Applications are now open to recruit the next group of wholetime firefighters for Norfolk. “We’re excited to be starting the search for Norfolk’s future firefighters as we move into a busy phase for our service,” said Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Cabinet member for communities and partnerships at Norfolk County Council. “It takes a special someone to be a firefighter, but many people within our communities will already have the attributes we…
Read MoreVaping – Letter from Australia
By Chris O’Connor The growing use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, in Australia poses a “serious public health risk” and threatens to introduce a new generation to smoking. That’s according to the authors of a major new government report into the health effects of e-cigarettes, which found vaping can be harmful, particularly for non-smokers and young people. The global systematic review, undertaken by researchers at the Australian National University, is the…
Read MoreAnzac Day – Letter from Australia
By Chris O’Connor. Nearly 20 years ago I stood with thousands of others at the Australia War Memorial in Canberra as they interred the body of Australia’s Unknown Soldier. During the service the Australian Prime Minister at the time, Paul Keating, started his address to the nation with one of the most moving speeches ever made in this nation. In part he said: We do not know this Australian’s name…
Read MoreLetter from Australia
From Chris O’Connor. The world may be centered on Russia and the Ukraine at the moment but Australia is not standing still with potential threats in the Pacific region very much on the war map. It will expand its active defence personnel by a third by 2040, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced, describing the move as part of efforts to keep the country safe “in an increasingly uncertain…
Read MoreHumpback Whales – Letter from Australia
Letter from Australia by Chris O’Connor. For years Australia and the rest of the world hunted humpback whales almost to extinction but Australia has made a giant leap in their preservation. Humpback whales have been removed from the threatened species list after a significant increase in numbers in the 60 years since they were first protected. The number of humpback whales in Australian waters has grown from just 1,500 at…
Read MoreSharks – Letter from Australia
By Chris O’Connor Several years ago I went on an adventure fishing tour off the coast of northern West Australia. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world to explore but swim at your peril. Not being a sailor I was terribly seasick and after several hours could take it no more.With the boat anchored in a bay I prepared to jump in the ocean. People yelled…
Read MoreGun Control – Letter from Australia
By Chris O’Connor It was a Sunday and people around Australia heard there had been a shooting. At first it was one person, then five, then 20….when the shooting stopped 35 people were dead. There was shock and a reaction like no other seen before in Australia. This was not the US where mass shootings are common; no this was Australia and the April shootings 25 years ago it brought…
Read MoreLetter from Australia by Chris O’Connor
Ever thought of moving to Australia? In particular Sydney. Well if you have you had better put aside some of that precious money you have. Why? The median house price in Sydney increased by around $1,100 (576 pounds) a day last year,to more than 841,096.00 pounds. That is a rise of 210,345 pounds in one year! And I’ll tell you later it is not worth it……but I’m crying in my tea a bit. Back…
Read MoreFlooding – Letter from Australia by Chris O’Connor
It wasn’t so long ago that I was writing about the heat and dry weather we have been having. Well, it pays to keep your mouth closed at times. Rescue crews have been kept busy by outback floodwaters and record-breaking rains, which have continued to cause havoc in South Australia’s north and west, washing away roads as well as cars. The weather bureau said some locations had set “all-time records” in terms of rainfall, while…
Read More