Silo artists featured on stamps
The latest commemorative stamp issue from Australia Post features the towns, businesses and artists who have created iconic art on silos across regional Australia.
The silo art featured on the four domestic base-rate ($1) stamps are: Guido Van Helten, Brim (Victoria); Drapl and The Zookeeper, Thallon (Queensland); Amok Island, Ravensthorpe (Western Australia); and Heesco Khosnaran, Weethalle (NSW).
The products available with this stamp issue include a first-day cover, stamp pack, minisheet, maxicards, self-adhesive booklets of 10 and a booklet collection.
Health secures more flu vaccine
The Department of Health has announced that an additional 800,000 influenza vaccines have been secured for the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
This is on top of almost 10 million doses that have already been released during this flu season under the NIP, State programs and the private market.
This represents an increase of 26.5 per cent from last year.
ABC in star performance
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in partnership with The Australian National University (ANU) has smashed the Guinness World Record for the most people stargazing at the night sky across multiple locations.
The record was broken during the broadcast of ABC’s Stargazing Live program on 23 May.
Due to the overwhelming number of participants involved, the exact number of people who helped to achieve the record is still being counted.
However, the number, estimated at 40,000, easily eclipsed the previous record set by the ANU in 2015 of 7,960 people.
Anti-terrorism powers extended
Legislation has been introduced into Parliament to extend counter-terrorism powers for law enforcement and National Security Agencies for a further three years.
The powers were due to expire on 7 September.
The legislation also extends by 12 months the operation of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) questioning and detention powers relating to terrorism offences.
Drivers to mark Armistice
The Australian War Memorial is urging people to put a poppy on their car to help mark the Armistice and raise funds for Legacy and the Memorial.
November marks the centenary of the end of World War I, which left Australia mourning 62,000 dead.
This is the first of a range of initiatives related to the Memorial’s commemorative program for the 100-year anniversary of the Armistice that ended the war.
Library offers Fellowships
The National Library of Australia has announced that applications are now open for its 2019 Creative Arts Fellowships.
Two funded Fellowships are offered in 2019 for practising artists and writers to develop new creative work inspired by the National Library of Australia’s collection of books, manuscripts, photographs, paintings, music, maps, oral history and folklore.
Information and an online application form can be accessed at this PS News link.
