My name is Aria James. I am born and brought up in Sydney and I love everything about this city. I am a travel enthusiast and love sharing my experiences through my blogs.
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Extremist in court battle to be licensed as security guard
Mr Shortis made national headlines in 2015 when he and two other members of extremist group United Patriot Front took part in a mock beheading outside the Bendigo council offices, protesting the building of a mosque in the regional city. Wearing Arabian-style headdress, Mr Shortis, 48, used a plastic sword to sever the head of a mannequin, causing red dye to spill across the footpath. Shortly after Victoria Police cancelled the sport shooters firearms licence. The three men were convicted of inciting contempt and ridicule of Muslims in 2017. On Monday Mr Shortis, who is now a law student, told the court the act was a stunt to progress his political aspirations, comparing the mock beheading to a Monty Python skit to take the piss out of the Islamic faith. He also argued that his conviction in the Magistrates Court was unlawful and he hoped it could be resolved in the High Court. I am here today to essentially defend my reputation, Mr Shortis said. Im just a 48-year-old trying to get on with his life. I have the right to freedom of expression without interference. Inspector Justin Goldsmith told the tribunal police held serious concerns about the effect Mr Shortis' extreme views might have on his ability to work as a security guard and deemed him unfit and unsuitable to hold such a licence. He said the security field had one of the most culturally diverse workforces in the country. A range of these factors cause us great concern, Inspector Goldsmith said. I dont think your human rights are violated by being refused a security licence. Mr Shortis had fought to have the hearing kept secret from the public but following direction from VCAT member Anne Dea withdrew his application that couldve forced the media from the room. You made a decision to come to the tribunal, Ms Dea said. More to come. Erin covers crime for The Age. Most recently she was a police reporter at the Geelong Advertiser. Most Viewed in National Loading https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/extremist-in-court-battle-to-be-licensed-as-security-guard-20190708-p5258y.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Barty storms into third round of Wimbledon
"Yeah, so, it's an exciting match for me. Just another great opportunity to get out there and do the best that I can." The surprise first-round exits of 2017 Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza and world No.22 Donna Vekic have opened up the tournament for Barty, who more than likely faces a quarter-final showdown with either seven-times champion Serena Williams or German champion Angelique Kerber. In no mood to waste time, the Queenslander was at her best against an opponent who was ambushed and never recovered. The French Open champion was dominant on her first serve, winning 79 per cent of those points. She also converted five of seven break points and was strong either at the net, winning 10 of the 15 times she ventured forward, or on the baseline, winning 30 of her 49 rallies. "It was a really clean match overall. I started particularly well and there were not too many errors. I was really happy with today," Barty said. "I had to make a lot of returns first and foremost in the first set and I think I did that." Having been snubbed from a centre-court appearance in her opening two rounds, surely Barty will be there on Saturday. "If I got to play on the court, it would be incredible. One of the most beautiful courts in the world," she said. "I'll play whenever I'm scheduled. There's not a bad court here at Wimbledon, all special in their own right. They're all very beautiful. I certainly enjoyed playing on court two today. It was nice to hear some Aussies out there, get some support. It was incredible." Barty led 3-0 in the blink of an eye with her all-round game troubling her opponent. Van Uytvanck had the chance to hold serve in the fourth game of the match but Barty forced deuce and then claimed the match on a defensive lob which forced her opponent into an error. She continued to power away, serving an ace to claim the fifth game before Van Uytvanck finally got on the board. However, the joy soon ended when Barty claimed the first set in 25 minutes. The third game of the second set told the tale. With scores locked at 1-1, Van Uytvanck may have felt she was a chance to barge her way back into the contest. But this was where Barty displayed her all-round style. Van Uytvanck went to the net on the opening point, only for Barty to beat her with a cross-court forehand. Then came a forehand down the line to take a 0-30 advantage. Barty then won a baseline battle when a Van Uytvanck forehand found the net. While Van Uytvanck won a point, her serve was broken when her backhand failed to clear the net. This gave Barty a 2-1 lead and she appeared to be cruising to victory when Van Uytvanck conjured a surprise break of serve just as Barty looked set to deliver the formalities. It meant little though, for in the next game Barty needed only the one match point - the 16 strokes between the pair was the longest rally of the game - to get the job done. On a day Bernard Tomic was fined $80,000 for tanking, Barty ensured Australian tennis had much to cheer about. Jon Pierik is cricket writer for The Age. He also covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing. Most Viewed in Sport Loading https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/party-on-barty-storms-into-third-round-of-wimbledon-20190704-p523xb.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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No place for defeatism in fight to cut smoking rates
But the study by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Health Research at the Australian National University is important because it provides the first authoritative numbers based on Australias population, lifestyle and health system. It also provides new evidence that even people who might think of themselves as light smokers are taking a big risk. Smoking rates have fallen and only about 13 percent of the population now smoke, but it is still by far the biggest single health risk in society. In the crude terms of the numbers of preventable deaths it causes, smoking is still far higher than methamphetamines and domestic violence and shark bite and all the other horror stories that dominate the news bulletins. The ANU study is a warning call to health professionals, to governments, and to the 2.7 million Australians who still smoke, to start taking the problem seriously again. Of course, in the first instance, individuals should take responsibility for their health, when it comes to smoking or other lifestyle factors like obesity or alcohol. You have been warned: quitting will improve your life and help you live longer. Quit. One encouraging finding for smokers from this study is that if you quit the risks fall very quickly. Yet quitting this addiction is hard and the health system should do more to help smokers do it. Australia has done well in the past, which is why the share of the population that smokes is among the lowest in the world. Australia led the world by introducing plain paper wrapping and health warnings on cigarette packs to make cigarette brands less attractive. Australian tobacco taxes are among the highest in the world, which acts as a financial deterrent. The bans on smoking in most public places discourage social smoking. Yet recent evidence suggests that smoking rates are not falling as fast as they used to. This should not justify the defeatist attitude that some hard-core personality groups will always be tempted by nicotine or it is too hard to get the message across to certain social groups. The problem is too big to accept failure. Government and doctors need to redouble their efforts. Health experts are calling for governments, especially the Federal government, to throw big money into television and other more tightly focused mass advertising campaigns. Convincing young people not to start smoking and established smokers to quit is a lot more cost effective than paying for more hospital beds and heart bypass surgery. Yet, spending on advertising has been significantly wound back in recent years, especially for programs targeted at indigenous Australians. Health service providers should also be incentivised to take more responsibility to get their patients to quit. Service providers say many people are still not using the subsidised nicotine replacement therapy and intensive counselling freely available from public Quit lines. Doctors would do better convincing patients to quit than treating them once they fall ill. Most Viewed in Lifestyle Loading https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/no-place-for-defeatism-in-fight-to-cut-smoking-rates-20190703-p523u7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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London dinner kick-started O'Connor's possible homecoming
By the end of the meal pasta for Walsh, something less 'carby' for O'Connor the seed had been planted. The Sale utility, who played 44 Tests for Australia before leaving in a haze of ignominy in 2013, was officially keen for a second crack at coming home. "We were looking for ball-players who can play centre," Walsh said.
Tim Walsh has big ambitions for player development in Australia. Credit:AAP "Hes got a fantastic defence, his speed is world class, his kicking game speaks for itself and the age and experience he can add to the squad there's real value there." The conversation has since expanded to include the Queensland Reds, who need someone to replace departing No.12s Samu Kerevi and Duncan Paiu'aua, and the Wallabies. Coach Michael Cheika made it known he was open to O'Connor joining this week's Wallabies training camp but that in line with Rugby Australia's eligibility requirements he had to have signed a deal to return. As of Monday night that had not happened. Where the sevens plan was at was also unclear, but there was no doubt O'Connor had earned Walsh and Hoiles's respect.
Ben O'Donnell is one of Australia's top men's sevens players. Credit:Rugby Australia/Karen Watson. "Probably like most clubs or franchises, we were looking at James's colourful past too," Walsh said. "I was very sceptical at the start but in the three months that weve been talking I've observed that he is very self-aware, very mature, and has taken real accountability of the past, who he is and who he was. Ive certainly been impressed. "He is one of the most talented rugby players Australia has produced in the past decade, that was evidenced by being the second-youngest player to debut for Australia when he played his first Test in 2008. "Once he got the mental side right he could potentially do anything." If the plan comes to fruition, with eight months of sevens built into a longer deal to return to his home state of Queensland, it will be a major coup for Walsh. With the Australian men's team failing to automatically qualify for Tokyo on the recent Sevens World Series, they will have to play an Oceania tournament later this year to make it to the Olympics. O'Connor would not be able to both if he managed to snag a World Cup berth. But Walsh believes a contracting model that allows suitable players to go between formats would be good for Australian rugby. Tom Cusack and Michael Wells have proved it is possible and beneficial, not to mention Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley, both of whom moved to Super Rugby after winning silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Walsh had his eye on recently sacked Wallaby Israel Folau for a switch in the lead-up to Tokyo, but O'Connor would be his biggest coup if the parties can reach agreement. Georgina Robinson is the chief rugby reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. Most Viewed in Sport Loading https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/london-dinner-kick-started-o-connor-s-possible-homecoming-20190701-p52344.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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June-July school holiday guide 2019: Must Do Brisbane
Brisbane's popular Flipside Circus is a unique opportunity for young people to take risks, trust, dream, aspire, work and have fun... more The Little Green Road to Fairyland
The Little Green Road to FairylandCredit:Must Do Brisbane The Little Green Road to Fairyland is a magical fairytale for the littlest lovers of dance and music at QPAC... more Fun Fit Play
Fun Fit Play.Credit:Must Do Brisbane Fun Fit Play is a massive indoor multi-play centre in Wynnum where kids of all ages can keep active and have fun... more Winter Festival
Winter festival imagination playscape. Credit:Must Do Brisbane Winter Festival is a fabulous world of creativity and minds-on, hands-on fun for children aged 0-16 years... more The Wizard of Oz Arena Spectacular takes over Brisbane Entertainment Centre from July 12-13 this school holiday... more Colour My Pot
Colour My Pot.Credit:Must Do Brisbane Get creative in Cleveland at Colour My Pot, a paint your own pottery place where you pick the pottery, paint it and collect it once it has been fired in the kiln... more Snow4kids
Snow4kids.Credit:Must Do Brisbane Kids can enjoy fun in the snow without leaving Brisbane as Snow4Kids festival makes its return for the seventh year to South Bank... more Inflatable Fun Park
Inflatable Fun Park.Credit:Must Do Brisbane Bounce into the June-July school holiday at Australia's biggest Inflatable Fun Park coming to Brisbane this winter... more Victoria Park, centrally located in Herston and perfect for all ages, is a one-stop school holiday destination... more The LEGO Sea Explorers
LEGO Sea Explorers.Credit:Must Do Brisbane Get ready for a bricktastic adventure with the arrival of The LEGO Sea Explorers at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast... more Skating At Festival
Skating At FestivalCredit:Must Do Brisbane Brisbanes Skating At Festival sees King George Square transformed into an enchanted white winter wonderland... more Young Historians Festival
Young Historians Festival.Credit:Must Do Brisbane Young Historians and their families are invited to a fantastic day out at Brisbane's oldest residence, Newstead House... more Lock the kids up at Brisbanes infamous Boggo Road Gaol on a fascinating History Tour this winter's must-do family-friendly experience... more Golf Central BNE
Golf Central BNE.Credit:Must Do Brisbane Hit the greens instead of the screens at Golf Central BNE, the ultimate golf complex with hours of fun for all ages... more Winter School Holiday Activities
Winter school holiday activities.Credit:Must Do Brisbane Keep the kids busy this winter school holiday with Brisbane City Councils fantastic free and low-cost activities... more Urban Xtreme
Urban Xtreme Adventures will open an extreme adventure centre at Hendra Urban Xtreme in Hendra is Australias largest indoor snow sports and adventure centre and the only place in Queensland where you can hit the slopes... more Winter School Holiday Fun
Winter School Holiday Ice Skating.Credit:Must Do Brisbane. From shark petting to pirate ships, go-kart racing to koalas, here's 10 awesome winter holiday things to do... more Kids Kitchen
Kids Kitchen.Credit:Must Do Brisbane. Kids can get creative in the kitchen this June-July school holiday at Kids Kitchen in Indooroopilly... more ChocFest
Chocfest.Credit:Must Do Brisbane. Portside Wharf is hosting a decadent chocolate festival that no sweet tooth will want to miss... more Most Viewed in National Loading
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Swarm of bees stops play, sends World Cup cricketers diving for cover
The on-field scenes were reminiscentof a match at South Africa's Wanderers Stadium in February 2017, when the two sides were forced to take similar evasive action. In that instance, players were forced to leave the field when it became apparent the bees would not move on of their own accord. Wanderers Stadium ground staff were able to temporarily move the swarm on with a fire extinguisher - only for the defiant insects to return. Finally, a professional entered the field of play in full beekeeper attire, plastic box full of honeycomb in hand. Play resumed shortly thereafter. Loading Victory at the Riverside Ground would keep Sri Lankas semi-final hopes alive. After overcoming the loss of captain Dimuth Karunaratne in the first ball of the innings on Friday, Kusal Perera (30) and Avishka Fernando (30) raced to 67 inside the first 10 overs. But Pretorius (3-25 in 10 overs) picked up both wickets and slowed the run-rate, as South Africa took control of the innings against a nervous Sri Lankan side that retreated into their shell. South Africa, who have already been eliminated from the World Cup, have won 16 of their last 18 meetings with Sri Lanka, including a 5-0 clean-sweep at home in March. with Reuters
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Barty recalls dark days on Wimbledon eve
Loading It was less than five years ago that Barty quit tennis while struggling to cope with the suffocating pressure of being touted the sport's next big thing after winning the Wimbledon junior crown at just 15. Depressingly homesick, Barty packed it in after a first-round US Open defeat. "We went through ebbs and flows in that year in 2014," Barty said. "I'm not going to go into details of how I felt and what I had to go through, but there was a point when I think I knew I had to stop and, when I made the decision, it was easy. "Everyone is different, everyone is unique. I can't sit here and tell people how they should figure out their way through their life. It's their decision. "For me, it was just being aware of my mental health. Having a discussion with people was the best thing that came out of it." Barty said she wouldn't be where she is right now had she not taken time out and played professional cricket. The last time any Australian was top seed at a major, it all ended in despair, with Lleyton Hewitt becoming the first defending champion to lose in the opening round at Wimbledon in the professional era after falling to serving monster Ivo Karlovic in 2003. Eighteen-time major champion Chris Evert claimed it would take a "Herculean effort" for Barty to extend her 12-match winning streak to the 19 needed to capture tennis' greatest prize, Little wonder the 23-year-old admits to being unsure how she'll handle the pressure of favouritism. "I don't know, we'll have to wait and see," Barty said. "I feel like I'm playing good tennis but it's such an open field, if I'm being brutally honest. "For me, there are so many potential new situations at Wimbledon. It's essential I go out to prepare the best I can." German titleholder Angelique Kerber has been seeded fifth this year, with seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams the 11th seed. Alex de Minaur, at No.25, is the only Australian men's seed this year. Nick Kyrgios is unseeded for the first time since shocking then-world No.1 Rafael Nadal on debut to reach the quarter-finals as a teenager in 2014. Kyrgios has fallen to No.43 in the world rankings, leaving him vulnerable at Friday's draw. World No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic is the men's top seed ahead of Roger Federer and Nadal. LEADING SEEDINGS FOR WIMBLEDON STARTING ON MONDAY: WOMEN 1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 2. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 3. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 4. Kiki Bertens (NED) 5. Angelique Kerber (GER) 6. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 7. Simona Halep (ROM) 8. Elina Svitolina (UKR) MEN 1.Novak Djokovic (SRB) 2. Roger Federer (SUI) 3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 4. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6. Alexander Zverev (GER) 7. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 8. Kei Nishikori (JPN) AAP Most Viewed in Sport Loading
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'I had to stab them': Son accused of murdering dad, stabbing mum claimed he was psychic
Six hours later, the state alleges Mr Chaytor entered his parents bedroom and switched their light on. His father told him to turn the light off before walking into the ensuite. Mr Chaytor followed him and stabbed him several times in the chest. When his mother came to the door, he also stabbed her several times in the chest and neck as she put her arms up to defend herself. The accused was later found covered in blood and was taken to hospital. His father died of his injuries, while his mother survived after being rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. Mr Chaytor told police he had attacked his parents because he was a psychic and spirits had instructed him they were evil cult leaders. I had to put them to sleep, I had to stab them, he said. They were controlling, they were evil, manipulative people. I was told by spirit guides how it should be done. Ive got two insane, manipulative people out of my life forever. State prosecutor Nicholas Cogin said Mr Chaytors parents had been concerned about his mental health for some time and were aware he was not taking his medication for paranoid schizophrenia. While he had no criminal record, Mr Chaytor had a history of mental health issues which centred around his belief he was a clairvoyant. He claims he began to experience psychic abilities when his grandmother died in 2007. In 2013, he claimed aliens visited him at his home. In 2014, he had his first recorded psychotic episode and was involuntarily admitted to hospital for five weeks on a community treatment order. Mr Cogin said Mr Chaytor had little insight into his mental illness and was not compliant with taking his medication. Medical staff at Armadale Health Service regularly followed up Mr Chaytor after his release from hospital in 2014 up until January 2018 to encourage him to take his medication and receive an injection. Three months after the follow-ups stopped, Mr Chaytor killed his father and stabbed his mother. Sitting in the dock on Wednesday, the court was told Mr Chaytor had since accepted the events that led to his fathers death may have been due to a mental illness and being not sound of mind. Since his arrest, he has been held in custody as an inpatient at Franklands Centre. During Mr Chaytor's trial, the court will hear evidence from psychiatristson his mental state. The trial continues. Heather McNeill covers breaking news with a focus on crime, courts and Aboriginal affairs for WAtoday. Most Viewed in National Loading
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A sudden belch of methane has NASA searching for life on Mars
People have long been fascinated by the possibility of aliens on Mars. But NASA's Viking landers in the 1970s photographed a desolate landscape. Two decades later, planetary scientists thought Mars might have been warmer, wetter and more habitable in its youth some 4 billion years ago. Now, they are entertaining the notion that if life ever did arise on Mars, its microbial descendants could have migrated underground and persisted. Loading Methane, if it is there in the thin Martian air, is significant, because sunlight and chemical reactions would break up the molecules within a few centuries. Thus any methane detected now must have been released recently. On Earth, microbes known as methanogens thrive in places lacking oxygen, such as rocks deep underground and the digestive tracts of animals, and they release methane as a waste product. However, geothermal reactions devoid of biology can also generate methane. It is also possible that the methane is ancient, trapped inside Mars for millions of years but escaping intermittently through cracks. Scientists first reported tracesof methane on Mars a decade and a half ago using measurements from Mars Express, an orbiting spacecraft built by the European Space Agency and is still in operation, as well as from telescopes on Earth. However, many researchers thought the methane might just be a mirage of mistaken data. When Curiosity arrived on Mars in 2012, it looked for methane and found nothing, or at least less than 1 part per billion in the atmosphere. Then, in 2013 it detected a sudden spike, up to 7 parts per billion that lasted at least a couple of months. The methane ebbed away. The measurement this week found 21 parts per billion of methane, or three times the 2013 spike. Curiosity scientists developed a technique that enabled the rover to detect even tinier amounts of methane with its existing tools. The gas seems to rise and fall with the red planet's seasons. A new analysis of old Mars Express readings confirmed Curiosity's 2013 findings. One day after Curiosity reported a spike of methane, the orbiter, passing over Curiosity's location, also measured a spike. But the Trace Gas Orbiter, a newer European spacecraft launched in 2016 with more sensitive instruments, did not detect any methane at all in its first batch of scientific observations last year. Marco Giuranna, a scientist at the National Institute for Astrophysics in Italy, who leads the Mars Express orbiter's methane measurements, said scientists on the Curiosity, Mars Express and Trace Gas Orbiter missions had been discussing the latest findings. He confirmed he had been told of the reading of 21 parts per billion but added that the finding was preliminary. Rovers scheduled for launch next year one by NASA, one by a Russian-European collaboration will carry instruments designed to search for the building blocks of life, although neither is designed to answer the question of whether there is life on Mars today. The New York Times Most Viewed in Technology Loading https://www.smh.com.au/technology/a-sudden-belch-of-methane-has-nasa-searching-for-life-on-mars-20190623-p520h2.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Cardi B hit with new felony charges in strip club brawl
New York: The Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B has been indicted on new felony charges in connection with a fight last year at a New York City strip club. The indictment filed in state court on Friday charges Cardi B with two counts of felony attempted assault and various lesser charges. Prosecutors said she's to appear at an arraignment next week in Queens. There was no immediate response to a message seeking comment from her lawyer. Police say Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, and her entourage were at the club when she argued with a bartender. They say a fight broke out in which chairs, bottles and hookah pipes were thrown, causing minor injuries to the woman and another employee. Cardi B rejected a plea deal earlier this year. AP https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/cardi-b-hit-with-new-felony-charges-in-strip-club-brawl-20190622-p5207l.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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'It's rubbish': Ranting Kyrgios unloads on umpires
That match was a bizarre affair which saw the Australian spend most of it rowing with experienced chair umpire Fergus Murphy, sledging his opponent and muttering to himself whenever he conceded a point. At one stage he even threatened to walk off court after accusing a line judge of rigging the match. Kyrgios later dialled back on that claim, but unleashed on the standard of officiating on the ATP Tour. "I just don't think, at this level of sport, that we should have line judges and umpires that aren't making the right decisions," Kyrgios said. "And I know what happens. Nothing happens. They get a little slap on the wrist. I had a conversation with them in Miami after I got fined again for their mistake. "You know, they don't get any warning or fine or anything for their mistakes. So what's the difference?" Kyrgios was angered in the Auger-Aliassime match when a ball that appeared to be out wasn't called and he lost the point.
Nick Kyrgios appeals to the umpire on court at Queen's.Credit:PA The incident happened shortly after he had conceded a point that won the game for the Canadian after umpire James Keothavong had initially ruled it long. Kyrgios was then issued with a code violation by Keothavong for furiously smashing a ball out of the court, before rounding on a photographer who he took exception to for snapping him while he was blowing his nose at the changeover. "I thought some of the calls were outrageous today," he said. "It shouldn't have to come down to me and Felix giving each other points. "He gave me a point at a pretty crucial time, and I gave him a point at a pretty crucial time. "For me doing a code violation, why can't they get fined for having a terrible day in the chair? "There's hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line. It's not a joke. Loading "They just think it's a joke because nothing happens to them after the match. They don't get any investigation or anything. "I think it's ridiculous. Like, why not have another umpire ready to come in if that guy's have a terrible day? "The calls are horrendous, but I get fined and he gets nothing. It's like a black star. I don't know what happens. It's rubbish." Earlier in the day defending champion Marin Cilic and second-seeded Kevin Anderson were surprise second-round casualties. Croatian Cilic lost in straight sets to Queen's Club debutant Diego Schwartzman in only his third career win on grass. Anderson was beaten 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 by Gilles Simon who will now face fellow Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, who beat Stan Wawrinka. Top-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas finished off Britain's Kyle Edmund in a delayed match before beating Jeremy Chardy. Daniil Medvedev of Russia battled past Lucas Pouille and Milos Raonic beat Aljaz Bedene. AAP Most Viewed in Sport Loading https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/it-s-rubbish-ranting-kyrgios-unloads-on-umpires-20190621-p51zv1.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Nxivm 'sex cult' leader convicted in New York
Raniere's sentencing is set for September 25.
Toni Natalie, second from left, and Catherine Oxenberg talk with the media outside Brooklyn federal court after nxivm defendant Keith Raniere was found guilty on all counts in New York. Natalie is a former member and Oxenberg's daughter was a member of the group. Credit:AP His lawyer Marc Agnifilo told reporters outside the courthouse that the verdict will be appealed. He said he believed a fair sentence would be less than life. Raniere is the founder of Nxivm, a purported self-improvement organisation based in upstate New York. Prosecutors said he created a secret sorority within Nxivm called DOS in which female "slaves" turned over compromising materials, such as nude photos, that could be used for blackmail. They were told that the material would be released if they disobeyed orders or tried to leave, according to a former member and other witnesses. DOS was sold to recruits as an all-female organisation, when in fact it was controlled by Raniere, according to former members who testified at the trial. Outside the courthouse a group of former Nxivm members gave the prosecution team a round of applause. Actor Catherine Oxenberg, who wrote a book about her efforts to rescue her daughter from Nxivm, called her daughter to tell her the verdict. "She's in shock," Oxenberg said of her daughter. "I'm in shock as well. It's over. It's done." Raniere was the "grandmaster" of an inner circle of slaves, who in turn recruited slaves of their own. Some of those recruits were coerced into having sex with Raniere, and some were branded with his initials, according to former members. "The trial has revealed that Raniere, who portrayed himself as a savant and a genius, was in fact a master manipulator, a con man and the crime boss of a cult-like organisation involving sex trafficking, child pornography, extortion, compelled abortion, branding, degradation and humiliation," US Attorney in Brooklyn Richard Donoghue told reporters outside of the courthouse. "His crime, and the crimes of his co-conspirators, ruined marriages, careers, fortunes and lives." Reuters Most Viewed in World Loading https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/nxivm-sex-cult-leader-convicted-in-new-york-20190620-p51zga.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Melbourne Express, Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Looks like there's been a serious collision on Beaconsfield-Emerald Road at Beaconsfield Upper which is blocking the intersection at St Georges Road. Emergency crews are on site and delays are expected. Radio station 3AW is reporting someone may be trapped and all vehicles are being turnedaround.
A police car showing bullet holes from the shooting in Noble Park.Credit:The Age Archives A four-hour manhunt involving a 180km/h car chase and over 50 policemen across Melbourne's south-east suburbs ended with four policemen shot, one critically, on June 19 1985. The drama began just before midnight when two policemen patrolling the factory area near Moorabbin airport, were shot when they intercepted a car. Police then chased a man on foot, with the help of the dog squad, and staked out a house in Clayton. Two other policemen were shot about 3am and 3.30am. A comfortable win in the end for Australia 4-1, following a nervous opening 15 minutes in the second half that nearly saw the Matildas squander the lead entirely. After that, Kerr was gifted two of the easiest goals she'll ever score, to go with the two well-taken headers she took before the interval. Next, Australia will take on Norway in round 16. Check out our live blog of the match here. Can you solve today's Target word? The letters are N I R T G T E O R. Let us know the solution via email or Twitter. Yesterday's solution was PNEUMATIC. Michael Leunig on "behavioural awareness officers"...
Credit: Police have released footage of a man who dragged another man to the ground and stabbed him multiple times with pencils last month. The victim from South Yarra, 20, was smoking in McGrath Lane off Little Collins Street when he was attacked. Passersby tried to push the man off the victim but he continued his attack, before taking off towards Collins Street. The victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Victoria's new assisted dying law kicks in today amid controversy, over a year after it passed following a state parliamentary inquiry into end-of-life choices, and a ministerial advisory panel on voluntary assisted dying. But how exactly does the law work and who will be allowed to use it? The Age's heath reporter Melissa Cunningham has written this explainer to break it all down. We're 63 minutes into the nailbiting match between Jamaica and Australia, with the Matildasleading two to one. The Matildas need a draw to be assured of a spot in the last 16, but will be eying a big win to potentially propel them to the top of the group as Brazil play Italy at the same time. Follow our live coverage of the match here. https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-express-wednesday-june-19-2019-20190619-p51z29.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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No longer do you have to feel left out or uncool for being sober
Anonymous? Hardly. No longer is the topic of sobriety confined to discreet meetings in church halls over plastic foam cups of lukewarm Maxwell House. For these New Abstainers, sobriety is a thing to be, yes, toasted over $15 artisanal mocktails at alcohol-free nights at chic bars around the country, or at "sober-curious" yoga retreats, or early-morning dance parties for those with no need to sleep off the previous night's bender. For these New Abstainers, sobriety is a thing to be, yes, toasted over $15 artisanal mocktails at alcohol-free nights at chic bars. Many will tell you they never had a drinking problem. They just had a problem with drinking. The 'Gray Area' The simple act of waving off wine at a dinner party used to be interpreted as a tacit signal that you were in recovery, "on the wagon," unless you were visibly pregnant or had known religious objections. That was fine if you identified as an alcoholic. But what about people like Ruby Warrington, 43, a British style journalist in New York who spent her early career quaffing gratis cocktails at industry events, only to regret the groggy mornings, stumbles and embarrassing texts that have long been considered part of the bargain with so-called normal drinking? Loading After moving to New York in 2012, Warrington tried 12-step programs briefly but decided that "Ruby, alcoholic" was not the person she saw in the mirror. Three years ago she started Club Soda NYC, an event series for other "sober curious," as she termed them: young professionals who were "kind-of-just-a-little-bit-addicted-to-booze." These gatherings featured panels on topics like "Sex, Lies, and Alcohol" as well as New Age icebreaker activities like "deep-eye gazing" and Kundalini disco. "It just felt to me like there was a huge gray area and a much wider acknowledgment now of the different categories of problem drinking," Warrington said. She wrote a book called Sober Curious that was published in 2018, started a podcast and has staged subsequent Sober Curious events for what she calls the "Soho House crowd" at places like the Kripalu wellness retreat in Massachusetts, where participants also engage in heart-baring, 12-step-style testimonials. Their fellow travelers band together at early-morning sober Daybreaker raves, held in 25 cities around the country. Loading Then there are the more than 18,000 Facebook followers of a nonprofit called Sober Movement, which promotes sobriety "as a lifestyle," who post smiling pictures of themselves cartwheeling in the surf or rocking ripped, beer-binge-free abs, appended with hashtags like #soberissexy, #partysober and #endthestigma. Online, sobriety has become "the new black," asserts a recovery site called, yes, Hip Sobriety. Some not willing to eschew liquor completely are trying what Rosamund Dean, Warrington's compatriot, called "Mindful Drinking" in a 2017 book: a half-measure approach to sobriety where you drink less and perhaps think about it more. "People invest so much of their identity in their lifestyle choices, and it's the same with drinking," Dean wrote in an email. "Everyone is either a wine-guzzling party animal or a clean-living health freak. Personally, I believe the middle ground is the healthiest place to be." 'Rules, No!' It started five years ago as a dare: go a month without drinking (a concept that has flourished in Britain and beyond, with Dry January). "As someone who doesn't really go on diets and cleanses, I didn't go into this challenge with the best attitude," said Lorelei Bandrovschi, 32, an erstwhile branding consultant in Brooklyn. "I was like, 'rules, no! Restrictions, no!'" A half-decade later, that challenge has become a second career. Bandrovschi runs Listen Bar, an alcohol-free bar open one night a month downstairs at Von, a bar in Manhattan. It's not that she is sober, exactly. "I do drink, but I also mostly don't drink," she said. Listen Bar promises a "rowdy" time, hard to imagine via an alcohol-free cocktail called a Ghost Me Maybe, consisting of grapefruit, rosemary and Thomas Henry slim tonic. Where is the buzz, to use that 1990s, Tina Brown, Manhattan-a-go-go word? People invest so much of their identity in their lifestyle choices, and it's the same with drinking. "'Buzz' is an interesting word, because we have so much buzz and hype from people being excited," Bandrovschi said. Anyway, Listen Bar tries to compensate for liquor-fueled abandon with activities like dominatrix lessons ($15) and a spinning "daredevil wheel" that prompts attendees to get out of their comfort zone by, say, trying a high-fashion catwalk around the room. On a recent night, the crowd skewed young and female, and the general vibe recalled an office holiday party, minus any leers from sloppy Sam in accounting. Dry Gets Juicy And while we're talking about today's options. ... It starts with a tingle of citrus, with notes of hibiscus and orange peel, then swells with a hint of syrupy bitterness, which, along with its blood-red color, calls to mind a negroni. In place of the familiar ethanol kick, though, High Rhode, the creation of a New York distiller called Kin, delivers licorice, gentian root and caffeine, along with Goop-ish additions like "nootropics" and "adaptogens" and a priceless mixture of sensuality and virtue. She calls her spirits "euphorics," and, in a sense, High Rhode is to liquor what CBD is to marijuana. "We weren't interested in making another bubbly water or a flavored 'mockery,' just as we weren't interested in drinking them at our favorite bars," said Jen Batchelor, 34, founder of Kin, issuing a subtle dig at the reviled term "mocktail.""We wanted to feel more, not less to wake up fresh and ready to take on the day, in full consciousness, clarity, peace of mind." She calls her spirits "euphorics," and, in a sense, High Rhode is to liquor what CBD is to marijuana: a buzz-free buzz, vaguely akin to a CBD "body high." (Imagine dropping an Advil with a mug of green tea in a warm bath.) Batchelor enjoys wine with a meal maybe once a month. "I'm pretty resolute in my decision to consume with intention or not at all," she said. But she is well cast to sell the idea of sobriety chic. An Ayurvedic herbologist and entrepreneur, Batchelor grew up in Saudi Arabia, where her father was a bootlegger who made his own sidiki (basically Gulf-style bathtub gin). These creators want to shatter the perception that alcohol-free booze alternatives are, by definition, "penalty-box in nature," said Bill Shufelt, a founder of Athletic Brewing, in Stratford, Connecticut. Started last year with a mission to create a nonalcoholic beer that would pass muster with actual beer snobs, Athletic features a head brewer and co-founder, John Walker, who won awards during his time with Second Street Brewing, a highly regarded craft-beer brand in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Shufelt said that three-quarters of Athletic's customers are not sober but rather belong to "a demographic we theorized was latent": light drinkers like athletes and harried parents who cannot spare the energy for hangovers. With beer sales sliding for five straight years, according to the Beverage Information Group, global beer brands are exploring alcohol-free as a potential growth area. This past winter Heineken unveiled 0.0, with a Now You Can advertising campaign showing responsible adults enjoying its no-buzz brews in work meetings or even while sitting behind the wheel. In January, Coca-Cola began test marketing a line of nonalcoholic cocktails, Bar None, with names like Bellini Spritz and Spiced Ginger Mule. And sober foodies need no longer feel left out for ordering a Diet Coke at critically lauded restaurants. Patrons at Cote, Daniel and French Laundry can order nonalcoholic substitutes for a negroni or a dark-and-stormy from Curious Elixirs, a new line of individually bottled alcohol-free craft cocktails. They are also available at nightclubs like House of Yes and Avant Gardner in Brooklyn (tagline: "shaken, not slurred"). "I've spent a lot of time in a lot of gin joints and been lucky enough to help start a few of them," said John Wiseman, a veteran of New York nightlife who started Curious Elixirs in 2016. "But it got to be that I was just drinking too damn much. So I cut back on booze dramatically and started tinkering in the kitchen." His Curious No. 3 blend is inspired by classic cocktails like the Bee's Knees and the Cucumber Collins but substitutes ashwagandha, the trendy plant-based Ayurvedic supposed stress reliever, for vodka or gin, along with mocktail staples like lemon or cucumber juice. Gin Is a Gendered Issue At a politically fraught time, clarity of the mind is a potent weapon, and the #MeToo movement has also helped give abstinence from alcohol an extra kick. We've come a long way from the early 2000s, when bawdy women of "Sex and the City" swilled rose-colored cosmopolitans as a symbol of female emancipation at last, the girls could party just as hard as the boys. Loading But these days, many women are citing sobriety as a pillar of their feminism. "The longer I am sober, the less patience I have with being a 24-hour woman the stranger who tells me to smile. The janitor who stares at my legs. The men on TV who want to annex my uterus," author Kristi Coulter wrote in a 2016 essay published on Medium. "I start to get angry at women, too," she added. "Not for being born wrong, or for failing to dismantle a thousand years of patriarchy on my personal timetable. But for being so easily mollified by a bottle. For thinking that the right to get as trashed as a man means anything but the right to be as useless." According to a federally sponsored 2017 study on alcohol use in the United States published by JAMA Psychiatry, high-risk drinking for women defined as consuming four or more drinks in a day on a weekly basis went from 5.7% to 9%, a rise of nearly 58%. For men, high-risk drinking went from 14.2% to 16.4%, a rise of 15.5%. (The study also observed a "generally much greater" increase in drinking among minorities and poor people, perhaps because of what they described as "increased stress and demoralization.") The #MeToo movement has created an opening for women to speak the truth, I see more being vocal about alcohol and substance-use issues. Beyond the health risks, the booze that flows freely at fraternity parties or holiday mixers has started to look to some women like a tool of oppression in the age of radical consent. ("Can drunk sex ever be consensual?" a recent CBS News article asked.) Students of history will note that women, like Carrie Nation, who famously smashed up taverns with a hatchet, led the temperance movement of the 19th century, which eventually set the stage for Prohibition in the 1920s. "Historically, women have been taught they can't express anger; we've been taught to internalize anger, pain, shame, because anger in a women has equated to crazy, has equated to being unlikable and undesirable," said Erin Khar, whose sobriety memoir involving heroin, "Strung Out: One Last Hit and Other Lies That Nearly Killed Me," will be published next year. Khar, whose has written about her mother's habitual drinking, has taken issue with the #MommyJuice memes that have proliferated on social media with harried women juggling the pressure of careers and family looking for salvation in goblets of chardonnay. To her, there is nothing funny about the idea that booze is somehow necessary to get through life, or one's due. "What the #MeToo movement has done is created an opening for women to speak the truth whatever that truth is," she said. "And I see more women being vocal about alcohol and substance-use issues." The New York Times Most Viewed in Lifestyle Loading https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/no-longer-do-you-have-to-feel-left-out-or-uncool-for-being-sober-20190617-p51ylf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Pair pulled rough sleeper from car then fatally stabbed him, court told
During his opening address, Mr Robertson said a woman walking home from her shift as a chef had seen Mr Hofmann, who had "fallen into financial hardship", sleeping in his car on Mons Avenue minutes before he was killed. The court heard that, as she crossed into Broadarrow Reserve, she passed a young man walking in the opposite direction.
The crime scene on Mons Avenue in Maroubra on June 22 after Peter Hofmann's body was found. Credit:Janie Barrett Mr Robertson said the woman turned to make sure she wasn't being followed, seeing the man knock on the driver's side door of Mr Hofmann's car and say, "Hey mate." The court heard he then hit the car with his fists, saying, "Open the f---ing door." A taxi driver in the area also saw a young man banging on the driver's side door, Mr Robertson said. He said a second man then approached the car from nearby Fenton Avenue and also began hitting the car. The court heard the woman saw the car door open and Mr Hofmann being pulled from the vehicle, with one of the accused men trying to punch him on the head while the other kicked him in the ribs. Mr Robertson said the woman started to walk away quickly when she heard a male say, "We've got to get out of here." He said the brothers, 18 and 20 at the time, had been on the phone to each other before the fatal incident. "As a result of the phone call, the two accused converged from different directions on the car and they ultimately assaulted and stabbed the accused," Mr Robertson said. The jury heard Mr Hofmann was stabbed six times, including once in the face, a defensive injury to the hand and a fatal wound to the heart. Mr Robertson said the force of the knife being thrust into Mr Hofmann's chin snapped the handle from the blade, with the wooden handle being later found in Fenton Avenue. The opening address continues. Angus Thompson is a court reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald. Most Viewed in National Loading https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/pair-pulled-rough-sleeper-from-car-then-fatally-stabbed-him-court-told-20190617-p51yhv.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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The Whitlams review: God drinks at the Metro
The portrait of a sex pest that is Pretty As You, for instance, was cast by Freedman as "a #metoo anthem way ahead of its time", and his intense, sneering delivery justified the claim. He maintained that tone for 400 Miles From Darwin,which at the time asked how Australians in 20 years would feel about their apathy toward the East Timorese and their bloody struggle for independence. The fact that most recently we've played hardball with them for gas fields was written all over Freedman's face. Depressingly, Blow Up The Pokies - about the downfall of founding bassist Andy Lewis - and takedown of Sydney vapidity You Gotta Love This City were as relevant as ever too. At least their enduring melodies and soaring treatment from this four-piece made them less bitter pills to swallow. Given the untimely deaths of two of the three original Whitlams, and the revolving door of musicians that played on their biggest records of the late '90s, the band today is considered as "Tim and the other guys" by most. This night proved that is unfair, and not just because this line-up with Jak Housden on guitar, Warwick Hornby on bass and Terepai Richmond on drums has been constant since 2001. Their jazz-level chops were enough to make one forget the missing strings and horn sections, grooving brightly on Thank You (For Loving Me At My Worst) and I Make Hamburgers, rocking hard on Royal In The Afternoon and rousing closer I Will Not Go Quietly, pushing-and-pulling on the mosh-worthy You Sound Like Louis Burdett and Year Of The Rat (boasting a showstopping solo from Richmond ), and striking minor-key solemnity on God Drinks At The Sando -Freedman noting wryly that he hadn't been "allowed into a bar on King Street after 10pm" for some time. The band also added gorgeous harmonies throughout, none prettier than on touring lament, There's No-One. They were too loud on No Aphrodisiac, drowning out whatever 21st-century lyrical additions Freedman was declaiming in its coda. However the words from twenty-odd years ago were fine by this crowd, which sung though Buy Now Pay Later (Charlie No.2) in its entirety, Freedman alone at the keyboard calling over the top for another fallen friend. Earlier, solo sets from the frontpeople of two other big '90s bands - Bob Evans (aka Kevin Mitchell from Jebediah) and Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi) - transcended nostalgia with highlight songs from this decade. In Evans' case it was Wonderful You, a love song that obvious hero Bob Dylan would be proud to claim, and for Hooper The Red Shoes, which showed a gift for building drama and a big voice with falsetto intact. Michael Bailey writes on entrepreneurship and the arts. He is also responsible for the Financial Review's Rich Lists. He is based in Sydney." Most Viewed in Entertainment Loading https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/the-whitlams-review-god-drinks-at-the-metro-20190615-p51y2i.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
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Sydney Life
You dont need a pocket full of pennies to enjoy all that Sydney has to offer. Weve asked some fellow Sydney-based travel bloggers about their favourite things to do in Sydney that wont cost you a thing. Check them out below!
Bradleys Head, Sydney Managing a website about hiking, its no surprise that my favorite free thing to do in Sydney is discovering new walking tracks. Hiking in Sydney is the best way to fully appreciate everything this beautiful city has to offer. Sydney has a very diverse landscape, so you can walk the beaches, the bush, the mountains and of course the magnificent Sydney Harbour.Whats great about Sydney Harbour is that it is home to countless walking tracks that take you past secluded beaches, beautiful parks, picturesque bays, old lighthouses and much more. And you can discover all these exciting places with the city literally only a stones throw away. Some parts of the Harbour also hold lots of relics from Sydneys military history. At Bradleys Head for example you can find a fortification complex that was built in the 19th century to protect New South Wales against invaders. And Goat Island, right in the middle of the Harbour, once served as a massive gunpowder store. So go ahead, dust off those hiking shoes and head outdoors to discover the goodness that Sydney has to offer, for free! Families visiting Sydney can find all sorts of economical activities. For younger kids visits to some of Sydneys truly amazing playgrounds are a must. Visit a playground by a beach and you have a great free fresh air day out. Great playground and beach combos can be found at Bondi, Bronte, Watsons Bay, Clifton Gardens, Balmoral, Collaroy and Mona Vale. Families with older children might enjoy snorkelling, free if you bring your own kit. Try Shelly Beach at Manly for vibrant sea life, rays, wobbegongs and even (harmless) juvenile dusky whaler sharks. Ocean swimming is another super healthy Sydney sport you can enjoy for free. Explore the many rock pools on the ocean beaches. Check out the Bold and Beautiful Swim Squad if you are a confident sea swimmer. Dozens of swimmers enjoy their daily dip at 7am each morning. Meet at Manly SLSC and ask for a free pink cap. One of our favourite free things to do in Sydney is the Bondi to Bronte walk. This iconic cliff-top walk is 2.5km long and joins two of Sydneys most famous beaches. The views of the ocean and the coastal cliffs along the walk are stunning, making this a real Sydney must see. The walk takes us around 2 hours with two young kids in tow. Adults doing the walk without kids could easily do it in one and a half hours. There is also the option to continue the walk all the way to Coogee Beach, which is a further 3 kilometers. The walk is also a popular jogging route, and has a few workout stations dotted along the path. When doing the walk with kids, we usually stop off at Tamarama Beach or Park on the way for a rest and a snack, and end the walk by playing on the beach in Bronte. Bronte has a lovely park with a playground and plenty of nearby cafes, making it ideal for families.The Bondi to Bronte walk is absolutely stunning and one of the most popular places in Sydney for taking photos, so dont leave your camera behind! Sarah Shrapnel Love Swah If youre a culture vulture in the mood for some creative inspiration without breaking the bank, then Sydney is the place for you! This notoriously extensive city is home to a huge selection of budget-friendly art galleries showcasing artworks from emerging and prominent artists, many of which you can visit free of charge. Firstly head on down to the Museum of Contemporary Art to enjoy their impressive permanent collection. Not only does it feature an array of world class modern art from around the globe, this collection is also free! Another permanent collection worth checking out is at the Art Gallery of NSW which is filled with an eclectic range of Australian, Asian, Western and Pacific art works. A local favourite on the smaller end of the spectrum is White Rabbit Gallery situated in Chippendale, which houses one of the largest collection of modern Chinese art in the world.
King Street, Newtown Exploring Street Art in Sydneys Inner West I love exploring the thriving street art culture in the inner Sydney suburb of Newtown. World class murals adorn walls on almost every corner here thanks in part to a local government initiatives aimed at reducing tagging by matching property owners with street artists. Newtown has always been colourful community, but the volume of work by local and international artists here makes it a perfect place for any street art lover to explore. Add to that some great small bars, cafes and several local craft breweries and you have plenty of great rest stops too. Check out Lennox Street Newtown if youre after a high reward to effort ratio with half a dozen full-scale murals in just 2 blocks. Alternatively make an afternoon of it, take the train to St Peters station and snake your way through the back lanes to a nondescript warehouse in the backstreets that is home to local brewery Young Henrys. This is the perfect spot to taste some really inspired local brews and reward yourself for all that walking! Sydneys own street art nirvana is only 10 minutes by train from the CBD. Tip Along the way pick up a lamington from Flower Drum on King Street or a great meat pie from Black Star Pastry, in Australia Street, Newtown! Nothing beats snorkelling in one of Sydneys stunning beaches on a scorching summer day. All you need is a snorkel and mask, and its easy to learn, even if youre new to the sport. Snorkelling is the best way to discover a new side of Sydney, and come face to face with incredible marine life, including rays, blue gropers, wobbegongs, seahorses, and a wide variety of colourful fish, kelp, and rocky reefs. Dont forget your GoPro! In the Eastern Suburbs, Gordons Bay (complete with underwater nature trail!), and Clovelly Beach are perfect places to get started. Clovelly offers easy beach access in a sheltered bay, making it the perfect spot for first-timers. Clovelly is also famous for its resident blue gropers, so keep your eyes peeled for these friendly fish. On Sydneys north, Shelly Beach, near Manly, is part of the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, and offers pristine blue waters teeming with marine life. Its also popular with divers.Wherever you end up, youre sure to have a fantastic time- snorkelling is one of the best free things to try in Sydney. Bring a friend, some sunscreen, and dive in! Tucked away in one of the myriad bays and inlets on the northside of Sydney Harbour is my favourite Sydney walk. Only a few kilometres long, you can stroll the entire path in less than an hour. The path follows the harbour shoreline beginning at Cremorne Point wharf and ending at Mosman Bay wharf, making it easy to get to by inner harbour ferry. Before you set out take a short detour through Cremorne Point Reserve for spectacular views across Sydney Harbour, or better yet, bring a picnic and enjoy the sunshine. Dont miss Robertson Point Lighthouse, still a working lighthouse guiding boats safely past the point. You cant go inside but you can get quite close. Heading north from the reserve, the path winds past some of Sydneys most exclusive Federation mansions and million dollar water views. At Mosman Bay wharf either catch a ferry back to the city or retrace your steps as far as Hodgson Ave. Follow the street to join up with a parallel path on the east side of Cremorne Point for the best views of theSydneyOpera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge has to offer. Living in Sydney we are spoilt for choice when it comes to scenic natural attractions. One of my favourite free things to do in Sydney is walking the different parts of the The Coast Track in Royal National Park. The entire track is 26km-long and takes two days to complete but it doesnt have to be done all at once. You can easily do parts of the track as spectacular day hikes. The northern part of the track takes you from the village of Bundeena to Marley beach along one of the most beautiful stretches of Illawarra coastline. On top of the dramatic scenery, this walk also gives you the perfect chance to spot Humpback whales during their migration between April and December.The southern part of the coastal track takes you from Otford train station to Burning Palms beach via the Palm Jungle loop trail. This track has the best of all worlds: towering cliffs of the rugged coastline, eucalypt forest, rainforest gullies, beaches, grasslands and even a palm jungle! Attending a conference I discovered this self-made walking trail from North Sydney. Its a great way to watch the city wake and spring to life.Starting on Blues Point Road and passing the eclectic mixture clothing shops, restaurants and bars, walk to Henry Lawson Avenue.Wander alongside Blues Bay to the iconic Sails Restaurant at Lavender Bay. Stop and take in the views of the Harbour, The Bridge, Circular Quay and Opera House. Next, follow the laneway from Sails to E Cres Street veering right onto Bay View Street. Youll walk passed beautiful homes with Bay views. Continually hugging Lavender Bay, walk round to the left into King George Street taking the laneway to the right soon after.Stroll down the lane until Wendy Whiteleys Secret Garden. This marks the beginning of Peter Kingston Walkway. This will take you pass Luna Park and North Sydney Pool.Follow the signs up onto the Harbour Bridge. Explore the Rocks area at the end and walk through to the Quay and Opera House.If you do this walk early in the morning, when the sun is just rising over the harbour, you can enjoy your own private Rocky moment up the Opera House stairs! For more fun and free activities in Sydney, click here! ]]> http://www.sydney.com/sydney-life/feed
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