May 12 - 18, 2013: Issue 110
From this Issue (110) this page will be for people who are 13+ to ...? Younger people now have their own page Children. This way we can bring you news you more focused on where you're at now! Doesn't mean you can't still look at the page for younger folk...and all the fun stuff we're bringing them! ECO. Clean Beach Initiative
Simply send us a video or Instagram us with pictures of you cleaning up your local beach, protecting your local wildlife or hosting your own ECO. Clean Beach Initiative fundraiser with your friends and family. The person that shows the most initiative will become the face of our campaign so get up, get outside and start showing us why you’re Australia’s greatest ECO. Warrior now! A LED surfboards from Bilton Custom Surfboards so much that we're getting the team to create a special ECO. Clean Beach board for the winner of our Find our Face competition. For your chance to win, send us a video of how you're helping to keep our beaches clean. Visit www.ecocleanbeach.com for more details. Facebook Page.
Youth Events FANTASTICAL TALES Young adult fantasy is riding high. The benefit for writers and their publishers is that the genre crosses the generation gap, reaching large audiences. Kate Forsyth, S.D. Gentill and K.B. Hoyle speak with Judith Ridge about listening to our inner child and our desire to read fantastical tales as adults and children. Supported by The Writer's Coffee Shop (TWCS). Sunday May 26, 10-11am, Philharmonia Studio. Free, no bookings. FUN AND GAMES WITH LIBBA AND JUSTINE Venture inside the dark, supernatural underbelly of 1920s New York with Libba Bray’s The Diviners, and the strange world of vampire dating with Justine Larbalestier’s Team Human. Libba is a New York Times bestselling author and recipient of the Michael L. Printz award for excellence in young adult literature. Justine is an award-winning Australian YA and fantasy author. Her last book, Liar, won the WA Premier’s Book Award and the YA Sisters in Crime Davitt Award. Both authors discuss their work and what it’s like to make stuff up for a living, with US literary agent, Barry Goldblatt. Sunday May 26, 10-11am, Pier 2/3 Club Stage. Free, no bookings. STORYTELLING FOR YOUNG AND OLD: PATRICK NESS AND CARLOS RUIZ ZAFÓN Patrick Ness and Carlos Ruiz Zafón started their writing careers publishing novels tagged as ‘young adult’. But the line between adult and young adult fiction is now blurred. Join them as they discuss their books with Judith Ridge, and ponder whether storytelling transcends age limitations. Sunday May 26, 11.30am - 12.30pm, Pier 2/3 Club Stage. Free, no bookings See more at: http://www.swf.org.au/kids-events/  Get Smarter in your Spare Time - ONLINE ! Yale, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, and many other universities including some in Australia have introduced free open courses in subjects like physics, biology, and chemistry. In many cases, there is a semester’s worth of recorded lectures, along with exams to test your knowledge. If you have ever wanted an Ivy League science education, here’s your chance! Complete list here: http://bit.ly/10OPhfE Get free online courses from the world’s leading universities. This collection includes over 700 free courses in the liberal arts and sciences. Download these audio & video courses straight to your computer or mp3 player. Note: you can find a new collection of certificate-bearing courses here. Cyberbullying Rampant Among High School Students: Nearly One-Third of Youths Also Report Playing Video/Computer Games for More Than 3 Hours a Day May 5, 2013 — Step into a class of 30 high school students and look around. Five of them have been victims of electronic bullying in the past year. What's more, 10 of those students spend three or more hours on an average school day playing video games or using a computer for something other than school work, according to a study to be presented Sunday, May 5, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC. This American study is worth taking note of as similar experiences occur here. "Electronic bullying of high school students threatens the self-esteem, emotional well-being and social standing of youth at a very vulnerable stage of their development," said study author Andrew Adesman, MD, FAAP, chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York. "Although teenagers generally embrace being connected to the Web and each other 24/7, we must recognize that these new technologies carry with them the potential to traumatize youth in new and different ways." The researchers analyzed data from the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 15,425 public and private high school students. The school response rate was 81 percent, and the student response rate was 87 percent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts the survey on a nationally representative sample of high schoolers every two years to monitor six types of health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability and social problems among U.S. youths. For the first time, the 2011 survey asked students whether they had been a victim of electronic bullying in the past 12 months, including through email, chat rooms, instant messaging, websites and texting. They also were asked how many hours they play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work. Results showed: One in six high school students (16.2 percent) reported being electronically bullied within the past 12 months. Girls were more than twice as likely to report being a victim of cyberbullying than boys (22.1 percent vs. 10.8 percent). Whites reported being the victim of cyberbullying more than twice as frequently as blacks. "Electronic bullying is a very real yet silent danger that may be traumatizing children and teens without parental knowledge and has the potential to lead to devastating consequences," said principal investigator Karen Ginsburg, also at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York. "By identifying groups at higher risk for electronic bullying, it is hoped that targeted awareness and prevention strategies can be put in place." The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Academy of Pediatrics Oldest? New 'Bone-Head' Dinosaur Hints at Higher Diversity of Small Dinosaurs May 7, 2013 — Scientists have named a new species of bone-headed dinosaur (pachycephalosaur) from Alberta, Canada. Acrotholus audeti (Ack-RHO-tho-LUS) was identified from both recently discovered and historically collected fossils. Approximately six feet long and weighing about 40 kilograms in life, the newly identified plant-eating dinosaur represents the oldest bone-headed dinosaur in North America, and possibly the world. Dr. Michael Ryan, curator of vertebrate paleontology at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, co-authored research describing the new species, which was published May 7, 2013 in the journal Nature Communications. Acrotholus means "high dome," referring to its dome-shaped skull, which is composed of solid bone over 10 centimeters (two inches) thick. The name Acrotholus audeti also honors Alberta rancher Roy Audet, on whose land the best specimen was discovered in 2008. Acrotholus walked on two legs and had a greatly thickened, domed skull above its eyes, which was used for display to other members of its species, and may have also been used in head-butting contests. Acrotholus lived about 85 million years ago. The new dinosaur discovery is based on two skull 'caps' from the Milk River Formation of southern Alberta. One of these was collected by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) more than 50 years ago. However, a better specimen was found in 2008 by University of Toronto graduate student Caleb Brown during a field expedition organized by Dr. David Evans of the Royal Ontario Museum and University of Toronto, and Ryan. "Acrotholus provides a wealth of new information on the evolution of bone-headed dinosaurs. Although it is one of the earliest known members this group, its thickened skull dome is surprisingly well-developed for its geological age," said lead author Evans, ROM curator, vertebrate palaeontology. "More importantly, the unique fossil record of these animals suggests that we are only beginning to understand the diversity of small-bodied plant-eating dinosaurs." Small mammals and reptiles can be very diverse and abundant in modern ecosystems, but small dinosaurs (less than 100 kg) are considerably less common than large ones in the fossil record. Whether this pattern is a true reflection of dinosaur communities, or is related to the greater potential for small bones to be destroyed by carnivores and natural decay, has been debated. The massively constructed skull domes of pachycephalosaurs are resistant to destruction, and are much more common than their relatively delicate skeletons - which resemble those of other small plant-eating dinosaurs. Therefore, the researchers suggest that the pachycephalosaur fossil record can provide valuable insights into the diversity of small, plant-eating dinosaurs as a whole. David C. Evans, Ryan K. Schott, Derek W. Larson, Caleb M. Brown, Michael J. Ryan. The oldest North American pachycephalosaurid and the hidden diversity of small-bodied ornithischian dinosaurs. Nature Communications, 2013; 4: 1828 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2749 Picture: Life reconstruction of Acrotholus audeti in its environment. (Credit: © Julius Csotonyi)  National Youth Awards The Federal Government will be holding the first National Youth Awards in August to recognise and celebrate young people as well as promote the important contribution they make to the nation. Minister for Youth Peter Garrett said young people are one of the most important assets any nation has. "Our young people are the leaders of tomorrow. When I visit a school or meet with young people, I am blown away by how engaged and enthusiastic they are,” Mr Garrett said. "These new National Youth Awards aim to recognise the dedication young people have and how they are making a difference in their communities. Importantly, these awards will be designed by young Australians for their peers.” The Australian Government Office for Youth will consult with the National Planning Group and other young Australians to gather feedback and ideas about how the awards should be run. Applications will open end of May with categories and further information released following consultation. The Planning Group is made up of young people from every state and territory, including an Australian Government representative and an Australian Government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative. All 10 members have been working with their local youth groups and councils to promote this year’s National Youth Week and will now help to plan the awards. Stay tuned for further details on this site in coming weeks. Mona Vale Library - Duke of Edinburgh Awards During term times, Mona Vale Library accepts students completing the volunteering component of their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. There are jobs available for the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of the Scheme. Students who wish to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh program at the library need to be prepared to commit one hour per week during school terms for however many weeks they need to complete. Hours can be made up only in rare circumstances. Details HERE. The Internet allows us to store and access Old Books, Films and photos that may not be accessible elsewhere. For works now archived and available to all, please visit: http://www.archive.org/ The Project Gutenberg Library of Australiana Australian writers, works about Australia and works which may be of interest to Australians.This Australiana page boasts many ebooks by Australian writers, or books about Australia. There is a diverse range; from the journals of the land and sea explorers; to the early accounts of white settlement in Australia; to the fiction of 'Banjo' Paterson, Henry Lawson and many other Australian writers. The list of titles form part of the huge collection of ebooks freely downloadable from Project Gutenberg Australia. Follow the links to read more about the authors and titles and to read and/or download the ebooks. This website has many different items and guidelines on how to deal with bullying. If you can't find it there, ask someone in school or talk to mum and dad. Make sure you are heard. We are here to lift each other up, not tear each other down. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is wrong. Manly Youth Centre Kangaroo Street is bringing back more band nights. The amazing talent on the northern beaches needs to be heard. The first will be on the 17th May .An outstanding line up of heavy metal hard core bands. They will kick start the Kangaroo Street venue. It will be a night not to be missed. The line up will be released later this week. If you are an rock band or acoustic act and you would like to be part of the Kangaroo Street Music nights please email - Jennifer.beaches@hotmail.com  New Facebook Page for young bands on the Northern Beaches - it has info about upcoming gigs, and if you play in a band you can list your gigs on it! Keep in the loop and support local bands! Northern Beaches Youth Bands at: www.facebook.com/pages/Northern-Beaches-Youth-Bands/347121408731758
The Line
Do you need information on respectful relationships and where to draw The Line? Explore The Line website: www.australia.gov.au/theline If you need help or would like to talk to someone call: 1800 MYLINE (1800 695 463) to talk confidentially and for free with a trained counsellor Bus Pass Replacement Powerhouse Museum Online Fun
An example: This online skittles game is based on a Victorian table game of skittles, c. 1880, made of wood and coloured paper, from the Powerhouse Museum's collection (object number A7575). Games which combined an element of chance while developing hand-eye coordination were very popular as family entertainment during the later part of the 19th and early 20th century. More HERE   Send In Your Stuff Pittwater Online News is not only For and About you, it is also BY you. We cannot publish swearing or the maligning of others (this is the opposite of what we stand for). If you have a poem, story or something you want to see addressed, let us know or send to: pittwateronlinenews@live.com.au All are Welcome, All Belong ! |
Zoe Elliot with Lincoln Smith - Black Dog from SongwritersLiveAust - Published on 7 May 2013 Zoe Elliot with Lincoln Smith - Black Dog, at Songwriters Live, live at the Old Manly Boatshed, Sydney. Songwriters Live Australia is a series of live music events showcasing emerging singer songwriters based in Sydney. Find out more at: /www.songwriterslive.com.au/index_flash.php  Triple your Jays hottest 100 over 20 years - Voting opens MAY 14. see: www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/alltime/20years/
PITTWATER SHORT STORY COMPETITION Pittwater residents with a flair for writing are invited to enter the 2013 Pittwater Short Story competition. The competition which is run by Mona Vale Library and Berkelouw Books is open to children as well as adults and asks participants to write a short story that is identifiably located in the Pittwater area. Mona Vale Library Manager Cathy Howie said to give entries a distinctive Pittwater feel, they must incorporate a reference to ‘sandy feet’. “The competition is open to three age groups, including 9 to 12 years, 13 to 16 years and an open age group,” said Ms Howie. “The word limit of the short story varies depending on the age category, with 9-12 year olds needing to submit no more than 500 words; 13-16 years a maximum of 1000 words and no more than 2000 words for the open age category.” Prizes will be awarded in the three age categories, with book vouchers on offer of up to $300 in the open category. The competition is now open with entries closing on 7 June. Entries should be submitted in hard copy only. Entry forms are available at Mona Vale Library and Berkelouw Books or can be downloaded online. All entries must be accompanied by an entry form. For more information about the competition and to download an entry form visit www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/library Workshop for parents and supervisors of learner drivers 28th May 2013, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Designed for parents and supervisors of learner drivers. The Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers workshops are designed for parents and supervisors of learner drivers. The free 2 hour workshop provides practical advice on how to conduct effective driving lessons. The course, developed by the RMS assists parents and supervisors of learner drivers with the important role of advising and teaching novice drivers. The course covers topics such as new laws for learner and P-plate drivers, how to use a Learner Driver Log Book, how to plan on road driving sessions, how to deal with difficulties that may arise during driving practice and the importance of giving the learner constructive feedback. The amount of time that young drivers spend on the road is very important. Lack of experience in dealing with a variety of situations is the main reason new drivers have more accidents. Supervision from a safe and skilled driver can help make learning to drive a positive, safe and fun experience for young learners. Bookings are essential and can be made by contacting the road safety officer at michelle_carter@pittwater.nsw.gov.au or 9970 1196. Author Talks at Mona Vale Library - Andrew Tink
FREE FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS Venue: Mona Vale Library. Contact Name: Catherine Buddin - 9970 1605. Email: catherine_buddin@pittwater.nsw.gov.au Youngbloods Contest - 2013 It's on again. Check the Youngbloods Facebook page for all details on where and when heats may still be available. The Youngbloods Contest is a major event leading up to the Northern Beaches Music Festival. It encompasses 4 great venues over the breadth of the Northern Beaches, between Tue 16 April and Thu 16 May, culminating in a spectacular final at the Festival itself on Fri 17 May and Sat 18 May. The Contest is organised by SongsOnStage. On each night 6 contestants will get 25 minutes to perform up to 6 songs, originals and/or covers, to win the votes of the crowd and the judges - it is all about the performance! There will also be time before and after the contest for any performers who want an opportunity to play but not to compete. About Northern Beaches Music Festival This three day annual festival will be held from 17 - 19 May 2013 atBerry Reserve Narrabeen, a beautiful lakeside location on northern beaches of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. This festival is arranged by four local music venues along the northern beaches peninsula including The Shack (Narrabeen), Humph Hall (Allambie), Fairlight Folk and Manly Fig who come together as part of an alliance to promote and program the festival for northern beaches audiences. The Northern Beaches Music Festival Committee's objectives are: • To promote, support and present music and performing arts to the northern beaches local community • To foster and promote new venues, spaces and opportunities for musicians and performing artists on the northern beaches. Artists perform to appreciative audiences at Berry Reserve Narrabeen, a lakeside performance space with a creative atmosphere and dynamic music program. The Festival is promoted widely throughout Australia and attracts performers of high quality from all over Australia. www.northernbeachesmusicfestival.org/. About SongsOnStage SongsOnStage has been running Contests and Showcases for 5 years, in the pubs and clubs of Sydney, up to the Central Coast, out to the Blue Mountains and down to the Illawarra! The organisation’s aim is to promote live music and highlight the amazing songwriters and performers whose talent is just waiting for a chance to be seen and heard. Different walks of life, same goal: Stay Smart Online
National Cyber Security Awareness Week this year brings together online butcher Jordo McHugh, web entrepreneur Bartek Marnane, cyber safety expert Leonie Smith, and technology advocate for seniors Nan Bosler OAM to spread the word about cyber security. The four will reach out across the country to remind Australians that the internet is a great resource for socialising, business and shopping – but you need to ensure you’re doing everything you can to protect personal and financial information online. The team will encourage people to get the best from tools including the Federal Government’s Stay Smart Online Alert Service; a service that informs users about recent online threats and provides solutions that help to manage risks. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Abul Rizvi, said the ambassadors represented specific groups of Australians with an interest or concern about cyber security: small business owners and operators; families with older children; senior Australians; and younger people who are almost constantly online but exposed to considerable risk through their online behaviour. “The simple message we want to reinforce is the importance of being secure online, and we believe peers are the most influential when it comes to online behaviour,” said Mr Rizvi. “Our Stay Smart Online ambassadors come from all walks of life, and have great knowledge about technology and cyber security that they can pass on to others.” National Cyber Security Awareness Week is supported by nearly 1000 corporate, community and government sector partners who help to share the Federal Government’s top 10 tips to Stay Smart Online: Install and update your security software set it to scan regularly. Turn on automatic updates on all your software, particularly your operating system and applications. Use strong passwords and different passwords for different uses. Stop and think before you click on links and attachments. Take care when transacting online – research the supplier and use a safe payment method. Only download “apps” from reputable publishers and read all permission requests. Regularly check your privacy settings on social networking sites. Stop and think before you post any photos or financial information online. Talk with your child about staying safe online, including on their smart phone or mobile device. Report or talk to someone if you feel uncomfortable or threatened online – download the Government’s Cybersafety Help Button. Budd:e for secondary schools explores advanced cyber security topics, including: creating content, file sharing, pop-ups, privacy, sharing, scams, spam, spyware, malware, phishing, online transactions and computer viruses. Students can earn points answering questions to 'buy' parts and accessories to build a unique cyborg that can be used as an avatar on social networking sites.
National History Competition The Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth has announced the theme for 2013 “Legends, Fact and History”. Full details will be released in February! How to enter Complete and sign the entry form and the declaration. On the entry form you may also nominate each entry for one special category award. Print four (4) copies of your selected entries and entry form (for judging purposes). Submit your entries to your State Coordinator, as detailed below. Where to send your entries for NSW: Send to HTANSW, PO Box 219, ANNANDALE, NSW. 2038 Checklist When can I start? You can register for the 2012 NHC from February, 2013. The competition closes on Friday, August 30.From; http://historychallenge.org.au/contest-information/teachers-how-to-enter/
Click on Image to visit website. Love Food, Hate Waste Cookbook
Love food hate waste book: HERE
 Headspace ‘We’ve got your back’ campaign A groundbreaking national awareness campaign developed by National Youth Mental Health Foundation headspace aims to dramatically increase young Australians' awareness of everyday mental health issues affecting them and their friends. The campaign will run for the next 3 years. eheadspace is a confidential, free, anonymous, secure space where you can chat, email or speak with qualified youth mental health professionals if you are 12 to 25 years No charge for mobile phone calls to Lifeline from anywhere in Australia; Mobile phone calls to Lifeline made from anywhere in Australia will be free of charge from 1 July, 2012 under an agreement made between the three major phone carriers. Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards - 2013
The oldest and largest poetry competition for school aged children in Australia. The aim of the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards is to capture the imagination of school students across Australia, inspiring them with a passion for poetry and a love of country. It is a unique national project, giving Australia’s youth a voice and an opportunity to strive for excellence in literature. Categories and Prizes Lower Primary (Years K – 3): Upper Primary (Years 4 – 6, Inc. Year 7 in QLD, WA, SA) Junior Secondary (Years 7 – 9) Senior Secondary (Years 10 – 12) Community Relations Commission (NSW) Award Schools’ Award: For schools that demonstrate effort, achievement and a high standard of entries, awarded at the judges' discretion. |
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Getting Air - South Avalon - 7.5.2013       Photo of wave sequence by A J Guesdon, 2013. |
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The ECO. Clean Beach Initiative is looking for Australia’s most passionate ECO. Warrior to be the face of its movement! Interested? All you need to do is show us how you’re contributing to our fight against marine pollution.
Sydney Writers Festival 2013 – May 20-26
Official 
The Powerhouse Museum, besides offering great exhibits, also has a range of online activities and games with a bit of educational insight. 
Andrew Tink speaking about "Air Disaster Canberra. The Plane crash that destroyed a government".
What happens when you get a butcher, a tech-head, a ‘Cyber Safety Lady’ and a seriously Web-enabled grandmother into the same room? You get the team that’s leading the charge in helping Australian internet users to protect themselves online for National Cyber Security Awareness Week, 20 to 24 May 2013.
Our own Pittwater Council has joined with other councils in our area to produce an online cookbook especially for children. This ‘flipbook’ Program allows you to read through and get some great ideas on how to use leftover veggies to make great pasta or make mini pizza. Yum !
The Computer History Museum offers many online exhibits on a variety of topics related to the history of computing. The first 2000 years of Computers is 
The Awards - 2013 poetry competition dates: close 30 June