Latest news with #backpackers
ABC News
20-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Backpackers opt for city work over outback Queensland experience
Each afternoon, the beach volleyball nets at The Strand in Townsville are filled with overseas backpackers enjoying the north Queensland winter. Hostels are fully booked and local hospitality venues are at capacity with workers completing their 88-day regional work requirement for their second-year visa extensions. Townsville's Australian Hotel owner Katie Kelliher said she received at least five resumes a day. "There's always backpackers looking for work, but this year in particular it's been next level," she said. "We are so inundated with the amount of people that are currently looking for work we can't even take resumes anymore." As the coastal towns thrive with the influx of travellers, north-west Queensland businesses and farmers are missing out on the backpacker workforce they rely on. The Working Holiday Maker visa is a cultural exchange program with over 40 partner countries offering young people the chance to work and travel for up to 12 months. Visa holders are required to complete 88 days of regional work in tourism and hospitality, the broader agricultural industry, mining and construction, or natural disaster recovery to extend their visas for another year. Robert Downie is the local publican at the Royal Hotel in Hughenden, about 400 kilometres west of Townsville. He said most backpackers were opting to work along the coast, which had impacted on his business. Julieta Blans from Argentina is one of those completing her regional work requirement in Townsville so she can stay in Australia for a third year. She said it became harder to find work and accommodation during the winter months because the weather was better. "Everyone starts leaving in December. Last year there was no-one, the hostel was empty," she said. "But now the weather is beautiful." She said the change to include hospitality in the 88-days requirement encouraged her to extend her stay in Australia. Shane McCarthy, the president of Agforce, the peak industry body representing primary producers in Queensland, said the short-term workforce had not been the same since the pandemic. "There always seemed to be a good supply of young people willing and able to come out and have an outback experience while they earn some money," he said. But now, Mr McCarthy said grazing properties were struggling to find the extra hands in the paddock. "You either have to try and do it yourself or you're putting it off until you can find someone to help you," he said. He suggested incentives to get workers out of the cities and into the bush. As backpackers now struggle to find work and accommodation in the bustling coastal cities, publican Robert Downie hopes more will venture to the outback. "I don't think they quite realise how good it can be out west," he said. He said accommodation was often provided for workers, and people around town were keen to get to know visitors. "We've actually had more stay longer because they enjoy being here so much," Mr Downie said.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Daily Mail
How I looked into the eyes of the Outback killer and asked him if he did it... and ended up convinced the official story is full of holes. The case haunts me: RICHARD SHEARS
For a time, the face in that photograph was one of the most famous in the world. Instantly recognisable: the craggy, weather-worn skin, the belligerent, challenging stare, Bradley John Murdoch was a man not to be messed with. The sort of rough, bush-dwelling, hard-living, authority-defying Aussie you wouldn't want to lock eyes with across a bar. How many times had I looked at that face... and wondered. After his arrest in August 2002, nearly a quarter of a century ago, Murdoch's face was all I saw, in newspapers or flashed up on TV, where it was usually accompanied by another set of pictures, of a smiling young couple: a woman with shiny, bobbed black hair and toothy grin sitting alongside a young man with a wide, friendly face. They were Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio, a pair of British backpackers who were ambushed as they drove their VW camper van along a remote highway, north of Alice Springs, Australia, one bitterly cold night in July 2001. Peter, 28, was murdered – probably shot in the head at close range – and his girlfriend, Joanne, 27, trussed up and bundled into the assailant's truck, before she staged a dramatic escape, hiding in bushland for five hours as the killer stalked her. At the time, I was working as the Mail's Australia correspondent, covering this case that had gripped the world. And it was not long after his arrest that I found myself face to face with the man the police were convinced did it. In a stroke of blind luck, Murdoch, a 47-year-old drifter, mechanic and drug-runner, with a string of convictions, had been picked up by police on an unrelated case and a DNA match had placed him at the scene of the Falconio murder. What's more, he wanted to talk, and the prison authorities gave permission for me to visit him at the Berrimah jail, in Darwin. He was awaiting trial for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl and her mother – charges he denied and for which he was subsequently cleared. But of course, all everyone wanted to talk to him about was the Falconio case. A burly figure, towering over my own 6ft 2in frame, there was no hesitation as he walked towards me across the prison yard in his blue and yellow prison uniform. He wasted no time in getting to the point: 'You're going to ask me, did I do it?' he said with a smirk. 'Even from inside here, if I could get a few bucks for answering that question I'd be a rich man,' he said. 'But did you do it?' I asked. 'Joanne has her story and I have mine,' he said. We went back and forth with this frustrating exchange for 15 minutes with no definitive response. His attitude was almost playful. ghoulishly mischievous. Murdoch, who travelled extensively through the Outback in his white four-wheel-drive vehicle delivering cannabis, was no stranger to the law, and how to play it, and here he was playing me. I came away from that interview feeling no closer to the truth. Along with the rest of the world, I caught my breath when that same face appeared on TV again this week, after the news that Murdoch, serving life for Peter's murder and Joanne's attempted kidnap, had died of throat cancer at the age of 67. He died still protesting his innocence and, most cruelly for Peter's family, refusing to reveal where he had buried his body. I spent around five years immersed in this deeply disturbing story, travelling through some of the world's most remote and hostile terrains, to speak to those who knew Murdoch. I was granted exclusive access to his parents, former workmates, girlfriend and ultimately the prisoner himself. They were encounters I will never forget. Of all the crime cases I have covered in more than 50 years as a journalist this is the one that has troubled me above all others. Murdoch had been arrested in a supermarket in South Australia on August 28, 2002. Like everyone closely following this story, I rejoiced at the news as the manhunt over the previous year had been intense. After his arrest, he was found to be carrying a gun, and his white Toyota truck fitted the description Joanne had given. A DNA sample was taken and forensic scientists compared it with a tiny smear of blood on the T-shirt Joanne had been wearing. It was a definite match – 150 quadrillion (150 million billion) times more likely to have come from Murdoch than from anyone else – prosecutors were told. Although he was cleared of the rapes, as far as the Falconio case was concerned, the police had their man. Yet as I investigated further, troubling questions emerged in the prosecution's case, which weren't helped by Joanne's sometimes confused and inconsistent testimony about what happened to her that night. So let us remind ourselves of the events of July 14, 2001, when Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio set off on their ill-fated trip. She was a travel agent from Hove, he was a building contractor from Huddersfield, and they were driving along a highway, about 200 miles from Alice Springs. At around 8pm, a white truck caught up with them, and the driver indicated there was something wrong with their van's exhaust. They pulled over, and Peter got out and joined the other driver at the back of the vehicle while Joanne moved over to the driver's seat. Joanne said she then heard a bang – like a gunshot or the exhaust backfiring as she revved the engine. Then a stranger appeared at the driver's door, a man of average height, with a moustache and long, straggly hair, who pointed a gun in her face. He managed to restrain her with a pair of homemade cuffs and partially bound her ankles. He then threw a sack over her head and forced her into his vehicle. But she escaped and, still shackled, crawled into the wilderness, before being picked up by a passing driver five hours later. Peter's death was confirmed by a pool of his blood found on the highway, but soon questions started being asked about Joanne's version of events. Murdoch, his family and friends emphasised time and again, was a giant of a man, 6ft 4in tall, and had always worn his hair short, nothing like the description of the long-haired attacker provided by Joanne. And why did this big, heavy man leave no footprints in sandy bushland as he, and his dog, walked around looking for Joanne? I'd spoken to Aborigine trackers, brought in to hunt for clues, and they'd found only Joanne's sandal marks in the sand – not Murdoch's prints or those of his dog. Also, Murdoch had no teeth – a fact I could vouch for, having stared into that grotesque grin in the prison room – yet Joanne never mentioned it, despite being face to face with him. Then there was his truck: Joanne claimed she'd escaped by climbing from the front through to the rear, yet the cab was sealed. Also, his trusty hound Jack was a Dalmatian, but Joanne recalled seeing an animal with a reddish-brown coat. But superseding everything was that irrefutable DNA sample: DNA doesn't lie. Yet even that wasn't as clear-cut as everyone hoped. Forensic experts who picked up the tiny speck of blood questioned why there wasn't more, given how close the two were and how violently she had struggled. The next time I spoke to Murdoch was in 2005, as he awaited trial for the Falconio case, this time at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre. Again, he was coolly confident, and, for a man with little or no education, had an awful lot to say about DNA. He was being framed, he said, by a police force that was terrified by the world attention and desperate to salvage its reputation. 'It's got to be obvious what they are doing,' he said. 'They are going to throw a DNA case at me because there's nothing else. 'It will be all part of their plan to close me down and lock away the Falconio case,' he said, before adding, cryptically: 'I have one particular enemy who's been collecting my DNA.' Intertwining his big fingers, he said: 'Everybody knows that the van Peter and Joanne were driving had all manner of people in it and that's where the confusion will arise in my case. 'They'd picked up a couple of German tourists at Kings Canyon and there are people bumping up against one another all the time.' In a reference to carrying guns – police found a fearful collection of weapons in his truck, including an electric cattle prod, a shotgun, a box of ammunition, two pistols, several knives, a crossbow with 13 bolts and Russian-made military-style night-vision glasses, rolls of tape and ten cable ties – of course he was 'tooled up', he said. 'The business I was in, everybody knows about that, was very dangerous,' he said. (His drug-running, taking cannabis between South Australia and the north west town of Broome, was well-documented and never denied.) 'I'm not in the motorcycle gangs any more. I don't have their protection. It was generally known I was driving through the desert with a big amount of money. I was very careful, there could be no risks of any kind.' He was convinced he'd be cleared. Around this time, Murdoch's parents, Colin and Nance, agreed to meet me at their home in Perth, western Australia. A friendly, working-class couple, then in their 60s, they could have been anyone's mum and dad. They served me tea and biscuits in their humble bungalow and were keen to talk about their wayward boy. Yes, he was a tough man, they said, but not the psychopath depicted in the media. 'Please understand this,' Colin told me, clutching my arm. 'My son is not a killer. If I thought he had done this, believe me I would know it.' 'Big Brad' as he was known, hadn't had an easy childhood. Money was tight and they'd led a transient life, travelling around the country, looking for work. There was tragedy, too. The couple's 23-year-old son, Robert, died of cancer when Bradley was ten, affecting him badly. 'He would have turned out good, but he got pulled away by the wrong people as he was growing up – those bike types, the gangs, a bad marriage. [Murdoch married a woman called Diane in 1984, and they had a son together before separating two years later.] It all worked on his mind,' said Colin. Yes, there were 'skirmishes' with Aborigines who lived nearby, and with 'druggies', his parents said. Murdoch had served 21 months in jail for shooting at a group of Aborigines he claimed were harassing him. 'It's true he got into fights with some local gangs but he ended up on top, except that time he got his leg broken in a fight.' Colin gazed at family photos on display in a cabinet, pointing out they were from Bradley's boxing days. 'He didn't win everything,' said Nance, as she showed me one photo of Brad, with his missing front teeth. 'So he got his teeth knocked out?' I asked. 'Oh no,' she quickly corrected me. 'He lost them because he was eating too much chocolate.' I stared into his face for seven long weeks during his trial in Darwin in 2005 and watched him, stony-faced and impassive, as the guilty verdict was read out. It was the last I saw of him – until this week, when his image dominated headlines again and I was reminded of something he said the last time I interviewed him. 'Let me tell you this, mate, the truth will come out some day. I just have to be patient.' Peter Falconio's family may never have peace, may never be able to bury their boy. And, I fear, we will never know the full story about this case, which continues to haunt me to this day.
Khaleej Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Wizz Air's Abu Dhabi exit to affect short-haul tourists, budget travel, spike in fares
Wizz Air's decision to suspend its operations in Abu Dhabi and exit its joint venture in the UAE is expected to hit backpackers and budget-conscious travellers who relied on the ultra-low-cost airline for short getaways, say travel agents. 'There will be an impact because some of Wizz Air's destinations were unique,' said Avinash Adnani, managing director of Neo Travel and Tourism. 'It will affect people who took 2–3 day trips due to the affordability. It's a setback for backpackers, as some of the routes Wizz Air served are either underserved or more expensive with other airlines. This move will impact both the economy segment and budget travellers.' Reena Philip, general manager of Air Travel Enterprises in Dubai, echoed these concerns, highlighting the airline's competitive pricing. 'There will definitely be slightly higher fares when people switch to other airlines. But people will still travel,' she said. Wizz Air announced on Monday that it will suspend all Abu Dhabi operations effective September 1, 2025, as it plans to exit the joint venture and refocus on its core markets in Central and Eastern Europe, along with select Western European countries such as Austria, Italy, and the UK. The airline cited three key reasons for the decision: ongoing engine reliability issues, geopolitical instability, and regulatory hurdles. Passengers with bookings beyond August 31, 2025, will be contacted directly via email with refund options or alternative travel arrangements. Opportunities for other carriers Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operated a wide network of routes across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Asia, including cities such as Alexandria, Almaty, Amman, Baku, Belgrade, Bishkek, Cairo, Cluj, Dammam, Kutaisi (Georgia), Larnaca, Male, Madinah, Astana, Samarkand, Sarajevo, Sohag, Tashkent, Turkistan, Tirana, Varna, and Yerevan. Travel agents say the airline's exit will benefit other low-cost carriers in the region. 'Wizz Air's loss is a gain for airlines like Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, flynas, flyadeal, Jazeera Airways, and others,' Reena said. Avinash Adnani agreed, noting that many travellers from Dubai who previously opted for Wizz Air's Abu Dhabi flights may now shift to other options. 'Some travellers from Dubai who used to fly Wizz Air will now turn to flydubai, while those in Abu Dhabi may choose Air Arabia Abu Dhabi,' he added.
Health Line
15-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
12 of the Best Non-Perishable Foods for Your Pantry
Non-perishable, shelf-stable foods can be stored for a long time without spoiling. Healthy options include dried beans and fruit, canned fish and vegetables, and plant-based milk. Non-perishable foods, such as canned goods and dried fruit, have a long shelf life and don't require refrigeration to prevent spoilage. Instead, they can be stored at room temperature, such as in a pantry or cabinet. They're not only standard kitchen items but also favored by backpackers and campers who can't bring perishable foods like fresh meats, dairy, and vegetables on the trail. Non-perishable goods are essential in emergency situations and favored by charitable organizations that feed or give groceries to people who are unhoused or experiencing food insecurity. Although some items like boxed macaroni and cheese are packed with preservatives and other unhealthy ingredients, quite a few nutritious non-perishable foods are available. Here are 12 of the healthiest non-perishable foods. Dried and canned beans With a long shelf life and high nutrient content, dried and canned beans are smart non-perishable food choices. Canned beans can be kept at room temperature for 2 to 5 years, while dried beans can last about 1 year or until the expiration date. However, if stored in sealed, food-grade packaging, they may keep for 10 or more years, though they will need rehydration. One 2005 study found that 80% of people on an emergency food use panel considered pinto beans stored up to 30 years edible. Beans are an excellent source of fiber, plant-based protein, and nutrients that include: magnesium B vitamins manganese iron phosphorus zinc copper They pair well with most foods and make hearty additions to soups, grain dishes, and salads. Inspect stored cans for deep dents or bulges, as these may indicate bacteria growing inside the canned food. Dents along the seams that run along the top or side of a can may also allow bacteria to enter a can. If cans are dented, swollen, or bulging, they should not be consumed. Nut butters Nut butters are creamy, nutrient-dense, and delicious. Although storage temperatures can affect shelf life, commercial peanut butter keeps for up to 9 months at room temperature. Natural peanut butter, which does not contain preservatives, lasts up to 3 months at 50℉ (10℃) and only 1 month at 77℉ (25℃). According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), almond butter keeps for up to 1 year at room temperature, while cashew butter keeps for at least 3 months. Nut butters are a rich source of healthy fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and powerful plant compounds, including phenolic antioxidants. These compounds protect your body against oxidative stress, which can lead to cellular damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals and many chronic health conditions. Jars of nut butter can be stored in your pantry, while smaller packets can be taken backpacking or camping for an on-the-go snack. You can also use it to add protein to smoothies. Dried fruits and vegetables Although most fresh fruits and vegetables have a short shelf life, dried produce is considered non-perishable. When properly stored, most dried fruit can be safely kept at room temperature for up to 1 year, and dried vegetables can be kept about half that time. You can choose from a variety of dried fruits and vegetables, including: dried berries apples tomatoes carrots You can also make your own dried fruits and vegetables using a dehydrator or oven. Vacuum-sealed packaging can help prevent spoilage. Dried fruits and veggies can be enjoyed as snacks or added to trail mix. If fresh produce isn't available, dried veggies can be rehydrated by adding them to soups or stews. Canned fish and poultry Although fresh fish and poultry are packed with nutrients, they're highly perishable. However, commercially canned varieties can be safely kept without refrigeration for up to 5 years at room temperature. Tuna and other seafood products are also sold in lightweight packages known as retort pouches, which are perfect for smaller pantries and backpacking. Seafood in retort pouches has a shelf life of up to 18 months. Chicken and other meats can also be found in retort pouches, though you should refer to the packaging for shelf life information. Grains and rice Whole grains like oats, rice, and barley have a much longer shelf life than other popular but perishable carb sources like bread, making them a smart choice for long-term food storage. For example, brown rice can be kept at 50 to 70℉ (10 to 21℃) for up to 3 months, while farro lasts up to 6 months at room temperature. Grains are versatile, non-perishable ingredients that can be added to soups, salads, and casseroles. Eating whole grains may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Canned vegetables and fruits Canning has long been used to lengthen the shelf life of perishable foods, including fruits and vegetables. The heat used during canning destroys potentially harmful microorganisms, and the characteristic seal of canned foods keeps new bacteria from spoiling the contents. The shelf life of canned fruits and vegetables depends on the type of produce. For example, low-acid canned vegetables, including potatoes, carrots, beets, and spinach, last 2 to 5 years at room temperature. However, high-acid fruits like grapefruit, apples, peaches, berries, and pineapple last just 12 to 18 months. The same goes for vegetables packed in vinegar, such as sauerkraut, German potato salad, and other pickled vegetables. When shopping, choose canned fruits packed in water or 100% fruit juice rather than heavy syrup, and opt for low sodium canned veggies whenever possible. If you're crafty in the kitchen, consider canning at home using store-bought or garden-grown vegetables and fruits. If you don't know how, you can consult numerous books or online tutorials. Jerky Meat preservation has been used since ancient times to prevent protein sources from spoiling. Specifically, jerky is made by curing meat in a salt solution and dehydrating it. Preservatives, flavorings, and other additives are sometimes used during processing. Many types of jerky are available, including beef, salmon, chicken, and buffalo. There are even plant-based jerky alternatives made from coconut, banana, and jackfruit. That said, note that these alternatives are not nutritionally equivalent to meat-based jerky. Commercial jerky can be safely kept in the pantry for up to 1 year, though the USDA recommends that homemade jerky be stored at room temperature for a maximum of 2 months. Any kind of jerky can be enjoyed in moderation, but the healthiest options are those that don't contain added sugar, artificial flavors, or preservatives. Granola and protein bars Granola and protein bars are a go-to food for backpackers and hikers thanks to their long shelf life and nutrient composition. Many granola bars stay fresh for up to 1 year at room temperature. Likewise, most protein bars have a shelf life of at least 1 year, though it's best to check the label on individual products for expiration information. Granola and protein bars can be highly nutritious if you choose the right kinds. Look for brands full of hearty ingredients, such as oats, nuts, and dried fruit, with minimal added sugars and artificial ingredients. Canned and dried soup Canned and dried soups are excellent choices for stocking your pantry. Food donation organizations also prefer them. Most canned soups are low in acid and can last up to 5 years at room temperature. The exception is tomato-based varieties, which have a shelf life of about 18 months. Although most dried soup mixes should last up to 1 year in storage, it's best to check labels for expiration dates because different brands may vary. You may also be able to make dried soup mixes last longer by freezing them. Choose soups rich in healthy ingredients like vegetables and beans, and select low sodium products whenever possible, as consuming too much added salt may harm your health. Freeze-dried meals Freeze drying uses sublimation, a process in which ice is converted directly into vapor, to remove water from food so that it lasts longer at room temperature. Freeze-dried meals are popular among backpackers because of their light weight and portability. Freeze-dried foods and ready-to-eat freeze-dried meals are made for long-term storage, with some products boasting a 25-year shelf life. Many companies make delicious, freeze-dried meals that are healthy and accommodate specific dietary patterns. Shelf-stable milk and nondairy milk While fresh milk and some nondairy alternatives like almond and coconut milks have to be refrigerated, shelf-stable milk and many nondairy milks are made to keep at room temperature. Shelf-stable or aseptic milk is processed and packaged differently than regular milk because it's heated to higher temperatures and packed in sterile containers. One study found that shelf-stable milk had a shelf life of up to 9 months when kept at 40 to 68℉ (4 to 20℃). Plant-based drinks like soy milk packaged in flexible materials, including plastic, paper, and aluminum, similarly last at least 6 months, while canned coconut milk, like other low-acid canned goods, keeps up to 5 years at room temperature. Shelf-stable and plant-based milks can be used when refrigeration isn't available. Powdered milk is a good alternative. When kept in a cool, dark place, it has an estimated shelf life of 3 to 5 years. It can be reconstituted with clean water in small portions as needed.
Washington Post
12-07-2025
- Washington Post
Duffel bags are the ultimate travel hack
I'm usually wary of hacks that promise HUGE benefits with one easy trick! But that's exactly what I'm here to tell you. By changing one element of your travel style, you can save time, money and hassle on every trip you take. The secret? Swap your roller bag for a duffel or backpack.
