Bizarre giant pear proposal for Aussie town
The city of Shepparton has a proposal for a three-storey pear in the heart of the Goulburn Valley, led by The Steering Group.
Rocky Varapodio, a spokesman for the group, said these sorts of attractions can 'really highlight' regional towns.
'We've been doing a lot of work on this and the background of it is that the fruit industry has really over the years talked about having a structure in the region that really symbolises and recognises fruit growing in the area,' he told Triple M.
Mr Varapodio said the giant pear was about 'telling a story' about the region.
'We think the time is probably right now to recognise this industry that's given so much to this region,' he said.
The Goulburn Valley is well known for its pears, with 90% of the fruit sold across the country coming from the region.
Mr Varapodio explained that potentially $2 million could be generated back into the economy, from the giant pear.
However, early estimates have suggested the project could cost $1.3 million, with the steering group seeking government, council and stakeholder support to fund the idea.
'The next phase is to get a structural design done because we want it to be done properly and tastefully, we want it to be a whole interactive experience when you walk into it with some really good technology such as touch screens and displays that really tell a story about this industry that's been so solid for this region,' Mr Varapodio said.
'It's hard to put a time frame on it but we would really like this to happen over the next few years.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
North Korea Opens Seaside Resort With Fanfare but No Foreign Tourists
A new waterfront resort opened for business this week in North Korea with P.R. hype — but without the foreign visitors that the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, hoped would one day arrive with tourist cash to offset financially punishing sanctions. On Thursday, state media reported on North Korean families crowding a 2.5-mile-long scenic sandy beach on its central east coast, which began accepting tourists two days earlier. 'The joy and optimism of the tourists were overflowing everywhere, and the song of happiness resounded in the windows of bright lodgings,' the North's official Korean Central News Agency said. The resort, which is called Wonsan Kalma and can accommodate 20,000 people, is the most ambitious among the seafront or mountainside spa and ski resorts Mr. Kim has been building to attract foreign tourists. Mr. Kim, his wife and his daughter attended a ceremony in late June marking the completion of the facility. Mr. Kim began promoting tourism after the United Nations imposed severe sanctions in 2017 that banned all of his country's main exports, including coal and textiles. The sanctions were designed to strip North Korea of the means of earning foreign currency to finance its nuclear and missile programs. But they did not affect tourism, which Mr. Kim saw as a new source of sorely needed foreign currency. Mr. Kim's aims were best displayed in the transformation of Kalma Beach. North Korea used to fill it with pieces of artillery during military drills. In recent years, however, Mr. Kim has lined the beach with newly built water parks and multistory resort hotels. South Korean media nicknamed Kalma Beach 'North Korea's Waikiki.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
ParaZero Receives a Recurring Bulk Order of SafeAir Systems from an Australian Distributor
Kfar Saba, Israel, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: PRZO) (the 'company' or 'ParaZero'), an aerospace company focused on safety systems for commercial unmanned aerial systems and counter UAS systems today announced that it has received a follow-on order for its SafeAir™ drone safety systems from a leading Australian drone technology distributor. This new order specifically includes SafeAir™ systems for widely deployed DJI platforms across various commercial, law enforcement, search and rescue and other governmental sectors. This order follows the distributor's initial procurement in late 2024, which marked ParaZero's growing presence in the Australian market. The distributor continues to expand its offering of CASA-recognized SafeAir systems to meet increasing demand driven by evolving drone regulations and the need for safety-assured operations. ParaZero's SafeAir system is designed to autonomously detect flight anomalies and deploy a parachute in the event of failure, significantly reducing the risk of injury or damage. Operational safety credit granted by Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to operators specifically using the SafeAir System have made it a key enabler for commercial drone flights over or near people and populated areas across Australia. 'This follow-on order highlights the continued trust our partners place in ParaZero's safety technologies,' said Boaz Shetzer, CEO of ParaZero. 'The adoption of SafeAir for DJI's drones reflects the industry's growing focus on regulatory compliance and operational safety, especially for widely-used drone platforms.' About ParaZero Technologies ParaZero (Nasdaq: PRZO) is an aerospace company focused on safety systems for commercial unmanned aerial systems and counter UAS systems. Started in 2014 by a passionate group of aviation professionals and drone industry veterans, ParaZero designs smart, autonomous parachute safety systems designed to enable safe flight operations over populated areas and beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) as well as for various military applications including Counter UAS. For more information about ParaZero, please visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and other securities laws. Words such as 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates' and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For example, ParaZero is using forward-looking statements when it discusses its growing presence in the Australian market, increasing demand driven by evolving drone regulations and the need for safety-assured operations and the drone industry's growing focus on regulatory compliance and operational safety, especially for widely-used drone platforms. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon management's current expectations, beliefs and projections, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain. Such expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company, reference is made to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC'), including, but not limited to, the risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 21, 2025. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. ParaZero is not responsible for the content of third-party websites. Investor Relations Contact: Michal Efraty Investor Relations [email protected] ParaZero Technologies Ltd. | 1st HaTachana St. Kfar Saba, Israel 4453001 P: +972-502753666 | E: [email protected]
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
China Eyes More Overseas Missions for Growing Naval Fleet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China is building a new fleet of replenishment ships—capable of providing supplies to other vessels at sea—as the East Asian power's navy expands its overseas presence. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters China possesses over 370 naval vessels, making it the world's largest navy by hull count and surpassing its rival, the United States. Over the past year, Chinese warships have conducted missions farther from home—including in Europe and Africa, as well as around Australia in the South Pacific—challenging America's naval dominance. According to a Pentagon report, China has a "sizable force of highly capable logistical replenishment ships," which support long-distance, long-duration deployments—such as recently concluded dual aircraft carrier operations in the broader western Pacific. What To Know Since early June, photos circulated on social media indicate that China has launched and tested several newly built Type 903A replenishment ships. A number of vessels from this class—as well as their predecessor, the Type 903—are already in service. Meanwhile one other newly produced Type 903A may have been undergoing sea trials already. The AOR-design is again in active production both at Wuhu Shipyard and COMEC (formerly GSI), Guangzhou. Same source. — Alex Luck (@AlexLuck9) June 5, 2025 Both the Type 903 and Type 903A vessels can carry fuel oil, fresh water, cargo, and ammunition, according to open-source information. Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck estimates that China has likely constructed an additional four Type 903A ships. The new ships were constructed at shipyards in Guangzhou and Wuhu, the analyst wrote in a January article for the specialist outlet Naval News. It remains to be seen whether the new ships are Type 903A vessels or further improved versions of this class. The Type 903/A fleet forms the backbone of China's replenishment capability, Luck told Newsweek, adding that China's doubling of this type of ship is not unreasonable, given both the growing demand and the need to build resilience for conflict scenarios. Despite drawing less attention than the larger Type 901 replenishment ships, the Type 903 ships are considered "far more crucial" to China's navy for operating across island chains in the western Pacific, as well as more expeditionary missions, the analyst explained. China's acquisition of multiple new replenishment ships indicates its seriousness in pursuing the goal of having a world class military by mid-century, Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Newsweek. The Chinese Type 903A replenishment ship CNS Kekexilihu is seen in Qingdao, China, on April 20, 2024. The Chinese Type 903A replenishment ship CNS Kekexilihu is seen in Qingdao, China, on April 20, 2024. Anna Ratkoglo/Sputnik via AP What People Are Saying Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Newsweek: "Platforms like [replenishment ships] are essential for furthering the [People's Liberation Army] Navy's reach as it operates further and further from home on a regular basis." Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck told Newsweek: "I've long held the view that the current Type 903/A-fleet is rather insufficient considering the very high rotational tempo the type experiences across [People's Liberation Army Navy] operations." What Happens Next China continues its naval buildup by launching more warships while operating 307 shipyards, at least 35 of which are linked to military or national security projects.
