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Two Aussies cop $35,000 fine for "illegal" enterprise

<p>A pair of Aussies have copped a $35,000 fine for illegally collecting masses of firewood for a black market enterprise. </p> <p>The duo were caught during a targeted patrol inside a national park in Victoria, where fallen timber is supposed to be left as wildlife habitat. </p> <p>They fled after they were approached by officers, according to Parks Victoria, but had left behind evidence of their illegal enterprise. </p> <p>Officers found records that identified the 44-year-old man and 31-year-old woman in their abandoned Commodore, as well as their sales record and social media accounts promoting their black market business. </p> <p>The pair were convicted of six charges at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on November 22, with the man fined $20,000 and the woman $15,000 for cutting, removing and selling firewood in the Lower Goulburn National Park in May, 2023.</p> <p>The couple faced additional charges for damaging wildlife habitat. </p> <p>On Wednesday, Parks Victoria issued a warning to the public to not fall for firewood scams and illegal wood sellers after almost 10,000 trees had been illegally felled across 462 hectares of public land last year.</p> <p>"The illegal cut and take of firewood from national parks and protected public land is theft," Andrew Dean, a Parks Victoria Senior Enforcement Officer, said in a statement. </p> <p>"Theft damages and destroys wildlife habitat and robs Victorians of the natural places they love to visit. Magistrate Zebrowski's verdict sends a strong and clear message: firewood theft will not be tolerated, and offenders will be held accountable for their actions.</p> <p>"We encourage consumers to use common sense when purchasing firewood. Any time a deal is too good to be true, it probably is."</p> <p>Fallen logs are important and a key habitat for Australian wildlife including the marbled gecko, brown treecreeper and Peron’s tree frog. </p> <p><em>Images: Parks Victoria</em></p>

Legal

Major driver's licence change for Victorian drivers

<p>A major drivers licence change has been implemented in Victoria. </p> <p>Up to 800,000 learner and provisional drivers in the state will soon have electronic access to their licence in a bid to make "it easier for them to go about their lives". </p> <p>They join the 1.2 million motorists in the state who already have the capability to access their licence digitally, a feature that was only introduced in Victoria in May this year. </p> <p>While the digital licences are optional, the state government said that feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly positive.</p> <p>Like other digital licences, it features a highly secure, timed QR code" that can be scanned by businesses and other authorities to verify authenticity and prevent fraudulent use.</p> <p>Victoria Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said the initiative aims to simplify life for young drivers in the state. </p> <p>"We’ve seen more than 1.2 million Victorians access their licence on their phones since we launched this technology in May, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see a strong take up from our younger drivers," she said. </p> <p>The licences can also be updated in real-time if there are changes to conditions, personal information or if a licence has been cancelled or suspended. </p> <p>The state government is also working with venues to ensure licences are compatible with major scanning technology making it easier for both customers and venues across Victoria.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p> </p>

Legal

Man charged after allegedly killing neighbour in front of children

<p>A man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a Melbourne mum to death in front of three young children. </p> <p>There was an apparent dispute between the two neighbours, and it has been reported that the 47-year-old man knocked on the home of a 51-year-old woman and attacked her multiple times with a knife.</p> <p>Emergency services were called to the home on Cousin Drive, Bayswater, in east Melbourne on Saturday morning, where the woman was found dead. </p> <p>Police said the woman's children, aged 16 and 11, and the alleged attacker's son, 17 witnessed the incident, with one of them sustaining a minor injury.</p> <p>"It's not a family violence incident, it is a tragic set of circumstances," Victoria Police detective senior sergeant Chris Ellway said on Saturday. </p> <p>"They're being looked after at the police station at the moment, statements are being taken and their welfare is being taken care of there," he added. </p> <p>The man was arrested a short time later and appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday while he was withdrawing from drugs and alcohol, the court heard.</p> <p>He has since been charged with one count of murder and remanded in custody and will appear at a committal on February 14.</p> <p>"Another woman lost at the hands of a man is just horrible," Ellway said.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine News/ Facebook</em></p>

Legal

Victorian plane crash victims identified

<p>Three young men have been killed after a light plane crash in eastern Victoria at around 5.45pm on Saturday. </p> <p>Pilot Luke Smith, 20, his younger brother Ben Smith, 16, and their cousin Dustin Daly, 15, were on board the plane when it crashed into a paddock and burst into flames at Tinamba West in east Gippsland. </p> <p>They were only 15 minutes into the flight, which took off from West Sale airport, when the tragic incident occurred. </p> <p>The plane was reportedly seen circling several times, with witnesses saying they heard a strange sound coming from the aircraft in the moments before the crash. </p> <p>“From accounts that I’ve seen, there may have been circling or manoeuvring to resolve that issue or to try to find somewhere to land and unfortunately, that has happened,” Aviation Projects managing director Keith Tonkin said.</p> <p>Luke Smith has held a pilot licence since 2022 and was also an instructor. His aviation consultant and flying instructor Lorraine MacGillivray has paid tribute to the three young men. </p> <p>“They were all absolutely delightful human beings, and so this is a terrible loss,” MacGillivray said.</p> <p>“The conversations I had with him, he was diligent and he was committed and he was passionate about his flying,” MacGillivray said.</p> <p>“He was also a flight instructor.”</p> <p>The brothers were also heavily involved in the Tongala football and cricket clubs, who have since offered counselling to the grieving regional community. </p> <p>The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the crash, with a team of investigators specialising aircraft operations and maintenance looking into what happened. </p> <p>The ATSB described the plane as "amateur-built light aircraft" and will examine the wreckage, interview witnesses and comb through flight tracking data to try and determine what went wrong. </p> <p>“We’ll start looking at the records of the plane itself, and maintenance records and pilot qualifications and the actual tasking or the nature of the flight itself,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.</p> <p>Witnesses who saw the incident or anyone who has photos or videos of the plane have been asked to come forward. </p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

Caring

Millions of Aussies eligible for free holidays

<p>Millions of Australians are set to be eligible for free holidays under a new initiative by the Victorian government in an attempt to ease cost-of-living pressures. </p> <p>From December, any Aussies wishing to embark on a camping trip in Victoria will have all their booking fees waived. </p> <p>Camping will be free at all 131 of Parks Victoria’s paid campgrounds from December 1st 2024, until June 30th 2025, saving families an estimated $7.3 million in booking fees, according to the state government.</p> <p>Those who have already booked a camping trip before the promotion's commencement date will still have the offer honoured, with full refunds available online.</p> <p>Premier Jacinta Allan said in the lead up to the festive season, every family deserves a holiday that won't break the bank. </p> <p>"Busy families deserve a great holiday in our great outdoors – and this summer, they can stay for free," she said. "I grew up camping with my family and those special memories have stayed with me forever."</p> <p>Each year, approximately 50 million people visit Victoria’s iconic state forests and national parks every year for activities including camping, hiking, fishing and hunting and four-wheel driving</p> <p>All bookings and refunds under the scheme can be made at <a href="https://www.parks.vic.gov.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">parks.vic.gov.au</a>.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Parks Victoria </em></p>

Domestic Travel

Aussie dad's life-changing $100,000 find

<p>After seven years of hunting for lost items with his metal detector, one Vi dad has struck gold - unearthing a nugget worth about $100,000. </p> <p>Luke Phillips, who shares metal-detecting videos on his YouTube channel <em>Dig It Detecting</em>, recorded the moment found the nugget in the Goldfields region. </p> <p>Phillip initially found tiny flecks of gold in the 150-year-old miner's hole dating back to the Victorian gold rush. It was when he decided to run his detector over a moss-covered log that he heard a faint signal.</p> <p>He rolled the log over and thought he might actually be digging for a horseshoe before repeatedly exclaiming “oh my god” as he realises it was something much bigger. </p> <p>“This is probably the deepest target I’ve ever dug for gold,” Phillips said in the video. </p> <p>“Holy smokes! Mate, we didn’t dig that far for no reason,” he says to his friend, Andrew, as they unearthed the nugget. </p> <p>“Holy smokes, if we didn’t get a gram before we’ve certainly got it now.</p> <p>“Holy f***, look at it!”</p> <p>Phillips then joked his friend would not need his glasses to see the nugget.</p> <p>“I’ve never witnessed or seen or experienced something quite like this,” Phillips said. “I didn’t expect to see gold. That is so cool.”</p> <p>Phillips continued to excavate a larger hole, and couldn't hide how astonished he was. </p> <p>“I never thought I would see this day where I was going to unearth a nugget,” he said.</p> <p>“It’s like an egg ... that’s like a freaking egg.”</p> <p>He took the nugget home where he cleaned it and weighed it at 868.4g.</p> <p>He has reportedly sold the nugget since finding it back in May, and although the sale price was confidential, it was likely to have been sold for a six-figure-price. </p> <p>"It was an exhilarating feeling — I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. That moment in time will be with me forever," Phillips told <em>9News</em>.</p> <p>The discovery and sale of the gold nugget has been "life-changing" for Phillips after he had to stop working full time due to health issues a few years ago. </p> <p>He said that the nugget will help out his family in a "big way". </p> <p>"It's not something I'm going to retire on, of course, but it will pay some bills off and we can put a bit on the mortgage, or buy a car," he said.</p> <p><em>Images: YouTube</em></p>

Money & Banking

Man fined $7000 for driving offences he did not commit

<p>A New South Wales man has copped $7000 in fines and lost his licence, after he was fraudulently nominated for 14 driving offences by a woman in Victoria. </p> <p>Speaking to 2GB, Ross claimed he was falsely nominated through cars registered to two companies in Victoria, and shared an image of the woman behind the wheel. </p> <p>"I haven't been to Victoria in the last five years and I haven't driven a car in Victoria in the last five years," he told host Ben Fordham. </p> <p>"It's not me."</p> <p>Fordham then questioned whether he had "flowing long hair" as seen on the driver, to which he replied: "I don't, unfortunately. It's short hair."</p> <p>Ross, whose licence has been suspended, has been trying to clear the offences from his name. </p> <p>He has spoken to several government departments in both states including Service NSW and Vic Roads, submitted statutory declaration, police report, request of an extension and a nomination statement, to no avail. </p> <p>"I've tried to highlight that I'm a male and she is a female but it's still ongoing," Ross said.</p> <p>"It's a very convoluted process.</p> <p>"When someone assumes your identity in a fraudulent manner, it's no easy feat kind of getting it back."</p> <p>Fordham, who said the situation was "unbelievable", promised to step in and solve the matter for Ross within 24 hours, saying that they'll discuss this again tomorrow. </p> <p><em>Image: Nine</em></p>

Legal

Second person dies during Legionnaires outbreak

<p>A man in his 60s has become the second person to die from Legionnaires amidst the outbreak in Victoria. </p> <p>The man became unwell on July 27th and was admitted to hospital, where he died on August 1st.</p> <p>His death comes just days after a woman in her 90s also died from the disease. </p> <p>Victoria's Chief Health Officer Clare Looker confirmed that the state is now grappling with 77 confirmed cases, including two in the past 24 hours and another seven suspected cases.</p> <p>Most people with the disease are over 40 years of age and are believed to have been exposed between July 5th and July 20th. </p> <p>Despite the worrying case number, Looker confirmed that authorities have seen a reduction in cases and believe the situation is stabilising. </p> <p>The source of the outbreak is being linked to a cooling tower in the Laverton North and Derrimut area of Melbourne, after more than 50 sites have been inspected. </p> <p>Authorities believe there is a high likelihood they have already tested and treated the source, while sharing that weather patterns could explain the extent of the outbreak. </p> <p>They have contacted another 1000 businesses across Melbourne, telling them to self-test and report to the Department of Health, Looker said.</p> <p>Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the legionella bacteria, which is found in natural bodies of water as well as spas, warm water systems, potting mix and artificial systems that use water for cooling.</p> <p>Symptoms usually include a chest infection, aches, headache, fever, cough and chills.</p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News</em></p>

Caring

"My little Spice Girl": Victoria Beckham's sweet tribute as daughter turns 13

<p>David and Victoria Beckham's daughter has turned 13. </p> <p>On Wednesday July 10, the couple marked Harper's milestone birthday with a cute throwback video shared on Instagram. </p> <p>The sweet video — set to Bruno Mars’ <em>Just The Way You Are </em> — featured a compilation of footage of Harper through the years, from her taking her first steps to playing soccer with her dad. </p> <p>"Happy 13th Birthday to my beautiful little girl," David began in the caption. </p> <p>"Daddy is so proud of you, you have grown up to be a kind, generous & a beautiful young lady with the most amazing heart & the most amazing smile that we all love so so much," he continued.</p> <p>"Always be the beautiful person that you are. Harper Seven you're my world."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9Prtgjo_IN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9Prtgjo_IN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Victoria also shared a special tribute to her daughter, with the caption: “Happy Birthday to my best friend. You are sweet and kind and your smile warms our hearts every day 😊"</p> <p>"You really are our everything Harper Seven and we are so proud of the happy, beautiful, talented young lady you are becoming. We love you so so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ "</p> <p>Victoria's celebrity friends took to the comments to share their birthday wishes. </p> <p>“Happy birthday beautiful Harper! We love you so much! ❤️,” wrote Victoria’s best friend Eva Longoria. </p> <p>“Happy birthday Harper, we love you to bits. Xx,” added Spice Girl bandmate Emma Bunton.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

Ambulance ramping is getting worse in Australia. Here’s why – and what we can do about it

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-karnon-290">Jonathan Karnon</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-partington-93821">Andrew Partington</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a></em></p> <p>We’ve seen countless <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/ballarat/ambulance-ramping-leaves-paramedics-unable-to-respond-to-emergencies-says-union/news-story/54b6fee380eb7b7f1c9b2784edf3d2cd">media reports</a> in recent days, weeks and months about the <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/worst-cases-of-ambulance-ramping-at-queensland-hospitals-revealed/news-story/bcf4833b5197774329cf983029d77cb4">ramping of ambulances</a> at <a href="https://thewest.com.au/news/health/ambulance-ramping-reaches-record-levels-in-june-as-hospitals-struggle-with-surging-winter-demand-c-15192504">hospital emergency departments</a> (EDs) around Australia.</p> <p>Ambulance ramping occurs when paramedics are made to wait at the hospital’s entrance and are unable to transfer their patient into the emergency department within an appropriate time frame – defined as <a href="https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/about+us/our+performance/ambulance+waiting+times">30 minutes</a> in South Australia.</p> <p>Ramping is an indicator of hospital stress. It means patients are waiting longer to receive care in the emergency department, and patients requiring inpatient care are waiting longer to access a hospital bed.</p> <p>Research suggests <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2022/217/5/influence-ambulance-offload-time-30-day-risks-death-and-re-presentation-patients">ambulance ramping</a> and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1742-6723.13699">having to wait longer</a> for a hospital bed are associated with a greater risk of patients dying up to 30 days after their initial presentation.</p> <p>So why is ambulance ramping still a problem? And what can we do to fix it?</p> <h2>Ramping is getting worse</h2> <p>Available data indicate the problem has become worse over time. In <a href="https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/about+us/our+performance/ambulance+waiting+times">South Australia</a>, for example, ramping has been steadily increasing since 2017, from around 500 hours “ramped” per month to around 4,000 hours per month in 2024. This is the sum of the time ambulances spend waiting beyond 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.bhi.nsw.gov.au/data-portal">New South Wales</a>, we calculate the numbers of patients being ramped increased from around 44,000 patients per month in early 2022 to more than 50,000 in early 2024.</p> <h2>What’s driving the increase in ramping?</h2> <p>The ambulance ramping bottleneck reflects an imbalance between the number of people presenting at emergency departments and the capacity to treat patients and transfer those requiring inpatient care to a ward.</p> <p>Potential drivers of this imbalance are increased emergency department presentations and reduced availability of inpatient beds. The latter may reflect increased demand for beds, including longer hospital stays.</p> <p>Between the financial years 2018–19 and 2022–23 (the latest period for which figures are available), Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data show the numbers of more serious presentations (triage categories 1 to 3) increased by <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/myhospitals/sectors/emergency-department-care">almost 700,000</a> across Australia.</p> <p>Some 100,000 fewer patients who presented to an emergency department were <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/myhospitals/sectors/admitted-patients">admitted as inpatients</a> during this period, but the additional presentations will nonetheless have contributed to more ramping.</p> <p>In the same period, admissions to inpatient beds that did not come through an emergency department increased by <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/myhospitals/sectors/admitted-patients">almost 400,000</a> across the country. These include admissions for the management of chronic conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma and so on) and infections and viruses (COVID, flu, RSV and others).</p> <p>Further, COVID and other viruses are likely to have contributed to increased hospital stress via <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/workforce/health-workforce">workforce shortages</a>. This has possibly led to delays in seeing patients in the emergency department and in discharging patients from hospital.</p> <p>There has not been a significant increase in <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/myhospitals/sectors/admitted-patients">patients’ time in hospital</a> receiving required care, but there appear to be increasing numbers of patients waiting for placement in an aged care facility or for home care services after their treatment <a href="https://www.ama.com.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/Hospital%20exit%20block%20-%20a%20symptom%20of%20a%20sick%20health%20system_Final.pdf">has finished</a>.</p> <h2>Many admissions may be preventable</h2> <p>Increased vaccination rates could reduce the impact of viruses. For example, only <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/immunisation-and-vaccination">21% of Australians</a> aged 65 to 74 received the 2023 COVID booster recommended for their age group.</p> <p>We know there were significant increases in people delaying or avoiding seeing a GP <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/more-people-putting-seeing-health-professionals-due-cost">due to cost</a> in 2022–23, which can put extra pressure on hospitals. The government is trying to address this issue by increasing <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/increases-to-bulk-billing-incentive-payments">incentives to GPs</a> to reduce costs to patients.</p> <p>Meanwhile, government health departments may not have been provided with enough funding to meet increasing demand for health care. Year on year the gap between supply and demand grows. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jun/27/victoria-hospitals-recruitment-freeze-cost-cuts-premier-jacinta-allan">Victorian hospitals</a> are reportedly scrambling to reduce spending in light of proposed budget cuts.</p> <h2>What are the solutions?</h2> <p>The creation of new hospital beds is not the only option for increasing capacity. Governments should design, implement and scale up services that free up hospital capacity by providing appropriate and cost-effective out-of-hospital care.</p> <p>For example, there is further scope to care for patients admitted to hospital in their own homes with the support of digital technologies. Programs such as <a href="https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/services/hospitals/my+home+hospital/my+home+hospital">My Home Hospital</a> in South Australia aim to provide an alternative to inpatient care.</p> <p>Across Australia, such “hospital in the home” care was provided 150,000 times in 2022–23, compared to <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/myhospitals/sectors/admitted-patients">6.8 million episodes of care</a> in public hospitals.</p> <p>Virtual ED services are a growing phenomenon across Australia, using <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-virtual-emergency-department-and-when-should-you-visit-one-228098">virtual consultations</a> to identify patients for whom urgent care can be provided outside hospital. The Victorian virtual ED service is targeting a capacity of <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/meet-the-two-doctors-revolutionising-emergency-healthcare-20240415-p5fjud">1,000 consults</a> per day.</p> <p>Longer-term solutions require co-operation between state and territory governments and the federal government to prevent and better manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, outside hospital. This includes boosting access to GPs and improving communication between GPs and hospitals.</p> <p>Greater investment in well-designed policies and programs to support healthy ageing would also likely help, as well as improving access to required out-of-hospital aged care and disability services for patients waiting to leave hospital.</p> <p>All these measures could ease the pressure on hospitals and reduce the likelihood of patients waiting in an ambulance, unable to get inside and receive the care they need.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/232720/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-karnon-290">Jonathan Karnon</a>, Professor of Health Economics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-partington-93821">Andrew Partington</a>, Research Fellow (Health Economics), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ambulance-ramping-is-getting-worse-in-australia-heres-why-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-232720">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Caring

David and Victoria Beckham recreate iconic purple wedding look

<p>David and Victoria Beckham have slipped back into the infamous purple wedding outfits to mark their 25th anniversary. </p> <p>The pair have shared a bunch of photos on social media from the lead up to their wedding in July 1999, giving fans a more detailed insight into the big day. </p> <p>"Looking back on the days leading up to our wedding 25 years ago brings back so many amazing memories… I love you so much," Victoria captioned one of the posts, before tagging David. </p> <p>The photos included a picture of the pair testing their iconic thrones for size when they were first delivered, Victoria's final fitting for her wedding dress and David fully concentrating while writing his vows among a few other special moments. </p> <p>In another post, the couple released a series of shots of them sitting on the reupholstered thrones, wearing their iconic Antonio Berardi wedding reception outfits. </p> <p>"Yep, still got it! 🤣 Can’t believe it’s been 25 years and they still fit!" Victoria captioned the photo before tagging all of their kids on social media. </p> <p>It wasn't an easy process getting into clothes from 25 years ago, and the pair even documented the former Manchester United player struggling to get into the suit, as their 12-year-old daughter Harper was heard giggling in the background.</p> <p>In the Instagram story David can be heard saying "I'm in!" before hearing a pop as he put on the waistcoat making everyone burst into laughter.</p> <p>Fans were thrilled to see the post and loved the Beckhams' sense of humour. </p> <p>"This is the only monarchy I recognise. 👑 Happy anniversary, kids," wrote one fan. </p> <p>"Why does this still look as iconic as the first time!!!" added another. </p> <p>"Going to tell my kids these are the Queen and King of England," joked a third. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Relationships

Drawings by teen Queen Victoria to go up for auction

<p>A set of 19th century drawings made by a teenage Queen Victoria will be put up for sale at the Old Master, British and European Pictures auction in Roseberys, London next week. </p> <p>A few of the sketches were made when the royal - who reigned from 1837 until her death in 1901 - was still a princess and just 14 years old. </p> <p>Dated July 1833, the drawings depict a knight, a woman, and a veiled woman on a horseback. </p> <p>The fourth drawing was made a year after she ascended the throne, and depicted a woman sitting with a crown and sash, similar to herself, with the inscription: "by Her Majesty." </p> <p>Charlotte Russell, Head of Sales at the auction house, said: "These slightly early drawings show that maybe she was still learning a lot, that she was still honing her craft." </p> <p>"She was very curious and keen as an artist," Russell told <em>CNN</em>.</p> <p>Roseberys set an estimated sale price of £1,500 to £2,500 ($AU2853 to $4755) for the album with the four sketches, as well as works by other artists. </p> <p>Russel added that the album was likely assembled by Augusta Hayter, daughter-in-law of George Hayter, who was the Queen's court painter and painted her coronation portrait. </p> <p>The album also features royal ephemera, including an invitation to the coronation of King George IV at Westminster Abbey in 1821.</p> <p>"I'm interested to see how it performs," Russell said. </p> <p>Queen Victoria was very passionate about art, receiving her first drawing lesson at just eight years old. </p> <p>She went on to be tutored by renowned artists like Edwin Landseer, William Leighton Leitch and Franz Xaver Winterhalter.</p> <p>"She is known to have experimented quite a lot with different subjects," Russel said, adding that Victoria would make "little sketches of costumes of people in the areas" where she travelled.</p> <p><em>Images: Roseberys Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers via CNN/ Shutterstock</em></p>

Art

Advocates slam "ageist" call for older drivers to undergo mandatory testing

<p>A fresh push to make older drivers undergo mandatory health checks every year has been labelled ageist by advocates. </p> <p>General Practitioners have reignited the debate to introduce annual assessments for drivers in Victoria aged 75 and over, to bring the state in line with standards in other states including NSW, Queensland, WA and the Australian Capital Territory. </p> <p>“This is not about discriminating against older people, but a recognition that the skills that are required to drive safely can be lost as we get older,” the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victoria chair Dr Anita Muñoz told <em>The Age</em>. </p> <p>"We do feel that having an annual assessment done for elderly drivers is a good thing," the college's Victoria co-deputy chair Dr Bindiya Sethi added. </p> <p>Victoria Police data obtained by <em>The Age</em> also showed that 145 people have died and 7080 have been injured in road incidents caused by people aged over 65. </p> <p>20 per cent of licence holders in Victoria are over 65, which has gone up from 16 per cent a decade ago. </p> <p>In the last financial year, there were 247 deaths and 16,265 injuries caused by crashes on Victorian roads, with drivers aged 65 and over responsible for around 10 per cent of these incidences. </p> <p>However, Chris Potaris, chief executive of the Council on the Ageing Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria, has called the move "ageist". </p> <p>“We continue to support Victoria’s approach, which emphasises a driver’s behaviour and medical fitness to operate a motor vehicle,” he told the publication. </p> <p>“Driving should be based on ability, not on age.”</p> <p>Seniors Rights Victoria policy and advocacy manager Ben Rogers has also slammed the move. </p> <p>"We find it ageist and arbitrary ... It's targeting people that don't need to be targeted," Rogers said. </p> <p>MP Steve Dimopolous added that there was no evidence that an aged-based assessment model was any better than the existing rules. </p> <p>VicRoads also claimed that there is a lot of misinformation about older drivers, who are "usually more cautious, more experienced and more responsible" than younger drivers.</p> <p> </p> <p>"They are more likely to obey the law and are less likely to drink drive or speed," VicRoads said.</p> <p>However, a few others believe that mandatory assessments are a good move. </p> <p>"I think it's fair enough. Over a certain age, maybe 70 or so," local man Pat said.</p> <p>"I think the younger drivers are worse than the older drivers," another added. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Legal

Spice Girls reunite for Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday

<p>The Spice Girls have reunited and performed one of their most iconic songs at Victoria Beckham's lavish 50th birthday party. </p> <p>The birthday bash – which cost an estimated $480,000 – was hosted at Oswald’s, a private members’ restaurant in London, with all five Spice Girls, plus host of star guests, including Tom Cruise and Eva Longoria in attendance. </p> <p>David Beckham took to Instagram to share what Spice Girls fans have been dying to see - a video of the girl group singing and dancing to "Stop". </p> <p>“I mean come on x," he captioned the post. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6AWKeaoENX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6AWKeaoENX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fans were over the moon and even British supermodel Adwoa Aboah commented: “What dreams are made of!”</p> <p>“David you are the best social media manager out there, thank you for giving the people CONTENT,” one fan wrote. </p> <p>“I am crying happy tears! OMG! I love Spice Girls so freaking much! Happy birthday, Victoria!” another commented. </p> <p>“The moment the entire planet has been waiting for,” a third added. </p> <p>"The way a whole generation is SHAKING," commented a fourth. </p> <p>Just last month, during an appearance on UK talk show <em>Loose Women</em>, Mel B hinted at a Spice Girls reunion of some kind, which she said would "definitely" be happening this year. </p> <p>“We are definitely doing something,” she told co-host Christine Lampard.</p> <p>“I’m probably going to get told off (for revealing that), but I’ve said it. There you go. I’m in trouble now.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

"I haven’t seen someone that terrified": CCTV of brave schoolgirl after attempted abduction

<p>A chilling incident has shaken the quiet streets of Doncaster East in Melbourne's east, reminding us of the importance of vigilance and community support in ensuring the safety of our children.</p> <p>Depicted clearly in heart-wrenching <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/cctv-emerges-of-schoolgirl-who-hid-in-bushes-during-attempted-abduction-in-doncaster-east-melbourne-c-14243163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CCTV footage</a> that surfaced recently, an 11-year-old girl's brave escape from a potential abduction has sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood.</p> <p>On March 28, the young girl was making her way home from school along Landscape Drive when a grey Audi Q3 SUV made an abrupt U-turn, pulling up dangerously close to her. The driver, a male stranger, allegedly demanded her to enter the vehicle.</p> <p>But the brave young girl, instead of complying with the stranger's demands, made a split-second decision that possibly saved her life; she sprinted away, seeking refuge in nearby bushes as the car ominously circled back.</p> <p>The harrowing moments that followed were captured on CCTV as the girl, trembling with fear, looked back at the street, her only lifeline a stranger passing by. It was a local dad, accompanied by his own daughter, who extended a helping hand to the distressed child. Recalling the encounter, he described the girl's sheer terror:</p> <p>“She was shivering and shaking and I haven’t seen someone that terrified and petrified like that,” he told 7NEWS. And when the young girl kept apologising to him over and over for asking him to escort her home, he responded: “I said: ‘I’m so proud of you, getting help is a really good skill’.” </p> <p>Meanwhile, the girl's parents, undoubtedly consumed by anguish, expressed their profound gratitude to the stranger who intervened in their daughter's moment of peril. Their daughter, though physically unharmed, had endured a trauma no child should ever have to face.</p> <p>As authorities launched a manhunt for the assailant, details of the suspect emerged. Described as a man in his 30s, of Middle Eastern descent with distinctive features including tan skin, black hair and a prominent beard, the perpetrator remains at large. A computer-generated image has been released by Victoria Police in hopes of eliciting information from the public.</p> <p>In the aftermath of this chilling incident, Detective Senior Constable Brooke Miller echoed the sentiments of the community: “It’s horrible," he said. "A little girl should feel safe to walk home from school.”</p> <p><em>Images: Victoria Police</em></p>

Legal

David and Victoria Beckham's sweet birthday tribute to son

<p>Brooklyn Beckham turned 25 on Monday - and his parents marked the occasion with some sweet birthday tributes to their eldest son. </p> <p>David Beckham took to Instagram to share a photo of him on the football field with baby Brooklyn, and boasted about how "proud" he was of his son. </p> <p>"Happy 25th Birthday to my big boy, so proud of the man you have grown into, and you have always kept the same values you grew up with being polite and kind. We love you so much bust have the most amazing day ❤️," he wrote in the caption. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4FYa9zoUSO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4FYa9zoUSO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Victoria Beckham also shared a sweet clip of a young Brooklyn singing along to a Spice Girls song while at a concert for the girl group.</p> <p>"Happy birthday Brooklyn. We all love you so much. Generous, funny, talented with the kindest most giving heart," she began in the caption. </p> <p>"We are so proud of the son, big brother and husband you are. You always put everyone before yourself. Your love and energy is so special and touches everyone you meet. We love you!!!!"</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4FrLNxor6V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4FrLNxor6V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Spice Girl also shared how proud she was about the way she and David parent their children, with a more recent photo of her, David and Brooklyn. </p> <p>"Today we celebrate Brooklyn turning 25!!! David I love you so much and I'm so proud of the parents we are. We are a good team!!!! Happy birthday," she wrote.</p> <p>Brooklyn's siblings Romeo and Cruz also shared birthday tributes to their brother. </p> <p>"Happy 25th bro love u so much proudda you 🤍 @brooklynpeltzbeckham," Romeo wrote.</p> <p> "I love you man have an amazing day," Cruz added. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

Leaker of gruesome shark attack photo revealed

<p>The New South Wales Ambulance Service is facing criticism and backlash after a staff member <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/leaked-photo-of-sydney-shark-victim-sparks-urgent-probe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaked a graphic image</a> of the wounded leg of Sydney shark attack victim Lauren O'Neill.</p> <p>The incident occurred after O'Neill fell victim to a bull shark attack in Sydney Harbour, just metres away from her residence. This breach of privacy has not only added to the distress of O'Neill and her loved ones but has raised serious concerns about the protection of patient confidentiality.</p> <p>The graphic image, taken inside the emergency room as medical professionals worked to stabilise O'Neill, was shared online by a member of the NSW Ambulance staff. This action not only violates the fundamental principle of patient privacy but also calls into question the ethical conduct expected from healthcare professionals in such sensitive situations.</p> <p>NSW Ambulance issued a public apology, acknowledging the breach of privacy and expressing sincere regret for the additional distress caused to O'Neill and her family.</p> <p>The statement also revealed that discussions with O'Neill's family led them to believe that a NSW Ambulance staff member was responsible for the privacy breach.</p> <p>“NSW Ambulance sincerely apologises to Ms O’Neill for the breach of her privacy and the additional distress it has caused her and her loved ones at this most difficult time,” a spokesperson said. “We spoke with Ms O’Neill’s family this afternoon and informed them that we believe a NSW Ambulance staff member was responsible for the breach of her privacy.</p> <p>“NSW Ambulance takes its patient privacy obligations very seriously and is continuing to investigate this breach to determine the full details of the incident.”</p> <p>St Vincent's Hospital, where Ms. O'Neill was taken for urgent medical attention, has launched its own investigation into the matter, along with the involvement of NSW Police. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that O'Neill's right leg was in jeopardy, and the medical teams worked tirelessly to save it.</p> <p>O'Neill, a microbiologist, has expressed her gratitude to the heroic neighbours, to NSW Ambulance paramedics, Kings Cross Police and the surgical teams at St Vincent's Hospital for their swift and caring actions. However, the unfortunate leak of the graphic image has marred what should have been a focus on her recovery and gratitude towards those who aided her in the aftermath of the terrifying attack.</p> <p>As O'Neill transitions from the Intensive Care Unit to a recovery ward, it is crucial for the public to reflect on the importance of patient privacy and the trust placed in healthcare professionals during moments of vulnerability. The breach has sparked outrage among the public, with many demanding accountability and stricter measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Legal

“It turned to tragedy”: Three people dead after mass drowning

<p dir="ltr">Three people have died and another is in critical condition after drowning at the popular Phillip Island beach in Victoria. </p> <p dir="ltr">Emergency response teams were quick on the scene on Wednesday afternoon after four people were unresponsive after being pulled from the water at the beach notorious for dangerous rips. </p> <p dir="ltr">The victims are a man in his 40s and two women in their 20s, while another woman in her 20s is fighting for her life after being airlifted to hospital. </p> <p dir="ltr">An eyewitness told <em>7News</em> it was a “horrible” situation that unfolded. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The family was really upset,” the witness, Alex Tzatzimakis, said. “There seemed to be a group of 10 people who came here for a really nice day. Obviously it turned to tragedy.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She said that family members of the victims were crying and consoling each other, while beachgoers who pulled the bodies from the water attempted to perform CPR. </p> <p dir="ltr">One man could be heard wailing, <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/bass-coast/emergency-services-converge-on-forrest-caves-beach-phillip-island/news-story/1c8708162bf57f6f97c23e4306aedb2a">according to the <em>Herald Sun</em></a>, “I told them not to go – I should have been there.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The incident is understood to have occurred at Forrest Caves, a popular tourist destination on Phillip Island known for its sea caves, but is also an unpatrolled beach known for its dangerous rips. </p> <p dir="ltr">Locals have reacted to the horrific drowning, with many admitting they would not ever attempt to swim in the hazardous waters. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s treacherous out there,” one person wrote on Facebook. “Definitely not a swimming beach. Only if you are a strong swimmer and understand rips.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“So, so sad,” a second wrote. “Great surfing beach but not a swimming beach.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A third said, “If the island is going to be pushed so hard as a tourist destination there will be more and more incidents.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Drownings around Australia have risen this summer, with many people flocking to less busy unpatrolled beaches to escape the summer heat. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the days before the fatal Phillip Island drowning, Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir told <em><a href="https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/tragic-summer-high-number-of-drowning-deaths-on-australian-beaches/video/a66cc0032dfe6482f9d7e023179de36c">Sky News Australia</a></em> the issue is “very concerning”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve had 33 drowning deaths around the country so far,” Mr Weir said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And we’ve still got a month to go in summer, so it has been a tragic summer.”</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 18pt;"><em>Image credits: 9News</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-3041d316-7fff-6761-69a3-b703dcdbba4d"></span></p>

Travel Trouble

"I thought I was gone": Grandfather reunited with rescuers after pier fall

<p>John Mirabelli, 88, has been reunited with the three men who saved his life after he accidentally fell into the ocean. </p> <p>The great-grandfather was fishing off Portsea Pier in Victoria last month, when he lost his footing and fell off the pier and into the bay. </p> <p>"I thought I was gone, because when I fell in, I went straight down," Mirabelli told<em> 9News</em>. </p> <p>Dressed in just a raincoat and a pair of gumboots, the 88-year-old was drenched and holding on to a slippery pylon for almost an hour, and just when he thought all hope was lost, local surfer Ben Buxton luckily walked by.</p> <p>"I looked over and I saw John holding onto a little wire and the look on his face, it was kinda terrifying, because he appeared to only have a few moments left until he had to let go of the wire," he said. </p> <p>"I just thought if I can get a board to where John is then he's possibly got a chance."</p> <p>As he paddled over to Mirabelli, police officers Oliver Waters and Adam Gardner arrived, after a call to triple zero. </p> <p>Between them Buxton and Waters took turns reassuring the great-grandfather and convinced him to hold on to the board, as they floated him around the pier for almost 20 minutes to get him back on dry land. </p> <p>"In that time, we were talking to John to try and get him relaxed," Buxton said.</p> <p>"And he kept talking about the calamari that he'd had to let go when he'd fallen into the pier."</p> <p>After a stint in hospital, Mirabelli was reunited with his rescuers. </p> <p>"It's special for us, we really appreciate the chance to catch up with John again," Waters said. </p> <p>"He's a lovely man."</p> <p>Mirabelli embraced the three men and expressed his gratitude: "If it was not for you, I would not be alive."</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">The 88-year-old has </span>fished at the same spot for decades and said that he won't be scared away anytime soon. </p> <p>He even joked about how he will search for the calamari that got away. </p> <p>"Next time I'll fix him up - if it's the same one," he said. </p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

Caring

"Each bauble represents a life lost": Haunting Christmas tree sends powerful message

<p>As the holiday season approaches, a haunting symbol of despair has once again taken root at Victoria Police headquarters – carrying with it a message of melancholy that we are unaccustomed to at this normally festive time of year.</p> <p>Instead of joyous ornaments and twinkling lights, a Christmas tree adorned with glistening blue baubles now stands as a remarkably poignant testament to the road death carnage that has befallen the state throughout 2023.</p> <p>These beautiful baubles, each etched with the name and age of those lost on Victoria's roads this year, tell a grim tale of grief and loss. With the toll reaching 274 by December 6, it marks the darkest year for the state since 2008.</p> <p>In a moving video accompanying the dressing of the tree, Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir implored the public to drive cautiously during the Christmas period, desperately hoping to prevent the addition of any more baubles to this sorrowful tree.</p> <p>"This Christmas tree is unlike any other; it's one we don't want to see decorated," Commissioner Weir soberly explained. "Each bauble represents a life lost, a stark reminder of the importance of road safety. Please, drive safely this festive period. Take care, have conversations with your loved ones, and remember the responsibility you bear when behind the wheel."</p> <p>November alone witnessed the loss of 35 lives on Victorian roads, marking it as the worst month this year. In response, the police are intensifying road policing operations throughout December in an attempt to curb further tragedies.</p> <p>In a bid to address the escalating death toll, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has launched the initiative "Stop kidding yourself. If you drink, don't drive," running from December 4 to the end of January.</p> <p>Shockingly, it has also been revealed that one in five individuals killed on Victorian roads had a blood alcohol concentration of .05 or higher.</p> <p>TAC CEO Tracey Slatter also called on the urgent need for a cultural shift, challenging the notion that driving after consuming any amount of alcohol should be deemed "normal".</p> <p>"Many people think they can manage their blood-alcohol level with vague rules handed down through generations," she said. "But the only way to avoid the risk entirely is to completely separate drinking and driving."</p> <p>As the Christmas tree of remembrance continues to grow with each passing day, it stands as a poignant symbol of the lives lost on Victoria's roads, imploring society to reflect, change and prioritise the safety of every journey.</p> <p><em>Images: Victoria Police</em></p>

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