The Cane Toad is listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) as being a threat to the survival, abundance, or evolutionary development of native species in Australia due to their rapid spread and negative impact on native wildlife. 

By Jemma Boisen & Jayde Baguley

The Australian Government is increasing efforts to control the cane toad population and reduce the impact on native wildlife in parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Northern areas of New South Wales by funding research into how the biodiversity impacts of the cane toad can be better managed.

Efforts to eradicate them include the management of government controlled lands, a cane toad advisory group, and community action such as Toad Day Out.

COUNCIL SAYS: Land Protection Officer for the Townsville Council, Luke Playford. SOURCE: Jemma Boisen

Land Protection Officer for the Townsville Council, Luke Playford, said that Toad Day Out aims to control feral animals to look after native wildlife and to focus on the toad because it is an urban animal and easy to catch.

“For people at home we recommend people catch them, put them in a plastic bag and put them in the fridge for a day and put them in the freezer. That puts them to sleep,” Mr Playford said.

Another method for humanely disposing of toads is the use of an RSPCA approved product spray HopStop which causes the toad to become unconscious and die.

Between 2008 and 2010 the Government provided over $3 million to develop a national cane toad plan and fund research and development for sustainable control measures.

The Government’s current plan, the Stop the Toad Foundation (STTF), has built a mesh fence that is designed to keep cane toads out of an area but allow other native animals to pass through in native parks.

The STTF states, “It (the fences) will be monitored for the next few years to determine its success and the biodiversity inside and outside the fence once toads arrive.”

The fences are cost effective, easy to build and offer a practical solution to limiting the spread of toads from the more arid areas of Australia.

In addition to these fences, City councils in Cairns, Townsville, and many other areas organize annual Toad Day Out events, where locals humanely capture toads and give them to the council.

WINNERS: Those who catch the heaviest toad takes home a trophy. CREDIT: Jemma Boisen

They run competitions to see who can catch the heaviest toad and have cane toad races.

Through funding events such as the Toad Day Out, the public is encouraged to be proactive in the removal of cane toads from the environment.

The growing cane toad population is threatening native wildlife, particularly the lives of native frogs.

Female cane toads can lay anywhere from 8,000-30,000 eggs at any time, significantly more than native frogs who can only lay 1,000-2,000 eggs a year.

Some people may also mistake small frogs for cane toads due to similar characteristics like colour and skin texture.

“We [Toad Day Out] don’t accept toads smaller than 50 millimetres in length so there is no chance of catching native frogs,” Mr Playford said.

A 2004 study showed that cane toads had a significant impact on the nesting habits of rainbow bee-eaters, destroying one third of their ground nests and eating their eggs and young.

According to National Geographic, in 1935 around 3,000 cane toads were released into sugarcane fields to reduce the cane beetle populations.

This was unsuccessful and since 1935 the cane toad population is estimated to have risen into the millions.

Check out this website for more information on cane toads and how you can help.

JCNN’s Sophie Dillon caught up with local residents on Castle Hill to find out what they want updated and changed on the hill.

Exchange student Julia Dunn held a poetry slam last Thursday night in a James Cook University first. 

By Jemma Boisen

The Uni Club created history last Thursday night by holding a poetry slam, organised by American exchange student Julia Dunn.

THIS SICK BEAT: Event Organiser Julie Dunn slam-dunks her poetry reading CREDIT: Luke Brooks

Julia, an environmental education major, said that poetry is something that she and her friends really enjoy at home in the United States.

“It’s been great sharing something that shows my identity and giving back to the university.”

“I hope to organize more slams before I go back home, hopefully once a month,” Miss Dunn said.

The poetry slam featured nine poets who had four to five poems written, and was hosted by JCU student and comedian from the Comedy Generation, Laurie Page.

One of the first applicants, 17 year old Chloe Dow, said the night was a major success.

“I was really happy that I made it into the second round…I feel more confident in my writing and oral skills now because of the poetry slam,” Chloe said.

The poetry slam progressed through four elimination rounds resulting in a winner, Olivia Lee Mei Lin.

Olivia, a Malaysian exchange student, experienced competitive poetry writing for the first time.

“I saw the poetry slam flyer and my friends suggested I do it.”

“This was the first time I wrote something serious,” Olivia said.

Julia received many applicants for the slam but had to turn some away due to popularity.

WORDSMITH: The Poetry Slam crowd enjoying the rhymes CREDIT: Luke Brooks

Julia hopes the next slam is bigger and better with a more vocal audience.

“Back home in New York the audience yells out and participates more with the poet,” said Julia.

To join the next poetry slam at JCU, contact Julia Dunn or look out for a new flyer posted around campus.

Colourful art installations and creatively crafted sculptures are on display at the Museum of Tropical Queensland.

By Leilani Waters

The Museum of Tropical Queensland has collaborated with various local artists to create colourful and imaginative pieces for their latest exhibitions Made from Scratch and Colour: Secret Language of the Reef.

The two exhibitions officially opened in the past two weeks and are part of the museums new initiative to represent the diversity of Tropical Queensland.

The exhibition Colour: Secret Language of the Reef, is a new interactive exhibition which explores life on the on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Gallery Reef Installation invited local artists to get involved in helping decorate the museum in honour of the latest exhibition.

Ms Tracy Kepper, has been involved in creating pieces to decorate all over the museum in honour of the ‘Colour: Secret Language of the Reef’ exhibition.

Who approached you to contribute pieces to the museum?
An email was sent to JCU Chicks with Sticks from Visitor Experience Officer, Museum of Tropical Queensland Viv Moran.  Viv invited all artists in the Townsville area to create and contribute individual pieces for the Colours of the Coral display.

What is the process to make the pieces?
The hardest part was deciding on what type of coral and or creatures to create, and where to stop. I think I redid my individual work about three times until I was happy with it. The main difficulty was creating the water as the background, once I worked that out the rest only took about two weeks to put together.  The octopuses, fish, shells, turtle, and of course the mermaid took between 30 minutes to 3 hours each to crochet in the Amigurumi style, these were made first, then arranged onto the background.

What pieces have you contributed to the exhibition?
The “Octopuses Garden”, “Community Group Piece” with Mirjam Maugham, Mikela Murray (JCU Chicks with Sticks), Judy Hunter and Sharyn How Lum (Fibres and Fabrics), and “Myne the Seagull”, who ended up in Sharyn How Lum’s “Turtle Hatching” work.  Also Jaqueline de Jong (JCU Chicks with Sticks) contributed the most amazing coral creations for the touch cushions.

Did you choose what you would create for the exhibition?
The design brief was anything to do with the Great Barrier Reef and how we ‘see’ the reef from an artist eye.  The individual artist could create their reef piece from any chosen medium.   It was interesting to see so many different interpretations of how we view the reef.  My favourite would have to be the big blue jellyfish made from palm tree seed frond and paper-mache created by Kith and Kin clients.

On the 21^st of May, the museum also opened their ‘Made from Scratch’ exhibition, which displays the talented works of various artists who have created their individual pieces from scratch.

Gabi Sturman, a ceramic artist, contributed two installation artworks each made up of 7 – 10 individual pieces for the ‘Made from Scratch’ exhibition.

How did you get involved in the ‘Made from Scratch’ exhibition?
Viv Moran. I responded to an expression of interest for ‘Made from Scratch’ in the Umbrella Studios newsletter and Viv called me saying that she liked my work.

What is the process that goes into creating your works?
I initially start out with a basic intention, and the concept grows and strengthens with the artwork. I do like my work to have a positive environmental message about how precious our environment is. I sculpt my animals out of clay, and then I make a multi piece plaster mould from the original sculpture (called a ‘master’). I then cast copies of the master with porcelain or in the case of the ‘Roadkill resurrection’ piece, bone china made from the bones of native road kill. This piece was more difficult and complicated than usual, as not only did I have the technical difficulties of working with road kill bones (according to my literature research, this has not been done before) I also had to apply for a permit from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to collect native road kill, which was not the most simplest of tasks as my proposed project did not fall neatly into any category. Thankfully, the staff at EHP were very helpful, and made traversing the black hole of bureaucracy a lot easier.

ROADKILL RESURRECTION: Immortalising the victims of our roads and highways.
Photo by Gabi Sturman

What do you find most inspiring about rainforests?
The diversity. We are spoilt with amazing flora and fauna such as the tree kangaroo, cassowary, luminous fungi, ancient trees such as the stockwellia tree and so many more – all very inspiring! I feel very fortunate to be living in such a special place.

How does it feel to have your work presented in the Museum of Tropical Queensland?
I feel very honoured to have my work exhibited at the Museum of Tropical Queensland. I haven’t exhibited in a museum before.

Where can people go to see more of your work?
People are welcome to see my work in my studio in Yungaburra – please see my website for more details at www.gabi.com.au

To donate to the Museum of Tropical Queensland, or to find out more visit their website here.

By Domanii Cameron

Workplace flexibility may be the key in  helping youths find employment, particularly students.

Following the Federal Government’s decision to cut youth welfare in the 2014-2015 Budget, workplaces are being urged to consider students and prospective employees when it comes to designating hours.

The Federal Government is planning to cut welfare to the unemployed under the age of 29 unless exempted, resulting in nossible  income losses of up to $255 per week.

Member for Parliament from the Division of Leichhardt in Queensland, Warren Entsch says young people are feeling the grunt when businesses cannot afford to pay penalty rates.

“The fact that you’ve got to be under 18 to get junior rates makes it very difficult and that’s wrong,” Mr Entsch says.

“We need to be allowed to let our young people work.”

Governments must allow businesses to have a more flexible roster to accommodate for youths who are unable to work regular hours.

“Now we’re not talking exploitation but just extended hours so they can work and earn,” he says.

“This is something we need to address if we’re going to do this properly.”

Mr Entsch says pushing young people into work or study will help them out of the welfare system.

“We did make a commitment where we would be trying to get people off welfare and into the workforce or study,” he says.

“Young people will be paid $2500 if they are able to find a job and hold it down for 12 months.

“That’s a good incentive.

“And we’ll be giving a further $2000 if they can hold the job down for another 12 months.”

Youths to feel full effect of new budget. PHOTO CREDIT: Google Images

For youths who need to relocate to find work, welfare will also be available.

“About $40 million has been targeted to programs that will offer support for job seekers who need to relocate,” Mr Entsch says.

“Up to $6000 will be available to those we have to relocate from a regional area and $3000 if they need to relocate to a metropolitan area from a regional area.

“If they have a family, then there will be another opportunity to get a further $3000 on top of that.”

“We’re gong to make it a bit tougher for you to get access to the doll or whatever but we’re going to make an incentive so that you actually get out there and do something else if it means picking fruit or dairy.”

Australian Council of Social Services Media Advisor Fernando de Freitas says young people are already subject to tough requirements and that the new budget will not help.

“Perhaps the harshest measure [of the Budget] is the new rules to deny income support to young people,” Fernando says.

“Young people are already subject to tough requirements to get assistance.

“For instance, people under 22 years who leave school early are already required to complete school or train, or they lose income support.

“Those over 21 are required to search for 10 jobs a fortnight and prove it to Centrelink or they risk a loss of payments for eight weeks.”

De Freitas says to assist youths, the focus should be on opening up job opportunities.

“This should be done in collaboration with business leaders, investors, local communities, and social services to give young people hope, and help them get a foot in the door,” he says.

An effective way to address long-term unemployment would be to recognise skills and capability related barriers.

“A first step would be to increase the availability of places in cost-effective wage subsidy programs such as Wage Connect, and Youth Connections, providing a subsidy roughly equivalent to the Newstart Allowance to a real employer, and mentoring and sustained supports,” he says.

“This gives young people the work experience they desperately want.”

Queensland Youth Services CEO Wendy Lang says the cuts will make youth unemployment worse.

“I think the best way to deal with high rate of youth unemployment is to introduce more traineeships and apprenticeships or other aspects which can give young people more of an opportunity to get experience,” Lang  says.

“Unless they can get work experience and be exposed to a work environment, how are they going to decide on a training course that is actually going down the path that they want to take.”

For more information on how the Budget will affect you, click here.

By Domanii Cameron

The Queensland State Government has failed to give James Cook University any reason as to why an Indigenous Representative was not appointed to the University’s Council.

It is the first time in almost 20 years that there has been an absence of indigenous representation on the Council.

JCU Council Secretary Michael Kern says it is a very disappointing matter.

“We were given no reason as to why someone wasn’t appointed,” Kern says.

“On this occasion, the government actually didn’t support our nominations, which is quite unusual.

“The two previous governments did support the recommendations.

“We have a pretty gold star process on how we choose [a candidate].

“It is very annoying.”

Mr Kern says, however,  JCU has no statutory obligations to have an indigenous representative in Council.

“The Council can still do its job.

“However it is just really important for us and the university to have an Indigenous person participating in decision making at the highest level.”

The Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Reference Group are working on developing a process that could help ensure that an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander representative will be appointed in the future.

“So really now, the only avenue left for the university would be through its additional member and because of all the uncertainty that was going on in the lead up to the transitional hand over period, the Chancellor asked the Council to extend the appointment of the current additional member, Mr Ernie Landy through to the end of 2014,” Kern says.

“So potentially at the end of this process, and we now know who’s on the council.

“If there was no Indigenous representative and the Council thought that it was very important, they could well move to seek to appoint a new representative but it would require quite a deal of lobbying and support.

“I think we’re the second highest university with Indigenous enrolments.

“I think it’s a valid question to ask; why don’t we have a representative.”

Eddie Koiko Mabo Library at JCU. PHOTO CREDIT: Google Images

JCU is the only university in the Western Hemisphere who has a main library named after an indigenous member of the community.

Former advisor to the Vice Chancellor on Indigenous matters and current Adjunct Professor at JCU Gracelyn Smallwood says she is disappointed that not many people are investigating into the matter more.

“I think it’s very sad that there’s not too many people kicking up about it actually,” Smallwood says.

“I am extremely disappointed especially where there is such a major disparity between educational outcomes, between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians which is why there’s such a big promotion in government and non-government institutions about closing the gap.”

Smallwood says she is displeased regarding the current political climate.

“I would strongly advise the Council to ask why there isn’t an Indigenous representative.”

JCU Chancellor John Grey says he wasn’t impressed by the decision either.

“I think its very disappointing that we don’t have an Indigenous representative at the moment and that was the decision by the government,” Grey says.

“I’m not impressed by that especially considering our dedication towards reconciliation.”

The newly elected board members of JCU’s Council are planning to focus on new student developments during their four-year term.

By Domanii Cameron

James Cook University officially welcomed the new JCU Council board members at the 16^th Annual Council Induction last Wednesday.

The induction of the members was held at the School of Creative Arts courtyard.

Secretary of Council Michael Kern says the Council proposes to set up a Student Focus Subcommittee.

“The council has already decided that it may create some new committees and subcommittees,” Mr Kern says.

“It would include a Student Focus Subcommittee and a Risk Subcommittee.”

Kern says the subcommittees will be welcomed as a refreshing new initiative by students.

“We’ve always wanted a student focus subcommittee and it’s really hard because if you read the JCU Act, it very rarely mentions students,” Mr Kern says.

“It’s a very exciting development.

“Having a Student Focus Subcommittee will be amazing.”

JCU’s Council has proposals for a new student subcommittee. PHOTO CREDIT: JCU Website

With the 2014 Budget announcing that universities may soon be able to charge independent prices on courses, JCU may find itself a part of a more competitive market.

JCU Chancellor John Grey says to combat this, the Council needs to ensure that the University maintains a high international reputation.

“What students are looking for is value for money and what they’re looking for are very clever teachers and researchers,” Mr Grey says.

“We already have an international reputation in a number of areas including marine science and sustainable ecologies and so on.

“Those things are a big plus,” he says.

The Chancellor says having students on Council is very important.

“There are two reasons we have students on Council.

“One is to have student input but also because it’s a wonderful opportunity for students to see the governance of a very large organisation with high dollar values, so they learn a lot out of it.”

The Chancellor says the elected students have been very enthusiastic.

“They’ve been a bit amazed by the complexity of it because it’s beyond anything so far that they’ve run into, but they have been very enthusiastic and eager to learn,” he says.

Student Council member Laura Walker says her primary goal is to represent JCU’s student body.

“I was elected by the students,” she says.

“That’s my role within Council and I will always be open to students coming up to me.

“I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”

Elected student member Edward Harridge who is a Business and Law student says to help address issues that may arise out of the proposed 2014 Budget, JCU can be made more appealing by focusing on quality.

“Focusing on quality in its areas of comparative advantage like marine biology and marine sciences and that sort of thing will help,” Mr Harridge says.

“For areas like law and business however where there is a lot of competition, JCU doesn’t have an advantage and it will have to compete on price.

“There will have to be more efficiency on those particular areas.”

Both Edward and Laura agree that parking is a popular issue when campaigning.

“We could remove some of the overzealous issuing of parking fines,” Mr Harridge says.

“There is plenty of room outside of the library for parking and also near the Creative Arts building.

“There certainly isn’t a shortage of space.”

Fellow elected student member Mark Dodge was unavailable to speak at the induction.

To raise any issues with the student members, you can contact them  here.

Townsville’s Port is set to get an upgrade. The recent cruise ship terminal is just one part of the grand design. However, there are concerns over negative environmental impacts.

By Judith Aisthorpe and Domanii Cameron

With proposals underway for an expansion of Townsville’s port, the city’s Deputy Mayor is concerned locals do not have a full grasp on the situation.

This photo essay, which includes interviews from Townsville Deputy Mayor Vern Veitch, ActNow president Jonathan Bester and Curtain Brothers employee Rob Perkins, provides some insight into the proposals.