Thursday Edition

Good morning

Good morning, members! Here we are, once again, gathered for another thrilling Thursday edition of our newsletter. We trust you’ve woken up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day. There's nothing like a fresh start and a fully charged battery! And speaking of fresh starts, I (Vella) can’t help but think how are we already in April? After all, with the new month comes a brand new season, autumn. The temperatures are getting cooler, and the leaves are beginning to change colours. It’s a truly beautiful time of year, and it left me curious - what's your favourite thing about autumn? Is it the crisp, cool air that fills your lungs and the way the sunsets turn golden and orange? Or maybe you prefer the changing colours of the leaves and the way they crunch under your feet? Perhaps there's something else entirely that you love about this time of year. Whatever it is, we'd love to hear from you in our forum thread here.

If you ask me, there's nothing like cosying up with a warm cup of hot chocolate on a chilly autumn evening. Or maybe it's the excuse to break out your favourite knitwear and boots again after a long summer of singlets and thongs. There's just something so comforting about the sights, smells, and sensations of autumn that make it such a beloved season for many of us.

Anyway, that's enough from me for now. It's time for us to get into today's newsletter. First, it's time to reveal the answers to yesterday's riddle. In case you’ve forgotten (which would be totally understandable because I sure did), here's the riddle one more time:

My tongue is long, my breath is strong, And yet I breed no strife; My voice you hear is far and near, and yet I have no life. What am I?

The answer is a bell! You folks really know your stuff, and as always, a ton of you got it correct! And you know what that means? You get a shout-out! So stick around, and you’ll find a shout-out waiting for you at the end of the newsletter. 

Next on the agenda for today, it’s time to share with you a Fascinating Fact!

Have you ever wondered why kangaroos hop? It appears the answer has to do with conserving energy! Kangaroos need to cover long distances to find food and water in their vast, hot, and dry habitat. By hopping at a consistent pace, a kangaroo can travel considerable distances without getting too tired. Plus, since their tendons store energy, bouncing around is relatively efficient for our marsupial friends – a fun way to travel, too, don't you think?

Oh, and before we get into the news, we are SO excited to announce the winner of the SDC Refer A Friend Competition. We’ve run a few competitions in our time here at the SDC, but this one was by far our favourite. We were overwhelmed with the amount of entries there were in this competition and we cannot thank each and everyone of you enough for your support! So many of you referred friends and family, and we had so many new members join over the past month that we are over the moon. However, there can only be one winner and the winner is… Member Barbara S! We have already contacted Barbara and she will be getting her $100 voucher shortly! So, a huge congratulations to member Barbara S., but also to everyone who participated! We will be announcing our next competition shortly, so keep your eyes peeled…. 

Now that we've got your brains warmed up let's see what's happening in Australia and around the world today.

• SCAM ALERT: Authorities have warned Aussies about a new highly advanced scam that has duped a cancer patient out of $5,000. Learn how this cruel scam works and how you can protect yourself. ‘I could have sworn I was talking to my son. We had a conversation.'
• Check your pantries! Here are the top 12 grocery staples that are most frequently recalled in Australia. Are manufacturers putting our health at risk?
• A Woolworths shopper has been slammed online for their 'selfish' trolley act in a car park. Can you see why people are so outraged?
• ‘RUN, don’t walk!’ Shoppers could not believe their eyes when they saw this luxury item at Woolworths for only $6 — a fraction of the price of high-end varieties, which can cost up to $350!
• Do you need help with something? Our lovely SDC members might be able to help you out! Check out our newest Members Helping Members Forum - a place to connect and collaborate with other members to get the help you need!
• WATCH: A video of Kmart’s old-school feature has sent shoppers into a frenzy, reigniting calls for Kmart to bring it back to stores across Australia. Do you want to see this part of Kmart back in action?
• Woolworths shoppers spotted lamb offcuts at almost $10 less per kilo than your usual lamb chops. But is offcut meat worth the savings? Bargain hunters weigh in.
• An ALDI shopper has been praised for her random act of kindness after witnessing a checkout staff member being treated poorly by another customer. Would you do the same?
• Guess who was spotted at Bunnings! A legendary rockstar made a surprise public appearance weeks after cancelling his Australian show due to illness. Can you guess who it was? And what was he up to?
• A recent government review found that Aussies are losing up to $3 billion yearly to Medicare fraud and non-compliance. What is the government doing to combat this issue?
• For 3,000 years, lie detection tests have worked the same way – but they’ve been found to be hopelessly inaccurate. Why are we still using them? Here's the truth about lie detection tests.
• Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed and need help? Here are five types of therapy that can help you cope with almost any mental health problem.
• Indulge in this hearty and satisfying meal with layers of tender meat and rich flavours, perfect for a cosy night in or a family dinner.
• Finally, member @Skipton is back with another hilarious joke about a new workout routine that’s sweeping the nation. It’s called ‘forgetting to go to the gym’. But one person has taken it to the extreme. Trust me; this one will have you in stitches!

Well, that’s a wrap of your Thursday morning news! I’m sure you’re all as excited as I am to take a look at what’s in store for you below, including a hilarious joke from member @Cheb, a fascinating ‘Picture of the Day’ from member @Big Al and a blast from the past in our ‘Yesterday’s Australia’ segment.

Oh, and be sure to play our newest game: SDC Bingo! Please read Jonathan's instructions first if you're new to the game. Today's numbers are B15, I24, and B6. Remember, you need an account on the forum to join, so if you don't have one already, register here!

Also, don't forget to try comparing your broadband prices and plans to find one that is better suited to your needs*! You can compare and save on your internet here*.

Fancy a little brain training? We've got you covered. We have our Alphabetical Bands/Groups Game, Alphabetical Australian Places Game, Change A Letter Game, and 3x3 Word Thread. Of course, we still have our beloved classic games, including Word Pairs, Abbreviation Game, Word Association Game, Rearrange, Add or Subtract Word Game! Keep a Word, Drop a Word Game, and Can you name 5? As well as our Sudoku puzzles, OzGrid, classic OzWord, and Ozword (expert edition). And our card games, including Solitaire and Blackjack.

And as always, members, stay safe and happy reading!

- Jonathan, Vella, Sean, James, Sethia, April, Jarred, Ally & Maddie.