Heading to WA Museum Boola Bardip on a gloomy Saturday afternoon to escape the rain has resulted in one Perth family scoring a unique prize.
Olivia Pizzale-Bryce, Jack Mcauliffe, and baby Pia had the shock of their lives when they went to the museum only to be greeted by the waiting media and Housing Minister John Carey as they became the one-millionth visitors.
The family has visited the museum five times and said they were heading there to see the Dinosaurs of Patagonia exhibition as it’s little Pia’s favorite.
“It’s really nice, we love coming here… it’s a place we can come for her, which is really nice,” mum Olivia said.
“We both support creative industries and museums and the gallery,” dad Jack added.
Opening its doors less than two years ago, Boola Bardip hit the major milestone two months ahead of where the government had predicted it would.
“I think we have a world-class museum, we should be mighty proud of it… There’s no doubt that this is a world-class museum that attracts people locally, and internationally…I think we can be deeply proud, ” Mr Carey said.
“And, I love the fact that it [the winner] is someone who has actually come back five times, and I think this is the beauty of the WA museum is that people love it so much, they keep coming back.”
The young family has been gifted a cocktail function for 20 of their nearest and dearest, including after-hours access, a VIP invitation to the launch of the Wonderland exhibition and the Season 2023 launch later this year, as well as a lifetime membership and a WA Museum prize pack valued at $500.
The achievements come as the museum has been keeping an eye on how its international visitor numbers following the border opening.
Despite the free admission set to end in October, the Minister said he believes the public will continue to go to the museum.
“We already did extend the free system due to COVID … So it was always the plan, that there would be fees introduced.”
The Minister added that children under the age of 16 will continue to get in for free.
In regards to if he supports a Perth Indigenous Cultural Centre, Mr Carey said he is open to the idea, but the facility would need to be steered by Aboriginal people.
Here’s when and how you can access the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 beta – The AU Review
Activision has recently announced exactly how and when fans can get their hands on the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 beta. And the best news? It’s only a few weeks away.
The beta itself will be available at an earlier date for those who have pre-ordered the game, with two separate weekends providing access to the beta over a couple of days. We’ve outlined them for you below:
weekend 1
Saturday September 17th, 3am AEST until Tuesday September 20th, for both PS5 and PS4 owners who have pre-ordered the game.
Monday September 19th, 3am until Tuesday September 20th, for all PS5 and PS4 owners.
weekend 2
Friday September 23rd, 3am AEST until Monday September 26th for all PS5 and PS4 owners, and for Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC owners who have pre-ordered the game.
Sunday September 25th, 3am until Monday, September 26th, for all console and PC owners.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will launch on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Windows PC on the 28th of October, 2022.
More to Explore on the AU:
Matthew Arcari
Matthew Arcari is the games and technology editor at The AU Review. You can find him on Twitter at @sirchunkee, or at the Dagobah System, chilling with Luke and Yoda.
D-Link’s new Eagle Pro AI series of routers is looking to shake things on both sides of the market, from entry-level routers-to premium mesh systems. The R15 AX1500 Eagle Pro AI stands as the entry-level option, but provides some nifty value through its compact design, Wi-Fi 6 functionality and various smart features including Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice control commands, that this side of the market have been missing as of late. It might not jump out at users in any particular way, but still serves as a worthy upgrade for those looking for Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, or as a basic upgrade for those rather bare-bones routers provided by most internet and telco providers.
Design
Much like its sibling, the G415 4G Smart Router, the R15 is rather compact an unassuming, sporting a flat white paint job and four side antennas. Unlike the G415, the R15 does sit flat on its back rather than standing upright, meaning it might take up a little more room in some spaces. That being said, the R15 is one of the smallest routers I’ve ever used, so I can’t imagine both the size and orientation being too much of an issue for most users.
The back of the router also sports three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, and a single Gigabit Ethernet port for even faster transfer speeds, the latter of which is now becoming a standard for all levels and tiers of internet routers. Beyond this, there’s admittedly not much going on with the router, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Its smaller size allows it to be tucked away, while the only thing I can truly point out regarding the overall appearance and design of such a router, is that the flat white colourway may stand out, particularly if your internet setup is located in a central position in the home.
Performance
In terms of performance, the R15 plays things relatively straight. With the ability to hit speeds of up to 1,201Mbps on 5GHz band and 300Mbps on the traditional 2.4GHz, most Australian users will find the router capable of transmitting the fastest speeds our internet companies and telco providers have to offer. Unlike most entry-level routers and routers provided by the aforementioned internet and telco companies, the the R15 can cover a whopping 230 square meters, making it a no-brainer for both smaller and larger households alike, without the need to purchase any external or additional extenders.
That being said, the R15 does play friendly with the Eagle Pro AI range, meaning such extenders and even additional routers can easily be paired to the R15 via the Eagle Pro AI app. Much like the G415 4G Smart Router, the Eagle Pro AI Engine also keeps users tuned to the most reliable band at any given time, be it the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band, allowing multiple uses to consistently access the most efficient and reliable method of connectivity .
Software
Thankfully, the Eagle Pro AI app is incredibly friendly and easy to use. As we’ve covered most of the apps functionality and features in our D-Link G415 AX1500 4G Smart Router Review, we have included the relevant excerpt below, outlining a nearly identical experience in relation to the R15:
“It’s incredibly easy to navigate, and is responsible for additional features, including the aforementioned AI Mesh Optimiser and the handy AI Parental Control. As the name suggests, AI Parental Control allows users to monitor and manage their children’s online activities. From here, you can create a profile for individual users to block and minimize access to the internet. Aside from the rampant virus exposure that may be a cause for concern for some parents, certain sites can even be curbed thanks to a web filter.”
“The Eagle Pro AI App also allows for voice control through multiple platforms including the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This might feel unnecessary for some, but is a welcome inclusion for those looking to turn their home into a smart, interconnected haven. The included AI Assistant can also whip up weekly reports for you incusing user activity and general internet traffic, with recommendations on how to solve the issues that may arise as a result. Overall, the app is incredibly easy to navigate and continuously informative at every step.”
Verdict & Value
Overall, the D-Link R15 AX1500 Smart Router is a reliable router for the entry-level price tag. Thanks to the Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, Eagle Pro AI app and compact design, it’s admittedly hard to pass this one up, should you be upgrading from a basic router provided by your internet provider, or imply looking to the future for Wi-Fi 6 support, which is arguably provided here at one of the cheapest price points in the market today. Impressive range will negate the need for extenders in most homes, while such a solution is incredibly easy to set up given the seamless functionality of the Eagle Pro AI app. If you’re looking for a solid all-rounder for an entry-level price tag, you might not need to look any further.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
highlights: lowlights: White coloring can stand out, particularly if internet setup is in a central location manufacturer: D Link Price: A$199 Available:Now
Vincent Worlters remembers the moment his dreams of being a professional musician were initially crushed.
“As a young man, I was being trained to be an opera singer, but life got in the way with the onset of my disability, which was quite profoundly disabling,” Mr Worlters said.
“And basically, it destroyed my opportunities to be a professional singer.”
Despite his diagnosis, Mr Worlters was determined music would remain a big part of his life.
“The only breath I got from my horrible illness was to grab my guitar and sing and then the symptoms would come to a stop.”
Vincent Worlters did not realize his love of acting until he joined a disability theater group.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
A new inclusive arts program on the NSW mid-north coast has now given Mr Worlters a chance to live out his dreams on stage.
The Wauchope Regional Art Program, also known as WRAP, is designed to assist artists with disabilities to build their confidence and skills. It connects them with professional artists so they can participate in the mainstream industry.
Mr Worlters joined WRAP’s theater class, along with Steph Smith and Kirsty Georges.
“The acceptance is really quite beautiful,” he said.
“Groups like this give me an opportunity, whereas nothing else will.”
The WRAP theater group rehearsed for weeks with mentor Ian Castle.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
The trio is mentored by singer and musician Ian Castle.
“It’s this collaborative effort building on the strengths they have as individuals and myself inspiring them to try other things,” Mr Castle said.
The theater group performed on stage at a mainstream arts festival in the region called ArtWalk in front of a crowd of spectators.
It was a dream come true for the close-knit team.
“When the audience gets behind you, your whole performance totally lifts to a whole new level,” Mr Worlters said.
“You can see it in their faces, or the cheers, and their claps. It’s really uplifting.”
WRAP groups performed at Port Macquarie’s ArtWalk event, which attracts thousands of spectators.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
Kirsty Georges said her parents and family were “stoked” about the program and her performance.
“I feel it inside my chest. I feel happy,” she said.
And it is not just stage performers who have thrived in the inclusive program.
Artists celebrate inclusion
Creating visual art has always been a source of joy for Kerri Cains but, due to her intellectual disability, she often found it hard to be taken seriously.
“I’ve always had trouble with reading and writing and maths skills,” Ms Cains said.
“But it’s always been a passion of mine to do art.”
Kerri Cains is over the moon to have her artwork on display at a local gallery.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
Ms Cains said she was over the moon to be involved in the Wauchope Regional Art Program and its workshops.
“It’s hard to find places sometimes that are so inclusive,” Ms Cains said.
“In this art class, in particular, we don’t feel like we’re just put on the side … it’s actual artists actually teaching you how to do it and they treat you like they would treat everybody else.”
Graphic designer and mentor Michele Kaye worked with Kerri Cains to develop the WRAP logo.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
Thanks to WRAP, Ms Cains’ work has been displayed front and center at Wauchope Art Gallery as part of the ArtWalk event.
“I can show my family and my friends and everybody in town will see my artwork,” she said.
“It’s just good to see that disability and the arts are coming together in such an amazing way.”
Ms Cains was paired with and mentored by graphic designer Michele Kaye.
“It’s beautiful, its humbling, its real, it’s life. It’s what everyone should be seeing day by day,” Ms Kaye said.
Michele Kaye says she loved every moment of mentoring Kerri Cains.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
Artists’ skills ‘skyrocket’
WRAP was established by the Wauchope Community Arts Council, through an NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Grant.
Project coordinator Vicky Mackey said WRAP was started due to a lack of similar services on the Mid North Coast.
“Even though we have a very busy arts community, they weren’t connecting with people with disabilities,” she said.
“Disabled artists were segregated.”
WRAP theater group member Steph Smith performed a solo show on stage.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
Ms Mackey said it was fantastic the group had been given its first mainstream platform at ArtWalk.
“It’s the first time that a lot of them have got to perform in public,” she said.
“The growth in their confidence and just the way they hold themselves, the ability to communicate with strangers, it’s skyrocketed.”
WRAP project coordinator Vicky Mackey was inspired by her own daughter’s disability.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
Ms Mackey said she was inspired by her own daughter who has a disability.
“I always try to have the best for her, living the best life she can, and that’s what it’s all about — giving these guys an opportunity,” she said.
“In art, it’s not about being perfect or the best. It’s about the passion and the joy that the person can show in their artwork or their dance.
“It doesn’t have to be perfect and that’s great — life’s not perfect.”
The WRAP performances attracted a large crowd at Port Macquarie’s ArtWalk event.(ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
