Will Adelaide run out of water?

May 14, 2008 in activism, food, news, politics with Leave a Comment

March was a ground breaking month for SA water developments, with discussions regarding the national water supplies finally reaching a decision.

The decision will allow the South Australian government to store water in upstream dams in order to maintain essential drinking water for all towns reliant upon the Murray River.

The move will hopefully ensure the livelihood of Adelaide by ensuring there is actually water to go around.

“Here in Adelaide, people understand that a plan for the future of the Murray Darling Basin has to
address the needs of people who rely on the River for their drinking water. What we’ve done is to work with the States to identify how we can start to amend the damage caused by years of neglect.” Senator Wong said.

Further developments on water policy were released in early May 2008, ensuring recycling and desalination of water is possible for many larger communities in South Australia.

The Rudd Government’s $12.9 billion long-term water planWater for the Future, identifies
securing water supplies as a key priority.

Cities and towns of 50,000 people or more will be eligible for funding under the plan to establish
new sources of water supply through the use of desalination, recycling and stormwater harvesting.

“These projects will free up four billion litres of drinking water by using recycled water for parklands and industry,” Senator Wong said.

“National leadership is required to respond to this crucial challenge, and the Rudd Government is
providing that leadership by supporting Australian cities as they seek to diversify their water
supplies.”

So, in answer to our question, “Will Adelaide run out of water?” we can safely say “Not if Rudd has anything to do with it”.

Halfway through May

May 10, 2008 in art, free, news, website, youth with Leave a Comment

Local Adelaide artists offer an innovative showcase of free exhibitions in Adelaide this month.

Adelaide is well known for it’s festivals and art culture. And now it seems that the fresh May air does wonders for the artistic inspiration in Adelaide.

A visionary art installation by Lorelei Siegloff was opened on May 7th in Union Street (off Rundle Mall). A preview can be seen via her website, but to get the full effect it is recommended that you see it in person.

Another local Adelaide artist has come up with a web-based project, endeavouring to take a photo at midday every day for one month. The outcome of this project is quietly building in a Flickr collection available for public viewing here.

All this and more comes as Adelaide begins to mourn a revered local artist, John Dowie. John Dowie (15 January 1915 – 19 March 2008) is the artist behind the Three Rivers fountain in Victoria Square, the Girl on the Slide in Rundle Mall and the Victor Richardson gates at Adelaide Oval.

His complete works include more than 50 public sculpture commissions including a bronze portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in Parliament House in Canberra, Icarus at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport and the war memorial in the Solomon Islands.

The Adelaide City Council maintains a listing of all permanent public art installations, however many of the smaller galleries offer free viewing of works.

If you’re interested in art it really is a great time to get out and take a look at the amazing free installations Adelaide has to offer.

Baby Monkey at Adelaide Zoo

May 7, 2008 in animals, news with Leave a Comment

Move over Flocke, there’s a new cute thing in town!

Adelaide Zoo has a new Dusky Langur baby which is guaranteed to draw attention from the crowds.

Dusky Langurs are a South East Asian monkey, dusky grey in colour with white ‘spectacles’ around their eyes. Babies are born bright orange, contrasting considerably with their grey parents.

“The baby is fitting in superbly with the rest of the family. Mum and baby have a good grip on each other, which is important considering they live in rainforest canopies.”

Dusky langurs typically climb away from their parents at about one month old and begin to play, often jumping on the spot repeatedly. This baby monkey will be one month old at the end of May, so that will be the perfect time to visit the Adelaide Zoo.

When the baby langur is about seventy days old, which will be in mid July, it will begin to play and socialise with the other monkeys, often by grooming the older monkeys.

Adult langurs often eat up to 2kg of food per day, mainly consisting of leaves, however the langurs will also eat flowers and fruit. Langurs are also able to digest unripened fruit, which is normally toxic to other animals.

Due to a reduction in their native rainforest habitat of South East Asia, Dusky Langurs are becoming increasingly threatened. There are many conservation groups in Thailand decicated to preserving the langur’s natural habitat. They also nurse many langurs with health problems due to the destruction of the rainforest.

Many of these conservation groups require tourist volunteers to help study the langurs and research ways in which the natives can rehabilitate them.

Flash mobbing!

May 5, 2008 in art, free, youth with Leave a Comment

A new sensation of randomness is creeping into Adelaide’s culture – Flash mobbing!

Flash mobbing is an internet sensation, designed as harmless fun to entertain unsuspecting strangers. It is essentially a form of performance art, performed by many people at once, which only achieves its true value when many people participate.

Many other cities have successfully flash mobbed in rather artistic fashions, however Adelaide seems to be focusing more on the surreal. Adelaide flash mobbers have been involved in fun runs through food courts, a train trip involving no pants, a mass banana-eating moment plus numerous other slightly unnatural en-masse occurences.

To be involved in a flash mob, you will need to plan ahead and register your interest with organisers. Organisation on the day of the flash mob is strictly regulated so that bystanders have no idea that it is about to occur. Participants meet at pre-disclosed venues and are given slips of paper giving them more information, all to be destroyed before the event.

A similar style of performance art known as a silent disco has often been used by flash mobs. A “silent rave” at Victoria Station, London involved 4,000 participants. The 2008 Adelaide Fringe staged a silent disco at the Garden of Unearthly Delights.

A slightly different group of Adelaide people run the Adelaide Zombie Walk, which is essentially as surreal as a flash mob, but over a more extended time period, and with a specific purpose in mind.

Adelaide has not quite caught on to Melbourne and many other international cities in adapting the flash mob mentality in order to stage a huge public pillow fight.

All flash mobbing methods leave bystanders wondering what hit them. In Adelaide’s case it’s more likely to be a banana than a pillow.

Watch a New York Metropolitan Opera in Adelaide!

April 30, 2008 in art, music with Leave a Comment

Palace Nova cinemas have joined forces with the New York Metropolitan Opera and many other independent cinemas across the world to bring us live telecasts of New York Metropolitan Operas in Australia.

The Metropolitan Opera is one of the world’s great opera companies and the lavishness of their production is legendary.

The list of upcoming events in 2008-2009 prove that the initial season was a huge success.

The 2008 season still holds in store some fantastic operas such as Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’, Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’ and Tan Dun’s ‘The First Emperor’. The 2009 season looks to be just as spectacular.

“I went to ‘Peter Grimes’ and it was magic. It’s like getting the best seats in the house for a production with a far greater budget than Adelaide could ever afford. They are great!”, said Jennie, an opera buff from Adelaide.

100 Years of SA Weather

April 24, 2008 in history, news with Leave a Comment

The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology officially began operations in January 1908 and celebrates its Centenary during 2008. This milestone is being highlighted as part of the celebrations for World Meteorology Day. World Meteorology Day marks the signing of the Convention of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in March 1950.

“When I started with the Bureau in Perth in the late 1970’s, our weather forecast was for tomorrow only. Nowadays we forecast for 7 days, with just as much accuracy as we managed for one day in 1978 and we are likely to extend our forecasts to 10 days in the near future” said South Australian Regional Director Mr Andrew Watson.

The milestone has coincided with the release of a new book, “Weather Prophets of South Australia”. This book, written by volunteers, tells the stories of people who have worked for the Bureau in South Australia. It includes tales the early 20th century to the present time, from the Antarctic to the tropics.

“The stories in the book are a snapshot of some the activities that the Bureau has been involved with over the years, and an interesting insight into some of the characters who have worked with this organisation,” says Mr. Watson.

Krazy for Krispy Kreme

April 22, 2008 in food, lifehacks, news with Leave a Comment

Adelaide is going crazy for Krispy Kreme donuts and we don’t even have a store!

It’s turned into an Adelaide work ritual: If anyone is heading to Melbourne or Sydney they are required to return to the office laden with Krispy Kreme donuts.

Rumours are rife that Krispy Kreme are going to open a store in Adelaide, yet their website is confirming none of this.

Adelaide campaigners for Krispy Kreme are utilising facebook causes to promote the impotrance of bringing Krispy Kreme to Adelaide. With over 6000 people dedicated to the cause, it’s a notoriously popular premise.

The opening of the Brisbane Krispy Kreme store resulted in mad fans camping out overnight to ensure they got in the doors first. The support for this american-based chain of donut makers is staggering.

The good news is that Sensational Adelaide forum now has an answer to all the Krispy Kreme addicts in Adelaide. An enterprising branch of IGA, located across the road from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, will take orders for Krispy Kreme donuts a few days in advance. With only a small markup on the cost of a box of Krispy Kremes, Adelaide need never be deprived again.

Got a problem with the world? Act now!

April 19, 2008 in activism, news, website, youth with Leave a Comment

More than 80 young Adelaide people are speaking up online and acting on community issues using the help of a social networking website, ‘Act Now’.

This youth driven program opened in 2006 in order to facilitate discussions on important issues, motivating and supporting those who have decided to make a difference by showcasing everyday Australians who are already instigating change.

Issues such as ‘Sustainable Energy Sources’, ‘Human Trafficking’ and ‘Little Children are Scared’ are currently receiving a lot of attention via the website. No issue is too big or too small. Each topic is explained in detail and offers an action list which any motivated person can work from, resulting in quick action on the issue.

One member of the website, Steve Skitmore, is focusing on putting an end to human trafficking. He uses ‘Act Now’ to connect with other networks of motivated people and was very pleased when his event was promoted on the front page of ‘Act Now’.

Steve said, “I was very surprised by this gesture. It was really exciting and inspiring to see an actual person was there looking out for those trying to get their issues heard in the melee of interests being promoted on the site. It just made me think that if we all keep an open mind for important issues out of our usual line of work, we can help move towards a better world so much more quickly!”

Internships and advisory positions are available at ‘Act Now’ for people under 26 years old. These great opportunities can kickstart careers, while maintaining support for a fantastic community youth project.

‘Act Now’ is supported by the ‘Inspire Foundation’ which also supports ventures such as ‘Reach out!’ and ‘Beanbag’.

Funding for ‘Act Now’ comes from a variety of sources, including foundations, government funds and private sponsors.

The ‘Act Now’ website is http://actnow.com.au/

Adelaide International Cello Festival

April 16, 2008 in festival, music, news with Leave a Comment

The Adelaide International Cello Festival has taken Adelaide by storm this week.

Friday night showcased a breathtaking opening night performance at the Adelaide Town Hall where outstanding cello soloists performed premiere works with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, setting the scene for a magical 10 day festival.

The festival has numerous performances scheduled every day this week, ranging from jazz sessions in local cafes to evening master classes and large scale concerts. There is a cello performance to suit all budgets, tastes and ages.

Adelaide University’s own Elder Hall is proud to host many of the performances of the Adelaide Cello Festival, most notably, the Cellos at Lunch mini series.

Janis Laurs, director of the Adelaide International Cello Festival, says the festival is designed to attract cellists of all levels, while entertaining cello enthusiasts from all walks of life.

A team of cello makers, led by Frank Ravatin, will build a new cello during the festival. The public is encouraged to observe the instrument-making process and to celebrate with the makers, watching the new cello in action during the festival’s final concert.

The new cello will be played without varnishing, as it would take far too long to dry the varnish and would not be ready for the final concert. The full process of building and varnishing a cello often takes upwards of 100 days to complete.

Cello makers around the world are avidly watching the building of this cello as an experiment in speeding up the building process and also to draw on the talents of the master craftsmen involved in the project.

The Adelaide International Cello Festival continues until April 20th. Tickets are available through BASS via the website www.bass.net.au or 131 246.

Adelaide Northern Lights Brighten up the Landscape

April 15, 2008 in art, festival, free with Leave a Comment

The Adelaide Festival and Fringe did a fantastic job of entertaining Adelaide for the whole of March. We were blown away by fabulous world class acts and funky, small-time entertainers.

But we never expected how utterly mesmerised Adelaide would be with the Adelaide Festival’s Northern Lights display.

Adelaide loved the northern lights so much that they got extended for two weeks after the Adelaide Festival so we could enjoy them some more.

“The State Government will foot the additional $75,000 bill for the lights to stay up until March 30,” said the Minister assisting in the Arts, John Hill, at the time of the extension.

The city’s historic architectural icons on North Terrace were painted with light and colour on their facades. The display was seen on the State Library of South Australia, South Australian Museum, Art Gallery of South Australia, Elder Hall, Mitchell Building and Bonython Hall.

The 70 different projections were rotated on a five minute basis, drawing crowds of up to 15,000 people per night for the duration of the festival and the extended two week period.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of the 2008 Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts. Events such as Northern Lights have been seen by an estimated 200,000 people,” said The Premier of South Australia, The Hon. Mike Rann MP.

Sydney-based projectionists The Electric Canvas created Northern Lights using digital software and 200kg French-made PIGI system projectors.

Festival Chairman Ross Adler AC said, “Brett Sheehy has again delivered another outstanding Festival. It cements the Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts’ reputation as one of the greatest international arts festivals in the world.”

Pictures of the Adelaide Northern Lights have become quite a sensation on picture sharing sites such as Flickr.