Monday, 13 February, 2023
Cyclone Gabrielle heads to NZ; the ghost ships of the Baltic Sea; NRL season kicks off; and who wants a hot-cross burger?
LINKS
How cyclones form: How cyclones form https://study.com/academy/lesson/cyclones-lesson-for-kids-facts-causes.html
Ghost ships of the Baltic Sea: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ghost-ships-baltic-sea-photographs/index.html
Indigenous Women’s Unity Dance: https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/02/11/the-2023-indigenous-women-war-cry/
Māori Ferns’ Haka: https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/02/11/the-2023-maori-ferns-haka/
Men’s Haka and Indigenous War-Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfkA_ub7w0
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THE LOWDOWN
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As Queensland sweated in over 40 degree temperatures yesterday, residents of Norfolk Island were in clean-up mode and the already battered, bruised and sodden inhabitants of Auckland were bunkering down for more intense rain as Cyclone Gabrielle continued her destructive path.
Trees were knocked over, power lines were downed and rocks thrown onto piers in Norfolk Island at the weekend – but luckily, the island off the coast of NSW dodged the worst of Gabrielle’s weather.
Last night, residents of Auckland, on New Zealand’s north island, were busy sandbagging their homes as the weather bureau predicted heavy rains generated by Gabrielle would smash the city and its surrounds today and tomorrow.
Gale force winds and up to 400mm of rain were being predicted for the top of the North Island yesterday, with authorities there warning residents to prepare for a ‘potentially devastating weather event’.
Meanwhile in Birdsville in western Queensland, temperatures rose to over 40 degrees celsius.
Crazy days.
I’ve stuck a link in today’s episode notes to a good explainer of how cyclones form. And yes, for the curious among you: cyclones are the same as hurricanes are the same as typhoons … same weather event, different names depending where in the world they happen.
SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops – and today we’ve landed in the Baltic Sea … which is a stretch of water separating the countries of Scandinavia and the European continent … where the water is REALLY, REALLY cold all the year round.
Which is not great for swimming, but excellent for creating ghost ships …
What’s a ghost ship? It’s a ship that has sunk and been perfectly preserved by the freezing cold temperatures. And a couple of divers have taken photos of 100 year old ships sitting on the Baltic Sea floor – and they are super spooky. And yes of course I’ve stuck a link to the pics in today’s episode notes.
SPORT TIME
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Have you been missing the footy? Well, miss it no more! The weekend saw the kickoff (quite literally) of the National Rugby League pre-season, with the launch of the inaugural (that means the first ever) NRL Pre-Season Challenge. Over two rounds, the 17 teams will battle it out for the chance to win $100,000! There was also another first on the weekend, with fans having the opportunity to take a look at the newest team to join the NRL, the Dolphins, who are based in Redcliffe, Queensland.
Across the ditch in Aotearoa, New Zealand, the men’s and women’s Australian Indigenous and New Zealand Māori NRL All Stars also put on some thrilling football. Both games were close, with the Māori Ferns taking out the women’s match 16-12 while the Indigenous men’s team held onto the lead to break a three-year-drought and win 28-24. Maybe even more thrilling than the football, were the Māori haka and Indigenous war-cries that were described as ‘spine-tingling’. I’ve stuck a link in today’s episode notes for you to enjoy your own spine-tingle. You’re welcome!
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
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Now I love a hamburger as much as the next person. And I love it when Easter rolls around and the Hot Cross Buns start appearing in the supermarket. But a burger-flavoured hot cross bun? That’s where I draw the line.
The supermarket chain Coles has caused something a stir among customers by rolling out Special Burger Sauce Hot Cross Buns. Which, according to the packet, feature pickles and burger sauce.
But they’re also catering for sweet tooths – with a carrot cake variety of hot cross buns and a red velvet range.
Think I’ll stick to the fruit ones, thanks.
THE SQUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- What’s the name of the sea that’s so cold it perfectly preserves shipwrecks?
- What’s the name of the cyclone that’s been hovering off the east coast of Australia?
- What’s the traditional Māori dance performed by New Zealand teams before big sporting events?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s February 13 – it’s Super Bowl day … the biggest event on America’s sporting calendar … TV coverage here in Oz starts at 10am … maybe if you ask really nicely your teacher might let you watch it … what’s one morning without maths, afterall?
It’s a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today…
Keshav from Sydney, Billy from Flagstaff, Tiger from Woongarrah, Landon from Yass, Hailey and Emily from Burpengary, Eliza from Plainland, Mati from Wheelers Hill, Mateo and Sienna from Albany Hills, Jasper from Croydon, Josie from Eleebana and Long from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Belated birthday wishes go to … Audrey from Waurn Ponds, Audrey from Canberra, Alora from Toukley, Oscar Mac from Waverley, Eloise from Portland North, Myla from Geelong, Monika from Ballarat and a special belated birthday wish to Teddy from Baulkham Hills – so sorry we missed your birthday in January, mate.
Classroom shoutouts today go to… Year 3 and Miss Lowe at Holy Family Primary School in Merewether Beach, 6D and Mr Davis at Epping West Public School, 6S and Mr Sexty at Oyster Bay Public School, Class 5/6 Phillips and Mr V at Tempe Public School.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Baltic
- Gabrielle
- Haka