Tuesday 30 June, 2020

Footy fixture chaos; solo sailor’s epic trip; rugby codes face off; holiday in a Harry Potter house.

 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

 

THE LOWDOWN

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Footy fixtures for the remainder of the AFL season were thrown into disarray yesterday as the rising number of coronavirus cases in Victoria prompted Queensland to introduce strict new quarantine rules on Victorian-based teams – or those who play against them.

They’re changes that have the potential to completely disrupt the carefully constructed AFL fixture which, until yesterday, had teams crossing borders and playing across interstate hubs. 

The A-League has also been forced to reconsider the remainder of its fixture with a similar Queensland quarantine problem.

One code which appears to have not been affected by the rule change is rugby league. Its only Melbourne club, the Storm, moved to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast over the weekend – just getting ahead of the new rules. And it doesn’t look like they’ll be going home to Victoria any time soon.

The news came as Victoria accounted for 75 of the 85 new cases of COVID confirmed in Australia yesterday – the biggest single-day increase since April.

For context: as of yesterday,  the United States has recorded almost 2.5 million cases of coronavirus while the world as a whole has recorded more than 10 million cases since the beginning of the pandemic. In total, Australia’s had 7,767 cases. 

 

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 Argentina – where a sailor has arrived in the city of Buenos Aires after spending 85 days at sea, crossing the Atlantic so he could get home in time for his dad’s 90th birthday. 

When the coronavirus caused his home country to close its borders, Juan Manuel Ballestero was on the tiny Portuguese island of Porto Santo, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Planes were grounded – meaning the only way he could get back home to be with his father on his 90th birthday was to hop in his boat and start sailing.

Eighty five days and many, many cans of tinned tuna later – Juan Manuel arrived home in Buenos Aires – into the welcoming arms of his very grateful dad.

“I just knew I had to be at home with my family,” said the sailor. Now that’s going above and beyond.

 

SPORTS TIME!

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If you’ve been paying attention in science class, you’d know that if you put a splash of oil in a glass of water – the two liquids do not mix. And that’s exactly what critics are saying about the proposal to stage a match between the Kangaroos – Australia’s international touring rugby league side – and the New Zealand All Blacks – one of the most famous and successful rugby union teams in the world.

The idea has been floated with reports that the Australian Rugby League is in discussion with New Zealand Rugby to stage an exhibition match later in the year – with the game governed by a mix of rugby league rules and rugby union rules.

But most sports commentators have poo-poohed the idea, with one writing yesterday, that it would be like watching “a snooker team take on a yachting team”.

By which we think he means it would make no sense.

Watch this space. 

 

POP CULTURE CORNER

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So do you fancy yourself as a Hufflepuff, a Ravenclaw or a Gryffindor? Have you ever wanted to sleep in a room next to the Whomping Willow? Or how about taking your breakfast at a Great Hall-inspired dining table or hanging out in a Quidditch themed games room? Then there’s anAirBnB house for you. 

Photos emerged this week of some especially keen Harry Potter fans who have turned their home in the city of Orlando, in the United States, into a Harry Potter-themed destination on the popular home-share website. 

There’s even a replica Platform 9 and Three Quarters – and a Sorting Hat at the house entrance – in case you’re unsure which house you belong to.

Happily, the house is located close to Disney World – which is also in the city of Orlando.

There’s a link in today’s episode notes to some photos of the house.

 

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 …

  1. Which country did intrepid solo sailor – and devoted son – Juan Manuel Ballestero sail home to to see his dad?
  2. Which two football codes are discussing staging an exhibition match despite having very different rules?
  3. Which city in the United States would you have to go to if you wanted to stay in the Harry Potter themed house?

 

SHOUT OUTS

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It’s June 30 … Quick – someone wake up Jeff – it’s Murray the Red Wiggle’s birthday today… wonder if Dorothy has baked a cake?

It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today. ..Jake and Olivia from Perth, Addy from Morningside, Hannah from Shoal Bay, Athulya, Rafferty and Daniella from Sydney, Georgie from Geelong, Miles from Wollstonecraft, Jack from Footscray, Kobe from Fingal Head, Harry from Barden Ridge, Jack from Baulkham Hills, Peritzia from Concord, Lachlan from Randwick, Noah from Orange, Lily from Wahroonga, Indigo from Calista, Alice from Strathmore Heights, Xavier from Killarney Heights, Isla from Seaforth, Kaden from Inverell and Pisha from Wentworthville.

And some belated birthday shoutouts… Caleb from Merriwa and Oliver from Lowesdale.

Happy birthday to you all. 

Today’s classroom shoutouts…  5/6T from Ellison Public School and their teacher Mrs Tailford, who is celebrating a birthday today, and a very special shoutout to Mrs Allen from Bob’s Farm Public School, who is leaving the school after teaching there for 12 years. Her students would like to say thank you, goodbye and good luck at your new school. 

The S’Quiz Answers:

  1. Argentina
  2. Rugby league and rugby union
  3. Orlando