#WATCH: On this day 5 years ago, #Junee had one of the worst air quality ratings in the world as smoke from Australia’s #BlackSummer bushfires settled over the township.
Junee’s Air Quality Rating soared to a dangerous 5656* at 9am on January 5, 2020, before peaking at a staggering 9018* at 5pm — anything above 200 is considered hazardous.
It was the worst air quality recorded in #Australia and possibly the world at the time, as smoke from the Dunns Road Fire that impacted #Batlow 100km away settled over #ButlersGully.
Although still hazardous, the air quality in #Wagga, 40km south of Junee, wasn’t as bad with the city registering a rating of 3043 at 5pm. Ratings between 1000-3000 were also recorded in #Narrandera and #Temora.
#BlackSummer was one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record in Australia.
The fires were ignited by lightning, discarded cigarette butts, a defence force mishap and arson, and were enhanced by drought, high temperatures and El Niño conditions.
The fires burned over 20 million hectares, destroyed over 3,000 homes, killed 33 people including nine firefighters, and killed or displaced approximately three billion animals.
According to the Medical Journal of Australia, a further 445 people perished from smoke inhalation.
The hit to the country’s economy was just as immense, with the bushfires estimated to have caused over $100 billion in direct and indirect losses, making it the costliest natural disaster in Australian history.
As the crisis came to an end in February another was already brewing, with Australia recording its first confirmed case of #COVID19 on January 20, 2020.
The virus was officially declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation two months later, on March 12.
*#Source: Rural Air Quality Network (Department of Planning, Industry & Environment).
The Junee Bulletin | #ByLocalsForLocals
🎅🚒 #BREAKING HAPPENING NOW: SANTA CLAUS is in #JUNEE! The town’s annual #SantaRun is underway — Fire and Rescue NSW Station 337 Junee has picked Santa up from his secret location and is escorting him around town handing out lollies to all the kids, good and bad!
Listen out for the sirens to catch a glimpse of Santa before he heads off for his busy night🎄
⭐️ Santa was last seen in REGENT STREET at 4:43pm.
If you spot Santa in your street, let us know so others can get an idea on where he is! 🎅
The Junee Bulletin | #ByLocalsForLocals
🎄 #GRINCH STOPS IN #JUNEE: 22 HAYES Crescent was a HIT last night, with the Grinch crashing the #Christmas lights display to help hand out glow sticks & gifts to the kids! 🎁
Terrific effort Belinda & Co — congratulations also on yet another dazzling display this year! This standout setup will be showing right up until December 31 🤩
The Junee Bulletin | #ByLocalsForLocals
STRIKING SUNRISE IN JUNEE
#WATCH BREATHTAKING: A striking sunrise set the sky alight over #Junee this morning, signalling the start of a 10-day dry spell with picture-perfect weather forecast right up until at least mid-next week! This timelapse was captured between 5:30-6am — arguably the best time to start your day! ☀️😍
The Junee Bulletin | #ByLocalsForLocals Visit Junee Shire
FLASH FLOODING IN JUNEE
#WATCH FLASH FLOODING: There were wild scenes in #Junee this afternoon, after a “very dangerous” thunderstorm dumped over a months’ worth of rain on the town in just 30 minutes.
The Bureau of Meteorology first issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Junee at 3pm, warning of damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding.
The warning was upgraded at 4:07pm to include “very dangerous thunderstorms” with “locally destructive winds” and “possibly giant hail”.
The storm opened up over Junee about five minutes later, unleashing strong winds and near white-out rain.
Rainfall totals varied across town, with one resident recording up to 59mm in their backyard gauge off Park Lane in 30 minutes, while residents elsewhere recorded half of that.
The average December rainfall in Junee is just 41mm.
It was the second downpour to drench Junee in as many hours, after a smaller cell dumped 10mm of rain on the town in just 10 minutes about 2:30pm.
The deluge caused widespread flash flooding, with water flowing across multiple roads throughout the Shire.
A number of trees were also brought down across the region, including across Goldfields Way near #Temora after a 90km/h tore through the area at 4:45pm.
The NSW SES has received more than 120 calls for help across the #Riverina.
The towns of #TheRock, 30km southwest of #Wagga, and #Yenda, east of #Griffith have sustained significant storm damage, with widespread power outages, uprooted trees and roof damage.
The NSW SES is urging people avoid these areas.
Upwards of 150mm has now fallen across the #Junee Shire over the past week, since last Friday, November 29.
Residents can breathe a sigh of relief however, with no further thunderstorms or rainfall forecast for at least the next 10 days.
Clear skies are set to return, with the muggy and humid conditions that have plagued the region for the past week to be replaced with more temperate weather.
Temperatur
#WATCH: Check out this footage of yesterday’s monster of a storm sweeping through the #Shire! 🤩⛈️
The Junee Bulletin | #ByLocalsForLocals
⛽️🚘 #WATCH 99c FUEL A MAJOR SUCCESS: #Junee’s Bowser Bound service station triggered a rush for the pump this morning, after slashing the price of its fuel to just 99c per litre for an hour as part of its grand opening celebration.
Motorists keen for a bargain began queuing outside the servo well the before the unbeatable offer began at 10am, eager to take advantage of almost $1 per litre in savings.
The last time the average price of petrol in Australia was below $1 per litre was in February, 2005.
Extra staff were on site to assist with traffic management and to help pump petrol, with drivers hailing the incident-free event a major success.
Customers were able to purchase up to 60 litres of any fuel at the discounted price, and were also treated to free coffees and cheeseburgers, goodie bags and other nifty gifts.
“It’s a well oiled machine,” one driver said. “They should be congratulated on a smooth operation.”
“It was a hot morning but everyone was so patient and happy to wait in line for the deal — it was too good to miss,” said another.
“A lot of people were expecting mayhem, but there was no frenzy like many predicted, the staff were brilliant.”
#JCN #JuneeCommunityNews Bowser Bean
⚡️😳 #WATCH WOAH! Plenty of dangerous cloud-to-ground #lightning around the Shire — this cracking bolt was filmed from #Junee a short time ago, looking south towards #Wagga!
Thunderstorms have been lashing the region for much of the day as a strong frontal system sweeps the state.
Lightning has cut power to more than 13,000 homes and businesses in Wagga and has also started a number of fires across the region, including off Clear Hills Road at #JuneeReefs.
⚠️ LIGHTNING SAFTEY TIPS: Up to 10 people are struck and killed by lightning each year in #Australia, while up to 100 others are hospitalised with severe injuries.
Remember the phrase, "When thunder roars, go indoors."
🚷 Avoid open spaces, vehicles, or structures.
• Find a safe, enclosed shelter when you hear thunder. Even if you see blue sky, you could still be in danger from “clear air lightning”.
• Don't resume outdoor activities for at least 30 minutes after the storm. The beginning and the end of a storm are the most dangerous times.
• Stay away from open spaces such as golf courses, parks, playgrounds, ponds, lakes, swimming pools, and beaches.
• Avoid open vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles, and golf carts.
• Avoid open structures such as porches, gazebos, baseball dugouts, and sports arenas. These structures won’t protect you from lightning.
• Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks.
• Never lie flat on the ground. Crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and hands over your ears so that you are down low with minimal contact with the ground.
• Never shelter under an isolated tree. If you are in a forest, shelter near lower trees.
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
• Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (such as barbed wire fences, power lines, or windmills).
• Separate from others: If y
🌟🎄 THAT’S A WRAP! #JUNEE was abuzz with excitement yesterday, as bumper crowds gathered to celebrate the town’s signature holiday event, #ChristmasOnBroadway.
The premier community celebration offered something for everyone, featuring a wide array of food vendors, bustling market stalls, captivating Christmas performances, and endless fun for the kids.
Excitement peaked with Santa’s much-anticipated arrival, with children lining up for photos with the jolly visitor.
The festivities concluded with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, a magical moment marking the official start of the holiday season.
Drawing praise from residents and visitors alike, the event was hailed as a huge success, showcasing the tireless efforts of its organisers and the invaluable support of its sponsors.
Their contributions ensured the day was both memorable and enjoyable, cementing Christmas on Broadway as a highlight on Junee’s community calendar.
#JCN #JuneeCommunityNews #ChristmasInJunee
Junee Business & Trades Junee Shire Council #VisitJunee
#StormBird - *Turn volume up- I had the opportunity to hear the Koel's song this morning. This bird is often called the 'Storm Bird,' as its vocalizations tend to occur before or during stormy weather. We frequently hear the koel's melodies yet rarely catch a glimpse of the bird itself, but this is by no means the only manifestation of the koel's intelligence. The Koel exhibits brood parasitism, laying eggs in the nests of other bird species, with its eggs typically mimicking those of its host.
Why do Koels bear the name storm birds? The #PacificKoel, a cuckoo species, is known colloquially in Australia as the 'rainbird' or 'stormbird,' due to its calls typically preceding or accompanying inclement weather. Notably, the male Koel's song serves to attract a female, The koel, a migratory bird species, typically migrates to #Australia from #PapuaNewGuinea and Indonesia for breeding purposes from late September to early October annually, during which the male emits a vocal advertising call continuously to attract a female. commonly heard between April and September.
#JCN #JuneeCommunityNews #Koels #VisitJunee
🤩 #SHOWSTOPPER! #Highlights from last night’s spectacular #fireworks finale at the #JuneeShow! The pyrotechnicians involved should once again be commended on the epic display 🙌 Visit Junee Shire The Junee Show and Society #highlightreel #fireworksdisplay #countryshow
