Tag Archives: oceania

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'Complete mess': Melbourne yacht destroyed by lightning bolt

A lightning bolt has destroyed a yacht in Melbourne's bayside, causing a fire inside the boat and melting away much of its side.

The racing yacht, called Schuss, was out of the water at Sandringham Yacht Club around 7pm yesterday when thunderstorms swept across Melbourne.

A lightning strike hit the boat, frying the wiring and melting a hole in the hull.

READ MORE: Victoria records 34,836 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths

Schuss crew manager David Rutter told 3AW this morning: "It went through the mast, the electricity went through all the wiring, started a fire and has made a complete mess of the boat."

"It's caused quite a large section of the side of the boat to basically melt away inside," he told Tony Jones.

"Unfortunately, she's probably going to be an insurance write-off.

"That's the end of our sailing for a while."

Mr Rutter said that while the boat did bot look "too bad" from the outside, the inside was destroyed.

"The start of our season was next week at the Geelong Festival of Sails, unfortunately that's out of the question now."

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How the UV torch from your rapid test kit can help kittens

If you can get your hands on them, some rapid antigen tests come with a little blue UV torch to illuminate your results.

As we move towards using more RATs and fewer PCRs, you may find yourself with a stockpile of these tiny lights.

So, what can you do with these single-use torches? The answer involves kittens.

READ MORE: Snake catcher's warning for pet owners after grim find

kitten ringworm UV blue light torch rapid antigen testkitten ringworm UV blue light torch rapid antigen test

"Small UV torches like the ones used in RAT kits are helpful in finding skin issues, blood and other uses around an animal shelter," Sarah Jane Tomsett, head of medical and logistics at Animal Rescue Cooperative (ARC) Craft Guild in Sydney told 9news.com.au.

The ARC collects them and includes them in trauma kits sent out to rescuers and volunteers around the country.

"They aren't perfect but are handy to have around when you can't afford a scientific vet instrument and means we can give many away to rescuers that may need them in-field kits," she added.

In particular, the torches can help detect ringworm, which is a common skin infection often found in kittens.

"The UV or blacklights show ringworm, it glows green, like a fluorescent green," Joanne Lawrence, founder of Camden Community Supporting Our Companion Animals, said.

kitten ringworm UV blue light torch rapid antigen test

When she posted to the community Facebook page about the torches this week, she was completely inundated.

Her group has a small local following, and works with councils in south-west Sydney, educating them on how to implement a no-kill policy for abandoned animals.

Ms Lawrence wrote on her page that if people had spare torches "we'd love them" and suggested people contact their local rescue centre or vet, who would likely be grateful for the donation.

"Everything that we get is from either our pockets or I collect things off the side of the road, refurbish them – saving things from landfill and resell them," she said.

"Taking on ringworm kittens can be really expensive."

The Animal Rescue Craft Guild has been collecting and sending UV torches out to rescuers all over Australia as part of its trauma kits.When animals are hit by cars, come in from firezones, or the pound with medical needs, trauma kits and rescue packs are sent to rescuers for free.

Ms Lawrence said before the pandemic the group would buy UV torches from a local fishing shop for $40 each.

She said if people donate the torches 'it means we don't have to buy them, and it means we can keep them after the COVID situation and we will have a supply'.

It's worth noting these UV torches are not foolproof, are not the only option to detect ringworm, and are not recommended for people to use at home in lieu of seeing a vet.

The Australian Veterinary Association warned 'there are a lot of limitations with the test even when using the correct type of light frequency' and ringworm can be present but not picked up by the lights.

"Our advice is that if you think ringworm is a possibility then it is best to have a veterinary assessment," a spokesperson said.

"The use of UV lights where the light frequency emission is not known is not recommended to screen for ringworm."

The best thing to do is contact your local vet, rescue centre, or shelter and see if they need them.

Alternatively, you can post them to the Animal Rescue Cooperative offices in Sydney, Canberra, or Perth.

It will then will distribute the torches to the 23 national hubs and over 1000 rescuers.