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38-year-old message in a bottle washes up on beach

<p>A message in a bottle written almost 40 years ago has been discovered by a four-year-old at a beach in Perth. </p> <p>Meg Prideaux took her son Leo, 4, “looking for treasure” at the beach in their hometown of Lancelin, when he spotted the bottle with a rolled-up note inside.</p> <p>“We brought it home and we waited for my daughter and my husband to come home, but we couldn’t get it open,” she said.</p> <p>“There was a bit of corrosion and a few barnacles had started to grow, so it had been there for a while.”</p> <p>After a bit of trouble, they got the bottle open and unfurled the soggy, but still legible, letter and found it dated from 1985. </p> <p>The message had been written 39 years ago by then-teenagers Joanne Hunter and Louise Pocock, who were 15 when they wrote the note while on holiday. </p> <p>Their note came with a simple request — that anyone who finds the bottle send a return letter to the girls in suburban Perth.</p> <p>With the help of <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/message-in-a-bottle-thrown-into-sea-in-1985-washes-up-on-wa-beach-c-15876207" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a>, Meg and Leo Prideaux were able to track down Joanne Hunter, who is now Joanne Evans and aged 54.</p> <p>“I was like, ‘Oh my god. Is that really that?’ I haven’t thought about that in forever,” Evans said.</p> <p>“We wrote it at night and sealed it with wax and then we actually swam it out into the water because, at first, we threw it from the beach and it kept washing back in, so we swam out the next morning."</p> <p>“My family had a beach house directly across the road and Louise came with my family for the school holidays. She was always full of excitement and had such a great imagination, it was her idea to do it.”</p> <p>Pocock died of leukaemia six years ago but her sister, Sarah Martin, said she would have enjoyed “such a kick” knowing the message had been found.</p> <p>“Oh, she’d be so happy, she really would — especially that a little boy found it as well after 39 years just sitting in the sand,” Martin said.</p> <p>“She was a really great, fun, happy-go-lucky sort of person and really did well in her life, very artistic and creative, and she met a wonderful man and married him and had a beautiful little girl.</p> <p>“As time goes on, you feel like they’re slipping further away from you and then this message is such a wonderful thing that just came out of the blue.”</p> <p>The Prideaux family now plan to meet Evans to return the bottle and the message to its original author some time in the near future.</p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News / Prideaux family</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Mum shamed and denied food for bottle feeding her baby

<p>A Brisbane mother has been left feeling "devastated, guilty and enraged" after being targeted by a controversial rule after she took her baby to the emergency room. </p> <p>It was the middle of the night when Sarah Stoddart's 12-week-old daughter became extremely unwell. </p> <p>The baby, who Sarah had decided to bottle feed, was vomiting and running a temperature, prompting her worried mother to take her to the emergency department of Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane's north. </p> <p>Things started to go wrong for Sarah when she was handed a "welcome sheet" after arriving at the hospital.</p> <p>"They had circled and brought to my attention that only breastfeeding mothers were entitled to meals," she <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-mum-denied-food-at-hospital-for-not-breastfeeding-child/f8ea2db9-b448-4ce8-8dfb-6e65657cc5ab" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:told Nine News;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-rapid_p="12" data-v9y="1">told <em>Nine News</em></a>.</p> <p>"First of all [it] made me feel devastated and guilty but then quite enraged, that is a decision that is being made in this country and this state in 2023."</p> <p>Furious, Ms Stoddart claims staff eventually told her that they could "make an exception" and would "sneak through an approval" so that she could get fed.</p> <p>According to Sarah, her partner was at home looking after the couple's other kids, and the whole ordeal left her feeling guilty over a decision that was made for the health of their child.</p> <p>She added that mothers are "already struggling with enough" in the first trimester and "don't need the judgement from the government as to how they chose to feed their child".</p> <p>After speaking out about her treatment at the hospital and raising the issue with Metro North Health, the hospital has changed their policy.</p> <p>"The Prince Charles Hospital now provides meals to parents of children six months and under who are admitted into our care," Prince Charles Hospital said in a statement.</p> <p>"Parents of all patients admitted to the Paediatric Ward at The Prince Charles Hospital have access to food, water, tea and coffee. Further paid options, including fresh food vending machines, cafes and a stocked fridge, are accessible 24hrs a day."</p> <p>Queensland's Health Minister Shannon Fentiman she would work with other hospitals across the state to ensure a similar scenario does not occur again.</p> <p>"It shouldn't really matter whether you are breastfeeding or not, it should be about trying to make our parents who are doing the best they can to look after their sick kids as comfortable as possible," she said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News</em></p>

Caring

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"Honey, we are about to fight": Woman kicked off flight for hurling water bottle

<p dir="ltr">A woman who was told to get off a flight for not following the rules turned aggressive toward another passenger after she realised she was being filmed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Footage shared to Reddit shows a calm flight attendant asking the woman to take her dog off her lap on a flight to New York from Atlanta.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman became aggressive when she was told to get off the flight after refusing to take her dog off her lap. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh no, no, honey we are about to fight then.I didn’t f***ing do anything to you guys,” she can be heard saying.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My dog was sitting on my lap, I put him in the bag.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The traveller is then offered a refund on her ticket and once again asked to leave the flight before she swears at the flight attendant and everyone.</p> <p dir="ltr">“F**k you. F**k all of you,” she yells as she packs up her belongings. </p> <p dir="ltr">As she packs her bags, someone could be heard shouting at her to “get off the plane”. </p> <p dir="ltr">““I am! Shut the f**k up,” she yells back before noticing another passenger filming her and throws her water bottle at them. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Turn your f***ing phone off!” she yells.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Why is she recording me?” she asks another flight attendant.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Anyone can record anything. You just struck a passenger with a bottle,” the flight attendant responds.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nobody acting this way flies on a flight with us.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Social media users called the woman out for her disgusting behaviour saying she deserved to be kicked off the flight. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I love how she's wearing pigtails and acting like a first grader,” someone commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That dude was such a boss. Calm, cool, and collected the whole time and got her off the plane,” someone wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Now we wait for that person's footage, and also the footage of her getting arrested,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">Watch the footage <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/woman-unleashes-on-plane-throws-bottle-at-passenger/news-story/7887c8bb3bb4ece68aebaae13c7349e9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Reddit</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Tips on keeping wine fresh

<p>We’ve all been in the situation (once or twice) before where we’re the only one home one evening, decide to have one glass with dinner and don’t finish off the bottle. So how can you keep the rest of the bottle as fresh as possible? Here we take a look whether simply resealing the bottle is enough or, is it worthwhile investing in one of the various gadgets on the market.</p> <p>Most wine connoisseurs will tell you that wine is almost always best enjoyed on the day it is opened. You’ll find that some restaurants don’t bother with fancy resealing devices and use the cap or cork it came with, as they say that some wines last well into the next day. So why should you bother with one of these whizz bang gadgets? On the other hand, research shows that some restaurants use an argon gas preservation system and that it works really well.</p> <p>As you may have discovered yourself at home, wine doesn’t go off that quickly, per se, but it can lose its quality before becoming unpleasant. The villain to blame in this process is oxygen. If you’re a red wine drinker, you’ve likely heard that giving it time to breathe is a good thing. Well although a little air is often good for wine, the longer it is exposed to oxygen the more it changes. Some wines, typically robust reds, benefit from a day or two of “development” in an open bottle. But in most, fruit smells and flavours dissipate. The wine starts to oxidise and taste sharp and “vinegary”. That’s why wine-saving devices are typically designed to limit contact with air.</p> <p><strong>Winesave</strong><br />A user-friendly delivery system that uses gas that's used by many restaurants to form a protective “blanket” between the wine and the air in the bottle. The at-home version comes in a canister: you attach a tube to the nozzle to squirt the gas into the bottle before reapplying the original seal. Can keep wine well for at least five days.</p> <p><strong>Wine Shield</strong><br />A piece of flexible, circular plastic inserted into a partly drunk bottle to become a floating lid, claiming to keep wine fresh for up to five days after opening. Fiddly to insert – it’s done via the sachet in which each “shield” is packaged – but not hard once you have the knack. You then reapply the original seal. Will keep the wine in good condition for at least three days.</p> <p><strong>Vacu Vin</strong><br />This gadget is designed to suck air out of the bottle. Popular with wine critics, it vacuums out the air. While it is said to not be as great on day two as some of the other devices, it is better on day five than the others.</p> <p><strong>Screw cap</strong><br />In some cases the original metal seal that came with the bottle will keep the wine pleasant on day two but it won’t last until day five like some of the others. At least it is free, though, right?</p> <p><strong>Wine stopper</strong><br />Often made from stainless steel with a plastic interior, these don’t seem to do much. It’s a stretch to do anything that a cork (or screw cap) wouldn’t. So I guess this is a good option if you lose the cork or screw or you have trouble replacing it after you’ve finished.</p>

Food & Wine

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Vodka cruiser reveals giant new bottle

<p dir="ltr">There are plenty of Aussies who would have fond memories of dancing away with a Vodka Cruiser in hand. Fans will be excited to know that the popular ready-to-go drink has had a massive upgrade.</p> <p dir="ltr">In celebration of its 21st birthday and the reopening of dance floors across Australia, Vodka Cruiser will be giving 21 lucky Aussies a chance to get their hands on the impressive 3.1L Double Magnum bottles – available in fan-favourite flavours Wild Raspberry, Juicy Watermelon, and Lush Guava.</p> <p dir="ltr">The winners will be able to invite four friends each to the Magnum Cruiser experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">The humungous bottles, which replicate the classic Cruiser in a glamorous Champagne-esque design, can hold almost 11 standard Cruisers and require two bar staff to pop and pour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking about the launch, Brand Manager of Vodka Cruiser, Michael O’Donoghue said: “It’s been a tough few years for bars and clubs across the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">“While we weren’t able to celebrate Vodka Cruiser’s 21st birthday last year with the ups and downs of the pandemic, we are beyond excited to really get the party started in 2022 by launching the Cruiser Magnums with our partner venues.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Magnum Cruiser experience will be available in Sydney at the Marlborough Hotel; in Melbourne at Billboard The Venue; in South Australia at The Highway and The Jetty Bar; and in Cairns at Gilligans.</p> <p dir="ltr">To enter, you can head over to Vodka Cruiser’s entry page on <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/c7CACvl1lzI7y7gqLfzkuUy?domain=facebook.com">Facebook</a> and share your favourite flavour of vodka.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook.</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Message in a bottle found after 37 years

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A nine-year-old girl in Hawaii has </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/japanese-students-message-in-a-bottle-turned-up-in-hawaii/46ce3dd6-e6f4-45b9-8cd9-396f95d101a9" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">found a bottle</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> containing a message from 1984 … fully 37 years after Japanese high school students dropped it in the ocean.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The message inside the bottle, titled “Ocean current investigation”, was written by students and placed in the Kuroshio Current near Miyajima Island in western Japan.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The letter, dated July 1984, asked the finder to return the bottle to Choshi High School, in eastern Japan.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844278/https___prodstatic9net-24.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b86eb4b6483a434689df971911c6be14" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Choshi High School</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hawaiian local media named the finder as nine-year-old Abbie Graham, who made the discovery while on a family trip to the beach near the Hawaiian city of Hilo.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bottle had travelled some 7000 kilometres.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a press statement, the school said it had released 450 bottles in 1984 and an additional 300 in 1985 as part of its survey of ocean currents.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">51 of the bottles have been found so far, with the school adding that the most recent find was the first since 2002.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other bottles have washed up in Washington state in the US, Canada, the Philippines, and the central Pacific Marshall Islands.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mayumi Kanda, a former student at Choshi High School and a member of the science club in 1984, said she was surprised to hear of the bottle’s reappearance after so long.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Kanda said the news had “revived the nostalgic memory of my high school days”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The school said its pupils planned to send Abbie a thank-you note for returning the bottle, along with a miniature Tairyo-bata - a type of fisherman's flag used to indicate a good haul - as a gift.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty</span></em></p>

International Travel

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Woman necks bottle of red wine behind the wheel before smash

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>A Gold Coast man has apologised after sharing shocking footage of a woman drinking a bottle of wine in the driver's seat of her car.</p> <p>“She actually pulled out a full bottle of wine, sat back and drank the entire bottle in one go,” Sam Mangan, who took the video, told 9 News Gold Coast.</p> <p>“It was unbelievable.”</p> <p>Soon after the video was taken, the woman allegedly caused a three-car pile up and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.276, more than five times the legal limit.</p> <p>People were quick to slam the footage, saying people had no idea what she was going through.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CLbR_lIHybI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CLbR_lIHybI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by SAM MANGAN (@sammangan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Ever asked what she was going through and what drove her to do that?” Asked one person.</p> <p>“You posted about her without knowing any history … agreed she should not be drunk driving [but] you know nothing of what that woman has gone through that day,” the person said of the video, in which Mr Mangan doesn’t identify the woman or show her face.</p> <p>Despite Mangan initially saying that he didn't agree with the critics, he has changed his tune.</p> <p>“If you’re going to drink enough to (allegedly) be five-and-a-half times the legal limit and get behind the wheel of a car it becomes anyone’s business that’s going to stop you,” Mr Mangan said.</p> <p>“If you’re stupid enough to drink drive you deserve to be caught.”</p> <p>He later posted the video footage on his Instagram, saying that he was glad "this all ended with no one getting hurt".</p> </div> </div> </div>

News

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NSW acting premier hints at tighter measures after bottle shop outbreak

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Two employees infected with the coronavirus served thousands of customers at a BWS in Berala, which has prompted fears that the cluster is set to explode.</p> <p>Anyone who visited the bottle shop over the festive period is being considered a close contact and must get tested for coronavirus and isolate for 14 days.</p> <p>Acting Premier John Barilaro said that Sydney wouldn't hesitate to enforce a "Northern Beaches-style lockdown."</p> <p>“Yeah, absolutely,” he replied to<span> </span><em>Sunrise</em>.</p> <p>“We never take anything off the table.”</p> <p>He's also urged other states to step up when it comes to quarantine.</p> <p>“We, as a state, have had 105,000 passengers through Sydney, [we are] doing the heavy lifting,” he said.</p> <p>“[And] 45 to 50 per cent of those citizens returning to Australia belong to other states.</p> <p>“It’s like we’re the dry cleaner or car wash - we clean them up and send them off clean to other states.</p> <p>“What we do need is other states to start lifting their game and taking more people directly into their states rather than NSW being the laundromat,” Barilaro said.</p> <p>This comes after a south-western Sydney venue operator was fined for a major breach of public health orders as the venue allowed up to 700 guests to attend a wedding.</p> <p>Between 600 to 700 people attended the wedding in Fairfield, double the amount of patrons allowed at the venue under the NSW coronavirus restrictions.</p> <p>The operator will be fined $5,000 for the "high level" breach, according to a livid NSW Police Minister David Elliott.</p> <p>"The police will ensure he gets the $5000 (fine)," Mr Elliott told Today.</p> <p>"He can challenge that and risk himself six months in jail."</p> <p>"It is baffling that somebody would breach it (the public health order) so badly," Mr Elliott said.</p> <p>"This isn't one or two people coming from an area in lockdown or, you know, this isn't a dozen people that turned up unannounced, this is twice the amount of people that were allowed to attend that wedding reception in an area not far from Berala."</p> <p>"It is not about the fines or the punishment, this is about compliance, and people need to realise the police are enforcing a law to keep them healthy," Mr Elliott said.</p> <p>"We don't want to go back into lockdown. That's why we have introduced these Public Health Orders and I'm very disappointed that the Fairfield police area command has had to go through that over the last 48 hours.</p> <p>"It is time that western Sydney needs to be well and truly on its game when it comes to complying with Public Health Orders. This just does not make sense."</p> <p>He said there was now "potentially 700 people that have to monitor their own health and probably go get a COVID-19 test".</p> <p><em>Photo credits: Today</em></p> </div> </div> </div>

News

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Put the baking soda back in the bottle: Banned sodium bicarbonate ‘milkshakes’ don’t make racehorses faster

<p><em> </em></p> <p>The controversial and banned practice of giving horses baking soda “milkshakes” before a race doesn’t work, according to our analysis of the available research.</p> <p>Racing folklore says sodium bicarbonate milkshakes can boost racehorses’ endurance because the alkalinity of the baking soda helps counter the buildup of lactic acid in the blood when running.</p> <p>But our systematic research review, <a href="https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1bv2Z2dbxqYqLj">recently published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science</a> reveals milkshakes don’t boost horses’ athletic performance.</p> <p>This means any trainer still tempted to flout the ban on this tactic would be endangering their horses’ welfare and risking heavy sanctions over a practice that is basically snake oil.</p> <p>Despite the fun-sounding name, milkshakes are anything but. The process involves inserting a tube up the horse’s nose, down its throat and into the stomach, and then pumping in a concentrated solution of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in water.</p> <p>This can be stressful to the horse, and potential <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2004.08.014">side-effects</a> include lacerations to the nasal cavity, throat and oesophagus, gastrointestinal upset, and diarrhoea. It can even be fatal if the tube is mistakenly inserted into the trachea and the solution is pumped into the lungs.</p> <p>It’s little wonder Racing Australia has <a href="https://www.racingaustralia.horse/uploadimg/Australian_rules_of_Racing/Australian_Rules_of_Racing_01_March_2019.pdf">banned</a> the use of “alkalising agents” such as milkshakes on race day, with potentially career-ending ramifications for trainers caught doing it.</p> <p><strong>No boost after all</strong></p> <p>The effect of baking soda on athletic performance has been studied in human athletes for decades with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31191097">inconclusive results</a>, but has only been analysed in horses since the late 1980s.</p> <p>Our analysis included data from eight experimental trials featuring 74 horses. Overall, sodium bicarbonate administration in the hours before treadmill tests or simulated race trials did not improve horses’ running performance in either type of test.</p> <p>In fact, in treadmill exercise tests in which horses were not ridden by jockeys, sodium bicarbonate actually had a very small negative effect on running performance, albeit not a statistically significant one.</p> <p>Whereas human athletes might gain a placebo effect from sodium bicarbonate, this is unlikely to apply to horses who don’t understand the intended point of the milkshake. And while some racehorse trainers may be educated in exercise physiology and the importance of blood pH, others may believe they work simply because received wisdom and racing folklore say so.</p> <p>Racing aficionados steeped in tradition might respond with scepticism, or argue that research can’t replicate the unique conditions of race day. But given that our comprehensive analysis of a range of research trials shows no evidence that milkshakes work, we argue any recalcitrant trainers have a moral responsibility to listen to the science.</p> <p>Milkshakes are already banned. But our research shows they deliver no benefit anyway. Trainers who are happy to continue this illicit practice and run the gauntlet of potential sanctions should consider whether it is worth it at all, and whether instead they should reconsider on moral, medical and scientific grounds.</p> <p><em>Written by <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-denham-1165121">Joshua Denham</a>, RMIT University and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-hulme-401293">Adam Hulme</a>, University of the Sunshine Coast. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/put-the-baking-soda-back-in-the-bottle-banned-sodium-bicarbonate-milkshakes-dont-make-racehorses-faster-148907">The Conversation.</a> </em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Have you seen these people? 16 missing Aussies to feature on milk bottles

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Photos of 16 missing people from all around Australia will be featured on milk bottles in a new joint campaign with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) and Canberra Milk.</p> <p>The profiles of 16 long-term missing people will be printed on 1 litre bottles and their stories will be shared on social media.</p> <p>"One person featured in last year's Canberra Milk campaign was located." AFP Assistant Commissioner Lesa Gale said.</p> <p>"It is initiatives like these that remind people that missing persons are real people, and this is something that needs to be spoken about more."</p> <p>Relatives of the missing people are on board with the campaign, saying that it brings them hope that their loved one might be found.</p> <p>"Our missing you is deepened by that of not knowing where you are. But campaigns like this prove we are not alone in our search," Jason Sallese, son of long-term missing Nicola Sallese, said.</p> <p>The 16 people that will be featured on the milk bottles are:</p> <ul> <li><strong>David Abuoi, ACT</strong><span> </span>who has been missing in Canberra on July 10, 2012</li> <li><strong>Laura Haworth, ACT</strong><span> </span>who has been missing since January 5, 2008 after she disappeared from Queanbeyan in NSW</li> <li><strong>Robert Jacob, ACT<span> </span></strong>who was last seen on November 12, 2015 in the ACT</li> <li><strong>Ruth Ridley, NSW</strong><span> </span>who was last seen on November 18, 2019 travelling from her home in Port Macquarie to Tumbarumba</li> <li><strong>Kylee-Ann Schaffer, NSW</strong><span> </span>who was last seen on September 11, 2004 when she went to a party at Willawarren</li> <li><strong>John Brown, QLD,<span> </span></strong>who was last seen on June 15, 2016</li> <li><strong>Ronya Livoni, NT</strong><span> </span>who was last seen on March 10, 2980</li> <li><strong>Richard Roe, NT<span> </span></strong>who was last seen on November 2, 2016</li> <li><strong>Danny Walker, QLD</strong><span> </span>who was last seen on May 21, 2008</li> <li><strong>Christine Redford, SA</strong><span> </span>who was last seen at her home on June 30, 1998</li> <li><strong>Eve Askew, TAS<span> </span></strong>who was last seen by her family on November 16, 1991</li> <li><strong>Nicola (Nick) Sallese, TAS</strong><span> </span>who has not been seen since November 17, 2008</li> <li><strong>Andrew Oleenik, VIC</strong><span> </span>who was last seen in Queenscliff on March 7, 2005</li> <li><strong>Lorrin Whitehead, VIC</strong><span> </span>who was last seen on February 8, 2013</li> <li><strong>Dragon Jankovic, WA<span> </span></strong>who was last seen since March 10, 2019</li> <li><strong>Josephine Jennings, WA<span> </span></strong>who was has not been seen since September 1995 </li> </ul> <p><em>Photo credit  </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/missing-australians-featured-milk-bottles-second-year" target="_blank"><em>Australian Federal Police</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div>

Legal

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Coles customer’s “gross and unsanitary” find in water bottle

<p>A small plastic object has been found floating inside a Coles branded water bottle by a shopper who described the discovery as “gross and unsanitary”.</p> <p>The 1.5 litre bottle was originally supposed to contain nothing but Australian spring water, but somehow became contaminated with two small items resembling a piece of machinery.</p> <p>The customer came across the object while drinking the water, as it ended up in their mouth and left them feeling “nauseous”.</p> <p>“I felt a bit nauseous for a little bit after it, just thinking about it, but nothing major,” the customer told<span> </span><em>Yahoo News Australia.</em></p> <p>Taking to Facebook, the customer wrote “it was not (a) pleasant surprise” when they realised the foreign object ended up in their mouth.</p> <p><img style="width: 365.4135338345865px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835943/screen-shot-2020-05-05-at-111356-am.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e510aadd81f648db8ecaef6838c6d2a8" /></p> <p>Recounting the incident, the shopper said they bought the eight pack of water bottles from Parkmore supermarket, in Keysborough, southeast of Melbourne a while ago.</p> <p>Only one bottle appeared to have been contaminated.</p> <p>They said despite the unpleasant experience, it would not keep them from buying the same product in the future.</p> <p>“I see it as an isolated incident, the likelihood of a recurrence is extremely unlikely, so I don't see it preventing me from purchasing it again,” the customer said.</p> <p>“I'll just have to be more vigilant in checking the bottles prior to purchasing.”</p> <p>A Coles spokesperson confirmed to<span> </span><em>Yahoo News Australia</em><span> </span>the incident would be investigated.</p> <p>“We have responded to this customer and our quality team will investigate. Coles encourages customers to bring back any product they are not happy with for a full refund,” they said.</p>

Food & Wine

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Recycling plastic bottles is good but reusing them is better

<p>Last week <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/woolworths-to-be-first-in-australia-with-zerowaste-food-delivery-system/news-story/8fb2f4018a2b0d25a63c58ba8b12a19b#.mo33b">Woolworths announced</a> a new food delivery system, in collaboration with US company TerraCycle, that delivers grocery essentials in reusable packaging.</p> <p>The system, called Loop, lets shoppers buy products from common supermarket brands in reusable packaging.</p> <p>As Australia works out how to meet the national packaging target for 100% of Australian packaging to be <a href="http://www.joshfrydenberg.com.au/guest/mediaReleasesDetails.aspx?id=562">recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025</a>, programs like this offer an opportunity to overhaul how plastic packaging is produced, used and recycled.</p> <p><strong>Recycling alone is not the silver bullet</strong></p> <p>Plastic packaging, most of which is for <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/3f275bb3-218f-4a3d-ae1d-424ff4cc52cd/files/australian-plastics-recycling-survey-report-2017-18.pdf">food and beverages</a>, is the fastest growing category of plastic use.</p> <p>In Australia <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/3f275bb3-218f-4a3d-ae1d-424ff4cc52cd/files/australian-plastics-recycling-survey-report-2017-18.pdf">less than 10%</a> of this plastic packaging is recycled, compared with 70% for paper and cardboard packaging.</p> <p>Of the <a href="http://www.sita.com.au/media/publications/02342_Plastics_Identification_Code.pdf">seven categories of plastic</a>, recycling of water bottles (PET) and milk bottles (HDPA) is most effective, yet recycling rates remain relatively low, around 30%.</p> <p>Other hard plastics (PVC, PS) and soft or flexible plastics, such as clingfilm and plastic bags, present significant challenges for recyclers. In the case of soft plastics, although recycling options are available, the use of additives known as plasticisers – used to make the hard plastic soft and malleable – often make products <a href="https://www.packagingcovenant.org.au/documents/item/2179">recycled out of soft plastics</a> weak, non-durable, and unable to be recycled further.</p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/we-cant-recycle-our-way-to-zero-waste-78598">Some researchers</a> argue recycling actually represents a <a href="http://www.greenlifestylemag.com.au/features/2936/disposable-drink-bottles-plastic-vs-glass-vs-aluminium">downgrading process</a>, as plastic packaging is not always recycled into new packaging, owing to contamination or diminished quality.</p> <p>Even where single-use plastic packaging can be effectively recycled, it often isn’t. The more single-use plastics that are produced, the higher the chance they will enter the ocean and other environments where their <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-02-27/plastic-and-plastic-waste-explained/8301316">plasticiser chemicals leach out</a>, harming wildlife populations and the humans who depend on them.</p> <p>Zero Waste Europe recently updated its <a href="https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/warr-strategy/the-waste-hierarchy">Waste Hierarchy</a> to emphasise avoiding packaging in the first instance, and to encourage reuse over recycling.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299986/original/file-20191103-88399-1hlgzdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299986/original/file-20191103-88399-1hlgzdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">The zero waste hierarchy for a circular economy.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://zerowasteeurope.eu/2019/05/a-zero-waste-hierarchy-for-europe/" class="source">Zero Waste Europe</a></span></p> <p><strong>Getting reuse right</strong></p> <p>For a reusable product to be more environmentally sustainable than a single-use product, it must promote the use of less energy and resources in our daily routines.</p> <p>Although the uptake of products such as reusable cups and shopping bags have increased, these types of reusable items have attracted criticism. If used correctly, these products represent a positive change. However, <a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-how-many-times-you-actually-need-to-reuse-your-shopping-bags-101097">some research suggests</a> these products can be less sustainable than the single-use items they are replacing if people treat them like disposable items and do not reuse them enough.</p> <p>For example, if you regularly buy new reusable bags at the supermarket, that potentially has a greater environmental impact than using “single-use” plastic bags.</p> <p>To really reduce plastic packaging, we need to find ways to alter the routines that involve plastic packaging, rather than directly substituting individual products (such as reusable bags for single-use ones).</p> <p><strong>Developing new reusable packaging systems</strong></p> <p>Redesigning ubiquitous plastic packaging means understanding why it is so useful. For food packaging, its functions might include:</p> <ol> <li> <p>allowing food to travel from producer to consumer while maintaining its freshness and form</p> </li> <li> <p>enabling the food to be kept on a shelf for an extended period of time without becoming inedible</p> </li> <li> <p>allowing the brand to display various nutritional information, branding and other product claims.</p> </li> </ol> <p>So how might these functions be met without disposable plastic packaging?</p> <p><a href="https://loopstore.com/how-it-works">TerraCycle Loop</a>, the business model that Woolworths has announced it will partner with, is currently also trialling services in the United States and France. They have partnered with postal services and large food and personal care brands including Unilever, Procter &amp; Gamble, Clorox, Nestlé, Mars, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo.</p> <p>Customers order products online, from ice-cream to juice and shampoo, with a small container deposit. These items are delivered to their house, and collected again with the next delivery. The containers are washed and taken back to the manufacturers for refill. The major participating brands have all redesigned their packaging to participate in the program.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299987/original/file-20191103-88403-1n63f5v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299987/original/file-20191103-88403-1n63f5v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">TerraCycle Loop reusable packaging.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://loopstore.com/how-it-works" class="source">TerraCycle Loop</a></span></p> <p>This model works because it is not replacing products one-for-one, but creating a new product <em>system</em> to allow people to easily integrate reuse into their daily routines.</p> <p>We can examine the function of single use plastic packaging in takeaway food in a similar way. The purpose of takeaway food packaging is to let us enjoy a meal at home or on the move without having to cook it ourselves or sit in a restaurant. So how might these functions be achieved without disposable packaging?</p> <p>Australian company <a href="https://returnr.org/">RETURNR</a> has addressed this with a system in which cafes partner with food delivery services. Customers buy food in a RETURNR container, pay a deposit with the cost of their meal, and then return the container to any cafe in the network.</p> <p>The Kickstarter campaign <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zeroco/zero-co-win-the-war-on-waste-at-your-place">Zero Co</a>, is offering a similar model for a resuse service that covers kitchen, laundry and bathroom products.</p> <p>Making reuse <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/our-research/institute-sustainable-futures/news/developing-alternatives">easy and convenient</a> is crucial to the success of these systems.</p> <p>If Australia is to meet our national packaging targets, we need to prioritise the elimination of unnecessary packaging. Although recycling is likely to remain crucial to keeping plastic waste out of landfill in the near future, it should only be pursued when options higher up the waste hierarchy – such as reuse – have been ruled out.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/126339/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-wakefield-rann-321286">Rachael Wakefield-Rann</a>, Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jenni-downes-12549">Jenni Downes</a>, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia (Monash Sustainable Development Institute), <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-florin-160370">Nick Florin</a>, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/recycling-plastic-bottles-is-good-but-reusing-them-is-better-126339">original article</a>.</em></p>

Technology

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San Francisco International Airport to ban plastic water bottles

<p><span>Travellers flying out of San Francisco International airport will no longer be able to buy plastic-bottled water before their flight.</span></p> <p><span>Starting August 20, the airport (SFO) will only allow water to be sold in glass, recycled aluminium or certified compostable materials. The new rule will apply to the airport’s convenience stores, restaurants and vending machines.</span></p> <p><span>While travellers are still prohibited from bringing filled water bottles from outside, they can bring empty disposable plastic water bottles to refill at one of over 100 water hydration stations installed at the airport. </span></p> <p><span>The move, which follows the ban on single-use food utensils in March, is part of SFO’s goal of becoming the world’s first <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/02/business/plastic-water-bottle-ban-sfo-trnd/index.html">zero-waste airport</a> by 2021. </span></p> <p><span>“We waited until now because a few years back there was really no market in place to provide an alternative to water in a plastic bottle,” said Doug Yakel, SFO’s public information officer.</span></p> <p><span>“This is a big move for the airport … it just further supports our green initiative.”</span></p> <p><span>Yakel said he hopes the rule can encourage more manufacturers to use <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/02/san-francisco-international-airport-plastic-water-bottle-ban">plastic-free packaging</a>. </span></p> <p><span>“We’re hoping that as the demand from retailers increases, there’s an increasing supply of water that’s bottled in something recyclable,” Yakel said. “We’re hoping to drive that industry as well.”</span></p>

International Travel

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The 4 things you will ALWAYS find in a cruise expert's suitcase

<p><strong>1. Highlighter</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Believe it or not, a highlighter on a cruise is not that common to come across – so pack one! Cruises always hand out programs, itineraries and other handy pamphlets and it will be easier to highlight things of interest to you. All the papers you receive really add up, so while this tip may seem silly – it WILL help!</span></p> <p><strong>2. Ziplock bags / plastic bags</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Snacking is a common occurrence. If you’re travelling with children, they may get peckish while on the islands, in the rooms or by the pool so pack a few little snacks in a ziplock bag at the buffet so they never need to leave your sight. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plastic bags are also a big help for any wet clothes or towels you don’t have the chance to wash or dry out while on your cruise. </span></p> <p><strong>3. Refillable water bottle</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This tip is a must as water bottles cost a lot on the ship! While water itself is free as well as some juices, having a water bottle will be the lifesaver you didn’t know you needed while lying underneath the sun or while on the islands. </span></p> <p><strong>4. Lanyard</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lanyards are very handy when you’re onboard as the whole ship is cashless – you will have to pay for everything with a cruise-given card. So instead of paying $8-10 at the cruise shops, bring your own (it is a lot cheaper if you’re a big group).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What are some of the little things you pack in your suitcase for a cruise? Let us know in  the comments below. </span></p>

Cruising

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Research shows weekly bottle of wine increases risk of cancer

<p>Bad news for wine drinkers. Research conducted by experts at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Bangor University and University of Southampton have discovered that women drinking one bottle of wine per week is equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes a week.</p> <p>The habit contributes to the risk of cancer. Men who drink one bottle of wine a week have an equal cancer risk of 5 cigarettes a week.</p> <p>The results were published in the <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-6576-9"><em>BMC Public Health medical journal</em></a>, which revealed that out of 1000 non-smoking women who indulged in wine, 14 developed cancer. The same applied to men.</p> <p>Dr Theresa Hyde, an author of the study wrote: “We must first be absolutely clear that this study is not saying that drinking alcohol in moderation is in any way equivalent to smoking.”</p> <p>She also clarifies that the study relates to those who drink one bottle of wine a week throughout their lifetime.</p> <p>Sophia Lowes, from Cancer Research UK told <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/weekly-bottle-of-wine-has-cancer-risk-of-up-to-10-cigarettes-11676929"><em>SkyNews</em></a> that, "Research is clear - the less a person drinks, the lower the risk of cancer. Small changes like having more alcohol-free days can make a big difference to how much you drink.”</p> <p>So, to put it simply, reduce the habit of smoking and drinking, and live a healthier life.</p>

Body

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Australian Open’s official water bottles spark outrage

<p>The Australian Open’s official choice of bottled water has baffled the public for the second year in a row.</p> <p>As fans came out to watch the first day of the Melbourne tennis tournament on Monday, they found something strange about the bottled water made available by the Open organisers.</p> <p>“Turns out the ‘official water of the Australian Open’ is Chinese,” reporter Rachel Baxendale posted on Twitter. “In what universe do we need to import bottled water?”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Just bought a bottle of water at the tennis. Turns out the "official water of the <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustralianOpen</a>" is Chinese. In what universe do we need to import bottled water? <a href="https://t.co/HGYDqoawRr">pic.twitter.com/HGYDqoawRr</a></p> — Rachel Baxendale (@rachelbaxendale) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachelbaxendale/status/1084746524259577856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>The water came from the Shenzhen-based brand Ganten, which has also sponsored the International Volleyball Federation and soccer team Juventus.</p> <p>Senator Derryn Hinch chimed in on the Twitter post, suggesting the lucrative nature of the sponsorship.</p> <p>“In a universe where the deal was worth millions of dollars a year to Tennis Australia,” Hinch said.</p> <p>Many Aussies were disappointed that the organisers did not tap an Australian brand, while others questioned the need to provide bottled water at all, given the availability of clean water fountains.</p> <p>This is the Open’s second year with Ganten, after partnering with US brand Titan Fitness Water in 2016 and Aussie-made Frantelle in 2017.</p> <p>In response to the same controversy last year, Tennis Australia said the Open had “a long history of partnering with international brands” given its “global” nature.</p> <p>“Australian Open … attracted fans from 72 countries and was broadcast on 65 channels to more than 220 territories and 900 million households,” said the governing body.</p> <p>“It is a truly global event … The Australian Open continues to expand its global reach and partnerships, which helps to grow the sport at all levels in Australia.”</p> <p>Tennis Australia has not commented on the continued partnership this year.</p>

News

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The Queen's simple $5 hack for getting a good night's sleep

<p>There are few things more frustrating than not being able to get to sleep – and stay asleep. But there could be a very majestic, and simple, way to help you nod off.</p> <p>Queen Elizabeth II’s method of choice is very reasonably priced, not to mention very comforting, even by its very mention. She uses a hot water bottle for a good night’s sleep, placed between the sheets to make her bed nice and cosy, according to <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://homes.nine.com.au/2018/10/19/11/59/queen-elizabeth-sleeping-hack?app=applenews" target="_blank">9Honey</a></em>.</p> <p>She may not need to carry a passport, but this sleep hack is a must-have in her luggage while travelling, wrote historian Robert K. Massie in a <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/1992/10/queen-elizabeth-199210" target="_blank">Vanity Fair</a></em> profile on Queen Elizabeth, as are other comforts like her feather pillow, favourite china tea set, and even her own white kid toilet seat.</p> <p>And at just $5 at Kmart, it’s an affordable way to see if a hot water bottle could help you if you have trouble sleeping.</p> <p><img style="width: 480px; height: 480px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821498/water-bottle.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0cb88f355ec54afbb928e3e10f8ce7e7" /></p> <p>But take care when using one, says <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.productsafety.gov.au/about-us/videos/hot-water-bottles-the-hidden-dangers" target="_blank">Product Safety Australia</a>, to avoid burns. It advises <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/aussie-mums-dire-warning-after-hot-water-bottle-explodes-on-4-year-old-son" target="_blank" title="buying a new water bottle each year">buying a new water bottle each year,</a> and not to pour boiling water directly from a kettle as it can damage and weaken the rubber the bottle is made of. Also, be sure to cover the bottle with a towel or fitted covering, and use it to heat the bed and remove it when you get in.</p> <p>The royal water bottle is such a necessity for a comfy sleep for the Queen that she’s even been known to fill it herself when a housemaid neglected to do so, according to the <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2624790/The-Queens-missing-hot-water-bottle-knives-minder-Scouse-dockers-daughters-growing-power-sparked-mutiny-stairs.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a></em>. </p> <p>So if this sleep hack helps you have a restful night, you can thank Her Majesty for that.</p> <p>What remedies help you sleep? Let us know in the comment section below.</p>

Caring

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New test results: Bottled water is LESS healthy than tap water

<p>You could be doing more harm than good by choosing “pure and natural” bottled water over tap water, as new figures reveal some bottled water contain dangerous levels of acid.</p> <p>Water straight from the tap ranked among the best quality for drinking in Australia when compared to market leading water brands like Pump and Mount Franklin.</p> <p>In the season two premiere of ABC’s <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/war-on-waste/">War on Waste</a></em></strong></span> popular water brands were put to the test, comparing them to Gold Coast water in a Griffith University’s testing labs.</p> <p>Australian tap water is well-regulated to ensure it’s safe to drink but bottled water is classified as a food product and not subject to the same controls, which means quality can vary depending on the brand.</p> <p>Tests show that when it came to mineral content, calcium and magnesium, tap water had the highest concentration out of all brands, except Fiji.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/3ed09c3e766146edd3aa1646ddf78e12" alt="The first test revealed Gold Coast tap water had higher levels of minerals than several of the brands. Picture: ABC" width="650" height="366" /></p> <p>Water scientist Dr Fred Leusch also looked at the pH levels or acidity, with a seven being neutral and any number below considered too acidic and potentially harmful for teeth enamel.</p> <p>Tests found three popular bottled waters – Mount Franklin, Mount Franklin lightly sparkling and Pump – contained below safe levels of PH, respectively 4.8, 3.7 and 4.6.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/ebef3dbd9cdb9f61c181ec8787db17dd" alt="The red coloured figures show the brands that had higher acidity because they were below the neutral level. Picture: ABC" width="650" height="366" /></p> <p>“Below four is something that does damage your enamel,” Dr Leusch said.</p> <p>“We’re in the range of Coke and coffee — we know these are not great for our teeth.</p> <p>“Tap water should really be marketed as mineral water.”</p> <p>Last night’s episode of <em>War on Waste</em> also highlighted how Sydney-based Nature’s Best is essentially charging customers for packaging, as the water, although treated, comes straight from the tap.</p> <p>Labelled as “pure, safe, Australian water”, Dr Leusch said: “I find the name ironic — Nature’s Best, pure, safe Australian — it’s an acknowledgment that tap water’s safe,” he said.</p> <p>“In the end, I reckon when you’re buying this, most of the cost is the plastic container. What’s inside is just worth 0.1 of a cent.”</p> <p>For people who avoid fluoride in their water, it’s in the bottled stuff too, with the tests finding all bottled water containing some fluoride.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/349aa96d1222c41cae7f4c435b70146f" alt="Even bottled water had fluoride in it, with the Nature’s Best brand having slightly more than the tap water. Picture: ABC" width="650" height="366" /></p> <p>“It’s a chemical found in rocks and so if that groundwater has been in contact with fluoride containing rocks, it will have naturally higher concentrations of fluoride.”</p> <p>Dr Leusch said it was easy for people to get confused and fall for market “gimmicks” used to persuade them into buying things they don't truly need.     </p> <p>“All our water is eventually from the same place, it’s a closed cycle,” he said.</p> <p>“The water that fills our rivers is actually sometimes fed from the ground, sometimes fed from rainwater — it’s all the same water in the end.</p> <p>“Because they’re regulated as food the words can have a very specific meaning — spring water must really mean it’s sourced from groundwater. Pure water is more generic than that and it can actually be tap water that has been filtered and bottled into this.”</p> <p> </p>

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Aussie mum's dire warning after hot water bottle explodes on 4-year-old son

<p>A Queensland mother has warned other Aussies of the dangers of using a hot water bottle, after one exploded on her four-year-old son.</p> <p>Harmony Arrowsmith’s son was rushed to hospital in Maleny on the Sunshine Coast with second degree burns after a hot water bottle exploded.</p> <p>The boiling water leaked onto his upper things and groin area, narrowly missing his genital area.</p> <p>She posted photos of her son’s horrific injuries to a Sunshine Coast community Facebook page to warn other parents.</p> <p>“I'd never thought to check our hot water bottles and I am full of regret,” Ms Arrowsmith posted.</p> <p>“Please PLEASE check your hot water bottles before using them or giving them to your little ones and make sure you know what to do in the unfortunate circumstance something like this happens.”</p> <p>After her was taken to Maleny Hospital he was admitted to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane for further treatment to his wounds.</p> <p>He was released 10 hours later and it is expected that his burns will not leave any scars.</p> <p>“I was shocked when the nurses told me how common these injuries are – I hope sharing this will prevent some from happening,” the mum posted.</p> <p>“I'm counting my lucky stars and so grateful, it could've been so much worse.”</p> <p>After the horrifying incident, Ms Arrowsmith realised the water bottle was three years old and was unaware they needed to be replaced regularly.</p> <p>“I had the [bladder] wrapped in a fluffy case and I'd never taken it out to check. I'll never make that mistake again,” she told the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-17/hot-water-bottle-warning-winter-safety/10003248">ABC</a></strong></span>. </p> <p>Do you regularly use hot water bottles? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

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$7 Aldi shiraz beats $350 bottle of wine to win gold medal

<p>Wine isn’t always a case of the more you spend the better the bottle, and nowhere is this more the case than with Aldi’s offering of cheap, award-winning drops.</p> <p>The latest Aldi wine to beat out its more expensive competitors is the One Road South Australian Heathcote Shiraz 2016, which scored a Gold Medal at the 2017 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge. And the best part? It only costs $7.</p> <p><img width="500" height="484" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45637/aldi-in-text_500x484.jpg" alt="Aldi -in -text"/></p> <p><em>The award-winning wine. Image credit: Aldi</em></p> <p>Aldi’s impressive drop is by far the cheapest award winner at the event, with the next cheapest wine to win a gold medal coming in at almost twice the cost at $14.99.</p> <p>Amazingly, Aldi’s $7 vino scored higher than silver medallist Bird in Hand 2013 MAC Shiraz. Which, in case you’re wondering, normally retails for around about $350 a bottle.</p> <p>Have you ever tried Aldi wines? What did you think?</p> <p> </p>

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