Questions for discussion
Bank business
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Explain the Bank business story to another person.
Why have people been protesting in the US and Australia recently?
Describe the profits some of the big banks make.
How do banks make money from their customers?
The money that banks charge people who borrow money is called
_____________.
6. What services do banks provide for their customers?
7. Why do people need banks?
8. Do you think the money banks make is justified? Explain your answer.
9. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
10. The BtN story Bank business is an example of a
a) Narrative
b) Procedure
c) Argument
d) Report
Post a message on the Behind the News Guestbook
http://abc.net.au/btn/guestbook.html.
Shark attacks
1.
2.
3.
4.
What was the main point of the BtN story?
What sort of shark was thought to have killed a man in WA recently?
What was the name of the 1970’s film about a rogue shark?
What has the WA Fisheries Department been trying to do since the shark
attack?
5. Since 1997 Great White sharks have been __________________.
6. What has impacted on the shark population?
7. Humans are not part of a shark’s normal diet. True or false?
8. How can humans protect themselves from shark attacks?
9. Do you think a shark should be killed if it attacks a human? Explain your
answer?
10. Respond to the following statement: `We are more of a threat to sharks than
they are to us.’
`Should a shark be killed if it bites a human?’ Vote in the BtN online poll
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/
Malaria vaccine
1.
2.
3.
4.
© ABC 2011
Which insect carries the disease malaria?
In Africa, malaria is the biggest killer of kids under 5. True or false?
What is a parasite?
Draw a diagram that shows the spread of malaria through the body.
EPISODE 31
1ST NOVEMBER 2011
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
How does malaria spread from person to person?
What can be done to reduce the risk of getting malaria?
What is the recent scientific breakthrough described in the BtN story?
What are some challenges facing the prevention of malaria in Africa?
Illustrate an aspect of the Malaria vaccine story.
Play the Malaria Challenge game to learn more about the disease
http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/index.cfm?challenge=5
GPS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Briefly summarise the GPS story.
GPS stands for…
What does GPS help people do?
Who developed GPS and what was it used for?
Small mistakes were built into early GPS receivers. Why?
Give three examples of where you might find a GPS.
Describe the new satellite navigation system being launched by the European
Union.
8. Who was Galileo?
9. What do some people say are the advantages of having another navigation
system?
10. Name three facts you learnt watching the GPS story.
Write 5 true or false questions using facts from the BtN GPS story.
Sheepdog trials
1.
2.
Which sport involves a dog, a whistle and a herd of sheep?
Which is a female sheep?
a. Mare
b. Ewe
c. Heifer
3. Describe how dogs were used on farms in the past.
4. What are the sheepdog trials?
5. Is speed important in the trials?
6. How long has Lew been a sheepdog handler?
7. How are they trying to get younger people involved in the sport?
8. What part do kids play in the Barmera Sheepdog Trials?
9. How do sheepdogs and their owners work together to herd sheep?
10. Give an example of a command used to control the dogs.
Test your knowledge in the online Sheepdogs quiz. Go to the BtN website and follow
the links.
© ABC 2011
Malaria vaccine
Focus Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Which insect carries the disease malaria?
In Africa, malaria is the biggest killer of kids under 5. True or false?
What is a parasite?
Draw a diagram that shows the spread of malaria through the body.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
How does malaria spread from person to person?
What can be done to reduce the risk of getting malaria?
What is the recent scientific breakthrough described in the BtN story?
What are some challenges facing the prevention of malaria in Africa?
Illustrate an aspect of the Malaria vaccine story.
EPISODE 31
1ST NOVEMBER 2011
Learning Area
Health and Physical Education,
Science
Malaria vaccine
Negotiate with students how many activities they will need to complete from each Key learning
section.
Students will develop an
Remember and understand

What do the following key words about vaccines mean?
antigen, immunity, virus, antibodies, vaccine, immune system

Use the facts from the BtN Malaria vaccine story to find out what malaria
is and how it spreads. Students may find it useful to read the transcript on
the story page to help answer the question.

Create a facts chart about malaria using information from the BtN story
and the internet. Quiz another student about some malaria facts.

Play the Malaria Challenge and learn more about the disease
http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/index.cfm?challenge=5
Apply and Analyse

What do you know about vaccines? What vaccines have you received? Do
you think vaccines are important? Why? Discuss your answers with a small
group of students. How did your responses vary?

Different methods are used to control malaria. These include:
Insecticide treated bed nets
Eliminating mosquito breeding areas
Anti malarial medicines
Educating people in affected areas about how to control malaria
Vaccination research and development
Working in pairs, students research one of the methods and present their
© ABC 2011
understanding of what
vaccines are, how they work
and methods of controlling
malaria.
findings to the class. Encourage students to use photos or diagrams to add
interest to their presentation.

Learn more about malaria and help prevent the spread of the disease by
completing the following Peace Corps webquest
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/multimedia/videos/malaria/malaria_we
bquest.pdf
 Investigate the impact vaccines have had on controlling disease and the
potential risks of vaccinations. Why vaccinate against rare diseases?
Students present responses to the questions using a desktop publishing
program.
Evaluate and create



Develop a public education campaign for people living in malaria affected
areas of Africa. The campaign needs to educate people about methods
used to control the disease. What is the most effective way of delivering
the information to the greatest number of people?
Draw a flow chart that shows the stages of malaria beginning with an
infected mosquito biting a human and the parasite multiplying in the body.
On a world map, highlight countries and regions affected by malaria
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/resources/story/worldmap.pdf
 Related Research Links
ABC Science - Malaria: What you should know
http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/brown/story.htm
CBBC Newsround – A new malaria vaccine has promising results in Africa
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/15364039
World Health Organisation – 10 facts about Malaria
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/malaria/en/index.html
Malaria No More – About Malaria
http://www.malarianomore.org/malaria
UNICEF – Malaria
http://www.unicef.org/health/index_malaria.html
Peace Corps – Play the malaria challenge
http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/index.cfm?challenge=5
© ABC 2011
Shark attacks
Focus Questions
EPISODE 31
1.
2.
3.
4.
What was the main point of the BtN story?
What sort of shark was thought to have killed a man in WA recently?
What was the name of the 1970’s film about a rogue shark?
What has the WA Fisheries Department been trying to do since the shark
attack?
5. Since 1997 Great White sharks have been __________________.
6. What has impacted on the shark population?
7. Humans are not part of a shark’s normal diet. True or false?
8. How can humans protect themselves from shark attacks?
9. Do you think a shark should be killed if it attacks a human? Explain your
answer?
10. Respond to the following statement: `We are more of a threat to sharks than
they are to us.’
Shark attacks
Watch the BtN story Shark attacks and summarise the story in your own words.
Watch the story again and listen carefully. Circle each of the following words as
you hear them. Record any unfamiliar words.
fatal
rogue
Great White
protected
threat
shark patrols
Ask students to write what they think is the meaning of each word (including
unfamiliar words). Swap definitions with a partner and ask them to add to or
change the definition. Check these against the dictionary definition. Ask students
to write their own sentences using the key words.
Students choose one or more of the following activities to complete:
Students will research the issue of whether sharks should be killed if they attack
humans. Encourage students to investigate both sides of the debate before arguing
for or against the issue. Arguments need to include environmental and moral/ethical
reasons to support their case. Students can present their argument as a persuasive
argument or hold a mini debate about the issue.
Why are sharks an important part of the marine ecosystem? Why are they important
predators? What threats exist to shark populations? Create a poster that explains the
shark’s role as predator and threats to their existence.
© ABC 2011
1ST NOVEMBER 2011
Learning Area
Society and Environment
Key learning
Students will investigate
attitudes and
misconceptions about sharks
and the important role they
play in the marine
ecosystem.
Conduct a survey to find out what people think about sharks. Possible questions to ask
include:
Are all sharks dangerous? Why do you think people are afraid of sharks? Should a shark
be killed if it attacks a human? Why?
What was surprising about the results of your survey?
Research some specific adaptations sharks have made to survive in particular habitats,
for example, body shape, colour, tails and fins. Give an oral presentation explaining the
adaptations.
How does each of the shark’s five senses help them search for prey? Draw a diagram
to show your learning.
What are some common myths about sharks? How do you think these myths are
made? Research some common misconceptions/myths about sharks and shark attacks
and create a myth busting quiz to share with students.
In which countries are sharks found? Record on a world map also showing numbers of
sharks now compared with 10 years ago.
 Related Research Links
ABC Behind the News – Shark attacks
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2495775.htm
ABC North Coast NSW – Sharks not monsters
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/10/24/3346631.htm
ABC Catalyst – Shark Attacks
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1774345.htm
ABC News – Diver killed in suspected shark attack
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-22/diver-killed-in-suspected-sharkattack/3595308
National Geographic – Great White Sharks
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/great-white-shark.html
© ABC 2011
BtN: Episode 31 Transcript
1/11/11
On this week's Behind the News.

A series of fatal shark attacks near Perth so what should be
done about it?

Malaria breakthrough - a new vaccine that could save the lives
of millions of kids.

And blasting off some new technology that could rival your
GPS devices.
Hi I'm Nathan Bazley, welcome to Behind the News. Also on the show
today we take a look at the sport of sheepdog trials and visit one
which is run by kids.
But before all that:
Bank Business
Reporter: Nathan Bazley
INTRO: The big financial protests that started in Wall Street in New
York have spread all around the world, even to Australia. Occupy
Melbourne has been going for a couple of weeks now and one of the
things they're protesting about is the greed of the big banks. But
have you ever stopped to think how banks even make money? Let's
take a look at where the money in the money business actually comes
from.
© ABC 2011
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: They always say 'money doesn't
grow on trees'. But it does multiply! Don't believe me? Well look at a
bank and it'll prove it.
Money goes into a bank, the same amount of money comes out of it
and yet somehow, huge amounts are left over as profit. As much as 6
billion bucks for some of the big banks. See, it does multiply! Let me
show you how.
Johnny wants to make some cash and he's come up with a great idea he's going to become his own mini bank! He's convinced five friends
to lend him $100 each on the promise that he'll keep it safe for them.
That gives him $500, but he doesn't own any of it.
Even still, he then goes out and lends $200 of it to a friend who wants
to buy a Nintendo DS and invests another $200 on the stock
exchange. The last $100 he leaves in his wallet safe.
By the time he's been paid back, Johnny now has 700 dollars. $100
dollars extra in interest from his DS loan and $100 extra from his
investments. So even when his friends ask for all their money back,
Johnny is 200 dollars better off!
That's exactly what's happening when you put your pocket money in
the bank. You, along with everyone else, deposit cash to keep it safe
and sometimes to earn a little interest on top. But while it's in there,
the bank makes the most of it.
Some is kept on hand for when customers want it, but most is
invested or given out in loans. So while your money is in there, it
could actually be off helping someone buy a house, or it could be
invested in a stock exchange way overseas. Either way, all the time
your money is in there, it's making the bank more money on top.
NATHAN: But that's not the only way they get cash out of you. Have
you ever sat on a couch and had change slip out of your pockets and
into the cushions? It happens every now and again without you really
© ABC 2011
paying much attention. Then when you're spring cleaning and look
underneath, there is a fortune in there!
In the same way, banks take little bit of your cash here and there in
fees. It could be 50c for a transaction, or a few dollars a month for an
account keeping fee. It's only a little bit each time, but if you think of
how many customers sit on that couch, it adds up to a lot!
Of course, for all of the money they earn, banks do provide you with a
service. They hold your money and keep it safe, but they also give you
convenient access to it when you need it, through cards or internet
banking. They also provide ATMs so you can get your cash out and
pay for tellers to help you with your banking.
So banks do charge a fair bit, but at the same time, you are getting
something for your money as well. And while they are making huge
profits, people must still think they are worth using. Because the only
other option is stashing your money under the mattress. And one
thing I can guarantee is that your money won't do much multiplying
under there!
Presenter: OK let's see what else is making the news. Here's Matt with
a quick round-up in the Wire.
The Wire
It's been a big few days for Qantas. The company announced on
Saturday it wasn't going to fly any of its planes. An argument's been
going on for months between workers and bosses. Bosses want to
make changes to the business to save money but many workers are
worried about jobs being lost in Australia.
The latest move to cancel flights has made lots of people angry. Nearly
70 thousand passengers were stranded at airports here and around
the world.
In the end, Fair Work Australia, which acts a bit like an umpire in
these situations, stepped in.
© ABC 2011
It said Qantas staff and bosses had to get back to work as normal and
gave them 21 days to work out a new agreement.
*******
Three Australian soldiers have been killed and seven others injured in
Afghanistan. They were attacked by a local soldier they were training.
Thirty three Australians have now been killed in Afghanistan since the
war began.
Shark Attacks
Reporter: Sarah Larsen
INTRO: There have been a few fatal shark attacks recently in
Western Australia. Shark attacks are rare so to get a few close
together has got some people worried. It's had many people calling
for action and some saying the sharks responsible should be tracked
down and killed. But is that the right response? Here's Sarah.
SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: It's something most of us don't like to
think about when we go for a swim in the ocean. Recently an
American was killed by a shark while he was diving near Perth. His
friends said it was a three metre great white, just like one which took
another swimmer a few weeks earlier. In all there have been 3 fatal
attacks in the area in just a few months. It had a lot of people scared.
Some even wondered if a single shark may have attacked more than
once.
The idea of a rogue shark isn't new. The 1970s film Jaws was based on
the idea of a Great White that decided it liked the taste of humans and
went after them. In Jaws a shark hunt is launched to track down the
man-eater. And that's what's been happening here in Western
Australia. The Fisheries department has been trying to find and kill
the shark responsible and that's caused a fair bit of debate. Hunting
down killer sharks was pretty common in the old days. But since 1997
© ABC 2011
Great Whites have been protected. Some state governments can give
the order to kill sharks if they're a danger to humans but it's not very
common.
DR RACHEL ROBBINS, Shark Researcher: I think over the past
couple of decades, after the Jaws phenomenon, people are actually
starting to realise that they are a really important species.
Dr Rachel Robbins is a shark researcher, and like many scientists,
she's more worried about the threat that humans pose to sharks than
the other way around. In many places they're hunted for their meat
and fins and over fishing has taken away a lot of their food.
So could sharks decide to go after humans instead? Could a shark like
Jaws really exist?
DR ROBBINS: No, absolutely not. There's no evidence at all that
there is a rogue shark. Humans are too bony, we're hard to digest for
them and we're definitely not part of their normal menu.
Dr Robins says that the way sharks move around means sometimes
there will be more in one place, which can mean more attacks and
more sightings. But overall, she says, the number of shark attacks has
stayed pretty steady over the years.
There are some people who think that humans are putting themselves
in danger by luring sharks for extreme activities like cage diving. But
diving companies say there's no proof of that. So is there a way for
humans to protect themselves?
Staying out of deep water is a good idea, especially if you're by
yourself. And try to stay away from murky water where are shark
might mistake you for food. Many popular beaches have shark
patrols. And Western Australia is going to increase those. But in the
end, you can take comfort in the fact that shark attacks are still very
rare. So you can enjoy your time at the beach without worrying too
much about what lurks beneath
© ABC 2011
Presenter: OK let's make that our poll this week.
Online Poll
The question is:
Should a shark be killed if it bites a human?
To vote just head to our website.
Now to the results of last week’s poll.
We asked; is the Queen's visit important to you? You were pretty
much split down the middle on that one.
47 per cent said yes it is important.
And 53 per cent said no.
Thanks for voting.
Malaria Vaccine
Reporter: Natasha Thiele
INTRO: You might've been bitten by a mozzie before and ended up
with an annoying itch, which eventually goes away. But some
countries have mosquitoes that can carry a disease called 'malaria'
and that can make you really sick. For years, scientists have looked
© ABC 2011
at ways to stop people getting it. Now a new vaccine could hold the
answer. Here's Tash.
NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: A mozzie has got you in its sights!
It's preparing for a delicious meal of your yummy blood! But
sometimes a little bite can leave you with more than just an itch.
That's because some mozzies can carry a deadly disease called
malaria.
Now, you can't get malaria here in Australia, but in Africa it's the
biggest killer of kids under 5. Every 45 seconds a child there dies from
the disease. It can also be found in some parts of Asia and South
America, especially where the weather's hot and humid.
Malaria is a parasite, which means it's a tiny bug that lives off other
living things. So when it gets into your blood it jumps into these big
red blobs, which are red blood cells. The smaller dots are the
parasites, which feed off the cells, multiply out of control and make
our body stop working!
It can take more than a week for symptoms to kick in like fever,
vomiting and shivering. And if it's not treated, it can lead to death.
People get it from infected mosquitoes and that's also how it's spread.
If a mozzie bites someone with malaria, it can spread the disease to
the next person it bites. The mozzie actually passes the disease on
through its saliva.
Stephen got malaria while spending time in Indonesia and he nearly
died. You'd think that would put him off mosquitoes for life, but
instead he decided to take on a career researching all about mozzies.
STEPHEN FRICKER, MOSQUITO RESEARCHER: All around the
world there's about three and a half thousand different types of
mosquitoes. But this one here can carry malaria. They don't carry
malaria in Australia but these types of mosquitoes overseas can cause
a lot of damage around the world.
© ABC 2011
So luckily we don't have the problem in Australia. But for people
living in other countries, there are ways to reduce the risk of getting
malaria from mosquitoes. There are simple steps like covering up,
sleeping under mozzie nets and wearing mozzie repellent. Then
there's malaria tablets. They're used more by tourists, than by locals.
That's because you have to keep taking either daily or weekly and that
can be very expensive, particularly for people in poor countries.
That's why lots of people are excited about a recent scientific
breakthrough. A new malaria vaccine has been developed in Britain,
which it's claimed could save millions of lives. It's was given to babies
in Africa and the results show that the kids chances of getting malaria
were halved. It's an exciting new development, but it'll need to be
tested more and could take a few years to be approved. The question
then will be if it's affordable to the people and the countries who need
it the most.
Quiz 1
OK, I'm itching for another quiz. How much do you know about
mosquitoes?
The question is:
Which mosquitoes eat blood?
Males
Females
Both
Answer: Females
© ABC 2011
Many mosquitoes only eat nectar but the females of some species
need to eat blood for protein so they can make eggs. OK, now to a
story about finding your way around.
GPS Rival
Reporter: Sarah Larsen
INTRO: Back in the old days people had to go to some pretty
extreme measures so they didn't get lost. They read the stars put up
landmarks and drew maps. But now anyone can know where they
are and where they're going in an instant. It's all thanks to some
neat devices and a bunch of satellites, known as GPS. Sarah finds out
what that is and why it's about to change.
SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: Finding your way in the world is a lot
easier than it used to be.
Navigator voice: Turn right at the next intersection
GPS has changed the way we navigate. Devices in our phones and or
our cars tell us where we are and where we're going at the touch of a
button. But have you ever wondered how it works? Well, to find out,
we have to leave the city street and take a trip into space. Up here is
where the GPS lives. It stands for Global Positioning System and what
it actually is, is a group of at least 24 satellites orbiting the earth. The
satellites send out signals which are picked up by receivers like the
ones on your phone. By timing how long it takes the signal to get
there, it can figure out exactly how far away you are from the satellite.
That puts you at a point around the edge around a big circle on the
earth.
But your receiver also talks to a second satellite. By knowing how far
away that is, it narrows down where you could be to the two points
where the circles intersect. Measuring the distance to a third satellite
will narrow it down to one spot; your location. And usually it will use
a fourth satellite too just to be even more precise.
© ABC 2011
REPORTER: If you look at a GPS receiver like this you can actually
see how many satellites you're talking to at any one time. Right now
we're getting signals from 7 satellites, so it should be pretty accurate!
The GPS was developed by the US government and originally it was
only for the military
REPORTER: When GPS receivers first became available to ordinary
people, like bushwalkers, there were small mistakes built in to the
system just to put you off in case you were looking for secret military
information.
But now GPS is everywhere and it's accurate, helping people navigate
from mobile phones or cars or even tractors. It helps planes and ships
find where they're going and it saves lives, helping to locate people
who are lost at sea or on land. But the GPS isn't the only navigation
system in space
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY: Un, deux, trois
Recently the European Union sent a satellite into space with the help
of a Russian rocket. Eventually it wants to send 29 more. Those 30
satellites will make up a satellite navigation system called Galileo.
REPORTER: That's a name you've probably heard before, especially if
you're into star-gazing. Galileo Galilei was a famous Italian
astronomer.
Now Europe wants to be a big part of the future of space
communications. They reckon Galileo will be more precise and more
reliable than the GPS and it will mean the US won't be the only
country in control of navigation. China also has a nav system it wants
to expand and Russia and India have their own too. So it's set to get
even more crowded in orbit as we move forward here on earth
© ABC 2011
Presenter: OK, let's see how much you know about satellites. Here's a
quiz!
Quiz 2
The question is:
What was the name of the first satellite to be launched into space?
Sputnik 1
Explorer 1
The Hubble
Answer: Sputnik 1
It was launched by Russia in 1957. The Explorer was American and
came later while the Hubble is the name of the famous space
telescope.
OK, let's focus on some stars of the sporting world now. Here's Matt
with the Score.
The Score
The Australian netball team, the Diamonds has taken out the
Constellation Cup after a close match in Melbourne. They beat archrivals New Zealand in the deciding match of the three test series. The
final score was 44 to 41. The win means Australia not only secures the
cup, but also takes the world number one ranking from the Silver
Ferns.
© ABC 2011
*******
The biggest game in baseball, the World Series, has been won by the
St Louis Cardinals.
They beat the Texas Rangers to the title.
The series was levelled at 3-all - so it went to seventh game to decide
the winner.
The Cardinals scored 6 runs to 2 to claim an 11th title.
*******
And in the A-League it was goals galore in Brisbane as the Roar
smashed Adelaide United seven goals to one.
Another goal for Brisbane would have equalled the record for the
biggest win in A-League history, a record that's actually held by
Adelaide!
Sheepdog Trials
Reporter: Nathan Bazley
INTRO: Finally today most sports involve a ball, or a bat, or a stick.
But do you know any sports that involve a dog, a whistle and a herd
of sheep? Well we're talking about the sport of sheep dog trialling
where farmers and dogs show their skill at driving sheep through a
course. It's all based on an activity some famers still use. But very
few young people get involved anymore. Well very few outside of
one comp that's run entirely by kids.
© ABC 2011
Man's best friend has it pretty easy these days. Their job is to play
with you, keep you entertained and make you happy. But back in the
day, they had to earn their keep in a very different way.
DOG MAN: See you honey, I'm off to work.
DOG WOMAN: Big day today?
DOG MAN: Ewe betcha!
Most dogs had full-time employment as sheepdogs. Long before
motorbikes and trucks, farmers used dogs to jump, sprint and nip at
sheep to drive them where they needed to go. They were invaluable on
the farm, and on some farms they still are.
DAMIEN WILSON, GRAZIER: You could have had 20 men working
the place and they wouldn't have brought the mob in like a couple of
dogs can.
And all these whistles, commands and gestures became such an art
form; they eventually turned into a sport. These are sheep dog trials,
which are basically obstacle courses for sheep. The challenge is, the
sheep don't want any part in it! So competitors have to work with
their dogs to guide them through the course as fast as possible.
Damien is one of the competitors here today, and one of his rivals is
Lew, a veteran of sheep dog handling for more than 70 years. You
might notice something looking at these two athletes. Neither are
exactly spring chickens are they? And that's a problem with the sport,
there aren't any young pups coming through the ranks. But at this
trial they are trying to fix that.
Here are the commentators of the Barmera trials in South Australia.
Here are the time keepers. Here are the scoreboard attendants and
here are the sheep handlers. They're all kids!
© ABC 2011
JESS PRESS: To begin with it was just to get off school, but, you
know, eventually as it goes on, you meet people, you start off and you
get used to it, and when you know the rules and you know what's
happening, it does turn out to be really fun.
TOM BROOKE: It's just appealed to me. I like working with animals,
especially dogs.
And they need to work well with them, because things can get a bit
woolly. Clearly that shows. It's not easy to herd sheep. So how do
sheep dogs and their owners work together to gain the upper hand?
Well there are a few basic commands that tell the dogs where to go. In
fact, it's kind of like controlling a video game.
Saying 'bye' gets the dogs moving clockwise around the target sheep.
'Away' gets them herding counter-clockwise. Yelling 'Cast' tells the
dogs to gather all the sheep into a group. And 'Look Back' let's the
dogs know a sheep as been forgotten. That's just four of hundreds of
possible commands. And then remember that they'll often be
controlling two or three dogs at once.
But none of that chaos is putting these kids off the sport.
TOM BROOKE: I'd like to get a dog when I'm older and trial him in
this.
JESS PRESS: It's what Australians do. So hopefully it does stay
around.
And if there are keen handlers around there's no doubt there will
always be keen dogs wanting to make a splash in this interesting
sport.
© ABC 2011
Closer
Looks like fun. And that's it for the show. You can jump onto our
website if you want to get more info on any of the stories. You can
send us your comment and don't forget to vote in this week's poll. I'll
see you next time.
© ABC 2011