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"She saw it and dodged it": Incredible scenes as tree plunges through seat in Schoolies crash

<p>In a harrowing incident on K'Gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, a group of teenage girls narrowly escaped a potentially tragic accident during their Schoolies celebration.</p> <p>The friends were exploring the picturesque island off the Queensland coast when a tree crashed through the windscreen of their car, plunging right through the headrest of the passenger seat.</p> <p>Miraculously, all occupants emerged unscathed from this near-miss, thanks to a combination of quick reflexes and the timely intervention of volunteers from the Fraser Coast Red Frogs.</p> <p>As the teens ventured through the island's terrain, their joyous celebration took a terrifying turn when a massive tree limb plummeted onto their vehicle. The impact shattered the glass directly in front of the passenger seat, creating a scene of devastation that could have resulted in serious injuries – or worse.</p> <p>Astonishingly, one of the girls was seated in the passenger seat at the time, and her quick thinking and agility allowed her to dodge the falling debris, narrowly avoiding a potentially life-threatening situation.</p> <p>Tim Winnington, the Fraser Coast Red Frogs coordinator, described the fortuitous nature of the escape, saying, "There was a girl actually sitting in the passenger seat. She saw it and dodged it. They were so lucky not to get injured."</p> <p>The Red Frogs, a charity organisation that provides support and education at events like Schoolies and music festivals, played a crucial role in the aftermath of the incident, with volunteers from the organisation waiting with the shaken teenagers until help arrived.</p> <p>Madhill Motor Group, the generous donor of the ute used by the Red Frogs team, highlighted the gravity of the situation with photos shared on Facebook to demonstrate just how close the call was. The teenagers, treated for shock by paramedics, were fortunate to walk away physically unharmed, a fact not lost on them or their friends.</p> <p>In the aftermath of the incident, a friend of the girls expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Red Frogs for their swift and effective response. “They were all so lucky to walk away with no one being injured, and very lucky the Red Frogs were on scene so quickly and helped them so much, getting them a room to stay, driving their car for them, cleaning up all the glass and calming them all down in this traumatic experience,” they wrote. “We are all extremely grateful that you were there.”</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Dazzling looks, memorable moments, and award sweeps: The best of the 2023 Oscars

<p dir="ltr">Actors, producers, and creative souls from all over arrived at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre to strut their sparkle down the 2023 Oscars’ champagne carpet. </p> <p dir="ltr">The event, otherwise known as Hollywood’s night of nights, was always set to break records and draw attention from film fanatics across the globe - hopefully for all the right reasons - with the likes of <em>Everything Everywhere All at Once</em>, <em>Elvis</em>, <em>The Banshees of Inisherin</em>, and <em>Top Gun: Maverick </em>up for Best Picture. </p> <p dir="ltr">In fact, <em>Everything Everywhere All at Once </em>was nominated for 11 awards by itself, with <em>All Quiet on the Western Front</em> and <em>The Banshees of Inisherin </em>following right behind with an astounding nine nominations each. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Everything Everywhere All at Once </em>snagged a staggering seven awards in the end - most notably, the cast and crew secured the top honour of Best Picture for all of their hard work.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the Hollywood comeback of the decade, Best Actor went to Brendan Fraser for his part in<em> The Whale</em>, and Best Actress to the multi-talented Michelle Yeoh for her performance in <em>Everything Everywhere All at Once</em>, who took the opportunity to remind women everywhere that “you are never past your prime”. Michelle also made history with her win as both the first Best Actress nominee and winner to openly identify as Asian. </p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, their supporting award counterparts went to <em>Everything Everywhere All at Once</em>’s Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis. </p> <p dir="ltr">There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Ke Huy Quan accepted his award - and made history as the first Vietnam-born actor to ever do so. He began by thanking his 84-year-old mother, who was watching from the comfort of home, saying “my journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp, and somehow I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I can’t believe it’s happening to me - this is the American dream.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert snagged Best Director for <em>Everything Everywhere All at Once</em>. And for those with a great appreciation for the songs that make moments come to life, MM Keeravaani and Chandrabose were awarded Best Song for the catchy hit ‘Naatu Naatu’ in <em>RRR</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The ceremony also saw special guest appearances from <em>The Banshees of Inisherin</em>’s Jenny the Donkey, a fuzzy bear presenter, and appearances from a whole host of stars - as well as an emotional tribute to those Hollywood had lost over the past year, with John Travolta’s emotional words for the late Olivia Newton-John, to whom he remains “hopelessly devoted”. </p> <p dir="ltr">But, of course, the Oscars aren’t only about who goes home with the coveted golden statues, and the stars paraded down the champagne carpet - formerly the red carpet - in typical fashion in a shower of shoulder pads, sparkle, and swagger. </p> <p dir="ltr">Check out 2023’s best dressed and top moments below, and the <a href="https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023">full list of winners here</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Movies

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“Good things will happen”: Brendan Fraser breaks down at Critics Choice Awards

<p>Actor Brendan Fraser, best known for his roles in <em>The Mummy</em> trilogy and <em>George of the Jungle</em>, broke down in tears at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards while accepting the honour of Best Actor for his role in Darren Aronofsky’s <em>The Whale</em>.</p> <p>“I was in the wilderness,” Brendan said to his director, after making his way through the cheers and celebration of his colleagues to the stage, “and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs, but you found me.”</p> <p>Brendan’s win comes after over a decade since his last leading role in a major film, and 13 years without an awards nomination. The actor, 54, thanked director Darren Aronofsky for the role set to revitalise his career in a heartfelt dedication.</p> <p>“Like all the best directors,” he went on, “you merely just showed me where to go to get to where I needed to be.”</p> <p>In The Whale, Brendan portrays a depressed 270 kg English teacher named Charlie, who is seeking to restore his relationship with his estranged daughter. Brendan underwent an immense physical transformation and donned prosthetics for the role, but it was the emotional weight of his experience that shone through in his speech.</p> <p>“If you - like a guy like Charlie, who I played in this movie - in any way, if you struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you are in a dark sea, I want you to know that if you too can just have this strength to just get to your feet and go to the light,” he said, voice breaking, “good things will happen.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Brendan Fraser’s acceptance speech after winning Best Actor 😭🖤 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CriticsChoiceAwards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CriticsChoiceAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/iQgFe4FnjS">pic.twitter.com/iQgFe4FnjS</a></p> <p>— Natalie ❁ (@livelyackles) <a href="https://twitter.com/livelyackles/status/1614817219917250561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Brendan’s emotions ran high backstage, with the modest actor’s gratitude flowing well into the night, telling one reporter, “I had no idea what this would feel like because I had no idea. I’m still pretty new to this so you’ll forgive me if I’m still trying to get used to it. Maybe I never will and that’s okay. But I know I’m grateful.”</p> <p>Fans of the actor took to social media to share their delight at his success, many opening up about their own tears as they saw Brendan recognised after decades of hardship in the industry.</p> <p>“Definitely didn’t expect for Brendan Fraser to make me teary today haha. Glad he won. He’s a great guy and deserves the award,” tweeted one fan, to an outpouring of likes from like-minded supporters.</p> <p>“So happy for him! I want him to win the Oscar he deserves it,” chimed another, amid growing Oscars buzz after a thus far successful awards season for the film and Brendan’s performance.</p> <p>With the nominations for the 95th Academy Awards set to be announced on the 24th of January, and many outlets predicting nominations in the categories of Best Actor and Best Picture for <em>The Whale</em>, things are looking good for the talented cast and crew behind the film.</p> <p> </p>

Movies

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Why this man was lucky to ONLY be fined $2300

<p dir="ltr">A man has been slapped with a fine after feeding a wild dingo some biscuits. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 23-year-old was on Fraser Island, about 250km north of Brisbane, and was photographed by a local feeding the dingo - known as wongari in the local Indigenous dialect - back in April. </p> <p dir="ltr">The images were sent to Queensland’s Department of Environment and Sciences (DES) who issued the man a $2,300 fine. </p> <p dir="ltr">“A member of the public told rangers the man was at the front of the vehicle line while he was waiting for the ferry at Hook Point back in April,” DES compliance manager Mike Devery said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The person said the man was ‘brazenly’ feeding the wongari, and given his place at the front of the queue, his offending was witnessed by multiple people.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thankfully, the member of the public was able to take photos of the man as he fed the wongari, and they provided them to rangers.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Devery confirmed that after being questioned, the man admitted to feeding the dingo. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The man told compliance officers that he threw biscuits in the sand to the wongari when he was cleaning out his vehicle.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The man was lucky to be only fined $2,300 as a court can fine a whopping $11,500 for humans feeding the wild animal. </p> <p dir="ltr">With around 400,000 people visiting the island, Mr Devery said the rules were in place to help protect both people and animals. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Queensland Department of Environment and Sciences</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Try not to think about it": Dawn Fraser reveals horrific family tragedy

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Olympic swimming legend Dawn Fraser has revealed the worst day of her life, saying that she was behind the wheel when her mother was killed in a car accident.</p> <p>The 83-year-old four-time Olympic gold medallist told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/dawn-fraser-from-olympic-hero-to-personal-tragedy/news-story/6c7e964f26e96dc5dba23b8d947ee286" target="_blank"><em>The Courier Mail</em></a><span> </span>about the secret she'd kept inside for decades.</p> <p>"I burst out that I was driving the car that killed my mother," Fraser explained, saying that the incident happened at a training camp in South Australia in 2019.</p> <p>"Everyone burst into tears and I cried with them.</p> <p>"It got me over some sort of hurdle. I'd just locked it up inside of me."</p> <p>The accident happened in 1964 when Fraser was 26. In the accident, Fraser suffered from fractured vertebrae and torn ligaments in her knees, but her mother was pronounced dead at the hospital.</p> <p>She also opened up about surviving two separate sexual assault incidents in her 20s.</p> <p>"That was one of the most horrific times of my life," she said.</p> <p>"So horrific I put it in the back of my mind and try not to think about it… It's in the past and I don't live in the past."</p> <p>Fraser is often regarded as Australia's greatest Olympic athletes as she's won four gold medals and four silver medals in the games. She's also won seven gold medals and a silver at the Commonwealth Games.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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Dawn Fraser’s home could earn her more than when she was an Olympian

<p>Aussie swimming legend Dawn Fraser could earn more on the sale of her Sunshine Coast investment property than she did throughout the entirety of her athletic career.</p> <p>The 83-year-old has listed her darling Noosa Heads home more than two decades after she bought it for $345,000.</p> <p>Fraser is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest swimmers and strongest Olympian and is hoping to fetch $1 million for her four-bedroom, three-bathroom investment property.</p> <p>The charming home sits on a 599 sqm block and overlooks the pool and a park across the street.</p> <p>Sam Plummer of Noosa Estate Agents sold the property to Fraser back in 2001 and now has the property under her arm again.</p> <p>The agent says the Noosa market was “unprecedented.”</p> <p>“It’s a market nobody, I believe, has seen before here,” she said.</p> <p>“I’ve never seen this in my time, in 20 years.”</p> <p>She is currently renting out the property for $600 a week, but the lease is due to expire in October.</p> <p>Ms Plummer said no improvements had been made on the property since Fraser first bought it, but still it has gained attractive offers.</p> <p>“It’s a great time to sell and to capitalise on this current market,” Ms Plummer said.</p> <p>“It’s attracting a fair bit of attention. We’re looking at offers in excess of $1 million.</p> <p>“We’re selling it as a home to either renovate and live in yourself, or you may want to knock it down and build your dream home.”</p>

Real Estate

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"Life-threatening" fire approaches town with dozens evacuated

<p>A bushfire that's ravaged half of Fraser Island resulted in dozens being evacuated as the fire quickly encroached on a township.</p> <p>An emergency alert was sent out at 3:30 am urging residents to "LEAVE NOW", with a large fire travelling towards the township of Happy Valley.</p> <p>The fire is expected to have a "significant impact" on the township.</p> <p>Queensland Fire and Emergency Services warned conditions were very dangerous, and firefighters could be unable to prevent the fire advancing.</p> <p>“The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path,” a QFES statement said.</p> <p>Some courageous residents who are a part of the local fire brigade stayed to help air and land crews with the blaze.</p> <p>The fire is said to have been sparked by an illegal campfire seven weeks ago and has burned through more than 80,000 hectares of world-heritage listed land.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIbjfxSAPO4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIbjfxSAPO4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Taz and Wes- Travel Journal (@luvin_local)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Greg Leach said that high temperatures and strong winds on Sunday had made efforts by firefighters difficult.</p> <p>“There has been a heavy use of aircraft to try and reduce the spread of the fire,” he said on Sunday afternoon.</p> <p>“In a normal fire fight we might drop 100,000 litres on a single fire. We’re doing ten or twelve times that on this fire.</p> <p>“This is a marathon not a sprint. There is no significant rain in the forecast, and that’s the only thing that will put this out.”</p> <p>“The local brigade has done mitigation and burning works, the town will stand in good stead should the head of the fire reach the township,” Commissioner Leach said.</p>

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5 minutes with author Darry Fraser

<p>In <em>5 minutes with author</em>, <em>Over60</em> asks book writers about their literary habits and preferences. Next in this series is Darry Fraser, a historical drama novelist based on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Her first book with publisher HarperCollins, <em>Daughter of the Murray</em>, was published in 2016 and followed by other Australian historical titles such as <em>Where The Murray River Runs</em>, <em>The Widow of Ballarat </em>and <em>The Good Woman of Renmark</em>. Her new novel, <em>Elsa Goody, Bushranger </em>is out now.</p> <p><em>Over60</em> talked with Fraser about ignoring naysayers, the Paddle Steamer Gem, and how she coped with the recent events on her home island and around the world.</p> <p><strong><em>Over60</em></strong><strong>: What is your best writing tip? On the other hand, what is the worst writing advice you’ve ever received?</strong></p> <p>Darry Fraser: Never give up writing – but if it’s stories you want to write, <em>learn</em> how to do it. It’s a craft that takes learning, very few can write seamlessly. Language changes, grammar and punctuation changes – it’s all part of learning your craft.</p> <p>The worst is probably not advice as much as, “Who do you think you are, you reckon you can write?” So I kept writing anyway, kept learning. Took some years to work out that what I wanted to do was okay to do!</p> <p><strong>What was the last book that made you laugh?</strong></p> <p>There are a few books I’m sure – off the top of my head I can’t say, but I love Amy Andrew’s style. Her characters make me laugh.</p> <p><strong>What first attracted you to Australian historical fiction?</strong></p> <p>Believe it or not, it was US westerns way back in the day on the telly that sparked my interest in history. Then as I got to my teens, I figured that we’d have had our own heroes and pioneering stories. When I lived in Swan Hill the Paddle Steamer Gem offered a portal into another time, and I’ve never looked back. Er, forward.</p> <p><strong>What does your writing routine look like?</strong></p> <p>Right now with deadlines looming for story submissions and edits, I’m at the desk at 5am, walk the dog (or the other way around) from 7am, back for brekky and chores, then at the desk again by 9am-ish. It’s not all solid words, it’s edits and research but the time zips away and by 4.30pm, I’m winding up, eyes are blurring – time to join the real world.</p> <p><strong>Do you deal with writer’s block?</strong> <strong>If so, how do you overcome it?</strong></p> <p>I never thought I had it, or ever experienced it, but there was a time between books when “OMG – no inspiration”. I didn’t know why nothing was coming in… it just wasn’t. I had no idea what to do with myself. I write two big books a year and to lose a month to this ‘nothing’ in my head was very angsty – and that makes it worse. That was one type of ‘block’.</p> <p>I sat down and trawled through the Trove digitised newspapers focusing on the latter part of the 19<sup>th</sup> century and there was the opening chapter of my December 2020 book <em>The Last Trueheart</em>.</p> <p>The other ‘block’ was being emotionally wrecked by the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/kangaroo-island-bushfires-before-and-after-destruction/11970788?nw=0">terrible bushfires that struck my island home</a> over the summer season this year. The impact on everything and everyone – of course especially those who lost it all – meant creativity evaporated.</p> <p>I find refuge in writing, and at that time all the news was awful – and every state was burning all at once – so I retreated to my writing room, found escape was there, and thankfully I could still put down words. It worked the same when we were first faced with the threat of COVID-19.</p> <p><strong>Print, e-book or audiobook?</strong></p> <p>I use each and love them equally. I’m not travelling long journeys by car much at the moment, which is where I use audiobooks, so I tend to read print or e-book at home.</p> <p><strong>Which author, deceased or living, would you most like to have dinner with</strong>?</p> <p>Harlan Coben would be fun – his <em>Myron Bolitar</em> series made me laugh out loud.</p>

Books

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MasterChef fans in tears over star's exit

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>MasterChef fans watched on in horror as they said goodbye to a fan favourite, "Dumpling King" Brendan Pang.</p> <p>Brendan hung up his apron after an intense two-round elimination, but no one was more shocked and saddened by his departure than his friend Reece.</p> <p>Brendan served up a seafood noodle creation after changing his plan to serve dumplings with at least one ingredient from the five display pantries, which were sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami.</p> <p>He was outdone by other competitors, including Reynold's duck with pickled beetroot and date puree as well as Tessa Boersma's scarlet prawns.</p> <p>The end result was emotional for Brendan and his friend Reece, as their banter quickly became a fan favourite on <em>Back To Win</em>.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAeJqQCAYUa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAeJqQCAYUa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">How can one person be so annoying @reecehignell 😭 #MasterChefAU</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/brendan_pang/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> BRENDAN PANG</a> (@brendan_pang) on May 21, 2020 at 6:07pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Are you more confident now than you were a month ago?” Jock Zonfrillo had asked.</p> <p>“I doubt myself a lot,” Brendan, who came ninth on <em>MasterChef</em> in 2018, said as his eyes welled.</p> <p>“It’s really hard coming back for a second time, but you guys have made it worthwhile,” he added with a whisper, desperately trying to fight back his tears.</p> <p>“Normally we love umami in bucketloads, but on a day that was all about balance, unfortunately, there was one dish that elevated it way too far above the others,” Jock explained when delivering the news.</p> <p>Responding, Brendan said: “I can’t feel anything right now,” prompting Melissa to issue an emotional farewell.</p> <p>“You came back to win with a very clear idea of who you are and what you want to cook, and you showed us that in spades.</p> <p>“We haven’t been standing here very long, but I am 100 per cent sure that we have eaten the best dumplings that this kitchen has ever seen,” she said, adding: “We feel a lot of love for you. You will be missed, and we cannot wait to come and see you when this is over.”</p> <p>Fans were sad over the departure.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I knew if he went out I’d be sad but ugh I’m just a blubbering mess. We’ll miss your sweet soft spoken commentary and mouth watering dishes <a href="https://twitter.com/brendan_pang?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brendan_pang</a> 👏🏽👏🏽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterchefAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterchefAU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masterchefau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@masterchefau</a></p> — Shanice (@lostgirl23) <a href="https://twitter.com/lostgirl23/status/1274662755107172352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Can’t believe this is happening. My heart is breaking for Reece and Brendan both. I’m gonna miss seeing this two interacting on my screen, absolutely smashing toxic masculinity and celebrating platonic friendships with every witty banter exchanged <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/MlWfbVpuNB">pic.twitter.com/MlWfbVpuNB</a></p> — Fiza Zali (@fizawanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/fizawanders/status/1274661458001838080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Reece posted a sweet tribute on his Instagram, saying that he was "completely devastated to see you leave tonight".</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBslckrjzT1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBslckrjzT1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Cakeboi (@reecehignell)</a> on Jun 21, 2020 at 5:12am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Season 10 sisters for life. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/audreys/" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">#audreys</a>," Reece wrote.</p> <p>"Completely devastated to see you leave tonight however, I know all the amazing things you have going for you back home. Your new cook book has me cooking Chinese every second night and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/bumplingsperth/" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">@bumplingsperth</a> 🥟 is the hottest thing in Perth at the moment - cannot wait to come over and have my free dinners.</p> <p>"So grateful we got to do MasterChef together again - now go kill it!!!!🌈 Slay sis," Reece finished.</p> <p>Brendan runs a Chinese-Mauritian dumpling restaurant in Perth called Bumplings in Perth and has written a cookbook called <em>This is a Book about Dumplings</em>.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

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MasterChef viewers call out “creepy” moment between guest judge and Brendan Pang

<p><em>MasterChef<span> </span></em><span>fans on social media were left feeling uneasy after an awkward moment during Tuesday night’s intense pressure test.</span></p> <p><span>The episode saw contestants Brendan Pang, Reece Hignell, Poh Ling Yeow and Sarah Tiong, tasked with recreating a flavour-packed and super spicy jungle curry without a recipe.</span></p> <p><span>But a clearly stressed out Brendan didn’t know how to react after he received a strange comment by the guest judge – one many have surely been faced with before – and it rubbed viewers the wrong way.</span></p> <p><span>As the 24-year-old sweated profusely and panicked over his curry paste, guest judge Benjamin Cooper of Chin Chin Melbourne told him to “smile”.</span></p> <p><span>“You want some advice?” Benjamin had asked while Brendan stressed over his curry.</span></p> <p><span>“I saw you smile earlier on … I feel like there's a bit of cheekiness in you,” he said.</span></p> <p><span>“Lose the stress, bring the cheekiness back. Don't be afraid to load it up with chilli. Don't be afraid to bring a bit of fun back to the dish. And enjoy it, 'cause cooking stressed isn't going to give you the result you want.</span></p> <p><span>“Show me the smile,” he added, to which Brendan laughed awkwardly.</span></p> <p><span>“I'm trying to smile!” he said.</span></p> <p><span>Fans called the moment out as “awkward”, “cringe” and even “weird and uncomfortable”.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Errrrmmmm... I’m getting bad juju from the Chin Chin dude. The way he approached Brendan and asked him to smile. Sooo awks. *shudder* <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a></p> — Nikki Rivera (@twitnikki) <a href="https://twitter.com/twitnikki/status/1270297243300446210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">the chef from Chin Chin asking Brendan to “show me that smile” gave me big men asking women to smile energy <br /><br />it felt weird and uncomfortable? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a></p> — Isha Bassi (@Isha_Bassi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Isha_Bassi/status/1270297068964216833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Brendan has 10 minutes to cook his curry AND remember to smile. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/1Wtv90pUeu">pic.twitter.com/1Wtv90pUeu</a></p> — Tara Watson (@tara_watson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/tara_watson_/status/1270299692283224064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><span>But despite the strange moment, the judges loved Brendan’s version of the jungle curry.</span></p> <p><span>Instead, Sarah Tiong was sent home after her curry broth was deemed “too thin”.</span></p>

Food & Wine

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Businesses can refuse service to sick customers as containment efforts continue

<p>People with flu-like symptoms can be turned away from any shop or workplace as part of measures to prevent a second wave of coronavirus.</p> <p>Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said he would “protect” and “defend” the rights of business owners and employers to turn away customers and staff members who are unwell.</p> <p>“All of us over our lives have been on occasions wanting to soldier on with a cold and a flu, flu-like illness – we cannot do that anymore,” he told reporters on Sunday.</p> <p>“If one of your colleagues, or an employee, or a client turns up you have every right to say, ‘go away, I am not going to let you in, I am not going to treat you’ ... unless you’re a doctor, of course.”</p> <p>Professor Murphy also warned Australians against hanging out in shopping centres as states and territories begin easing their coronavirus restrictions.</p> <p>“We have also seen pictures of people crowded in shopping malls, in other circumstances where they have not been observing the social distancing norms that are part of our new way of behaving,” he said.</p> <p>“So if you’re going to a shopping centre to buy something, go and buy something but don’t hang around the shopping centre for half-an-hour mingling for no purpose – go home.”</p> <p>Professor Murphy said Australia could risk seeing another widespread community transmission, also known as “second wave” of coronavirus, if people fail to uphold social distancing norms and hand hygiene practices.</p> <p>“It is as much about the rules and regulations as it is about personal responsibility and I really want to emphasise that point,” he said.</p> <p>Preventing widespread community transmission is vital to protect the elderly and those with chronic conditions, he said.</p> <p>“People have said to me, why don’t you just protect really carefully all those with chronic conditions and the elderly; make sure they are well cocooned away from everyone else in society?” he said.</p> <p>“As we have seen already, that’s just not possible, if you’ve got widespread community transmission. This virus is incredibly infectious.”</p>

Legal

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Why retirees are flocking to this sunny seaside town

<p>By Mark Skelsey</p> <p>Thanks to its sunny skies and pristine marine environment, the Queensland seaside township of Hervey Bay has become one of Australia’s retirement hotspots.</p> <p>With close to 900 people aged over 45 deciding to make the move there from other parts of Australia in 2017/18, it’s now the fourth most popular retirement destination in the entire country. And it’s easy to see why.</p> <p>Hervey Bay is home to the historic wooden Urangan Pier, which stretches almost a kilometre out to sea. The pier was originally built to support the export of sugar, timber and coal but now provides the perfect aquatic lookout to spot schools of fish and stingrays and dolphins.</p> <p>If you’d like to actually get into the water, Hervey Bay is the perfect year-round destination for swimming, sailing, fishing, yachting, waterskiing, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkelling and more. It’s also home to what is arguably the best whale-watching in Australia, in gorgeous calm waters that are sheltered from winds and swells by Fraser Island.</p> <p>A further part of Hervey Bay’s seaside charm is its main Esplanade, which runs alongside the bay and features cosmopolitan and alfresco cafés, shops and parklands.</p> <p><strong>Fraser Shores retirement villages in Hervey Bay</strong></p> <p>Many of Hervey Bay’s incoming residents are finding their way to the two conveniently located <span><a href="https://www.frasershores.com.au/">Fraser Shores retirement villages</a></span>.</p> <p>Operated by Blue Care (a service group of UnitingCare Queensland), these two villages are collectively home to some 441 single-storey homes.</p> <p>Incoming residents can choose from a wide selection of spacious brick-and-tile, two- and three-bedroom homes – including an executive model with three bedrooms, two en-suites and a hobby room. Home prices range from $290,000 to $525,000.</p> <p>Fraser Shores’ homes have won the Masters Builders Queensland’s <span><a href="https://www.frasershores.com.au/testimonials/awards.html">Top Homes of the Year Award</a></span> for design, character and value for money.</p> <p>All designs offer careful orientation and large doors and windows for maximum cross-ventilation. This helps village residents take advantage of coastal breezes. All homes are also built at ground level for easy access and feature spacious modern kitchens, bedrooms and living areas.</p> <p>Finally, each home is equipped with an emergency call system, which is monitored on-site 24 hours a day by trained staff with first aid certification.</p> <p><strong>Resort-style facilities</strong></p> <p>The homes are surrounded by amazing resort-style facilities, where residents have unlimited use of the full-sized bowling green, swimming pool, community centre, licensed bar, fitness centre, craft and computer room, outdoor barbeque areas, libraries and so much more.</p> <p>Incoming residents have the opportunity to meet new friends and be part of an active and supportive community. A well-organised residents’ committee arranges functions and social activities such as outdoor and indoor bowls, pool and billiards, movie nights, tai chi, line dancing, yoga, arts and crafts, exercise and computer classes.</p> <p>Residents at Fraser Shores can also access a range of Blue Care community services, offering individually tailored support and care for peace of mind if and when they need it.</p> <p>Finally, the villages’ community lawns and gardens are beautifully maintained, leaving more time for activities, relaxing or socialising.</p> <p><strong>Everything is close by</strong></p> <p>The Fraser Shores villages are close to a commercial and professional centre, housing medical specialists, a large general medical practice and a wide variety of shops and services. The region’s new state-of-the-art St Stephen’s Hospital is also just down the road.</p> <p>In addition, onsite recreational vehicle, caravan and boat storage gives you the freedom to plan your travels with ease, including when you want to chase fun, sun and adventure with the ‘grey nomad’ brigade.</p> <p>The villages themselves are also close to major centres around the country.</p> <p>Hervey Bay is just a 3.5-hour drive or 40-minute flight from Brisbane, and also enjoys direct flights to Sydney.</p> <p><strong>Stunning climate</strong></p> <p>Many residents move to Hervey Bay to avoid the winter chills of Australia’s southern states, as the region enjoys a warm climate even during winter, with average high temperatures of 23°C during August, and average low temperatures of 10°C. This compares favourably to average August high temperatures of just 18°C in Sydney and a chilly 16°C in Melbourne.</p> <p><strong>Enquire now</strong></p> <p>Fraser Shores Retirement Villages embody quality, resort-style living with great value for money, in an attractive coastal environment which is the envy of the rest of Australia.</p> <p>To make an inquiry about Fraser Shores,<span> <a href="https://www.frasershores.com.au/contact-us/details.html">click here</a></span>.</p> <p><em>This content has been prepared by <a href="https://www.downsizing.com.au/">Downsizing.com.au</a> on behalf of Blue Care, an agency of UnitingCare which manages more than 30 retirement villages across Queensland.</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Erin Molan tears up in heartfelt radio interview

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Channel 9 star Erin Molan was reduced to tears during an “emotional” live radio interview on Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The presenter became embroiled in an ugly trolling storm following allegations on Sunday she has fallen out with TV colleague and rugby legend Andrew Johns. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>The Sunday Telegraph</em> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">reported a breakdown between the working relationship of Molan and Jones resulted in him removing himself from the network’s Friday night rugby league coverage. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>The Daily Telegraph</em> reported a “feud” between the two stars began in 2017 when she replaced Paul “Fatty” Vautin as host of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Footy Show.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since the news broke, Molan has been up against a slew of “disgusting” and “inexcusable” trolling. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">While on the air with 101.7 WSFM’s </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jonesy and Amanda,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the Channel 9 presenter explained she came on set wearing sunglasses because she had been unable to sleep the night before.  </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I am so sorry, I haven’t put my contacts in this morning. I had a rough night. I didn’t sleep very well and these are prescriptions,” Molan said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Breakfast radio duo Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller have both spoken out against the online vitriol against Molan, with Keller’s voice cracking under emotional strain when she said the whole situation “p*ssed her off”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I get emotional with this Erin, I don’t understand why people give you a hard time,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It pisses me off. And I think it’s because you are so professional and you are so good at your job, that I think that men don’t like you being good at what they still see as their world. I admire the pants off you or the eyeballs off you and I just think you are the most professional female and it’s threatened, everybody.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keller reached for the tissues after she watched as Molan teared up over the kind words. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And I just think in a few years time people will look back — same as the Adam Goodes thing — and think what did we do to her,” Keller said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Why did we do that? All strength to you Erin. You’re an amazing woman and I hate that you’re going through this.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keller added: “Your daughter would be so proud of you. You’re breaking the glass ceiling for a generation”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Former Footy Show star and Molan’s co-host Beau Ryan told </span><em><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">T</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">he Daily Telegraph</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on Tuesday it is “bulls***” for trolls to blame the reporter for the decisions of Nine management.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That’s what happens to these reality stars … they get on there and think everything’s going to be rosy and then they get trolled and can get really down and dark. I saw that happen to Erin,” Ryan said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She’s got a journalism background, she’s done nothing wrong and been trolled for her looks or what she’s done or said, or the show she’s working on, or the team she supports. And it took a toll on her.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrew Johns, a star analyst for Nine, disappeared from the network’s Friday coverage this season. </span></p>

News

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A sandcastle in the sea: Fraser Island

<p>Over the last 20 years, I’ve tried to make it to Fraser Island five times. I would’ve made it the first time, if I’d known then what I know now.</p> <p>I would have abandoned the 1968 Land Rover and its busted gear box and hopped on the next <a href="http://www.airfraserisland.com.au/">plane</a> and landed on Fraser’s Seventy-Five Mile Beach, the island’s runway and highway.</p> <p>Okay, a tour bus would have been more budget-friendly, but the point remains, I would have dropped everything and gone.</p> <p>The Butchulla people call Fraser K'gari, or paradise, and it is. It’s a magic trick: the world’s biggest sand castle in the ocean built by a freak of tidal flows and sea level changes, with forests that grow out of nothing but sand all because a microscopic fungus helps the trees convert nutrients.</p> <p>Fraser Island has an area of 184,000 hectares, making it the largest sand island in the world. Located off Queensland’s eastern coast just over an hour north of Bundaberg, the World Heritage island is home to half of the world’s perched lakes.</p> <p>These lakes are brimming with water so clear they look fake and pop that against the whitest sand in the world on Lake McKenzie and you’re left in fantasy land.</p> <p>It all feels like an alternative universe. You whizz along Seventy-Five Mile beach with speed signs standing right next to fishing folk hauling out giants, while sea eagles swirl around children watching for whales.</p> <p>Halfway along the beach, the S.S. Maheno shipwreck rears up out of the sea mist. She’s an old passenger ship that spent time as a hospital vessel moored off Gallipoli, but now she’s so perfect in her deterioration she’s more like a discarded Hollywood prop.</p> <p>Further up the beach is Eli Creek. People come to Fraser Island year after year, just to spend their days pottering on its banks. They wander up the boardwalk, pop in their inflatable and float down. The crystal clear water meanders over a sandy bottom while ferny banks nod in the breeze. It’s too perfect to be real.</p> <p><strong>Getting there and around <br /></strong>The whole island operates on tide time. Where and when your barge arrives will be determined by the tide. Even when the planes land is in the lap of the tides. Tides dictate when you move around, because high tide leaves you high and dry in the soft sand and highways become sandpits.</p> <p>The inland roads can be just as tough with sand so soft and white it could nearly pass for snow and getting bogged is par for the course. The 1968 Land Rover would’ve been woefully under-equipped if we had made it all those years ago. We didn’t even have the basics – a recovery kit and trax – to get us out of trouble.</p> <p>The ‘boggings’ we saw were jolly occasions; everyone stopped to help and chat. It’s an opportunity to find out where the fish are running. Even the tour buses (that look like characters out of a Pixar movie with huge headlights and giant wheels) stop to tow.</p> <p>Don’t worry if this sounds intimidating and you’re stuck between a <a href="http://www.cooldingotour.com/">tour bus</a> or going it alone. There are also the <a href="http://www.sunrover.com.au/tag-along-tours.htm">tag-along tours</a> where a cluster of four wheel drives follow the leader.</p> <p>Either way, you’ll want to bring all your own supplies, because most of the shops are pretty basic and pricey. My favourite, Happy Valley, lived up to its name, because I was very happy to find good coffee there.</p> <p><strong>Accommodation<br /></strong>The options range from <a href="https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/fraser/camping.html">pitching a tent</a> at the back of the beach through to the four star <a href="http://www.kingfisherbay.com/">Kingfisher Bay Resort</a>, with holiday homes and other resorts in between.</p> <p>We met a family that travels to Fraser every year and they camp for the holiday and spend the last day leaping between the day spa and pool at Kingfisher Bay Resort. An excellent plan, because the magic of Fraser changes the way you see the world and it can take a little while to reset for reality.</p> <p><em>Written by Cybele Masterman. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/a-sand-castle-in-the-sea-fraser-island.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

Cruising

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"He deserves a lot worse": Scott Morrison egged at election campaign by protester

<p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been egged by a protester while campaigning in Albury on the NSW-Victorian border today.</p> <p>A 25-year-old woman was spotted walking behind Morrison and throwing an egg at his head at a Country Women's Association (CWA) event. The egg bounced off his head and remained intact.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">The moment a protester tries to egg the PM during a Country Women’s Association luncheon at Albury-Wodonga. <br /><br />Scott Morrison says his concern was for an older lady who was knocked off her feet during the incident. <br /><br />Details <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsCanberra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7NewsCanberra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7NEWS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7NEWS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ausvotes2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ausvotes2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://t.co/4tw7OcEyKk">pic.twitter.com/4tw7OcEyKk</a></p> — Andrea Nicolas (@AndreaLNicolas) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreaLNicolas/status/1125583706024845313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>The protester was then tackled to the floor by the security, knocking over an elderly woman in the process.</p> <p>NSW Police <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-07/scott-morrison-egged-on-federal-election-campaign-trail/11087174" target="_blank">confirmed</a> the protester has been taken into custody.</p> <p>Upon being asked why she attempted egging the PM, the protester told reporters to check Morrison’s Twitter account as it “speaks for itself”.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.2gb.com/prime-minister-scott-morrison-egged-at-conference/" target="_blank">2GB</a> reported that she could be heard saying, “He deserves it, he deserves a lot worse actually.”</p> <p>Morrison took to Twitter to condemn the attack. </p> <p>“My concern about today's incident in Albury was for the older lady who was knocked off her feet,” he wrote.</p> <p>“We will stand up to thuggery whether it’s these cowardly activists who have no respect for anyone, or militant unionists standing over small businesses and their employees on work sites.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">We will stand up to thuggery whether it’s these cowardly activists who have no respect for anyone, or militant unionists standing over small businesses and their employees on work sites.</p> — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1125573178888036352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>NSW Police said no injuries had been reported, with their inquiries still ongoing.</p> <p>Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the egging incident was “appalling and disgraceful behaviour”.</p> <p>“In Australia we have violence-free elections, people are allowed to protest peacefully but anything approaching violence is unacceptable,” said Shorten, speaking from Melbourne.</p> <p>“If this protester thinks she will get sympathy or support from me, she couldn’t be more wrong.”</p> <p>Morrison is the latest politician to be at the receiving end of a food attack. In March, Senator Fraser Anning was egged by teenager Will Connolly after making controversial remarks in the wake of the Christchurch terror attacks. In 2013, two students threw a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-30/sandwich-thrown-at-gillard-during-school-visit/4723132" target="_blank">sandwich</a> at then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard in two separate occasions. </p>

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“A disgrace”: Calls for Fraser Anning to be expelled following “Egg Boy” response

<p>In what has been a jam packed week for Fraser Anning, it only continues to build as he faces increasing pressure from all sides.</p> <p>His abrasive comments in the wake of the Christchurch shooting has not just been condemned by Australia’s very own Prime Minister, Scott Morrison and New Zealand’s Jacinda Arden – it has caused fury online as well as internationally.</p> <p>The senator is now facing an unprecedented tide of public backlash that has seen over one million signatures on an online petition to see him kicked out of parliament.</p> <p>The online petition has become the largest in Australian history, far eclipsing the Sydney Opera House horse racing advertising backlash last year. The creator of the appeal has only one demand – to remove Anning from his position in parliament.</p> <p>“Senator Fraser Anning’s views have no place in the government of our democratic and multicultural country,” the petition reads.</p> <p>“Within the bounds of Australian law, we request that he be pushed to resign from his position as Senator, and if appropriate, be investigated by law enforcement agencies for supporting right wing terrorism.”</p> <p>It points to the Queensland politicians’ divisive comments made just moments after the horrific attack which killed 50 Muslim people. His statements lashed against the Christchurch terrorist mass shooting victims on Friday.  </p> <p>“Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?” Anning tweeted shortly after 50 innocent Muslims were shot dead in their place of worship.</p> <p>“The real cause of the bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place,” he said in a later statement.</p> <p>Since then, the extreme far-right politician has seen the public in all its fury, even being ambushed by a 17-year-old Australian boy, Will Connolly – who cracked a raw egg over his head on Saturday.</p> <p>Anning, who was answering media questions at Melbourne airport responded by promptly slapping the teenage boy twice over the head.</p> <p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the senator should be charged.</p> <p>“The full force of the law should be applied to Senator Anning.” he told reporters.</p> <p>Victorian police have since released a statement, explaining Anning “retaliated and struck the teen twice” before Mr Connolly was dragged to the ground by supporters</p> <p>“The incident is being actively investigated by Victoria Police in its entirety,” the statement read.</p> <p>Greens leader Richard Di Natale told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/greens-want-senator-fraser-anning-expelled/news-story/7268a950f52a3068d2924e5192616ac2" target="_blank">The Australian</a> </em>the party is looking to expel him from federal parliament.</p> <p>“We are exploring all options, including amending section 8 of the Privileges Act to allow members of parliament to be expelled by their fellow MPs.</p> <p>“While politicians should be held responsible for their actions by the voters, in extraordinary circumstances like these where there is a pattern of behaviour that is so far outside acceptable norms, we must be willing to take extraordinary action to protect the community.”</p> <p>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has also publicly condemned Anning.</p> <p>When asked by a journalist what she thought of the comments the politician made, she replied: “They’re a disgrace.”</p> <p>A GoFundMe page set up to raise AUD$2000 to pay for Mr Connolly’s “legal fees” and “more eggs” has exceeded over AUD$25,000 on Sunday.</p> <p>The site says most of the money will go to the victims of Christchurch mass shooting.</p> <p>After being released from police custody due to slamming a raw egg onto the head of Anning, the teen urged viewers to not follow in his lead.</p> <p>“Don’t egg politicians. You get tackled by 30 bogans at the same time,” he said in a video. “I learnt the hard way.”</p>

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Why this heartwarming Aussie photo has touched Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan

<p>It was the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/the-touching-moment-queensland-paramedics-grant-patient-dying-wish" target="_blank">incredibly moving photo</a> that not only went viral around the world, but caught the attention of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan.</p> <p>In November last year, the Queensland Ambulance service posted a picture on its Facebook page of Hervey Bay paramedic Graeme Cooper standing alongside the stretcher bed of a terminally ill woman, known only as Joyce, at a beach looking out to sea. It was taken by patient transport officer Danielle Kellam. Sadly, Joyce passed away two days later.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 330.955px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821518/ambulance-teddy-bear.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/309c8ea67fff432b8586d7ee9040ce1c" /></p> <p>The palliative care patient had asked the paramedics if they could stop at the Hervey Bay beach, as they transported her from her home to hospital, and they granted her wish – with the moving photo touching hearts all over Australia and the world. </p> <p>Kensington Palace invited paramedics Cooper and Kellam to meet the Prince and Duchess when they toured Fraser Island yesterday, as the royals were also so touched by the image. </p> <p><iframe width="640" height="360" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://au.news.yahoo.com/tender-love-story-behind-emotional-030703297.html?format=embed" allowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>The seeds for Joyce’s beach visit were sewn a week before the photograph was taken when the paramedics were en route with taking Joyce home from hospital to be with her family in the final days of her life, reports <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/good-news/paramedics-who-touched-hearts-worldwide-to-join-harry-and-meghan/news-story/c2683d372a33defc08c6d3bdf6fbde73" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>.</em></p> <p>Joyce told the paramedics how much she loved the ocean, particularly the beaches of Hervey Bay, located on the Fraser Coast Region of Queensland, because of the romantic times she had spent there with her husband. They loved to stroll the beach together, having retired in Hervey Bay as they were so taken with the area.</p> <p>Kellam and Cooper were so moved by her wish that they gladly, and kindly, granted it. They spent 15 minutes at the beach before continuing on to the hospital.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fqldambulanceservice%2Fposts%2F1703854822979571%3A0&amp;width=500" width="500" height="733" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>“She loved it. She was really happy, so grateful too. Just one of those people you want to give and give to,” Kellam said in an interview with <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/tender-love-story-behind-emotional-viral-image-083547014.html" target="_blank">7News</a>.</em>  </p> <p>"If you can do something special for them, even though their life is coming to an end, it can give them a fulfilment and that fulfilment is something that’s a blessing for us to be able to give,” Cooper added.</p> <p>“It was no mean feat just to stop and be able to just give her one last pleasure in life because at the end of the day this lady was going home to die.”</p> <p>Joyce had chosen a spot where the paramedics could place her by the water’s edge, and she was able to feel the saltwater and sand of the beach one last time. The heroic pair had the idea to fill up a bag with water and sand.</p> <p>Meeting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex yesterday, Kellam and Cooper presented the expectant pair with souvenir teddy bears, much to Duchess Meghan’s delight.</p>

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Georgie Gardner’s horror interview with MP

<p>Fraser Anning took to live TV this morning to double-down on why he used a term associated with the Nazi plan to kill millions of Jews in his maiden speech to Parliament yesterday.</p> <p>In his controversial speech, the Queensland crossbench senator called for a “final solution” plebiscite on which migrants come to Australia, as well as calling for a Muslim ban and a return to the White Australia policy.</p> <p>Appearing on the Today show, host Georgie Gardner asked him why he was targeting Muslims.</p> <p>“I think that we can’t take the risk of bringing people into this country that commit crimes like the Bourke Street massacre or the one we just saw in London today,” he said. “I think we have to protect Australian citizens.”</p> <p>He claimed that for every 1000 Muslims brought into Australia, there are “50 that want to kill us”. He also added that “Apex gangs in Melbourne” are entirely made up of Muslims.</p> <p>“I don’t want those people in this country,” he said. “People are being murdered by these people.”</p> <p class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fiwakeupwithtoday%2Fvideos%2F1120618881420675%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>When asked about his use of the Nazi term “final solution” in his speech yesterday, he said he “didn’t even think” about whether it would be offensive.</p> <p>“All I said was the final solution to the immigration problem is a vote of the Australian people,” he said. “That has nothing to do with the ‘Final Solution’, the thought police got onto that.</p> <p>“For everyone to take it out of context is a joke and try and shutdown debate.”</p> <p>Gardner replied that it was “far from a joke” and asked whether he would like to apologise.</p> <p>But Anning refused, saying: “Good men died for our right to say whatever we want to say and use whatever words we want to use.</p> <p>“If people want to take it out of context that’s entirely up to them. It was never meant to denigrate the Jewish community and it’s two words and if that offends anyone unfortunately that’s the way it has to be.</p> <p>“I don’t regret anything Georgie. I’m not going to apologise or regret anything I say.”</p> <p>He finished the interview by bizarrely claiming Australia was on a “march towards another communist state”.</p> <p>Yesterday, the Katter’s Australia Party upper house MP called for an end to Muslim immigration and an immigration program that favours “European Christian” values.</p> <p>In his speech, Anning also claimed a majority of Australian Muslims live on welfare and do not work.</p> <p>“While all Muslims are not terrorists, certainly all terrorists these days are Muslims,” Senator Anning said.</p> <p>“So why would anyone want to bring more of them here?” He called for the government to ban all welfare payments to migrants in the first five years of living in Australia, labelling many asylum seekers as “welfare seekers”.</p> <p>Senator Anning also wants a plebiscite on who comes to the country to allow people to decide whether they want “wholesale non-English speaking immigrants from the third world”.</p> <p>“The final solution to the immigration problem is of course a popular vote,” he said.</p> <p>The speech immediately prompted a backlash from politicians, as well as thousands on social media.</p> <p>But the Senator refused to backdown, releasing a statement overnight to “repudiate baseless allegations”.</p> <p>He said that people on the left were trying to shut down immigration debate.</p> <p>“Claims that the words meant anything other than the ultimate solution to any political question is always a popular vote are simply ridiculous,” Senator Anning said in a statement.</p> <p>“Anyone who actually reads them in context will realise this.”</p>

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Radio host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones reveals his family’s cancer battle heartache

<p>Radio host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones has candidly opened up about the cancer heartache that has plagued his own family, following his appearance on Channel Seven’s <em>The Real Full Monty </em>on Sunday night.</p> <p>The 50-year-old stripped down on stage with other Aussie stars to raise awareness for men’s health issues for the network’s one-off TV special.</p> <p>In an interview with <a href="https://au.be.yahoo.com/"><strong><u>Yahoo Be</u></strong></a>, Jonesy said his father, Geoffrey, battled two different types of cancer and he hopes his story will encourage others to get checked regularly.</p> <p>“He was just very unlucky to get two different cancers. Prostate cancer is one thing, lung cancer is a different kettle of fish. Had he not got the lung cancer, he'd be still with us now,” the WFSM host said.</p> <p>“He had the prostate cancer and he got his checks regularly.</p> <p>“He probably got onto it a bit too late though, as far as getting the tests done. So really you should be getting it when you're 40, so I started getting my tests done when I was 40.”</p> <p>Sadly, Geoffrey passed away in September 2014.</p> <p>In the interview, Brendan also revealed how nervous he was to strip for yesterday’s <em>The Real Full Monty.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e3f896b69a9847c085a72e2f91893227" /><img style="width: 500px; height:482.6498422712934px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819967/1.jpg?width=500&amp;height=482.6498422712934" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e3f896b69a9847c085a72e2f91893227" /></em></p> <p>The radio star said he got a spray tan for the event and decided to stand next to <em>Kenny</em> actor Shane Jacobson, rather than Jett Kenny or Kris Smith.</p> <p>AFL star Campbell Brown, actor Shane Jacobson, NRL great Matt Cooper, <em>Sunrise</em>’s Sam Mac, model Kris Smith, AFL commentator Brian ‘BT’ Taylor and Lisa Curry’s son, Jett Kenny, also took to the stage for the cause.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Blru05jAf6K/" data-instgrm-version="9"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 33.90625% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Blru05jAf6K/" target="_blank">A post shared by Shane Jacobson (@theshanejacobson)</a> on Jul 25, 2018 at 10:34pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote>

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Brendan Jones reveals why he rejected co-hosting with Lisa Wilkinson

<p>Radio host Brendan Jones has opened up in a new interview about why he won’t be making the permanent switch from radio to TV anytime soon.</p> <p>Speaking to <a href="https://au.be.yahoo.com/"><strong><em><u>Yahoo Be</u></em></strong></a>, the Aussie radio star revealed that he was offered the chance to do a show with Lisa Wilkinson on Channel Seven in 1999.</p> <p>Despite getting along well with Lisa, Jonesy turned down the opportunity.</p> <p>He said: “It was a nice chemistry and then it just got to this point where they were saying, 'Would you leave radio for it?' and I said, 'Well no.’”</p> <p>“I've waited all my life to get to this point so I had to say no and I think it went to some swimmer or something in the end,” he added.</p> <p>The role was later filled by former Olympic swimmer, Duncan Armstrong.</p> <p>Despite enjoying his time hosting the T<em>oday </em>show earlier this year, the 50-year-old explained why he would never ditch radio for TV.</p> <p>“Radio is the mother of all things and I would never leave radio to do solely TV because I don’t trust TV, I trust radio,” he said.</p> <p>Jonesy started his career in radio in the early 90s, working at the 2BCR Bankstown community radio station.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BikfKlgAcVQ/" data-instgrm-version="9"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BikfKlgAcVQ/" target="_blank">A post shared by Brendan Jones Amanda Keller (@jonesyandamanda)</a> on May 9, 2018 at 1:28pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He has since worked his way up to the top and now, presents on breakfast radio show WSFM 101.7 with co-host Amanda Keller.</p> <p>Although he is loyal to radio, Jonesy still makes TV appearances and is set to appear in Channel Seven’s one-off TV special <em>The Real Fully Monty.</em></p>

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