Boaters urged to take care at the Abrolhos

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The Abrolhos Islands has become a popular destination for Western Australia’s boating community, with a large number of craft expected to visit over Easter and throughout April. 

Midwest Regional Manager for the Department of Fisheries, Ron Shepherd said the two long weekends and the school holidays in April were likely to attract many visitors to soak up the experience the island group offers 

“We are keen to ensure visitors have a safe time at the Abrolhos and that they plan properly for their time there,” Mr Shepherd said. 

“There is a requirement for the Master of vessels that are travelling to the Abrolhos Fish Habitat Protection Area to notify the Department of Fisheries of their visit, and this can be easily done through the department’s website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.  

“The website provides important information for visitors, and the notification helps our officers to support the management and safety of visitors.”

Boat activity near Big Pigeon Island at the Abrolhos

Shepherd said it should be everyone’s commitment to protect the pristine environment. 

“We urge owners to please clean their vessel’s hull before heading to the Abrolhos and this is particularly important for boats that are normally penned in the Batavia Marina, at Geraldton,” he said. 

“Fouling on hulls has the potential to introduce exotic marine pests, which could have significant adverse impacts on the unique coral environment of the Abrolhos.  

“To protect the Abrolhos, it is important that all visitors support biosecurity measures.”

Mr Shepherd said a number of public moorings were available at the Abrolhos Islands and the locations for those were noted on the department’s website.

“Those moorings may be in high demand during April and when public moorings are not available, the department requests that boat owners be careful in anchoring to ensure they do not damage coral habitats, he said. 

“Also, visitors should look after the environment by taking their rubbish home and by not camping on unoccupied islands or lighting fires.

“Buildings and jetties on occupied islands are private property. Visitors require the permission of the property owners to enter, or to tie up to their jetties.  

 “We advise boat owners, and all visitors, to become familiar with WA’s recreational fishing rules before venturing to the Abrolhos, including the rules specific to the islands.”  

A Silver Chain Clinic is located on Big Rat Island, Easter Group and is available to assist in any medical emergencies that visitors may encounter. The clinic can be contacted on 0427 422 665, or through Marine Radio Channel 16.

River breaking through to ocean is not all good news

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Greenough River broken through to ocean

Greenough River has broken through to the ocean at Cape Burney. Take care near the soft edges if you're taking little ones down to have a look.

Posted by Everything Geraldton on Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Twice in recent months heavy rains in the region have resulted in the Greenough River breaking through the sand bar to the ocean at Cape Burney and turning our beaches into a curious brown colour. 

The event can be seen as a win for those who enjoy fishing along our shores, as any fish that are washed out to sea attract species like mulloway, and lobsters extend their wanderings making them easier to catch. 

But it's not all good news for the Greenough estuary system, especially when climate change modelling is taken into account. 

While climate change has seen less rainfall occur over the winter months in the region, it also increases the likelihood of heavy summer rain associated with tropical lows. 

This, combined with the large amounts of cleared agricultural land, has resulted in problems starting to occur as valuable topsoil is washed into the water system causing the estuary to become much shallower in a process called sedimentation. "This is a big problem in the upper reaches of the Murchison estuary where navigation has become increasingly difficult due to shallow water," according to Dr Michael Payne, NACC Coastal and Marine Coordinator.

Dr Payne says healthy riverside vegetation is needed to slow water flows and filter sediments from water running off the land into rivers.

"In the past, normally closed estuaries have often been opened artificially using earthmoving equipment and sometimes even shovels. This was believed to provide a benefit to the health of the estuary. However, this practise is now discouraged as the amount of flushing that occurs with artificial openings is insufficient to improve water quality compared to natural openings. Also, if the water level in the estuary remains too low for too long, important wetlands along the edge of the estuary can dry up and die."

Dr Payne said "These flushing events have been going on for millennia and the plants and animals are all well and truly used to coping with them." But because the rains are more torrential or "full on" when they do occur, and because they are happening in dryer months when there is less vegetation on the ground, top soil run off is much more of a problem. 

Certainly seeing the water run is a beautiful scene to behold, but it's worth taking note of the flow on effects climate change is having in our region. 

Images sent in my Everything Geraldton readers over the last couple of weeks showing our discoloured beaches. 

Burglars are smashing glass doors to enter homes

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It seems the criminal element want to get in to our homes, and will break whatever they have to in order to do it. 

Police say that on 2pm on Wednesday March 25 2015 a burglary happened at a home in Fong Cove Mt Tarcoola. The offenders entered the rear yard and smashed a glass laundry door. 

Police allege they then entered the home and stole a number of items including two iPhones, an iPad, a watch, and numerous pieces of jewellery. 

A 16 year old male was arrested over the matter. 

A Utakarra resident reported via Geraldton Neighbourhood Watch on March 28 that their glass sliding door had been smashed. They were home at the time, and found the door smashed, unlocked and open. 

"Was literally in the kitchen picking up my handbag to go to a mates birthday and noticed it. It's a sliding door from our back yard into an enclosed patio but then there's still our back Doors to have to try get through. we've worked out it was in the space of literally 3-4 minutes of me jumping in the shower and hubby pulling up, we have a v8 so we presume they've heard it pull up and legged it. I was so baffled as to why i hadn't heard it or why my dogs didn't go ape but the police just came and took a look and explained that I most probably wouldn't have heard it because it looks like they've elbowed it so it would have just been a thud and it's that type of glass that "crumbles" I guess you say, most of it's still in tact and the bits that fell on the ground wouldn't have made much of a sound and wouldn't have cut them or hurt them in anyway. They didn't actually get to step foot in the door it seems they've broken it put their hand in unlocked it and just started to open the door when disturbed."

Drug Charges

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At about 11.55am on Wednesday 25 March 2015, Geraldton Detectives were investigating an offence of possess prohibited drug with intent to sell/supply. Detectives attended an address on Woodman Street, Utakarra and arrested a male occupant.

The residence was searched and it will be alleged, police located a clip seal bag containing approximately 0.1gram of Methylamphetamine, one ecstasy tablet a clip seal bag containing a strip of suboxone and two unopened strips of suboxone. Suboxone is a prescribed drug and a glass smoking utensil and a plastic smoking utensil within the lounge room.

The 27 year old male from Utakarra was charged with the following;
1 x attempt to possess prohibited drug with intent to sell/supply 1 x possess prohibited drug
1 x Possess drug paraphernalia
2 x possess prohibited drug

3 year sentence for manslaughter

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A 17 year old youth will be eligible for parole after 18 months after receiving a 3 year sentence for manslaughter for the killing of a 51 year old man with a paver last year in Wonthella. 

Ian Cutler from the Geraldton Guardian reports on the story. Click here to read. 

Theft caught on camera... again

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This Geraldton shop is brazenly robbed yet again and it's caught on camera... again. The owners of Kathy's Snacks are becoming understandably frustrated. They shared this video with Everything Geraldton and said "Becoming a joke!" Following the robbery of Kathy's snacks a couple of weeks ago where a person was caught on camera taking things and walking out of the store, again the same store has caught on camera a person who helps themselves to items from the store and calmly walks out without paying, in full view of staff. The owners of the store are asking if you can identify the person in the footage to please come forward. You can contact Geraldton Police on 9923 4555.

Posted by Everything Geraldton on Monday, March 30, 2015

This Geraldton shop is brazenly robbed yet again and it's caught on camera... again. 

The owners of Kathy's Snacks are becoming understandably frustrated. They shared this video with Everything Geraldton and said "Becoming a joke!" 

Following the robbery of Kathy's snacks a couple of weeks ago where a person was caught on camera taking things and walking out of the store, again the same store has caught on camera a person who helps themselves to items from the store and calmly walks out without paying, in full view of staff. 

The owners of the store are asking if you can identify the person in the footage to please come forward. You can contact Geraldton Police on 9923 4555. 

Click here to view video if you cannot see it above. 

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR CYCLONE-AFFECTED COMMUNITY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

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Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has welcomed Commonwealth Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett’s announcement that disaster assistance has been extended to the local government area of Greater Geraldton in response to Cyclone Olwyn.  

The assistance is being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). 

Assistance available under the NDRRA may include:

  • personal hardship and distress assistance for families and individuals, essential repairs to damaged homes and the replacement of essential household contents
  • financial assistance for local and State government authorities to undertake counter-disaster operations and to restore damaged public infrastructure
  • interest rate subsidies for small businesses and primary producers who have been directly impacted by the cyclone
  • freight subsidies for primary producers to assist with the costs of transporting livestock, fodder or water for livestock and machinery and equipment.  

Mr Blayney agrees that the cyclone and associated flooding had caused widespread damage to the local community. 

“I hope all affected residents and businesses take advantage of this assistance,” said Ian Blayney. 

“This assistance will help ease the financial burden the local council endures when preparing for natural disasters, undertaking clean-up operations and restoring local infrastructure, such as roads and bridges,” the Premier said. 

“The Australian and Western Australian governments will continue to work together to ensure that communities have the support they need during this difficult time,” Mr Keenan said.

Australians embrace a digital life

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Nearly all adult Australians now go online, and we’re getting digital in a range of ways—from social and work interactions to business transactions and shopping, according to new ACMA research.

Australians’ digital lives, the first of two complementary reports in the ACMA Communications report 2013–14 series, takes a look at how we’re engaging with digital technologies and our changing communications practices.

Young and old are both on board

Younger people (those aged 18–44) are the most active digital citizens, with 100 per cent of this age group going online in the six months to May 2014. But older Aussies (those aged 65 and over) aren’t too far behind, with 68 per cent also going online during this period. They’re also increasingly using mobile phones to access the internet (up seven percentage points).

This older age group is also using the internet to stay in touch, with 74 per cent of this group who use communications apps preferring Skype to either make phone or video calls, or send messages. 

More ways to go online

The majority of online Australians (68 per cent) are now using three or more devices to access the internet, and almost a quarter (23 per cent) use five or more. To manage these multiple devices, there is a trend towards more complex home networks connected to the internet by fixed-line and Wi-Fi.

Digital workers

Our strong digital engagement is also influencing the way we work, with digital communications making it easier for people to work in multiple locations. Almost half (49 per cent) of employed Australians are ‘digital workers’—meaning they use the internet to work away from the office outside of standard hours or they are teleworkers who work away from the office for a part or full day.

Of digital workers, 48 per cent have a formal agreement in place. This equates to nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of those who are employed.

Offline Australians

While the internet is now a part of most Australians’ daily lives, there’s still an estimated 1.1 million of us who have never accessed the internet (at June 2014).

However, this figure has nearly halved in four years—down from two million adult Australians at June 2010. Age and income are the main factors associated with being offline—70 per cent are people aged 65 and over, and 83 per cent earn an annual income of less than $30,000.

A video summarising the research

Trade in Your Old Tackle Box and Save

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Do you need a new tackle box?

Tackleworld Country is holding a Tackle Box Trade In Deal just in time for Easter! Bring in any old tackle box and receive an unbeatable deal for a brand new one.  All of their leading brands are discounted to the lowest price guaranteed after trade in, which will leave both you and your wallet happy. Leading brands include:

  • Piano 7771 only $130 - save $79
  • Piano 728 only $75 - save $54
  • Piano 4474 only $65 - save $34 (up to $99 elsewhere)

Trade in price

No matter what type of tackle box you have, Tackleworld accept ALL Trade Ins.

Piano 7771

Piano 728

Piano 4474

And if that’s not enough, Tackleworld also have a range of soft baits priced at only $5 and Shimano clothing from only $15. There are simply too many bargains to list! To view their full range of discounted items and deals, browse their catalogue here.

To find out more, phone the friendly team today on (08) 9921 6822 or find them on Facebook.

They're located at 20 Anzac Terrace, Geraldton and are open Monday - Friday from 8:30am - 5:30pm and close at 6:30pm on Thursdays. They're open Saturday from 8:30am - 1:00pm and are closed Sundays.

Sale ends at the end of April

Mid West Cat Shelter Cat of the Week

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Our Cat of the Week is available for $100 to the right home. Meet Sweetie!

Sweetie really is a sweetie! She’s very shy but once she learns she can trust you, she’s a very sweet girl.

All of our cats have received their first vaccination, are micro-chipped, health checked and sterilised before going to their new homes. Kittens under the age of 5 months are provided with a sterilisation voucher. The adoption fee for all our adult cats is $150 and for all kittens $200 to help towards these costs and to allows us to continue our work towards the welfare of cats in our community.

Some of the other available cats are Cherri, Sooty, Edwina, Ivory & Paris.

Please contact our coordinator on 0487 193 244 to organise meeting this gorgeous forever-friend today!

City cracks down on crime with increase in CCTV

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Mayor, Ian Carpenter, and Federal Member for Durack, Melissa Price, welcome the new CCTV cameras to help prevent crime in Geraldton.

In a bid to crack down on crime the City of Greater Geraldton has welcomed 28 new CCTV cameras in three locations around the City.

Eleven new cameras are to be installed at the City’s Car Park No. 5 located on Sanford Street, nine new cameras at the Eastern Breakwater and eight new cameras at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial. This brings the City’s CCTV camera tally to over 100 cameras.

Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said whilst policing was a State Government responsibility, everyone needs to play a part in crime prevention. Whether its protecting your own home and property adequately, monitoring activity through CCTV or prevention prgrams, the application for CCTV funding from the Commonwealth was just one of the City’s commitments to help address crime and anti-social behaviour within the community.

“These new cameras, in addition with the existing cameras, prevent, deter and detect crime and increase perceptions of safety particularly around retail, entertainment and commercial areas that are susceptible to anti-social behaviour,” he said.

“CCTV helps the police not only identify offenders, but it also serves as a deterrent to the small minority of individuals who engage in criminality.”

The Federal Government has delivered $440,000 in funding for the project through the Safer Streets Programme.  

Federal Member for Durack, Melissa Price, said that community members had lobbied her to assist with pressing crime issues in Geraldton.

“Securing the funding for CCTV was one way of assisting and I am pleased that Minister Keenan agreed with me and made the funds available,” Ms Price said.

“I also organised a crime forum in Geraldton, with the support to the City, and with around 50 community members discussed the issue, including perception and reality and the role that social media plays.

“We all need to take some responsibility and work as a community with the authorities, to address crime and anti-social behaviour.”

The City employs various methods to help reduce crime in our community. These include the application of crime prevention through environmental design techniques, CCTV and crime prevention programs including Midnight Basketball and the Youth ‘n‘ Motion bus.

Stolen motorbike ridden to Perth

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Police say information provided by the public has resulted in the arrest of a 22 year old man from Rangeway over the theft of a motorcycle earlier in the month. 

Some time between Saturday 8 March 2015 and Sunday 9 March 2015 Police said that a white Agusta motorcycle was stolen from a home in Geraldton. 

The vehicle was then ridden to Perth by the 22 year old and another person, Police allege. 

Police are still conducting enquiries in relation to the location of the motorcycle but the 22 year old man has been charged with stealing a motor vehicle and will appear in Geraldton Magistrates Court at a later date. 

Stolen Vehicle

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The following vehicle was reported stolen earlier today:

"STOLEN THIS MORNING from Mark Street Tarcoola
aprox 10.00 am.
If you have seen or noticed this vehicle please
contact Geraldton Police Station ASAP."

An Everything Geraldton reader commented: "Saw this ute hooking thru Strathalbyn rd this morning about half 10. Headed towards Spalding way."

Police: 9923 4555

Game of Thrones Feast

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A FEAST to celebrate the launch of Game of Thrones, Season V (5) for Geraldton!

There are limited seats available and the deadline to buy tickets is the 7th of April, 2015.

Tickets include a three remove (course) meal in fitting with the Game of Thrones theme including the guest right of salt and bread (to protect you under our roof!), a welcome drink, prizes, entertainment, some awesome photo opportunities and a viewing of the latest GOT episode.

All guests must dress in GOT costume.

This is an 18+ event

  • When: Saturday 18 April 2015
  • Time: 5:00pm - 5:30pm for arrivals and the event finishes at 11:30pm.
  • Where: Bootenal Family Tavern (Corner of Edwards and Bootenal Road)
  • For more information, contact Emma from It's All Sorted on 0458 271 853

Tickets are only $80 and can be purchased online here

Get your tickets now and be a part of the feast!

The Feast is a combined effort from Its All Sorted, The Comedy Emporium, the Twin River Guard, Bootenal Family Tavern, Tarts and Co and Midwest Pro Audio.

Midwest Fishing report by Tackleworld Geraldton

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THIS WEEKS LOCAL HERO IS REID FOR THIS GREAT PHOTO

OFFSHORE

Pelagic’s have shown up in a big way with no shortage of fish with Yellow fin tuna, long tail, Mackerel and bonito all firing around town with the northern shipping channel and in between the leads and the 5mile boy.

Further South African reef has fished well with big Dhu fish Bald Chin Groper and with catches of Coral Trout amongst them. North of town is also producing good catches of Dhuies and Spangled empire Tuna and mackerel are also on the chew north of town.

The back of the Island have been producing the goods with great catches of Marlin and sail fish and good Dollies which is a good sign for the Guys and Gals fishing in the Halco Abrolhos tournament.

BEACHES

Mulloway are starting to move in with a few good fish caught around town with fish around the 10kg mark been landed, with Tarcoola beach and behind the lives being the best location. Separation point is also producing good tailor.

RIVERS

With Greenough open at the moment the fishing has improved with big bream to 35cm getting caught at the mouth, and further upstream fish from 25-30cm are getting caught. Chapman River is also fishing well with good size bream and Giant herring getting caught.

WEEKEND FORECAST

EASTER CATALOGUE OUT NOW

Midwest Fishing Report by Tackleworld Geraldton 

20 ANZAC TERRACE GERALDTON WA

08 99216822

5 Handy Tips to Pass Your Practical Driving Assessment

/ Martin's Motorcycle & Driver Training/

Getting your log book is an exciting experience because you’re just one step closer to being able to drive by yourself. That sense of independence is like no other. One of the most exciting things for me was no longer needing to phone my parents every time I required a lift to and from work. So once you pass your Practical Driving Assessment, you’re then on your way to getting your license.

But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves...you have to pass your assessment first, and Martin’s Motor Cycle & Driver Training are here to help you every step of the way. Owners, Craig and Sandie Martin, say that if you follow these 5 simple tips, you’ll be on your way to driving independently!

1. Start with an instructor:

So you’ve passed your online Learners Theory Test and now have your learners permit. Brilliant. Now you’re on your way towards getting your log book with 25 hours of practice in between. Sandie highly recommends that the first person you should really start off your driving with is your instructor. There’s nothing wrong with driving with a parent at first, but times have changed and there are now different road rules and protocols that your parents may not even know about. So the last thing you want is for Mum or Dad to accidentally teach you bad habits when you’re just learning how to drive.

Sandie recommends having around 3-5 lessons with an instructor first before you start driving with a parent. You can even have Mum or Dad in the backseat while having your lesson. That way, it gives both of you the opportunity to learn about any new road rules you may be unaware about and to ask questions at the end.

2. Get used to driving with different people:

When you eventually sit your Practical Driving Assessment, you’ll be sitting next to someone that is a complete stranger. And to some, this can be quite nerve-racking, which can cause you to slip up and make mistakes you wouldn’t normally make. So the best thing to do is to practice driving with as many different people as possible. This can be your Mum, Dad, Aunty, Uncle, or even your neighbour. Because once you sit your test, you won’t even notice that it’s with a stranger and the nerves will settle. 

3. Practice in wet weather:

Weather can be extremely unpredictable; so you’re going to want to practice in all weather conditions before you do your test. Driving in the rain is completely different to driving on a dry road. So prepare yourself for every possible scenario and take the proper precautions if it begins to rain during your assessment. Failing to slow down on a slippery road will definitely deduct a lot of points from your overall mark.

4. Don’t be put off by your assessor writing:

One of the main reasons as to why students fail their Practical Driving Assessment is because nerves get in the way. This may cause learners to do things they wouldn’t normally do, such as failing to give way, speeding or rolling through a stop sign. You’ll notice that throughout the test, your assessor will be writing down notes. Don’t let this put you off. They’re just ticking the tasks that you have already completed and yes, they may be writing something negative, but chances are, they’re also writing something positive about your driving performance. Constantly looking over to see what your assessor is writing will take your eyes off the road, which can cause an accident. Don’t get distracted by them doing their job.

5. Have a lesson beforehand:

Sandie and Craig recommend having a lesson one week before your test, and a final lesson an hour before your test. Having a lesson one week beforehand will allow your instructor to correct any bad habits that may have been developed, and having a lesson one hour beforehand will calm your nerves and it gives your instructor the opportunity to rectify any small errors that have been made.

 

 It is also a wise idea to undergo your assessment in your instructors’ car. This is because the car you might want to use may not meet the road safety standards. For example, you may have only one tail light working and not even know about it because it’s on a part of your car which you don’t normally look at while driving. Handbrakes are also a good example. If your cars handbrake isn’t situated in the centre console, the car cannot be used for the assessment. This is because if the handbrake is in a location that the assessor doesn’t have easy access to, there’s no way for them to stop the car if an accident is about to occur. Using your instructors’ car is the wisest thing to do, as it not only meets the road safety standards, but it’s also a car that you are relatively familiar with, especially if you're doing a lesson right before your test.

Doing the test really isn’t as frightening as it sounds and chances are, if you’re confident and know what you’re doing, you’ll pass it with flying colours. If you are a learner and are looking at doing your Practical Driving Assessment, speak to Sandie or Craig Martin from Martin’s Motor Cycle & Driver Training. They specialise in all forms of driver training, including motor vehicles (both manual and automatic), motorcycles, scooters, trucks and more. They operate in Geraldton, but travel all over the Midwest for remote customers.

  • They’re located on 32 Bedford Street, Geraldton.
  • Phone 0457 377 714
  • They’re open all hours from Monday – Sunday 

MMG 2015 Community Grants Now Available

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MMG Ltd’s Golden Grove 2015 Community Sponsorship Program is now open for applications.

The Community Sponsorship Program is designed to provide assistance to local community groups and organisations which deliver initiatives in areas related to education, social and cultural development, economic advancement and health and wellbeing.

MMG strives to be a responsible business which is underpinned by strong values and a belief that ‘we mine for progress’ – our progress and our stakeholders’ progress.

Benefits of our operations are shared by investment in the sustainable future of the communities in which we operate. Some of the initiatives MMG has previously sponsored are:

  • Mullewa Muster and Rodeo
  • Sunshine Festival Parade
  • Men’s Shed Programs
  • Geraldton Primary School Nature Playground
  • Mid West Art Award

If you would like to apply for assistance to benefit a local initiative that delivers a sustainable community benefit, visit our website or download an application form BY CLICKING HERE. Grants are capped at $5000.

Submissions close on Friday 3rd of April, 2015. For more information please contact Brooke Creemers, Community Relations Advisor, GGCommunity@mmg.com

Is there life out there? The biggest eyes on the sky will see

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Are we alone in space? How were black holes formed? What is dark energy?

The quest to find the answers to dark energy. Credit: SKA Organisation/Swinburne Astronomy Productions

One of the biggest and most complex scientific experiments ever dreamed up - comparable in scale to the Large Hadron Collider - aims to find the answers to these and many more of the most challenging questions facing scientists. And it’s already underway in the desert 800 kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia.

While its acronym, SKA, may sound cool, it’s a little less catchy when spelt out  - Square Kilometre Array. Nevertheless, in scientific terms it will be as cool as it gets when it is completed. This radio telescope, made up of thousands of antennas in a collecting area of one square kilometre, is designed to capture images of deep space never seen before.

The telescope will be the world’s largest and most powerful, with its myriad of antennas - linked by high bandwidth optical fibre - capable of imaging objects in space … all the way back to the Big Bang. It will be 50 times as sensitive and 10,000 times faster than anything that exists at the moment.  

In terms of educating us about space, dark energy, black holes, and extra-terrestrial life, there has never been anything like it. The project, conceived in the 1990s and due for completion in 2023, has three precursor telescopes - two in Western Australia and one in South Africa. The two in WA - called the Murchison Widefield Array - have been operational for two years. The SKA will be about 100 times bigger than the MWA and will be built on the same site in the WA desert. To do their job they need phenomenal computer power and very fast connections. That’s because radio waves produce digital data that have to be converted by computer into images. And for that, the MWA has a special relationship with the National Broadband Network.

“The NBN plays a central role in what we do,” says Professor Steven Tingay, director of the MWA. Not only is our service over the NBN critical to carry the raw material that, after analysis, will take our knowledge of the universe to the next level, but it is also is at the forefront of the next big challenge for big businesses - crunching big data.

In two years the MWA project has produced a colossal four petabytes of data - that’s one million gigabytes or the equivalent of over 5,700 hours of full HD video, and 50 scientific papers. 

“It’s a massive amount of data and we need to get that out of the middle of the desert to somewhere where we can process it in a timely fashion,” says Professor Tingay.

With at least 11 countries behind the project - Australia, New Zealand, Britain, China, South Africa, Sweden, Italy, Canada, India, Germany, and The Netherlands - there’s a great deal of data to share and analyse on the way to SKA’s target completion date.

The CSIRO has built a dedicated fibre optic line to deliver data at a blistering speed from Murchison to Geraldton, some 300 kilometres to the south. But NBN Co took over from there, laying more than 400 kilometres of fibre optics to deliver the mass of data to the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre in Perth.

“Without the NBN we would not get our data out,” says Professor Tingay.

The antennae and “tiles” that make up the MWA are scattered over 1.5 kilometres under clear desert skies, peering into deep space and “seeing”, for the first time, astonishing events.

“The MWA is leading the way. It’s early days but we are fully operational and we’re starting to see things we’ve never seen before,” says Professor Tingay.

“We’ve seen galaxies in the process of being born; we’ve seen galaxies in the process of dying, so we are seeing the full life cycle of galaxies for the first time.”

The MWA telescopes are also able to probe in great detail the immediate environment of Earth.  Its radio signals produce huge amounts of data which is then converted by computer to images. At the moment physics doesn’t have an understanding of what makes up 95 percent of the universe, says Professor Tingay. But SKA will aim to solve, among other things, the mysteries of dark energy and “the cradle of life”, including whether there’s extra-terrestrial intelligence out there. So, even though it’s early days in this multi-billion-dollar global quest to crack some of the toughest nuts in science, does he think we will be able to answer the question of whether we are alone in the universe?

“Life can exist anywhere energy can be transferred,” he says. “There are billions upon billions of stars, and billions and billions of galaxies. It would be ridiculous to think we are the only self-replicating conscious life force.

“I suspect that life is probably pretty common in the universe.”

ASKAP dishes (background right) will be located in Western Australia. The mid frequency aperture array stations (bottom left), SKA-mid dishes and precursor MeerKAT dishes (background left) will be located in South Africa, with some remote stations in other African partner countries. Credit: SKA Organisation

Did you know?

  • SKA central computer will have the processing power of 100 million PCs
  • It’s so sensitive it can detect airport radar on planets tens of light years away
  • Data collected in a day would take nearly 2 million years to play back on an iPod
  • SKA dishes will produce 10 times the world’s internet traffic
  • SKA uses enough optical fibre to wrap twice around the Earth
  • SKA radio telescope will be 10,000 times faster than any existing radio telescopes  
  • It will be 50 times as sensitive as the best existing radio telescopes
  • It “sees” through gas, dust and clouds
  • It will ‘see’ back to the Big Bang
  • It can see thousands of galaxies in one image

Source: SKA

Celebrate Geraldton goes Wajarri on 1 April

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On Wednesday 1 April you are invited to celebrate the success of the Geraldton goes Wajarri project at an event which will feature the live release of the Geraldton goes Wajarri song, composed for the project by Darcy Hay (songwriter, musician), Vincent Jones (musician and Wajarri speaker) and Edie Maher (Wajarri teacher). 

Hosted by CityHive Pollinators and master of ceremonies Wajarri elder Leonie Boddington, the event will also showcase three films produced about the project, and celebrate the over 170 people who have adopted a Wajarri word to date. 

Please join us, celebrate with us, have a drink and don’t forget: If you adopted a Wajarri-word, please wear your T-shirt! 

A big thank you to Pollinators for providing a venue for the event, and to the local butcher Mick Davey who will supply our party with sausages.

Hope to see you all at the party so we could celebrate and sing together!

Celebrate Geraldton goes Wajarri!

Live Release of the Geraldton goes Wajarri Song and film screening
1 April 2015, 6 pm, CityHive, Pollinators, 184 Marine Terrace 

Images and video of storm that hit Geraldton yesterday

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A ute was washed away, trees were knocked over, sheds relocated, flash flooding, trampolines went visiting the neighbours and hailstones broke windows. 

The storm that hit Geraldton and surrounds today came in a fury. Fortunately much of town was spared the brunt of the storm, with some suburbs getting not a breath of wind or a drop of rain. But those that were hit were hit hard. 

Here are some of the images and videos shared with Everything Geraldton. 

Thought you might like to see a photo of my father in laws work ute... Washed down by flash flooding on the Port Gregory road - Kate

AJ shared these 5 from Moresby. 

Creepy cloud before hail came down - Claire

Claire also shared this one of the trampoline that was relocated and redesigned by today's wind. 

Deepdale - Gale force winds from today's storm. Sent in by Sheila.

Tenille shared this video of a tree getting hammered in the winds... and the pictures of it afterwards. 

Storm 1
Tree 0

Emma shared this one. 

Hayden shared these - "We have a new tree! Drummonds"

Fallon shared this one just as the storm came in. 

A couple from a distance shared by Alice. 

Storm in Drummond Cove shared by Aaron. "My view from Drummonds this afternoon.."

This photo was taken at 10pm 26/03/2015 from Waggrakine. - Keith

Bec shared this video of the hail falling and bouncing.

Emma shared this one: "Well that was unexpected!"

This was taken in waggy not as bad as some places - Sara

Hail Storm Hits Drummond Cove at 3.50pm Thursday 26th March. - Sharon

Waggrakine - shared by Lawrence

Hail storm taken Sutcliffe Rd North waggrakine - Bindii Bindii

Bindii Bindii

"Bit of Hail" - Aric

Wet out in Moresby with nice sized hail - Tackleworld Geraldton

Look what the storm left for us, a beautiful double rainbow - Tania

Michelle nearly scored a shed... "At least it was locked."

"Drummonds this arvo..." Elise

Dave shared this great image of the storm rolling in. 

We just lost one (tree). - Natalie

Jason shows some large hail. 

Lizy posted this one. 

We had a mini cyclone on top of that in sunset lost half our Poinciana tree - Beth

Paula posted this one. 

Ben shared this one of the hail.

Skye posted this one from Moonyoonooka.

Amanda posted this one of her fence in Drummond Cove

"Incoming" - Cherie

Tarcoola Beach flooding - Kathleen Williams

Kathryn - The sump next door to our house in Wahn Avenue, this was after about 15 mins

Kathryn - And Wahn Avenue itself, first time it has flooded in the 7.5 years we've been on the street

Allira - "The neighbour's trampoline"

Drummonds getting hammered.

Posted by Everything Geraldton on Thursday, March 26, 2015