Tuesday, 16 November, 2021
Flood waters threaten Forbes; Pingu the lost penguin; mega-fangs of a funnel web; and The Kid Laroi cleans up.
LINKS
Forbes prepares for a deluge: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-13/inland-new-south-wales-towns-brace-for-major-flooding/100618014
Snow boogie-boarding: https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRPfophgjl/
Pingu the penguin: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-13/pingu-lost-antarctic-penguin-swims-to-new-zealand/100618346
Adelie penguins Nat Geo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKqXGNNPNaQ
How To Become A Squiz Kids Correspondent
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FH2HA28InnLU6UxE91wrLBAbCMT40Mua/view
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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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Almost the entire NSW town of Forbes is on alert this morning, with more than 8000 residents packed and ready to evacuate their homes, waiting to see how high the Lachlan River floods.
Last week’s torrential rains across central NSW have filled the rivers and their tributaries with water, and dams in the region are full to overflowing.
Homes and shops have been sandbagged as forecasters are predicting the Lachlan River, which flows through Forbes, could hit a peak of over 10 metres today.
That means from the bottom of the river to the surface of the water will measure a distance of ten metres – which is a lot of water. Farmers in the region are already watching on nervously – with lots of crops and even livestock – including cows and sheep – under threat of going under.
There’s been incredible footage and photos of the Wyangala Dam bursting over with water – there’s a link to it in today’s episode notes.
Meanwhile – down south, Squiz Kids in some parts of Tasmania yesterday woke up to a blanket of snow as temperatures in Hobart dropped to degrees overnight – the state’s coldest November night in 60 years. And it’s just 2 weeks until summer…
The unseasonal dusting of white stuff meant some backyards were transformed into ski slopes .. perfect for a bit of snow boogie boarding … which is totally a thing. And if you don’t believe me, check out the video of it ion today’s episode notes
SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin, and find a story wherever it stops. And today we’ve landed in New Zealand where Pingu, the Antarctic penguin has swum thousands of miles off-course to end up on a New Zealand beach.
Pingu is an Adelie penguin .. if you’ve ever seen Happy Feet, you’ll know the ones I’m talking about. Funny waddle, flippers spread back behind their bodies as they walk, occasionally skid along the ice on their tummies.
Adelie penguins almost never travel so far north from their homeland, in Antarctica. In fact, Pingu is only the third Adelie penguin in recent history to have made the accidental, 3000 kilometre journey.
When locals found Pingu the penguin on the beach, it was exhausted and dehydrated .. meaning it was in need of a big drink of water. It was taken to a wildlife hospital, where it spent the night stuffing its face with fish smoothies – and is slowly regaining its strength. Because nothing beats a fish smoothie or four after a three-thousand kilometre journey.
I’ve stuck a link to photos of Pingu and video of Adelie penguins in today’s episode notes.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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Imagine showing up to work and finding a giant funnel web spider sitting on the doorstep. That’s what happened to the folks at the Australian Reptile Park in NSW when a member of the public dropped off a funnel web so big and so strong, its fangs could puncture a human fingernail.
Euugh.
Dubbed by experts a megaspider, the enormous arachnid – which is a fancy word for spiders – is about the same size as a tarantula.
And the reptile park people could not be more excited to have it. You see, they run the only funnel-web venom milking program in Australia, and a massive spider means lots of venom – which is the word used for a spider’s poison. Imagine milking a spider’s fangs… double eugh. It’s an important job though, because the venom is turned into antivenom – and if you’re ever unlucky enough to be bitten by a funnel-web, antivenom could save your life.
I’ve popped a link in your episode notes if you’d like to see Megaspider… because, who wouldn’t?
POP CULTURE CORNER
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He’s had a number one hit with Justin Bieber, he’s been the opening act the VMA Awards in New York City in front of millions around the world, and off the back of his number one album, he’s relocated to Los Angeles where rappers from all over America are lining up to work with him – and now the Kid Laroi has been honoured with the top prize at the National Indigenous Music Awards.
The 18 yo Kamillaroi rapper – whose real name is Charlton Howard – beat Jess Mauboy, Miiesha and Baker Boy to take out the coveted award. Coveted means it’s something that lots of people want.
The National Indigenous Music Awards are held every year in Darwin, as part of the Darwin Festival. Which sounds to me like a whole lot of Northern Territory fun …
THE S’QUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- What sort of penguin has washed up on a New Zealand beach?
- What’s the name of the NSW river currently in flood?
- Name the Aussie rapper who this year did a chart topping collaboration with Justin Bieber?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s November 16 … on this day 18 years ago, a young Lionel Messi made his debut for FC Barcelona … and on this day 101 years ago, a little airline called Qantas was formed.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today …
Micah from Murwillumbah, Ben from Forest Lake, Sophie from Davidson, Isabelle from Five Dock, Conner from the Gold Coast, Jonty from Launceston, Ines from West Pennant Hills, Crosby from North Ryde and Lawson from Wollongong.
A belated birthday shoutout goes to Fergus from Currumbin.
Classroom shout outs today go to… 5G and Mr Goldie at Asquith Public School, years 5 and 6 with Mr Perosin and Mrs Denny at OLPS (Our Lady of Perpetual Succour ) in West Pymble, classes 3/4T and 5/6M both at Mt Riverview Public School. Also to class 3B and Miss Luongo at All Hallows Catholic Primary School in Five Dock and class 5/6W and Miss Williams at Gillieston Public School. Lastly to all the grade 6’s at Leopold Primary School – your teachers are very proud of your positive return to the classroom.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Adelie pengiun
- Lachlan River
- The Kid Laroi