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Beloved radio star dies one week after retiring

Melbourne radio host Philip Brady OAM has died at the age of 85, just one week after he announced he was retiring from radio after nearly 67 years. The 3AW star was diagnosed with cancer on December 5, sharing his diagnosis with close friends and keeping it private from the public. On Tuesday morning, 3AW host Tom Elliott announced Brady's passing and revealed he had been informed of his cancer diagnosis late last year. “Very early this morning, Philip Brady died." “He said he was riddled with cancer and didn’t expect to last too long, so for me, this isn’t a surprise,” he said. “But it is very sad because I don’t think we’ll see the likes of Philip Brady again.” Brady's career 3AW began in the 1970s where he was the weekend music man and in 1990 he began hosting Remember When with Bruce Mansfield. He hosted his final episode of the Remember When radio show on 3AW on January 12, before announcing his retirement from the network on February 2. 3AW station manager Stephen Beers has paid tribute to Brady, saying that he was a “great friend to many, truly loving his work on air and helping so many listeners and colleagues with advice, companionship and friendship”. “Phil will be greatly missed by all at 3AW,” he added. Image: 3AW

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Hollywood legend's cause of death revealed

Renowned filmmaker David Lynch, best known for directing Dune, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and the unforgettable Twin Peaks series passed away on January 16 at the age of 78. Now, his cause of death has been officially confirmed. According to TMZ, which obtained Lynch’s death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the legendary director died from cardiac arrest due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Dehydration was also listed as a significant contributing factor. Lynch’s family shared the news of his passing on social media last month: “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” the family’s statement on Facebook read. “There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the doughnut and not on the hole.’” In the days leading up to his death, Lynch had been affected by the deadly wildfires near Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles. However, his longtime producer, Sabrina Sutherland, confirmed that he had safely evacuated his home at the time. Lynch had been battling health issues for years, having been diagnosed with emphysema in 2020. In a November 2024 interview with People, the filmmaker admitted that he relied on supplemental oxygen for daily activities. He also reflected on his decades-long smoking habit, which began at the age of eight and ended in 2022. “What you sow is what you reap,” Lynch said at the time. “You’re literally playing with fire. It can bite you. I took a chance, and I got bit.” His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood stars, including actor Kyle MacLachlan, who worked with Lynch on Dune, Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks. “Forty-two years ago, for reasons beyond my comprehension, David Lynch plucked me out of obscurity to star in his first and last big-budget movie,” MacLachlan wrote on Instagram. “While the world has lost a remarkable artist, I’ve lost a dear friend who imagined a future for me and allowed me to travel in worlds I could never have conceived on my own.” Naomi Watts, who starred in Mulholland Drive, also paid tribute, sharing her heartbreak over Lynch’s passing: “My heart is broken. My Buddy Dave… The world will not be the same without him,” she wrote on Instagram. She praised his “exquisite storytelling, which elevated cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers across the globe.” While Lynch will be dearly missed, his legacy as an innovative and visionary filmmaker will continue to influence the world of cinema for years to come. Images: Instagram

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Coroner makes bombshell ruling over Jock Zonfrillo's death

A 16-month investigation into Jock Zonfrillo's death has come to an end, with the coroner making a shocking decision about the celebrity chef's cause of death. The coroner has decided not to publicly reveal the MasterChef judge's cause of death, which will now likely remain secret unless his family wish to disclose the information. Zonfrillo's body was found in a hotel room in Melbourne at about 2am on May 1st 2023 after police were called to conduct a welfare check on the 46-year-old. There was widespread speculation about the cause of Zonfrillo's sudden death due to his well-publicised history of drug abuse and mental health struggles. A spokeswoman for Victoria's Coroners Court told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14357311/jock-zonfrillo-masterchef-coronial-investigation.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a> the investigation into Zonfrillo's death was completed on August 27th last year. "At the close of the investigation, the coroner determined that the finding would not be published," the spokeswoman said. In the days following Zonfrillo's death, Daily Mail Australia revealed that it was Jock's wife Lauren who made the frantic phone call to police which led them to find her husband's body. She was travelling abroad and had reportedly became concerned about her husband's welfare when Zonfrillo failed to keep to their usual daily schedule of telephone calls. At the time, a senior Victoria Police source said that officers who attended the hotel found Zonfrillo unresponsive in his bed and saw no obvious signs of anything suspicious or unusual. There was no drug paraphernalia located and no one else in his room, with police at the scene forming the initial view Zonfrillo had died of natural causes. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

AFL legend dies at age 43

AFL West Coast premiership winner Adam Hunter has died at the age of 43. The athlete was found unresponsive just after midnight in Bunbury, south of Perth, and could not be revived. Hunter was coach of the South Bunbury reserves team and had attended training on Tuesday night prior to his death, before he returned home complaining of chest pains and an ambulance was called to the house he shares with his mother. WA Police issued a statement on Wednesday, saying, “About 12:20am this morning, 5 February 2025, police and St John Ambulance were called to a residence in Withers upon report of a non-responsive male." “Upon arrival paramedics immediately commenced first aid, however; the man could not be revived. The 43-year-old man was declared deceased at the scene." “The death is being considered non-suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.” Hunter played 151 games for the Eagles and the defender turned swingman solidified his place in history at the 2006 grand final. He kicked West Coast’s last goal of the game, his celebration becoming an iconic moment in club history as they sealed victory over the Sydney Swans after falling short in the same match-up in the 2005 decider. “We are devastated by the loss of 2006 premiership Eagle Adam Hunter,” West Coast said in a statement on Wednesday. “Our thoughts are with his family, teammates and friends.” Image credits: West Coast Eagles

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Mum dies on daughter's birthday after common party trick turned deadly

A mother has tragically died after inhaling helium from a balloon while setting up for hr daughter's first birthday party. Faith Waterman Batistich, from Te Puke in New Zealand, died in a matter of seconds after inhaling helium while setting up for the party with her family in 2022. Professor Timothy Schmidt, Head of the School of Chemistry at UNSW, told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/warning-after-mum-dies-at-daughters-birthday-from-common-party-trick-gone-instantly-051159229.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a> that any gas mixture that does not contain oxygen can be fatal if inhaled, and issued a strong warning about partaking in the party trick. "Helium is dangerous to inhale because it replaces the oxygen rich air in our lungs and rapidly leads to loss of oxygen from the body. This condition is known as hypoxia and can be fatal," he said. "Breathing pure nitrogen would be just as dangerous." Faith's family and friends were all laughing and taking turns inhaling the helium from the balloons, when one person suggested they breathe it in directly from the canister, Faith’s twin sister Eden Waterman told the New Zealand Herald. As the 20-year-old went to inhale, someone else turned up the flow on the canister. "It went too fast and kind of shot her in the back of the neck. Her last words were literally, 'Oh s***' and she dropped," Eden recalled. "I was just, like, in shock. I kind of just froze and it was like, 'what the f***, what am I seeing? Like, is this for real?' I thought she was putting it on at the start." She added that Faith "went blue" and was "gone instantly". Despite the efforts of the family and paramedics, Faith was unable to be revived. Professor Schmidt said helium is not considered a dangerous chemical, but it is likely most people are unaware of the risks when inhaling it. "It is used in diving tanks and in medicine. Helium is what we call a noble gas (or inert gas). It does not form chemical compounds or react chemically with the body," he said. "I had never heard of anyone dying from helium inhalation until now, so I would say that the dangers are definitely not well-known. I have done it… and never considered that I might replace all the O2 in my body with helium." Image credits: Facebook

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Kyle and Jackie O's $200 million contract death clause revealed

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson have revealed the grim death clause in their individual contracts. In November 2023, the longtime KIISFM hosts signed a monster $200 million deal with Australian Radio Network (ARN) that will see them remain on airwaves until 2034, each pocketing a minimum of $10 million per year. However, added to the whopping sum come a series of unique clauses. Speaking candidly on Thursday morning's show, Kyle and Jackie O opened up about what would happen to the show if one of them were to die, and they each had different stipulations. “They [lawyers] did ring me when they were doing this new deal and said ‘Jackie wants this [death] clause’,” Sandilands said. “I said, ‘I’ve had this for years.’” As part of Henderson’s contract, the host specified she’d want the option to leave the show if Sandilands passed away. “I don’t know if I would want to do it with someone else,” Henderson told her co-host. “Aw, bless you,” Sandilands said, before savagely responding, "We drop your name. I get your income.” “I’d just soldier on without you. I wouldn’t like it, [but] I wouldn’t want to let that great bit of content die on the vine. I’d rather be on-air crying.” Elsewhere, Sandilands said it was stated in his contract he would only fly via private jet or first class if he was required to work overseas, while admitting that many of their contract clauses are "beyond belief”. Image credits: KIISFM

Legal

"Cheeky and playful": Five-year-old remembered after being killed by parking meter

Tributes have poured in for a five-year-old boy who was tragically crushed by a parking meter at a museum in Western Australia. Paramedics were called following reports the five-year-old, known as Sammy, had been critically injured by the disused parking meter outside the Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre, about 170km south of Perth, on January 15th. Sammy was airlifted to Perth Children’s Hospital where he later died from his injuries. In a statement, Sammy’s family thanked everyone for their support following the death of the young boy who “brought so much joy”. “We are so grateful for the support that we have received from family, friends and the general public,” the family said. “We would also like to acknowledge the support from the staff at the museum, first responders and the care given to Sammy at the BRH and PCH, which was so loving and respectful." “Sammy impacted everyone he met. He was wise beyond his years and brought so much joy with his cheeky, playful nature.” More than $21,000 has been raised by the community for the boy’s family as they come to terms with the tragedy. The GoFundMe campaign was set up to help with ongoing expenses “during this difficult time”. “This tragedy has deeply impacted those who know and love this family, as well as the hospital staff, colleagues, friends, and community members who have been involved,” the GoFundMe campaign said. “No family should have to face such heartbreak while also worrying about financial burdens. Let’s come together as a community and show this family they are not alone." A spokesman for WorkSafe WA previously told media the boy had been hit by a disused parking meter in a courtyard at the Bunbury Museum, not the parking area. City of Bunbury chief executive Alan Ferris told the ABC the city would work closely with authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident, as an investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Image credits: Nine

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Aussie TV and theatre legend found dead at age 67

Australian TV and theatre legend Nicholas Eadie has died at the age of 67. Eadie, who was known for his work on multiple shows, including Cop Shop and Underbelly, died in Sydney on Wednesday, with his friend and fellow actor Will Conyers confirming the sad news in a social media post. “Vale, Nicholas Eadie, 1958 – 2025,” he wrote. “I send my deepest sympathy to all those that were touched by this very special artist and human being.” According to the Daily Mail, Eadie's body was found at his home, although no cause of death has been given. Many of Eadie’s industry colleagues have taken to social media to pay tribute to him following the news of his passing. Actor Rhys Muldoon, who worked with Eadie a “number of times” wrote that he was “shocked” at the news, describing him as “a great actor” and “one of life’s best scallywags”. Toby Schmitz, who appeared in Underbelly alongside Eadie, also paid tribute to him on X. “Bon voyage Nicholas Eadie. An actor thrumming with savvy truth, dangerous wit; a thrilling artist,” he posted. Theatre manager Les Solomon spoke of his devastation at the loss of the “magnificent” Eadie, describing him as “one of Australia’s finest actors”. Eadie’s career began shortly after his graduation from the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in Sydney in 1980. He landed the role of Constable Sam Phillips on Channel Seven’s Cop Shop, and stayed on the series for two years. Across the following decades, he appeared in many well-known Australian film and television productions, including A Country Practice, Return to Snowy River, Halifax FP and Vietnam, which he starred in alongside Nicole Kidman. Eadie was also a successful theatre actor, starring in A Midsummer Nights Dream and The Taming of the Shrew, among many others. Image credits: IMBD / news.com.au

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Days of our Lives star found dead at age 39

Days of our Lives star Francisco San Martin has been found dead at the age of 39. The actor was reportedly found dead in his Los Angeles home, with news of his sudden passing prompting tributes from his heartbroken co-stars. Camila Banus, who played his on-screen sister Gabi, wrote on Instagram, “Pepe, what can I say but I love you and rest in peace, my friend. Love you mucho mucho mucho. I wish I had told you more.” The actor moved to the US from Spain when he was a child, and went on to pursue a career in acting and modelling. He starred on Days of Our Lives between 2010 and 2011, before also going on to enjoy roles in projects like 2013 movie Behind the Candelabra, CW show Jane the Virgin, and US soap The Bold and The Beautiful in 2017. “Very, very sad. I am a bit in shock, as I saw Francisco at my gym most every day,” tweeted Journalist Michael Fairman. Fans also shared their heartbreak, with one posting, “So sad to hear about the death of Francisco San Martin, a star from Days of Our Lives and Jane the Virgin. He was only 39! His contributions to television will never be forgotten.” Image credits: NBC/AFF-USA/Shutterstock Editorial

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Beloved Australian soap star dies at age 85

Beloved Australian soap star Leila Hayes has died at the age of 85. The popular actress died peacefully at a hospital in Sydney’s Northern Beaches after facing long-term health challenges, according to the post on a Facebook page announcing her death. Best known for her role on Sons and Daughters, Hayes also went on to dabble in singing, hosting a radio show and writing throughout her stellar career. Hayes appeared in popular drama series including Homicide, Power Without Glory, The Sullivans, Prisoner, and Cop Shop. She is best remembered for her of role of Beryl Palmer in the soap opera Sons and Daughters, playing the part in close to 1,000 episodes over the course of the show’s five-year run beginning in 1982. Hayes also proved herself as a radio presenter, hosting New Day Australia with Leila Hayes on Radio 2UE, a successful midnight-to-dawn program. The accomplished performer established the Leila Hayes Drama Studio in Melbourne in 1979 and branched out to Sydney in 1987, where she nurtured up-and-coming talent. The Drama Studio confirmed the news of Leila's passing, with her daughter Melissa sharing her thanks for all the kind messages of support. "Thank you for your condolences, shared memories and support. It means the world to me and my family at this difficult time," Leila's daughter wrote. "Yesterday’s message was not easy to share, and done only out of the great respect she had for all those who have followed, worked with or studied with her over the years. I am sure she would feel incredibly humbled by the overwhelmingly loving support. Thank you." Image credits: 7News

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"Forever missed": Celine Dion's emotional tribute to late husband

Celine Dion has shared an emotional tribute to her late husband René Angélil on the nine-year anniversary of his death. The French-Canadian singer took to Instagram as she shared a photo of herself with their sons René-Charles, 23, and twins Eddy and Nelson, 14, and reflected on the last nine years without her partner. Celine's late husband, who was a music producer and talent manager, died in January 2016 at the age of 73, following a battle with throat cancer. She honoured her late husband by saying he was her "greatest champion" and said he is "forever missed". <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DE1T_60uLyx/?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/p/DE1T_60uLyx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Céline Dion (@celinedion)</a> </div> </blockquote> "René, we can't believe you've been gone nine years already. Not a day goes by that we don't feel your presence, RC, Eddy, Nelson and I," the singer wrote in her post. "You were my greatest champion, my partner, and the one who always saw the best in me. I honor you and you are forever missed mon amour…. We love you. —Celine xx." Celine's emotional post comes just weeks after she shared another emotional post about her late husband, as she honoured what would've been their 30th wedding anniversary. "You still fill our hearts, every day. You are everything for us. We miss you so much. Happy 30th anniversary, mon amour," she wrote online in December. Image credits: Instagram/SMG/SMG via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Editorial

Relationships

Man dies and several others injured after severe storms lash NSW

A man has tragically died after severe thunderstorms pummelled New South Wales on Wednesday night. The extreme storm system swept through the eastern part of the state on Wednesday evening, leaving several people injured and thousands without power. In the central west town of Cowra, 300km west of Sydney, a man in his 80s was killed when a tree fell on his car as the region experienced wind gust speeds of 107km/h at the time, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Police were in attendance at the scene and had launched an investigation into the incident, while the man has yet to be formally identified. Four campers have also been injured when their shelters were destroyed in high winds at Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region in the state’s southwest. The storm also triggered major power outages with Endeavour Energy reporting more than 47,000 impacted customers across the Blue Mountains, Western Sydney, Illawarra and the South Coast at 10pm, and Ausgrid reporting more than 62,000. On Thursday morning, the SES said they had received 2250 calls and responded to more than 1800 incidents in the last 24 hours, with the majority of the incidents were for fallen trees, powerlines and damaged properties. Scattered showers and severe storms are expected to continue on Thursday, particularly in the east and north east of the state. Image credits: 9News

News

Famed Aussie cartoonist Michael Leunig dies

Acclaimed Australian cartoonist and writer Michael Leunig has died at the age of 79. His family confirmed the news on Instagram, sharing that he spent his last moments on Thursday, “surrounded by his children, loved ones, and sunflowers”. “The pen has run dry, its ink no longer flowing — yet Mr. Curly and his ducks will remain etched in our hearts, cherished and eternal,” a post on his official Instagram account said. “Michael Leunig passed away peacefully today, in the early hours of December 19, 2024." “During his final days, he was surrounded by his children, loved ones, and sunflowers — accompanied as ever, by his dear old friends, Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven.” <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDwH8t7z50q/?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/p/DDwH8t7z50q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael Leunig (@leunigstudio)</a> </div> </blockquote> Throughout his stellar career, his artwork featured in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, before he was controversially stood down from The Age in September after 55 years with the publication after some of his cartoons were thought to be too politically sensitive. Cartoonist for The Australian newspaper John Spooner told ABC Radio Melbourne the loss of Leunig felt "pretty huge", adding that working alongside Leunig at The Age in the mid 80s was "a riot of fun". "Leunig was a leader in the sense that he was an experimenter in graphic possibilities in newspapers, you know, like a half page full colour political or social cartoon," Spooner said. "A lot of the people who love The Age don't realise the depth of his contribution to the idea of The Age, which was essentially pluralistic, in other words, both sides of an argument got a run." Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight also paid tribute to Leunig, saying, “It is a great loss, he was referred to as a national treasure and he was.” “As a kid I would buy his books – the famous Penguin Leunig was my great introduction to cartoons. I owe him a debt of gratitude. He had controversies with his cartoons, but I think he is bigger and more profound than cancel culture.” Image credits: Instagram

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Beloved Aussie author dies at age 74

Beloved Australian author John Marsden has died at the age of 74. The best-selling writer published more than 40 books throughout his distinguished career, including the acclaimed Tomorrow series, which chronicled a fictional invasion and occupation of Australia. The young adult series has been described as “the best series for Australian teens of all time”, selling millions of copies and sparking a successful movie and TV series. Businessman Simon Holmes Court led the tributes to Mr Marsden in a touching post on X (formerly Twitter). “He was one of the standout teachers through my schooling — in many ways similar to the character of John Keating in Dead Poets Society,” Mr Holmes a Court wrote. “His 1st book So Much to Tell You was based on my year group — many identifiable characters. A gift to our year! Complex man, but I’m so glad to have crossed paths.” Marsden won many major awards for children's and adult fiction, and in 2006 received the Lloyd O'Neil Award for contributions to Australian publishing. Following the news of his death, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Marsden "wanted young Australians to read more and his writing made that happen". "Vivid, funny, quintessentially Australian, he wrote with a real love for our land and a true sense of our people's character," Mr Albanese wrote on social media. "John's work will live long in our national memory." Image credits: Facebook

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Acclaimed musician dies after cancer diagnosis

Acclaimed Melbourne musician Dean Sky-Lucas has tragically died just days after he was rushed to hospital for the removal of a stomach ulcer. Sky-Lucas was a singer, accompanist, lecturer and multi-instrumentalist who performed with several orchestras in Melbourne and Tasmania. The musician took to Facebook on November 18th to tell his followers he was about to undergo surgery to remove the stomach ulcer, which is believed to be from an advanced cancer. Just 18 days later, a family member posted to his Facebook page to make the shocking announcement of the beloved singer’s death. “I am very sad to announce that our beloved Dean unexpectedly passed away today,” the post said. “His exact cause of death is uncertain but we do know that while he was still in hospital recovering from surgery he learned that he had advanced cancer. “I am so sorry to deliver this shocking news this way. Please send him your loving thoughts and prayers.” Sky-Lucas’ death has prompted a flood of tributes, as one friend wrote online, “Devastated. Beautiful man.” “Oh, I’m so shocked. Our lovely Dean. Such sorrowful news. The world will be less for his loss,” another wrote. Others remembered him for his musical talents, as one fan wrote, “Oh no, that’s so sad. He was such a fine musician and we enjoyed his sojourn in NZ a few years back. A terrible loss." Image credits: Facebook

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Australian broadcasting legend dies at age 78

Australian broadcasting legend Clive Robertson has died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. Robertson changed the faced of news reading in the mid-1980s, going off script and making jokes and becoming a ratings sensation for Channel Seven. Robertson began his broadcasting career in 1972 with the ABC before moving to Seven in the 1980s. He was the face of 7News programs such as 11AM and Newsworld, and was also a high-rating radio star. At the peak of his fame as an Australian news broadcaster, he was married to another Seven star of the time, Penny Cook from A Country Practice. Robertson once told ABC’s Talking Heads program of his unusual style of news delivery, “I thought I’ll muck around and then they’ll take me off it, you see. And it didn’t work that way … I’d have to say the order of things especially at Channel 9, the order of news items." "And if I said, ‘Look, this is really important’, I’d look at the camera and say, ‘This is a really important story’ and set it up, and if it was an important story, then the audience think, ‘Oh this guy’s a good filter.’ If you said, ‘Look, this is a silly item, I don’t know why we’re running it’ and you run it and it is a silly item, you’ve got them." Image credits: Seven

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Dynasty actor dies at age 77

Legendary actor Mark Withers has died at the age of 77. Withers’ daughter Jessie confirmed the news of his passing in a statement to <a href="https://variety.com/2024/legit/news/mark-withers-dead-dynasty-1236241755/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>, saying her father died on November 22nd of pancreatic cancer. “He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humour, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable,” Jessie added in a statement. “Mark’s enduring talent and commitment to the industry will be fondly remembered by colleagues, friends, and fans alike.” Withers was best known for his role in Dynasty, playing Ted Dinard in the first season of the show. The actor also starred in several shows during the 1970s and 1980s included episodes of Wonder Woman, The Greatest American Hero, Trapper John, M.D., Magnum, P.I., The Dukes of Hazzard, and Hill Street Blues. Withers had an eight-episode run as Coach Locke on Days of Our Lives between 1986 and 1987. Later in his career, Withers guest-starred in Matlock, Frasier, The King of Queens, Criminal Minds, and True Blood. In one of his final roles, Withers played coroner Gary in a first-season episode of the hit Netflix show Stranger Things. Withers is survived by wife Haiyan Liu Withers and daughter Jessie Withers. Image credits: Netflix

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Australia's first supermodel dies at age 87

Australia's first supermodel Maggie Tabberer has passed away at the age of 87. The two-time Gold Logie winner and Australian television icon died on Friday morning, her daughter confirmed in an emotional Instagram post. “This morning we lost our beautiful mother and Nanna,” Maggie’s daughter, author and stylist Amanda Tabberer wrote. “She was an icon in every sense of the word and we will miss her dearly … along with the rest of Australia. Rest in peace Nanna. We love you to bits forever.” Kicking off decades of work in the modelling and television industry, Ms Tabberer was one of Australia’s best-known entertainment personalities after being named Australia’s Model of the Year in 1960. Throughout her career, Tabberer wrote a fashion column for The Daily Mirror, was the subject of two Archibald prize winning artworks, hosted her own chat show, launched her own clothing label, and was the fashion editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly. In 1998, Ms Tabberer was awarded the Order of Australia for her contributions to the fashion industry and support for various charities. Journalist Andrew Hornery led the tributes for Maggie, as he took to his Instagram account with a touching tribute to Ms Tabberer, calling her a “legend, icon (and) champion”. “There are not enough descriptors to truly encapsulate what she represented over a seven decade career,” Mr Hornery wrote. “We crossed paths many times and it was always a pleasure." “She enjoyed a little tittle tattle and had a wonderful sense of humour - self deprecating but always positive. What a life. Vale lovely lady.” TV host and journalist Leila McKinnon wrote, "Beautiful Maggie, what a wonderful woman, vale to such a generous spirit, we loved her. Sending our love to you ❤️." Image credits: Instagram / Australian Women’s Weekly / news.com.au

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Hunt for shooter after healthcare executive fatally shot

Police are on the hunt for a gunman after one of America's top CEOs was fatally shot in New York. The shooter was lying in wait for Brian Thompson, who was shot in the back outside a hotel in Manhattan. Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare: part of America’s largest insurance company and the country’s fourth-largest company as ranked by revenue. The shooting happened on Wednesday morning when the company's annual investor conference was underway. The gunman fled the scene on foot before taking off on an electric bike through Central Park, with police still searching for the suspect. Thompson was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. “Every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.” UnitedHealth Group paid tribute to Thompson, saying he was a highly regarded friend and colleague. “We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time,” it said. “Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.” UnitedHealthcare is the largest US health insurer, providing benefits to tens of millions of people, who pay more for healthcare than in any other country. Image credits: United Health Group

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"Gone too soon": Mother's heartbreaking tribute after son found dead in Bali

A distraught mother has paid tribute to her teenage son who was tragically found dead in a pool while on holiday in Bali. Aston Looker, an 18-year-old model from Sydney, was found unresponsive by an unknown resident in a swimming pool at a residential complex on the popular Indonesian island. While Mr Looker's cause of death has not been released, the teenager's heartbroken mother, Sydney designer Amanda Lennon, paid tribute to her son in an emotional Instagram post. She said she misses her son “every day, every hour, every minute and every second,” and that he is in the “arms of angels now”. “My supermodel son is in heaven we love you forever,” Ms Lennon wrote online. “We love your cheeky personality and amazing looks but most of all you humour." “Your mum will never ever forget you my favourite person in the universe. Aston you are gone too soon and mourning your death that was too soon.” In a statement sent to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/sydney-teenager-aston-looker-found-dead-in-pool-in-bali/news-story/969d3b237d272ceac62da0127642adf0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Mr Looker’s death, which occurred in August. “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who died in Bali,” the statement read. “We offer our deepest condolences to the family.” Family friend Victoria Montano posted about the death of Mr Looker, saying the 18-year-old was “one taken too soon”. She wrote in a tribute posted to Instagram, “The juxtaposition of Aston's masculinity and vulnerability was capped off by his mother Amanda’s favourite thing about him. A finely tuned perfectly timed sense of humour. The ability to be witty and humble all at once. Not many could make you laugh like this young man.” Image credits: Instagram <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">

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