New Perth Zoo Additions are Otter-ly Cute

New Perth Zoo Additions are Otter-ly Cute

Four new members of the world's smallest otter species – the Asian small-clawed otter – have made their public debut at Perth Zoo.

Perth Zoo Chief Executive Susan Hunt said the tiny pups are part of an Australasian breeding program to help protect a wonderful species that is threatened in the wild.

"The otters at Perth Zoo have now had 16 otter pups which is four litters in the past two years.
"These latest pups are the third litter for parents Asia and Tuan," Ms Hunt said.

Asian small-clawed otters are highly social animals who pair for life. Males play a critical role rearing the pups, including nest building, swimming lessons and supplying food.
Older siblings also take a role in the care of new pups and two older sisters are currently helping rear the new babies.

The four pups were born on December 27 and recently started swimming lessons.

At this age, the pups are being carried out of the nest box and taken into the pool by the adults and then carried back inside again – but they will soon start venturing out by themselves.

The pups lined up for their first medical check on Monday by Perth Zoo veterinary staff to weigh, sex, microchip, vaccinate and examine their general health.

The vets identified two females and two males ranging in size from 520grams to 560grams.

Asian small-clawed otters weigh just 3.5kg when fully grown. They are native to parts of India, southern China, Malaysia and Indonesia.

10 Things to Do in Ipswich on the Weekend

1 A Day Out With Thomas

• The Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich

IT IS the final weekend to see Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends at The Workshops Rail Museum at North Ipswich and enjoy some circus-themed fun.

The iconic train has been at the museum since December 26, but will depart on Sunday.

Guests can meet the iconic train, the Fat Controller and friends of Thomas, build tracks in the Thomas Play Pit, take part in circus-inspired activities and much more.

The museum is open from 9.30am-5pm.

For more information phone 3432 5197 or visit theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au.

2 Movies in the Park

• Robelle Domain Parklands, Springfield
• Tonight, 6.30pm - 9pm

PACK a picnic and get outdoors with the family at a free outdoor screening of animation hit Despicable Me 2. The Movies in the Park event is part of a series of family films being shown in public venues during the next few months. The film - the sequel to 2010 film Despicable Me - is about reformed super villain Gru, who helps track down a super criminal who has developed a serum that turns people into evil monsters.

If cancelled owing to wet weather, movie will be rescheduled for February 8, same time and place. For more information, phone 3810 6666.

 

3 Fernvale Markets

• Fernvale State School Oval, Brisbane Valley Hwy
• Tomorrow, 6am - noon

THIS country-style market features homemade baked goods, fresh produce, arts and crafts and plants, second-hand goods and much more. Food and drinks are available on site and entry is free.

For more information, phone 5464 3863.

 

4 Springfield Organic Market

• Robelle Domain Parklands, Springfield
• Today, 7am - 1pm

THIS great community event held each Saturday is a destination for foodies, as there are stalls selling fresh organic and conventional produce. The markets also host local artists and designers selling unique handmade products. In addition to the shopping, the location of the markets is also pleasing as children can enjoy the shaded playground and water park and parents can relax at the nearby Robelle Cafe.

Entry is free and parking is available on site. For more information, visitorganicfoodmarkets.com.au.

 

5 Beach Party

• Swifts Sports Club, Booval
• Tonight, 7.30pm - 11pm

JUST Rock Ipswich is set to host a Beach Party Dance with a live musical performance from band Atmosphere.

The dance will be held upstairs at the club and all are welcome to attend.

Tickets are $12, or $10 for members, and are available at the door.

For more information, visit jri.com.au/ or phone 3389 8098.

 

6 Ipswich Cinemas

• Cinemas located across Ipswich
• All weekend, opening times vary

WITH Oscar best film contenders like The Wolf of Wall Street, 12 Years a Slave, Gravity and American Hustle out at the movies at the moment, why not head to one of Ipswich's new cinemas?

Reading Cinemas is located in Redbank Plaza Shopping Centre, Limelight Cinemas is located in Riverlink Shopping Centre, and Event Cinemas is located at the Ipswich Mall.

For more information, phone 3818 8044 (Reading), 1300 792 579 (Limelight) or 3281 8887 (Event).

 

7 Showplace Markets

• Ipswich Showgrounds, Warwick Rd
• Tomorrow, 6am - 11.30am

COME along to the Ipswich Showplace Markets held every Sunday.

There is a lot to see and browse.

A huge array of stalls offers tools, toys, clothing, home-wares, arts and crafts and much more.

You can even come and have some breakfast and grab yourself a coffee before you start to wander for some fantastic bargains.

For more information, phone 3281 1577. Onsite parking is available.

 

8 Park Run

• Catherine Morgan Park, Augustine Heights
• Today, 7am

SPRINGFIELD Park Run will take place with all walkers, runners and families invited to take part in the free, timed 5km event.

The runs take place each week in pleasant parkland surroundings.

Events are suitable for people of all ages and fitness abilities.

For more information or to register, visit parkrun.com.au

 

9 Choir Music Event

• Riverlink Shopping Centre, Nth IpswichToday, noon - 1pm

COME and enjoy the vocal harmonies of a variety of choirs from the Blackstone Ipswich Cambrian Choir.

The group will perform a variety of numbers, including Rivers of Babylon, What a Wonderful World and many more.

The performance will take place at the shopping centre's food court.

 

10 Splash out at Swim Centres

• Centres located across Ipswich
• All weekend, opening hours vary

BEAT the summer heat with a trip to one of Ipswich's popular swim centres.

A trip to the pool is more than just a swim these days.

Centres provide a number of facilities that make a trip to the swimming pool a full day outing.

The four centres include Goodna Aquatic Centre, the Rosewood Swim Centre, the Georgie Conway Leichhardt Community Swim Centre and the Bundamba Swim Centre.

For more information, phone 3381 8240 (Goodna), 5464 1246 (Rosewood), 3281 8743 (Leichhardt) or 3282 2801 (Bundamba).

SUNfest Encourages Youngsters to Try New Activities

SUNFEST is getting kids off the couch and encouraging them to be active with lots of sports available to try.

Last week kids at SUNfest got a chance to try out different sports including squash, abseiling, indoor rock climbing and skateboarding.

Week two of SUNfest is shaping up to be very active.

On Monday youths around the region tried their hands at water sports including: surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking in Seventeen Seventy.

Head to the hockey grounds for Hook in2 hockey, a program teaching kids the basic skills of hockey to get them involved in Gladstone's hockey scene.

If hockey isn't for you then head next door to the Gladstone tennis/squash complex to give tennis a go.

Or head to the Awoonga headwaters adventure day to learn more about the environment while swimming, walking and canoeing.

WHAT'S ON

TODAY

• PCYC master chef day.
• Summer Reading Club Craft Gladstone City Library. Time: 9.30am.
• SUNfest photography workshop at Canoe Point. Time: 9am-noon. Cost: $15.
• SUNfest hot shoes/flash mob dancin' in the street at St Stephens Lutheran College, Time: today and tomorrow 9am-3pm. Cost: $30.
• SUNfest Lil' Kids klay kreetures clay workshop at Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum. Time: 10am-noon. Cost: $10.
• SUNfest Lil' Kids wirework wildlife at Tondoon Botanic Gardens and Calliope Community Centre. Time: 10.30am-12.30pm (Gladstone), 2-4pm (Calliope).

TOMORROW

• PCYC Rockhampton Zoo excursion. Cost: $12 addition to standard day fee.
• Scrapbook Fantasies, 2pm cardmaking and 3.30pm scrapbooking.
• SUNfest Hook in2 Hockey, at Rigby Park. Time: 9am-noon. Cost: $6 (booked ticket).
• SUNfest recycled lanterns at PCYC. Time: tomorrow and Thursday 10am-3pm. Cost: $20 for both days.
• SUNfest Awoonga headwaters adventure day. Meet up at Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum. Time: 8am-5pm. Cost: $35 (booked ticket).
• Summer Reading Club Craft, Calliope and Agnes Water libraries 9.30am.

Lion King crowns Sydney capital of theater

SYDNEY, Dec. 14 (Xinhua)-- Opening this weekend to packed houses and civic excitement, the Lion King stage production has seemingly completed Sydney's ascension as the Asia-Pacific's capital of the stage musical.

Sydney's usually dour Taxis are painted as giant Simba Lions; children are dragging about lion soft-toys and even the local government has been keen to bathe in the warm glow of popularity that the latest in a string of international productions has created in Sydney.

The locally created production of one of the world's most popular stage musicals, The Lion King, opened its Australian exclusive run this week at Sydney's Capitol Theater, seemingly crowning Sydney as a major live performance capital of the world.

A thrilled State Minister for Tourism, Events and the Arts, George Souris, told Xinhua that the show would out perform even the most successful shows to have toured through Sydney in the last years -- and that includes world-beaters like Wicked and Phantom of the Opera.

"Fans of this phenomenally successful musical, from Sydney and across Australia, have welcomed The Lion King with open arms, resulting in record breaking ticket sales," he said.

The Minister's office anticipates that the Australian production entirely exclusive to Sydney - will generate about half a million ticket sales, with around 50,000 interstate and international patrons traveling to Sydney to see the show.

The State's tourism and events unit, Destination NSW, told Xinhua that the number of visitors alone means an injection of 28 million Australian dollars into the state economy.

The Disney organization anticipates that the cumulative economic impact to NSW will be about 100 million Australian dollars confirmation that the stage musical sector is booming and only likely to grow in the coming months.

That bodes well for the launch of the musical adaptation of one of Australia's most loved and iconic films Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom, which will hit the stage here next year.

The build-up to Strictly Ballroom's long-awaited arrival has reached fever pitch after delays have pushed back the opening night because of Luhrmann's constant tweaking of his Hollywood blockbuster The Great Gatsby; and an already packed stage calendar with the two Kings -- the King Kong musical in Melbourne, and Sydney's Lion King taking precedence.

When Strictly Ballroom was released, it gained 13 Australian Film Institute (AFI) nominations, winning eight categories.

The Lion King by comparison is an international blockbuster and the highest-grossing stage show in the world, with more than 70 million people having enjoyed the musical since its Broadway premiere in 1997.

The highly-regarded live show is the winner of more than 70 major international awards including, six Tony Awards in 1998 and a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album.

Sydney's Lion King is the 22nd production worldwide and the 10th production running concurrently, the highest number in the show's history.

Certainly, this is one of the biggest productions ever to open in Sydney and the capacity of these events to drive tourism, create jobs and grow the local economy is never missed by decision makers.

Now in its 16th year, The Lion King continues to reign as a cultural phenomenon and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world.

Since its Broadway premiere on Nov. 13, 1997, 21 global productions have been watched by more than 68 million people and, cumulatively, run a mind-boggling 96 years.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/entertainment/2013-12/14/c_132967855.htm

Carols Under the Bridge 2013

An authentic carols event beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge

One of Sydney's biggest and fastest growing Christmas events, Carols under the Bridge (that's the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in case you were wondering) is a relaxed carols event that's all about the festive season. There's no celebrity host, no showbiz singers, just music, food, activities for the kids, and 4000 fellow revellers.

Kids Stay FREE at Metro Apartments Darling Harbour

The event will take place on Saturday December 14 at Bradfield Park in Kirribilli. It's organised by the local Church by the Bridge, and co-presented with Anglicare, who will be running a stall and selling candles to raise money for their Christmas appeal.

Two concerts will be taking place over the course of the day. The first will start at 5.00pm, with performances from Dave Halls Band, who are a seven-piece jazz band. While they are playing, there will be face-painting and games for the kids.

Children are encouraged to attend the event

At 7.30pm the more traditional Christmas carols concert will begin. It will run until 9.00 and everyone is encouraged to sing along to classic carols like Silent Night, The First Noël and O Holy Night. Free songbooks can be collected as you arrive.

Throughout the evening there will be food stalls selling all sorts of beverages, snacks and meals on the Milsons Point side of the event. You may also choose to get something to eat at one of the local cafes and restaurants.

If you're thinking of attending this year's Carols Under the Bridge, public transport is the recommended way of getting there, as the thousands of people who are expected to attend should make your chance of finding a place to park your car pretty slim.

Tyrannosaurs Exhibition - Australian Museum Sydney

Tyrannosaurs' is the first exhibition in the world to shine a light on this legendary dinosaur family. If you thought you knew tyrannosaurs, guess again. 

While the most famous member of this family was the mighty T-Rex, tyrannosaurs come in all shape and sizes, including Guanlong, the 'Crown Dragon' and the diminutive Dilong, the 'emperor dragon', with a skeleton that is only 1m long. 

With fossil specimens from China and North America that have never been seen in Australia and stunning life sized skeletons and models, Tyrannosaurs tells the story of this celebrated dinosaur family in a completely new way. Using cutting edge technology, 

Tyrannosaurs is the first exhibition in Australia to feature augmented reality, and hands on and multimedia experiences that will engage and excite children and adults alike. 

Tyrannosaurs tells the story of this celebrated dinosaur family in a completely new way. Using 'cutting-edge' technology, augmented reality, hands-on and multimedia experiences that will engage and excite children and adults alike.

Don't be late. Book now! Exclusive to Sydney for a limited time at the Australian Museum! Stay and see packages from $86*per person per night
From prices based on twin share midweek ticket   at 3-star property. Prices cannot be guaranteed.

Exhibition from: Sunday 23 November 2013 - Sunday 27 July 2014
Block out day applies for Christmas Day.

Don't be late. Book now! Exclusive to Sydney for a limited time at the Australian Museum!

For more information: tyrannosaurs.com.au

Where:

Australian Museum

6 College StreetSydney, 

NSW  2000 

tyrannosaurs.com.au 

Phone: (02) 9320 6000

Santa Delivers Festive Spirit to Ipswich

Santa has a chat on Saturday with excited youngsters Blaise and Corey Wyatt.

SANTA Claus made a spectacular arrival in Ipswich aboard his sleigh, pulled by real-life reindeer Vixen and Cupid. 

Hundreds of shoppers turned out to welcome Santa and Mrs Claus as they weaved their way through the Riverlink shopping centre on Saturday. 

Their arrival was celebrated with a magical parade featuring fairies, angels on roller-skates, a gingerbread man, elves and carollers. 

Families lined the aisles as the procession made its way around the centre before concluding at the Gasometer area outside Cold Rock, where children were able to pet Vixen and Cupid and the other baby reindeer. 

The parade was complemented by a Christmas elves song and dance stage show, face painting, craft demonstrations and Christmas carols. 

HO, HO, HO: Santa with his helpers and reindeer tour Riverlink Shopping Centre on Saturday

Riverlink marketing manager Robyn Bannister-Tyrrell said Santa's arrival was well received by customers.

"We wanted to get shoppers into the Christmas spirit and enjoying themselves while doing their Christmas shopping," Mrs Bannister-Tyrrell said 

She said Santa's arrival would be followed by a series of family fun and entertainment events, including carollers and visits from the man in red in the lead-up to Christmas. 


Children will be able to have their photo taken with Santa daily in the East Mall, near Medicare, until December 24.