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In Innovation

/ Published on 19 August 2013

After raising nearly $1000 in 2012, 14-year-old Eden Harris this week again embarks on the World Vision 40 Hour Famine, giving up both food and furniture to raise funds to help families in the developing world.

Last year, in her first 40 Hour Famine, Eden was able to raise $940 for projects that help hungry kids and families around the world. Even though she hated the hunger, Eden said it was a great feeling to contribute something to people who live with hunger every day and raise awareness of their plight as well.  "Much to my dad's consternation, I've signed up again this year for the 40 Hour Famine," she said.

"As well as giving up food, I've decided to give up furniture, so I'll be sitting and sleeping on the floor for the best part of two days. One thing for sure, it will certainly make me appreciate those barley sugars (despite the danger they present to my braces)."

Eden is again asking family, friends and anyone who wants to help to sponsor her during the 40-Hour Famine. This year, all funds raised will go to support projects that fight hunger in Malawi, Ethiopia, East Timor, Nepal, Tanzania, and Uganda. Initiatives include helping families gain better access to food and clean water, give people the chance to increase their incomes through training and micro-finance, and help farmers get the tools and training they need to grow more food. Funds raised in the 40 Hour Famine also help World Vision respond to emergencies around the world.

You can sponsor Eden through her 40 Hour Famine profile page at http://www.worldvision.com.au/40HF/ProfilePage.aspx?preferredurl=Edenharris If you have any problems with that link, Eden's Famine ID number is 2013005995. If you/re not able to sponsor her financially, Eden will appreciate encouraging messages on her webpage for the site

Eden's school is holding the 40-Hour Famine on Wednesday and Thursday (August 21 and 22) this week.

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In Innovation

/ Published on 16 August 2013

Five tall ships will fill Port Adelaide’s Inner Harbor from 28 August to 1 September in what will be the biggest gathering of traditional sailing ships seen in the Port since 1988.

Three Dutch tall ships are visiting en-route to an International Fleet Review in Sydney. They are the bark Europa, the schooner Oostershelde and the fishing lugger Tecla. The bark Europa was built in 1911 and today travels the oceans of the world. Crewed by professionals and guests of all nationalities and ages, the 56 metre long ship was built in Hamburg and rebuilt and refurbished in Amsterdam. The three-masted topsail schooner Oosterschelde, built in 1917, is the largest restored

Dutch sailing ship and is a testament to the supreme skills of the Dutch shipbuilders. Tecla, built in 1915 as a herring lugger, is a fast ship, rigged with two masts and carrying several suits of sails for heavy and light weather.

They will be joined by SA’s own Falie and One & All which will return to their berths on McLaren Wharf for the event. Failie was actually built in the Netherlands in 1919 as a Dutch lugger. It is the same class of vessel as the Tecla and was one of the last working ketches in SA.

The SA Maritime Museum is the host organiser for the tall ships’ visit and is proud to have brought this gathering of sail to South Australia. Museum’s Director, Kevin Jones said ‘It will be thrilling to see a forest of masts return to the Inner Harbor, the traditional home of shipping in South Australia. I am proud of our part in bringing these majestic ships to Adelaide. Firstly, because this is such a great way to celebrate our maritime heritage. And secondly, because one of the original purposes for building SA’s Maritime Museum in Port Adelaide was that it would help to lead the Port as a visitor centre. Twenty five years later our museum has welcomed over two million visitors and we continue to bring people to the heritage precinct.’

The Museum is partnering with Renewal SA, the One and All and Falie and other local organisations to host the Tall Ships Festival on Saturday 31 August 2013 from 11am to 5.30pm on McLaren Wharf , Port Adelaide. The free wharf-side festival will feature family activities including kids’ workshops, music performances, market stalls as well as food and beverage vendors. Festival-goers will be able to admire the stunning spectacle of tall ships tethered to McLaren Wharf and take advantage of the rare chance to climb aboard the Dutch sailing ships between 11am and 5.30pm.

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In Denise Goodfellow

/ Published on 16 August 2013

What do tourists value when they visit Australia’s Top End?  Are they into shock and awe?  In other words do they care as much as the tourism industry about what Australian region has the biggest crocodile?  And what about birdwatching? 

Women dominate the huge US birdwatching market, and many want to experience more than just new birds. So are our guides too fixated on twitchers, a small market dominated by men? 

If many visitors wish more a more in-depth experience, then does the tourism industry deliver?  Are the true experts involved, from the senior citizen who is an authority on native orchids to the grazier or Indigenous family living on their country.  

If our wildlife tourism does not deliver to both citizens and visitors, then why not, and how can we fix it?

To examine the problems, potential and possibilities Wildlife Tourism Australia will hold a workshop on connecting wildlife and visitors in the Top End this coming October, to be opened by the Northern Territory Administrator, the Hon. Sally Thomas, AO.

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