Incidents of domestic violence are likely to remain constant in Wollongong despite fears they would rise as a result of COVID-19. NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data for March 2020 showed no evidence of an increase in domestic violence in NSW since social distancing was implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The police recorded crime data showed incidents of domestic violence-related assault in March 2020 are equivalent to those for March 2019. Domestic violence rates per 100,000 population have historically remained lower in Wollongong than the rate for NSW. In other words, incidents of domestic violence…
Author: Mia Hull
The AFL has ordered every player and official in the competition to get tested for COVID-19 by Friday in the hope of resuming training as early as Monday. The mandatory coronavirus tests come as part of the AFL’s return-to-play plan, which is still being finalised. The AFL is expected to announce the competition will resume in June. AFL South Coast clubs are not required to get tested for COVID-19, but Shellharbour City Suns President Steve Ashworth said he would welcome the tests at a local level. “In any sport, you’re only one confirmed case away from the competition being cancelled,”…
Video conferencing application Zoom has emerged as a popular means of communication during the coronavirus pandemic. The rise of Zoom has been accompanied by the rise of ‘Zoom-bombing’; this is when strangers join Zoom conferences. While particular instances of ‘Zoom-bombing’ might be considered humorous, some parties partake in the practice with the intention of hijacking conferences with pornographic imagery, threats, and profanity, as well as accessing confidential information. Zoom users are cautioned about sharing their meeting identification numbers on social media to avoid this happening. Furthermore, users have been advised to not discuss sensitive material via Zoom, because it is…
Ancient methods have been used to calm troubled waters during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Illawarra business operators. Yoga and eastern breathing practices have emerged as tools for stress management during the pandemic, and local instructors say people have accessed their classes remotely while social distancing. Beach Shack yoga instructor Kate Kilby tailors her practice to assist people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as other stress related issues. Ms Kilby said the coronavirus pandemic has led more people to access her online classes. “I actually moved my class to online pretty early on, and I’ve had a few…
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has warned the state’s tough coronavirus travel restrictions will continue over the Easter long weekend. The caution comes after Commissioner Fuller revealed last week that social distancing laws would allow police to issue on-the-spot $1000 fines for breaches. “Over the next couple of days NSW police will be out on our roads making sure that people adhere to the order around the Easter holidays,” Commissioner Fuller said He said said police would issue fines to travellers on NSW roads as well as those staying in caravan parks. “We will be going through caravan parks early,…
The University of Wollongong is adopting new technology designed to repurpose plastic waste for 3D printers. The university’s Makerspace club is behind the project, and its members hope the new approach to recycling will reduce plastic pollution in the Wollongong. “We’re kind of moulding it after an initiative called Precious Plastics. It’s sort of a grass roots project designed to take all different types of plastic and melt them down and make something cool out of them,” Makerspace assistant Clancy Carr said. “Either repurposing it as 3D printing filaments, or maybe using it as part of a mould to create…
As the record-breaking drought continues, beer has emerged as an unexpected helper to Australian farmers. Not the beer itself, but the by-product of brewing it, has proved useful as feed to cattle. With the price of hay surging to more than $400 per tonne in the past six months, farmers are turning to citrus peels and other alternatives to supplement the diet of their livestock. In the process of making beer, heat is applied to grains, such as barley and wheat, to extract sugar. What’s left over is a porridge-like mixture that is helping feed Australian cattle. https://youtu.be/Xko3_W10-lc