Local surfer tells of frantic effort to save teenager Khai Cowley, who was fatally mauled by shark in South Australia - 7NEWS

A local surfer has described the frantic moments he tried to save a boy mauled by a shark on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.

Khai Cowley, 15, died after he was attacked while surfing with his dad at Ethel Beach about 1.30pm on Thursday.

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The Year 9 student was on Friday remembered as a “kind and respectful kid” with a passion for surfing.

Paramedics attended the hard-to-reach beach, but Khai couldn’t be saved.

Khai Cowley was killed after being attacked by a shark in South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. Credit: Supplied

It’s understood he had suffered significant bites to his leg.

Local surfer Tim Philip did everything he could to help, standing on a cliff face when he saw the teenager in trouble.

“I started moving down toward the beach and I could see the dad on the rocks sort of yelling and his son swimming towards him,” Philip told 7NEWS.

He grabbed a stranger’s board and paddled out to Khai, who was unconscious.

He had to let go when the shark, suspected to be a great white, began circling him.

“Probably, I’d say (it was) four metres ... a pretty big shark,” Philip said.

“Then it started to head back out to sea. I was in waist deep water and just made the decision to run back ... chest deep at this point, grab him and managed to drag him back to shore, back to the people on the beach.

“It was just a matter of ... I didn’t want to see his body out to sea, so did what I could.”

Khai was on a family holiday when the tragedy unfolded.

Friends of the keen surfer have posted tributes on social media, with one writing that the young teenager had “so much potential”.

“He will hold a place in everyone’s heart,” the family friend wrote.

Khai’s auntie Lauryn Barley, who has set up a fundraiser to help cover funeral costs, said the young teen had the “most beautiful soul (and was) taken from us too soon”.

The 15-year-old has been remembered as a keen surfer. Credit: Supplied

Barley wrote that Khai had been attacked by a white pointer, otherwise known as a great white shark.

“I’m here to try help raise funds for my sister Kate and brother Tim to cover the cost of the funeral service. Any donations will be most appreciated,” she wrote.

Surfing South Australia also posted a tribute online, describing Khai as a “happy, kind and respectful kid” who was “very much loved by his surfing peers”.

“After the devastating news that one of our Grom surfers, Khai, was involved in a fatal incident at Ethel Beach on December 28th we have been keeping Khai’s family and friends in our thoughts,” it said.

“Khai was very involved in our surfing community with his passion for surfing stemming from a family with deep surfing roots in SA.

“He will be greatly missed out in our community and on the water.”

Over $10,000 had been raised via the GoFundMe in a matter of hours.

The attack comes after a spate of serious shark bites in recent months, including the fatal attack of 55-year-old Tod Gendle at Granites Beach on the state’s West Coast in October.

His was the second shark death this year after 46-year-old teacher Simon Baccanello disappeared in May while surfing at Walkers Rock Beach, about 365km west of Adelaide.

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Local surfer tells of frantic effort to save teenager Khai Cowley, who was fatally mauled by shark in South Australia - 7NEWS
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Protecting local fauna, flora - The Murray Valley Standard

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Gaining the AdvantEdge: How local racer exceeded wildest hopes - The Mercury

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Local artist profile: Patti Fawcett - Bendigo Times - Bendigo Times

THIS week we chat with another mega-talented local emerging gagster, Patti Fawcett, who took a shine to performing after coming from nowhere to win the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Class Clowns competition as a 15-year-old in 2019.

What motivated you to become a comedian?

Before the first time I did stand-up I actually hadn’t ever been motivated to be a comedian. I really liked comedy-based shows like The Chaser or Would I lie to you? and I would write what I thought at the time were funny songs to make people laugh in one of my art classes at school.

My teacher asked me and some other students to participate in the Class Clowns competition at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. After that I was just like “Hell yeah! This is the stuff”. That and it got me out of school and spending lots of time in Melbourne at bars, which at 14-16 made me feel very cool.

How would you describe your comedic style and how did you develop it?

I like to focus on my interactions with people. I have been talking a lot about relationships and dating especially within my teenage years. I like to focus on my teenage years right now because I am still young enough to remember it and feel it. I have a fairly upbeat delivery, and a tendency to talk fast. It’s a bit like having a friend who used to do theatre tell you about their day after one wine.

Which other comedians inspire you and why?

I am a really big fan of Fern Brady. She’s a Scottish comedian and writer. I find inspiration in her work because it’s very different to mine in delivery but has some similarities in subject matter.

I am also a diehard Sarah Millican fan. I wish I had a really technical reason for this but mainly because I think she is hilarious. I love everything from her delivery, to talking about a midnight Twix snack or an allergy to mandarins.

What are some highlights you have from your career so far?

I have had the privilege of working with so many comedians I love and look up to, like the late Cal Wilson. Brett Blake, Kirsty Webeck, Geraldine Hickey, the list goes on.

I have also been working a lot with the Bendigo Comedy Festival, who let me be on their committee this year, which has been so lovely and helpful.

Lastly, shout out to the Women of Wit shows, returning in 2024, that Luke Morris puts together. Every single show I have done has been an amazing, and a rare experience of performing and being backstage of an all-female/non binary lineup.

How can people check out your work online?

A classic google will do the trick, otherwise my Instagram is the main way to check stuff out – @patti_fawcet.t_.

What would you say to young regional aspiring comedians who are thinking of making a go of the creative life?

Go for it. You have nothing to lose really, maybe some self-esteem for ten minutes but that’s why white wine exists. In all seriousness though, don’t overstress it. Especially in comedy, people start at different ages and points in life and you don’t have to follow anyone else’s trajectory.

I would also recommend doing a competition like RAW Comedy or Class Clowns.

Top of the list is just don’t be afraid to bomb. It sucks but it happens to everyone ever in comedy. It doesn’t make or break you.

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Everybody appearing at Port Macquarie Local Court, Friday, December 29 - Daily Telegraph

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Everybody appearing at Port Macquarie Local Court, Friday, December 29  Daily Telegraph
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Drink drivers caught on local roads - Bay 93.9

A man has been caught more than three-times the blood alcohol limit in Inverleigh.

The 33-year-old from Keilor was intercepted early Friday morning on the Hamilton.

He allegedly blew 0.187.

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The man had his car impounded and his licence suspended and will face charges.

It comes after a P-Plater was pulled over in Point Cook on Thursday night after police noticed a car being driven erratically.

The 21-year-old allegedly blew .200, which is four times the limit for a fully licenced driver.

The alcohol limit for a P-Plater is zero.

The man has also had his car impounded and his licence suspended.

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He is also facing charges including not displaying P-Plates, and drink driving offences.

Operation Roadwise is continuing across Victoria until 11.59pm on January 1.

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British politics is rotting from the bottom up: pity our crisis-hit local councils - The Guardian

Every review of Britain 2023 says the same. The country is not being well run. From policing to care homes, from postal services to sewage spills, from youth clubs to potholes, everywhere is failure. Small wonder just 20% of Britons now have any faith in their national politicians, one of the lowest figures in a western democracy.

Nowhere is this decline more evident than in local government. It is going bust. Birmingham, Nottingham, Croydon and four other councils in England have issued section 114 notices since 2020, indicating that their expenditure will exceed income. According to the Local Government Association (LGA), in the coming year, one in five councils expect to fail financially. Commissioners have already been sent to Woking and Slough, effectively suspending their local democracy.

In most of what they do, councils now act as agents of Whitehall instruction – as with children in need, care of elderly people and dispensing housing benefit. Yet the money to do this has been butchered in 13 years of austerity, with a 40% real-terms cut in central grants. Money for anything considered “discretionary” – public libraries, sports facilities, local colleges, the arts, the stuff of community life – has evaporated. The LGA estimates a cash shortfall of £4bn over the current two-year period. This is a fraction of what successive governments have spent on that white elephant, HS2. Rishi Sunak won’t give Birmingham another penny but he will happily speed Brummies to the bright lights of London.

This week, the new head of the Office for Local Government, Lord Morse, blamed much of the trouble on councils’ “failures in management or failures in governance”. Some, such as Croydon, have reportedly mishandled their assets, many in a desperate attempt to earn revenue from property. Many have become such dispiriting places to work that able councillors and staff have disappeared. But for a central quango to blame the impending crisis on local recklessness is grossly unfair. I would rather trust an average local council to handle defence procurement or transport investment than leave it to the Treasury just now. As it is, the only source of new money for many councils is traffic fines. A desperate Manchester council reveals it has raised £10m in penalties from just one bus lane in less than two years, while the City of London squeezed £8m from a single junction outside the Bank of England in one year.

The instinct of central government is to “nationalise” what it sees as local failure. Since the 1980s this has happened over secondary and further education and the capping of local taxation. The latest battle has been over planning. Changes last year by the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, to the housebuilding regime have on the whole been respectful of local discretion. But two weeks ago he turned turtle and lambasted councils that did not do as he wanted for being nimbys. If they did not plan for more houses within a year, he would overrule them and bring local planning decisions under the control of Whitehall. Since 86% of planning applications are approved locally and without delay, this kneejerk centralisation would be bureaucratic madness.

Labour is no different. Keir Starmer said in his last conference speech that he wants to “bulldoze” through local planning laws. He sees local councils as no more than Whitehall housebuilding agencies. Like Gove, he wants to see 300,000 new houses built and does not want local people or their representatives getting in the way. This centralisation of town and country planning will make Rwanda seem like a picnic. Every planning decision will become a battle in the courts. Whitehall cannot possibly ordain the fate of every acre of land in England.

At root is the future of local democracy. British politics is rotting from the bottom up. Britons used to run the majority of public services through locally elected bodies, as do most democracies in Europe. The removal of the big three – health, education and housing – has not sent British standards shooting up but on the whole into decline. Regulation, bureaucracy and targetry have gradually strangled frontline management.

Across Europe, most locally elected bodies have power, resources and the status to match. It is considered an honour to serve on them. In Germany, the Low Countries and Scandinavia, they raise their own taxes, build houses, run schools and clinics, and maintain churches and historic buildings. They do few of these things in Britain. It is a wonder people still bother to stand as councillors.

Local government contrived to keep its show on the road during David Cameron and George Osborne’s austerity blitz of the 2010s. Some councils made mistakes. But now push has come to shove. The biggest local sector, social care outside the NHS, has been savaged by cuts and is stumbling as a debilitated state agency. Chronically short of 150,000 staff, its inability to handle hospital discharges has sorely damaged Whitehall’s pet service, the NHS.

Now it is discretionary services that are for the chop. Not a week passes without a local library, swimming pool or day centre being declared unnecessary. The freedom of local people, through their votes and their taxes, to sustain the fabric of community life is curtailed by a national political culture that simply does not care. Attacking localism for the faults of centralism is a lie, one that will do nothing but further harm.

• Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist

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Heritage doors returned to local theatre - Bay 93.9

Palais Geelong has thanked the public for the return of two historic doors.

It took to social media earlier this week after finding the original doors to the building had been taken.

The doors were set to be reinstalled at the Moorabool Street venue as part of its renovation works.

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The doors were safely returned the next day and are safely inside the venue.

Palais management thanked the public for their support and sharing the post.

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Alice Springs Local Court list, Friday, December 29 - NT News

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Alice Springs Local Court list, Friday, December 29  NT News
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What sparked water ‘cut-off’ for Tasmanian island community - The Mercury

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What sparked water ‘cut-off’ for Tasmanian island community  The Mercury
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Lucky wins and local horses, all the colour from the Boxing Day races - Newcastle Herald

In the member's pen, the bookies made a steady trade with the punters between the local races and fixtures further abroad. Ian, a veteran bookie with Allan Hincks, who declined to give his last name, started in the business when he was 18. At 61, it's more of a part-time gig and a way to make extra money.

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'Rights of nature' are being recognised overseas. In Australia, local leadership gives cause for optimism - The Conversation

As each day passes, the need to protect Australia’s environment grows more urgent. As noted in the most recent State of Environment Report in 2021, we are increasingly turning to “measures of last resort” to prevent species extinctions and the collapse of ecosystems.

In legal theory, the “rights of nature” acknowledges all Earth’s natural elements as having an inherent right to exist and flourish.

Developments towards recognition of the rights of nature have attracted international attention. In some countries, they have come about through legislative reform, constitutional amendment and the courts.

In Australia, federal, state and territory parliaments have not shown much appetite for introducing the rights of nature principle into legislation. The Murray-Darling River System (Rights of Nature) Bill 2021 in New South Wales and the Rights of Nature and Future Generations Bill 2019 in Western Australia raised the possibility, but did not progress. One exception is Victoria, where a law protecting the Yarra river and its First Nations custodianship was passed in 2017.

Around the globe, lawyers and policy makers have been engaged in finding ways the law can contribute to the protection of ecosystems. Conferring ecosystems with rights is one strategy we can use to prevent species extinctions and ensure a “voice” for nature.

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Read more: Three rivers are now legally people – but that's just the start of looking after them

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Rivers as legal persons

Central to these efforts has been realising the rights of nature based on legal personhood, which confers entitlements and duties on an entity. There are benefits, complexities and risks involved in this approach.

Indeed, the use of legal personhood as a mechanism to give natural entities like rivers or wetlands rights has been criticised from a First Nations perspective.

At a time when we are seeing threats to the environment turn into catastrophes with alarming frequency, the law can be an inflexible tool and slow to respond.

In Australia, the rights of nature idea is emerging in social and political debate. Ultimately, the success of the rights of nature vision depends on effective broad legal frameworks combined with local action.

Sometimes, we can overlook the significant role local-level reform can play. So it is encouraging to see communities and councils leading the way.

The rights of nature principle provides a framework a local community can use when wanting to show its respect for nature and ensure due care for the local ecosystem.

A climate change protest in Sydney, Australia, February 2020. Holli/Shutterstock

Two examples of local governance

Two examples of such local leadership are the Blue Mountains City Council in NSW and the Shire of Augusta Margaret River local government area in WA.

In 2021, the Blue Mountains City Council received a Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights Local Recognition Award for its commitment to embedding rights of nature principles into its operations. The rights of nature principle is reflected in the Blue Mountains Community Strategic Plan 2035: “natural environment is valued for its intrinsic nature and role in maintaining all forms of life”.

In rights talk, “intrinsic value” means that a thing or being has value “in itself”, or “for its own sake”.

For example, a tree has intrinsic value for its own sake because it is a living thing and the tree’s life has value in and of itself. The tree’s value is not based on how it can be used by humans.

With some exceptions, Western philosophers have confined intrinsic value to human beings alone. The same notion permeates the law. Yet recognising the intrinsic value of other species and our broader environment is a pathway to ethical reflection and has the potential to transform our perspective.

In Western Australia, following community advocacy, the Shire of Augusta Margaret River has also shown leadership in this regard. Among other things, the shire’s May 2023 Overarching Sustainability Policy requires due regard for “the needs, rights and wisdom of Traditional Custodians” and “the rights of nature to exist, thrive and evolve”.

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Read more: How Traditional Owners and officials came together to protect a stunning stretch of WA coast

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Caring for Country

We believe these local examples give cause for optimism and a source of “slow hope”. And First Nations leadership sits at the heart of these developments. Community-led approaches are key to caring for Country, something that’s also noted in the latest State of the Environment report.

Best-practice local policy development can actively enable caring for Country and integrate it into the regulatory conversations that inform the operational plans of councils.

For the CSIRO First Nations Australian Peoples led research initiative Our Knowledge, Our Way, connection to Country is a cultural must. For First Nations peoples, Country already has “rights”: to be cared for, respected and listened to. This is a relationship that arises organically and is entwined in the experience of being human.

From a Western perspective, enshrining rights of nature thinking in environmental stewardship at all levels of society is something environmental ethicists describe as essential.

Local communities can draw upon these two convergent lines of thinking to inform culturally sensitive collaboration. While higher levels of government are yet to introduce the principle of rights of nature into legislation, leadership at local levels is showing us it can be done. State and federal governments should take note.

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Alice Springs Local Court list, Tuesday, December 26 - NT News

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Alice Springs Local Court list, Tuesday, December 26  NT News
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Alice Springs Local Court list, Tuesday, December 26 - NT News

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Alice Springs Local Court list, Tuesday, December 26  NT News
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Katherine Local Court list, Tuesday, December 26 - NT News

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Katherine Local Court list, Tuesday, December 26  NT News
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Katherine Local Court list, Monday, December 25 - NT News

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Katherine Local Court list, Monday, December 25  NT News
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New McDonald's is flippin' burgers in Blakeview - Glam Adelaide

In a significant move towards bolstering the local economy and job market, McDonald’s has recently opened a new restaurant in Blakes Crossing, marking a major investment of over $5 million in the local economy and the creation of over 100 new job opportunities in various roles including crew, barista, management, and maintenance positions.

This initiative is part of McDonald’s Australia’s larger commitment to expand its footprint nationwide, with the aim to open 100 new restaurants and remodel half of its existing establishments by the end of 2025. This ambitious plan is set to inject more than $1 billion into the Australian economy and generate over 40,000 new jobs, substantially boosting the country’s employment sector.

John Walsh is the owner and operator of the Blakes Crossing outlet and a veteran in the McDonald’s community with over 39 years of experience. Walsh started his journey with McDonald’s as a Trainee Manager and has since grown to manage nine restaurants in South Australia—Blakes Crossing, Elizabeth, Elizabeth Shopping Centre, Gawler, Gilles Plains, Kadina, Northfield, Nuriootpa and Smithfield.

Collectively, these establishments employ over 1,100 local community members, significantly contributing to the regional employment landscape.

In a statement, John Walsh expressed his enthusiasm for the new venture.

‘We are excited to open our doors on McDonald’s Blakes Crossing and provide jobs, training and development opportunities for the local community. The new restaurant will provide customers with a friendly and convenient place to access food and drinks, whether they’re popping in for a quick coffee or staying for lunch.’

Moreover, the new restaurant aligns with McDonald’s focus on community engagement.

‘As a local business, we are proud to support local charities and groups that are important to our customers and people, including Angle Vale Women’s Football Club, South Gawler Cricket Club and South Gawler Football Club’, Walsh added.

The McDonald’s Blakes Crossing is a modern establishment equipped with a dual-lane drive-thru, a dedicated partner delivery room, a McCafe, and a PlayPlace. The restaurant also showcases McDonald’s commitment to sustainability, featuring solar panels, a heat recovery water system, LED lighting, and wheel stops made of recycled materials in the car park, all contributing to reduced emissions and energy use.

As a key employer in the region, John also highlighted his commitment to providing all employees with premium training and development opportunities.

‘McDonald’s invests millions of dollars into training and development initiatives each year, offering nationally recognised certifications in the food and retail sectors. We are passionate about supporting the professional development of our people and providing workplace skills applicable to any career.’

McDonald’s is actively hiring for various positions across Adelaide, including crew, barista, management, and maintenance roles, reflecting its ongoing commitment to job creation and economic development.

The company has grown significantly since the opening of Australia’s first McDonald’s restaurant in Yagoona, Sydney, in 1971. Today, there are over 1,025 McDonald’s restaurants across Australia, employing more than 110,000 people in both restaurants and corporate offices nationwide.

As the largest employer of youth in the country, McDonald’s creates over 3,000 new jobs each year and invests more than $40 million annually in training and people development.

‘We look forward to serving up our great tasting, great quality menu and providing feel good moments for our customers.’

What: McDonalds Blakes Crossing.
Where: Lot 1480 Village Terrace, Blakeview SA 5114
For more information or to apply for a role, click here.

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Suggestions sought for South Yorkshire Local Heritage List - Yahoo News Australia

People have been invited to suggest places to be included on an extended list of local heritage sites.

The South Yorkshire Local Heritage List allows the local significance of a building or place to be taken into account in planning decisions.

Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley councils have agreed to extend funding for the scheme.

Councillor Ben Miskell, from Sheffield City Council, said more sites would be given "the significance they deserve".

The list is run by South Yorkshire Archaeology Service.

Mr Miskell said: "Since it was launched, the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List has proved incredibly popular, with a wide range of assets being added so far.

"It highlights the passion people and communities have for the assets that mean most to them and their city, as well as the wider region.

"It is fantastic that we have secured funding to continue the project which will ensure that more fantastic buildings, parks, areas and places will be given the significance they deserve."

Sheffield has a number of sites on the list, including Darnall Picture Palace, Cavendish Buildings in West Street, and Hobson Memorial Pavilion.

Click here to suggest a site for inclusion on the list.

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Local Bloke Hides Spontaneous Mid-Week One Night Stand With Supermarket Tee And Pack Of Fisherman's Friend ... - The Betoota Advocate

KEITH T. DENNETT | New South | CONTACT

A local bachelor has been forced to swerve into Woolies this morning, as he attempts to hide a night of frivolous passion from his colleagues.

Standing in the hosiery aisle of the Woolworths Metro on Tallis Street in downtown Betoota, local B2B Sales Specialist Lewis Kennedy has been forced to freshen up his office attire by pulling a crisp white Bonds tee out of a packet.

The type of guy who usually spends his weeknights doing very sensible things, it’s understood Lewis’ current predicament was brought on after landing himself in a spontaneous one-night-stand after a pub trivia night.

After venturing to join his team of uni mates at the Fox and Hunter Tavern, Lewis’ night reportedly took an unexpected turn when he bumped into an old Tinder match who was competing at a nearby table. 

Despite risking the chance of being expelled for mid-trivia phone usage, Lewis decided to trade a series of messages with his old acquaintance Samantha under the table, and they agreed to meet up for another round of drinks at the end of the evening.

Now less than eight hours on from his spontaneous romantic romp, an early morning meeting in the office forced Lewis to hit the rescue evac from his unfamiliar surroundings and head straight into the city for work.

Heading through the self-serve checkout with a Redbull to reignite his weary brain cells, witnesses say Lewis also decided to also load up with a packet of the world’s strongest breath mints, Fisherman’s Friend.

“If I think about it, I haven’t brushed my teeth since yesterday morning, that’s pretty rank hey” Lewis told our reporter.

“I’ll need to suck on the whole pack before I get anywhere near my desk, I think there might be a can of Lynx somewhere in my drawers too…”

More to come.

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Yes, Bondi does have a local community - Sydney Morning Herald

This article is part of our Summer in Sydney series, where Herald staff reveal the best – and worst – of our city in the hotter months.See all 7 stories.

Santa surfs to shore with a bag full of ice blocks for kids on Christmas Day. A band of Brazilians beat their drums for a pulsating tattooed crowd. A DJ works his decks from out the top of a VW Kombi for yet another promo event at the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. These are the familiar sights and sounds that visitors come to the famous stretch of sand for.

The place has a wonderful energy that’s hard to find and throughout summer when every night feels like Saturday night.

Santa Claus climbs down to the sand as crowds gather on Bondi Beach.Credit: Adam Pretty

This is why I moved to Bondi.

Day trippers should hit the wonderful streets a few blocks back from the busy beach where they can find second-hand bookshops, wonderful bakeries, amazing food and shopping that ranges from Vinnies to high-end designer goods.

Many of you would be familiar with all of the above but what weekend visitors don’t get to see and feel is the wonderful sense of community.

One of the advantages of being a local is you can duck down to the beach before and after the crowds.Credit: Louise Kennerley

Among the thousands of swimmers, surfers and Instagrammers, I can usually find a familiar face – someone whose child I have watched grow since daycare, someone walking their dog who stops to ask if I’m OK. These relationships take on an extra meaning when so many of the people you have met over the years have moved out of the area – back home overseas, or anywhere they can afford in Sydney.

But Bondi would not be nearly as special if not for the warm, talented, creative and crazy neighbours with whom we throw regular street parties.

This is why I stay in Bondi. That and the beach.

Best cafe? Until recently, the Heart Cafe by the Wayside Chapel. Like many of the great places in Bondi, it didn’t last.

Best restaurant? Simple and done right: Gelbison in Lambrock Street for a bowl of mussels. You’ll need lots of crusty bread to soak up the amazing tomato-based sauce. And a Nick’s Special pizza for good measure.

Best beach, park or pool? On a calm day, a dip off the boat ramp at Ben Buckler. Bring your mask or goggles. North Bondi is full of sea life – you might even spot a turtle if you’re lucky.

First place you take visitors? The point below Marks Park at South Bondi to show off this city’s amazing coastline. It still takes my breath away.

The breathtaking coastline from the southern walk to Marks Park.Credit: James Brickwood

Perfect night out in your suburb? After a late swim when the crowds have thinned out, watching the sun go down from the balcony at the North Bondi RSL.

What would make your suburb better? A Metro station. I don’t mind the idea of more people visiting the suburb. That’s part of what makes it so interesting and vibrant. What I do mind is having to sit in traffic to get out of Bondi. Sound familiar?

Best secret spot in your suburb? The cliffs and its hidey-holes just north of the golf course.

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Suggestions sought for South Yorkshire Local Heritage List - Yahoo News Australia

People have been invited to suggest places to be included on an extended list of local heritage sites.

The South Yorkshire Local Heritage List allows the local significance of a building or place to be taken into account in planning decisions.

Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley councils have agreed to extend funding for the scheme.

Councillor Ben Miskell, from Sheffield City Council, said more sites would be given "the significance they deserve".

The list is run by South Yorkshire Archaeology Service.

Mr Miskell said: "Since it was launched, the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List has proved incredibly popular, with a wide range of assets being added so far.

"It highlights the passion people and communities have for the assets that mean most to them and their city, as well as the wider region.

"It is fantastic that we have secured funding to continue the project which will ensure that more fantastic buildings, parks, areas and places will be given the significance they deserve."

Sheffield has a number of sites on the list, including Darnall Picture Palace, Cavendish Buildings in West Street, and Hobson Memorial Pavilion.

Click here to suggest a site for inclusion on the list.

---

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GOP House Candidate's Local Bridge Expert Faces Election Charges - Yahoo News Australia

How to deal with the aging Interstate 5 bridge connecting Vancouver, Washington, with Portland, Oregon, has long been a big issue in Pacific Northwest politics.

So it made sense Joe Kent, a Republican candidate for Washington’s third congressional district now represented by freshman Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), would feature on his website an interview with a local resident about the bridge.

But the man in the video has also been charged with violating a state law by lying about his residence to run for a seat in the state legislature, which the Perez campaign says undercuts his credibility.

“While Marie is bringing back major infrastructure wins for the district that were years in the making, Joe Kent is busy posting conspiracy theories online all day and using people accused of fraud as validators for his warped online worldview,” said Tim Gowen, Perez’s campaign manager.

“The voters want someone who will deliver, not spend his time angry on the internet.”

A phone message and an email left with the Kent campaign went unreturned.

A Kent-Perez race would be a rematch of one of the most watched 2022 races that saw Perez barely eke out a narrow win, with 50.1% of the vote. It would also be a test of the appeal of the dwindling population of moderate House Democrats versus a candidate who ran as an ardent Donald Trump supporter the first time around.

Prior to 2022, the district had been represented by Jamie Herrera Beutler, a moderate Republican who was one of 10 House Republicans to vote with House Democrats to impeach Trump in 2021 in the wake of the failed insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol. She lost to Kent after Trump endorsed him in the primary.

Perez is one of three co-chairs of the 10-member Blue Dog coalition in the House, a group of moderate, often rural Democrats that have seen their numbers shrink in the last decade. The group’s other co-chairs include Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska).

Kent, a former Green Beret, gained notice in 2022 for his ties to right-wing extremists personalities and groups. The Associated Press reported he had sought the support of white supremacist Nick Fuentes and appeared at a rally in support of jailed Jan. 6 attackers.

Kent’s website says he is “focused on restoring common sense Republican values and defeating the woke extremist Democrat Congresswoman Marie Perez.”

In the video in question, former airline pilot John Ley is interviewed by Kent on his campaign site as part of a series of videos called “Get Local,” meant to highlight Kent’s engagement with area issues. In the video, Ley calls himself “the local Clark County expert on transportation.”

Ley was charged in September with registering to vote and filing to be a candidate for the Washington state legislature in 2022 in a district different from where he lived. The criminal charge came more than a year after a judge had declared Ley ineligible when an opponent filed a challenge to Ley’s residency. Ley had claimed residency in the legislative district after renting a room from a friend in the district for $1 a month.

Ley has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyer has said the case amounts to a selective prosecution of a rarely enforced state law. He is currently scheduled for an April 2024 trial date.

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GOP House Candidate's Local Bridge Expert Faces Election Charges - Yahoo News Australia
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Nichols Place Darwin Local Court list, Thursday, December 21 - NT News

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Nichols Place Darwin Local Court list, Thursday, December 21  NT News
Nichols Place Darwin Local Court list, Thursday, December 21 - NT News
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Match Official Appointments: Isuzu UTE A-League 2023/24 Round 11 - Football Australia

Football Australia has confirmed the Match Official appointments for Round 11 of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2023/24 season.

On Sunday 7 January, Ben Abraham is set to officiate his 50^th A-League Men’s match as a referee, in the match between Western United and Melbourne City. Ben made his ALM refereeing debut in Round 4 of the 2019-20 season in the match between Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix. Ben will become the 19^th match official to reach 50 games as a referee in the ALM competition.

For the list of appointments from 4-7 January see below.

Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix			Thursday 4 January 2024
Coopers Stadium		7:15 PM (Local)		7:45 PM (AEDT)
Referee	Jonathan Barreiro	Fourth Official		Daniel Cook
Assistant Referee 1	George Lakrindis	VAR		Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistant Referee 2	Henry Day	AVAR		Kearney Robinson

 

 

Macarthur FC v Newcastle Jets			Friday 5 January 2024
Campbelltown Stadium		7:45 PM (Local)		7:45 PM (AEDT)
Referee	Tim Danaskos	Fourth Official		Nathan Shakespear
Assistant Referee 1	Owen Goldrick	VAR		Alex King
Assistant Referee 2	Greg Taylor	AVAR		Kearney Robinson

 

Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners			Saturday 6 January 2024
CommBank Stadium		5:30 PM (Local)		5:30 PM (AEDT)
Referee	Alex King	Fourth Official		Nathan Shakespear
Assistant Referee 1	Ryan Gallagher	VAR		Lara Lee
Assistant Referee 2	Andrej Giev	AVAR		Richard Naumovski

 

Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC			Saturday 6 January 2024
Suncorp Stadium		6:45 PM (Local)		7:45 PM (AEDT)
Referee	Daniel Elder	Fourth Official		Adam Kersey
Assistant Referee 1	Andrew Lindsay	VAR		Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistant Referee 2	Joey Lee	AVAR		Richard Naumovski

 

Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory			Saturday 6 January 2024
HBF Park		6:45 PM (Local)		9:45 PM (AEDT)
Referee	Lachlan Keevers	Fourth Official		Shane Skinner
Assistant Referee 1	Josh Mannella	VAR		Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistant Referee 2	Arvin Shanmuganathan	AVAR		Lara Lee

Western United v Melbourne City			Sunday 7 January 2024
TBC		5:00 PM (Local)		5:00 PM (AEDT)
Referee	Ben Abraham	Fourth Official		Adam Bavcar
Assistant Referee 1	David Walsh	VAR		Lara Lee
Assistant Referee 2	Peter Jaworski	AVAR		Kearney Robinson

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Match Official Appointments: Isuzu UTE A-League 2023/24 Round 11 - Football Australia
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NHL to keep 11 teams' local broadcasts on Bally - ESPN Australia

• Associated Press

Dec 21, 2023, 12:12 PM

The NHL and Diamond Sports Group, the largest owner of regional sports networks, have reached an agreement that will keep local broadcasts for 11 teams on Bally Sports through the end of this season.

The agreement, which was contained in a court filing made Wednesday, is subject to court approval. Diamond Sports has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the Southern District of Texas since it filed for protection in March. The company said in a financial filing last year that it had debt of $8.67 billion.

While there will be a reduction in rights payments for some teams, the local rights for those 11 franchises will revert back to the NHL at the end of this season.

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The agreement provides stability for fans, networks and teams after Major League Baseball had to take over the broadcasts of San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks games last season after agreements could not be reached.

The NHL teams that are currently on Bally are Anaheim, Carolina, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Tampa Bay.

Diamond also reached the same type of agreement with the NBA for the 15 teams under contract to the RSNs last month.

Diamond is also in discussions with Major League Baseball on reworked agreements for the 2024 season with as many as 11 teams, with the next court hearing scheduled for Jan. 10.

If successful, Diamond would have agreements with all of its professional sports teams end after the current or upcoming seasons, giving leagues and franchises a little more time to figure out a new path due to the possible implosion of regional sports networks.

Diamond is in discussions with Amazon about becoming a strategic partner, which could help it stave off liquidation. The Amazon-Diamond negotiations were first reported by the The Wall Street Journal.

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Billionaire Richard White spends $11m on Rolling Stone's local owner - The Australian Financial Review

Dec 21, 2023 – 10.46am

Australia’s wealthiest chief executive, WiseTech billionaire Richard White, has spent $11 million to bankroll the takeover of music publisher The Brag Media, which owns the local license to mastheads Rolling Stone and Variety.

Mr White, a former musician who used to repair guitars for AC/DC and The Angels, has doubled down on the music industry in the acquisition. He will own more than a third of ASX-listed Vinyl Group by funding its purchase of The Brag. It is his first foray into the world of media.

WiseTech billionaire Richard White. Peter Rae

The Brag licenses some of the biggest magazine and entertainment brands in the world – The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Rotten Tomatoes and HypeBeast, for example – for the local market. It also publishes the local edition of Rolling Stone and Variety on behalf of Penske Media Corporation. It makes money through sponsored content, music and editorial coverage, and events.

In June, Mr White bought a 9.7 per cent stake in what was then called Jaxsta Limited through his personal RealWise Group company. Three months later, Songtradr, the $880 million B2B music licensing company in which Mr White also owns a stake, bought a further 21 per cent.

Jaxsta, since rebadged as Vinyl Group, owns the namesake music credit database, music networking platform Vampr and online record store Vinyl.com. It is led by Josh Simons.

“I have watched closely as Josh has built Vinyl Group’s revenue and made substantial business gains since taking my initial investment,” Mr White said in a statement.

“I’ve also noted that Luke and his dedicated team at The Brag Media have rapidly grown Brag into one of Australia’s most influential media and creative businesses. There’s no doubt that iconic brands like Rolling Stone and Variety make sense and add value.”

The Brag Media chief executive Luke Girgis. 

RealWise will fund the acquisition through an $11 million placement and debt facility. If it is approved by Vinyl’s shareholders, Mr White will emerge with a further 28.9 per cent of Vinyl as a result, taking his stake to 34.8 per cent.

The Brag has flown somewhat under the radar as a media company. It claims to reach 10 million readers a month. The combined revenue of the Vinyl and The Brag would have been $9 million in the 2023 financial year.

The acquisition involves paying $8 million in cash, with another $2 million payable in cash or stock depending on The Brag hitting revenue and earnings targets in the 2024 calendar year. It needs to grow revenue to more than $12 million to qualify for the extra cash.

The Brag’s chief executive, Luke Girgis, has joined the company for a minimum of two years, receiving 5 million options upon completion of the transaction. “The next phase in the evolution of The Brag media will take place under the umbrella of Australia’s only ASX-listed music business,” Mr Girgis said.

Vinyl’s Mr Simons said he had identified “several impactful synergies” between Vinyl and The Brag, which would “deliver immediate cost efficiencies and revenue”.

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Billionaire Richard White spends $11m on Rolling Stone's local owner - The Australian Financial Review
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