1. Rain affected towns in Victoria are holding council meetings to prepare for even more rain, with a band on the north east of the state set to hit again.
2. A review of lifestock farming has found that the biggest concerns for animal welfare are forcing premature births in dairy cows, docking heifers’ tails & mulesing sheep. They are looking to balance the benefits and risks of each.
3. A recent survey found that the 128,000 Australian farm businesses feed approximately 60 million people worldwide, including 24 million Australians. That a total of about 1% of the entire world being fed with Australian-farmed produce.
4. Contestants of the show Farmer Wants A Wife have said that the show ‘ruined their life’, with one farmer hospitalised after struggling to cope with the experience.
5. A bomb that went of in a rich New York neighbourhood, injuring 29 people, is being considered an ‘act of terror’ but has not been connected with ISIS.
6. Bourke, NSW has one of the highest rates of crime in Australia. To combat this problem, they are aiming to spend more money on community-building, rather than the prisons and correctional facilities that are most often employed to solve the problem.
7. The Port of Melbourne has been sold by the Victorian government for $9.7 billion – most of it will go towards improving public transport but $200 million will go to a rural jobs fund.
8. Calls have been made to ban the ATA 5-shot semi-automatic shotgun after a farmer suffered brain damage when his gun exploded sideways during routine shooting.
9. A Brisbane bug breeder is selling predator mites that kill smaller mites that damage strawberry crops and have an immunity to chemical pesticides.
10. A farmer in WA is using a drone that emits bird of prey noises from a speaker to scare birds away from his crops.
Ten of the Most Impressive Public Buildings in the World
-
1. The Beehive, New Zealand.
The executive wing of the New Zealand government are housed in this impressive building, which echoes Aztec towers and Roman colosseums.
2. The National Museum of African American History.
Three stories of this confronting building are above ground – another three are below ground. The dark, rusty exterior echo the contents; hard to adjust to but demanding respect.
3. The Vennesla Public library.
This excellent little house for books is situated right in the middle of the city, becoming a meeting place for civilians and a space for thought.
4. Thurgood Marshall Judiciary Building, USA.
A balance between modern and traditional, the glass update to this building reminds its occupants of the idea that progress is built on tradition.
5. Romanian Parliament, Bucharest.
One of the largest & most expensive single government building ever built.
6. Port House, Antwerp.
This strange, futuristic spaceship-like structure was built onto an existing but defunct fire station. The building now houses the local Port Authority – a collection of government offices in a surprisingly exuberant building.
7. The LiYuan Library, China.
Made of natural materials, this beautifully harmonious building has no electricity supply, so it closes at dusk, when it gets too dark to read.
8. Government House, Azerbaijan.
A slab-like castle, this is another example of a government building that aims to impose itself upon passers-by and cast an air of timelessness.
9. Finnish National Parliament, Helsinki.
This intimidating slab of a building houses the Finnish parliament. Daunting, sturdy, solid, ungiving.
10. Toyko Metropolitan Government building.
Unique because of its sheer size and lack of restraint, this building is not what you’d expect from sleepy government organisations.
WATCH: Aerial Drone Footage of our buildings.
CONNECT: Central Steel Build on Facebook.
The Eleven Biggest Mistakes When Buying Your First Horse
-
1. Buying a rescue horse.
Although rescuing a horse is excellent, this is usually more appropriate for an experienced rider. Rescue horses can be anxious and difficult – many of them have come from abusive or uncomfortable situations. This makes them difficult to rider, especially for new riders.
-
2. Not getting a vet check.
This is super important. All horses will have certain issues, but you need to be aware of what they are and whether they will affect your intended riding goals.
-
3. Not cantering the horse.
A good tip for buying a new horse is to ask the current owner to get it to canter it. Cantering isn’t as natural as trotting or walking, so you can see how well the horse has been trained and how tolerant it is.
-
4. Not considering your riding goals.
You might meet a beautiful horse, but if it hasn’t had experience in your riding discipline, there isn’t much point buying it.
Make sure your horse is a match with how you intend to ride it.
-
5. Purchasing a wild horse.
Some people like the idea of breaking and taming their own horse. For obvious reasons, this is enormously challenging and should be done by a professional.
-
6. Rushing into a purchase decision.
It might be work considering leasing a horse for a while. That way, you can get a sense for what horse ownership is like. Most sellers will be happy to make an arrangement along these lines.
-
7. Buying a young horse.
Young horses (under the age of 2) are generally cheaper, but aren’t always suitable for people with little riding experience. They require more training, and this shouldn’t be part of your first-time horse experience.
-
8. Not considering your riding style.
By ‘riding style’ I mean the energy of your horse and the energy of the rider. If you’re a calm, collected rider, you may fit well with a horse with a bit more energy. But if you’re an energetic, excitable rider, you should be looking for a calmer horse.
-
9. Underestimating the importance of a good nature.
If it’s your first horse, you definitely need one that won’t react against your mistakes. Some horses can be very touchy, so they get frustrated by mistakes made by novice riders.
-
10. Buying a horse without visiting it first.
Some people get very excited by online horse sales and make a purchase without visiting the horse first. This is a huge mistake. You should aim to maximise the time you spend with a horse before you make the decision to buy it.
-
11. Buying a very advanced horse.
A highly trained horse can appeal to people that think the skill of the horse will make them ride better. But highly trained horses need highly skilled riders. If you’re a new rider, a highly skilled horses will likely end up in frustration for you and your horse.
DOWNLOAD: Ideas & inspiration for your own indoor arena.
READ MORE: How much it costs to build an indoor arena.
