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Travel Guides Stack and Mel nearly missed out on the show

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Identical twin cowgirls Stack and Mel are one of the highlights of Nine’s hit TV show Travel Guides.

The sisters are willing to give anything a crack and their dry sense of humour has won over thousands of viewers.

But Stack told Vacations & Travel they were worried they had blown their chance to be on the hit show after their application went disastrously wrong.

“I saw the ad come up and I’d never had a passport, never on been on a holiday and I thought, ‘why not?’,” Stack said.

She took a screenshot of the Travel Guides advertisement, Googled the show to check that it was real and then filled out the application.

Stack named her twin Mel as a co-applicant but she didn’t tell her about it.

“The next day they called me and said that they were interested,” Stack said.

Taken by surprise

The Travel Guides producer also called Mel and her reaction was… interesting.

“I had a producer called Tom call me and I was at the sale yard and we had about 5000 weiners, so I was flat out, and I thought it was a joke,” Mel said.

“I was like ‘yeah right, I might ring you back tomorrow when I’m not busy’.

“I thought it was all a hoax but he rang me back the next day and he goes ‘nah like I’m actually serious’.”

Mel called her sister soon after to tell her about the weird prank call. But quickly realised that Stack had actually applied.

“I got talking to Stacy and I was like, ‘there’s no way we’re gonna get it sorry because I just hung up on him’.” 

The twins thought their chances were over. But after a few Skype interviews, Stack and Mel managed to score an invitation to the Travel Guides auditions in Melbourne.

As the producers were showing them cars, the girls started to fight.

“It was a proper argument, punching me in the arm and everything,” Stack said.

But they made it through, and we’re glad they did.

Travel Guides Stack and Mel take on Australia

In 2020, the Travel Guides have been confined to Australia. Stack and Mel say that’s given them an appreciation for Australia’s diversity.

“We don’t have to worry about different languages, different money or what we can do, we can do everything and anything,” Stack said.

“You want to be hot, you can go to the desert, you want beach, we’ve got stacks, we’ve got snow, doesn’t matter what you like, Australia has it.”

In order to keep the show going, all the contestants were regularly swabbed for COVID-19.

“Oh, it’s brutal,” Mel said of her nine COVID-19 tests.

“I really struggle with them. It makes me gag. I’m the worst person ever.”

In the latest episode (now on catch up) Stack and Mel travelled to the Northern Territory, sleeping on camp beds and exploring Kings Canyon and Uluru.

On Tuesday February 2, the Travel Guides head to the Whitsundays .

You will have to wait until Wednesday, February 3, to see the twin’s favourite Australian holiday destination – Tasmania.

“ Cradle Mountain was one of the best things we had ever seen, we walk from the bottom all the way to the top till we hit snow,” Mel said.

“And there was a frozen lake there, it was just absolutely breath-taking.”

Mel says her experience on Travel Guides has given her an appreciation of just how lucky Australians are.

“I think is a really big thing to know you can go to the toilet, you can have a shower,” she said.

Now expert travellers, we asked the girls for their best travel tips.

“Gastro tablets,” Stack said.

“Always have some in your handbag or backpack because you never know when you will need them”.

Read our interview with Travel Guide’s Kevin and Janetta

When is Travel Guides on?

Wednesday, January 27 at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now – Red Centre

Tuesday, February 2 at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now – Whitsundays

Wednesday, February 3 at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now – Tasmania

Tags: Australia travel , interview , Travel Guides

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TV travel cowgirls' overshare on the perils of over-indulging overseas

By Katherine Scott | 6 years ago

Travel Guides' fun-loving twin cowgirls Stack and Mel, 28, are nothing if not frank, so when 9Honey Travel caught up with the reality duo ahead of tonight's season 2 premiere we knew we were in for a few laughs, maybe even a few post-production 'bleeps'. 

But we didn't expect this.

Visiting such exotic destinations as Bali and Italy, the former travel virgins reveal they'll be dishing up plenty of Aussie larrikin behaviour while abroad this season (racing down a canal in gondolas ends with one cowgirl in need of a change of clothes).

But they've also learned a thing or two about themselves and their travel habits after this round of globe-trotting, including what they do to annoy each other (every sibling will relate) and, well, what happens when they overdo it on the local food, even the really "plain" stuff. Warning: it's not pretty. Check it out in our Q&A above.

Travel Guides premieres tonight on the Nine Network at 9.10pm, after Married at First Sight. Head to 9Now to keep up with the latest episodes of Travel Guides.

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Travel Guides star Melissa Wilburn announces she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Tim Donald

By Mary Mrad For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 20:16 EDT, 16 January 2022 | Updated: 20:28 EDT, 16 January 2022

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Travel Guides star Melissa Wilburn has announced she is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Tim Donald.

The 32-year-old, who appears on the Channel Nine show with her identical twin sister Stacey, is due to give birth in March.

Melissa told Woman's Day  the pregnancy was a surprise but she couldn't be happier.

Exciting! Travel Guides star Melissa Wilburn (right) has announced she is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Tim Donald (left)

'It was certainly not planned,' she said.

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'I was feeling sick one night in July and decided to take a pregnancy test and when it was positive, I absolutely s**t myself and burst into tears.'

Melissa admitted the couple weren't prepared for the baby yet.

Growing family: The 32-year-old, who appears on the Channel Nine show with her identical twin sister Stacey, is due to give birth in March

'All our utes and trucks are two-seaters, we're midway through home renos and I've never even held a newborn in my life,' she said.

Melissa and Tim met at a sales yard where they both worked drafting cattle.

The pair were friends before their relationship blossomed and they moved in together three years ago.

Rise to fame: Stack and Mel are two of the 'Travel Guides' who document their adventures across Australia in the television show of the same name 

Stack and Mel are two of the 'Travel Guides' who document their adventures across Australia in the television show of the same name.

Travel Guides sees six groups of ordinary Australians become travel critics and experience international and domestic holidays.

The Wilburn sisters have become fan favourites thanks to their hilarious banter and straight-shooting antics.

Popular: The Wilburn sisters have become fan favourites thanks to their hilarious banter and straight-shooting antics

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Need some holiday inspo? Here’s exactly where to follow the Travel Guides cast on Instagram

The cast of Travel Guides have captured hearts around Australia, with the show’s third season proving a huge ratings success for the Nine Network.

The combination of enviable holiday destinations, with travel guides who are jet-setting novices, has left us obsessed with the feel-good reality TV series.

If you think your week could use a little day-to-day pick me up from the hilarious cast, outside of the show’s Tuesday night time slot on Nine, then here is exactly where to follow the show’s stars on Instagram.

The Fren Family

The hilarious Fren Family is made up of Mark, his wife Cathy, and their children Johnathon and Victoria. The Frens run the German restaurant Oma’s Kitchen in Newcastle, and have been on the series since it began in 2017.

Only Victoria and Mark have public Instagram accounts. You can follow Victoria at @victoriafren, and you can follow Mark at @mark.fren.

The gang also share snaps and videos on the Instagram account for Oma’s Kitchen, which you can follow at @omaskitchennewcastle.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Fren (@victoriafren)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Fren (@mark.fren)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Fren Family (@thefrenfamily)

Deepesh and Sage

Newly married and newly minted cast members Deepesh and Sage have just started on Travel Guides.

The loved-up Melbourne couple, who met on dating site RSVP four years ago, are both unbelievably clever. Deepesh is an IT manager and Sage is a childcare worker, between them holding seven degrees!

The happy couple are yet to join the ‘gram with public profiles.

Deepesh and Sage are adorable!

The Target Boys: Kev, Dorian and Teng

As you would have guessed from their group nickname, Kev, Dorian and Teng met working at Target. The boys, who are still the best of friends after working in retail, are budget travellers who still live at home with their parents.

All three of the boys have public Instagram accounts, where they share hilarious behind-the-scenes videos and candid snaps from their Travel Guides’ escapades.

Kev at @thefakekevinhe , Dorian at @dorian_calleja , and Teng at @mic.teng .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Teng 🧀 (@mic.teng)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dorian Calleja (@dorian_calleja)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin He (@thefakekevinhe)

Kevin and Janetta

Self-proclaimed ‘holiday snobs’ Kevin and Janetta are always on the lookout for the best accomodation, food and, of course, WINE.

The luxurious retirees love exploring big cities like Paris and New York, but they’re yet to share any #TravelGoals pics on Instagram… because they don’t have public accounts.

But we all know we would get major food and wine envy if the couple ever decide to join social media.

You’ve gotta love the holiday snobs!

Stack and Mel

Twin cowgirls Stack and Mel started out as ‘travel virgins,’ though they’ve quick become well-seasoned travellers thanks to their part on the series.

The girls have three Instagram accounts between them, with one joint and two individual accounts to their names. They post everything from Travel Guides vacations, to glamorous night’s out, to their rodeos.

You can follow the twins on @stackandmel , follow Mel at @melissa_wilburn , and follow Stack at @staceywilburn .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by #stackandmel (@stackandmel)

Travel Guides airs Tuesday, 8:45pm, on Nine.

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Everything you need to know about Travel Guides 2023

• 29 Mar 2023

The sixth season of Travel Guides is almost upon us! The popular reality show is set to be released on Channel Nine at some point in 2023 and while, sadly, we don’t know the exact release date yet we have seen a sneak peek!

And from this sneak peek, we know that all (but one) cast members are returning to go on a wild adventure all around the world.

WATCH: Travel Guides 2023 sneak peek

If you’re a fan of the Logie-winning show like us, read on to find out everything you need to know about Travel Guides 2023 .

Travel Guides Season 6 release date

At this stage, there’s no exact release date for the sixth season of Travel Guides . We do know that it’ll air in 2023 and Channel Nine has said it’s “coming soon” so watch this space…

WATCH: Travel Guides’ Fren family visit a farm

Travel Guides 2023 cast

The cast for this year’s Travel Guides has remained relatively the same as last year’s. The only change is that Stack’s twin sister Mel is not returning. But Stack will still be on Travel Guides this year; she’ll just have a new travel partner. Scroll through to meet the full cast! 

Kristy and Bri

At the Nine Network's recent Upfronts event, they gave us a sneak-peek at the two newest travel guides: Kristy and Bri. These newcomers will be joining the OG stars in the new season. And we can't wait to see what they'll have in store for us! 

Matt and Brett

Matt and Brent made their Travel Guides debut during Season 4. The couple have been together for 20 years and married for 9 of those.

The Fren Family

The Fren Family - Mark, Cathy, Victoria and Jonathan - have been on Travel Guides since its inception. The family always seems to find the funny side of holiday disasters and we can’t wait to see how the Frens handle this year’s destinations.

WATCH: Travel Guides’ Kev, Dorian and Teng go diving with sharks

Kev, Dorian and Teng

Kev, Dorian and Teng (AKA The Target Boys) have returned for their fifth season of Travel Guides . The hilarious best friends will tackle penny-farthing bicycles this year and poor Kev suffers an injury while on his.

Kevin and Janetta

Retired couple Kevin and Janetta have once again returned to Travel Guides . The self-confessed “travel snobs” have been a part of the show since it began and we can’t wait to see what kind of complaints they make this year.

Sadly, cowgirl Stack will not be travelling with her twin sister Mel this year. Instead, Stack can be seen in the Travel Guides 2023 sneak peek with a new, male partner…

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Travel Guides stars share their top tips for luxury travel on a budget

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Meet the cast of Travel Guides 2023

• 01 Dec 2021

Travel Guides is back for a new season - and there's a new cast member in the mix!

WATCH BELOW: Travel Guides 2019 | The Fren Family visit Germany

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Cate blanchett at the 2023 oscars, janelle shows up to the mafs dinner party ready for revenge, louis tomlinson calls james corden out, meet the dancing with the stars 2019 cast, mkr amanda confirms the truth about her scary cancer diagnosis, justin lacko addresses what everyone is thinking, mafs jules tells: how things ended up with me and justin, celine dion has something to say about these startling photos.

Fans adore the show's hilarious cast as they travel beyond their comfort zones to explore random holiday destinations around the world. 

Now, Travel Guides is back for its latest season and will  return to Channel 9 on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30pm .

While fans are very keen to see the friendly faces on our screens once more, there have been some changes to the traditional  Travel Guides cast.

Cowgirl Mel - who appears on the show with her identical twin sister, Stack - is taking some time off from this season to be with her one-year-old daughter, Savannah. 

However, Stack's new partner remains in the family, with brother Josh joining the team in Mel's place.

With that in mind, meet the Travel Guides cast for 2023...

Meet Josh! He'll join sister Stack in place of Mel this season.

Stack and Josh

There will be a switch-up to the traditional pairing of identical twins and country cowgirls, Stack and Mel. This year, you'll see Stack and Josh. While not an identical twin, Josh is the sisters' younger brother.

As was the case with his older siblings, Josh is a little wary about travelling beyond the family's home in outback Queensland. In fact, he's never been out of Australia (until now).

While Stack and Mel were more comfortable at a local rodeo, they felt like fish out of water on their Travel Guides adventures. And Josh will be just the same! 

Will he be as game as his sisters? We're sure this construction worker will do just fine.

Matt and Brett

Bona fide travel addicts Matt and Brett joined the show in season four, hailing from Newcastle in New South Wales.

The married couple, who have been together for 19 years now, describe themselves as ‘high end travellers’ who also love a bargain.

While Matt is organised, and packs his outfits into plastic bags via the suitcase, Brett is much happier going along for the ride, leading to a delightful Bert-and-Ernie energy that makes for great TV.

They’re also hilarious, giving biting commentary, and always making the audience laugh.

The Fren Family

The Fren family

The delightful Fren family have been regulars since season one, bringing immediate joy to the show with their upbeat nature.

Dad Mark is upbeat and forthright, with a knack for negotiating room upgrades. He’s been married to wife Cathy for over 30 years, and their two kids, Victoria and Jonathan, are always along for the journey.

Their family grew earlier this year, with Jonathan marrying his long-term partner, Danielle Clarke .

Other members of the Travel Guides cast Matt, Brett, Kevin, Janetta, Mel, and Stack were all in attendance – too cute!

Kevin and Janetta

‘Holiday snobs’ Kevin and Janetta always bring the laughs.

The pair, who are in their 60s, are passionate wine enthusiasts and seasoned travellers. They’re also avid researchers when it comes to their holidays, making sure they have the best possible experience, so being thrown into strange situations on the show always makes for a good laugh.

They also won’t hesitate to ask for the manager, which has earned them the catchphrase “we don’t suffer in silence”.

Kev, Dorian and Teng

Besties Kev, Dorian and Teng love food, computer games, movies, and music.

Kev is a pop-culture expert, Dorian studies teaching, and Teng is the risk-taker, who keeps deferring university in the hopes of finding a good time.

Their combined heritage spans China, Greece and Vietnam, giving them a unique take on the world when it comes to the show.

Travel Guides Season 6 starts on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9 Now .

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The Travel Guides Cast: Everything About Salary and Living Conditions

The Travel Guides is a popular Australian reality TV series. It first aired in 2017 and was met with positive feedback from viewers. Australians were eager to watch a different type of reality TV series. They found this show to be a refreshing change from the regular selection of reality TV programs.

This series follows groups of travellers from Australia. All of the travellers are ordinary Australians, but each group is different from the next. Their job is to review the accommodations, cuisine, and tourist attractions.

However, this isn’t your ordinary travel series. The contestants on this show are put in unpredictable situations. It’s part of what makes this show unpredictable and humorous. Each group of travellers will have a different take on the situations at hand.

What Does the Cast Do on Travel Guides?

The cast of this hit reality series gets to go on exclusive vacations around the world. While they travel, they will experience different activities, try dishes custom to other cultures, and stay at local hotels and resorts. In exchange for this, they will leave brutally honest reviews.

In each episode of the series, the travellers will go on a week-long vacation (all expenses paid). The groups each consist of family members or close friends. They will leave their comfortable nest in Australia and venture to big cities worldwide.

Viewers are introduced to new groups of travellers each season, and some fan favourites have returned to the show. One of the most popular groups on the show is the Fren family, who has appeared in all five seasons.

These groups have gotten to travel to places all over the world. Some of the places they’ve visited include:

• Tokyo, Japan
• Perth, Australia
• Argentina & more

Does the Cast of Travel Guides Get Paid?

It hasn’t been released to the public how much the castmates of Travel Guides get paid. However, the Fren family had openly commented on how the show saved them when they were experiencing financial hardship with the restaurant they own.

Many reality TV shows made in Australia will provide contestants with weekly pay while filming. Travel Guides is a different scenario. Ordinary Australians get to travel to tourist destinations in Australia and internationally for free. All fees are covered, including accommodations, transportation, meals, shopping, and other activities they participate in. Since everything is free for travellers, they don’t have to worry about any expenses.

Whether or not the contestants get paid per episode and how much they earn hasn’t been revealed. Each group of family and friends do have the job of leaving a red hot honest review. Even if they don’t get paid, the free travelling and TV exposure are worth it.

A lot of Australian reality TV contestants are able to earn money because of the exposure they have gotten. Once the TV series airs, fans of the show begin following the castmates on social media and subscribing to their content. Well-known castmates have been able to use their exposure to get further opportunities, such as appearances on other TV series. It’s also common for them to get paid endorsement deals where brands pay them to post content on Instagram and other social media platforms.

Another way that these contestants use their exposure to earn money is through paid online gigs, like Cameo and similar platforms. This is when they record personal messages for fans for a cost. The more popular a castmate is, the more they can charge for a video. It’s also common for castmates to use paid subscription platforms, like Patreon and OnlyFans, to earn an income. Also, a lot of contestants may like to relax by gambling and choose a new Australian online casino .

What Are the Living Conditions Like on Travel Guides?

Every country these travellers visit will have different accommodations. The accommodations will be based on the culture of the country they visit. This is why the reviews from the Fren family, cowgirl twins, and other favourite castmates are always red hot.

For the most part, they get to experience good quality living conditions. However, since the accommodations are often different from what they are used to, it leads to some hilarious reviews. This is one of the main reasons why this reality TV series has been such a hit with Australians and other viewers around the world.

Every episode is a different experience for the castmates and the viewers. Travellers could be enjoying the lux life on a cruise, visiting a casino in the city, or going on an off-road adventure. They must be up for anything to get the full travel experience.

Will Travel Guides Return for Season 6?

Do you want to see the Fren family and other fan favourites back on your TV screen? Currently, there is no word on when season 6 will be released. This is because the 6th season hasn’t been renewed yet.

Fans of this beloved reality TV show shouldn’t have reason to worry about the series’ fate. It has been confirmed that the series hasn’t been cancelled and is just on a break.

Does the idea of temporarily leaving your job and travelling the world for free sound like a dream? That’s exactly what the castmates of this popular reality TV series get to experience. While there currently isn’t any information released on what contestants earn from filming the series, the experience they get is well worth it.

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Newcastle's Fren family are back in Oma's Kitchen - and on our television screens

They’re a funny bunch, the Fren family from Newcastle. And by funny, I mean humorous – and also unique in their own delightful way.

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Mark and Cathy Fren, along with their children Victoria and Jonathon, have owned and run Bavarian restaurant Oma’s Kitchen on Watt Street since 2012. Cathy is in charge of the kitchen, using recipes passed down from her German grandmother. 

Their lives changed in 2017 when they starred in season one of Nine’s reality series Travel Guides . Their offbeat, self-deprecating humour and confidence in front of the camera endeared them to audiences and the show’s producers, who asked them to return in 2018 for season two, and again this year. The first episode of season three airs on February 5. 

The Frens will be holding a themed dinner and screening on Tuesday night at Oma’s Kitchen to celebrate, and this will be repeated weekly throughout season three. A caterer will this year take care of the cooking duties to allow the Frens to mingle with guests rather than being confined to the kitchen. 

“We go to Hawaii in the first episode so Billy Goat Catering will be preparing a Hawaiian buffet. We’ll leave it in his capable hands,” Cathy says.

“It was really hard last year doing the cooking at the screenings because we’re away and having to close the restaurant all the time, so have only got a really small staff. We’re happy to hand it over to someone else and see how it goes.”

Mark agrees.

“Having a caterer is going to take the pressure off so that we can be a little more relaxed and sit and have a chat. And a buffet is right up our alley – we love a good buffet. Every week we will try to have some sort of food from the countries that we are visiting. Dinner starts at 7pm, then we watch the show on the big screen at 9pm and after that, have a chat and people can take photos if they want. It’s always a really fun night.”

You’ll be able to spot the Frens a mile away. They will all be wearing Hawaiian shirts purchased on their travels. So, how do they feel about season three? Excited, Cathy says, and thankful.

“It’s a great gig. We thought we were pretty lucky with season one, let alone getting to season three. It’s like winning the travel lottery, it really is. We were used to the camera after day one, it never bothered us. We’ve always been ourselves and never tried to be anyone different. 

You know what? The question people ask us the most about season three is will Jonathon get a girlfriend. - Mark Fren

“I think we are better at it now, though, because we know the routine. The people we work with on the show are just fantastic.” 

Mark says the crew have got the formula just right when it comes to his family. 

“They set the situation up for us and just stand back and watch our reactions. It’s funny, we always come home and sit back and reflect about the holiday and say ‘Did that really happen? Did you really say that?’ and we have a laugh.

“We feel so lucky that we get to do all of this as a family. We’ve had 24 wonderful holidays now, and the ride is still going. We’re happy as long as people are still watching the show and laughing at us just being ourselves. It has surprised us how much enjoyment people get from the show.”

That’s the rewarding part, Cathy says. Making people laugh. Meeting fans of the show has been a plus, too. 

“We find it hard to go anywhere these days, to be honest,” Mark says, laughing. 

“I’m serious. In Israel one of the sound guys told us these people kept on walking past. Eventually they came up to us and said they had seen us on TV –  Travel Guides is screened in Israel – and wanted to meet us. And last Saturday we had five different groups from Sydney drive up to meet us.

“A lovely lady from Melbourne also rang, wanting to know what our Easter trading hours were because she was planning a holiday and wanted to make sure she saw us first. It’s really quite amazing and it has been great for business.”

The Frens travel to nine destinations in season three.

“We didn’t think they’d be able to beat series two but this year is going to be hilarious and the destinations are unbelievable,” Mark says.

All the regulars are back, Cathy says, and this year there’s a new team: a newlywed Indian-born couple from Melbourne.

If you’d like to watch Travel Guides with the Frens at Oma’s Kitchen on Tuesday night, go online to thefrenfamily.com and secure your seat at the table. You can also order handmade treats and Fren family merchandise online. The restaurant is otherwise open three days a week – Thursday, Friday and Saturday – from 11am until late, and the Frens also have a stall at Sunday’s Newcastle City Farmers Market. 

“You know what? The question people ask us the most about season three is will Jonathon get a girlfriend,” Mark says, laughing again.

And the answer to that question?  

“I’m just beyond all hope, really. The Frens are hopeless when it comes to match making,” Jonathon says. Quips his father: “It’s lucky we’re not on Married At First Sight being asked to match people together – although come to think of it, maybe Jonathon could try his luck on that show.”

Lisa Rockman

Newcastle Herald

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