Australia’s Top 10 Inventions: The Honourable Mentions

To celebrate Australia Day last week, we took a look at the top 10 inventions Australia has given to the world. But narrowing the list down to just 10 was a difficult task. So today we’re going to have a quick look at some of the runners-up.

The Goon Bag

Or, as it’s officially known, the wine cask, was invented by Thomas Angove of South Australia as a way of pouring wine without letting it contact air. It changed the way wine was “enjoyed” all over the world.

Underwater Torpedo

Louis Brennan invented the underwater torpedo in 1874, a weapon with two propellors that were rotated by wires attached to the shore. Obviously the design improved over time.

Powered Flight

Lawrence Hargrave flew his box kite over five metres in 1894. Instead of patenting his idea, he shared it freely, and thus it’s widely regarded that the Wright Brothers are the fathers of flight.

The Notepad

It took 500 years of human evolution with single sheets of paper for Tasmanian stationer J.A. Birchall to decide to stick them together to form a notepad in 1902.

The Tank

South Australian Lance de Mole came up for the idea of a tank in 1912, but rather than keep it for Australians, he gave the idea to the British military. He eventually received £987 from the British Royal Commission for his invention.

Splayds

Aside from the fact that they should be called Sporks, William McArthur’s invention of a spoon, knife and fork in a single utensil was designed to make eating easier for the ladies in 1943

Inflatable Escape Slide

Jack Grant of Qantas changed aircraft safety in 1965 when he invented the inflatable escape slide. Weeeeeeeee!!!!

Dual Flush Toilet

Saving water since 1980, Bruce Thompson at Caroma created the dual-flush toilet, a device that now saves millions of litres each year

There are hundreds more, as well. Is there anything we missed that you’d automatically include?

Source http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/01/australias-top-10-inventions-the-honourable-mentions/

Stones top Australian best 100 songs

Angus and Julia Stone have grabbed the number one spot in an annual Australian music chart.

The brother-and-sister duo were named the winners of the annual Triple J Hottest 100 for their song 'Big Jet Plane' during Australia Day celebrations yesterday.

According to the ABC, Little Red won the number two spot with 'Rock It', while third place went to Ou Est Le Swimming Pool for 'The Way I Feel'.

Other acts featured in the top 10 included Birds Of Tokyo, Boy And Bear, The Wombats, Adrian Lux and Cee Lo Green.

Source http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a300435/stones-top-australian-best-100-songs.html

Top Australian lawyer elected head of global arbitration body

International arbitration specialist and Clayton Utz partner Doug Jones AM has been elected President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a world-wide leader in the training, accreditation and practice of alternative dispute resolution.International arbitration specialist and Clayton Utz partner has been elected President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a world-wide leader in the training, accreditation and practice of alternative dispute resolution. 

Professor Jones AM is the first Australian to lead the global organisation whose membership comprises eminent practitioners, policymakers, academics and business leaders from the UK, the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

“As an Australian, I am deeply honoured to be elected as President and see this as an opportunity to advance Australia’s position as a major player in the lucrative cross border dispute resolution market.”

A Member of the Order of Australia for Services to Dispute Resolution and Construction Law, Professor Jones AM is also President of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, Director of the Australian International Disputes Centre and is the only Australian member of the Court of the LCIA.

The appointment has been warmly received throughout the arbitration world including eminent jurists.

Retired Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and Patron of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia, the Hon Murray Gleeson AC said: "Professor Jones has made a major contribution to local and international arbitration and mediation, and his election is testimony to the esteem in which he is held in Australia and overseas."

Director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and retired High Court Justice, the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG who sits on the Arbitration Panel of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes for the World Bank said:

“Until now, we in Australia have liked to think of Doug Jones as our own special treasure. No one has worked harder or more successfully over many years to put Australia on the map of international commercial arbitration. No one has been more effective in securing updated national and transnational laws for Australia. But now our secret is out. His professional reputation has won him the much prized position of President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London. We must now share him with the world. His election will be a great encouragement and boost for us in Australia.’’

Commenting on the increasing importance of arbitration, Professor Jones AM said demand for arbitration and dispute resolution services was growing around the world, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.

“International arbitration has emerged as the process of choice for international businesses in the global economy. Investors want to avoid the uncertainty of litigation in a foreign court system with the associated lack of familiarity over processes and uncertainty of enforcement outside local jurisdictions.

Professor Jones AM will mark his presidential term with a series of initiatives and global events. They include Investment and Innovation: International Dispute Resolution in Asia Pacific which will be held in Sydney (27 – 28 May).

Marking the first major event since the enactment of the long-awaited reform to Australia’s international and domestic arbitration regime, the conference is being jointly organised by the North American, East Asia, Thai, Indian, Malaysian, Singapore and Australian Branches of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators with support from major arbitral bodies and global professional associations.

Former UK Attorney General and Westfield Director, Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, and Royal Dutch Shell Legal Director, Peter Rees QC, are just two of the confirmed headline speakers and will join leaders in the Australian government and eminent members of the judiciary and the legal profession. Further details www.ciarb.org/events

Professor Jones AM will also host the 10th annual Clayton Utz International Arbitration lecture which continues to play an important role in promoting and supporting the development and study of international arbitration and international dispute resolution in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Source  http://www.claytonutz.com/publications/news/201101/25/top_australian_lawyer_elected_head_of_global_arbitration_body.page

Top business brains to form flood taskforce

Australia's brightest business minds will form a taskforce to help Queensland recover from its devastating floods, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced.

The group will seek corporate donations and use its expertise to help with rebuilding and recovery efforts, Ms Gillard said today.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan will chair the group, with his assistant treasurer Bill Shorten, trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser also among its 10 members.

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"The purpose of bringing leading corporate identities together ... is to further leverage corporate support for the recovery and rebuilding in Queensland," Ms Gillard told reporters in Melbourne.

"Already, corporate Australia has been tremendously generous.

"But given the scale of this disaster, we need to do more."

Rural business giant Wesfarmers quickly answered the Prime Minister's call and has pledged $5 million towards the Queensland appeal.

"It's that kind of additional generosity on top of current efforts that we are looking for through this business taskforce and through its business connections to corporate Australia," Ms Gillard said.

The Prime Minister said she wrote to corporate Australia on Monday asking if companies would consider making further donations to the flood appeal.

Standing beside the Prime Minister as she made the announcement, Mr Fox said it was a pleasure to back up all of the requirements of the head of Queensland's flood recovery taskforce Major General Mick Slater.

"Some of the areas where he needs supply of some goods, we've probably got the access. And I guess it's my job to help create a lot of that access that comes through in ultimate outcome for the people of Queensland," he said.

Other members of the group will include Woolworths chief executive Michael Luscombe, Leighton Holdings chief executive David Stewart and Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout.

The taskforce will initially be formed for three months.

The Prime Minister also announced that the federal government would contribute $1 million to start community fund-raising for the Victorian flood appeal.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu had requested further natural disaster assistance, specifically money for households to replace items ruined by flood waters, clean-up money and support for small businesses and primary producers.

Ms Gillard said she would respond as soon as possible so that further funding could be made available to Victorians.

Ms Gillard said Queensland communities were going through a very similar experience to Victorians after the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, which killed 173 people.

"You are sitting in your home and life was normal one moment and then devastation hits you the next ... that sort of feeling of shock and trauma is very much the same, so I think there are things that happen to you that we can learn from, experiences that we can share," she said.

The Prime Minister said that the floods had left her feeling sad, but also determined.

"For me, there is a lot of sorrow, but also a lot of pride in seeing how Australians responded and a lot of determination about how we are going to get through this," she said.

Source  http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/top-business-brains-to-form-flood-taskforce-20110118-19uml.html

Australian Cathels Posts Top Round at Billabong World Junior Championships

Cathels looked comfortable competing at his home break found his rhythm towards the end of the heat when he posted an 8.33 and a 7.50 (both out of ten) in succession to edge out Enrique Arriitu (PYF).

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships marks the second and final stop on the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour.The event holds a waiting period from January 8 through 16, 2011 and will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com.

Source  http://boxscorenews.com/australian-cathels-posts-top-round-at-billabong-world-junior-championships-p11623-68.htm

Top seeds Serbia see off Australia

Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic maintained the buoyant mood in Serbian tennis when they overpowered Australia 3-0 to move closer to a place in the final of the Hopman Cup mixed team event on Tuesday.

Playing what he described as some of his best tennis “for a year and half” world number three Djokovic brushed aside Lleyton Hewitt 6-2 6-4 and Ivanovic eased to a 6-4 6-0 win over Alicia Molik. They joined forces to win the mixed doubles 6-7 7-5 10-6.

“I played great,” Djokovic, who little more than a month ago inspired Serbia to win the Davis Cup for the first time against France in Belgrade, told reporters. “From the start of the match, especially at the end of the first set, I played some of my best tennis in a year and a half.”

Serbia now need to win just one rubber on Thursday when they play Belgium, who whitewashed Kazakhstan 3-0 in the day’s other Group A match.

Djokovic, who has been training with Britain’s Andy Murray throughout the week as the build-up to this month’s Australian Open intensifies, looked lean and mean as he bullied Hewitt from the baseline with some outstanding hitting.

Hewitt’s only moment of hope came when he recovered a break to level at 2-2 in the second set but Djokovic broke in the 10th game to clinch an impressive win against the former world No.1.

Ivanovic survived an injury scare as she came through a tough first set before crushing Molik in the second.

She said she felt a sharp pain in her left knee in the third game of the second set but, though she planned to check it with the medical staff, she believed it would not be a problem.

Justine Henin, another former world number one, continued her comeback from a six-month injury absence with a 6-4 6-3 victory against Kazakh stand-in Sesil Karatantcheva.

Ruben Bemelmans then upset the much higher-ranked Andrey Golubev 6-4 6-4 and the Belgians won the mixed 4-6 6-2 10-8.

In just her second match since Wimbledon because of a serious elbow injury, Henin was a little rusty but had too much experience for world number 140 Karatantcheva.

Having arrived in Perth late on Monday as a replacement for the injured Yaroslava Shvedova, Karatantcheva had Henin worried when she broke to lead 3-1 in the second set before the Belgian reeled off five games.

“It’s not that easy especially after the injury so I am working hard to come back,” Henin said.

“It’s the first two matches so I know it’s going to take a bit of time but it’s just great to have the opportunity to play a few matches and have competition again.”

Bemelmans, ranked 178, enjoyed one of the best wins of his career as he outplayed 36th ranked Golubev.

Source http://www.emirates247.com/sports/tennis/top-seeds-serbia-see-off-australia-2011-01-05-1.338187

Brisbane Roar maintain top spot in Australian A-League

A-League leaders, Brisbane Roar defeated another title contender in their quest to win the A-League title, as they defeated Adelaide United 1-0 this Sunday.

The Roar now have a huge 11-point lead at the top of the table, but were made to work really for their latest win in an exciting match at the Hindmarsh Stadium. Brisbane Roar striker Jean Carlos Solorzano was once again the hero of the match, as he scored the only goal of the match to stretch his team's unbeaten record to 19 games.

Playing away from home, the Roar had three key players missing for the match. Captain Matt McKay missed out as he was on international duty for Australia, while Influential midfielder Thomas Broich suffered a groin injury. Defender Ivan Franjic was also unavailable after he pulled a hamstring two days before the clash. However those absentees weren’t missed too much, as Brisbane managed to maintain their match winning run. The visitors totally eclipsed an Adelaide side that has been trying it’s best to prove its worth as serious title challengers.

Three points were guaranteed for Brisbane in the 69th minute, when Solorzano calmly slotted a simple left footed shot past keeper Mark Birghitti. It was a fortunate goal though. The ball agonizingly ricocheted off Iain Fyfe’s foot and landed in Solorzano’s path, who scored his 11th of the season.

The home side had their chances to level the score after they went a goal down, but the Roar defence held on as Adelaide couldn’t find the finishing touch to their attacking moves. Adelaide United will now play Central Coast Mariners and Gold Coast United in their bid to maintain second spot in the league.

Brisbane Roar manager, Ange Postecoglou wasn’t really impressed with his sides’ victory, and admitted that his team hadn’t been as slick as they usually have been throughout the season. However, he added that his players did well to put pressure on the ball. On the other hand, Adelaide manager Rini Coolen was disappointed at the loss and moaned about his teams’ inability to make their first half dominance count.

The defeat was made even more painful for Adelaide by the news that they would be without midfielder Joe Keenan for the remainder of the season, after he broke his leg during the game. That will complicate matters further for Adelaide United, since Cassio and Marcos Flores are also out for at least a week after suffering hamstring injuries.

Source http://blogs.bettor.com/Brisbane-Roar-maintain-top-spot-in-Australian-A-League-a51097