News in brief

Severe weather help and info

The Public Information and Inquiry Centre (PIC) has been activated as severe weather and flooding affects NSW, including the Sydney Metropolitan Area. The centre can be called on 1800 227 228 for details on the current relief operation, and is particularly useful for those who are concerned about family and loved ones in affected areas. Meanwhile, people experiencing damage or flooding to their homes are encouraged to called the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500, while anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency is urged to call 000 (triple zero) immediately. For information on road closures, visit www.livetraffic.com or call 132 701. The weather emergency, caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald, has seen strong winds and flooding rains affect large parts of NSW and Queensland.

Gary the Goat gets off

A goat accused of eating flowers outside the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) has had his day in court and won. In a case that has drawn worldwide attention, James Dezarnaulds (AKA Jimbo Bazoobi) was issued with a $440 fine on August 22 last year after police from The Rocks Local Area Command caught Mr Dezarnaulds’ goat Gary chomping on flowers outside the MCA. But the case was dismissed in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court last Wednesday. Magistrate Carolyn Barkell said the fine should never have been issued. Mr Dezarnaulds told reporters he was delighted by the verdict, adding: “I just think there’s so many laws and regulations in Australia which are just an abuse of common sense.”

Mardi Gras ‘pop-up’ museum opens

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has officially opened a ‘pop-up museum’ celebrating 35 years of Sydney Mardi Gras. The Sydney Mardi Gras Museum, located at 82-106 Oxford St, Darlinghurst features notable memorabilia and costumes from the event’s three-and-a-half decade history as one of the world’s premier queer cultural events. Speaking about the museum, Ms Moore said: “The pop-up museum honouring 35 years of Mardi Gras is a fantastic way for us to remember how much has changed. For people growing up today, the persecution and violence faced by past generations may be hard to imagine. There was a time when just being homosexual was seen as wrong, even criminal.” Ms Moore said she hoped visitors and Sydneysiders alike would take the time to visit the museum and “share this important part of our community’s history”.