, involved feeding rats a high carbohydrate, high fat diet for eight weeks until they developed signs of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hypertension, fatty liver and cardiac stiffness.

The rats given rutin for a further eight weeks improved the structure and function of the heart and liver, together with improved metabolic signs and less abdominal fat compared with rats given the high carbohydrate, high fat diet.

Professor Brown said that anti-inflammatory responses were the key to the positive responses with rutin. Inflammation can induce weight gain as well as damage to the heart and liver,’ he said. ‘We now have scientific evidence that the adverse effects of the high fat diet in these rats were completely reversed by rutin.”

Professor Brown said he hoped to work with local producers in further research, as well as secure funding for human trials to be conducted What we have found in our rats tells us that rutin could improve the quality and quantity of life in people, with no known side effects,’ he said. ‘While there is still a long way to go with this research, we are encouraged by our findings so far.”

Professor Brown works in the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences at USQ.

Submitted by
Madeleine.Tiller@usq.edu.au

Mysteries Of Jazz Unveiled

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Mysteries Of Jazz Unveiled

Ever wondered how Ella scats; how Sarah phrases so beautifully; or how Billie can break your heart with her storytelling? These are just some of the mysteries that will be revealed at the MCGREGOR IN THE VINES JAZZ WORKSHOP on 7 and 8 May in Stanthorpe.

Stylish vocalist, MELISSA FORBES, together with renowned Brisbane jazz guitarist, BRUCE WOODWARD will combine forces to help ‘lift the veil’ on the mysterious and often intimidating world of jazz singing and performance. Bruce is a very experienced jazz guitarist and teacher, and has also supported such artists as Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, George Benson and Sting so anyone interested in jazz guitar would also get a lot out of the weekend,” said Mrs Forbes.

The weekend workshop has been designed to appeal to a range of levels; from amateurs to more experienced musicians. Amateurs can expect to have fun, listen to some experts strut their stuff and  learn in a supportive atmosphere, while others with more experience can expect to deepen their understanding of the art form as well as experimenting with the ideas presented.”

Melissa Forbes

In 2000, Melissa stepped away from her life as a corporate lawyer to begin jazz and contemporary voice studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

I have always loved singing, but didn’t start singing lessons until I was 28.”

Now, much sought-after, Melissa has a successful singing career – having sung alongside Michael Buble, Naturally 7 and more recently David Hobson; her own record label; a reputation as a leading contemporary voice coach; and a position as Lecturer in Voice at USQ.

When I first embarked on formal voice training, it was in the context of a jazz course, and I knew nothing about jazz as a genre. The world of jazz can be intimidating to the uninitiated as it appears as if the musicians are speaking an entirely different language – which in effect they are. But once you grasp that concept, and start to learn the vocabulary of that language, it all becomes far more accessible.”

It is this love and appreciation of the world of jazz that Melissa hopes to pass on to others during the two-day workshop. Participants will learn the essentials of jazz performance including how to learn songs properly and aspects of jazz rhythm, phrasing, storytelling and improvisation, how to communicate with other musicians on the bandstand and the basics of good contemporary vocal technique.

Each day we will cover a mix of theory and practice in jazz, including fun group exercises, ensemble singing and, for those wishing to, opportunities to sing solo and workshop with other performers,” Melissa says.

Part of the USQ McGregor in the Vines series, this weekend getaway combines a love of the Arts with an appreciation of fine food and wine and set in the heart of the Granite Belt at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism in Stanthorpe. This will be ideal setting to create a relaxed atmosphere with a focus on learning through fun, rather than hard work!”

For further information  call 07 4631 2755 or visit www.usq.edu.au/mcgregor

Submitted by:
Michelle Fox
USQ Artsworx

Coal Mine Action Group Community Information Evening April 8th

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This evening is  organised by the Toowoomba Coal Mine Action Group to up-date residents about the status of mining exploration across outer suburbs of Toowoomba and to share information regarding our group’s progress since our original community meeting. Speakers will share information regarding the  group’s plans for future action.

Speakers approached to address the group include: politicians, mining reps, Qld Govt Mining Registrar, and local residents . John Gordon (Musician) will perform his mining ballad that recently received Australia-wide media attention following it’s ban from ABC radio despite other states giving it air-time. The media will also be in attendance.

DATE: Friday 8th April
TIME: 7pm
WHERE: Gowrie Community Hall- Old Homebush Road Gowrie Junction

Please bring your pens and paper to jot down info as needed. For further information please join our FACEBOOK page- Toowoomba Coal Mine Action Group.

See you there,
Toowoomba Coal Mine Action Group

Submitted by Lucinda and Dean Paynter
lbo79326@bigpond.net.au

Murphy’s Creek Debris Cleanup & Restoration Project

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The Helidon Hills/Murphy’s Creek Landcare Group in conjunction with SEQ Catchments, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, and the Queensland and Australian Governments are hosting a BBQ on Friday 8th April, 2011 to formally launch the Murphy’s Creek Debris Cleanup and Restoration Project.

Representatives from the Helidon Hills /Murphy’s Landcare Group including President, Henk Hagedoorn, and Project Community Coordinator, Snow Manners will be in attendance at the Recovery Centre, Murphy’s Creek Grounds, Jessie’s Lane, Murphy’s Creek, together with representatives from SEQCatchment and Lockyer Valley Regional Council.

This 3 month project will involve the clean-up and limited creek restoration of 24 kilometres of Murphy’s Creek extending from Ballard in the west to where the Fifteen Mile Creek enters, east of Murphy’s Creek township. Its focus is to restore the environmental integrity of the creek.

Cleanup activities will centre on removing the remaining rubbish/litter that accumulated along the creek during the January 10 flood not already removed, as well as removing or moving selected fallen trees that threaten the stability of the creek bank.

Following cleanup efforts some limited restoration activities will occur which will include weed control, revegetation and riparian fencing. On ground activities will commence Monday 11 April 2011.

Submitted by:
Nigel Kimball
nigel@yarramine.com.au

RSPCA Awards Sarbi the Purple Cross

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Sarbi the Explosive Detection Dog has received RSPCA’s most prestigious animal bravery award, the Purple Cross, at a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.

Sarbi was awarded the Purple Cross by The National President of RSPCA Australia, Mrs Lynne Bradshaw.
It recognises the deeds of animals that have shown outstanding service to humans, particularly if they’ve shown exceptional courage,” Mrs Bradshaw said. I think there’s no doubt that Sarbi has shown an incredible resilience and strength that should be recognised.”

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie AC, DSC, CSM, also attended the ceremony. I am very proud of the professional and dedicated work of our combat engineers and dog handlers, and the vital role they play in keeping our soldiers safe on deployment,” said Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie.

I am thrilled that the RSPCA has chosen to honour Sarbi, and by extension, all of Army’s working dogs and their handlers with this award.”

Sarbi went missing in Afghanistan in September 2008 following Coalition contact with Insurgents. During the engagement, nine Australian soldiers, including Sarbi’s handler, were wounded.

Sarbi was returned to Tarin Kot in October 2009, after being missing in action for 13 months.

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