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Experts warn run-ins with venomous snakes and spiders will continue to rise after recent wild weather and Australia's ongoing mouse plague.

Millions of mice have created havoc for Aussie farmers across New South Wales, South Queensland, Northern Victoria and South Australia over the last year.

The nation has also recorded its wettest November on record, with the humid conditions and rodent plague creating a perfect storm for a boom in snake and spider numbers.

READ MORE: Brave family help save teen shark attack victims

Snakes prey on mice and have attracted a significant number to the communities impacted by the plague.

Wet weather is also the perfect climate to encourage movement of bugs and frogs – another drawcard for a hungry snake or spider.

People in NSW have been identified as the most likely to be bitten by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

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Genevieve Adamo is a senior poisons specialist at the Poisons Information Centre.

She said snake season usually peaks in late December and January, but there has already been an increase in bite reports since this time last year.

"We have some of the most venomous critters in the world, from the brown snake to the funnel-web spider," Ms Adamo said.

"While bites from these types of creatures are rare, it's important to know what to do and act quickly, as it could just save your life or the life of a friend or loved one."

What to do if someone is bitten by a snake?

NSW Health warns even if you just suspect a loved one has suffered a snake bite, it is essential you act immediately.

"If someone has collapsed following a snake bite start CPR immediately, this can be lifesaving," NSW Health warned.

"If someone is bitten you should keep them still, call an ambulance and apply a pressure immobilisation bandage."

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Symptoms from a venomous bite can include nausea, vomiting and a headache, however, first aid should be applied regardless of whether these symptoms are present, NSW Health advises.

What should you do if someone is bitten by a spider?

While most spider bites are harmless, if someone is bitten by a big black spider or funnel-web, this is a medical emergency.

NSW Health warns a bite from a funnel-web can cause severe pain, sweating, vomiting, difficulty breathing and muscle twitching.

A redback spider bite may result in pain and redness, but it is not considered life threatening so does not require bandaging.

"The most important thing to know in a situation like this is how to perform the correct first aid. This can make a significant difference to treatment and outcomes," Ms Adamo said.

A Victorian family have been hailed as heroes after saving two teenagers from a shark attack at a beach on Geelong's south-east coast.

Peter and Dianne Hobbs were at the Ocean Grove beach with their children James and Ella yesterday when they saw the girl and boy in distress just after 7pm.

Mr Hobbs was teaching his daughter to surf when the teens started struggling nearby.

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"We just initially thought they were playing, and before long they started yelling out that they had been bitten by a shark," Mr Hobbs told Today.

"We were still in a state of disbelief, but we just went into action stations really."

Ms Hobbs is a trauma nurse and was able to get medical help to the injured pair as soon as they were helped out of the water.

"Initially we were able to tourniquet her leg," Ms Hobbs said.

"She had a large bite mark to her right lower leg, below the knee and one to her right hand as well and the man had one to his back as well."

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Mr Hobbs called an ambulance while lifesavers helped Ms Hobbs treat the teens.

The Victorian father said their children also helped treat the teens who were in a state of shock after the frightening event.

"Everyone just worked really well, James and Ella grabbed towels, we were able to stem the blood flow just through the use of towels," Mr Hobbs said.

"The ambulances didn't take very long to get here too which was really fantastic.

"Everyone was like a team. I think this is a huge example of where the community just rallies around and just does it."

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The victims were taken in a stable condition from the Bellarine Peninsula beach to Geelong Hospital.

https://twitter.com/ChristineAhern/status/1467935315079827458

Ambulance Victoria confirmed the girl suffered lower-body injuries, while the boy only suffered minor injuries.

Mr Hobbs earlier posted on social media about the incident, writing that he and his family were in "the right place at the right time".

"We could see them splashing but didn't know what was happening. We didn't see the shark, just the splash, but we heard the cries and our family mobilised."

"Tonight we went for a leisurely paddle at Ocean Grove beach and while we were in the water a couple of teenagers near us got attacked by a shark," Salvation Army captain Peter Hobbs posted to Facebook, describing it as "the right place at the right time".

A warning posted to the VicEmergency site said a "shark incident" was reported at Ocean Grover at 7.20pm on Sunday with a shark having been sighted within 500 metres of the beach.

State MP for Lara John Eren also noted the attack, saying he hoped everyone involved was okay.

Mr Hobbs said his daughter, Ella, had been planning to surf in the same spot on Monday.

The beach at Ocean Grove has closed, with lifesavers on jetskis patrolling.

As Australia's third wave of COVID-19 hit and Greater Sydney went into lockdown this year, one of the very few people residents in Albion Park saw regularly was their local delivery driver Mark Faulkner.

Mark had been an Albion Park fixture for years, faithfully delivering packages to homes and businesses in the Wollongong suburb on the NSW south coast.

"You know it's Mark almost before he even arrives," local Angela Butler tells 9news.com.au.

"That's because when he pulls up there will be music blaring from his car – anything from Metallica to ACDC."

READ MORE: Brave family help save teen shark attack victims

"And he's so friendly, just from the minute you open the door.

"I've never seen him in anything but a beautiful, happy mood. He is always just lovely and will have a chat.

"Everybody loves him.

"I've heard people say, 'I've moved from Albion Park and the only thing I miss is Mark'."

During lockdown, Mark's visits were highly anticipated, with families saying their kids would wait by the window when their favourite delivery guy was due to come, just so they could talk to him.

Then, something unexpected happened, and Mark's visits suddenly became few and far between.

It was on one of Mark's increasingly rare shifts that Ms Butler's mother, who also lives in Albion Park, found out their delivery driver had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

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A tumour on Mark's bladder required several operations and rounds of chemotherapy.

As a contractor, Mark had no sick leave entitlements and was still trying to make ends meet – cutting back to working two days a week on a low wage.

Ms Butler was working from home at the time, having just had surgery herself to remove a brain tumour.

The pair swapped stories and unloaded their health burdens to each other.

"He was just telling me how difficult it's been at the moment, financially difficult as well as with his health," Ms Butler said.

"His car was up for rego, and that's his livelihood, but he couldn't afford to pay the fees.

"I just felt really sorry for him. I knew how he felt in a lot of ways, but I was lucky, I still had money coming in, whereas he didn't."

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Ms Butler offered to set up an online fundraiser to help Mark out.

Neither of them expected the response it would get.

"Originally, I only asked for $1,000 because I was hoping to get his car expenses out of the way, and then it just went crazy," Ms Butler said.

In less than two weeks, the community has raised almost $15,000 for Mark.

Offers have also come flooding in from locals wanting to help Mark by cleaning his home, baking dinners for him or anything else he might need, Ms Butler said.

"Mark is just absolutely astounded, he's so overwhelmed."

"Today, he was running late on his deliveries because he feels that he has to stop and say thank you to everybody."

Ms Butler said she loved the way her community had embraced Mark.

"When he first started delivering, some people were a bit wary of him because they thought he looked a bit rough.

"Now, it's like he's the superstar of the community.

"It just shows how, if you actually take the time and give someone a chance, they could end up being the nicest person in the universe."

Contact reporter Emily McPherson at em********@******om.au.

The Hawaiian Islands could experience "catastrophic flooding" from a storm system lasting until Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

Nearly one foot of rain (300mm) has already fallen in Kula on Maui over the last 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Honolulu.

Rainfall storm total amounts of 10 to 15 inches (254mm to 381mm) are anticipated, with isolated areas of 20 to 25 inches (508mm to 635mm) possible, the NWS said.

READ MORE: Aussie Bitcoin pioneer wins battle for $71 billion fortune

On the Big Island, eight inches (203mm) of rain have fallen in the past 24 hours in multiple locations. Rainfall is beginning to wind down as of early Monday morning (local time).

However, heavy rain is still forecast to fall across Maui, Oahu, and Kauai throughout the day on Monday. A flash flood warning has been issued for the islands of Molokai and Maui.

"Localised rainfall rates of two to three inches (51mm to 76mm) per hour will exacerbate ongoing flooding from earlier rainfall. Portions of leeward Maui have received over six inches (152mm) of rain over the past six hours, and runoff remains high," NWS Honolulu said.

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Landslides are expected and in some cases, highways may be closed due to flooding and landslides, potentially cutting off communities.

A flood watch remains in effect through Tuesday afternoon local time for all Hawaii Islands. A 'Kona low' is responsible for pulling deep tropical moisture over the state bringing with it large bands of heavy rain.

"Rain events of this size can cause catastrophic flooding and affect areas that do not usually flood. Low spots in roads will become dangerous and impassable due to severe runoff. Debris in streams and gulches may clog bridges and culverts resulting in dangerous flooding," according to the NWS.

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"Numerous landslides are expected in areas with steep terrain. Urban areas, especially on Oahu, may have severe flooding. Isolated highways, such as the Belt Highway in the Big Island's Kau District, and Piilani Highway on Maui, may be closed in one or more locations, resulting in long detours or even the isolation of communities."

Public schools in Hawaii's Maui County are closed Monday because of the potential for flooding.

"Parts of Maui County are already experiencing flash flooding and power outages, causing unsafe conditions," Hawaii Public Schools said Sunday evening.

Blizzard warnings remained in effect over the weekend for mountain summits on the Big Island, where high winds and winter weather temporarily closed access to the summit on Mauna Loa last week.

"A Winter Weather Advisory was issued this morning for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island above 12,000 feet (3.65km) elevation and will remain in effect through 6pm HST," the NWS said.

A woman who has accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse has testified in the US that Ghislaine Maxwell set up their meetings and spoke often about sexual topics – including Epstein's carnal needs.

Warning: This story contains details which some readers will find distressing.

"She said that he needed to have sex about three times a day," the woman told the court.

The woman, testifying under the pseudonym "Kate," took the stand Monday morning (local time) to start the second week of Maxwell's federal trial on charges including sex trafficking of minors.

LIVE UPDATES: Aussie Bitcoin pioneer to keep $71 billion stash

Kate is not considered a minor victim in the charges because she was over the age of consent at the time of the alleged abuse, but jurors were still allowed to consider her testimony, Judge Alison Nathan ruled.

Kate testified she first met Maxwell when she was 17 through her older boyfriend while on a trip to Paris. Maxwell invited her for tea at her London townhome a few weeks later and told Kate about her "philanthropist" boyfriend Epstein, who Maxwell thought would help Kate with her aspiring music career.

"I understood that her job was to take care of Jeffrey's needs," Kate said.

"I left there feeling exhilarated.

"Like somebody wanted me."

READ MORE: Brave family help save teen shark attack victims

Weeks later, Maxwell invited Kate to the townhome again to meet Epstein, pushing her to accept the invitation with a sense of "urgency," she recalled.

There, Maxwell told her to give Epstein's foot a little "squeeze" to show him how strong she was despite her small frame, Kate testified. Epstein approved of the foot massage and also had her massage his shoulders.

A couple of weeks later, Maxwell called Kate to ask whether she would do her "a favour" and come give Epstein a massage with her "strong hands," despite having no massage therapy experience.

Maxwell led Kate upstairs in her townhome to a bedroom where Epstein stood in a robe, gave Kate massage oil, and closed the door behind her.

Kate testified Epstein disrobed and initiated a sex act with her. Shortly after this incident, Maxwell called her back to the house and told her it's hard to keep up with his needs, Kate testified.

"She said, 'I'm so glad you're here. You did such a good job last time (that) he wanted you to come back,'" Kate said.

This time Epstein was standing fully naked when Maxwell brought her to the same room and closed the door behind her. "Have a good time," she recalled Maxwell saying as she left the room. Maxwell also asked her whether she'd "had fun" after both sexualized massage encounters, Kate said.

Maxwell's trial, which began last week, has alternated between harrowing testimony from minor victims and illuminating testimony about some of Epstein's connections to high-profile figures such as Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew. None are alleged to have committed wrongdoing in relation to the ongoing trial.

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Indeed, Kate testified that Maxwell would talk about her friends Prince Andrew and Trump around her.

Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to state prostitution charges, was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019 but died by suicide in prison a month later. Maxwell, Epstein's confidante, was arrested a year afterward and has pleaded not guilty.

In opening statements of her trial, prosecutors said Maxwell and Epstein created a "pyramid scheme of abuse" to lure underage girls into sexual relationships with Epstein. Her defense, meanwhile, said she was a "scapegoat" for Epstein's actions and attacked the memories and motivations of the women who say they were sexually abused.

Maxwell said Epstein needed sex three times a day

In her testimony, Kate testified she traveled at Epstein's expense several times to New York; Palm Beach, Florida; and Little St James in the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein had property. Maxwell would inform her of the travel arrangements, she said.

During a visit to the Palm Beach residence when she was about 18, she said, a "school girl" outfit – a pleated skirt, white panties, white socks and a shirt – was left on her bed. When she asked Maxwell what it was for, she recalled, Maxwell said, "I thought it would be fun for you to take Jeffrey his tea in this outfit."

"I didn't know how to say no," she said. She thought she might be forced to leave if she said no, Kate testified.

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She carried a tray while wearing the outfit to Epstein, who she recalled was working out with a trainer in the gym near the pool. Epstein initiated and engaged in a sex act with her there when the trainer left, she said.

Kate also recalled photos of nude young girls scattered throughout the Palm Beach home in almost every room. "I remember that they were shocking," she recalled.

She testified that Maxwell invited her to Epstein's private island to give him massages.

Maxwell spoke of sexual topics often with Kate, asking her whether she knew any other girls who could give Epstein oral sex.

"She said that he needed to have sex about three times a day," Kate said.

"You know what he likes – cute, young, (and) pretty like you," Maxwell told her, according to her testimony.

She never recruited other females of any age for Epstein despite the request, she testified. She did recall seeing a thin blonde girl who she thought was around her age, 17, on one of those occasions.

Kate received millions in settlement fund

Kate acknowledged in court she had a substance use problem with cocaine, alcohol and sleeping pills in her late teens and early 20s. She testified the abuse has not affected her memory and that she was required not to take drugs or be drunk around Maxwell and Epstein.

She was about 24 when she last traveled with Maxwell and Epstein, but she continued contact with Epstein through her early 30s, she testified.

"I did not want to admit what had happened to me and I felt that by ceasing communication I would have to acknowledge the events that had taken place and I would have to say something," she said.

"I was also fearful of disengaging because I had witnessed how connected they both were and I was fearful."

Kate has been cooperating with law enforcement since they first contacted her in 2019, she said. She said she's testifying under pseudonym despite making public appearances in the media previously because she has a child she doesn't want to subject to the attention around the case.

"I have a huge amount of humiliation and shame around the events that took place," she said.

Kate acknowledged receiving a $3.25 million ($4.61 million) settlement with the Epstein Victim Compensation Program.

Wet weather is forecast for south-eastern parts of the country today with showers expected to drizzle throughout the afternoon.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, a trough is moving to the western slopes and plains of New South Wales today, bringing showers and thunderstorms through Sydney and many eastern parts of the state.

The BoM has warned some of the storms may become severe, with people urged to stay on top of the latest warnings.

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https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1467963424680431629

Storms and rain are expected to hit Canberra and the wider ACT this evening.

"It's looking we could see some pretty wet weather in SE Australia over the coming days – including Canberra and the wider ACT," the BoM said.

"It could be a good idea to keep an eye on warnings over the coming days."

This year, Australia experienced its wettest November since records began.

The BoM said wet weather would continue to accumulate over the next seven days across eastern, northern and central parts of the country.

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https://twitter.com/BOM_ACT/status/1467963048082251776

Showers are forecast in Melbourne throughout the day, before easing later this afternoon.

Cairns is expecting a few showers but plenty of sunny breaks, with a possible shower for Brisbane.

In Adelaide, it will be cloudy with a top of 20 degrees. While Perth is set to heat up with a scorching 37 degrees forecast today.

Storms are also expected to rip through the Top End, with a top of 32 degrees forecast for Darwin.

Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist who claims to be the inventor of Bitcoin, prevailed in a US civil trial verdict Monday against the family of a deceased business partner that claimed it was owed half of a cryptocurrency fortune worth tens of billions.

A Florida jury found that Dr Wright did not owe half of 1.1 million Bitcoin to the family of David Kleiman. The jury did award US$100 million ($142 million) in intellectual property rights to a joint venture between the two men, a fraction of what Mr Kleiman's lawyers were asking for at trial.

"This was a tremendous victory for our side," said Andres Rivero of Rivero Mestre LLP, the lead lawyer representing Dr Wright.

LIVE UPDATES: Aussie Bitcoin pioneer to keep $71 billion stash

At the centre of the trial were 1.1 million Bitcoin, worth approximately US$50 billion ($71.03 billion) based on Monday's prices.

These were among the first Bitcoin to be created through mining and could only be owned by a person or entity involved with the digital currency from its beginning — such as Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Now the cryptocurrency community will be looking to see if Dr Wright follows through on his promise to prove he is the owner of the Bitcoin in question. Doing so would lend credence to Dr Wright's claim, first made in 2016, that he is Nakamoto.

The case tried in federal court in Miami was highly technical, with the jury listening to explanations of the intricate workings of cryptocurrencies as well as the murky origins of how Bitcoin came to be.

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Jurors took a full week to deliberate, repeatedly asking questions of lawyers on both sides as well as the judge on how cryptocurrencies work as well as the business relationship between the two men. At one point the jurors signalled to the judge that they were deadlocked.

Bitcoin's origins have always been a bit of a mystery, which is why this trial has drawn so much attention from outsiders.

In October 2008 during the height of the financial crisis, a person named "Satoshi Nakamoto" published a paper laying out a framework for a digital currency that would not be tied to any legal or sovereign authority.

Mining for the currency, which involves computers solving mathematical equations, began a few months later.

The name Nakamoto, roughly translated from Japanese to mean "at the centre of," was never considered to be the real name of Bitcoin's creator. Some in the cryptocurrency community do not even believe Nakamoto was a single individual.

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Dr Wright's claim that he is Nakamoto has been met with scepticism from a sizeable portion of the cryptocurrency community. Due to its structure, all transactions of Bitcoin are public and the 1.1 million Bitcoins in question have remained untouched since their creation.

Members of the Bitcoin community have regularly called for Dr Wright to move just a fraction of the coins into a separate account to prove ownership and show that he truly is as wealthy as he claims.

During the trial, both Dr Wright and other cryptocurrency experts testified under oath that Dr Wright owns the Bitcoins in question. Dr Wright said he would prove his ownership if he were to win at trial.

David Kleiman died in April 2013 at the age of 46. Led by his brother Ira Kleiman, his family has claimed David Kleiman and Dr Wright were close friends and co-created Bitcoin through a partnership.

Mr Kleiman's estate was suing for half of the Bitcoins in question as well as intellectual property rights.

The lawyers for W&K Information Defence Research LLC, the joint venture between the two men, said they were "gratified" that the jury awarded the US$100 million in intellectual property rights to the company, which developed software that set the groundwork for early blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies.

"Wright refused to give the Kleimans their fair share of what (David Kleinman) helped create and instead took those assets for himself," said Vel Freedman and Kyle Roche of Roche Freedman LLP and Andrew Brenner, a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, in a joint statement.

Dr Wright's lawyers have said repeatedly that David Kleiman and Dr Wright were friends and collaborated on work together, but their partnership had nothing to do with Bitcoin's creation or early operation.

Dr Wright has said he plans to donate much of the Bitcoin fortune to charity if he were to win at trial.

In an interview, Dr Wright's lawyer Mr Rivero reconfirmed Dr Wright's plans to donate much of his Bitcoin fortune.