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TikTok couple slammed for leaving toddlers unattended in cruise cabin

<p>TikTok Influencers Matt and Abby Howard have been slammed online for their controversial parenting choice while on a family vacation. </p> <p>In a now deleted video, the couple explained that they had brought their sons Griffin, 2, and August, 1 on a family cruise, and they went to dinner without the boys, but monitored the room through FaceTime. </p> <p>"So we ended up taking them for 5 nights and it became apparent that they weren't enjoying it and therefore we weren't either," they said in the caption. </p> <p>"So THEN we switched our dinner time to AFTER their bedtime and FaceTimed the monitors while we ate."</p> <p>Abby noted that baby monitors "don't work on board unless you're only like 10 feet away", adding that their dinnertime solution worked out "much better for everyone" </p> <p>Social media users were quick to respond to their decision, with many highlighting the safety concerns. </p> <p>"They literally could not have gotten to them fast enough if anything had happened and I cannot stop thinking about that. It’s sickening," one wrote on Reddit. </p> <p>"It's literally common sense that you do not leave a baby alone unsupervised," another added. </p> <p>"The fact that they would so willingly leave their children in an unfamiliar environment completely alone is shocking," another added. </p> <p>"Are they seriously that f****** dumb? Do they not watch the news, have they not seen what happened to Madeline McCann?" a fourth wrote.  </p> <p>Following the controversy, the couple released a video claiming that a family member was always with the children while they were at dinner, although they didn't clarify who. </p> <p>"We take our roles as parents extremely seriously and we love our children more than anything in the entire world, and we're very protective of our kids," Matt said in the video. </p> <p>"We had someone with our children at all times on this boat," he continued adding that the speculation surrounding them is "completely untrue". </p> <p>"I do want to clarify that we have not, would not, will not ever leave our children unattended. We would would never, ever want to put them in harms way in anyway," Abby added. </p> <p>She explained that her family would "tag team" to help the couple out with watching their children. </p> <p>Viewers were quick to speculate whether they were telling the truth, while others were glad they clarified. </p> <p>"Thanks for the clarification because it did come off like the boys were alone- context is everything," one wrote. </p> <p>"I hope this is the truth," another added. </p> <p>"For them to post about it like it's some genius parenting hack is just wild," a third wrote. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Shane Dixon's heartbreaking posts before cruise plunge

<p>Shane Dixon sadly <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/sad-reason-why-sydney-dad-went-overboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plunged to his death</a> on May 6 on board a P&O cruise ship, after racking up a $9000 casino debt that he couldn't afford to pay. </p> <p>His family said that the debt, on top of series of personal tragedies and setbacks, including health issues, family deaths, and the breakdown of his marriage which led to him being estranged from his three children, was the last straw for Shane. </p> <p>"[After he lost the money] his brain would have been going 100 miles an hour. He probably thought, 'F*** it, I can't afford it,'" his brother Scott Dixon told <em>Daily Mail Australia</em>. </p> <p>Shane was the eldest of five children to parents Susan and Wilbur, and grew up in Campbelltown, Sydney's western suburbs.</p> <p>His youngest brother, Dylan who was a twin, tragically died at just three months old in 1993, leaving a mark on the family. </p> <p>In 2009, Shane lost his father at the age of 54, and the loss had a huge effect on Shane who described him as the "strength of the family" and "life of all parties".</p> <p>Adding to the pain, Shane was also experiencing heart problems and his brother Scott was diagnosed with a terminal illness, which he is still fighting. </p> <p>On top of that Shane was also struggling with the breakdown of his marriage, and now old Facebook posts about his struggles have re-emerged. </p> <p>"F***ing sucks.. Now over 12 years [and I have] not seen or herd [sic] from my kids," he wrote in September.</p> <p>"Not knowing how they [are] doing or if they [are] going through hard times just sucks."</p> <p>On December 31, 2022 he wrote: "The only happy [thing about] New Years is that hopefully 1 year will be happy for me when I meet my kids again."</p> <p>"12 years to not see or hear from you.. Breaks me every year but I stay strong, hoping one new year my dreams will come true," he wrote with a picture of his three young children. </p> <p>Sadly, he never got to fix his broken relationship with his children.</p> <p>In another eerie post obtained by <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13424493/Shane-Dixon-P-O-cruise-debt-suicide-eerie-post.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail Australia</em></a>, last year the truck driver described how May was his "hardest month".  </p> <p>"My hardest month May is just around the corner," he wrote on April 2023. </p> <p>"[It's] not only my birthday, but my eldest girl turns 18 that I have not seen or heard from in over 12 years. My boy turns 15 and [it's] the same situation as my girl. [It's] my dad's birthday also who passed away in 2009 [at] only 54 years of age.</p> <p>"So yes, to me life is f***ed. [So] don't judge me or let's just swap shoes."</p> <p>His eldest daughter turned 19 this year, just three days after his death, and Shane would've been 46 in just one week. </p> <p>Several others have since spoken out on the enticing gambling tactics, and Shane's friend that he made on board the cruise even <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/cruising/it-seems-crazy-shane-dixon-s-gambling-friend-breaks-his-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled</a> how "full of energy and happy" Shane was just hours before his death. </p> <p>Earlier this week, a P&O spokeswoman told<em> Daily Mail Australia</em> that  it would be inappropriate to comment on Shane's death as the matter is under investigation from the coroner. </p> <p>In response to the other allegations and calls for a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/cruising/these-are-people-s-lives-calls-for-gambling-reform-after-fatal-cruise-ship-plunge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gambling reform</a>, she said: "P&O Cruises Australia appreciates the feedback from guests."</p> <p>"We have Responsible Gaming Conduct Policies on all P&O ships and take those policies seriously."</p> <p>"We encourage any guest with concerns to get in contact with us so that we can investigate."</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Cruising

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"It seems crazy": Shane Dixon's gambling friend breaks his silence

<p>The man who befriended Shane Dixon on a P&amp;O Cruise before he plunged overboard has broken his silence, saying he too fell victim to seductive gambling tactics.</p> <p>The man, James, and his friends met Shane on the first day of the Elvis themed cruise and casually socialised throughout the entire trip. </p> <p>James, his friends, and Shane all spent time together in the onboard casino, where James was shocked by the blatant practices used by the cruise line to lure gamblers to the table.</p> <p>"We all got given free cruises to use in the next six months from the casino director and I myself racked up almost $2,000 gambling which was charged to my credit card, something I would never normally do in a million years," James told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13415149/p-o-cruises-gambling-shane-dixon-suicide-pacific-adventure.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail Australia</em></a>.</p> <p>"He [Shane] was a great guy and it’s so wrong how the casinos push so hard to get you to gamble more.'"</p> <p>When onboard a P&amp;O cruise, customers use their room key, or "cruise card", as a form of currency to pay for various items onboard the ships. </p> <p>Passengers can either pay "cash" by topping their cruise card up with set cash amounts using machines located around the vessel or by "card" by linking it to a credit or debit card.</p> <p>James said the same payment methods extend to the casino, as every time a passenger plays a game in the casino they need to scan their cruise card, regardless of which type of payment arrangement they have set up.</p> <p>When funds are depleted, players have the option to select "charge room" to add more money and the bill will be charged to the card associated with your room at the end of every day.</p> <p>James said paying with this method makes it difficult to track how much you have spent, particularly as there is no internet on board to monitor transactions through online banking.</p> <p>When James, luckily, won back most of his debt and chose to walk away from the table before any more damage occurred, he asked the cashier if he could enter a self-exclusion arrangement to bar him as he didn't trust himself to not spend the cash.</p> <p>However, James said the cashier told him self-exclusion was not an option.</p> <p>"They should have been able to [disable my room key] just like they do with minors, but the cashier said they don’t know how or if it’s even possible," he said.</p> <p>"It seems crazy!"</p> <p>According to P&amp;O's website, self-exclusion is one of the initiatives punters can access under the company's "commitment to the responsible delivery of gaming on our ships".</p> <p>The last time James saw Shane was while they were all dancing together in a bar at midnight on Monday. While he left to go to a club, Shane went back to the casino and just four hours later, the father-of-three was dead. </p> <p>"We were all drinking heavily but he was full of energy and happy," James said, recalling their last encounter.</p> <p>"He had been saying how he had lost heaps at the casino but we didn't know his situation so didn’t know how much of a big deal it was. He didn’t seem overly upset about it at the time. He seemed fine."</p> <p>Shane had racked up over $4,000 in gambling debt, and went overboard while the ship was making its way into Sydney Harbour. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Shutterstock</em></p>

Cruising

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“These are people’s lives”: Calls for gambling reform after fatal cruise ship plunge

<p>The shocking death of a 50-year-old father who went overboard on a P&O Cruise has caused widespread outrage, with many questioning who is to blame for his untimely passing. </p> <p>Shane Dixon had racked up $5,000 of gambling debt while onboard the Elvis-themed voyage, which his mother, who was also travelling with him, helped him to repay. </p> <p>The next day, Dixon went back to the cruise ship's casino where he racked up another $4,000 in debt, before he plunged to his death while the vessel was on its way into Sydney Harbour. </p> <p>While questions have arisen about the circumstances surrounding his death, the CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform Carol Bennett said the cruise ship operator had failed to provide Shane with an adequate duty of care, and encouraged him to keep gambling. </p> <p>"It's really concerning that when a ship sails 12 nautical miles off the coast it can then allow anything and everything to happen," she told <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13414919/Anti-gambling-Shane-Dixon-cruise-ship-casino.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a></em>.  </p> <p>"The rules that might apply on land no longer seem to apply and yet you would expect this cruise line would have some kind of duty of care to ensure that people are not plied with inducements, promotions and advertisements that are pushing them to gamble to extremely harmful levels."</p> <p>"It is just beyond belief that there is not an expectation that when a cruise ship leaves a dock that the rules of that jurisdiction apply."</p> <p>"But clearly that's not the case and we leave it all in the hands of the cruise line operator who may or may not apply the responsible service of gambling."</p> <p>Ms Bennett said it was "fundamental" that gamblers were able to set spend limits, self-exclude themselves and be in an environment free of inducements: all of which are required by law when it comes to casinos on Australian soil. </p> <p>"This is just basic harm reduction that any provider or organisation that is providing gambling services should be complying with," she said. </p> <p>"And if they're not, we need to really seriously think about what governments need to do to address this problem because you do wonder how widespread this is. This could be just the tip of the iceberg."</p> <p>Ms Bennett said Australia loses an estimated $25billion on legal forms of gambling each year, with the consequences spreading far beyond the impact on the economy. </p> <p>"It leads to everything from domestic and family violence to health and mental health issues, anxiety, depression, financial distress, right through to suicide," she said. </p> <p>"It is a huge and to some degree hidden problem in Australia, which is why we need stronger enforcement of safeguards and guardrails around gambling that don't see people led into a situation where they see no other way out but suicide."</p> <p>"These are peoples lives. For every person who gambles, there are six people around them who are going to be directly impacted."</p> <p>Labor backbencher Graham Perrett said the British cruise line most likely operated under the UK's gambling laws.</p> <p>"My understanding is that the UK gambling laws are not dissimilar to ours in terms of marketing and advertising," he said. </p> <p>"It's not just a gambling free-for-all, even if they are outside our territorial seas they still have to follow the laws of the UK."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Shutterstock</em></p>

Cruising

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Nick Kyrgios' honest thoughts on Shane Warne's open letter

<p>In 2015, late cricket legend Shane Warne posted an open letter Nick Kyrgios on social media, calling out the then hot-headed tennis player's fiery behaviour off-court. </p> <p>"Dear Nick, we all realise you're only 20 and have a lot to learn buddy, but please don't waste your talent," the letter began. </p> <p>"Everyone in the world, especially us Australians want to respect you. You need to respect the game of tennis and yourself. We all make mistakes.</p> <p>"You're testing our patience mate, show us what you're made of and how hungry you are to be the best in the world. It's time to step up and start winning, no excuses," he added in the scathing letter. </p> <p>"We all make mistakes. It's how we learn from them and the way we conduct ourselves when we lose that shows true character. You're testing our patience mate," he concluded. </p> <p>A then 20-year-old Kyrgios had just beat Spanish champion Rafael Nadal during the 2015 Wimbledon, but also attracted a lot of controversy after insulting Stan Wawrinka at a tournament in Montreal, Canada. </p> <p>This was a particularly difficult time in Kyrgios' career, as he was suspended for 28-days and got a $34,705 fine from the ATP.</p> <p>Since the incident, Kyrgios has managed to get his professional life back on track, and in a recent interview with Piers Morgan on his show <em>Uncensored</em>, the tennis star shared that he never read the letter. </p> <p>"I saw it and didn't read it. I'm never going to be the first one to go out on social media and put someone down," he told the host. </p> <p>He added that he believed that Warne would be proud of how far he's come. </p> <p>"I look back at that letter and at how far I've come and I'd say he would be proud for sure. I’ve had a pretty successful career. I feel I've won a lot more than I've lost." </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

TV

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Iconic rocker passes away aged 65

<p>In the early hours of November 30, the music world lost one of its most poetic voices, Shane MacGowan, the iconic frontman of The Pogues. At the age of 65, MacGowan succumbed to the wear and tear of a prolonged health battle, leaving behind a legacy that transcends generations.</p> <p>The news of MacGowan's passing struck a somber chord across the music industry, as fellow musicians and fans alike paid tribute to the man hailed as "one of the finest lyricists of a generation."</p> <p>Peter 'Spider' Stacy, MacGowan's long-time bandmate, led the mournful chorus with a heartfelt tribute on social media, poignantly quoting Walt Whitman: "O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done..."</p> <p>The Pogues, founded in 1982 by MacGowan and a group of like-minded musicians, redefined the musical landscape with their fusion of Celtic punk, traditional Irish melodies, and rock'n'roll energy. Their unforgettable hit, "Fairytale of New York", remains a timeless Christmas anthem, echoing through the decades. The song was famously announced in 2012, by licensing body PPL, as "the most-played Christmas song of the century" in the UK, beating o<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">ut <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/mariah-carey-slapped-with-multi-million-dollar-lawsuit-over-hit-festive-song" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mariah Carey's classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You"</a> and "Last Christmas" by Wham!.</span></p> <p>The void left by MacGowan's departure was keenly felt by musicians such as Glen Matlock, Nick Cave, and Carl Barât, who collectively mourned the loss of a true friend and the "greatest songwriter of his generation". Australian musician Nick Cave lamented, "A very sad day," encapsulating the collective sorrow of those who admired MacGowan's profound impact on music.</p> <p>MacGowan's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, poured her heart out in an emotional tribute, sharing a black and white photo of her late husband. Clarke spoke of MacGowan as the light in her life, the measure of her dreams, and the love of her life. Her words conveyed the profound loss, describing the ache for "just one more of his smiles that lit up my world".</p> <p>MacGowan's family, too, released a formal statement, announcing his peaceful passing surrounded by loved ones. The musician had battled viral encephalitis since late 2022, a rare and life-threatening condition that led to a prolonged hospital stay. Despite being discharged just days before his 66th birthday on Christmas Day, the resilient artist succumbed to the hardships he faced in his final months.</p> <p>As we reflect on Shane MacGowan's remarkable journey, from the punk scene of the '70s to the pinnacle of musical success with The Pogues, we mourn not only the loss of a musical genius but a man whose soulful lyrics and captivating performances touched the hearts of millions.</p> <p>MacGowan's legacy lives on in the melodies he crafted, the stories he told, and the emotions he stirred. His unique blend of Irish tradition and rock'n'roll spirit created a timeless sound that defied generational boundaries. As we bid farewell to Shane MacGowan, we remember him not only for the "Fairytale of New York" but for the indelible mark he left on the world of music – a mark that will resonate for generations to come.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram / X</em></p>

Music

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"So beautiful": Summer Warne overwhelmed by Coldplay's tribute to Shane

<p>Summer Warne has captured the emotional moment that Coldplay frontman Chris Martin paid tribute to her late father on stage. </p> <p>During their show in Perth on Sunday night, Martin bean singing an original acoustic song that honoured Shane Warne in a unique way. </p> <p>Shane's daughter Summer was in the audience for the performance, and was incredibly touched by the gesture. </p> <p>During the song, Chris Martin sang the lyrics, "Friends come, and friends go, there are just some people you're lucky to know. If I could, I'd do it all again, so thanks for everything Shane."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz1Ln4fRVQU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz1Ln4fRVQU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Summer Warne 🍒 (@summerwarne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He even joked at one point, singing "I needed sunglasses just to look at your teeth," and poked fun at the late cricketer's lack of rhythm. </p> <p>Summer posted a clip of the emotional moment to Instagram with the caption, "The most amazing song dedicated to Dad. Thank you Chris, so beautiful <a title="" href="https://www.instagram.com/coldplay/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@coldplay</a> Love you dad xx."</p> <p>This isn't the first time Martin has honoured the star in song, as Coldplay dedicated an acoustic cover of their hit song <em>Yellow</em> to the sporting legend at Shane's memorial. </p> <p>The performance was done via video, as Chris began saying, "I am sorry I cannot be there today."</p> <p>"We are on tour in Central America and there are a lot of background noises, but I feel like that may be OK with him. I think chaos and Shane were good friends."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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Jackson Warne speaks for the first time on the moment he found out about his father's death

<p>Jackson Warne has opened up for the first time about the life-changing moment he found out about his father's untimely death. </p> <p>Jackson was 22-years-old when his father, famous Aussie cricketer Shane Warne, passed away of a heart attack while holidaying in Thailand in March 2022. </p> <p>Now, for the first time, Jackson has recalled the moment he and his family found out abut the devastating news. </p> <p>Speaking with <em>SAS Australia</em> chief instructor Ant Middleton on the show's podcast ahead of the show's anticipated finale, Jackson spoke candidly about receiving the life-changing phone call. </p> <p>Middleton asked Jackson, who was a contestant on <em>SAS</em> three years ago, “Do you remember where you were when you got the news?” </p> <p>Jackson said, “Definitely, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to probably forget where I was or what I was doing. Because all you get is a phone call. And then when you hang up the phone call, your life that you’ve been living, your entire life, everything you ever knew sort of was like this, just gets whooshed, just completely flipped upside down."</p> <p>“You have all these thoughts, and you let the tears out, that you just sort of sit in silence. Like we, I was with my girlfriend, my sister, Brooke, and her partner, and then my mum. And we just got to call. Hung up the phone and we just sat in silence for hours."</p> <p>While going through the shock and devastation of finding out about his father's death, Jackson had a profound dream about his late dad, as he felt he was sending him a message. </p> <p>He began, "I can tell you about a dream that might sound bizarre, but it would have been maybe two weeks, or two-and-a-half weeks after dad passed, and I was driving my car. He was driving his car. And we used to sort not race, we used to just drive next to each other and, you know, race a little bit."</p> <p>“But he was always the better driver in the better car. So (he) always beat me all the time, all the time. And in this dream I had, I was driving my car, he was driving his car, we’re both looking each other left and right and driving and driving.</p> <p>“And then all of a sudden our cars sort of, they sort of merged, and I was in the driver’s seat of his car. And then I looked to my left, and he wasn’t there. And then I sort of woke up and I can really vividly remember that dream."</p> <p>“Everything about it, I can remember. And I sort of looked at that as he was sort of giving me the permission to be in charge. Now he’s like, ‘Jackson, I’m giving you the driver’s seat. You’re the one that’s, you know, going to be making the tough decisions. Now you’re the one that has to step up for the family. I’m not here anymore, you have to be (the one)‘."</p> <p>Jackson also shared the reason he is finally speaking out about his father, saying, “To keep someone’s memory alive, you have to keep talking about them."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Iconic Aussie singer returns Order of Australia Medal after Voice result

<p>Legendary Australian singer-songwriter Shane Howard has made headlines by returning his Order of Australia medal, a gesture that speaks volumes about his deep sense of sadness and disappointment following the Voice to Parliament referendum.</p> <p>Howard, the renowned frontman of the iconic band Goanna, first captured the hearts of music enthusiasts 41 years ago with the anthemic hit "Solid Rock," a song that passionately decried the colonisation and Indigenous dispossession of Australia.</p> <p>In a heartfelt letter addressed to the Australian Governor-General, Howard openly expresses his profound sorrow in the wake of the rejected referendum vote.</p> <p>He wrote: "At this point in history, I can't be proud of my nation and feel honour-bound to return my Order of Australia medal."</p> <p>This poignant decision resonates with the deep-seated desire Howard had when he penned "Solid Rock, Sacred Ground" four decades ago. “When I wrote the song, 'Solid Rock, Sacred Ground', 40 years ago, I wanted us to address the fundamental lie at the heart of our national story," he continued in the letter. "I dreamt of a country respectful of our ancient history and honest about our modern history. I wanted to be proud of my country.”</p> <p>Howard, whose great-grandfather was famously arrested at the Eureka Stockade, was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2016, honouring his significant contributions to the Australian music landscape. However, he now believes that the democratic principles his family fought for generations ago are facing an imminent threat.</p> <p>In a recent interview with <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-18/goanna-shane-howard-returns-oam-referendum-result/102989978" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC Victorian Mornings</a>, Howard discussed the motivations behind his decision to return his medal. He emphasised that he felt compelled to make his voice heard in a world rife with disinformation and divisive politics. In his own words, "What else can I do, I'm an artist."</p> <p>Howard went on to share the distressing experiences he faced, noting that he encountered an alarming amount of abuse and racism on social media. "I copped an enormous amount of abuse that was very intimidating and at times, some stuff that was very, very racist through social media.</p> <p>"I would say it’s the first time we saw the Brexit or Trump style politics at play in the Australian political landscape."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyapVUCS0xd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CyapVUCS0xd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Shane Howard (@goannafella)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Howard's heartfelt letter to the Governor-General underscores his respect for the democratic process that led to the referendum's outcome. However, he is deeply concerned that Australians may have missed "an important historical moment of destiny."</p> <p>His letter states that while he respects the democratic result, he fears Australians have missed "an important historical moment of destiny".</p> <p>"I love my birth country deeply but until we lose our colonial shackles, engage in Treaty-making with our First Peoples, commit to truth-telling about our history and embrace a post-colonial republic, I cannot be proud of my nation,” he said.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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"I want to make Dad proud": Summer Warne's heart-wrenching revelation

<p>Summer Warne has shared a heart-wrenching revelation after making her TV debut on <em>The Masked Singer</em>. </p> <p>The 21-year-old, who is Shane Warne's youngest child with Simone Callahan, left the panel of judges in tears following an emotional performance of Coldplay’s <em>Yellow</em>. </p> <p>“That was his favourite Coldplay song. It’s such a significant song to me and my family,” she said. </p> <p>“I want to make Dad proud. Singing Yellow was absolutely amazing – that song was his funeral song. Chris Martin sang it at the state memorial.”</p> <p>Summer also took to Instagram to reflect on her TV debut, where she thanked the judging panel, host and fans for their love and support. </p> <p>"I will be forever grateful of this whole experience ❤️" she captioned the photos. </p> <p>She also paid tribute to her dad, and shared what an honour it was to perform for him.</p> <p>"My dad would love nothing more than hearing me sing and perform on stage, if it wasn’t for him I would have never been given an opportunity like this.</p> <p>"So thank you Dad, and I really wish you could have seen this, but I know you were by my side every step of the way ❤️"</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxpPcGvRRoJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CxpPcGvRRoJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Summer Warne (@summerwarne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In an interview with <em>Yahoo Lifestyle </em>after her performance, Summer shared a few candid insights into how tough it was to grow up with a famous father. </p> <p>“If I was out at a party, I thought I had to act a certain way, because if I did the wrong thing, or said the wrong thing, people would look at my family and go, ‘Oh, she’s a horrible person’.</p> <p>“I never wanted … I never asked to be in this life. And I think it was just very hard growing up in an environment where your whole life is kind of on screen.</p> <p>“And if Dad made a mistake, it would reflect on me. And, you know, I thought people were looking at me differently.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/like-a-bad-dream-shane-warne-s-family-in-shock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shane passed away </a>of a suspected heart attack in Thailand on March 2022, and the news shocked the world. </p> <p>Ever since his passing, Summer said that life hasn't gotten any easier for her family. </p> <p>"I think it has gotten a bit more hectic, because they (paparazzi) can’t follow him around now, and they want to follow us,” she said.</p> <p>"They write stories and the public is like 'we don't want to hear about them or they're not celebrities'. But we're just living our lives, whether that's going out for breakfast, or going out on a Saturday night, you know, it's just gonna get written about.</p> <p>“We’re just trying to live our lives and move on. Unfortunately, it is what it is.”</p> <p>The 21-year-old has been very open about her grief and has recently shared a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/shane-warne-s-daughter-s-candid-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tribute to her dad</a> for what would've been his 54th birthday. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Shane Warne's daughter's candid admission

<p>Shane Warne's daughter, Brooke, has opened up about how her family has coped with the devastating loss, one year after the cricket legend's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/like-a-bad-dream-shane-warne-s-family-in-shock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passing</a>.</p> <p>The 24-year-old candidly told <em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxRbtJHv_Fx/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stellar Magazine</a> </em>that, despite missing him deeply, her family, including her siblings Jackson and Summer, as well as her mother Simone Callinan, have remained close-knit in the wake of the tragedy. </p> <p>"As a family, we've always stuck together. We've always had each other's backs. We're going okay," she told the publication. </p> <p>"Obviously, I miss him and think about him every second – that's never going to change," she continued. </p> <p>"I think we just learn to accept life, that this is our life now, and do the best by him and make him proud... and be positive and enjoy everything. You don't know what's going to happen. </p> <p>"We just had to deal with what comes our way. We do it together, and that's the important thing," she concluded. </p> <p>This comes just days after loved ones took to social media to honour the legendary cricketer on what would've been his 54th birthday.</p> <p>Brooke took to Instagram stories to share a throwback photo of herself and her dad.</p> <p>"Your day King, Happy birthday dad," she captioned the photo posted on Wednesday the 13th with a love heart. </p> <p>Another photo showed her indulging in a few of her dad's favourite snacks  including potato scallops, a donut, lollies and a bag of Musk sticks. </p> <p>"Birthday lunch for dad. All his faves," she captioned. </p> <p>Shane's son, Jackson also took to Instagram to honour his late dad, with a video about how he planned to mark the day. </p> <p>“Today would have been dad’s 54th birthday – happy birthday dad,” he said in the clip.</p> <p>“And I thought instead of being sad or posting a story in black and white with a big caption with things that are quite obvious, I’m going to do what dad would have wanted me to do which is be happy and do things that make me happy."</p> <p>He then listed three things that he used to do with his dad including getting Maccas, watching <em>Two and a Half Men, </em>and playing roulette.</p> <p>“Roulette is on par for me and dad with poker and we just loved cheering on a 23 for a spin. So we’ll go downstairs and see if we can hit a 23. Happy birthday dad," he concluded his video. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxH4e_BRaca/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxH4e_BRaca/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jackson Warne (@jacksonwarne18)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Shane's younger daughter Summer honoured her late dad with another throwback picture posted on Instagram stories with the caption: "Happy Birthday Dad. I love and miss you more than words can describe ❤️" </p> <p>This is the second birthday the family have had to endure without Shane, who passed away while on holiday in Thailand.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Bruce Lehrmann condemns damning inquiry and labels trial conduct as a "dark chapter"

<p>Bruce Lehrmann has expressed his strong disapproval of a damning inquiry into his rape trial, referring to it as "a dark chapter" in the justice system.</p> <p>In response to the inquiry's findings, Bruce Lehrmann has criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, for his conduct during the trial, stating that it was a troubling episode for the justice system.</p> <p>The former Liberal staffer, who intends to pursue a multimillion-dollar compensation claim over the trial's handling, commended his legal team, led by Steve Whybrow SC and Kamy Saeedi lawyers.</p> <p>Mr. Lehrmann stated to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/bruce-lehrmann-slams-damning-inquiry-describes-trial-conduct-as-dark-chapter/news-story/b5b6ec06d5b435f8870a1e7d5b9ae4b8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>, "Much of what we are reading, my brilliant criminal defense team led by Steve Whybrow SC suspected all along. I owe everything to the lawyers who have surrounded me. This is overwhelming and alarming reading."</p> <p>He also acknowledged Mr. Sofronoff and his team for revealing the truth and shedding light on what he perceives as a dark chapter for the ACT Justice system. Mr. Lehrmann promised to share more details once the Chief Minister releases the full report to the public.</p> <p>The landmark inquiry found that the prosecution's legal initiation was appropriate, but it severely criticised Mr. Drumgold's actions during the trial.</p> <p>Walter Sofronoff KC, a former Supreme Court judge in Queensland, affirmed the lawfulness of the police's charges against Mr. Lehrmann and agreed that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was justified in prosecuting based on the available evidence.</p> <p>It is essential to note that this finding does not reflect Mr. Lehrmann's guilt or innocence but focuses on the conduct of the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.</p> <p>Mr. Lehrmann remains innocent under the law since he was never convicted, as the trial collapsed following an allegation of juror misconduct.</p> <p>However, the inquiry revealed damning evidence against Mr. Drumgold, accusing him of "knowingly lying" to the ACT Supreme Court regarding his alleged warning to Lisa Wilkinson concerning her Logies speech.</p> <p>The report uncovered unethical conduct by Mr. Drumgold, including his use of a note related to a discussion he had with Ms. Wilkinson just days before her speech.</p> <p><em>The Australian</em> newspaper <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/sofronoff-report-reveals-shane-drumgold-lied-during-bruce-lehrmann-rape-case/news-story/07d25b9c79364a10473806e3df48dfa7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained a complete copy</a> of the extensive 600-page Sofronoff report, which confirmed the seriousness of the findings against Mr. Drumgold. This led Mr. Sofronoff to contemplate whether the DPP was suitable to continue holding the office.</p> <p>The inquiry was initiated after Mr. Drumgold wrote a letter to ACT Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan in November 2022, demanding an inquiry and making "scandalous allegations" about political interference. However, the inquiry revealed that these allegations were baseless and untrue.</p> <p>The report further criticised Mr. Drumgold for not disclosing crucial material to the defence, which is a significant violation of the principle of disclosure in criminal litigation.</p> <p>Chief Justice Lucy McCallum's stern criticism of Ms. Wilkinson's Logies speech led to a four-month delay in the trial and sparked a firestorm of adverse publicity.</p> <p>The report favoured Ms. Wilkinson's account over Mr. Drumgold's, suggesting that he had knowingly lied to Chief Justice McCallum about his warning to the broadcaster.</p> <p>Mr. Sofronoff stated that while Ms. Wilkinson should have exercised caution in making the speech given the trial's proximity, Mr. Drumgold had a responsibility to the court and failed to act appropriately.</p> <p>In conclusion, the Sofronoff inquiry found significant misconduct on the part of Mr. Drumgold and raised concerns about the fairness of the trial conduct in Bruce Lehrmann's case.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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John Howard's extraordinary colonisation claims

<p>John Howard has made an extraordinary claim about Australia's history, saying the colonisation by the British was the "luckiest thing" to happen to Australia. </p> <p>The former Prime Minster was discussing the proposed Voice to Parliament in an interview with <em>The Australian</em>, when he said he believed colonisation was "inevitable". </p> <p>He said, “I’m totally ­opposed to (reparations). You have to understand that in the 17th, 18th century, colonisation of the land mass of Australia was next to inevitable."</p> <p>“I do hold the view that the luckiest thing that happened to this country was being colonised by the British,” he said. </p> <p>“Not that they were perfect by any means, but they were infinitely more successful and beneficent colonisers than other European countries.”</p> <p>His controversial claims come just days after support for the "yes" campaign has seemingly lost momentum, with the "no" campaign ahead with 52 percent in the Resolve poll for Nine newspapers. </p> <p>He went on to say he believed the referendum was destined to fail, saying the voice will “create a new cockpit of conflict about how to help Indigenous people”.</p> <p>“I don’t think the voice is going to produce anything other than regular stand-offs between what the voice is asking for and what the government of the day is willing to do with a fair dollop of constitutional adventurism thrown into the mix. That’s what I think will happen.”</p> <p>“The idea that a sovereign country makes a treaty with part of itself is just preposterous. It is constitutionally repugnant. </p> <p>“Treaties are made between sovereign states. They’re not made between the sovereign state and part of the sovereign state. The very notion of this treaty is antagonistic to national sovereignty.”</p> <p>Instead of a Voice to Parliament, Howard believes Australia should be “just talking about how to lift up Aboriginal people, and put them in the mainstream of the community, finding out ways of doing it”.</p> <p>Mr Howard said, “Shouldn’t we just be sitting down talking to each other?” </p> <p>“It’s going to be hard. It’s going to take a long time. It’s going to be less successful than we would like. But why are we doing this to ourselves?” he added.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Shane Warne’s dad takes aim at Warnie series’ false narrative

<p dir="ltr">Keith Warne, father of the late cricket legend Shane Warne, has offered his take on Channel 9’s<em> Warnie</em> miniseries.</p> <p dir="ltr">A large number of viewers took issue with the first episode, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/rougher-than-sandpaper-gate-warnie-series-a-swing-and-a-miss-with-fans">voicing their displeasure across social media for all to see</a>, and while Keith’s thoughts weren’t quite as vehement, they didn’t shine the most positive light on the series, or paint an accurate picture on <em>Warnie</em>’s behalf.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Warne patriarch shared his thoughts with entertainment reporter Peter Ford ahead of the first episode going to air, and Ford went on to discuss that take with 3AW’s Jimmy Bartel and Mark Allen. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I took a call last night from Keith just before it went to air last night,” Ford told the hosts, before going on to share that the previous week, he’d reported that “Keith and Shane’s brother Jason had gone in for a private screening” and had come out both “pleasantly surprised” and “quite happy with what they had seen.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Ford explained that that was what he’d been “told by people who were there”, but in talking to Keith the night before, he’d learned that that was “not an accurate description of their reaction to it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Keith is a very astute man, he knows it’s entertainment, he knows it’s not a documentary, but he feels that they missed out on a few key things,” he continued. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The main thing is he feels they didn’t portray the growth of Shane from the larrikin teenager to the mature adult who wanted to make a difference in the world.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ford then shared that Keith felt “there were some inaccuracies that didn’t reflect well on Shane”, in particular the cricket great’s relationship with Liz Hurley.</p> <p dir="ltr">Shane’s 10-year marriage to Simone Callahan ended in 2005 when the couple announced their divorce, and he met Liz in 2010 at a horse racing event, with the two revealing their engagement in 2011. </p> <p dir="ltr">They were together for three years, but ultimately called off their engagement - and their relationship - in 2013. </p> <p dir="ltr">And while their romance was “correct”, according to Keith via Ford, “in the show it’s presented that he did that during the time he was still married to Simone and Keith is quite adamant there was a distance between those two things happening.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s not angry, he’s just disappointed by the result.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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“Rougher than sandpaper gate”: Warnie series a swing and a miss with fans

<p dir="ltr">Since Channel 9’s <em>Warnie</em> series was first announced, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/let-him-rest-in-peace-viewers-slam-shane-warne-miniseries">Australians have been sceptical</a>, with some dubbing it “embarrassing and disgraceful” after the trailer was revealed as they called for television networks to “let him rest in peace”. </p> <p dir="ltr">And now, the first episode of the two-part miniseries has gone to air, and fans of the late cricket legend Shane Warne have wasted no time in making their thoughts clear. </p> <p dir="ltr">The episode detailed everything from Warne’s 1999 West Indies experience - when he was dropped from the team - to the start of his career, his St Kilda delisting, his rise and fall with the Australian team, the ‘Ball of the Century’, the diuretic scandal and his 2003 ban, and the John Bookmaker scandal. </p> <p dir="ltr">Warne’s personal life wasn’t off the cards, either, with the episode also dipping into his romance with then-wife Simone Callahan.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was enough ‘plot’ for hours of viewing, but while Warnie was a beloved fixture of Australian - and even international - sport, the series missed the mark, and prompted critics on social media to share their take, and warn anyone else from daring a watch.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Shane Warne would be embarrassed!!” a Twitter user announced. “And so should channel 9 and anyone involved in this”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“This is really good if you take out the actors and script and just look at the archive footage,” one allowed. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I am shocked I made it through the first 45 minutes [of] quite possibly the worst tv show produced by @Channel9,” another said, before going on to note that it had been some of the “worst casting, acting and make up of any show ever”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Another was annoyed that while the <em>Warnie </em>series had hit 9’s main channel, the Women’s Ashes had been pushed aside, a move raising eyebrows from the online cricket community. </p> <p dir="ltr">“​​Just a reminder, the women’s #Ashes Test which is set to go down to the wire is on one of Nine’s secondary channels while #Warnie gets the main channel treatment,” wrote CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy, who also mentioned that the same would never have happened to the Men’s Ashes series. </p> <p dir="ltr">“#Warnie was predictably terrible, and not just because it was hopelessly cheesy. You need distance in the rear view mirror before a thing like this can work. We all know the stories, the moments, the guy's character. 20 years on, it would've been a fantastic trip down memory lane,” author Anthony Sharwood lamented. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve had enough. This is an absolute disgrace and is tarnishing a legend of the game. It should have never seen the light of day. Shame on you @Channel9,” one other user said. </p> <p dir="ltr">One watcher, however, was at least willing to give the second episode a chance, sharing that “This #warnie series on 9 is already highly cringeworthy, poorly directed, and rougher than sandpaper gate. Warnie and Packer sitting somewhere highly bemused. I'll keep watching, see if it improves”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Screentime, Channel 9</em></p>

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Warnie stars hospitalised after romantic romp goes painfully wrong

<p dir="ltr">The stars of Channel Nine’s <em>Warnie</em> miniseries have quite the emergency room story to share after filming a sex scene for the show hit them for six. </p> <p dir="ltr">Alex Williams and Marny Kennedy - the pair embodying the late Shane Warne and his ex-wife Simone Callahan on screen - were filming in Melbourne late in 2022 when the incident occurred. </p> <p dir="ltr">And while they can see the funny side of it all now, at the time it was a far more embarrassing - and injury-stricken - affair. </p> <p dir="ltr">As Kennedy told <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>, the two had been filming “a little makeout scene” - set back when Shane and Simone were in their younger years - when things took a turn. </p> <p dir="ltr">She detailed how they had been going down a corridor, and “were meant to push into the bedroom and land on the bed”. But, unfortunately for the pair, they didn’t heed the Warne-ing, and instead they “both completely missed the bed. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Alex cracked the back of his head open and I broke my right wrist.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Kennedy shared that they “ended up sitting in the emergency room together”, and that his head was wrapped in a bandage, while her wrist was strapped. </p> <p dir="ltr">To add to their situation, Kennedy said, “it was not like a normal hospital either, it was more of a place for the elderly, so it was just Alex and I with our bleached hair, fully still in wardrobe, sitting there surrounded by elderly residents.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite their injuries, and any lingering embarrassment, the co-stars - who had also been friends for a decade at that point - returned to set the very next day to get on with the job. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kennedy didn’t reveal whether or not anyone had taken the opportunity to adorn her cast with a Golden Duck, but that there had been some banter on set in the wake of their accident, with the actress revealing that “we took a photo of ourselves in the emergency room and then printed it onto mugs and that was our wrap [end of filming] gift to a lot of the crew."</p> <p dir="ltr">It is believed that the two-part series will go to air later in June, regardless of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/let-him-rest-in-peace-viewers-slam-shane-warne-miniseries">the public outcry when the trailer first dropped during the 2023 State of Origin series</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Screentime</em></p>

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“Let him rest in peace”: Viewers slam Shane Warne miniseries

<p dir="ltr">Viewers have slammed Channel Nine’s upcoming miniseries on Shane Warne, calling the “major drama” two-part event “embarrassing and disgraceful”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The first promo ads for the miniseries aired during the first State of Origin game on Wednesday night, with the trailer showing actor Alex William depicting the late Australian cricketer.</p> <p dir="ltr">The trailer was not well received by fans, with many saying it is “too soon” to be making a series about his life and death.</p> <p dir="ltr">Warmie died in March 2022 of a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Thailand. </p> <p dir="ltr">Just six months after his passing, the Nine Network confirmed the miniseries was in production, however, they did not disclose at the time that production began just three weeks after his death. </p> <p dir="ltr">The series, called <em>Warnie</em>, is set to air over two nights later this year. </p> <p dir="ltr">After the first trailer aired, many fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment over the show. </p> <p dir="ltr">One disgruntled viewer wrote, “Are Channel Nine taking the piss with the Warnie mini series. That promo was s***house, embarrassing and disgraceful. Let him rest in peace.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another wrote, “Does anyone else think it’s too soon for a Warnie show on? He hasn’t even been gone for 15 months, and already the show seems filmed and ready to release.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“How quickly after his passing did someone go ‘yep it’s time to make a show on his life?’”</p> <p dir="ltr">A third person put it simply: “On the YeahNah scale the Warnie TV drama series look like a massive nah.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The miniseries was filmed in the late cricketer's hometown of Melbourne, and tells a dramatised version of Warnie's remarkable sporting career and rise to fame.</p> <p dir="ltr">Shane's eldest daughter Brooke, 24, previously called Nine's announcement of a telemovie based on her father “<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/shane-warne-s-daughter-blasts-channel-nine-for-disrespect">beyond disrespectful</a>”, as he spent 23 years as a commentator for the network's cricket coverage.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Do any of you have any respect for dad? Or his family?” she wrote on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He did so much for Channel Nine and now you want to dramatise his life and our family's life six months after he passed away? You are beyond disrespectful.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Nine</em></p>

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Shane Warne’s daughter shares never-before-seen photos

<p dir="ltr">Brooke Warne has shared a series of never-before-seen family photos to mark her brother, Jackson's, birthday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The eldest daughter of the cricket legend took to Instagram to share the adorable photos, which included various precious moments from their childhood.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Happy Birthday to my baby brother Jackson!!! love you,” she wrote in the caption.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you for being the strongest human in the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">"You are the best brother and continue to make Dad so proud. Love you so much, Happy Birthday Jacko,” she added with a series of white heart emojis.</p> <p dir="ltr">In one photo, Shane was beaming as he held baby Jackson in his arms and Brooke, who was still a toddler in the photo, was laughing as she sat next to her father.</p> <p dir="ltr">In another photo, Shane had both of his kids on his lap as they pulled silly faces for the camera.</p> <p dir="ltr">Brooke also shared a throwback photo of the trio having dinner together, Shane’s smile still as bright as he posed in between his two kids.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jackson replied to the post in the comments and said: “Thank you Brooke!! Lots of love ❤️”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many fans have also shared their birthday wishes in the comments.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy Birthday @jacksonwarne18 Thinking of you while your dad’s hand remains on your shoulder always, much love brother 🙏🏻” wrote one user.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy birthday to your amazing brother Jackson. Give him a big hug from me 🎂” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Beautiful Family ❤️🎈” commented a third.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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“Can we show some respect?”: Outrage over Shane Warne’s state funeral cost

<p>A report detailing the cost of cricket legend Shane Warne’s state funeral has sparked outrage online, with one sports commentator labelling the move as “poor taste”. </p> <p>In the report, published by <em>The Age</em>, it came to light that the Victorian government had spent $2.8 million on state funerals in 2022, with $1.6 million from taxpayers going to Shane Warne’s public memorial.</p> <p>The event - which Eddie McGuire’s production company JAM TV received $1 million to produce - saw more than 50,000 people flock to the MCG to witness two hours of panel talks, speeches from those closest to Shane, and performances from fellow international superstars. </p> <p><em>The Age </em>went on to outline the disparities between Shane’s funeral price tag and that of others in the same year, and that’s where the late cricketer’s supporters drew the line, declaring that it had been worth each and every cent to celebrate his life and career in that way. </p> <p>“What's the point of this story, really? What does it achieve? Poor taste IMO,” journalist and AFL commentator tweeted in the wake of the news breaking. </p> <p>“Agree,” said fellow journalist Jim Wilson, “I was there and more than happy for my taxpayers money going towards this, can we show some respect[?]”</p> <p>Support continued to roll in from there, with one fan stating that the event “lit up the MCG for a night, [and] gave all Australians a chance to say goodbye to an Aussie legend.” </p> <p>“And how much did Warne’s presence in the Australian cricket team bring into the state’s coffers over the years[?]” another asked. “There are certain non-negotiables in Australian life &amp; one of them is that beloved Australian legends who touch so many peoples’ lives are honoured with state funerals.”</p> <p>“Seems very fair considering what this legend gave to our sport and our country,” someone else pointed out. </p> <p>The argument that Shane had brought in far more than $1.6 million to the Australian economy was rampant throughout every comment section relating to the report, with many believing the guest list to be proof alone of the sporting superstar’s international draw. </p> <p>The likes of Elton John, Robbie Williams, Ed Sheeran, and Chris Martin offered their talents in honour of the late Shane’s life. While fellow cricket greats - including but not limited to Allan Border, Michael Clarke, Brian Lara, and Mark Taylor - attended to share in Australia’s night of grief and celebration. </p> <p>"It didn't need to have these things done,” Eddie McGuire explained of the cost and decision to hold the event at the MCG - where a stand was being named in Shane’s honour. “But we did because it went around the world … we put our heart and soul into this because we loved Shane and we love this city."</p> <p>“In a lot of ways, we saw this as being Victoria's funeral," he also said to <em>3AW</em>. "I had to bury my mother with 10 people in the room at the funeral and I got great succour out of the fact that we all came together for a collective funeral in the name of our great mate Shane Warne."</p> <p>And last but certainly not least, as a spokesperson for the Victorian Government explained, “state memorials and funerals honour individuals’ outstanding service to Victoria – they afford Victorians an opportunity to mourn, celebrate, and to recognise extraordinary contributions to our great state.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Details of Warnie's will revealed

<p>The sizeable fortune of the late cricket legend Shane Warne has been revealed in his will. </p> <p>Warnie amassed a sizeable fortune before his untimely death in March 2022, with his estate being worth $20 million (AUD). </p> <p>As detailed in his will, the vast assets will be left to his three children, Summer, Jason and Brooke, according to reports by the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/shane-warne-leaves-bulk-of-20-7-million-estate-to-his-children-20230207-p5cihc.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sydney Morning Herald</em></a>. </p> <p>The assets will be divided equally between the children, with each of them receiving 31 percent of the late cricketer's estate. </p> <p>The details of his will came from probate records that have just been released in Victoria, which includes his $6.5 million property on the Mornington Peninsula.</p> <p>Warne also left 2 percent of his estate to his brother, Jason Warne, and 2.5 percent each to niece Tyla Warne and nephew Sebastian Warne.</p> <p>The will, which was dated December 3rd 2021, does not leave anything to his ex-wife and mother of his children Simone Callahan.</p> <p>At the time of his death, Warnie has a $1.2 million deposit a property in The Esplanade in St Kilda, $5 million in a Commonwealth Bank account and $1.3 million in personal loans, as well as over $2 million in shares.</p> <p>In the will, Warne left his large car collection to son Jackson, which includes a $350,000 Mercedes-Benz.</p> <p>Fans and friends around the world were shocked at the news in early March 2022 that Warne had collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand.</p> <p>Warnie was farewelled in a star-studded memorial service at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 30th 2022, where his three children unveiled Shane Warne Stand in his honour. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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