'We both cried': Australians of the Year call for more nominations in 2026 awards
Queensland scientist Dr Katrina Wruck and Brother Olly Pickett, co-founder of Wheelchair for Kids, have also urged other Aussies to nominate someone they know for next year's awards.
Nominations for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards are open until midnight on July 31.
You can nominate someone here.
For Young Australian of the Year Dr Wruck, receiving the honour finally gave her "validation" after years of self-doubt.
"It showed me that I can do really hard things and while I'm doing it I can also talk to other young people about my journey, which hasn't been easy but it's been worthwhile," she said.
"But I don't think things that are easy are really worthwhile."
For Senior Australian of the Year, Brother Olly Pickett, the award has had some beautiful spin-offs for vulnerable children around the globe.
For a start, more people learnt about the charity Wheelchair for Kids, which provides free wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries. The wheelchairs are assembled in a factory in WA by retirees.
Brother Olly said in the weeks after winning Senior Australian of the Year, he was approached by a local woman who wanted to donate 1000 wheelchairs.
"I said, 'You do realise that's going to cost you $275,000?'," Brother Pickett said.
"She said, 'Yes, I've come into a bit of money'. She said, 'I saw the ad in the paper and it got to me. I want to help 1000 little kids'. I said, 'That's amazing'."
She was serious, too, because she had a representative of her bank with her to make the transfer.
"Just to see the smiles on the kids' faces. That you're able to help someone who you might never meet," he said.
"We all want to help these little kids. Otherwise, they'd be all lying on the ground. And so it gives them some dignity in their life."
Dr Wruck is neurodivergent and a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman.
Based on the Gold Coast, she started the profit-for-purpose business Nguki Kula Green Labs, developing the world's first reusable laundry system, which transforms low-value rocks into eco-friendly detergent.
Since winning the Young Australian of the Year, industry had reached out to her to develop the detergent commercially, something that was still in the works.
But, perhaps, the biggest impact had been on other people who could see themselves in her.
"I had a mum message me on my Facebook and she said, 'I watched your [Australian of the Year] speech with my daughter. She's neurodivergent and we both cried because she realised she could be a scientist'," Dr Wruck said.
"Those kinds of messages are just everything."
Dr Wruck and Brother Olly on July 2 attended a special event for subscribers of The Canberra Times and had dinner at Government House with Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
They were due to appear on Sunrise on Thursday morning from the Stepping Stones cafe at Strathnairn, with the business's co-founders Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello who were the recipients of the 2025 Australia's Local Hero award.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open again in the categories of Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero.
Brother Olly said he already had a nomination in mind, while Dr Wruck also urged people to put forward someone they knew.
"Definitely nominate them," she said, adding that the other nominees for 2025 Young Australian of the Year had become her firm friends.
"A really, beautiful supportive bunch," she said.
The 2025 Young Australian of the Year and the Senior Australian of the Year while on a visit to Canberra this week have spoken about the life-changing effect of receiving the honour just over five months ago.
Queensland scientist Dr Katrina Wruck and Brother Olly Pickett, co-founder of Wheelchair for Kids, have also urged other Aussies to nominate someone they know for next year's awards.
Nominations for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards are open until midnight on July 31.
You can nominate someone here.
For Young Australian of the Year Dr Wruck, receiving the honour finally gave her "validation" after years of self-doubt.
"It showed me that I can do really hard things and while I'm doing it I can also talk to other young people about my journey, which hasn't been easy but it's been worthwhile," she said.
"But I don't think things that are easy are really worthwhile."
For Senior Australian of the Year, Brother Olly Pickett, the award has had some beautiful spin-offs for vulnerable children around the globe.
For a start, more people learnt about the charity Wheelchair for Kids, which provides free wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries. The wheelchairs are assembled in a factory in WA by retirees.
Brother Olly said in the weeks after winning Senior Australian of the Year, he was approached by a local woman who wanted to donate 1000 wheelchairs.
"I said, 'You do realise that's going to cost you $275,000?'," Brother Pickett said.
"She said, 'Yes, I've come into a bit of money'. She said, 'I saw the ad in the paper and it got to me. I want to help 1000 little kids'. I said, 'That's amazing'."
She was serious, too, because she had a representative of her bank with her to make the transfer.
"Just to see the smiles on the kids' faces. That you're able to help someone who you might never meet," he said.
"We all want to help these little kids. Otherwise, they'd be all lying on the ground. And so it gives them some dignity in their life."
Dr Wruck is neurodivergent and a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman.
Based on the Gold Coast, she started the profit-for-purpose business Nguki Kula Green Labs, developing the world's first reusable laundry system, which transforms low-value rocks into eco-friendly detergent.
Since winning the Young Australian of the Year, industry had reached out to her to develop the detergent commercially, something that was still in the works.
But, perhaps, the biggest impact had been on other people who could see themselves in her.
"I had a mum message me on my Facebook and she said, 'I watched your [Australian of the Year] speech with my daughter. She's neurodivergent and we both cried because she realised she could be a scientist'," Dr Wruck said.
"Those kinds of messages are just everything."
Dr Wruck and Brother Olly on July 2 attended a special event for subscribers of The Canberra Times and had dinner at Government House with Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
They were due to appear on Sunrise on Thursday morning from the Stepping Stones cafe at Strathnairn, with the business's co-founders Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello who were the recipients of the 2025 Australia's Local Hero award.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open again in the categories of Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero.
Brother Olly said he already had a nomination in mind, while Dr Wruck also urged people to put forward someone they knew.
"Definitely nominate them," she said, adding that the other nominees for 2025 Young Australian of the Year had become her firm friends.
"A really, beautiful supportive bunch," she said.
The 2025 Young Australian of the Year and the Senior Australian of the Year while on a visit to Canberra this week have spoken about the life-changing effect of receiving the honour just over five months ago.
Queensland scientist Dr Katrina Wruck and Brother Olly Pickett, co-founder of Wheelchair for Kids, have also urged other Aussies to nominate someone they know for next year's awards.
Nominations for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards are open until midnight on July 31.
You can nominate someone here.
For Young Australian of the Year Dr Wruck, receiving the honour finally gave her "validation" after years of self-doubt.
"It showed me that I can do really hard things and while I'm doing it I can also talk to other young people about my journey, which hasn't been easy but it's been worthwhile," she said.
"But I don't think things that are easy are really worthwhile."
For Senior Australian of the Year, Brother Olly Pickett, the award has had some beautiful spin-offs for vulnerable children around the globe.
For a start, more people learnt about the charity Wheelchair for Kids, which provides free wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries. The wheelchairs are assembled in a factory in WA by retirees.
Brother Olly said in the weeks after winning Senior Australian of the Year, he was approached by a local woman who wanted to donate 1000 wheelchairs.
"I said, 'You do realise that's going to cost you $275,000?'," Brother Pickett said.
"She said, 'Yes, I've come into a bit of money'. She said, 'I saw the ad in the paper and it got to me. I want to help 1000 little kids'. I said, 'That's amazing'."
She was serious, too, because she had a representative of her bank with her to make the transfer.
"Just to see the smiles on the kids' faces. That you're able to help someone who you might never meet," he said.
"We all want to help these little kids. Otherwise, they'd be all lying on the ground. And so it gives them some dignity in their life."
Dr Wruck is neurodivergent and a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman.
Based on the Gold Coast, she started the profit-for-purpose business Nguki Kula Green Labs, developing the world's first reusable laundry system, which transforms low-value rocks into eco-friendly detergent.
Since winning the Young Australian of the Year, industry had reached out to her to develop the detergent commercially, something that was still in the works.
But, perhaps, the biggest impact had been on other people who could see themselves in her.
"I had a mum message me on my Facebook and she said, 'I watched your [Australian of the Year] speech with my daughter. She's neurodivergent and we both cried because she realised she could be a scientist'," Dr Wruck said.
"Those kinds of messages are just everything."
Dr Wruck and Brother Olly on July 2 attended a special event for subscribers of The Canberra Times and had dinner at Government House with Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
They were due to appear on Sunrise on Thursday morning from the Stepping Stones cafe at Strathnairn, with the business's co-founders Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello who were the recipients of the 2025 Australia's Local Hero award.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open again in the categories of Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero.
Brother Olly said he already had a nomination in mind, while Dr Wruck also urged people to put forward someone they knew.
"Definitely nominate them," she said, adding that the other nominees for 2025 Young Australian of the Year had become her firm friends.
"A really, beautiful supportive bunch," she said.
The 2025 Young Australian of the Year and the Senior Australian of the Year while on a visit to Canberra this week have spoken about the life-changing effect of receiving the honour just over five months ago.
Queensland scientist Dr Katrina Wruck and Brother Olly Pickett, co-founder of Wheelchair for Kids, have also urged other Aussies to nominate someone they know for next year's awards.
Nominations for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards are open until midnight on July 31.
You can nominate someone here.
For Young Australian of the Year Dr Wruck, receiving the honour finally gave her "validation" after years of self-doubt.
"It showed me that I can do really hard things and while I'm doing it I can also talk to other young people about my journey, which hasn't been easy but it's been worthwhile," she said.
"But I don't think things that are easy are really worthwhile."
For Senior Australian of the Year, Brother Olly Pickett, the award has had some beautiful spin-offs for vulnerable children around the globe.
For a start, more people learnt about the charity Wheelchair for Kids, which provides free wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries. The wheelchairs are assembled in a factory in WA by retirees.
Brother Olly said in the weeks after winning Senior Australian of the Year, he was approached by a local woman who wanted to donate 1000 wheelchairs.
"I said, 'You do realise that's going to cost you $275,000?'," Brother Pickett said.
"She said, 'Yes, I've come into a bit of money'. She said, 'I saw the ad in the paper and it got to me. I want to help 1000 little kids'. I said, 'That's amazing'."
She was serious, too, because she had a representative of her bank with her to make the transfer.
"Just to see the smiles on the kids' faces. That you're able to help someone who you might never meet," he said.
"We all want to help these little kids. Otherwise, they'd be all lying on the ground. And so it gives them some dignity in their life."
Dr Wruck is neurodivergent and a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman.
Based on the Gold Coast, she started the profit-for-purpose business Nguki Kula Green Labs, developing the world's first reusable laundry system, which transforms low-value rocks into eco-friendly detergent.
Since winning the Young Australian of the Year, industry had reached out to her to develop the detergent commercially, something that was still in the works.
But, perhaps, the biggest impact had been on other people who could see themselves in her.
"I had a mum message me on my Facebook and she said, 'I watched your [Australian of the Year] speech with my daughter. She's neurodivergent and we both cried because she realised she could be a scientist'," Dr Wruck said.
"Those kinds of messages are just everything."
Dr Wruck and Brother Olly on July 2 attended a special event for subscribers of The Canberra Times and had dinner at Government House with Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
They were due to appear on Sunrise on Thursday morning from the Stepping Stones cafe at Strathnairn, with the business's co-founders Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello who were the recipients of the 2025 Australia's Local Hero award.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open again in the categories of Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero.
Brother Olly said he already had a nomination in mind, while Dr Wruck also urged people to put forward someone they knew.
"Definitely nominate them," she said, adding that the other nominees for 2025 Young Australian of the Year had become her firm friends.
"A really, beautiful supportive bunch," she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- News.com.au
Why your group chat is making you anxious
You hear a ping. Then another one. And then another one. Your heart rate picks up a bit. It's one of your group chats – the one where you're trying and failing to find a date and location for a girls' getaway, perhaps? Or maybe it's your footy tipping chat, with the one member who sends through 18 memes in a row during his lunch-hour toilet break. Or maybe it's the fraught family chat, where everyone's tiptoeing around your dad's tone-deaf political views. You hesitate before opening it, because once they know you've seen it, you'll have to respond. The urge to throw your phone out the window grips you with irrational force. If this feels familiar, you're not alone. Group chat anxiety is on the rise in our always-on, always-connected society, and in spite of the ostensible benefits of being able to remain in touch with your nearest and dearest, it doesn't always contribute to well being. 'There are a lot of reasons why being part of a group chat can make you anxious,' explains counsellor and psychotherapist Julie Sweet from Seaway Counselling. 'Some clients have shared feeling overwhelmed by group chats with multiple people (more than two or three) and that they feel pressure to respond within a tight time frame, while others have expressed frustration with the volume of notifications and have opted out as a result.' Ms Sweet says she's hearing a shift in thinking among her clients, with more people valuing meaningful, core friendships rather than attempting to maintain large, tiered social networks. 'Family dynamics is a whole separate matter,' she says. 'Many clients feel persuaded to participate and remain in family group chats due to obligation.' For Welsh author and communications expert Louisa Guise, the message that broke the camel's back came during lockdown. Australia is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and people are struggling to know who to turn to, especially our younger generations. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, equipping Aussies with the skills needs to have the most important conversation of their life. 'It was around Christmas time, and I was on the sofa, and because of the pandemic, our phones had very much become an even bigger part of our lives,' she recalls. 'I was part of a lot of group chats at that time, because again, it was the only way to socialise, but this particular conversation had really ceased being a conversation at all because one person just kept going on and on about their new car. People had pretty much stopped responding, but this person was kind of just speaking into the void.' Something clicked for Guise. This wasn't making her happy. It wasn't something she was interested in. And yet she had several similar threads going all at once – a laundry list of obligatory conversations that weren't really adding much to her life. 'I started googling, and found a lot of conversations online echoing what I was feeling,' she says. In short, people were fed up with the group chat. Call it Covid comms-overload, call it burnout, but all over the internet, Guise was finding people stressed out by the obligation attached to maintaining several conversations at once. Recent research out of the UK and America has found 40 per cent of respondents reported being overwhelmed by group emails and messages. A 2016 paper in The Journal of Communication found that while group chats are easy to facilitate, they can often make organising plans more difficult, due to the potential for spiralling into messy back-and-forths about time, date and place. Add to that the evidence that every notification that pings off your phone increases the amount of stress hormones like cortisol in your body, and it's little wonder that we're increasingly discovering group chats might be more trouble than they're worth. 'I began looking for evidence as to why this might be,' she explains. 'And one reason is that when we're in the same room with another person and we can see each other, we can hear each other's tones of voice. There are cues in the room that might guide how we present ourselves, how we talk to each other. 'Like if you're in church, you might speak a bit differently to somebody than if you're at a party,' Guise continues. 'In group chats, you don't have that. You've got this bland kind of facade where you just really become this series of speech bubbles. In normal conversation, you'd be conveying up to 93 per cent of what you want to say not only through words themselves, but through all of these additional cues. 'The fact that they've been taken away and that we're communicating via this medium that's incredibly bland and far removed from how we talk to each other normally, means it's really no surprise that there's a sense of unease there, and that we might feel more anxious.' Guise says the opportunity to misread context or tone via a group chat, particularly one with multiple members who have differing communication styles, can also heighten anxiety and, ironically, make someone feel more excluded based on misunderstandings or 'filling in the gaps' when it comes to meaning. 'Usually the fact that you're filling in the gaps at all suggests that you have a negative mindset about what's not being said to begin with,' she explains. 'So you're probably not going to assume that the reason no one has responded to your last message is a benign one. You might think: 'oh my God, everyone has seen it and they're not responding.' Conversely, you might feel the need to respond immediately as well.' Guise was so compelled by what she found in her research, that she reconfigured her whole approach to group chats. 'I've left quite a few now,' she says, saying her concentration has improved and her reliance on her phone has dropped significantly, 'I've had to explain to some people why I was leaving, and it really wasn't a big deal.' 'I can go hours now without being in the same room as my phone and not even noticing,' she says. Louisa has also written a book about what she discovered through the process: How To Leave a Group Chat, although she is quick to point out it's not a simple case of 'group chats = bad.' 'My book is in no way trashing all instant messages and social media,' she explains. 'There are lots of real benefits. Whether it's instant messengers, online gaming or forums where people hang out virtually, you'll get people in society who may feel they don't fit in, or may not really gel that well with their peers, perhaps at school. Online, there is an opportunity to find the people that really are your people, and I know that's helped a lot of people. A friend's brother has autism, and he has lots of online friends through gaming. He finds it very difficult to make friends with people face-to-face, because for him social rules are more challenging.' Guise also points to the opportunities for new, isolated mums to connect with one another online and find support as a benefit of instant messaging and group chats. 'Ultimately though, I think the conversation is changing around how we use our phones,' she says. 'They've launched into our lives and evolved incredibly quickly, and I think now we're beginning to realise that we have the power to hit the brakes, particularly if they're not making us feel good.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
‘Pay me back': Internet divided over common coffee act
Few rituals are as sacred to Aussies as the coffee run. Whether you're ducking into your work's cafe before tackling the 9-5 grind or taking a quick break with colleagues for a 3pm pick-me-up. Yet, why, for something so central to our daily lives, do we never quite know how to handle that awkward little negotiation with friends about who pays? In an era where every dollar counts, how should we deal with the humble coffee shout? There are three main approaches: 1. Shout your mate and expect nothing in return. This is the classic act of generosity, and considering coffees are around $5-$6, many believe it's a small price to pay to avoid having to talk about it. 2. Take turns shouting. This method depends a lot on trust and works best when you catch up regularly and know it'll balance out over time 3. Just pay for your own coffee. No fuss, no tracking, no IOUs – just pay for your own and move on. A recent TikTok has blown this debate wide open. The short clip, which has over 8.8 million views, shows a woman in her 20s sitting in a cafe sipping an iced latte: 'I don't know what friend gave you PTSD but you do not have to pay me back for a coffee'. Clearly striking a chord, thousands of cafe-goers commented to share their thoughts. Some believed keeping tabs was essential. 'You ALWAYS have to pay back,' insisted one. 'It's not even about friends giving you PTSD. It's financial PTSD from parents,' added another, touching on the fact that money anxiety can stem from a person's upbringing. Others agreed with the poster, but with some exceptions. 'Yes, until they start to take advantage,' said one. 'It's all fun and games until every time you go out, you're the one paying,' another commented. Many, however, echoed her selfless approach. 'The whole point is DO NOT give with the expectation of reciprocity,' said one. 'If someone owes me under $10, I wouldn't ask for it,' said another. 'It doesn't even count'. The video was shared by a content creator in London, making me wonder what people think about this issue in Australia, where coffee prices have risen 37 per cent from pre-pandemic levels and now average $5.50. So, I conducted some very serious, peer-reviewed research by polling my Instagram followers. Out of 80 responses, 23 per cent said 'I shout, no need to pay back,' 61 per cent said 'We take turns,' and 15 per cent said 'We pay for our own'. Less than one per cent responded 'Other,' and that person explained their simple rule: 'Whoever is closest to the register pays'. To add a touch more credibility, I consulted an etiquette expert – the only one in the world with a Master's thesis on modern manners – no less. Jo Hayes, founder of told that for a simple coffee, it's actually best to shout. 'As a general rule, if it's just a coffee, no extras like brunch or snacks, one of the duo should shout the other,' she said. 'This small gesture of kindness doesn't break the bank but fosters friendship, kindness, and goodwill.' She also mentioned that if you're both ordering at the same counter, most reasonable folk agree it's 'a bit tight' for both to pay for a coffee separately. The key to pulling off this move in a classy way, as many commenters suggested, is expecting nothing in return. 'This is what gifting is,' she added. A simple, discreet 'I've got it,' with a friendly smile, is the best way to handle it. 'Don't make a big deal of it, and quickly switch the topic,' she advised. 'One doesn't want to dwell on money talk longer than necessary.' She also noted that with regular coffee catchups, you should take turns paying. 'Most of us remember who paid last time and, wanting to show mutual generosity, step up to offer the shout,' she explained. If you notice you're always covering your friend's coffee and they never reciprocate, Hayes warns this is a serious breach of etiquette. 'I would reconsider that friendship,' she said. 'Such stinginess raises questions about their character and shows a lack of social courtesy'. If that feels too harsh, try subtle cues next time, like hanging back when it's time to pay or letting them order first. She reminds us that a golden rule applies here, and in all areas of life: 'We reap what we sow'. If we're generous, we'll see generosity return, if we're stingy, that's what we'll get back.
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Courier-Mail
Stench scare: ‘Rotten egg' mystery grips coast, and it's not sewers
Residents along Australia's stunning coastline fear it was burst sewer mains or pipes, but the truth behind a mystery gag-inducing stench is even more bizarre. Local water authorities along the coast have been bombarded with complaints over a putrid 'rotten egg' stench filling the air in the depths of Australia's winter, but investigators have found it's not any sewer pipes to blame as residents had expected. MORE: 'Super creepy': Mysterious Aus 'old haunted house' for sale Inside billionaire Annie Cannon-Brookes' revamp of trashed island MORE: All the tax write offs Aussies can claim ATO's dragnet: Millions of side hustles face shock tax bill Regional water utility firm Unitywater was among those hit with a flood of calls over gag-inducing odours that many blamed on a wastewater disaster brewing underground. Locals up and down the coast have long noticed 'that smell in the evenings at this time of year', with one saying 'my family always said it was 'the swamp' as we grew up near the Boondall wetlands. But as I branch out from the northside I start to realise the smell is everywhere.' But after digging into the source of the stench, experts dropped a bombshell thankful that it's not their pipes at all but good ole Mother Nature at work – and the bad news for nostrils is there's nothing that can be done to stop it. Unitywater executive manager Rhett Duncan gave the wild explainer to its 800,000 customers along the Sunshine Coast to Noosa stretch which contain some of the most expensive real estate in Queensland. What's happening is 'when mangroves drop their seeds, bacteria helps breakdown the organic matter, producing a sulphur reaction, which creates sulphide gas and the associated odour', Mr Duncan said. MORE: Cash-strap student turns $40k to 38 homes Govt pays $3.3m for unliveable derelict house The odour is most common from May to November, thanks to cooler temperatures that trap the gas closer to the ground – and your nostrils regardless of which part of the country you're in. 'It's often described as a rotten egg smell and is most common between May and November, as cooler conditions disperse less sulphide gas and so it's more concentrated. This can be mistaken for wastewater odour,' Mr Duncan said. The water authority received hundreds of odour reports which were given priority status for investigation to ensure there were no problems in the wastewater network. 'We take these reports seriously and we understand odour can be a nuisance for the local community. We encourage residents who notice an odour to consider if it may in fact be coming from a nearby swamp, wetland or river.' Mr Duncan said residents should be able to detect if odour was caused by mangroves by considering how close they were to mangroves, the time of year, wind, seasonal changes in rainfall and temperature. MORE: Rate cut windfall: Aus big bank's shock new forecast Shock as city's distressed home listings surge 36pc in one month One visitor came straight out with it asking, 'why is Port Douglas stinky? I have noticed (mostly at night) a smelly stench wafting in the air. Had anyone noticed this before? Even better, does anyone know why Port Douglas seems to be so smelly? #farts'. There too, locals know what to watch for: 'Full moon, high tides of 3.2m at 9.30pm pushing the mangrove/inlet water up into the storm water drains'. A Queensland resident explained 'if your storm water culverts connect directly to a tidal creek or river, then on the turn of the tides (generally incoming tides) the waves push the mangrove-y swampy air up the pipes and out the grates. It happens here in the city. Mind you, it doesn't have to be tidal, but if the pipe is exposed the prevailing winds can do the same thing.' Most coastal Aussies have learned to live with the discomfort faced by their nostrils, which is only likely to get worse as Christmas nears: 'It's the time of year man, and we all know it yet we never speak of it. When it gets humid and wiping turns into a one handed paper-machete exercise, so we just give up and deal with the stink.' MORE: Qld home earns six times the average salary Million-dollar savings: Brisbane's bargain suburbs exposed Mother Nature and her mangroves are a protected species in Australia, authorities warn. 'While it can be a nuisance, in Queensland, all mangroves are protected and play an important role in stabilising riverbanks and channels,' Mr Duncan said. 'They also provide important habitat and food sources for local animals, including various species of waterbirds, fish and bees.' Residents have no other choice but to invent olfactory coping strategies or learn to love the stench. 'There's nothing swampy about it,' another coastal local said. 'To me it smells like Christmas is on the way. Like summer is on the horizon. Of a spring evening in the 1990s, Christmas beetles buzzing past, sunset spent with friends in the park.' Sometimes, no matter how expensive your home is, Mother Nature just chooses to stink up the place. How to spot a mangrove stink: -️ You live near swamps, wetlands or rivers -️ It's cold or recently rained -️ The wind is blowing your way -️ The smell worsens between May and November What you can do about it: – Close your windows – Wear a buff with a drop of your favourite scent – Nothing, sometimes nature just stinks. MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS
