Sydney Hit by 'Nuclear Winter' as Dust Storm Envelops City
By Nichola Saminather and Ed Johnson
Sept. 23 (Bloomberg) -- An orange blanket of dust blown in from Australia's Outback engulfed Sydney today, shrouding the Opera House with choking powder, snarling traffic and disrupting flights before swirling up Australia's eastern seaboard."It's like a nuclear winter morning," tourist Peter Wilson, 53, said at Circular Quay in central Sydney as fog horns echoed across the harbor. "It is so eerie."
The dust cloud, more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) wide and 1,000 kilometers long, was the largest to hit Sydney since the 1940s and was driven from the drought-stricken interior by gale-force winds, the Bureau of Meteorology said. The city's skies returned to their usual blue by early afternoon as the storm swept through Brisbane, almost 1,000 kilometers north.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was hidden by a thick haze as the early morning sun struggled to pierce the shroud of dust. Train commuters, some wearing masks or clutching handkerchiefs to avoid breathing in the particles, stood on platforms snapping photographs of the spectacle on their mobile phones.
The New South Wales state government said air quality in parts of the city was "hazardous" and advised schools to keep pupils indoors. Sports lessons were canceled for the day.
'Incredible Event'
Strong winds caused by a low pressure system whipped up top-soil and dust parched by years of drought to cause this "pretty incredible event," said bureau spokesman Rob Webb, adding the cloud was visible from space.
Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth and the country's inhabitants are accustomed to extreme weather. Record temperatures and gales earlier this year drove firestorms in the southeastern state of Victoria that left 173 people dead.
The cloying dust left many residents of Australia's most populous city tight-chested with a metallic aftertaste in their mouths as they made their way to work through the haze.
"I haven't seen dust storms like this since I was in China a few years ago," said solicitor Jim Harrowell, 55, as he stood in Sydney's financial district, where office windows were clogged with dust. "We're lucky it's not raining, otherwise there would be little red spots all over us."
Yachts on the harbor, usually gleaming white, had a dull yellowy sheen. Drivers shuffled slowly over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, their windscreens smeared and filthy.
Flights Diverted
The storm caused "significant disruption" at Sydney Airport, with a total of 18 international flights diverted to Brisbane or Melbourne and six international flights canceled, the airport said in a statement. Flights overseas faced delays of as much as six hours, while domestic arrivals and departures had delays of up to three hours.
Qantas Airways Ltd., Australia's largest airline, said its Sydney passengers experienced average delays of two hours and that it expected to clear the backlog by the end of the day.
The storm swept through Broken Hill in southwest of New South Wales yesterday afternoon. "It turned to night for a short time," local police Inspector Grant Lister said by telephone. "What you got in Sydney was nothing."
In the Hunter Valley wine-growing region north of Sydney, a fine dust settled on the grapes and vines today.
"When I woke up this morning it was something from the movies," said Andrew Thomas of Thomas Wines. "It was glowing red, just amazing."
The storm was Australia's largest since October 2003 when about 16 megatons of dust was swept out to sea off the state's southern coast, said Ross Mitchell, a scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.
Asthma Sufferers
The New South Wales Ambulance Service said it experienced an increase in calls from asthma sufferers and some were taken to hospital.
Oakdale, in the city's southwest, recorded a level of 1,719 on the Department of Environment's air quality index. A reading of 200 and above is considered hazardous and people with heart or lung disease, the elderly and children were advised to avoid exercising outdoors.
The state Fire Brigade experienced a 10-fold increase on its usual call rate as the dust tripped automatic fire alarms and smoke detectors, spokesman Graham Kingsland said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Nichola Saminather in Sydney at nsaminather1@bloomberg.net; Ed Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: September 23, 2009 03:37 EDT
Does anyone still remember ex-Rabbitohs player named Joe Galuvao? The link is here: http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/grateful-galuvao-eyes-another-premiership-3011231
Hope things are going back to normal for people in Sydney, especially to Russell's family. The red dust storm sure looks scary.Grateful Galuvao eyes another premiership
Published: 4:07PM Wednesday September 23, 2009
Source: NZPA
Russell Crowe may be many things, but a careers adviser he isn't.
Photosport - Joe Galuvao
Just ask former Kiwis rugby league forward Joe Galuvao.
Summoned to the Hollywood actor and South Sydney co-owner's office in 2007, Galuvao got the chat all players dread.
He wasn't in the Rabbitohs' plans for 2008, and his reported $A350,000 ($NZ429,710) salary needed to be chopped to fit in new arrival Craig Wing.
And, Crowe added, Galuvao might consider retiring and embarking on a new career as a minister, such was his devotion to the church.
At the time, his manager reported Galuvao was "gobsmacked".
Needless to say, Galuvao preferred to do his talking on the paddock, not the pulpit.
And on Friday night he will rampage off the bench for the Parramatta Eels against fierce rivals the Bulldogs in the `battle of Sydney', one win away from playing for his second National Rugby League (NRL) premiership (after Penrith in 2003).It is hard to imagine the affable Galuvao harbouring ill will towards anyone. The devoted husband of his biggest supporter Maybelle, and father of 10-year-old Praise and four-year-old Judah, said the setback at Souths just made him appreciate the position he was now in.
Moving on
"It was difficult, but Rusty was doing what was best for the club at the time. I didn't fit in the plans. But you move on in football and you can't get too hung up too much about it," he said this week."I've let it go, I'm enjoying my footy here and for me it's a bit of redemption as well. I'm really proud to be here, the last two years have been difficult but to be in this position I'm so grateful."
Galuvao, 30, is well used to career speed bumps after making his NRL debut with the New Zealand Warriors in 1998.
In 2000, he suddenly became unemployed when the club changed owners. Penrith legend Royce Simmons spotted him playing for Auckland club Manurewa in 2001 and offered him a deal with the Panthers.
His career hit a high in 2003 as he and compatriot Tony Puletua terrorised opposition forward packs and became known as the "hair bears" as the Panthers raced to the title. He was one of the first Kiwis picked in 2003-04.
He joined Souths for the 2006 season but eventually fell out of favour, and last season played for second tier club Wentworthville, who won the NSW Cup premiership.
"That's pretty much the story of my football life, just another bump in the road. I've just done my best where I was at the time.
"I hung in there and Parramatta gave me the opportunity. I couldn't control things other than training well and playing well."
He had worked only briefly with Eels coach Daniel Anderson when their careers at the Warriors crossed over in late 2000. But he gave Galuvao his chance and after a slow start, the old form returned as the Eels stormed through the latter part of the year to win nine of their last 10.
Technical
"He was a rookie coach at the Warriors and I've always said he's one of the best technical coaches I've been under," Galuvao said.
"A lot of guys here will testify that he's really brought something different in terms of philosophy and the way we play our games and brought out skills that some guys haven't used as much. It's been great for the club."
Still, his success with the Eels was not enough to guarantee a spot in 2010. The arrival of rugby convert Timana Tahu saw Galuvao get `that talk' again and he was snapped up by Manly on a two-year deal.
He is philosophical, and excited about the move to his fourth NRL club.
While the Eels are eyeing their first title since 1986, Galuvao never dreamed he would be in with a shot for another premiership ring.
"I didn't really start thinking about it until after we won (against Gold Coast). Last time I was in this position I was in Penrith and the emotions and the buzz of it, I felt that again.
"When we made the top eight a lot of the boys thought we could really make a go of it with the form we're in. With that belief it's put us in really good stead."
Despite the fact he's seemingly been around forever, Galuvao is still winning the race against father time. Even without the help of kava, which ageless Kiwis legend Ruben Wiki swore by.
"I don't know how I get up in the morning and my wife's sick of me complaining. But this season I've learned how to rest.
"Usually I'm doing some sort of extras, but during the breaks I've just tried to do nothing at all, and being one of the old boys kinda helps.
"I'm not a kava man, last time I drank it I couldn't speak for a few hours my mouth was that numb. I'm not a fan of it. I just go home and sleep.
"Spending time with the kids helps as well, they give you a good workout."
Glad Russ is gonna start the new film project.
He looks GREAT!! 
Thanks to Darrin at CCMB,
from: http://www.mrpoplife.com/2009/09/new-pics-of-russell-crowe-.html
Russ, pretty pls keep this look for your upcoming role in The Next Three Days!!
