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Monday's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Police release images of homemade quilt found with remains of little girl.

The image of the quilt as released by SA Police.

Police in South Australia have asked the public whether they can identify a hand made patchwork quilt which was found dumped with the remains of the body of a little girl near Wynarka, in SA’s southeast two weeks ago.

Police released images of the quilt yesterday hoping it would help them identify the remains.

It is believed the remains found belong to a little girl aged between two-and-a-half and four who had fair hair and could have died up to eight years ago. She was dumped with a suitcase believed to be black – now faded to grey.

Major crimes’ Detective Superintendent Des Bray said the quilt appears to be homemade and machine-stitched.

“Somebody has gone to the effort of making that quilt for somebody they care about and love,” Supt Bray said.

“Now, it’s possible the person who originally had the quilt given to them, or that family, may have moved on with their lives and given the quilt to somebody else.

“The quilt may have ended up in an op shop or similar, and it could have been given to somebody else, but even if that’s occurred, it’s extremely distinctive and it’s impossible to believe that somebody doesn’t know who had that quilt.”

The quilt has a wide border of black material decorated with musical notes and images of a pumpkin patch, a camel and dragonflies.

“I guess in terms of recent cases it’s unprecedented, the level of calls that we are getting, and we encourage people who think they might know something to ring us,” Supt. Bray said.

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Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 00. 

2. Labor national conference reaches compromise on marriage equality.

Under Labor’s compromise resolution between its divided factions, its federal MPs will be bound to vote for same-sex marriage, but not until after the next two elections.

If the ALP wins the 2016 election its MPs will still have a conscience vote rather than a binding one.

Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said she was “delighted” to second the compromise resolution.

“The current parliament has the numbers to pass marriage equality and should be allowed to,”

“I still hope we can have marriage equality by Christmas, but if this parliament doesn’t pass marriage equality, a Shorten Labor government will in its first 100 days.”

Labor leader Bill Shorten also had his turnaround on boat turnbacks endorsed at the Labor national conference.

3. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse looks at the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church in Australia.

For the next two weeks the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will hear from people who allege abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church in Australia.

The commission will also ask what the church, which has an estimated 60,000 disciples in Australia, is doing to prevent child sexual abuse in its organisation.

4. Australian nurse ‘forced to work for IS’ charged with terror offence.

A Melbourne nurse, charged with terrorism-related offences after voluntarily returning from Syria where he allegedly worked with Islamic State militants, has made a brief appearance in court yesterday.

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39-year-old Adam Brookman has been charged with one count of knowingly providing support to a terrorist organisation.

He made no application for bail and was remanded in custody ahead of an expected hearing today.

In court documents it was claimed he knowingly providing support to IS by undertaking guard duty and reconnaissance between April 2010 and August 2014.

Brookman told Fairfax Media he was in Syria for humanitarian work, but was forced to join IS after being injured and sent to IS-controlled territory.


5. Report finds some secondary students are five years apart in learning.

A year 7 class may have students working at a year 1 level.

A report by The Grattan Institute has found a startling gap of up to five – and sometimes as much as eight years – in some secondary years.

“Australian research shows that achievement can be spread over five to eight year levels within a single class: a year 7 class may have students working at a year 1 level, while others have mastered concepts from year 8,” the report says.

“The typical year 8 maths teacher must target his teaching in a way that meets the needs of students at eight different levels of conceptual mathematical understanding, while still addressing curriculum requirements. This is no easy task.”

Fairfax Media say The Grattan Institute findings say teachers should target teaching in their classroom, with schools providing the time, tools and training needed to track progress.

“Schools should develop a plan to collect robust evidence of student learning – what each student is ready to learn next, and how much her learning has progressed – and use this data to target teaching and track student progress over time.”

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6. Allenby made up kidnapping tale.

Robert Allenby

The former caddie of Robert Allenby has told News Limited that he does not believe the kidnapping story Robert Allenby spun to the world’s media instead saying he thinks on the night in question Allenby drank too much tequila and fell over.

“Do I think he got mugged and bashed and absolutely robbed? No I don’t. That’s the story I told because that’s the story he told me to tell because I wasn’t there,” Nick Middlemon said.

In January Robert Allenby, one of Australia’s top golfers, claimed he was kidnapped and beaten in Hawaii.

His former caddie, who has had a falling out with Allenby says he lied to protect his boss but is now coming clean.

“Do I think he just fell over and cracked his head? Honestly I do … I think he fell over and someone picked up his wallet and had a great time with his credit card.”

8. British Lord resigns as Lords Deputy Speaker over drug allegations.

The Sun

Lord Sewel, who is chairman of the Lords privileges and conduct committee, as well as Deputy Speaker, was caught on camera snorting cocaine off the breasts of two sex workers.

In the footage, Lord Sewel, who is married, also discusses the Lords’ allowances system.

In his role in parliament Lord Sewel was responsible for enforcing standards in the Lords.

9. Church reminds parishioners about its dress-code.

St Charbel’s Church in Punchbowl.

A Sydney Church has used Facebook to post a tongue-in-cheek message to its parishioners to dress more appropriately for church.

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St Charbel’s church in Punchbowl posted on Facebook

‘PLANS FOR PARISH SWIMMING POOL SCRAPPED! After much study, our finance committee has determined it would not be feasible to construct an indoor swimming pool in our church…As a result, we can now announce with certainty that those who have been arriving for mass as if dressed for the pool need to not do so. Also, we hope to keep the air conditioning cranking all summer long, so you do not need to wear shorts, halter tops or bikinis to Mass.’ 

The post wasn’t received with the humour that was expected with many deeming it inappropriate.

10. Orangutan escapes from her enclosure at Perth Zoo.

Five year old Teliti.

Visitors to Perth Zoo yesterday got more than they paid for when an orangutan escaped from her enclosure.

Five year old Teliti is believed to have used a shade sail to jump out of her enclosure and wander along the visitor boardwalk holding a water bottle before returning voluntarily to the orangutan building.

Perth Zoo Primate Supervisor said Teliti’s expedition was typical for her.

“Teliti is a very gregarious and curious youngster,” Ms Thompson told the ABC. 

“This morning, like a lot of adventurous five year olds, she has taken the opportunity to test her boundaries, but soon realised it was preferable with her orangutan colony.”

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us news@mamamia.com.au
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