>> lifestyle & home www.katherinetimes.com.au KATHERINE TIMES, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 4, 2013 9 Termites are amazing beast- ies. These primitive insects are closely related to cockroaches not ants. They are a very important part of our Australian environ- ment and are great at recycling plant material back into the soil. Termites are sometimes seen as a pest, but of the perhaps 300 different Australian species of termite, only a few will damage our homes and gardens. Mostly termites go about their business in the bush around us, creating new soil by feeding on grass, wood or rot- ting organic matter. Termites are fragile insects. They dry out quickly in the open air and need to protect themselves against the harsh climate. The mounds that termite colonies build protect them from the weather and are differ- ent depending on the different species of termite. Termites live in colonies that are made up of different types or castes of termites, each with a different job to do. Small pale termites with no wings are worker termites and are the most common. Solider termites protect the nest and are equipped with large jaws or strange looking heads that squirt chemicals at in- vaders. Sometimes, at the right time of year, there are also winged termites or alates. These are the only termites that are both male and female and able to reproduce, or have babies. When the weather is warm and the air is humid the alates will fly out from the colony to find mates. Some colonies will build strange skinny towers called flight towers. These are used by the alates as a launching pad and colonies build them if weather condi- tions are nearing perfect for ter- mite travel. Flights of alates will nor- mally happen all at the same time. Most of these will die, be- coming food for hungry preda- tors or drying out if they spend too long out in the open; some however are able to mate. These then lose their wings and go on to construct new colonies. Connect to Country - with Ranger Clare Do you want to know more about flora, fauna and parks in the Katherine region? ‘Like’ Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife on facebook. Prawns with asparagus Ingredients: 1 kg raw prawns 2 tbs peanut oil 3 tbs lime juice 2 tsp ground coriander 200 g snow peas 1 bunch asparagus, cut 4 spring onions 5 cm piece of ginger, peeled and julienned 2 tsp cornflour 125 ml chicken stock 2 tbs coriander leaves steamed rice, to serve Method: 1. Peel and devein the prawns, leaving the tails intact. 2. Whisk together 1 table- spoon of peanut oil, the lime juice and ground co- riander. Put the prawns into a non- metallic bowl, pour over the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and refriger- ate for 20 minutes. 3. Heat the wok over high heat, add the remaining oil and swirl to coat. Drain the prawns, reserv- ing the marinade. Toss the prawns in the wok for 2 to 3 minutes, or until pink. Remove the prawns from the wok and set aside. 4. Toss the snow peas, asparagus, spring onions and ginger in the wok for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium. Blend the corn- flour with 1 tablespoon of water to form a smooth paste. Add to the wok with the remaining marinade, chicken stock and corn- flour mixture. Bring to the boil and boil for 1 minute. Toss in the prawns, and sprinkle with the corian- der leaves. Serve with steamed rice. TOO Man Cheeky Dog - a wonderful children’s pic- ture book - was written by Katherine resident Johanna Bell and was illustrated by Dion Beasley. I particularly liked it be- cause it is a story of a re- mote Indigenous community where a whole host of cheeky dogs get up to some pretty funny mischief, espe- cially when the dogs have a game of football with a team of donkeys. This book is great for lit- eracy skills as it helps with counting, colours and rhythm and I just loved the il- lustrations of the dogs as I’m a real dog lover and this book certainly shows just how much trouble a dog can get up to. With its quirky and funny illustrations and easy-to- read story the book is a great must-have for any child in the Northern Terri- tory. Author Johanna Bell has worked in remote pre- schools throughout the Ter- ritory, and noticed that there weren’t enough children’s books about the living expe- riences of remote Indige- nous children. Joing forces with deaf artist Dion Beasley, Ms Bell developed the idea of a kids’ book about cheeky dogs. Mr Beasley, who grew up in a remote community in Lake Nash, was born pro- foundly deaf and with mus- cular dystrophy. As he couldn’t speak and didn’t know sign language he found primary school quite a struggle until a dis- ability support worker no- ticed his love - and talent - for drawing camp dog. Mr Beasly now runs a T- shirt brand called 'Cheeky Dogs' and in co-operation with Ms Bell Too Many Cheeky Dogs is another one of his successful project. I so hope there are many more delightful books to come from this dynamic pair. With all the doggie es- capades of mayhem a camp dog can get up to I’m sure we could be reading about many more adventures in the future. Too Many Cheeky Dogs, Johanna Bell and Dion Beasly H H a a v v e e y y o o u u r r e e a a d d . . . . . . ? ? > By CLARE PEARCE > By Pam Tupper 365 Days without junk food - by Debbie Unwin Week 33 On April 25 Katherine mother-of-two Debbie Unwin embarked on a ‘365 Day No Junk-food Challenge’ to raise money for Carers Australia and to raise awareness about Healthy living. For the next year Debbie will be publishing a diary of her efforts and the success of her proj- ect in the Katherine Times. To support Debbie send an email to [email protected] or visit her website online at http://365daynojunk.com. the body which may accelerate ageing and lead to cancer. This is a very good reason to indulge in a few squares of dark chocolate a few times a week. Interestingly, dark chocolate is being clinically trialled as a possible tool for blood pressure control. Previous small tri- als have had conflict- ing results, however there is no question that dark chocolate may one day be considered an evidence-based lifestyle interven- tion. Here’s something you probably didn’t expect to hear : the theobromine in dark chocolate can lower your risk of tooth cavities. Theobromine has been shown to harden tooth enamel. So with good dental hygiene and a few pieces of dark chocolate you may be pleased to spend less on dental bills and experience increased self-confidence at the same time. So what’s not to enjoy? During this challenge, my nutritionist Natalie Buffa (pictured) has been a wonderful support. A few weeks ago, she told me that she diss- aproved of sugar-free chocolate as it has artifical sweetners in it which can be worse than chocolate. However, to my delight, she told me she would allow two pieces of dark chocolate. Below you can read why: Not only is dark chocolate delicious, when eaten in small doses, it can have moderate therapeutic ef- fects. Let’s have a look a few of its benefits: Dark chocolate improves blood flow which de- creases the risk of clots and hardening of the arter- ies. Since blood flow to the brain and heart are in- creased, your risk of stroke is lowered and cognitive function is also improved. Some of the chemical compounds in dark choco- late can also improve your mood. These chemicals are the same ones created by your brain when you are in love. Possibly one of the most well-known health benefits of dark chocolate is it's antioxidant content. Antioxidants neutralise harmful free radicals in
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>> lifestyle & home
www.katherinetimes.com.au KATHERINE TIMES, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 4, 2013 9
Termites are amazing beast-ies.
These primitive insects areclosely related to cockroachesnot ants.
They are a very importantpart of our Australian environ-ment and are great at recyclingplant material back into the soil.
Termites are sometimes seenas a pest, but of the perhaps 300
different Australian species oftermite, only a few will damageour homes and gardens.
Mostly termites go abouttheir business in the busharound us, creating new soil byfeeding on grass, wood or rot-ting organic matter.
Termites are fragile insects. They dry out quickly in the
open air and need to protectthemselves against the harshclimate.
The mounds that termitecolonies build protect themfrom the weather and are differ-ent depending on the differentspecies of termite.
Termites live in colonies thatare made up of different typesor castes of termites, each witha different job to do.
Small pale termites with nowings are worker termites andare the most common.
Solider termites protect thenest and are equipped with largejaws or strange looking headsthat squirt chemicals at in-vaders.
Sometimes, at the right timeof year, there are also wingedtermites or alates.
These are the only termitesthat are both male and femaleand able to reproduce, or havebabies.
When the weather is warmand the air is humid the alateswill fly out from the colony tofind mates.
Some colonies will buildstrange skinny towers calledflight towers.
These are used by the alatesas a launching pad and coloniesbuild them if weather condi-tions are nearing perfect for ter-mite travel.
Flights of alates will nor-mally happen all at the sametime.
Most of these will die, be-coming food for hungry preda-tors or drying out if they spendtoo long out in the open; somehowever are able to mate.
These then lose their wingsand go on to construct newcolonies.
Connect to Country - with Ranger ClareDo you want to know more about flora, fauna and parks in the Katherine region?
‘Like’ Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife on facebook.
Prawns with asparagusIngredients:1 kg raw prawns 2 tbs peanut oil3 tbs lime juice2 tsp ground coriander200 g snow peas 1 bunch asparagus, cut 4 spring onions 5 cm piece of ginger,peeled and julienned2 tsp cornflour 125 ml chicken stock2 tbs coriander leavessteamed rice, to serveMethod: 1. Peel and devein theprawns, leaving the tailsintact.2. Whisk together 1 table-spoon of peanut oil, thelime juice and ground co-riander.Put the prawns into a non-metallic bowl, pour overthe marinade, cover withplastic wrap and refriger-ate for 20 minutes.3. Heat the wok over highheat, add the remainingoil and swirl to coat. Drain the prawns, reserv-ing the marinade. Toss the prawns in thewok for 2 to 3 minutes, oruntil pink. Remove theprawns from the wok andset aside.4. Toss the snow peas,
asparagus, spring onionsand ginger in the wok for2 minutes. Reduce the heat tomedium. Blend the corn-flour with 1 tablespoon ofwater to form a smoothpaste. Add to the wok with the
remaining marinade,chicken stock and corn-flour mixture. Bring to theboil and boil for 1 minute.Toss in the prawns, andsprinkle with the corian-der leaves. Serve withsteamed rice.
TOO Man Cheeky Dog -a wonderful children’s pic-ture book - was written byKatherine resident JohannaBell and was illustrated byDion Beasley.
I particularly liked it be-cause it is a story of a re-mote Indigenous communitywhere a whole host ofcheeky dogs get up to somepretty funny mischief, espe-cially when the dogs have agame of football with a teamof donkeys.
This book is great for lit-eracy skills as it helps with
counting, colours andrhythm and I just loved the il-lustrations of the dogs asI’m a real dog lover and thisbook certainly shows justhow much trouble a dog canget up to.
With its quirky and funnyillustrations and easy-to-read story the book is agreat must-have for anychild in the Northern Terri-tory.
Author Johanna Bell hasworked in remote pre-schools throughout the Ter-ritory, and noticed that thereweren’t enough children’sbooks about the living expe-
riences of remote Indige-nous children.
Joing forces with deafartist Dion Beasley, Ms Belldeveloped the idea of a kids’book about cheeky dogs.
Mr Beasley, who grew upin a remote community inLake Nash, was born pro-foundly deaf and with mus-cular dystrophy.
As he couldn’t speak anddidn’t know sign languagehe found primary schoolquite a struggle until a dis-ability support worker no-ticed his love - and talent -for drawing camp dog.
Mr Beasly now runs a T-
shirt brand called 'CheekyDogs' and in co-operationwith Ms Bell Too ManyCheeky Dogs is another oneof his successful project.
I so hope there are manymore delightful books tocome from this dynamicpair.
With all the doggie es-capades of mayhem a campdog can get up to I’m surewe could be reading aboutmany more adventures inthe future.
Too Many Cheeky Dogs,Johanna Bell and Dion
Beasly
HHaavvee yyoouu rreeaadd ......??
> By CLARE PEARCE
> By Pam Tupper
365 Days without junk food - by Debbie Unwin
Week 33
On April 25 Katherine mother-of-two Debbie Unwin embarked on a ‘365 Day No Junk-foodChallenge’ to raise money for Carers Australia and to raise awareness about Healthy living.
For the next year Debbie will be publishing a diary of her efforts and the success of her proj-ect in the Katherine Times. To support Debbie send an email to [email protected]
or visit her website online at http://365daynojunk.com.
the body which mayaccelerate ageing andlead to cancer.
This is a very goodreason to indulge in afew squares of darkchocolate a few timesa week.
Interestingly, darkchocolate is beingclinically trialled as apossible tool for bloodpressure control.
Previous small tri-als have had conflict-ing results, howeverthere is no question that dark chocolate may one daybe considered an evidence-based lifestyle interven-tion.
Here’s something you probably didn’t expect tohear : the theobromine in dark chocolate can loweryour risk of tooth cavities.
Theobromine has been shown to harden toothenamel.
So with good dental hygiene and a few pieces ofdark chocolate you may be pleased to spend less ondental bills and experience increased self-confidenceat the same time. So what’s not to enjoy?
During this challenge, my nutritionist NatalieBuffa (pictured) has been a wonderful support.
A few weeks ago, she told me that she diss-aproved of sugar-free chocolate as it has artificalsweetners in it which can be worse than chocolate.
However, to my delight, she told me she wouldallow two pieces of dark chocolate.
Below you can read why:Not only is dark chocolate delicious, when eaten
in small doses, it can have moderate therapeutic ef-fects.
Let’s have a look a few of its benefits:Dark chocolate improves blood flow which de-
creases the risk of clots and hardening of the arter-ies.
Since blood flow to the brain and heart are in-creased, your risk of stroke is lowered and cognitivefunction is also improved.
Some of the chemical compounds in dark choco-late can also improve your mood.
These chemicals are the same ones created byyour brain when you are in love.
Possibly one of the most well-known health benefits of dark chocolate is it's antioxidant content.
Antioxidants neutralise harmful free radicals in
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