Categories
Sports

Taylor Walker speaks on Adelaide Crows pre-season camp, former captain, fractures in playing group, Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins, Bryce Gibbs

Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker says it’s “upsetting” to hear the distress past players feel towards the infamous 2018 pre-season camp, but insists he did everything he could as captain at the time to address “fractures” within the group.

The Crows in a lengthy open letter to the club’s fans on Monday night apologized to Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and others who had a “negative experience” at the controversial camp following last week’s shock new revelations — revelations that prompted the AFLPA to indicate it’ I’ll reopen its investigation into the event.

Reflecting on the fallout at West Lakes in 2018, Walker acknowledged it was a turbulent period at the club despite his best efforts.

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“I can put my head on the pillow at night, and put my hand on my heart and say that I did everything I could,” he told Triple M.

“I knew something was not right post the camp, I knew blokes weren’t feeling that great about it, there were fractures within the group like some of the boys have said… and I was having one-on-one meetings, I was having some confidential meetings at my house to try and work out exactly the path to take, and I can honestly say that I did everything I could to try and fix it.”

Walker leads the Crows out the race alongside Betts (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

Betts and Jenkins were among the former Crows to last week detail their distressing first-hand experiences at the Gold Coast Coast-based camp in 2018 that led to several players, including Betts, and officials to depart the club in the following years.

Walker maintains that he still took a “positive experience” away from it, but admitted it was tough hearing his ex-teammate’s disturbing accounts.

“Yeah I sit here as captain at the time of the footy club, and those boys being past players… not great to be honest. It’s quite upsetting to hear that those guys are still feeling the effects of the camp,” Walker said.

“What I will say is that, the camp, a lot of people took different things out of it and I personally, I’ve said it, I took a positive experience out of it… but that does not take away from the feelings of hurt that those boys are going through at the moment.”

Adelaide overcame the intense spotlight on the club last week to defeat the West Coast Eagles by 16 points at Optus Stadium.

And Walker suggested the scrutiny hadn’t affected the vibe at the Crows, estimating “10-2o per cent” of people who attended the camp remained at the club.

“Our mantra is prioritizing others and we’re certainly doing that to the best of our ability,” he said.

“As a footy club we still have to work through this, because sitting here you don’t like hearing that past players are feeling that way,” he said.

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Categories
US

Adams, Abbott trade barbs over Texas migrant buses

Major Eric Adams and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott traded barbs — and blame — Monday following the latest arrival of asylum-seeking Mexican-border migrants relocated from the Lone Star State to the Big Apple.

Adams accused Abbott of being “anti-American” for “shipping” busloads of migrants to New York City in response to what the Republican governor calls President Biden’s “open border policies.”

“Be a true American,” Adams said during an unrelated news conference at Corona Flushing Meadows Park in Queens.

“This is a place where the Statue of Liberty sits in the harbor. And we say, ‘Bring us your tired, those who are yearning to be free.’ And that’s what these asylum seekers are doing.’”

Adams added: “And I don’t think anything is more anti-American than shipping people on a bus, 45-hour trip, without any of the basic needs that they have, or direction, or coordination…There is a humanitarian part of being an American and I think that there’s nothing more anti-American than what he’s displaying right now.”

Major Eric Adams called Texas Gov.  Greg Abbott "anti American" for sending buses of migrants to New York City.
Major Eric Adams called Texas Gov. Greg Abbott “anti-American” for sending buses of migrants to New York City.
Matthew McDermott
Migrants from the border in Texas arriving at the 42nd Street bus terminal in Manhattan on August 7, 2022.
Migrants from the border in Texas arriving at the 42nd Street bus terminal in Manhattan on August 7, 2022.
GNMiller/NYPost

“These migrants willingly chose to go to New York City, having signed a voluntary consent waiver, available in multiple languages, upon boarding that they agreed on the destination,” spokeswoman Renae Eze said in a prepared statement.

“If the mayor wants a solution to this crisis, he should call on President Biden to take immediate action to secure the border — something the President continues failing to do.”

Abbott’s office told The Post that about 100 migrants had been sent to New York so far.

On Friday, after 50-plus migrants disembarked at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, Abbott said he planned to continue the program indefinitely, calling New York City an “ideal destination” due to its generous treatment of homeless people.

On Sunday, Adams said only 14 migrants “got off” a bus that officials were “led to believe” should have held about 40 people.

It’s unclear what happened to the others, but Adams said Monday that some were “re-ticketed and went to new locations.”

City Hall later said they received reports that “nonprofits and church groups” have funded some migrants’ travel to other locations.

A spokesperson for Abbott said it was hypocritical for Adams to be upset at migrants arriving since New York is a "sanctuary city."
A spokesperson for Abbott said it was hypocritical for Adams to be upset at migrants arriving since New York is a “sanctuary city.”
Chris Rusanowsky/ZUMA Press Wire
According to Abbott's office, 100 migrants have been sent to New York so far.
According to Abbott’s office, 100 migrants have been sent to New York so far.
foxnews

Adams — who’s said that the city’s shelter system was being overloaded by migrants — also said he’d be taking part in a conference call with the White House as early as Monday afternoon to get “the assistance that we need.”

“When it comes down to hotels, we have a requirement and a mandate by law as being a right-to-shelter city, we have a requirement to house within a period of time and we’re going to use every available means to do so,” he said.

“And that is what we’re doing and we’re living up to that mandate.”

Additional reporting by Reuven Fenton

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Categories
Technology

What Is Patch Tuesday?

Penelope Feros, APAC Vice President – ​​Employee Experience Management at Ivantireports on Patch Tuesday.

Patch Tuesday refers to every second Tuesday of the month when Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle and others release new security-related patches for their software. If you’re a Windows user, you are probably familiar with this concept from the notifications you receive asking you to install updates and restart your computer. The process of patching allows for vulnerabilities and errors to be rectified, in the same way keeping mobile applications updated helps prevent security breaches. Understanding such newly-identified vulnerabilities enables companies to assess the issues and mitigate associated risks, as attackers often exploit out-of-date systems.

Patch Tuesday vulnerabilities are segmented into four categories: critical, important, moderate and low. These categories reflect the vulnerability’s risk and potential impact if exploited. Critical vulnerabilities can allow code execution without user interaction, while important vulnerabilities usually involve some sort of prompt and can lead to data being compromised if exploited. In contrast, the impact of medium and low vulnerabilities is significantly lower and immediate patching is less important.

Occasionally, if there is a really critical vulnerability, there will be ‘out-of-band’ updates published during other times of the month. However, since 2003, most patches have been gathered into one update on Patch Tuesday or ‘Update Tuesday’ – making the process more time-efficient and predictable.

In Q1 2022, there was a 7.6 per cent increase in vulnerabilities tied to ransomware, highlighting the importance of cybersecurity. To protect businesses against attacks, it is vital that software is kept up-to-date and secure.

cybersecurity patch tuesday

Challenges of patching

Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to patch all vulnerabilities within a reasonable timescale due to the increasing complexity of the cybersecurity environment. This issue is exacerbated by the technology talent shortage, making it incredibly challenging for businesses to hire enough qualified people to conduct patching. Without automation and prioritisation, patching is an extremely labor-intensive and mundane task, as security teams need to proactively find and apply patches. This is followed by a lengthy process of testing the patch, resolving failed patches, and coordinating with other departments to conduct updates. It is no surprise that 71 per cent of IT and security professionals find patching ‘overly complex and time-consuming’.

cybersecurity patch tuesday

Easing the patching experience

At a time where talent retention has never been more important, it’s good to know that there are steps that businesses can take steps to improve the employee experience. Implementing a risk-based patch management solution from a specialist provider, such as Ivanti, can significantly improve the patching experience by helping IT professionals identify vulnerabilities and prioritize remediation, enabling them to focus their efforts on what matters most. Automated patching can also distribute thoroughly tested patches to thousands of machines in minutes, greatly improving work efficiency.

Ivanti’s recent Digital Employee Experience Report indicated that 49 per cent of IT professionals in Australia find the digital tools and environment provided by their frustrating organization, and 29 per cent have even quit one or more jobs partly due to the apps and tech tools they had to use. This highlights the importance of ensuring employees are well-equipped with tools that help, rather than hinder their work experience, particularly when addressing issues as vital as cybersecurity.

Learn more about Ivanti’s solutions here.

Categories
Sports

Rugby: Springboks winger Kurt-Lee Arendse gets four week ban for red card tackle

The gold rush continues at the Commonwealth Games, All Blacks defeated and Ian Foster’s job hands in the balance and a New Zealand one-two finish at the latest Indycar race in Nashville – Cheree Kinnear gives the highs and lows of the weekend’s sport all in 90 seconds. Video/Photosport/Sky Sport

Springboks wing Kurt-Lee Arendse has been suspended for four weeks after his red card tackle on All Black Beauden Barrett in the first test on Sunday.

Arendse received the red card late in the All Blacks’ 26-10 defeat after wiping Barrett out in the air while he was attempting to field a high ball.

The ugly incident at Mbombela Stadium finished with Barrett landing heavily on his neck.

In a statement, the Sanzaar Foul Play Review Committee said they have agreed to a guilty plea from Arendse.

Beauden Barrett was taken out in mid-air by Kurt-Lee Arendse.  Photo / Photosport
Beauden Barrett was taken out in mid-air by Kurt-Lee Arendse. Photo / Photosport

He has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including September 17.

That means he will be available for South Africa’s final Rugby Championship game against Argentina.

Arendse’s red card is one of two dangerous high ball challenges the All Blacks are seeking clarification on before attempting to arrest their sustained form slump in South Africa.

Scans after the match cleared Barrett of serious neck damage and he did not undergo an HIA assessment. Despite the initial alarm, All Blacks coach Ian Foster is yet to rule Barrett out of the second test at Ellis Park.

“We’ll make a decision on that later in the week but he’s still a bit sore,” Foster said.

As the All Blacks departed the secluded Ingwenyama Conference and Sport Resort for Johannesburg’s business district, Foster made his feelings on the incident clear when asked if he had concerns about the nature of the challenge.

“Massive concerns,” Foster said. It’s probably worst I’ve seen.”

Foster also expressed frustrations with a similar incident involving Arendse, who faces a lengthy suspension for his red card, earlier in the match on Jordie Barrett.

“It’s pretty disappointing because it happened in the 10th minute as well and they deemed that it was fair,” Foster said. “That’s part of the problem in the game. In the lineout if you throw a jumper over to their side with an arm up it’s considered obstruction whereas it’s becoming a bit of a free for all for jumpers to jump and stick a hand out and say they’re competing, so it needs to be addressed.”

The challenge on Jordie Barrett was reviewed at the time by the TMO but Foster now plans to take his concerns to World Rugby officials.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re protecting guys in the air. To be fair if you’re going to compete you should at least show a couple of hands up.

“We need to make sure we seek clarification about what we can and can’t do particularly with high balls and also with the breakdown, how to move people.”

Jordie Barrett left the field in the second half with an ankle injury that Foster confirmed was “bad” and is therefore likely to rule him out of the second test.

Whether Will Jordan – who was dominated from the right wing in the air by Springboks opposite Makazole Mapimpi – Beauden Barrett or Stephen Perofeta starts at fullback they can expect another aerial assault from the Boks.

With that in mind, Foster is intent on cleaning up challenges in the air to ensure a fair and safe contest for the ball.

The only certainty is the Boks will stick with their kick-heavy tactics that brought success in the form of their opening try to Arendse and several other gains.

“It becomes a lot easier if there’s a wide interpretation of what you can do underneath it. We’ve got to look at our responsibilities in the air and how we catch it because it’s coming but, by the same token, we do expect more protection than we got.”

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Categories
Australia

Missing woman Colleen South’s family pay tribute after body found near crashed car

The family of missing Adelaide woman Colleen South have paid tribute to their “beautiful angel” after a body was found at Bunguluke, in Victoria’s north-west.

A farmer made the discovery in a paddock on Swan Hill-Charlton Road, south of Mackies Road, just before 4pm on Monday.

The body is yet to be formally identified. However, Mildura Superintendent John O’Connor said it was “highly probable” the body was Ms South’s.

“It’s highly likely that the body that was found last night east of Wycheproof is that of Colleen South but it’s yet to be formally identified and we are waiting for DNA analysis to confirm that,” he said.

Superintendent O’Connor said the body was discovered under a large tree in high grass only about 2 kilometers from where Ms South’s abandoned car was discovered crashed in a ditch on July 3.

He said police were preparing a report for the coroner, which would include a review into the search process.

Emergency services and Ms South’s family conducted an extensive search of the area in the hope of finding her.

In a tribute posted online, her family said they were “heartbroken and in shock.”

“We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for your endless support, calls & messages for the past 5 weeks. We are so grateful,” they wrote.

“Fly high our beautiful angel.”

A purse and other items on grass near a car and a police car
Colleen South’s belongings were found earlier near her abandoned car.(Supplied: Veronica South)

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Categories
US

Olivia Newton-John dies at 73

Olivia Newton-John, the Australian singer whose breathy voice and wholesome beauty made her one of the biggest pop stars of the ’70s and charmed generations of viewers in the blockbuster movie “Grease,” died on Monday, according to a statement from her husband . She was 73.”Dame Olivia Newton-John passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” her husband, John Easterling, wrote in a statement on the singer’s verified Instagram account. “Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with her breast cancer.”The singer revealed in September 2018 that she was treating cancer at the base of her spine. It was her third cancer diagnosis of her, following bouts with breast cancer in the early ’90s and in 2017. Her rise to fame Thanks to a string of country and soft-rock hits, Newton-John was already a popular singer by the late 1970s . But her co-starring role opposite John Travolta in 1978’s “Grease,” arguably the most popular movie musical of all time, lifted her to a new level of stardom. Although she had little acting experience (and turned 29 during filming), Newton- John gave an indelible performance as Sandy, a sweet-natured Australian transfer student who romances Travolta’s alpha greaser Danny at a Southern California high school in the 1950s.Their onscreen chemistry as mismatched lovebirds who undergo final-act makeovers to win each others’ hearts — she ditches her frilly dresses for heels, leather, spandex and a cigarette — anchored the movie and inspired repeat viewings by legions of fans.”I don’t think anyone could have imagined a movie would go on almost 40 years and would still be popular and people would still be talking to me about it all the time and loving it,” Newton-John told CNN in 2017. “It’s just one of those movies. I’m very lucky to have been a part of it. It’s given so many people pleasure.”F ile video below: Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta reunite for the 40th anniversary of “Grease” in 2018 Newton-John sang on three of the movie’s biggest hits: the duets “You’re The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights ” with Travolta, and her swoony solo ballad, “Hopelessly Devoted To You.” Born in Cambridge, England in 1948, Newton-John moved with her family to Melbourne, Australia, when she was five. After winning a talent contest on a TV show, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” as a teen she formed an all-girl group and began appearing on weekly pop music programs in Australia. Newton-John recorded her first single in England in 1966 and scored a few international hits, but she remained largely unknown to US audiences until 1973, when “Let Be There” became a top-10 hit on both the adult contemporary and the country charts. A series of No. 1 easy-listening hits followed, including “I Honestly Love You,” “Have You Never Been Mellow” and “Please Mr. Please.” Then came “Grease,” which was 1978’s top-grossing movie and became an enduring cultural phenomenon. John an opportunity to change her squeaky-clean image. The cover of her next album, “Totally Hot,” featured the singer in black leather, while its songs had an edgier, more contemporary pop sound. Travolta posted a statement in tribute to Newton-John following the news of her passing Monday.” My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better,” the actor wrote on Instagram. “Your impact was incredible. I love you so much.”‘Physical’In 1981, she took her new, sexier persona a step further with “Physical,” a dance number with such suggestive lyrics as, “There’s nothing left to talk about unless it’s horizontally.” Banned by several radio stations, it became her biggest hit, spending 10 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. She also appeared in several more big-budget movies, including the musical fantasy “Xanadu” with Hollywood legend Gene Kelly in his final screen role. The film bombed, but its soundtrack sold well and spawned “Magic,” a No. 1 hit. In 1983 she teamed with Travolta again for “Two of a Kind,” a romantic comedy-fantasy, but it failed to recapture their “Grease ” spark.Over a lengthy career, Newton-John won four Grammy Awards and sold more than 100 million albums. “I’ve had many lives in music. I’ve had country when I started, then I crossed over into pop,” she told CNN. “I had ‘Xanadu’ and ‘Grease,’ many songs in between. I feel very grateful. I have such a large repertoire to choose from.”Overcoming tragedyBut Newton-John also faced her share of troubles and tragedy. Her de ella breast cancer diagnoses de ella forced her to postpone and cancel several tours.Video below: Newton-John aiming to rid the world of cancer in her lifetime And in 2005 Newton-John’s then-boyfriend, Patrick McDermott, disappeared at sea while on a fishing trip off the coast of California. He was never found — an unsolved mystery that haunted the singer for years.”It’s very hard to live with that,” she told CNN’s Larry King in 2006. “It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve been through a lot of things.” Although her career profile dimmed in her later years, Newton-John never stopped recording and performing. Among her highlights were guest appearances on “Glee,” a long-running “Summer Nights” residence at the Flamingo Las Vegas and a dance-club hit, “You Have to Believe,” recorded with daughter Chloe.”I love to sing, it’s all I know how to do,” she told CNN in 2017. “That’s all I’ve ever done since I was 15, so it’s my life. I feel very grateful that I can still do it and people still come to see me .”

Olivia Newton-John, the Australian singer whose breathy voice and wholesome beauty made her one of the biggest pop stars of the ’70s and charmed generations of viewers in the blockbuster movie “Grease,” died on Monday, according to a statement from her husband . She was 73.

“Dame Olivia Newton-John passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” her husband, John Easterling, wrote in a statement on the singer’s verified Instagram account. “Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.”

The singer revealed in September 2018 that she was treating cancer at the base of her spine. It was her third cancer diagnosis of her, following bouts with breast cancer in the early ’90s and in 2017.

Her rise to fame

Thanks to a string of country and soft-rock hits, Newton-John was already a popular singer by the late 1970s. But her co-starring role as Ella opposite John Travolta in 1978’s “Grease,” arguably the most popular movie musical of all time, lifted her to a new level of stardom.

Although she had little acting experience (and turned 29 during filming), Newton-John gave an indelible performance as Sandy, a sweet-natured Australian transfer student who romances Travolta’s alpha greaser Danny at a Southern California high school in the 1950s.

Their onscreen chemistry as mismatched lovebirds who undergo final-act makeovers to win each others’ hearts — she ditches her frilly dresses for heels, leather, spandex and a cigarette — anchored the movie and inspired repeat viewings by legions of fans.

“I don’t think anyone could have imagined a movie would go on almost 40 years and would still be popular and people would still be talking to me about it all the time and loving it,” Newton-John told CNN in 2017. ” It’s just one of those movies. I’m very lucky to have been a part of it. It’s given so many people pleasure.”

File video below: Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta reunite for the 40th anniversary of “Grease” in 2018

Newton-John sang on three of the movie’s biggest hits: the duets “You’re The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights” with Travolta, and her swoony solo ballad, “Hopelessly Devoted To You.”

Born in Cambridge, England in 1948, Newton-John moved with her family to Melbourne, Australia, when she was five. After winning a talent contest on a TV show, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” as a teen she formed an all-girl group and began appearing on weekly pop music programs in Australia.

Newton-John recorded her first single in England in 1966 and scored a few international hits, but she remained largely unknown to US audiences until 1973, when “Let Be There” became a top-10 hit on both the adult contemporary and the country charts. .

A series of No. 1 easy-listening hits followed, including “I Honestly Love You,” “Have You Never Been Mellow” and “Please Mr. Please.”

Then came “Grease,” which was 1978’s top-grossing movie and became an enduring cultural phenomenon.

The movie gave Newton-John an opportunity to change her squeaky-clean image. Ella’s cover of her next album, “Totally Hot,” featured the singer in black leather, while her songs had an edgier, more contemporary pop sound.

Travolta posted a statement in tribute to Newton-John following the news of her passing Monday.

“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better,” the actor wrote on Instagram. “Your impact was incredible. I love you so much.”

‘physical’

In 1981, she took her new, sexier persona a step further with “Physical,” a dance number with such suggestive lyrics as, “There’s nothing left to talk about unless it’s horizontally.” Banned by several radio stations, it became her biggest hit, spending 10 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.

She also appeared in several more big-budget movies, including the musical fantasy “Xanadu” with Hollywood legend Gene Kelly in his final screen role. The film bombed, but its soundtrack sold well and spawned “Magic,” a No. 1 hit.

In 1983 she teamed with Travolta again for “Two of a Kind,” a romantic comedy-fantasy, but it failed to recapture their “Grease” spark.

Over a long career, Newton-John won four Grammy Awards and sold more than 100 million albums.

“I’ve had many lives in music. I’ve had country when I started, then I crossed over into pop,” she told CNN. “I had ‘Xanadu’ and ‘Grease,’ many songs in between. I feel very grateful. I have such a large repertoire to choose from.”

overcoming tragedy

But Newton-John also faced her share of troubles and tragedy. Her breast cancer diagnoses her forced her to postpone and cancel several tours.

Video below: Newton-John aiming to rid the world of cancer in his lifetime

And in 2005 Newton-John’s then-boyfriend, Patrick McDermott, disappeared at sea while on a fishing trip off the coast of California. He was never found — an unsolved mystery that haunted the singer for years.

“It’s very hard to live with that,” she told CNN’s Larry King in 2006. “It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve been through a lot of things.” Although her career profile dimmed in her later years, Newton-John never stopped recording and performing. Among her highlights were her guest appearances on “Glee,” a long-running “Summer Nights” residence at the Flamingo Las Vegas and a dance-club hit, “You Have to Believe,” recorded with her daughter Ella Chloe.

“I love to sing, it’s all I know how to do,” she told CNN in 2017. “That’s all I’ve ever done since I was 15, so it’s my life. I feel very grateful that I can still do it and people still come to see me.”

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Categories
Technology

Montblanc’s Summit 3 Smartwatch Has Brains Plus Beauty

Montblanc’s Summit 3 features a lightweight titanium case with hand finishes and other design tweaks.

Montblanc

Textsize

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Categories
Sports

Wallabies find new character to buoy Rugby Championship hopes | Australia rugby union team

Right now Australia are unbeaten and leading the 2022 Rugby Championship. Let that sink in for a moment. For long-suffering fans it is a break in the clouds, a ray of light casting everything and everyone in Wallaby gold, a rugby rainbow that’s beautiful because it cannot last.

Or can it? After all, Australia defeated the team sitting third (Argentina) on the weekend. Currently sitting second (South Africa) are a side the Wallabies conquered twice last year. And the team in fourth (New Zealand) are in an almighty slump, having lost three Tests in a row for the first time in 24 years. The All Blacks have now lost five of their last six Tests, and up until Sunday, so had the Wallabies.

But the 41-26 win against Los Pumas has instilled hope, much of it drawn from the way it was won. Once again the Wallabies muffed the start and were punished on the scoresheet. But as they did against England in Perth, they kept their nerve. The tougher it got, the better they played. If the darkest hour is indeed before dawn, Sunday was a day character – and characters – shone through.

Once again, the Wallabies were sucker-punched before the kick-off. Last month, it was playmaker Quade Cooper going down with a calf injury in the first Test warm-up and not being able to contest the Ella-Mobbs series. In Mendoza it was Michael Hooper, the side’s best player, captain and seemingly indestructible talisman, flying home with a “mindset” issue on the eve of the first Test.

Dave Rennie had lost nine frontline players to injury in the England series, at a devastating attrition rate. Before this Test too Samu Kerevi blew his ACL and Dave Porecki suffered a concussion to join Angus Bell (toe), Andrew Kellaway (hamstring), Scott Sio (shoulder), Tom Banks (arm) and Hooper on the sidelines. Against a Pumas side purring after upsetting Scotland, these blows might once have been deadly.

It seemed so when Australia again fumbled the start and through ill-discipline, over-eagerness and bone-headed decision-making, gifted the home side a 10-point lead after 15 minutes. Yet they found a way back, banishing early yips, shutting out the raucous crowd and building forward pressure, giving Cooper the time and space to sow doubt in the defensive line and unleash the gold rushers out wide.

Even when Cooper’s Achilles tendon imploded in the 46th minute with Australia still nine points down, the Wallabies lifted a gear. Prop James Slipper, no stranger to facing down mental demons, had stepped into Hooper’s shoes as captain and with so many stars missing and their leader in 68 of his 121 Tests flying home, his rallying cry to his three debutantes was simple: “Make Hoops proud.”

Fraser McReight and Jed Holloway had taken radically different paths to their debut Tests on Sunday. Holloway, 29, is a country boy, a Yamba Buccaneer, and a journeyman who’d arrived in his gold jersey via stints in Japan, the US and a period of self-imposed exile. Fraser McReight, 23, is a wild-haired Sunshine Coast kid with a crazy-brave tenacity and work ethic that makes him Hooper’s natural heir.

Cooper had exited the field and the playbook had left with him when this odd couple turned the game. Shoulder-to-shoulder, Holloway and McReight charged into the Argentinian defence. With the ball under his wing, McReight stumbled and looked to be falling short when Holloway reached back and, by the scruff of his jersey from him, dragged his teammate over the stripe to get Australia back within one point.

Santiago Carreras of Argentina is tackled by Jed Holloway at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas.
Santiago Carreras of Argentina is tackled by Jed Holloway at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas. Photograph: MB Media/Getty Images

The tide was turned by force of mateship and Australia scored the last 24 points of the Test. What made it special was Holloway’s childhood mate (and teammate since he was 10 years old), Matt Gibbon, also made his debut on Sunday.

With both his parents suffering mental disabilities, Gibbon, 27, had grown up wild on a cattle farm in Alstonville, NSW, until his grandfather took him in and channeled the boy’s feral streak into rugby, training Matt and his brother with an old stock whip cracking at their heels like they were brumbies. The old man had died the week before this Test, but with Holloway by his side, Gibbon took the field.

Last month, Australia lost their playmaker, their fullback, the foundation of their scrum and their lineout caller within the first 25 minutes of a Test and, with 14 men on the park, still found a path to victory. On Sunday, with indomitable characters Holloway, McReight, Gibbon and Slipper et al writing the script, they gave a glimpse of the character of a Wallabies side that can shock critics and shake the world.

Words are not deeds and there is a long way to go until the 2023 Rugby World Cup in September. But win again on Sunday and take this team, with that momentum, into the next four Tests (three at home), against South Africa and New Zealand, and Australia can give themselves a very real shot at a Rugby Championship for the first time since 2015, and – perhaps – a first Bledisloe Cup since 2002.

Categories
Australia

Locum doctor fee rises lead charity to withdraw financial support in five NSW towns

A year or two ago it used to cost just over $1,000 a day for a locum GP to cover while a town’s permanent doctor was on leave. That has now tripled to close to $4,000.

It is this “eye watering” increase that is being blamed on a medical charity withdrawing its financial support to pay for fly-in fly-out doctors in five New South Wales towns.

“It’s a dramatic change, we’re moving from GP locum rates of $1,200 a day up to anywhere between $2,500, $3,500, $3,750 a day,” Rural and Remote Medical Services (RARMS) CEO Mark Burdack said.

“We’re looking in some instances, in some towns, locum rates more than tripling in the last year.”

RARMS has announced that since September 30 it will no longer help pay for locums in Gilgandra, Warren, Bingara, Tenterfield and Braidwood.

The practices in these towns will remain open, but the charity’s decision means they will be saddled with the locum bills.

“We can’t afford to pay locum costs moving forward.

“That means each of the towns, if they lose a general practitioner, if they decide to go, they will potentially be up for anywhere between $2,500 and $3,500 a day to get a locum in.”

The main street of a small town
Bingara in north-west NSW is one of five towns affected by RARMS’s withdrawal.(Supplied: Lisa Herbert)

‘Not in a position to subsidise’

Mr Burdack said the organization had managed to weather the costs for the past few years because of the federal government’s JobKeeper payments.

He said a request for this to be extended was knocked back.

“Unfortunately that’s not something that has been taken up and as a result without that JobKeeper money we’re simply not in a position to subsidize locum coverage in those communities when there’s not a permanent doctor,” he said.

a man looking ahead
RARMS CEO Mark Burdack says negotiations are taking place to help fill the gap left by the charity.(Supplied)

RARMS said permanent doctors in Tenterfield and Braidwood have agreed to take over the full management of those practices.

Mr Burdack said at Bingara, north-west of Tamworth, the local council had stepped in.

decision no surprise

But Gwydir Shire Council Mayor John Coulton said the council was not taking over the Bingara health service and the decision of RARMS came as no surprise.

“We were very suspicious of this happening,” he said.

“We spoke to Mark Burdack in May, he couldn’t give any guarantees they could stay open under the present set-up.

“This is not a function of local government, we are going to do everything we can to facilitate another arrangement.

“We’ve been speaking to different sources that we may be able to use at this stage we have nothing.”

“We had a hook-up yesterday with Gilgandra and Warren, two other councils in the same position, and we’ve been bouncing off each other.”

RARMS says it is negotiating with the Western NSW Local Health District and Western Primary Health Network on future arrangements at Gilgandra and Warren.

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Categories
US

Biden Tours ‘Heartbreaking’ Kentucky Flood Damage

WASHINGTON — During his first official trip after recovering from the coronavirus, President Biden flew to eastern Kentucky on Monday and committed federal resources to families whose homes had been condemned or washed away by some of the worst flooding in the state’s history.

After flying over stranded cars and buses and landing to find toppled homes and a shelled-out school, Mr. Biden told local officials his administration would cover the cost of the emergency response to the torrential rain and flooding that left at least 37 people dead.

“Everybody has an obligation to help,” said Mr. Biden, who was standing in front of a condemned home. He added that he wanted to ensure the area was rebuilt in a way that made communities more resilient to deadly storms, floods and natural disasters that he described as a consequence of climate change.

Mr. Biden also said the legislation that the Senate passed Sunday, which includes the largest expenditures ever made by the federal government to slow global warming and to reduce demand for fossil fuels, would help Kentuckians rebuild. His comments from him were likely the start of a fresh campaign to galvanize Democratic voters around his legislative signature win ahead of the midterm elections.

But it will take time for such investments to have an impact on disaster-prone communities. Even with available federal funds, many poor and rural areas lack sufficient capacity to rebuild efficiently. Businesses often lack flood-proofing systems, and many homes remain in plains prone to rising waters.

Few of the homes affected by flooding in the hardest hit areas in Kentucky had flood insurance, according to federal data.

Land in Kentucky built to serve coal miners working underneath hills and mountains has been especially vulnerable to floods after many mines shuttered, leaving homes unprotected to rising waters in nearby rivers. Mr. Biden said on Monday that the state would find help in his bipartisan infrastructure package, which tripled, to $700 million annually, a program intended to reduce damage from flooding by buying or elevating homes at risk from floods.

“It really is going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to rebuild in that kind of way, and that runs head-on into human nature,” said Chad Berginnis, the executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers. “I’d imagine after all that suffering, I would just want to get back to normal. That’s the human nature side of this, but it is so important we pause and thoughtfully rebuild so that next flood doesn’t happen.”

That human cost was apparent on Monday. Mr. Biden said it was “incredibly heartbreaking” to see stranded vehicles washed away into creeks and large piles of debris. Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky said the death toll was likely to rise to 38 people.



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Mr. Beshear also made clear the federal system built to help those recovering from disasters could improve, noting that “too many” Kentucky residents had been denied assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency because of technical errors in the application process.

“Too little is paid to those who get through the system,” Mr. Beshear said. “The people of Eastern Kentucky have lost everything. Most just have the clothes left on their backs. No insurance, no other coverage. Now is the time to fix this issue.”

FEMA had opened 15 shelters across the state as of Monday and delivered 56 truckloads of water, though some wastewater systems were still not fully operational, according to a FEMA daily briefing document. The agency has deployed hundreds of rescue officials to the state and sent more than $3.6 million in the wake of the deadly storms, according to the White House.

Federal grants remain the best hope for local officials aiming to adapt to climate change but who oversee communities with limited tax bases, such as eastern Kentucky, according to Roy Wright, who ran FEMA’s risk mitigation programs until 2018.

The Biden administration has invested billions of dollars in those programs, including adding new money to a grant program at FEMA called Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC, to try to blunt the effects of climate change.

But the grants are heavily oversubscribed — and communities’ only chance at the money comes if state governments file applications on their behalf.

“They need to lean harder on their state to tap into the dollars that Congress and this administration has made available specifically for this purpose,” said Mr. Wright, who is now president of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, a research group .

On that front, the people hit by recent flooding have lately struck out. In the most recent round of funding, Kentucky applied for BRIC grants for just two projects, far fewer than most states. And neither project focused on the eastern part of the state.

In the end, it did not matter. FEMA rejected both applications.