Category Archives: headline

Ducklings saved from Sydney stormwater drain

A family of ducklings has been rescued from a stormwater drain in Sydney's west.

A concerned community member alerted emergency services after ducklings were heard crying in a drain on Wonderland Drive, Eastern Creek, at about 10am today.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) said firefighters "flew into action to rescue their new feathered friends".

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Firefighters successfully rescued six little ducklings and returned them to their parents.Firefighters rescue family of ducklings from Sydney stormwater drain.

Firefighters pried open the drain and safely removed all six ducklings.

They were safely reunited with their parents.

"The rescue effort wasn't all smooth sailing — trying to protect their young ones, the ducklings' parents tried to take a nip out of our firefighters," FRNSW said in a statement.

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Firefighters rescue family of ducklings from Sydney stormwater drain.Firefighters rescue family of ducklings from Sydney stormwater drain.

None of the firefighters were injured by the ducks.

"An egg-cellent result all round."

Meanwhile, a further six ducklings have been rescued at Melbourne's Flinders Street railway station.

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Ducklings have been saved from train tracks in Melbourne.

Wildlife Victoria thanked "quick-thinking" Metro Trains staff who rescued the ducklings from the tracks.

"Eagle-eyed staff members spotted the ducklings on the tracks and took steps to prevent the train at platform 10 from leaving the station," Wildlife Victoria said.

Schoolies allowed to dance in 'pods' at end of year event

Dancing 'pods' are being rolled out at a Schoolies event in South Australia.

While thousands of young people are allowed to attend to the Schoolies Festival in the coastal town of Victor Harbour, south of Adelaide, strict rules have been organised for dancing.

Revellers will have to go into one of 30 different pens set up at the event, which is run by charity, Encounter Youth.

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https://twitter.com/KellyCHughes_/status/1461533696444403717

Over 5000 year 12s are attending the event

CEO of Encounter Youth, Nigel Knowles, said they have worked with SA Health and SA Police on the rules.

He said the 50sq m fenced areas can hold 25 kids each, and will be patrolled by some of the more than 300 volunteers.

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"The pods, we have two live music stages, so each has 15 pods," he told 9News.

"All of the patrons entering the pods are required to dance with a face mask.

"Obviously a big part of schoolies celebrations is dancing."

The attendees don't need to be vaccinated but do need to wear masks, even though the event is outside.

According to the South Australian government restrictions on dancing remain in place across the state.

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https://twitter.com/KellyCHughes_/status/1461526204540850178

"Dancing is permitted at a private function and private activity where up to 150 people are present. However, it is capped at 50 people dancing at any given time," it says.

The state is reopening the borders to vaccinated people from interstate on Tuesday, with a raft of rules in place.

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South Australia clarifies vaccination 'anomaly' for Sydney and Melbourne

Vaccinated people from most parts of NSW and all of Victoria will no longer be locked out of South Australia due to vaccination figures the state's premier confirmed were an "anomaly".

As reported by 9News, some areas such as City of Sydney and City of Melbourne, had not officially reached the 80 per cent threshold needed to enter South Australia when the borders open on Tuesday without quarantine, according to Federal government figures.

However, both NSW and Victorian health authorities questioned the numbers, which were based on population estimates drastically affected by a lack of international students.

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Adelaide, Australia

Sydney MP Jenny Leung, whose family is in South Australia joined with colleagues to campaign on the matter.

However, SA Premier, Steven Marshall announced the "anomaly in the statistics" had been "reconciled".

Residents from the Byron Bay area of NSW will remain subject to seven days quarantine if they enter the state – until it reaches 80 per cent vaccinated. It is currently at 78.7 per cent.

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"The good news is all of Victoria is above 80 per cent. And all of New South Wales apart from one LGA is also above that 80 per cent rate- only the Byron Bay remains just below that 80 percent," Mr Marshall said.

"We know this has caused enormous frustration for people who haven't been sure regarding whether they can come in from next Tuesday or not, the good news is that's all been clarified.

"It's because there were some LGAs, like Sydney, like Melbourne, like Randwick where they had a high student population which was included in that denominator, all of that has been worked through now.

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"I know this will be a huge relief for people in Sydney and in Melbourne who have been anxious about whether this anomaly in the statistics could be reconciled. It has.

"There will be no requirement for quarantine for fully vaccinated people coming in from Sydney and Melbourne."

Byron Bay and surrounding areas will join other parts of NSW in lockdown.

The official data on vaccination rates by LGA has not been updated.

As well as being vaccinated, people who go to South Australia from areas under 90 per cent vaccinated need a COVID-19 test three days before travelling and on arrival – but don't need to isolate, Mr Marshall said.

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"We're looking forward to welcoming people back into South Australia," Mr Marshall, said.