Angela Christodoulou is a gift shop owner turned koala rescue and rehabilitation specialist. 

Christodoulou started volunteering with the RSPCA in 2014 and says she rescued her first koala ‘Napoleon’ in August 2015. 

“I enrolled in workshops with Wildcare Australia and continued to do my volunteer ambulance driving while studying to get my koala accreditation,” she tells the Guardian’s Jennifer Johnston. 

“Once I had accreditation I volunteered in a RSPCA Wildlife Hospital, focusing solely on koala rescues.”

“Over four years I rescued 337 koalas and I went through two sets of tyres on my personal vehicle. Most rescues were on my own and it was exhausting.” 

Christodoulou established Queensland Koala Society in August 2018 using the money set aside from the sale of her gift shop business. 

“I am the head honcho, the main rescuer – the hands-on person. I cut the food for the koalas and look after the injured wildlife at our centre,” she says.

“When I receive a call out, I go to where the injured animal is and pick them up, then drive them to the vet who checks them over. If they recover, they are released back to where they come from. If they need rehabilitation, they come back to my place.”

“My husband and I still own our home, but in 2019 we used our “rainy day” money and purchased a two-and-a-half-acre property, specifically to rehabilitate wildlife,” she says. 

“We have built enclosures on the property to house injured animals. And last year, I planted 300 eucalyptus trees from saplings, with seven varieties to feed the koalas.”

“The first weekend in July (this year) was my record for collecting koalas. I rescued seven in the space of 24 hours. Unfortunately, only one survived. I get sad when the survival rate is like that.”

Source: The Guardian 

NSW has recorded 291 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections in the 24 hours to 8:00 pm yesterday — the highest daily number in the state during the pandemic.

There were 109,547 tests carried out in the reporting period.

A woman in her 60s, who was not vaccinated, died after contracting the virus at Liverpool Hospital. 

She is the state’s 79th COVID-19 fatality since the beginning of the pandemic and the 22nd death linked to the latest Delta outbreak.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged rising cases in the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area, where policing will now be increased.

“We are seeing too many people frequent certain shopping areas and perhaps not doing the right thing, so police will be more present in the Canterbury-Bankstown local area to ensure compliance and we have to make sure that happens,” she said.

Rising cases also putting additional pressure on the health care system, which Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant said is currently “under stress”.

Victoria recorded 6 locally-acquired COVID-19 cases, while Queensland recorded 10 linked locally-acquired COVID-19 cases.

Year 12 students in Greater Sydney will sit assessments and trial HSC exams from home under a revised, more flexible, pandemic blueprint revealed by the NSW government.

The updated school’s plan outlines the circumstances under which some students will be able to return to classrooms in the COVID-hit state from August 16.

Under the new model, updated COVID-19 safety plans will see schools balance their physical space and timetabling to reduce mixing between students and support physical distancing. 

Only small groups of students will gather at any one time with clear guidelines to be provided to schools.

Students who live or attend school in the local government areas (LGAs) of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Parramatta, Blacktown, Georges River, and Cumberland will not return to classrooms on August 16.

However, schools in those eight LGAs of concern are being asked to prepare for the return of pupils in the coming weeks, once they have been vaccinated.

Year 12 students from the LGA’s of concern will be able to attend a special vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park from August 9.

Source: ABC News, ABC News

Teresa Polias, W-League games record-holder and Sydney FC captain, has announced her indefinite break from football. 

Polias has played in seven grand finals and led Sydney FC to five of the past 6 deciders and says she’s enjoyed her run. 

“I love playing football and I love playing and representing Sydney FC,” Polias said in a statement.

“But I feel now is the right time to take a break and concentrate on starting a family.”

Polias says she’s putting football on hold to be a mother. 

“This is such an exciting time in our family’s lives and I am looking forward to becoming a mother and enjoying that time.”

Polias has clarified the move as a break rather than retirement.  

“I’m not retiring from football, but I want to take this moment to experience and dedicate my life to others after 13 fabulous years playing this game,” she said.

“When the time is right, I’ll make a decision on my playing future.”

Polias has made 157 W-League appearances, including winning two championships and two premierships, and has made 12 appearances for the Matildas, including at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

She started her W-League career at Central Coast in 2008, playing two seasons for the Mariners before joining Sydney FC.

Polias became the Sky Blues’ first 10-year W-League player last year and has played 145 W-League games for Sydney, including a record 18 finals appearances.

Source: Perth Now

The late Professor Alexander Cambitoglou AO has left a bequest of approximately $6 million to his founding Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens (AAIA) facility at the University of Sydney (USYD). 

Dr Stavros Paspalas is the director of the AAIA and says his long-time friend and colleague has left his mark on the field of Greek and Mediterranean studies. 

“Professor Cambitoglou was one of the most influential figures to have shaped the study of Classical antiquity in Australia,” Paspalas says. 

“The bequest upholds his vision for the Institute to promote Greek and Mediterranean studies in Australia.” 

Professor Alexander Cambitoglou AO is an antiquities collector and pioneer who was born in Thessaloniki in 1922 and died in Sydney aged 97 in 2019. 

He went on to become the first person of Greek background to be appointed to a university professorship in Australia, as Professor of Classical Archaeology in 1963. 

Cambitoglou taught at USYD from 1961 through to 1989, curated the Nicholson Museum from 1963 until 2000, and established the AAIA in 1980. 

The AAIA has allowed Australia to have its own academic representation in Greece for the first time and has since been a major force in the growth of Australian participation in Greek archaeology.  

Paspalas says the bequest continues “the AAIA’s 40 year history of encouraging Australia’s involvement with Greek culture”. 

“He firmly believed that a global approach to the subject was needed and aimed to bring the findings of his discipline both to Australian students and the wider public. 

“Through sheer dedication and hard work he created a legacy that ensures that Greek studies will thrive in Australia, so bringing his two ’homelands’ together.” 

Professor Cambitoglou also donated his collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, from furniture and art, to USYD’s Chau Chak Wing Museum (CCWM).  

His collection includes works by Georges Braque, Edgar Degas, Marc Chagall, Russell Drysdale and Brett Whiteley. 

“The Nicholson Collection benefitted over four decades from Professor Cambitoglou’s generosity, expertise, and earnest belief in the importance of artefacts to teaching,” CCWM director Dr Paul Donnelly says. 

“His influence as an inspiring teacher continues to add to the collection with the recent acquisition (through donated funds in his honour) of a 6^th century BCE black-figure amphora made in Athens.”