Darwin, Northern Territory

I hadn’t heard of this unique hotel until recently, so I thought I would do some checking. It was designed by a Darwin architect and  is in the shape of a 250 metre crocodile. The  jaws are the entrance, which leads to a marble foyer representing a cool, green billabong. The crocodile’s body section houses 110 guest rooms overlooking a central courtyard with a recreation area of a billabong and swimming pool, designed to represent the crocodile’s belly.

Friends of mine stayed there recently and were suitably impressed with both the accomodation and the meals.

I noticed this interesting article in bigpond news regarding exporting cane toads to China.

A Queensland game meat producer hopes to be exporting cane toad body parts to China as soon as next month.

John Burrey says his Charleville-based United Game Processors will send a trial shipment of toad parts to China and hopes more shipments will follow soon after.

Toads are prized in China not only for their value as traditional medicine but also for their meat.

Read more here

Police say a 44-year-old man wheeled a shopping trolley containing three jerry cans of petrol and fireworks through the front door of the TIO (Territory Insurance Office) building  in Cavenagh Street about 11am, injuring 15 people.

The injured people have been treated at the Royal Darwin Hospital. Five people are in the high dependency unit.

It is believed to be a dissatisified insurance claimant that caused the blast which injured 15 and frightened countless innocent people.

Not the sort of crime one would expect in little ole Darwin is it?

People in the Darwin, Palmerston and rural areas experienced power outages since around 6am today (January 30 2010).

Power and Water report that two direct lightning strikes took out the high voltage transmission lines that deliver power from Channel Island Power Station to the Darwin region. Some areas have now been restored and they continue working on the remainder.

Sources at the shopping centre indicated that it was affected as far away as Alice Springs.

A film crew from German channel RTL has flown in to Darwin to report on the annual Beer Can Regatta today.

Reporter Niels Buengen from Cologne said the event was not to miss.

“It’s going to be a typical, stereotype Australian story – crazy, funny and celebrating,” he said.

“That’s always interesting. And a lot of people will think let’s go and do holidays there.”

The 36th regatta is one of the few remaining Territory icons from the “Darwin that was” era.

The family day was founded a year before Cyclone Tracy hit the Top End.

President of the Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta Des Gellert said he expected to attracted up to 12,000 people and 20 boats today.

“It will be a day of fun in the sun, being as uniquely Territorian as we are,” he said.

Mr Buengen said the regatta might surprise some of the European audience.

“I think this event may prove that Darwinites drink more beer than Germans,” he said.

RTL is one of the main TV channels, attracting about four million viewers from all German-speaking countries in Europe.

Continued here

John Williamson performed his new song about Australia (“Island of Oceans”) at the Country Muster in Darwin.

Watch the video here

During the June/July 2009 school holidays, the Desert Park (Larapinta Drive Alice Springs) will have school holiday activities every Tuesday to Friday until the end of the break.

Alice Springs Desert Park Guide Manager, Regena Medhurst, said visitors of all ages could explore the mystery and adventure of the desert at night with expert guides on the Nocturnal Tours, being held from 7pm each week night.
Visit the website for more information on what the Alice Springs Desert Park offers. For further details of the school holiday program, call the Alice Springs Desert Park on 8951 8788.

NT swine flu suspect dies after mercy dash

LARINE STATHAM

June 20th, 2009

AN Aboriginal man from WA being treated in Alice Springs Hospital has become the first person with swine flu to die in Australia.

The 26-year-old man died last night after being diagnosed with the virus on Thursday. Health authorities could not yet confirm whether the man died because of swine flu, as he had been suffering from a number of other serious health conditions.

The man had been transferred from Alice Springs Hospital to the Royal Adelaide Hospital intensive care unit on Monday. SA Health Minister John Hill said the RAH would continue to investigate the cause of death.

“What we do know is that this man was seriously ill from a number of conditions and the reason he was sent to Royal Adelaide because of those conditions,” he said.

“How the swine flu interacted with those conditions and what’s the ultimate cause of death is something we can’t really speculate about.”

SA Health’s chief medical officer Paddy Phillips said he did not, as of yet, have all the details surrounding the Aboriginal man’s death.

“Although the patient was diagnosed as positive for swine flu yesterday, his other medical conditions had dramatically deteriorated by the time he got to Adelaide,” Professor Phillips said.

Continued here

June 12th, 2009

THE World Health Organisation has declared the first flu pandemic of the 21st century urging countries to shore up defences against the virus which is “not stoppable” but has proved mainly mild so far.

The United Nations agency raised its pandemic flu alert to phase 6 on a six-point scale, indicating the first influenza pandemic since 1968 is under way.

Widespread transmission of the virus in Victoria was one of the key triggers for moving to phase 6.

Five people have been admitted to intensive care and more than 1000 cases confirmed following widespread testing in the state.

Acting on the recommendation of flu experts, the WHO reiterated its advice to its 193 member countries not to close borders or impose travel restrictions to halt the movement of people, goods and services.

“This is a very important and challenging day for all of us. It is important because we will be raising our pandemic alert level to level 6,” WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said.

“At this time, the global assessment is that we are seeing a moderate pandemic.”

The move to phase 6 reflects the fact that the disease, widely known as swine flu, was spreading geographically, but does not indicate how virulent it is.

More on this story at news.com.au

Latest news on swine flu in the Territory

Source

It is believed that 12 Territorians now have contracted the virus.

To celebrate the 21st birthday of Glenti, the Greek community invites you to dance the night away at the Esplanade on Friday night June 5 2009 from 8pm to midnight at at Bicentennial Park, overlooking  Darwin Harbour.

On Saturday, the fun begins at midday with bouzouki and dance music and continues to midnight with plenty of fun and entertainment. Other attractions thoughout the day and night include Mediterranean Dance Group, the Greek Band Meraki, Diego Live Show,OPA School of Hellenic Dance, Cypriot Dance Group, Sizmos Dance Group, Kalymnian Dance Group and plate spashing competition

At 6.30 PM, Chief Minister Paul Henderson and Greek Orthodox Community president John Nicolakis welcomes in Glenti 2009 then at 7.30, party until midnight with live music from Kaiti Koullia and Greek band Meraki.

On Sunday, be there from 11am for much the same as above, but with added attractions, including Zorbathon – Greek dancing competition, Olive spitting competition, and Greek costumes fashion parade.

At 6.45  NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Kalymnos Philippos Christodoulou and Darwin Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer will give their speeches followed by a small fireworks display at 7.15 for the children, then from 8.30, dance, till midnight to the music of Kaiti Koullia and Greek Band Meraki. Another Fireworks display will be held at 10.45.