21 September, 2018: Telstra this week launched two of the year’s most anticipated smartphones: iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.
Celebrities at Telstra store in Melbourne
Celebrities at Telstra in Melbourne
Apple Watch Series 4
iPhoneXs
Happy Telstra customer posing with celebrities and his new iPhone
L to R singer Thelma Plum, footballer Seb Ross and TV star Lydia Schiavello
LtoR – Flanked by Telstra staff, singer Thelma Plum, TV star Lydia Schiavello and footballer Seb Ross
Telstra staff pose with celebrities
Singer Thelma Plum, TV star Lydia Schiavello and footballer Seb Ross
Telstra Bourke St
Celebrities at Telstra store in Melbourne
L to R and flanked by Telstra staff, singer Thelma Plum, TV star Lydia Schiavello and footballer Seb Ross
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are the most advanced iPhones yet and feature stunning 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch Super Retina displays[i] that offer remarkable brightness and true blacks while showing 60 percent greater dynamic range in HDR photos.
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max bring an improved dual camera system that offers breakthrough photo and video features, A12 Bionic chip with next-generation Neural Engine, faster Face ID, wider stereo sound, longer battery life, splash and water resistance (fresh water max depth 2m for up to 30mins)[ii], the most durable glass in a smartphone to date, and a beautiful new gold finish that joins silver and space grey. iPhone XS Max offers an immersive experience with over 3 million pixels for videos, movies and games, offering the largest display to date in an iPhone.
Telstra’s GM of Device Experience, Deven Harrison said: “There’s huge excitement surrounding the launch of these new phones and we’re delighted to be able to offer our customers these next-generation smartphones on Australia’s best mobile network.”
Telstra also launched the new Apple Watch Series 4 which has been redesigned and re-engineered to help users connect, be more active and manage their health. It features a 30 per cent larger display, a thinner, smaller case and a new interface with more information and richer detail. Apple Watch Series 4 brings advanced activity and communication features, along with new health capabilities including a next generation accelerometer and gyroscope which are able to detect hard falls.[iii]
“As mobile connectivity is integrated into more wearables we are offering customers broader range of connected devices in store – including the new Apple Watch. Customers can use our Telstra One Number solution[iv], which is offered as an add-on on top of their monthly mobile plan, to connect the Apple Watch Series 4 to the Telstra Mobile Network so they can send/receive messages and make/receive calls even when they don’t have their iPhone with them,” said Harrison.
To coincide with the launch, Telstra is offering iPhone customers bonus data and a $10 recurring monthly credit on its $129/mth Mobile Plan and $129/mth Mobile Lease Plan when customers stay connected for 24 months. iPhone XS 64GB is available for $119/mth ($129/mth Mobile Lease plan less a $10/mth recurring credit and no additional handset lease payments) and will come with 90GB data a month (60GB + a bonus 30GB) as well as Peace of Mind Data (see below for details). Minimum cost $2856 when customer stays connected for 24 months and phone is returned in good working order. The iPhone XS Max 64GB is available for $134/mth ($129/mth Mobile Lease Plan with $15/mth additional handset lease payments less a $10/mth credit) and will include 90GB data a month (60GB + a bonus 30GB) as well as Peace of Mind data (see below for details). Minimum cost $3216 when customer stays connected for 24 months and phone is returned in good working order.
Peace of Mind Data is a new type of back-up data, so if customers run out of included data in a month, they won’t have to pay excess data charges in Australia. This data is speed capped at 1.5Mbps until the end of the customer’s bill cycle (which means it is not suitable for HD video or high speed applications, and means that some web pages, videos, social media content and files may take longer to load) and is slowed further during busy periods.
For use in Australia. For personal use in a smartphone only. FairPlay policy applies. Data is not shareable with other services on the same billing account.
For more details on pricing and data plans, please visit telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/apple. For more details on iPhone please visit www.apple.com/au/.
Apple, iPhone and Apple Watch are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.
[i] The display has rounded corners. When measured as a rectangle, the screen is 5.85 inches (iPhone XS) or 6.46 inches (iPhone XS Max) diagonally. Actual viewable area is less.
[ii] iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are splash, water and dust resistant, and were tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 2 metres in fresh water for up to 30 minutes). Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage is not covered under manufacturer warranty. Your Australian Consumer law rights still apply.
[iii] Emergency calls require cellular connectivity and an iPhone 6 and above running iOS
11.0 or later.
[iv] iPhone 6 and above running iOS 11.0 or later required.
Click here or on the images below to visit the Catalina Website
Catalina Country Club – Lobby
Catalina Country Club – Swimming pool
Catalina Country Club – Villa Living Room
By Dee Jefferson and Kate Evans for RN’s The Bookshelf
Updated yesterday at 10:46pmSun 26 Aug 2018, 10:46pm
Audio: Michelle de Kretser and The Life To Come (Books and Arts)
Related Story: A reader’s guide to the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist
Australia’s most prestigious literary prize, worth $60,000, has been awarded this year to Michelle de Kretser for her novel The Life to Come.
It is the second Miles Franklin for de Kretser, who won in 2013 for her novel Questions of Travel, and the third time in the award’s 61-year history that a woman has won more than once (Thea Astley won the Miles Franklin four times; Jessica Anderson won twice).
Photo: Michelle de Kretser accepted the award at a ceremony at Melbourne Writers Festival. (ABC)
De Kretser won this year’s award against a shortlist of six that included fellow previous winner Kim Scott (shortlisted for his novel Taboo), and reclusive outlier Gerald Murnane (touted by some as a prospect for this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature, before it was postponed).
“I haven’t really taken it in yet, what it means. … I feel very happy,” de Kretser said.
The Life to Come is de Kretser’s sixth title. In its patchwork of settings and stories, it features all kinds of writers and would-be writers, but revolves in particular around the recurring character of Pippa, an ambitious writer who has (per the novel) “grit, longing, imagination, a capacity for hard work, a measure of selfishness, a shot of insanity — in short, everything needed for greatness except talent”.
Chairman of the judging panel, State Library of NSW Mitchell Librarian Richard Neville, said: “Sentence-by-sentence, it is elegant, full of life and funny. With her characteristic wit and style, Michelle de Kretser dissects the way Australians see ourselves, and reflects on the ways other parts of the world see us.”
“I suppose what I was having a bit of fun with was the rise and rise of marketing in the world of publishing.
“I feel like the book that gets all the attention and the big marketing budget behind it is not necessarily the book that is great literature and is not necessarily the book that’s going to last,” de Kretser said.
Among contemporary Australian fiction writers, she cites Joan London (The Golden Age), Fiona McFarlane (The Night Guest) and Mireille Juchau (The World Without Us) as three whose work inspires her.
The ultimate book club for all you bibliophiles.
The Miles Franklin Literary Award was established in 1957 through the will and bequest of Stella Maria Miles Franklin, author of My Brilliant Career.
It is awarded each year to a novel “of the highest literary merit” which presents “Australian life in any of its phases”.
Speaking of the role of literary prizes in the industry, de Kretser said: “They do get books into the news [and] they start conversations around books — and not just about books, but about other issues, like gender in prizes.”
She also talked about the important financial role of prizes for writers, pointing out that “the average income for a book writer in Australia is between $12,000 and $13,000 per annum.
“So the money from any literary prize is always a lifeline for writers — it means you don’t wake up at 3 in the morning worrying about the bills you have to pay. And it buys you time to write, which is a great gift.
“I think that’s the reason Miles Franklin set up the prize. … She herself had found it so difficult to make a living as a writer, that she was determined to ease the way for other writers.”
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) in collaboration with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Sydney organised Sri Lanka’s participation at the Travel Industry Exhibition held from 21st to 22nd August, 2018 at Dockside, Darling Harbour.
Sri Lanka was the destination partner at this annual event and 14 member Sri Lankan travel trade and SLTPB official delegation showcased unparalleled diversity of the Island nation and the newest travel experiences at the exhibition.
On the first day of the exhibition, a Press Briefing over a Sri Lankan Breakfast was organised at the Dockside Cold Room and more than 40 media personnel and travel trade members attended the networking meeting. Hon. Damien Tudehope MP, the NSW State Parliament, Ms Rhonda Piggott, Director/Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Mr. Lal Wickrematunge, Consul General for Sri Lanka in Sydney, Mr. Sutheash Balasubramaniam, Managing Director/SLTPB and Mr. Sanjeewa Jayathilake, Country Manager/SriLankan Airlines in Melbourne spoke at the Press Briefing.
Managing Director/SLTPB made the presentation highlighting the major tourist attractions of the country and played the promotional video for the audience. He said Sri Lanka has a rich artistic tradition, with distinct creative forms that encompass music dance and arts. He said that the culturally rich island is home to a number of different religions bringing with them their own traditions, festivals and parades making Sri Lanka a hot spot for tourist and locals alike. Buddhist, Hindu and Muslims celebrations bring a unique flavour of dance, costume and music. A peacock dance number was presented to the audience at the press briefing. Sri Lankan delicacies including hoppers and Ceylon tea were served at the Breakfast Networking.
Sri Lanka is one of the fastest growing outbound leisure destination from Australia, with the country is now accessible via non-stop SriLankan Airline flights direct from Melbourne to Colombo.
The invited Australian guests and the media personnel joined the official opening of the Sri Lankan Pavilion while the Sri Lankan dance group performing the traditional cultural items.
The Sri Lanka Consulate had also arranged meetings with Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO), the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), Fairfax Media, Helloworld Group and Unique Tourism for the visiting Tourism Officials from the SLTPB.
Sri Lanka’s participation at the Travel Industry Show was co-ordinated by Mr. Abdul Raheem, Consul (Commercial) of the Sri Lankan Consulate General in Sydney and Ms Chami Gasnawage, Assistant Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka
Sydney
24th August 2018
20 August, 2018
Telstra today showcased new mobile plans that allow customers to say alvida to excess data fees in Australia and the first three smartphones to launch on them. The three smartphones are:
The new consumer mobile and tablet plans are the first in a series of product innovations Telstra is introducing under its strategy to simplify products, eliminate customer pain points and create all digital experiences.
Telstra GM Product Experience Deven Harrison said “We are really excited by what these new handsets can offer our customers and with a selection of our new plans offering Peace of Mind Data, they will be able use their new smartphones in Australia to stream their favourite Bollywood music and standard definition video, and share moments or pictures with friends, without worrying about incurring excess data charges”.
About Peace of Mind Data
Peace of Mind Data is included on selected new Telstra plans or can be added to other new plans for $10 a month. Once customers reach their included data allowance, Peace of Mind Data kicks in to get through the remainder of the month.
Peace of Mind data is speed capped at 1.5Mbps which is typically suitable for streaming video in standard definition, listening to music, browsing the web and accessing social media. Speeds at times may be lower. Peace of Mind of Data is not suitable for HD video or high speed applications, and means that some webpages, video/social media content and files may take longer to load and may be slowed further during busy periods.
Peace of mind data is for personal use in Australia, and in a smartphone only. FairPlay policy applies.
The speeds you actually receive may vary depending on a range of factors including your device, location, user numbers and download sources.
Telstra’s new mobile and tablet plans are available to customers who want to bring their existing device to Telstra (BYO plans) as well as those looking to lease or own a new smartphone (Lease and MRO plans).
All new mobile phone plans come with unlimited domestic talk, text and MMS to standard Australian numbers plus exclusive extras available to Telstra mobile customers.
Unlimited international calls and texts from Australia to international numbers in 15 destinations (including China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam) are also included on Large, X-Large and Ultimate Mobile Plan and Mobile Lease plans, as well as Medium and Large Mobile BYO plans.
Coinciding with the launch of its new plans, Telstra also introduced a redesigned Telstra 24/7 app making it easier and more intuitive for customers to access and control their services – the first in a number of changes Telstra is making to create an effortless digital experience.
The Oppo R15 Pro and the Telstra Superior are available now. The Samsung Galaxy Note9 will be available from August 24.
-Ends-
About Telstra
Telstra is a leading telecommunications and information services company. We offer a full range of services and compete in all telecommunications markets in Australia, operating the largest mobile and Wi-Fi networks. Globally, we provide end-to-end solutions including managed network services, global connectivity, cloud, voice, colocation, conferencing and satellite solutions. We have licenses in Asia, Europe and the United States and offer access to more than 2,000 points of presence across the globe. For more information visit www.telstra.com.
1 The Telstra Mobile Network offers 4GX in all major and regional cities and in over 1600 towns and communities around Australia. In other coverage areas around Australia, you’ll automatically switch to our fastest available 4G or 3G. Check coverage at telstra.com/coverage. Typical download speeds in 4GX areas are 5 -300Mbps with category 16 devices, 5-200Mbps with category 11 devices, 5-150Mbps with category 9 devices, 2-100Mbps with category 6 devices, and 2-75Mbps with category 4 devices. Speeds vary for reasons like location, distance from base stations, terrain, user numbers, hardware/software configuration, download source and upload destination.
Click here or on the Photos below to view the full set of photos from the Catalina Country Club, Koggala, Sri Lanka: Information Morning held at the Killara Golf Club in Sydney on 19th August 2018 – Presented by Jeevan William.
Visit this page again to view a copy of the Presentation as well as other information.
Click here for Information re: the Melbourne Presentation
Story contributed by: Marie Pietersz, Melbourne
Pictures: courtesy of Project BEAP
Australian members of the Foundation Supporting a National Trauma Service in Sri Lanka Inc (Foundation) recently returned from a visit to Sri Lanka where they joined Sri Lankan dignitaries and people of the township of Batticoloa to witness the opening of the new Accident & Emergency Treatment Unit (A&E) within the General Hospital on Hospital Road, Batticaloa, on 17 June 2018.
Hon Rajitha Senarathna, Minister for Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine (MOH), and his deputy Mr Faizal Cassim, together with Dr David Young, President of the FSNTSSL, who represented this Australian initiative, declared open the new facility with the singing of the National Anthem and unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
The building was funded with the Sri Lanka MOH outlaying Rs.547m and the Foundation subscribing Rs.260m plus the architectural drawings and supervision of the construction.
It took seven years since the plan was conceived and three months since the stone was laid for the three-storey, 80,000 sq.ft. building to be constructed by the Central Engineering & Consulting Bureau under the watchful eye of the Architect, Dr Locan Gunaratna, of Gunaratna Associates.
The Foundation was established in Melbourne in 2011 to provide the Sri Lanka healthcare sector with leadership and motivation to construct A&E Units to cater for the burgeoning need for this service lacking through the Sri Lankan public sector. The Foundation is spearheaded by Dr David Young, prominent Melbourne Orthopaedic Surgeon with a keen interest in Sri Lanka, derived mainly from his involvement in sports medicine with the Sri Lankan Cricket team and other faculties of sport. The Foundation’s Patron is Dr David de Kretser, former Governor of Victoria, Australia, who has Sri Lankan heritage.
Foundation CEO and Coordinator Nihal de Run, past pupil of Royal College and former employee in the Sri Lanka tea industry, recruited a team of volunteers and business specialists to assist with fund-raising activities and liaison with Sri Lankan government officials. Committee members include Jerome Adams (Deputy CEO), Dave Paramanandan, Lorraine Fernando and Kirupa Sathanantha (Treasurer). The Foundation has a membership of over 300 and pledged over US$2m for the building and US$1m for medical equipment and furniture. Nalin Pathikirikorale (Vice President SL), Jayantha Jayewardene, Indrajith Fernando, Bobby Jordan Hansen, Chandi Page and Bill Deutrom also assisted with raising these funds through donations from both Sri Lankan and Australian corporates, including an individual donation totalling Rs.45m.
The Foundation provided the following data:
This new A&E Unit is the second in a series of 14 modern state-of-the-art units to be constructed throughout the island to cater for the rising demand for healthcare in this category. Karapitiya in the south was the first, Batticaloa is the next and it is expected that twelve more will be constructed soon. Work has already started at the Jaffna, Polonnoruwa, Kalmunai and Matara hospitals. The MOH is to be congratulated on taking the advice that A&E Units are vitally important not only for citizens of Sri Lanka, but also for the growing number of tourists that visit.
Road accidents is the number one reason for people seeking admittance to A&E units. The better the roads the faster people tend to travel and the abundance of road traffic vehicles is causing a rapid increase in accidents. Other reasons people seek assistance in these A&E facilities are dog bites (anti-rabies treatment) snake bites, stings, poisons, burns and industrial and domestic accidents.
In the calendar year 2017, 21,654 people were admitted for surgery. Of this fifty percent was for major surgeries. Now, with the addition of three new operating theatres, the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital will be in a better position to deal with the patient demand.
An inspection of the new facility revealed, on the ground floor, a spacious reception area for incoming patients and their family members, an Ambulance Transfer area, Triage, Burns Decontamination room, Poison Treatment room, Rabies treatment unit, Resuscitation Unit, Treatment room with 20 beds, Procedure room, Radiology Room, Ultrasound Scanning Unit, and a CT Scanning room.
The first floor has a sixty-bed male & female short stay ward and six high dependency beds.
The second floor has the three operating theatres, one for general surgery, one for orthopaedic surgery and one for specialty surgery including eye surgery, with accompanying preparation and recovery areas.
Nihal attributes the success of this initiative to the public-private partnership (not for profit) between the Sri Lanka MOH and the private sector, a partnership he believes can and should be repeated in Sri Lanka to help grow the country’s health care sector quickly and efficiently. He says this needs special arrangements in key government departments and fast communication lines between public sector organisations as the private sector is accustomed to prompt responses and more written communication. He believes this partnership model can work well anywhere in the world.
“The Foundation’s goal now is to fund a CT Scanner, which will cost US$600,000, and the wheels are already in motion to do this within this year, said Nihal.
For more information, or to make a donation to support the Batticoloa Emergency Accident Project (Project BEAP), contact Nihal on +61-419382142 or Skype: dderun.
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Sri Lankan Ambassadors and High Commissioners appointed – Prof Arusha Cooray of Sydney Australia Appointed as Ambassador to Norway |
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