Tag Archives: oceania

headline

Brown snake myths debunked by expert

A Queensland snake catcher has debunked some of the most persistent and damaging myths about one of Australia's most vilified serpents.

The eastern brown snake is the second-most venomous snake in the world, one of the most commonly encountered in Australian suburbs and backyards, and has developed a reputation for aggression.

But as Stu from Sunshine Snake Catchers explained in a video on the company's Facebook page, there's nothing an eastern brown wants to do less than chase a human.

READ MORE: Snake catcher hauls dozens of shed skins out of Queensland roof

"These snakes want nothing to do with us, and if you respect them, and give them the distance they deserve, then you'll have no issue with them," he said.

The video shows Stu carrying out a number of brown snake catches, many with the snake in question fearful and curled into a classic S-shaped defensive posture, ready to strike.

But as Stu demonstrates, given the chance, the snakes all much prefer to flee than to fight, not even trying to lunge at him when he has them safely caught by the tail.

READ MORE: This snake can smile back at you – with its body

One that he released into the wild Stu even filmed slithering between his legs as he stood motionless, showing how willing the snakes are to accept a non-threatening person as something to ignore.

"The main messages from this video are that snakes will not attack you, they will not chase you, and they are not aggressive," Stu said.

He said the trouble started when people tried to catch, kill or chase snakes themselves.

"If you mess with them, they will get defensive, trust me, they will defend themselves with their lives," he said.

He urged anybody who needed to have a snake moved to leave it alone and contact a professional catcher.

headline

Fresh appeal for information in Bung Siriboon investigation

Police are appealing for anyone who can provide valuable information on what happened to missing Melbourne schoolgirl Siriyakorn "Bung" Siriboon to come forward.

Bung has been missing for 10 years and despite several potential leads, investigators still don't know what happened to her.

The 13-year-old went missing somewhere on the walk between her Boronia home and school on June 2, 2011.

LIVE UPDATES: All the latest breaking news on Melbourne's coronavirus lockdown

School pictures of missing Victorian teenager Siriyakorn 'Bung' Siriboon. (Supplied)

Detective Leading Senior Constable Justin Tippett said thousands of pieces of information had been sifted through and every week investigators still receive phone calls.

"Ten years is a long time to go without answers and I'm sure the loss of Bung feels as raw today as it did in 2011," Senior Constable Tippett said.

"On today's anniversary, our thoughts are with Bung's family especially her mother Nid, father Fred and sister.

"We continue to encourage people to come forward with new information that may assist police.

"We have never given up hope that one day we will be able to find out exactly what happened to Bung that day."

READ MORE: Police no closer to finding missing schoolgirl Bung Siriboon

Bung left her home in Elsie Street in Boronia around 8.30am that day.

She was last seen by a neighbour walking towards Alberts Avenue, but never arrived at school and has not been seen or heard from since.

In 2014, detectives announced a $1 million reward for information leading to catching the person responsible for Bung's disappearance.

"The Department of Public Prosecutions will also consider granting indemnification from prosecution to any person who provides information as to the identity of the principal offender or offenders," Victoria Police said in a statement.

Investigators have continued to receive a significant number of calls and information from the public over the past 10 years in relation to the case.

READ MORE: Stepdad of missing Melbourne teenager appeals for new information

"As history has shown, often those involved in a crime of this nature are unable to keep it secret so we are especially keen to hear from anyone who may have specific knowledge of the person involved," Senior Constable Tippett said.

So far, potential reported sightings haven't eventuated.

One report in 2016 said a white Kingswood station wagon was seen on the morning of Bung's disappearance and may have had a young female passenger, but police have never been able to confirm a connection.

headline

Negatives of Gallipoli landing to be auctioned as NFT

One of Australia's most significant photographic collections will soon be up for auction and will be taking its first jump into the digital cryptocurrency space.

Lloyds Auctions has announced it will be auctioning off a collection of glass negatives, compiled over a 140-year period by the Rose Stereograph Company, which includes original photographs from the Gallipoli landing and Ned Kelly's armour.

If physical ownership of these one-of-a-kind items isn't enough to entice you, Lloyds has also announced all the negatives have been "minted" as non-fungible tokens or NFTs, with the ownership of each going to the highest bidder.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about NFTs

Lloyd's Actions have announced they will be auctioning off a collection of glass negatives, compiled over a 140 year period by the Rose Stereograph Company, which includes original photographs from the Gallipoli Landing and Ned Kelly's Armor.Some of the pictures in the collection include the Gallipoli Landing in 1915.

An NFT is a digital version of a physical item, similar to a "verification item" or ownership certificate.

The auction marks the first time buyers can bid for ownership on both the Lloyds Auctions platform and in cryptocurrency on leading NFT marketplaces for rare digital collectables.

Lloyds Auctions chief operating officer Lee Hames said the shift to the digital ownership being offered felt like the "right thing to do" for the collection.

"Put it in terms of physical art collecting; anyone can buy a Picasso print, but only one person can own the original," Mr Hames said.

"Many people may be unaware that validating original artwork and collectables online is extremely difficult, so NFTs offer a new era of rights management."

The auctions will continue for the next 28 days.