Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Firefighters from Kalkallo Fire Brigade responded to the incident on Saturday (21 June) at around 2:30pm in Kalkallo.  

Incident Controller Melissa Trueman said the rescue proved more challenging than expected.   

“Initially, the cat seemed less than enthusiastic about being rescued,” said Melissa.  

“It was clearly distressed and made it known that it wasn’t entirely convinced we were there to help.”  

Despite the resistance, the crew remained calm and worked carefully to free the cat.  

“The rescue had its tricky moments, but with a bit of perseverance we were able to get the cat to safety,” said Melissa. 

“A few comforting cuddles from the crew after the rescue went a long way in easing its nerves.” 

Thanks to the care and effort of CFA volunteers, the cat avoided any injury and was back on its feet feline fine.  

The cat was handed over to the original call taker at the scene, who transported it to a veterinary clinic for precautionary assessment. The curious cat is now safe and being cared for at a local animal rescue.  

The Kalkallo brigade remains committed to serving the community in all situations, whether it’s a fire emergency or lending a hand (or paw) in unexpected circumstances. 

This year’s theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities and the legacy of our ancestors.

The City of Wanneroo is running a variety of free events and activities throughout July, and the community are encouraged to get involved.  

On Friday 4 July, a formal Flag Raising Ceremony will take place in the Jacaranda Amphitheatre as symbol of respect and appreciation for the City’s local Aboriginal heritage, culture and community. The event will feature a Welcome to Country by Aboriginal elder Vaughn McGuire and a special cultural performance by students from Butler College. 

The City is also running series of bushtucker sessions where participants will learn about native botanicals and bushfood plants for the backyard, Nyungar culture sessions at City youth centres, and special Six Seasons Storytime sessions at Wanneroo and Clarkson libraries.

Take a look at the full schedule at wanneroo.wa.gov.au/naidocweek
 

In brief:

• This article lists lesser-known walks in the ACT.
• This article lists easy, moderate and more difficult walks.

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Canberrans are lucky to live among so many reserves, parks and green spaces.

Tucked away in these spaces are great walking trails that you may not have discovered yet.

Whether you’re an avid hiker or like to catch up with friends while taking a stroll, we’ve rounded up 10 lesser-known local walks to try.

Church Rock Heritage Loop

This 2.5km (one hour) signed heritage walk is in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

Start your adventure at Flints picnic area, where you will walk through Flints homestead site and around Church Rock.

The walk has short steep hill sections, a rough surface and many steps. It’s suitable for most ages and fitness levels, but some bushwalking experience is recommended.

London Bridge Walk

This easy 4.5km circuit is in the Googong Foreshores area.

The track takes you through the woodlands to the London Bridge Arch – an incredible geological formation that’s over 20,000 years old – before following the valley to London Bridge Homestead.

Both the arch and the homestead are heritage-listed sites, so remember not to climb on the arch, enter the caves or swim in the surrounding creek.

Start your walk at the London Bridge Woolshed carpark.

Mount Arawang Loop

This is a short 3.5km (one hour) return walk on the Canberra Centenary Trail.

Mount Arawang is the highest point on Cooleman Ridge. Ascend through bird-rich bushland before reaching the trig point, which has beautiful views of Brindabella Mountains.

The walk requires no experience and has a formed track but has short steep sections and many steps.

Start the loop at the Namatjira Drive entry to Cooleman Ridge Park at Ballarat Street for easy access.

Mount Gingera

This walking track is in Namadgi National Park. At 1,847 metres, Mount Gingera is ACT’s second highest peak.

This walk is difficult and recommended for experienced bushwalkers. The uphill walk is worth it, rewarding hikers with beautiful views at the top.

We recommend not attempting the walk during winter as weather can change quickly in the mountains and access roads may be closed or become unsafe.

Distance:

• 14.5 km return from Mt Franklin Road (six hours)
• If walking via Stockyard Spur, start on Corin Road (eight to nine hours).

^{Image: Molonglo Gorge}

Molonglo Gorge

The Molonglo Gorge is 3km long and 15-million years old, and you can walk its full length.

The 6.5km (return) track climbs cliffs and skirts waterline to the Blue Tiles picnic area.

The gorge is also an important wildlife corridor, so keep an eye out for rare woodland birds.

Enter from the picnic area off Sutton Road, with parking available at the Molonglo Gorge recreation area.

Mount McDonald Summit Track

Discover a new side of the Cotter.

This moderate track curves through open woodlands to the summit of Mount McDonald. At the top, you will be rewarded with great views of Canberra, the Murrumbidgee River and Brindabella Range.

Distance:

• 3.8km return via Cotter Catchment Lookout Track (two hours)
• 5.2 km return via management trail (three hours)

^{Image: Settlers Track}

Settlers Track

Located in the Namadgi National Park, this track takes walkers back in time.

Experience huts, homesteads and other historic sites from the 19th and 20th centuries.

We recommend not attempting the walk during winter as weather can change quickly in the mountains and access roads may be closed or become unsafe.

Distance:

• 6km loop from Boboyan Road (four hours)
• 9km loop via Waterhole Hut from Boboyan Road (five hours).

This walk is suitable for most ages and fitness levels, though some bushwalking experience is recommended.

^{Image: Tong’s Hole}

Tong’s Hole

This walk is a hidden secret down the road from Shepherd’s Lookout.

The trail starts at the end of Stockdill Drive and takes you down through stands of Black Cypress Pine to the scenic Molonglo River.

It’s a great spot to see raptors and stunning river views.

This moderate 1km return walk takes about one hour. It’s easily accessible from Stockdill Drive, 3km south-west from Ginninderry.

Oakey Hill Nature Reserve Loop

Enjoy an easy 2.4-km loop walk through Oakey Hill Nature Reserve.

The reserve is a 65-hectare protected area between the suburbs of Lyons and Weston in the Woden Valley.

You can access the reserve:

• on its western side via an underpass beneath the Tuggeranong Parkway
• on its northern side from Heysen Street
• on its eastern side from numerous points in Lyons.

^{Image: Wanniassa Hills}

Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve Track

This hidden gem is just down the road from Mount Taylor.

The walk up the mountain is 2.62km return and has great sweeping views at the top.

It is accessible from Erindale Drive and from the suburbs of Fadden and Macarthur.

The reserve is great for:

• birdwatching
• views of southern Canberra
• wildflower displays especially in spring.

Before you go

Respect reserves by:

• staying on the tracks to minimise your impact
• taking your rubbish home with you
• leaving what you find, including plants, animals, rocks and timber (dead and alive)
• respecting the area’s heritage – leave cultural sites undisturbed
• collecting and responsibly disposing of your dog’s droppings (where dogs are permitted)
• cleaning your outdoor gear, including bicycles, to avoid spreading weeds and disease.

Stay safe by:

• bringing your own drinking water
• dressing appropriately for the weather- making sure you rug up if it’s cold or layering clothing
• carrying a mobile phone, especially if you are on your own
• letting someone know where you are going and when you’ll return
• being weather alert – reserves and roads may close if there are severe weather conditions. Check the Parks ACT website before travelling.

Read more like this:

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25 June 2025

An international team of scientists has developed a biodegradable material that could slash global energy consumption without using any electricity, according to a new study published today.

The bioplastic metafilm – that can be applied to buildings, equipment and other surfaces – passively cools temperatures by as much as 9.2°C during peak sunlight and reflects almost 99% of the sun’s rays.

Developed by researchers from Zhengzhou University in China and the University of South Australia (UniSA), the new film is a sustainable and long-lasting material that could reduce building energy consumption by up to 20% a year in some of the world’s hottest cities.

The material is described in the latest issue of Cell Reports Physical Science.

UniSA PhD candidate Yangzhe Hou says the cooling metafilm represents a breakthrough in sustainable materials engineering that could help combat rising global temperatures and hotter cities.

“Our metafilm offers an environmentally friendly alternative to air-conditioning, which contributes significantly to carbon emissions,” says Hou, who is also from Zhengzhou University.

“The material reflects nearly all solar radiation and theoretically allows internal building heat to emit directly into outer space. This enables the building to stay cool, even under direct sunlight.”

Notably, the film continues to perform even after prolonged exposure to acidic conditions and ultraviolet light – two major barriers that have historically hindered similar biodegradable materials.

Constructed from polylactic acid (PLA) – a common plant-derived bioplastic – the metafilm is fabricated using a low-temperature separation technique that reflects 98.7% of sunlight and minimises heat gain.

“Unlike conventional cooling technologies, this metafilm requires no electricity or mechanical systems,” says co-author Dr Xianhu Liu from Zhengzhou University.

“Most existing passive radiative cooling systems rely on petrochemical-based polymers or ceramics that raise environmental concerns. By using biodegradable PLA, we are presenting a green alternative that offers high solar reflectance, strong thermal emission, sustainability, and durability.”

In real-world applications, the metafilm showed an average temperature drop of 4.9°C during the day and 5.1°C at night. Field tests conducted in both China and Australia confirmed its stability and efficiency under harsh environmental conditions. Even after 120 hours in strong acid and the equivalent of eight months’ outdoor UV exposure, the metafilm retained cooling power of up to 6.5°C.

Perhaps most significantly, the simulations revealed that the metafilm could cut annual energy consumption by up to 13.1% in cities such as Sydney by reducing dependence on air conditioning.

“This isn’t just a lab-scale success” says co-author Professor Jun Ma from the University of South Australia.

“Our film is scalable and completely degradable,” he says.

“This research aims to contribute to sustainable development by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and exploring feasible pathways to improve human comfort while minimising environmental impact.”

The discovery addresses a major challenge in the field: how to reconcile high-performance cooling with eco-friendly degradation.

The researchers are now exploring potential applications in buildings, transport, agriculture, electronics, and the biomedical field including cooling wound dressings.

‘A structural bioplastic metafilm for durable passive radiative cooling’ is published in Cell Reports Physical Science and is authored by Yangzhe Hou, Yamin Pan, Xianhu Liu, Jun Ma, Chuntai Liu and Changyu Shen. DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102664

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Contacts for interview:

Researchers:

Yangzhe Hou E: yangzhe.hou@unisa.edu.au;

Prof Jun Ma E: jun.ma@unisa.edu.au

Prof Xianhu Liu E: Xianhu.Liu@zzu.edu.cn

Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

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