Archival revival: Postcards of the Hunter | photos Happy New Year. Taken from Carlton Hill, 1913. G. KELLY.

Bandon Grove Bridge.

Tunneybuc Xing. Man standing on suspension bridge over creek, 1910.

By the stream, Dungog, 1910. G. KELLY.

Stroud Hill tunnel, south end. G. KELLY.

Washpool Bridge, 1911. G. KELLY.

Goods shed cutting, Dungog, 1910. G. KELLY.

Dungog from Thalaba Road, 1913.

Gordon Paddock, Dungadee. G.KELLY.

Station site, Dungog, 1910. G. KELLY.

Bandon Grove bridge and river, 1910. G. KELLY.

Engine in Wallarobba tunnel. G. KELLY.

Concrete subway, N.C Railway. G. KELLY.

Public school, Dungog. G. KELLY.

Constructing a 24 feet arch. G. KELLY.

Bennett Bridge, Dungog. G. KELLY.

Station yard. G. KELLY.

N.C. Railway works, Dingadee.

Concreting Wallarobba tunnell. G. KELLY.

Pile driving, N.C., railway bridge, Dungog. G.KELLY.

Building railway bridge, 1911. G. KELLY.

Bands, Dowling Street, Dungog, 1911. G. KELLY.

Stroud Hill tunnel, north end, 1912. G. KELLY.

Railway opening, 1911. G. KELLY.

Dungog From Alisin’s, 1909. G.KELLY.

Dowling St. Dungog, 1908. G. Kelly.

Cooreei bridge.

Commercial bank, 1912. G. KELLY.

Church of England. G. KELLY.

Train leaving Dungog. G. KELLY.

First passenger train, 1911. G. KELLY.

Empire Day celebrations, 1909. G. Kelly.

Cooreei Bridge. G.KELLY.

Interior railway bridge, 1913. G. Kelly.

Horse racing, 1910. G. Kelly.

Empire Day celebrations, 1909. G. Kelly.

Railway bridge, Paterson. G. KELLY.

School of Arts. G Kelly.

Flour Mills, J.B. Walker, 1910. G. KELLY.

Engine shed, 1911. G. KELLY.

Military procession, 1912. G. Kelly.

Methodist Church, 1911. G. KELLY.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie, 1909.

Munni Bridge, 1912. G. KELLY.

Methodist Church, 1911.G. KELLY.

Opening day Taree, 1913. G Kelly.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1914.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1911.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1910.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1912.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1914.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1909.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1910.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1911.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1910.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie, 1909.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1913.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1912.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1912.

Postcard from Edie Kelly to Miss Gertie Alder, 1913.

Presbyterian Church, 1913. G. Kelly.

“Wansy’s” property about four miles from Dungog township, 1913.

River near rectory, 1914. G Kelly.

Wansy’s” property and barn with cows and horses about four miles from Dungog township, 1913.

“Wansy’s” property about four miles from Dungog township, 1913.

“Wansy’s” property about four miles from Dungog township, 1913.

Railway bridge, 1913. G. Kelly.

Smith and Tims railway contractors with employees passing through, 1909. G. Kelly.

Post Office Dungog. G. Kelly.

Public School, Dungog 1914. G. Kelly.

llustrated greeting card booklet foldout, 1928.

Hunter Street, Newcastle 1928.

General view, Ocean Beach, Newcastle, 1928.

Band rotunda, King Edward Park, Newcastle, 1928.

Gardens, King Edward Park, Newcastle, 1928.

Entrance to Harbour, Newcastle, 1928.

Church of England Cathedral, Newcastle, 1928.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Hunter Street, Newcastle, 1928.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Interior of B.H.P. rolling mill, Newcastle, 1928.

Pacific Park and General Hospital, Newcastle N.S.W., 1928.

Illustrated greeting card booklet foldout.

Ocean Beach Newcastle N.S.W, 1928.

View of B.H.P. Works, Newcastle, 1928.

Memorial Drive Newcastle, N.S.W, 1928.

Scott Street, Newcastle, N.S.W, 1928.

Nobbys and Entrance to Harbour, Newcastle, 1928.

tockton Beach, Newcastle, N.S.W, 1928.

Memorial Drive Newcastle, N.S.W, 1928.

A Bird’s Eye View – Newcastle, 1974. A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Carrington, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Stockton, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Cooks Hill, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Hamilton, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Wallsend, 1974. A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Waratah, 1974. A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Valentine, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Merewether, 1974. A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Charlestown – Highfields, 1974. A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Toronto, 1974. A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Redhead, 1974. A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Booragul, 1974. A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Newcastle East, 1974. A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Mayfield East, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Adamstown Heights, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Belmont. 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Belmont, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Warners Bay, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Beresfield, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

A Bird’s Eye View – Speers Point, 1974.A Bird’s Eye View: A portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service.

TweetFacebookA Bird’s Eye View: A Portfolio of outstanding aerial photographs of Newcastle and suburbs. A Special ‘Newcastle Sun’ Reader Service [1974].

These photos have been supplied by the University of Newcastle’sCulturalCollectionswith the help of the Vera Deacon Regional History Fund.

For more information visithttps://uoncc.wordpress上海m/vera-deacon-fund/and to donate to the fund visit:http://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/benefactors/new

FISH OF THE WEEK: Keen angler Kaitlin Rose Webster wins the Jarvis Walker tacklebox and Tsunami lure pack for this monster flathead caught and released in Lake Macquarie recently.Exciting news for the crew aboard Curly III who ventured out of Nelson Bay last weekend to the Shelf and landed a 38kg yellowfin trolling lures.

In closer to shore, it looks like we’re in for a bit of a blow tomorrow, with nor-west winds tipped to push 40kmh as we welcome in spring.

With that in mind, Brent “Hammer” Hancock, from Tackle World Port Stephens suggests celebrating Father’s Day on Saturday and go fishing on the Sunday.

“Failing that, fish the ocean rocks, the nor-west should flatten out the swell,” Brent said.

“Traditionally a westerly is a good time to fish the rocks and the great thing about the Port Stephens region is there’s so much coastline where you can find somewhere to take shelter.

“You’re going to catch plenty of luderick, bream and drummer and with abit of luck, maybe even a snapper.”

Guys have been catching some really nice fish out around the islands this week.

A German gentleman known simply to Hammer as Werner, boated an 8kg red.

“He’s pretty fit for an 84-year-old and a regular customer who loves his snapper fishing outside the bay and hiswhiting fishing in the bay,” Brent said.

Staple supplyRoss Duff from Salamander Bait and Tackle echoed the sentiments about plenty ofluderick coming off the breakwalls, with a few smaller kings venturing inside the bay to work the marina.

“Good squid in and around Shoal Bay, while Stockton and Fingal have been throwing up bream and whiting, salmon and tailor–the staples this time of year–with the odd jew being caught down around Tin City,” Duff said.

“Rocks have been producing lots of drummer, good bream and snapper around Boat Harbour and FishermansBay.

“Mal Farmer fished Broughton Island last week and got snapper up to 4kg.”

Transition timeSteve Whitely, from Freddys Fishing World at Broadmeadow is looking forward to a swift transition to spring.

Luderick continue to lurk along the breakwalls, Stevo said, and rocks from Lucy’s Wall down at Swansea, through Newcastle Harbour and Nobbys all the way up to Nelson Bay.

But he reckon’sthey’re starting to slow down and he’s hoping summer species come on line soon, literally.

“There’s still plent of tailor on the beach, with steady activiity up Stockton beach towards where the Sygna used to be.

“Guys have been getting small kings around the bridge at Swansea Bridge and there’s still plenty of monster flathead about in most local estuaries.

“On the freshwater front, we can expect to see the bass move in from the deeper water to the banks as the temperatures rise.”

Closure overSpeaking of freshwater, the annual three-month closure of the Australian Bass and Estuary Perch fisheries ended yesterday.

The annual zero bag limit for Australian Bass and Estuary Perch is in place from 1 June to 31 August in all rivers and estuaries, except in impoundments and in rivers above impoundments, to protect them during spawning.

Anglers can once again take these native species but remember the bag limits.

A total bag limit of two Australian Bass or Estuary Perch per person or a combination of both with a possession limit of four applies.

Only one fish is permitted to be over 35 centimetres in length when fishing in rivers.

Happy harbourLiam Marshall had a happy hunt last Sunday on Newcastle Harbour, landing a1.4kg salmon and a 1kg luderick.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Mathew Bisegna confirmed word of consistent bream action off Honeysuckle Wharf in recent weeks with a nice catch.

Go fishingNewcastle has been added to the list of locations taking part in the Department of Primary Industry’sGone Fishing Day 2016 which will take place this year on October 16.

Gone Fishing Day is a celebration of recreational fishing, as a fun and healthy pastime for the entire family.

The inaugural event was held last year across six NSW locations and this year six new locations have been added, including Honeysuckle at Newcastle.

Fishing workshops, casting competitions, goodie bags with loads of free giveaways, activity marquees, fishing tips classes, touch tanks, and a kids activity corner are just some of the exciting fishing activities on offer.

DPI’s crab mascot,Snappy, will also be make an appearance to hand out lots of cool prizes.

For more infoCheck out theGone Fishing Day Facebook page.

Happy dayWith Father’s Day beckoning this Sunday, do dad and yourself a favour and take the pressure off this with a gift that keeps giving, or at least fishing.

Freddy’s has hard and soft tackleboxes walking out the door at 20 per cent off, IceKool eskies at a red hot 30 per cent off, and 10 to 30 per cent of Daiwa and Shimano reels.

JETS coach Scott Miller has welcomed the return of skipper Nigel Boogaard from off-season ankle surgery.

The 30-year-old central defender made his first appearance of Newcastle’s pre-season campaign in the 2-1 win againstHong Kong Premier League Champions Eastern SC in Shenzhen, playing the opening45 minutes before he was replaced at half-time by versatile Ben Kantarovski.

“It’s always nice to have a player of his [Boogaard’s] quality back in the squad, and furthermore a guy who speaks and communicates to the team like he does,’’ Miller said.

“He leads from the back and the organisation he provides the squad is very evident.”

Boogaard had surgery three months ago to repair ankle-ligament damage after nursing the injury through much of last season, his first in the A-League with Newcastle after stints with Central Coast and Adelaide.

He is expected toreceive further game time when Newcastle wrap up their tour of China with another friendly against one of Hong Kong’s top clubs, Kitchee SC, at the Bao’an Stadium on Friday, kicking off at6:30pm AEST.

After wins against Liaoning Whowins andEastern SC on tour, Miller has been satisfied with the progress his new-look squad are making.

“I think the performance [against Eastern SC]was very challenging but ultimately any challenge we undertake now we want to overcome it,” Miller said.

“We have recorded two wins in very difficult conditions against very good opposition [and] it’s vital now that we build that momentum.”

Newcastle’s win on Wednesday night was sealed by a penalty from former Melbourne Victory forward Andrew Nabbout.

BACK: Nigel Boogaard

“It’s nice to see the confidence in a player [Nabbout] stepping forward and actually taking his chance,” Miller said.

Meanwhile, veteran Danish defender Michael Jakobsen has signed a two-year contract with Melbourne City in Australia’s A-League.

The 30-year-old, who has played five internationals for Denmark, will join City next week from Danish Superliga side Esbjerg fB.

He haspreviously played for Lillestrom in Norway and for Almeria in the premier Spanish La Liga competition.

Jakobsen’s signature for the 2016-17 season follows the addition of Australian great Tim Cahill, Josh Rose, Neil Kilkenny and Manny Muscat to the City squad.

Game Reserve in South Africa by Clifford Rosenberg. Finalist?of the Traveller Big Picture Competition, August 2016. * READER IMAGE NOT TO BE USED Photo: supplied Big Picture.

How do you choose one winner from more than 2000 images submitted by passionate travellers?

Not easily, is the short answer.

But that’s what The Age photo editor Leigh Henningham, traveller上海m.au editorial producer Kylie McLaughlin, Sydney Morning Herald photographer Nick Moir and Clique Photo Club community manager Louisa Kirby were asked to do recently, spending a day poring over submitted images in the fifth Big Picture competition.

Henningham, a photographer with more than 30 years’ experience, says the overall standard of photography gets higher with every competition.

“People are no longer satisfied with just taking landscape photos but are trying to capture the character of a place by using the people and the elements in context of where they are,” Henningham says.

“The horse rider in Dubai is a great example of showing the scale, heat and enormity of the desert.”

Henningham, a keen traveller himself, says weather can play a big part in travel photography and was a feature of a number of the last-round finalists.

“The rain in Peru made for a fantastic photo as did the soft afternoon light on the lions in Africa.”

Take a look at the finalists in the gallery above. The winner will be announced on Saturday, September 3.

The overall winner and a partner or friend will travel to Indochina for a 13-Day Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights cruise and tour for two people in January 2017.

Enjoy the adventure through Vietnam and Cambodia, including a seven-night cruise along the Mekong River.

Visit World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park and Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh.

The prize value is about $15,490 for two people in a Category C Standard Suite.

For the full itinerary, see aptouring上海m.au

To join Clique, see smh上海m.au/clique or theage上海m.au/clique.

Traveller’s Big Picture reader travel photo competition sponsors.

Behind the scenes on Racing Victoria’s In Full Bloom advertising campaign. Photo: Racing VictoriaNo strapless. No spaghetti straps. No shorts.

These are the unofficial dress regulations of the Birdcage at Flemington, so surely body paint would also be a bridge too far.

But that hasn’t stopped Racing上海m, the online portal for Racing Victoria, from featuring models wearing nothing but painted flowers on their torsos in its advertising campaign for the spring racing carnival.

Race ready or risque? An image from the Racing Victoria campaign. Photo: Racing Victoria

The campaign, dubbed “In Full Bloom”, features two female models painted with flowers, and a male model painted with jockey’s colours.   #BTS on our #SpringCarnival shoot which included amazing body paint artwork on our stunning models! We can’t wait to reveal all very, very soon!  bodypaint #bodyartA video posted by Spring Racing Carnival (@springcarnival) on Aug 29, 2016 at 10:33pm PDT

The looks were created by Adelaide-based make-up artist Amanda Nash, who specialises in body paint work and has painted artists in Grammy-award winning music videos.

It is understood Racing Victoria wanted an edgier campaign this year to cut through the cluttered digital media space. There have, as yet, been no official complaints nor negative feedback.   Sneak peak at one of our beautiful models for the 2016 #SpringCarnival campaign. Not long now until the full campaign reveal on September 1st!  #behindthescenes #photoshoot #sneakpeak #springA photo posted by Spring Racing Carnival (@springcarnival) on Aug 21, 2016 at 8:21pm PDT

Racing Victoria’s chief commercial officer, Jane Ballantyne, said the campaign was “innovative and artistic” and was intended to show the carnival “in a way that’s never been seen before”.

“Created by an award winning design team, the campaign is highlighted by on-trend floral wallpaper prints body painted on leading jockey Dylan Dunn and talent alongside three living legends of the track, and the use of vibrant flowing fabrics that connects the racing silks worn by our athletes.

“Overall, the 2016 spring racing carnival campaign serves as a powerful visual representation that promotes racing, fashion and the experience of Melbourne in full bloom,” she said.   SPRING CARNIVAL || Today marks the official launch of the incredible @springcarnival campaign I worked on recently // So excited to share some of the BTS behind this magic campaign ~ Model: @bessosullivan / H& MU: @mandynashmakeup / Body Paint: @sahrabull & @beccagilmartin / Headpiece: @demillinery / Styling: @vydia ——————————- #BTS #springracing #mandysmakeup #victoriaracingcarnival #australianmakeupartist #hairstylist #springcarnivalA photo posted by Amanda Nash (@mandynashmakeup) on Aug 30, 2016 at 8:33pm PDT   SPRING CARNIVAL || Some of the BTS images for the magic @springcarnival campaign // Model: @emilyannenash / H&MU: @mandynashmakeup / Body Paint: @sahrabull & @beccagilmartin / Styling: @vydia / @kojo.world ——————————- #BTS #springracing #mandysmakeup #victoriaracingcarnival #australianmakeupartist #hairstylist #springcarnivalA photo posted by Amanda Nash (@mandynashmakeup) on Aug 30, 2016 at 8:56pm PDT

One of the Note7 units that reportedly exploded. Photo: KKJ.CNEvery now and again, Australia gets lucky in the world of technology: we get things first. Like with Samsung’s latest phone, the Galaxy Note7.

It hasn’t shipped in the United States yet, but Australians started getting their hands on it from August 19. South Koreans and Canadians have already got the phones as well. But there’s just one problem: it’s, uh, possibly exploding.

Reuters reported on Thursday morning that shipments for the Galaxy Note7 are being delayed following reports from users that the phone is exploding. A report appeared on Android Community last week, while Business Korea revealed a second case from South Korean social media.

“My boyfriend’s Galaxy Note7 exploded while charging at night. I woke up by the bang and the smell of smoke,” a South Korean user reportedly said.

It’s believed that faulty USB-C charging cables could be the culprit, although it could also happen when a non-official cable is connected to a micro-USB adaptor.

Gizmodo reported earlier this year about the dangers of crappy USB-C cables, and given that the PC and mobile industry is moving increasingly towards the USB-C standard its something users should be aware of. Ohh, a USB C cable basically just snapped off in my phone.. Buy decent USB C Cables, people!— Peter Wells (@peterwells) August 29, 2016

To their credit, Samsung has delayed further shipments of the Galaxy Note7 to conduct “additional tests … for product quality”. They didn’t specify anything beyond that, although it’s undoubtedly a pain in Samsung’s pocket. They already had to push back the Note7 launch in some countries due to demand, and investors won’t be thrilled about any potential delays due to faults.

Mind you, a delay is a hell of a lot better than literally being woken up by things that go bang in the night. celebrates video game culture with news, reviews and long form features.

THE retired former bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, Michael Malone, has given a short stint of evidence to the Royal Commission, which has just broken for lunch.

Before he gave his evidence, the chairman of the commission, Justice Peter McClellan asked the bishop: “I take it, bishop, that what you say in that statement is true, is it?”

“Yes, your honour.”

Bishop Malone said he had no familiarity at all with the Maitland-Newcastle diocese before he was appointed, from Broken Bay, as coadjutor bishop, which meant he had the right of succession once the existing bishop, Leo Clarke, retired.

Bishop Malone, who served as Maitland-Newcastle bishop from 1995 to 2011, said bishop Clarke probably wanted one of his own, rather than a complete outsider, to succeed him, and they had little to do with each other.

He said he went on holidays in October 1995 and that father Vince Ryan was arrested while he was away.

He had heard nothing about Ryan before his arrest.

He had known him since their days, in different years, at seminary school, but had no knowledge of his abuse or of complaints against him.

Bishop Clarke also resigned while he was on holidays, but Bishop Malone told counsel assisting, Stephen Free, that he did not think that the bishop’s resignation was related to the Ryan matter.

Asked if he had any reason to believe the two were connected, he said:“No. No clue whatsoever about that.”

Earlier, the commission heard from a teacher, Dr Christopher Hallinan, who was a young probationary teacher at St Joseph’s Merewether in 1975 when students said that Ryan had abused them.

Dr Hallinan insisted that the school principal at the time,Sister Margaret-Anne Geatches, told him not to talk about the matter.

“She directed me to stop talking to the children and the parents. I don’t recall her exact words but she said something like it was a church matter and I was not to take any further part in it,” Dr Hallinan said.

Questioned byJane Needhamfor the diocese, Dr Hallinan disagreed with her contention that Sister Geatches had only wanted to stop the children from being “further upset”.

He said she said it was a church matter and that “there was no further need for me to take part”.

The hearing will resume on Thursday afternoon.

F/A-18F Super Hornet aircrew head to their aircraft in preparation for departure to the Middle East. Photo: Supplied Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull makes the announcement in Parliament on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Australian military forces will be able to target Islamic State logistics and support personnel as well as combat fighters under a change in the law aimed at protecting defence personnel from possible criminal prosecutions.

The change in legislation due soon will bring Australian law into line with international law, allaying fears that Australian Defence Force members could be prosecuted in Australian courts for military actions that are legal internationally, the Chief of the Defence Force, Mark Binskin, said Thursday.

The change will mainly affect RAAF fighter pilots who are bombing the Islamic State, also known as Daesh.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the current law was an anomaly that was out of step with international law and the laws followed by Australia’s coalition partners in fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

“Under international law, all members of an organised armed group such as Daesh can be targeted with lethal force, subject, of course, to the ordinary rules of international humanitarian law,” Mr Turnbull said in a speech to Parliament.

“This is a reasonable and conventional approach adopted by the armed forces of our key allies across the world.”

But Australia’s domestic law is more restrictive than international law, allowing only targeting of active IS fighters, and this posed a “major challenge” to the effectiveness of Australian Defence Force operations. Mr Turnbull said it meant Australian forces could not operate as freely as their coalition partners.

Under the change, the ADF “will be able to target Daesh at its core – joining with our coalition partners to target and kill a broader range of Daesh combatants – which is consistent with international law”, Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Turnbull also issued a call for harmony, saying the danger of terrorism would be greater if Australians discriminated against Muslims.

“We cannot be effective if we are creating division, whether by fomenting distrust within the Muslim community or inciting fear of Muslims in broader society” he said. “Division begets division. It makes violence more likely, not less.”

The legislation change is understood to mean for instance that Islamic State supporters working in a munitions depot or delivering supplies can be targeted.

Government sources said it did not affect the way Australia’s so-called “rules of engagement” were structured to avoid civilian casualties. RAAF forces would still need to go through an “identification matrix” to ensure that targets were legitimate and the risk of harming civilians was minimised.

The ADF says it has not killed or harmed any civilians in the nearly two years it has been bombing IS.

It is understood that there have not been any legal threats against ADF personnel to date.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told Parliament Labor supported the change in principle, though he added it would scrutinise the new legislation before committing to backing it.

Air Chief Marshal Binskin stressed that the ADF always targeted IS “in a discriminate and proportionate manner” and within international and domestic law.

Current Australian law only allowed targeting of personnel who were playing a “direct and active part in hostilities”.

“It doesn’t allow us to target those important supporting elements that are key to their fighting ability, eg their logistics and support organisations,” Air Chief Marshal Binskin said.

“Therefore we have not been able to maximise the combat capability of our deployed forces.”

He said the ambiguity in the difference between domestic and international law meant that “on operations now, we are asking people to make split second decisions in a very dynamic organisation”.

“There is a condition that exists where a domestic court may take a narrower interpretation of Australia’s obligations under international law and potentially prosecute an ADF member.

“Both these issues have been a concern to me.”

Mr Turnbull said the “the tide has turned” against IS with the number of fighters believed to have been cut by about one third.

But he added: “We will be in the Middle East for a while yet.”

File picIt was 9.30 on a Friday night in August and Tuhirangi Raymond Wait was in the mood to party.

He’d already downedan entire cask of wine by the time his mother came to pickhim up from a house in Warilla, and he was, by all accounts, drunk asa skunk.

But with no intention of stopping, the 18-year-oldordered his mumdrive him to the Port Kembla Hotel.

Knowing better, she began heading for the family home in Jane Avenue, Warrawong.

It wasn’t until she turnedinto Minnegang Street that Wait realised his big night out was at a sobering end.

It did not go down well.

In what could only be described as an epic tantrum, Wait kickedthe inside of his mum’s car and punchedthe dash board, before trying to climb over her and pull the keys from the ignition of the now stationary car.

Wait’s mother tried to push her sonaway, prompting him to bite her on the forearm.

He then punched her in the jaw.

Terrified, the woman jumped out of the car, at which time Wait kicked outthe front windshield.

He thengot out of the vehicle andsmashed the passenger side mirror before chasing his mother around the car, wantonly kicking at side panels and leaving a series of large dents ashe went.

When Waitcaught up with his mother he grabbed her around the throat.

Fortunately a resident was alerted to the scene and phoned police, who responded immediately.

Wait was arrested on the spot, at which time police noted he appeared highly intoxicated.

He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and property damage and released on bail to front court on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to both charges, with his lawyer seeking to have Wait assessed for court-ordered drug and alcohol treatment.

Magistrate Susan McGowan ordered a sentencing options report be prepared, noting Wait’s conduct as outlined in police facts was “alarming”.

The case was adjourned to Wollongong Local Court for sentencing on September 20.

Illawarra Mercury

A Leipzig University studyhas confirmed birth order and IQ are related and that first-borns have a higher IQ thanyounger siblings.

The study was carried out to address a question psychologists have been arguing over since 1874, when anthropologist Francis Galton collected information on a number of English scientists and found most of them were first-born sons.

He concludedthe eldest child is likely to do best intellectually. Galton thought this was because parents are able to offer their first-born exclusive attention and rich linguistic input when language is emerging and the brain is developing most rapidly.

Researchers havetried to prove Galton right, but the studies were too small for anyone to feel certainthe findings reflected the population generally. However,the Leipzig study is based on a huge amount of data. Information from studies in the US, UKand Germany was pooled, giving researchers data from 20,186 individuals aged 18-98.

The IQ difference they found isn’t large –first-borns scored on average 1.5 points higher than second-borns –but it occurred significantly more often than would be expected by chance.Is it justifiable to thereforeconclude first-borns are more intelligent than their siblings? I don’t think so.

The first thing is IQ is not the same as intelligence. IQ is a limited measure heavily dependentonlanguage skills, basic arithmetic and general knowledge –skills most needed to obtain high marks in exams.

Intelligence is more complex. It’s the ability to make sense of information,store it as knowledge and to have the capacity to apply it in ways that are useful or valued.

Because first-borns receive so much language input, it’s only sensible for later-born children to choose a different area –music, sport or art, for example –in which to excel.

I would argue each child in a family is intelligent,just in different ways.

Linda Blair, The Telegraph