April 30, 2026
Memories of Hawks Nest and rare minerals mining A bird's eye view of the extraction plant on the beach north of Hawks Nest. From the collection of Dr Pacy.
Opinion

Memories of Hawks Nest and rare minerals mining

WITH our Prime Minister visiting the United States to do deals with rare earths, it took me back to a time when some of our local sand minerals were in demand. The Mineral Deposits Company, 80 percent American owned, began operations here in 1967. My American husband and I were having a working visit to […]

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On the couch with Jasminda
Jasminda's Advice

On the couch with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda, I’VE started going to a gym and there’s a man there that leaves various personal items on the equipment I want to use. His drink bottle is on one, his towel is on another and then he leaves his backpack on a third machine. What is the gym etiquette around this?  I only […]

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Social media ban: How parents can help kids stay connected safely
Opinion

Social media ban: How parents can help kids stay connected safely

AS Australia’s social media ban for under-16s edges closer, children are already worried about losing touch with their friends. But while the onus is on social media platforms to act, researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) say the real battle will be at home – where parents must enforce the rules, manage their […]

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Drawing clouds and coconuts: Why cartoonists never tire of the Pearly Gates and the Desert Island The Pearly Gates and the Desert Island are two of the most symbolic settings in the cartoon world.
Opinion

Drawing clouds and coconuts: Why cartoonists never tire of the Pearly Gates and the Desert Island

The Pearly Gates and the Desert Island are two of the most symbolic settings in the cartoon world. The Pearly Gates and the Desert Island are two of the most symbolic settings in the cartoon world. YOU would think that after decades, cartoonists would have wrung out every last drop of humour from two of […]

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‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
Jasminda's Advice

‘On the couch’ with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda, I was recently being led to my medical appointment by a young intern when I accidentally broke wind. It was loud and it was pretty clear that I was the culprit. I am in my mid-fifties. I was mortified. Should I have said something to him? Brook S. Dear Brook, First of all, […]

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The Write Direction: Interesting numbers
The Write Direction

The Write Direction: Interesting numbers

WHEN writing a regular “opinion piece”, on occasions the subject can become exciting. This week’s offering may well create credibility issues as I’m commenting on figures released in relation to real estate sales last quarter said to be in a price slump involving sales in 938 suburbs. Clearly, I’m not an expert in this area […]

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The Write Direction: UBI sounds like BS to me
The Write Direction

The Write Direction: UBI sounds like BS to me

WHAT do governments do when finances get out of hand? How do they solve issues quickly so that they are re-elected? Survival is the number one game in politics, so when your interest bill on borrowings gets to where it is in Australia today, at $5 million per day, clearly something needs to be done […]

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