Latest news with #NingalooReef
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Billy Brownless poses cryptic question to his Instagram followers, as he and girlfriend Crystle pose for loved-up snaps during romantic getaway
Billy Brownless and his girlfriend Crystle Fleur have been celebrating their one-year anniversary in style, as the pair shared several snaps of themselves looking smitten during their romantic getaway. Fleur has taken to Instagram over the past week to share several snaps of the couple taking in the scenery on Western Australia 's stunning coast. They stopped off to take in the stunning crystal-blue waters overlooking Ningaloo Reef, Australia's largest fringing coral reef. The pair beamed from ear-to-ear as they posed for a quick hug together while standing on a sandy hill next to the beach. Brownless revealed on his Instagram that the pair had 'left Shark Bay without even seeing a single shark,' before revealing the one thing that left him amazed about Western Australia. 'I can't believe how big the Ants are over here,' he said. Fleur, 52, and Brownless, 58 then headed in-land for a tour of the Karijini National Park, which is nestled in the Hamersley Ranges. They posed for a snap in front of a lagoon on the Hamersley Gorge, with Brownless showing the couple scaling rocks and taking a dip in the lagoon. Earlier in the week, Brownless revealed the relationship question he posed to Crystle, asking: 'If I came with a warning label, what would it be?' But on Saturday, he published a set of images, along with a question and a picture of the sky. 'If you knew I'd never ask again, what truth would you finally tell me?' the question read. He captioned the post: 'Day five, six and seven of our big adventure!!! Coral Bay to Karijini National Park - Seven hours!! Breakfast at Bullara Station. We discovered Joffre Gorge where I sat and reflected.' Brownless admitted that camping was 'not so bad' while listing several other locations that they had visited. He then wrapped up the caption by writing: 'And finally the question... Help.' The pair then headed further north to Cable Beach. Fleur revealed that the pair had been out along the coast and had spent the day spotting humpback whales in the ocean. 'A little windswept but what an awesome day with humpback whales,' she wrote, having also shared a snap of the pair enjoying a cold beverage at the luxurious Cable Beach Club Resort. It comes after Fleur, a mum-of-three, had hinted that they would be marking their relationship milestone with 'their biggest adventure yet'. 'Happy 1st anniversary to this amazing man!' she added. The pair were congratulated on the milestone by many friends, family members and some big names from the footy world. Ex-Collingwood and Carlton star Dale Thomas dropped into the comments, alongside 7News presenter Rebecca Maddern. Fleur is the owner of Geelong-based equestrian company Erinvale Thoroughbreds. A legend of the Geelong football club, Brownless enjoyed a glittering 11-year career in footy's top flight. He made 198 appearances for the Cats, kicking a whopping 441 goals during that time to be crowned the club's leading goal kicker for the 1991 and 1992 seasons. After retiring in 1997, Brownless pursued a career in the media, going on to join up with Nine's The Sunday Footy Show, and Triple M Melbourne's The Rush Hour with James Brayshaw. He had previously been married to Nicky Brownless for 18 years before the couple parted ways in 2015.
ABC News
08-06-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Selective breeding doubles heat tolerance of Ningaloo Reef coral, study finds
Unnatural selection has bred life in all shapes and sizes, and a globe-spanning team of scientists says the same practice might help save Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef. Mining billionaire Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest will share that finding at the United Nations Ocean Conference this week, after research backed by his philanthropic Mindaroo Foundation discovered that selective breeding could harden certain Indian Ocean corals against rising ocean temperatures. Kate Quigley, a molecular ecologist at the foundation's Exmouth laboratory, led the study. She said years of selective breeding trials had shown great promise for protecting the World Heritage site from coral bleaching. In the past summer alone, the reef faced widespread damage amid a record-breaking marine heatwave. But by manipulating its annual coral spawn, researchers claim they have confirmed a long-held hope. The new study re-engineers techniques first developed at the Great Barrier Reef. Samples of two Acropora coral species were taken from two sections of the Ningaloo Reef, separated by more than 100 kilometres. "We collected parent corals, so 'mum' and 'dad' corals from an on-average hot reef," Dr Quigley said. "Then, we also went down south to the southern part of Ningaloo Reef and collected what we call 'cool' parents. Alexandra Kler Lago, a master's student from the University of Bremen in Germany, said coral "matchmaking" came with "some pressure". Transporting fragile organisms from the southern tip of the world's largest fringing reef required a specially designed boat. "We had to develop these coolers with a pumping system to keep the water at a stable temperature," Ms Kler Lago said. Although the journey from the reef's more accessible northern colonies was passable by road, that too brought challenges. "We actually had to go to the shallow part with buckets and then carry them filled with water to the trucks," she said. The white-knuckle drive home aside, the breeding process was ultimately an exercise in extreme patience. "All the spawning happens at night, so if we shine a big bright light, that might disturb and hinder the whole process," Ms Kler Lago said. "We have to watch, look at buckets for hours, and look at specific cues that can tell us that breeding is imminent. When "the big night" arrived, Dr Quigley described sorting gametes, or egg and sperm bundles, into groups and allowing them to produce offspring. "We reared up these baby corals to essentially become teenager corals, and we put them through a stress test," she said. Repeated experiments suggested Acropora tenuis, a structural coral found throughout Ningaloo, with at least one "hot" parent and particularly a 'mum' possessed twice the ability to survive temperatures of 35.5 degrees Celsius than other genetic combinations. Australian Institute of Marine Science principal research scientist Chris Fulton said selective breeding was one possible solution for safeguarding the Ningaloo Reef. "We need to protect those corals … that have been robust and have resisted this heatwave event, so they have the best chance possible to repopulate the reef with a new warm-adapted … more resilient coral population." Dr Fulton returned from a trip to the World Heritage site earlier this month. He said water temperatures were only now beginning to drop. "This is the first time we've seen every part of the WA coast show signs of coral bleaching … it has been so hot for so long, over such a large scale that we obviously need to act on emissions reduction." Dr Quigley said further research was needed before attempting to grow heat-resistant corals in vulnerable parts of the reef. She echoed calls for carbon emissions reduction, saying conservation strategies such as selective breeding could only work "hand in hand" with climate policy. "We absolutely need emissions reductions to happen immediately in order for these techniques to have a meaningful impact," she said.
Herald Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Adam Sherry's tips, inside mail for Gosford, Inverell on Thursday, May 29, 2025
Form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets, value selection and analysis of the quaddie legs for Gosford and Inverell on Thursday. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ GOSFORD TIPS BEST BET Race 4 No.1: DONWON Bumped into a smart one first-up at Canterbury and okay after a slow start last start. NEXT BEST Race 7 No.3: GLORIOSO Narrowly beaten on the heavy last start. Can go one better. VALUE BET Race 3 No.2: NOW YOU'VE DONE IT Handy runs in her first campaign. Trialling well. QUADDIE Race 5: 1, 5 Race 6: 1, 3, 5 Race 7: 2, 3 Race 8: 1, 2, 3 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Apprentice BENJAMIN OSMOND has two rides and can land a double. GOSFORD INSIDE MAIL RACE 5: PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1000m) FORMAL (1) has had a long campaign but continues to race in terrific form. Followed four consecutive minor placings with an all-the-way 4¼-length win from Shoutaboutit on a heavy track at Wyong. Drawn gate one again. BODGIE (5) boxed on for third to the talented Lonhro's Queen on a Heavy 8 at Scone on Mar 21 and was third to Executive Decision on a Heavy 10 at Wyong last start. LEASE (3) loves it wet with a win and seven placings from 11 starts on heavy tracks. BET: FORMAL to win. RACE 6: SUPER MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m) LOUISBURGH (1) was resuming from a long break when he raced outside the leader and finished a 2¼-length second behind odds-on fav Ninette at Wyong on May 8. Given time to get over the run and can break through here. PURPLE HAZE (2) got back and battled away when third to Yes Siree when he debuted on a Heavy 10 at Wyong on May 1. Will be better for the experience. RAINBOW GODDESS (5) raced wide without cover when runner-up behind big winner Ningaloo Reef at Hawkesbury on May 15. BET: LOUISBURGH to win. RACE 7: BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1200m) GLORIOSO (3) came charged home to finish a half-length third to Oakfield Badger at Wyong first-up before heading to Caulfield and finishing sixth to Smart Little Miss. Returned to Sydney with a head second to Are Ee Que on a Heavy 10 at Wyong. TITANIUM MISS (2) dropped in class when second to Bend The Knee on a Heavy 10 at Wyong before a close second to Equilibrist at Kembla. Gets a 1.5kg claim from Zac Wadick. ORYX (5) finished fourth to Monte Kate in a Midway here on Cup Day. BET: GLORIOSO to win. RACE 8: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m) DIVINE BENE (1) kicked off this preparation with a nice win from The Piccolino on the Beaumont before a third to Lutetia at Newcastle both on heavy tracks. Second on a Soft 5 at Quirindi last start. Will appreciate getting back on a heavy track. HONEY PERFUME (2) resumed with a nice win from Quein Step on a 1000m maiden at Goulburn before a fast finishing second to Shropshire Lad at Scone on Cup day. TONKATSU GODDESS (5) trialled nicely on a heavy track at Warwick Farm recently. Can run well first-up. BET: DIVINE BENE to win. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ INVERELL TIPS BEST BET Race 5 No.4: NO MORE ROMANCE Was good in his first campaign including a win. Trialling well and can kick off with a win. NEXT BEST Race 1 No.3: ANGELS CLOUD Knocking on the door for her maiden win and gets her chance. INVERELL INSIDE MAIL RACE 4: MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m) YANABAH (1) knuckled at the start and settled a clear last before making good ground in the straight when seventh to The One Time when resuming over 1000m at Tamworth on Apr 24. Led at Gunnedah when runner-up to Takeover Lad over 1250m last start. At his peak now. JU TWO (2) was a handy second to Gold Melody when resuming on the heavy at Taree before a sixth to Skeptical here last start. MAD HARRY (8) didn't have a lot of luck from a wide draw and at Scone last start. Chance on previous form. Bet: Yanabah to win. RACE 5: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1100m) NO MORE ROMANCE (4) had a good first campaign including a win at Tamworth followed by two close placings on soft tracks last winter. Has had three trials ahead of his return including a nice third in his latest Gunnedah heat. WHISTLING STRAITS (1) scored back-to-back wins at Gunnedah and Dubbo before failing at Tamworth last September. Was off the scene until his second to Lady Olenna at Gunnedah on May 5. OSTRACISED (2) race wide without cover when resuming with an eighth at Grafton. Drawn well and can improve. Bet: No More Romance to win. RACE 6: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1100m) CALICO MISS (4) was good winning her Apr 15 barrier trial at Armidale when coming from back in the field. Was well supported on debut and duly saluted with a near three length win from Clan D'Oro at Quirindi. Big chance again. POSEIDON'S SON (2) scored a big win at Coonabarabran at his last run before a spell. Trialling well including a win in his Apr 30 heat at Tamworth. EJECT (1) makes his NSW debut here. Spelled after one run last December. Was a winner over 1000m at Ballarat last June. Bet: Calico Miss to win. RACE 7: CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1400m) Local mare MEDDLESOME (8) was held up between the 600m and 400m when third to Better Tomorrow in a BM58 here last week. On a quick back-up and winkers go on. DIVINE BENE (5) won well on the heavy track on the Beaumont first-up this campaign and placed his next two runs. Likely runs at Gosford. ARRABBIATA (3) will take improvement from her first-up third to Wanda River at Quirindi on May 12. Bet: Meddlesome each-way.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Reunited Coalition reveals shadow cabinet; Labor approves contentious North West Shelf extension; and very expensive eggs
Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update. The Liberals and Nationals today reached an agreement to reunite a week after their dramatic split, before the reformed Coalition announced their new shadow ministry. Among the new appointments is Michaelia Cash as shadow foreign affairs minister, Angus Taylor as shadow defence minister and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price effectively demoted to shadow minister for defence industry and defence personnel. Dan Tehan was appointed shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction – with Sussan Ley saying she 'doesn't get hung up on titles' after making no appointment with an explicit responsibility for climate change. Ley did not reappoint former Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume to shadow cabinet but denied that decision was 'vengeance'. Also absent from the new lineup were former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, both pushed to the backbench. Both Ley and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, were pressed on last week's dramatic split between the two parties. Ley denied it was a 'bitter breakup' – with Littleproud adding, 'We've risen above that.' Labor approves extension of Woodside's contentious North West Shelf gas development Woodside toxic spill near Ningaloo Reef world heritage area under investigation Fatima Payman reports senior male parliamentary colleague over comments SpaceX Starship breaks up over Indian Ocean in latest bumpy test Court bid to stop Newington college going coed fails as judge declares term 'youth' is gender neutral Geelong overtakes Sunshine Coast as top tree- and sea-change destination Robotic cats replete with glowing eyes and artificial heartbeats are touring libraries in the Blue Mountains. But this isn't the intro to a new Terminator film: MetaCats are touted as being able to provide comfort and reduce stress – especially for children or people living with anxiety or dementia. 'If we didn't proceed, it would have cost 100 jobs to local residents, but it would have had no impact on Elon Musk.' Despite 95% of submissions opposing a land sale to Tesla – many of whom invoked language deemed too rude for publication – Marion council in South Australia has approved the deal. The mayor, Kris Hanna, stood by the decision, adding that 'Tesla would almost certainly find somewhere else in Australia to build their factory'. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The Australian Bureau of Statistics' monthly figures show inflation has now been flat for three months at 2.4%. But there have been some wild price swings – including on eggs, as bird flu outbreaks led to empty supermarket shelves. Climbers are scaling Everest at record pace, helped by new methods of technology such as xenon gas and hypoxic tents. The situation has triggered alarm in Nepal, where sherpas fear inexperienced climbers, as well as their own traditions, are being put at risk. Today's starter word is: AINE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply. Enjoying the Afternoon Update? Then you'll love our Morning Mail newsletter. Sign up here to start the day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know, and complete your daily news roundup. And follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
ABC News
27-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Offshore regulator investigates Woodside spill off WA's Ningaloo coast
The federal offshore energy regulator is investigating Woodside Energy's management of an oil spill off Western Australia's north west coast. The "unplanned discharge" occurred on May 8 amid decommissioning activities at the Griffin oil and gas field, about 58 kilometres north-west of Exmouth. A subsea pipeline was being flushed when engineers noticed the release of fluids and called off the operation. In a statement, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) said about 61,000 litres of water and hydrocarbons was discharged into the surrounding ocean. Of that, a NOPSEMA spokesperson said about 16,000 litres may be hydrocarbons. "NOPSEMA is aware of the incident and it is currently under investigation," they said. "NOPSEMA's position is to ensure titleholders undertake decommissioning activities in a safe and timely manner." A Woodside spokesperson said the company was monitoring the spill and working with the regulator. The spokesperson acknowledged the spill contained "remnant aged hydrocarbon and residual chemicals". Hydrocarbons are the chief components of petroleum and natural gas. Woodside said a team of environmental scientists was dispatched to monitor the spill and deployed tracking buoys. The gas giant said it anticipated no contact with shorelines or sensitive marine habitats, despite its proximity to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. Production at the Griffin field was halted by BHP in 2009, and the company had plugged all 12 wells before Woodside took control of the mining giant's oil and gas assets via merger in 2022. With the remnant infrastructure sitting in Commonwealth waters, NOPSEMA directed Woodside to decommission it. At the time of the spill, 18 of 21 Griffin pipelines had been successfully flushed in preparation for removal. The site has previously come under fire by regulators and environmentalists. Greenpeace criticised Woodside in 2021 for leaving a 93-metre-tall "riser turret mooring" in the seabed, where it had been sunk years prior by BHP. Woodside eventually recovered the structure in December 2024 after NOPSEMA threatened fines. The incident comes as Woodside awaits final federal approval for its North West Shelf gas hub extension to operate through to 2070. The plant processes natural gas pulled from the continental shelf surrounding the Griffin field spill site, and one of the largest known reserves of the resource in Australia. The day of the spill also coincided with Woodside's annual general meeting in Perth, where protesters disrupted proceedings to highlight concerns over climate change. Shortly afterwards, the company announced it had amended its proposed Browse development in the Kimberley, following mediation with WA's Environmental Protection Agency. Woodside said it would shrink the project's footprint to no longer include Scott Reef shallow water habitats or Sandy Islet. It also pledged to implement a newly-trialled technology that could minimise the risk of a subsea spill and "immediately stop the flow of hydrocarbons to the environment" within just 12 hours. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt is set to make his decision in coming days.
