Tuesday, 22 June, 2021
Australia’s new Deputy PM; Chilly dipping in Antarctica; Usain Bolt’s surprising twin name; and the bandit bear strikes again.
LINKS
Antarctic swim: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/21/bracing-minus-2c-expeditioners-in-antarctica-mark-solstice-with-icy-polar-plunge
Bear burglar: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/18/metro/bear-captured-video-breaking-into-car-new-hampshire/
Squiz Kids Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/squizkids/?hl=en
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Squiz Kids is proudly supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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Australia has a new Deputy Prime Minister after one of our country’s political parties, the Nationals, decided yesterday to make a change at the top.
In political terms, when there is a vote among colleagues to replace the person who is the leader of their group – or party – it’s called a leadership spill.
And that’s what occurred in Canberra yesterday morning as our federal pollies all gathered for the last session of Federal Parliament before the winter break.
A man called Barnaby Joyce – who sits in Parliament as a representative of people who live in the New England region of country NSW – was re-elected to lead the National Party – bringing to an end the leadership of a man called Michael McCormack.
I say ‘re-elected’ because Barnaby Joyce has been the leader of the Nationals before.
By becoming the National Party leader, Mr Joyce also becomes our Deputy Prime Minister. That’s because the National Party and Liberal Party – which is led by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison – have an agreement that says they will work together.
So there’s your civics lesson for the day. You’re welcome.
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 Antarctica – not far from the South Pole … where a bunch of Aussie scientists who live and work down there have celbrated the winter solstice by cutting a big hole in the ice and swimming in minus 2 degree water.
Brrrr.
Ok – so why are they celebrating the winter solstice? Because it marks the halfway point of winter – meaning we’re now officially on the road to summer. And when you live in Antarctica – where in winter, there is only two hours of daylight every day – every step closer to summer – where there is up to twenty hours of daylight every day – is a day to celebrate.
And why would you choose to have a swim to celebrate the winter solstice? Apparently it’s tradition. Frankly, it sounds bonkers. But then maybe that’s what happens when you only get two hours of daylight a day …
There’s a link to photos of the chilly dip in today’s episode notes ..
SPORTS TIME
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He’s only eighteen and has only played seven games in the NRL – but Warriors rookie and Gold Coast native Reece Walsh has nevertheless been called up to make his State of Origin debut in game two of the interstate clash.
Walsh will play at fullback, moving Valentine Holmes to the wing. The second game in the state versus state clash takes place in Brissie this coming Sunday …
And the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, has announced to the world that he’s become a dad for the second time. Celebrating the arrival of twin boys, Usain sent out a photo to his 10 million Instagram followers on the weekend, surprising many with the choice of names.
The world now can count among its 7.6 billion people and counting the very excellently named St Leo Bolt and his new born twin brother Thunder Bolt.
Yep – you heard right.
Which is all perfectly normal of course. Their older sister is called Olympia Lightning Bolt. What else?
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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For weeks, the people of Thornton in New Hampshire in the United States have been convinced a car thief has been prowling their town. Lots of cars have been broken into at night, with food taken out of some of them.
A CCTV camera however has revealed that the culprit is much hairier and – quite possibly scarier – than anyone could have imagined.
Turns out the car burglar is a black bear – which has been roaming the town by night and letting himself into any car where he senses even a whiff of food.
The video of the bear burglar is in today’s episode notes …
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING
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Hey team .. what are you doing for the upcoming school holidays? You’re going to be missing me, is what. But don’t panic. Because to keep you entertained, to keep your heads in the game – and to prove to the adults once again that kids really are smarter than adults – we’ll be producing a couple of Kids v Adults Holiday Quizzes. They’ll be released on the two Mondays of the upcoming school holidays – so keep your eyes and ears peeled for them …
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 is the name of Australia’s new Deputy Prime Minister?
- On which frozen continent have Aussie scientists been chilly dipping?
- Name the famous sprinter who just named his son Thunder Bolt?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s June 22 … Three hundred and eighty eight years ago today, an Italian astronomer called Gallileo got in trouble with the Pope – who was one of the most powerful people in the world at the time – for suggesting that the Earth orbits the Sun. Turned out he was right: but back then, people believed the Sun orbited the Earth.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today… Rosalina from Brisbane, Jasper from Port Douglas, Gus from Glen Innes, Lachlan and Audrey from Jindalee, Nate from Perth, Riley from Geelong, George from Canberra, Abbie from Ballarat, Caitlyn from Coogee and Louis from Abbotsford.
Belated birthday shout outs to Georgina from St Ives and Kayden from Ashmont
Classroom shoutouts … Mr Stuart’s 4/5/6 class at Long Flat Public School,
Class 3/4/5D with Miss Donovan at Glendenning Public School who said au revoir to their prac teacher Miss Johnston last week, Class 3/4J at Lane Cove West Public school, who yesterday welcomed their new teacher Miss Conner, classes 3/4B and 3/4R at Abbotsford Public School, whose teacher Miss Rose celebrated a birthday last week, and a special shoutout to all the kids at Forster Public School who got to celebrate with a Pyjama Day last Friday, with a special mention to Ms Simmons and Ms P for the coolest matching PJ’s.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Barnaby Joyce
- Antarctica
- Usain Bolt