Latest news with #Stevenson
The Age
9 hours ago
- General
- The Age
This habitat is more diverse than a rainforest. Yet people drive over it
Last month the Victorian Conservation Regulator said Powercor's vegetation management and maintenance activities in 2023 and 2024 had impacted habitat with high conservation values in south-west Victoria. In a statement, the regulator said Powercor's enforceable undertaking committed the company to improving its environmental performance and repairing previous damage. Powercor will have to remediate 32 sites and report on its progress until the undertaking ends in 2028. The conservation regulator said Powercor had cooperated throughout the investigation. Powercor service delivery and vegetation management general manager James Walker said the company's work to keep the electricity network safe meant its teams regularly needed to quickly access sites in parks, grasslands and other sensitive areas, including along roadways. But Walker said Powercor had identified how it could better preserve the environment. 'We will be improving how we identify and protect flora and fauna, enhancing staff training and remediating impacted sites,' he said. But there's hope, despite the enormous damage inflicted on these sensitive habitats since European settlement. Landcare groups, researchers and private landowners are rehabilitating grasslands, harvesting and germinating native seeds and replanting Indigenous grasses and wildflowers in places where they have disappeared. The roads at Woorndoo, between Warrnambool and Ararat in western Victoria, still have healthy tracts of kangaroo and wallaby grasses and other grass species. Native grasses also thrive in a four-hectare tract of public land called the Woorndoo Common, which erupts in colour with chocolate lilies, everlasting daisies, geraniums and sun orchids in spring. Now, the grasses are a light tan colour with the stubby green shoots of native flowers between the tussocks. But Woorndoo Chatsworth Landcare Group chair Susan Bosch said the area would undergo its annual transformation after winter. 'If you come back at the end of October it will be a sea of colour,' she said. The Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority is working with La Trobe University and Regional Roads Victoria to replant native grasses on roadsides in the Victorian volcanic plains region in south-west Victoria. Stevenson said the project involved 'scalping' weed-dominated roadsides after controlled burns and replanting the areas with native grasses. She said the replanting project had already delivered results, with animals found at some sites, including the striped legless lizard, which is listed as endangered by the Victorian government. The grasslands' rehabilitation initiative also involves working with farmers who have remnant native grasses on their land. Controlled burns conducted by the Country Fire Authority have also been crucial in preserving remnant grasslands and controlling weeds. Stevenson said 60 per cent of grasslands' biomass – the total quantity of the living organisms – was below ground. 'A lot of species need that disturbance regime from fire. So they come back when we get the first rain,' Stevenson said. 'Without CFA brigades doing burns we would definitely be losing these grasslands.' Melbourne University honorary fellow John Delpratt said Indigenous people had managed the grassy plains for food and hunting before Europeans arrived. 'Then the sheep and cattle came in and that very rapidly degraded that vegetation system because we now had large flocks of hard hoofed animals,' he said. 'The vegetation had grown for a very long time with soft-footed animals.' Delpratt said exotic species of grass and fertilisers resulted in the grass areas becoming highly modified. Arthur Rylah Institute director James Todd said that due to historic land clearing the best examples of grasslands in Victoria's south-west now occurred on narrow strips of public land along roadsides and train lines and pockets of private land. He said the state government was working to increase protection of native grasslands of the Victorian volcanic plains in the south-west from 2 per cent to 20 per cent of what remained of the critically endangered ecosystem. Grassy Plains Network facilitator and grasslands expert Adrian Marshall said the diverse ecosystems had once provided habitat for many medium-sized creatures, including potoroos, bilbies and bandicoots. 'They would have been everywhere,' he said. 'There would have been amazing sweeping plains, ephemeral wetlands and tree-lined creeks.'
Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
This habitat is more diverse than a rainforest. Yet people drive over it
Last month the Victorian Conservation Regulator said Powercor's vegetation management and maintenance activities in 2023 and 2024 had impacted habitat with high conservation values in south-west Victoria. In a statement, the regulator said Powercor's enforceable undertaking committed the company to improving its environmental performance and repairing previous damage. Powercor will have to remediate 32 sites and report on its progress until the undertaking ends in 2028. The conservation regulator said Powercor had cooperated throughout the investigation. Powercor service delivery and vegetation management general manager James Walker said the company's work to keep the electricity network safe meant its teams regularly needed to quickly access sites in parks, grasslands and other sensitive areas, including along roadways. But Walker said Powercor had identified how it could better preserve the environment. 'We will be improving how we identify and protect flora and fauna, enhancing staff training and remediating impacted sites,' he said. But there's hope, despite the enormous damage inflicted on these sensitive habitats since European settlement. Landcare groups, researchers and private landowners are rehabilitating grasslands, harvesting and germinating native seeds and replanting Indigenous grasses and wildflowers in places where they have disappeared. The roads at Woorndoo, between Warrnambool and Ararat in western Victoria, still have healthy tracts of kangaroo and wallaby grasses and other grass species. Native grasses also thrive in a four-hectare tract of public land called the Woorndoo Common, which erupts in colour with chocolate lilies, everlasting daisies, geraniums and sun orchids in spring. Now, the grasses are a light tan colour with the stubby green shoots of native flowers between the tussocks. But Woorndoo Chatsworth Landcare Group chair Susan Bosch said the area would undergo its annual transformation after winter. 'If you come back at the end of October it will be a sea of colour,' she said. The Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority is working with La Trobe University and Regional Roads Victoria to replant native grasses on roadsides in the Victorian volcanic plains region in south-west Victoria. Stevenson said the project involved 'scalping' weed-dominated roadsides after controlled burns and replanting the areas with native grasses. She said the replanting project had already delivered results, with animals found at some sites, including the striped legless lizard, which is listed as endangered by the Victorian government. The grasslands' rehabilitation initiative also involves working with farmers who have remnant native grasses on their land. Controlled burns conducted by the Country Fire Authority have also been crucial in preserving remnant grasslands and controlling weeds. Stevenson said 60 per cent of grasslands' biomass – the total quantity of the living organisms – was below ground. 'A lot of species need that disturbance regime from fire. So they come back when we get the first rain,' Stevenson said. 'Without CFA brigades doing burns we would definitely be losing these grasslands.' Melbourne University honorary fellow John Delpratt said Indigenous people had managed the grassy plains for food and hunting before Europeans arrived. 'Then the sheep and cattle came in and that very rapidly degraded that vegetation system because we now had large flocks of hard hoofed animals,' he said. 'The vegetation had grown for a very long time with soft-footed animals.' Delpratt said exotic species of grass and fertilisers resulted in the grass areas becoming highly modified. Arthur Rylah Institute director James Todd said that due to historic land clearing the best examples of grasslands in Victoria's south-west now occurred on narrow strips of public land along roadsides and train lines and pockets of private land. He said the state government was working to increase protection of native grasslands of the Victorian volcanic plains in the south-west from 2 per cent to 20 per cent of what remained of the critically endangered ecosystem. Grassy Plains Network facilitator and grasslands expert Adrian Marshall said the diverse ecosystems had once provided habitat for many medium-sized creatures, including potoroos, bilbies and bandicoots. 'They would have been everywhere,' he said. 'There would have been amazing sweeping plains, ephemeral wetlands and tree-lined creeks.'
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Tiff Stevenson mixes big ideas and bedroom thoughts in new Edinburgh Fringe hour ‘Post-Coital'
Tiff Stevenson returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with her new stand-up hour Post-Coital, performing at Monkey Barrel: Hive 1 from the 1st to the 24th of August. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Known for her sharp social commentary and confident stage presence, Stevenson dives into the strange, often hilarious thoughts that surface in the quiet moments after sex. This new show blends the personal and political, weaving together big ideas and everyday experiences. In Post-Coital, Stevenson reflects on midlife, womanhood, and the pressures of staying relevant in a culture obsessed with youth and reinvention. She explores whether the UK economy is shrinking like it is on Ozempic, questions the monetisation of every hobby, and wonders how many pole dancing videos the internet really needs. She unpacks the difference between empowerment and exploitation, asking whether class plays a bigger role than we often admit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stevenson's comedy is grounded in lived experience. She talks candidly about being a step-parent to a teenage boy, caring for a father with dementia, and navigating the contradictions of anger, ambition, and aging. Her ideas are often unexpected but always relatable, including whether international diplomacy might improve if world leaders just had better sex lives. She also discusses concepts like quantum physics, entrainment, and the confusing expectations placed on women to remain both sexual and composed. (c) STEVE ULLATHORNE This new hour builds on Stevenson's reputation for smart, fearless comedy that challenges audiences to laugh and think at the same time. Her work often straddles the personal and the political, offering insight into relationships, identity, and the state of society, without ever losing sight of the joke. Outside the Fringe, Stevenson is widely recognised for her work in television, film, and writing. She has appeared on Mock The Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Drunk History, Game Face, The Office, and People Just Do Nothing. Her film credits include the 2023 comedy-horror Slotherhouse, now streaming internationally. As a writer, she has contributed to several major UK publications and was part of the writing team on HBO's Avenue 5. This year she also delivered a talk at TEDx Soho and began working on a new video game project set for release in 2025. Tiff Stevenson's new stand-up show 'Post Coital' will be at the Monkey Barrel Hive 1 at 2.50pm for the entire fringe for tickets go to
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Stevenson guard Donny Williams' time has come. With a big game, he begins to ‘push my name out there.'
Although Donny Williams started for North Suburban Conference co-champion Stevenson last season, he remained under the radar. That's no longer the case for the 6-foot guard. 'I realized last year that I wasn't in the spotlight as much, and I was patient in seeing my teammates shine and knowing that I was helping the team win,' Williams said. 'Now my role is definitely changing.' Williams and guard Rocco Pagliocca, who will be seniors, are the only mainstays returning for the Patriots (22-11, 11-3). Williams believes he's ready for that spotlight. 'Having to carry more of the load is something I'm comfortable with,' he said. 'I'll have to be way more versatile with a lot more decision-making. All for the good of the team. I love it so far.' Indeed, Williams has taken to the role quite well this summer. At Riverside-Brookfield on Friday, he scored 30 points in Stevenson's 51-49 loss to DePaul Prep, which has won three straight state titles in Class 2A and 3A. 'I hit two early threes, and I saw that I could get a lot of good shots,' Williams said. 'I started to feel it, and I was able to adapt to the defense.' That's important for Williams, who has the ball in his hands more than he did last season, when then-senior guard Aidan Bardic initiated a lot of the offense. 'I've always played the point on my other teams, so having the ball in my hands a lot is something I'm used to,' Williams said. 'I can bring those tools to my school team, and I'm already learning a lot.' Williams, who hit a team-high 47 3-pointers and averaged 11.4 points last season, has already showed that he could do more at times. He put up 25 points against York during Palatine's Ed Molitor Thanksgiving Classic and scored 20 points in a conference game against eventual 4A state runner-up Warren. The Patriots won both. Williams was also third on the team with 57 assists. 'He's been pretty consistent, and it's been nice to see his game expand,' Stevenson coach Will Benson said. 'He's gotten really good at shooting off the dribble all the way out to the 3-point line, and he's crafty in getting to the rim. 'There are only so many possessions in a game and so many shots to go around, and it was tough at times last year to find him a lot of shots. I don't think that will be a problem this year.' Benson is also quick to point out how well Williams has defended this summer. Williams attributes improvements in that aspect of his game to weight training. 'I've always relied on my quickness on defense, and I'm blessed with pretty good length in my arms,' he said. 'With being stronger, I've learned how to keep my stance and be strong in helping body with the guys I'm guarding.' Williams and Pagliocca will be difficult to guard as one of the best backcourt duos in the area. 'He's someone I love playing with, and he's been able to show all of the things he can do,' Pagliocca said. 'You can see his confidence growing, and it's cool to see the big steps he's already taken. He's going to be very big for us.' Williams is suddenly getting the attention of college coaches too. He heard from several NCAA Division III teams after his 30-point game, and that process could pick up steam when the Patriots play in an event in Rockford this weekend and then when Williams plays AAU basketball in July. 'I'd very much like to play in college, and it's been good to be able to push my name out there,' he said. 'I'm looking forward to seeing how we progress as a team.' Williams knows he has a key part to play in that. 'It was so important how the older guys mentored me,' he said, 'and now it's important for me to do the same for younger players.'
Dominion Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Best Virginia awarded No. 3 seed in Charleston Regional for 2025 TBT
MORGANTOWN — Making its sixth appearance in the $1 million winner-take-all The Basketball Tournament (TBT), Best Virginia was awarded the No. 3 seed Tuesday in the eight-team Charleston Regional. The regional runs from July 18-22, at the Charleston Coliseum. Best Virginia, representing a WVU alumni team, will face DuBois Dream, a minor-league organization based out of Pennsylvania, at 8 p.m. on July 18. The two teams also met in the first round in 2023, with Erik Stevenson hitting a game-winning 3-pointer for a 70-68 victory in Wheeling. Stevenson is signed to play with Best Virginia again, as are former WVU players Kedrian Johnson, Jermaine Haley and Wes Harris. Former WVU standout Jarrod West returns for his second stint as the head coach with former WVU assistant Ron Everhart joining the team as an assistant coach. John Flowers, a forward from the 2010 Final Four team, is the general manager for Best Virginia. West's son, Jarrod, a former standout at Marshall and Louisville, will also be playing for Best Virginia. Marshall's alumni team, Herd That, is the No. 2 seed in the same region. If both teams win in the first round, they would meet at 5 p.m. on July 20. Herd That won the most recent meeting between the two teams, 74-61, in Wheeling. Elite Nation, a collection of American-born professionals playing overseas, was awarded the No. 1 seed in the Charleston Regional. TBT is a single-elimination tournament, much like the NCAA tournament. It features the Elam Ending, which creates a target score at the first stoppage of play with four minutes left in the game. The TBT winner splits the $1 million prize. The tournament was first created in 2014, and Best Virginia entered play in 2019. It's played in the tournament every season, except for 2020, due to COVID-19. Best Virginia is 8-5 all-time in TBT.
