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Penny Travers
Penny Travers (nee McLintock) has been working as a digital reporter and producer at ABC Canberra since 2007. She began her career with the ABC in 2003 working as a radio news reporter in Toowoomba. After also working in Rockhampton, she joined the ABC's online team in Brisbane working as a presenter-producer. Penny currently photographs and reports on a wide range of events and issues affecting the Canberra community.
Latest by Penny Travers
Gas produced by landfill is being captured and turned into energy to power Canberra homes
By Charlie McLean and Penny Travers
Renewable energy generated from methane produced by Canberra's Mugga Lane landfill is expected to power 10,800 homes and further cut greenhouse gas emissions under an expanded capture project.
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Slip! Slop! Slap! jingle, I am Australian, Sherbet's Howzat named Sounds of Australia
The Slip! Slop! Slap! jingle, I am Australian, Sherbet's Howzat and a harmonica recording from the 1920s are among 11 new recordings added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry.
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ACT Greens leader defends handling of sexual misconduct allegations against Johnathan Davis
By Penny Travers, Tahlia Roy, and Harry Frost
ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury has defended his office's handling of allegations of sexual misconduct made against backbencher Johnathan Davis.
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ACT Greens backbencher Johnathan Davis resigns after sexual misconduct allegations
By Rosie King and Penny Travers
ACT Greens backbencher Johnathan Davis resigns as a member of the Legislative Assembly after allegations of sexual misconduct came to light last week.
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Daughter 'traumatised' after finding mother fatally stabbed, father injured at Canberra home
The 65-year-old woman was found dead in her kitchen with stab wounds on Monday evening. Her 70-year-old male partner remains under police guard in hospital.
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Why bees swarm and what you should – and shouldn't – do when you come across a colony on the move
Spring is the time of year when you're most likely to come across swarms of honey bees in seemingly random places. But beekeepers say swarms are nothing to fear and are part of the natural reproductive life cycle of honey bees.
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'They're meant to be shared': Author Maura Pierlot is leaving books on benches around Canberra for you to find
Award-winning author and playwright Maura Pierlot is leaving books on benches around Canberra to connect people and spark conversations. And for ACT Children's Week, she's sharing kids books to bring joy to young readers.
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Ngunnawal Elder says 'there's still hope' for reconciliation as ACT political leaders refocus on closing the gap locally
The leaders of both the ACT government and opposition say they remain committed to closing the gap despite the Voice to Parliament referendum defeat, as many First Nations Australians grieve the outcome.
'No words to describe the grief': Family of pilot, three children killed in plane crash near Gundaroo ask for privacy
In a statement released through NSW Police, the family of Queensland pilot Peter Nally and his three grandchildren ask for privacy as they "grieve and process this tragedy".
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Man charged with attempted murder over stabbing of two female students at ANU
By Penny Travers and Elizabeth Byrne
Twenty-four-year-old Alex Ophel makes a brief appearance in court, charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and one count of possessing an object to be used to kill.
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'Fire-resistant material is the key': Researchers in this lab are working to make buildings safer during bushfires
In the UNSW Canberra's new pyrometric laboratory, researchers are setting fire to protective clothing, car parts and building materials in a bid to develop better fire-retardant products.
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Julie recently moved into a smaller house in her own backyard, will other Canberrans soon follow suit?
By Penny Travers and Charlotte Gore
The ACT government says its new Territory Plan will create more homes and improve affordability. But how many people will actually turn their block into a dual occupancy?
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Chip-loving magpie swoops in to join Australia's top 'big things' on new collectible coins
Just 18 months after swooping into Canberra, a giant magpie is being recognised as one of the nation's top "big things" on new $1 coins from the Royal Australian Mint.
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What you can and can't do on the nature strip outside your Canberra home
From growing gardens and laying artificial turf to parking cars and trailers, here's what you can and can't do with the nature strip out the front of your Canberra home.
Search for possible missing woman at Gibraltar Falls suspended a day after passersby report hearing calls for help
By Charlotte Gore and Penny Travers
A police search for a possible missing woman near Gibraltar Falls in the ACT's Namadgi National Park is suspended.
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Australia's only honey sommelier is teaching others how to appreciate local flavours one jar at a time
Dusty, fruity, floral and woody are just some of the words honey sommelier Jessica Locarnini uses to describe Australia's vast range of honey flavours. She's on a mission to teach people across the country about the unique characteristics of honey.
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Thinking about rolling out artificial turf? Experts are urging you to consider natural alternatives
Artificial turf is an increasingly popular choice for suburban backyards, offering an evergreen surface that requires little maintenance. But that convenience comes with a big environmental price tag.
Interest-free loans for solar will soon be restricted for Canberra households while encouraged for apartments
Under changes to the ACT government's Sustainable Household Scheme, only properties with an unimproved land value of $450,000 or less can apply for an interest-free loan to install solar products.
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Union warns 126 extra police isn't enough to address Canberra's officer shortfall
The $107 million funding boost comes after continued complaints about the ACT having the lowest number of police per capita in the country.
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Suspicious fire destroys historic Commercial Hotel in Yass
NSW Police are treating the fire as suspicious and want to hear from anyone who was in the area when the blaze started early this morning.
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Children as young as 10 can currently be locked up for a crime. The ACT plans to raise that age to 14
The ACT government will introduce a bill tomorrow proposing the minimum age of criminal responsibility be lifted to 12 years of age as soon as the legislation is passed, and then to 14 by July 2025.
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'Rate of abandonment unacceptable': Animal shelters overflowing as pet surrenders reach all-time high
By Penny Travers and Ethan French
Pets are being surrendered across the country at an alarming rate, and with interest in adoptions waning, animal shelters are struggling to accommodate the influx of animals.
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The ACT's new recycling facility won't be built until 2025 and the cost of trucking waste interstate is piling up
The ACT will have to keep trucking its recycling interstate for processing for about two years, with the delivery of Canberra's new materials recovery facility pushed back to 2025. Construction of an organic waste processing centre will also be delayed.
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Commonwealth gold medallist Chloe Hosking has advice to inspire a new generation of cyclists
By Jonathon Gul and Penny Travers
After champion cyclist Chloe Hosking's career was left in limbo she decided to return to where it all began – bunch rides in Canberra.
Grassfire that has so far burnt 2,000 hectares between Wee Jasper and Yass likely started by lightning
The fire is now under control but authorities remain nervous a change in weather conditions could see the blaze jump containment lines.
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