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Sunrise rocked by allegation of "fraud"

<p><em>Sunrise</em> and the Seven Network have been rocked by an investigation by their biggest competitor, who exposed both allegations of "fraud", as well as threatening emails to a young journalist at Nine who was chasing the story. </p> <p>The scandal began when a reporter for the <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-seven-expenses-affair-rocks-sunrise-top-network-executives-20240408-p5fi6w.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a></em> was alerted to an investigation being conducted by an independent law firm into the Sunrise program. </p> <p>According to reports by Nine, the law firm began an investigation, which was also conducted by a financial and corporate auditor, into reports that Sunrise staff members had grossly misused travel benefits. </p> <p>The allegations claimed that a small number of Sunrise staffers, as well as some of their friends and family, had taken flights and stayed in hotels on trips not related to their work duties, using benefits provided to the network by Qantas as part of a multimillion-dollar advertising and sponsorship deal.</p> <p>When business reporter for the<em> Australian Financial Review</em> Zoe Samios, a publication owned by Nine, reached out to Seven’s long-time commercial director Bruce McWilliam to chase the story, she was allegedly met with threatening emails saying her probes into the allegations had caused Seven’s star executive producer Michael Pell to self-harm.</p> <p>“This is what your unfounded reports have caused Michael to do,” Mr McWilliam wrote to Ms Samios in October last year.</p> <p>Attached to the email was a graphic image of him, bloodied and in a hospital gown, with a noticeable head wound.</p> <p>“Why don’t you keep it up so he kills himself. You are a complete disgrace. That law firm you name didn’t conduct any investigation. If you publish untrue allegations … and he tops himself. It’s on you. We are determined to protect him,” the email read.</p> <p>Speaking exclusively to <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/sunrise-rocked-by-fraud-investigations-that-top-tv-exec-tried-to-keep-secret/news-story/4b755d82167f825140c63b6e07107745" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em> on Thursday as the investigations were made public for the first time, Mr McWilliam defended the email and said he was defending a colleague and “friend” against “false allegations”.</p> <p>However, several months before the email, Mr Pell had stepped down as the boss of Sunrise and was appointed Seven's Senior Vice President of Entertainment Content in North America, and he moved to Los Angeles shortly after.</p> <p>On Thursday, Mr McWilliam told <em>news.com.au</em> that he became incensed when Mr Pell’s name was linked to the investigation, prompting his fiery email to Samios.</p> <p>“The accusations against Michael were exaggerated,” he told <em>news.com.au</em>.</p> <p>“I make no excuse for having acted to protect a colleague, against whom false allegations were being made. Michael Pell has been a friend of mine for many years.”</p> <p>The newspaper subsequently agreed to kill the story over concerns for Mr Pell’s mental health and wellbeing.</p> <p>While the findings of the alleged expenses investigation were delivered to Seven and described as "serious", a source close to the investigation insists that while the accusations are significant, they do not constitute "fraud" in the legal sense. </p> <p>Despite that, it’s understood that a small number of staff left the network following the findings being delivered to Seven, with the staffers signing nondisclosure agreements upon their departure.</p> <p>The scandal's reemergence comes 18 moths after the initial allegations, as Seven finds itself in another controversy over its flagship current affairs program <em>Spotlight</em> and its handling of an exclusive interview with Bruce Lehrmann.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

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Billy Slater rocked by family tragedy

<p>Billy Slater has suffered a heartbreaking family tragedy, after his brother-in-law drowned while trying to save his nine-year-old daughter when she fell from their boat near Mackay, Queensland over the weekend. </p> <p>Ryan Craig - who was married to Slater's older sister Sheena - reportedly managed to keep his daughter afloat until a passing jet ski was able to pick her up. </p> <p>The father-of-four's body was found on Monday morning, with Slater and his family left devastated following the incident. </p> <p>Slater's former teammate, Cameron Smith, has opened up about the devastating phone call he had with the footy legend. </p> <p>"I found out Monday morning about this absolute tragedy. It happened Saturday afternoon up in the Mackay area where Billy's sister Sheena and her family live," <em>Smith told SEN's The Captain's Run with Cameron Smith and Denan Kemp.</em></p> <p>"They were just out on the water. They live very close to the dam where Ryan tragically passed away. And it's their regular place where they just go for family outings.</p> <p>"I rang Billy and spoke with him and he just said, 'Look, it's an absolutely tragic (set of) circumstances, given the situation'.</p> <p>"It's somewhere they spend a lot of time with the kids growing up. They've got four kids. They've got four little girls," he added. </p> <p>Smith then claimed that after Craig's daughter fell in the water, "a bit of weather blew up and and it blew the boat away from where they'd fallen," adding that the boat couldn't be started</p> <p>"It was a heroic effort, really, from Ryan to stay afloat as long as he did to save his daughter.</p> <p>"He eventually ran out of energy. Some jet skiers came along a little bit later and I don't know how - it's just a miracle - that the little girl was still afloat.</p> <p>"Ryan went under and subsequently passed away. Really tragic events and we send our condolences out to Sheena, who is Billy's sister and the wife of Ryan. Those four little girls that have lost their dad."</p> <p>Queensland Police have not yet released the full circumstances of what occurred, but Inspector Glenn Cameron said preliminary investigations have revealed "the actions of the man who is now deceased saved his young daughter’s life." </p> <p>Inspector Cameron reportedly said that Craig's daughter was taken to Mackay Base Hospital as a precaution, and whether they were wearing life jackets will be part of the investigation. </p> <p>A report will also be prepared for the coroner. </p> <p>"Our thoughts are with the family who've lost a loved one in these tragic circumstances," Cameron said.</p> <p>"We never want to see something like this happen."</p> <p><em>Images: Seven/ Facebook</em></p>

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Kiss’s debut album at 50: how the rock legends went from ‘clowns’ to becoming immortalised

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/charlotte-markowitsch-1507417">Charlotte Markowitsch</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p>It has been 50 years since Rock &amp; Roll <a href="https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/kiss">Hall of Famers</a> Kiss launched their thunderock-doused debut album into the pop culture stratosphere. The eponymous album, released on February 18 1974, became a platform-stacked foot in the music industry’s door.</p> <p>What followed established Kiss as one of the most memorable hard-rock bands of the 1970s and ’80s, with a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1386/ejac.37.1.19_1">globally recognised legacy</a>.</p> <p><iframe style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/0NjpmoajQlllfKH9FaNliD?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" loading="lazy"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <h2>The early days</h2> <p>In 1972, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons shelved their first ever rock outfit following a short stint in a band called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Lester">Wicked Lester</a>. The pair then <a href="https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/kiss-self-titled-debut-album/">hatched a plan</a> to form a far more aggressive and successful rock band. Drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley were recruited, and the new-generation Fab Four renamed themselves Kiss.</p> <p>By late <a href="https://www.kissonline.com/history">November of 1973</a>, the band had developed their bombastic live performance style, perfected their makeup and signed a deal with <a href="https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-first-record-contract/">Casablanca Records</a>. Yet they dealt with some rocky beginnings.</p> <p>Armed with reworked songs from Wicked Lester, Kiss entered New York’s Bell Sound Studios to record their debut. A mere three weeks later the album was complete – but the band quickly realised the studio recordings didn’t capture the essence of their high-energy live shows.</p> <p>As vocalist Paul Stanley <a href="https://loudwire.com/kiss-self-titled-album-anniversary/">told Loudwire</a>: "What was put down on tape was such a timid fraction of what we were in concert. I didn’t understand it because bands who were our contemporaries had much better-sounding albums."</p> <p>They took another blow while shooting the album cover with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/31/obituaries/31brodsky.html">Joel Brodsky</a> when, after a mishap with Criss’s makeup, the band were allegedly handed balloons by the photographer since he thought they were clowns.</p> <p>Then, soon before the album was released, Warner Brothers pulled its financial backing and <a href="https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-casablanca-records-story">distribution deal from Casablanca Records</a> after witnessing Kiss play a New Year’s eve show. Although it’s said the band’s makeup was the last straw for the label, the show in question also featured Simmons <a href="https://www.loudersound.com/features/kiss-early-years-history">setting his hair alight</a> shortly after throwing a fireball at a fan’s face.</p> <p>Despite the blunders, the release of the first album set Kiss on a path to becoming immortalised. As Stanley says in his book <a href="https://www.paulstanley.com/face-the-music/">Face The Music</a>: "For all the minuses I felt about the sound or the cover, we now had a finished album which was the prerequisite for all the other things we wanted to do. We were in the game now."</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D0lit2sT6lY?wmode=transparent&amp;start=28" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>The Kiss sound</h2> <p>I first heard Kiss as a teenager. I’d just thrift-scored a pair of ’80s-era roller-skates with the band’s logo scrawled on the heels in glitter glue. The salesperson, responsible for the glitter glue, enthusiastically recounted seeing Kiss play VFL Park (now <a href="https://footy.fandom.com/wiki/Waverley_Park">Waverley Park</a> stadium) in 1980 and made me promise I’d listen to them.</p> <p>Overwhelmed by the band’s expansive discography, and the possibility that their name stood for <a href="https://www.loudersound.com/news/kiss-squash-long-standing-rumour-that-their-band-name-is-a-satanic-acronym-were-smart-but-were-not-that-smart">Knights In Satan’s Service</a>, I thought it best to begin from the start.</p> <p>With their reputation of on-stage pyrotechnics and gore, I’d expected something more akin to Black Sabbath’s Paranoid than the jangly riffs of Let Me Know or Love Theme From Kiss. A 1978 review by <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/kiss-194584/">Gordon Fletcher</a> for the Rolling Stone also noted this rift. Despite calling the album exceptional, Fletcher described its sound as a cross between Deep Purple and the Doobie Brothers.</p> <p>Stanley and Simmons have <a href="https://www.guitarworld.com/features/kiss-paul-stanley-gene-simmons-classic-tracks">spoken freely</a> about borrowing heavily from a number of mid-century legends, so it’s no surprise that sonically the album was nothing new. The Rolling Stones’ influence can be heard in the songs Deuce and Strutter, while Led Zeppelin and Neil Young are present in Black Diamond.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PEa4MrrG1xw?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>The album initially hadn’t risen higher than #87 on <a href="https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-kiss-debut-album/">Billboard’s album charts</a>. A studio cover of <a href="https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-nothin-to-lose/?trackback=twitter_mobile">Bobby Rydell’s Kissin’ Time</a> was released next as the lead single, but the track only bumped them up to #83. This <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2262575">commercial unviability</a> loomed over Kiss until the release of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alive!_(Kiss_album)">Alive!</a> in 1975.</p> <h2>Success and beyond</h2> <p>As the band’s first live album, Alive! bridged the gap between the audacious intensity of Kiss’s performances and the timidness of their studio recordings. Their early tracks were repurposed to let listeners remotely experience the infamous Kiss live spectacle.</p> <p>As <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFMD7Usflbg&amp;ab_channel=KissVEVO">Rock and Roll All Nite</a> claimed #12 on the <a href="https://loudwire.com/kiss-alive-album-anniversary/">Billboard charts</a>, the platform-stacked foot burst through the door to mainstream success.</p> <p>Fifty years after Kiss first stepped into Bell Sound Studios, the band played their final sold-out show at Madison Square Garden on December 2 2023. The performance served as a crowning jewel on their End of the Road world tour, a four-year effort with more than 250 live shows.</p> <p>Promised to be their <a href="https://www.triplem.com.au/story/kiss-add-more-dates-to-their-end-of-the-road-australian-tour-172305">biggest and best shows ever</a>, the farewell became a colossal celebration of the band’s legacy. Theatrical pyrotechnics, fake blood and Stanley’s classic opening line – “you wanted the best, you got the best” – were featured at each performance.</p> <p>While both Kiss’s anthemic numbers and earlier catalogue were performed in these final shows, the music came second to the celebration of the Kiss live spectacle.</p> <p>From their carefully designed makeup, to bombastic theatrics and hoards of merchandise, it was Kiss’s <a href="https://doi.org/10.1386/ejac.37.1.19_1">brand building</a> that <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-au/Brands+That+Rock%3A+What+Business+Leaders+Can+Learn+from+the+World+of+Rock+and+Roll-p-9780471455172">set them apart</a> and embedded them in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2009.09.006">heritage bracket</a> of popular culture.</p> <p>Despite the end of their live shows, Kiss endeavours to stay embedded in public memory. Referring to some of the band’s 2,500 licensed products, Simmons recently spoke on <a href="http://www.tommagazine.com.au/2022/08/19/kiss/">what’s next for Kiss</a>: "Kiss the entity will continue; what’s happening now is a metamorphosis. The caterpillar is dying, but the butterfly will be born."</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yl5PGoy5X6g?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>With a <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/kiss-biopic-early-years-netflix-2024-1235291572/">Netflix biopic</a> and holographic <a href="https://www.stereogum.com/2246254/kiss-hologram-era-begins-in-2027/news/">avatars on the way</a>, Stanley and Simmons – the band’s two remaining members – <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/gene-simmons-says-kiss-farewell-tour-is-end-of-the-road-for-the-band-not-the-brand-3541117">have declared Kiss immortal</a>.</p> <p>Stanley even suggests the Kiss look has become so iconic it’s now bigger than any band member. This means the torch could be passed on to new-generation Kiss members.</p> <p>Kiss has (quite literally) breathed fire into live rock performance. Now, they’re breathing fire into our expectations of what rock royalty retirement looks like. I have to ask, who – or what – will wear the makeup next? <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222284/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/charlotte-markowitsch-1507417">C<em>harlotte Markowitsch</em></a><em>, PhD candidate in popular music studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/kisss-debut-album-at-50-how-the-rock-legends-went-from-clowns-to-becoming-immortalised-222284">original article</a>.</em></p>

Music

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"Anzac Day is not for sale": Veterans slam Anzac Day rock festival

<p>Military veteran organisations in New South Wales have expressed their fury after a controversial rock concert booked at the Domain on Anzac Day was approved. </p> <p>The Pandemonium 2024 rock music festival which includes performers like Placebo, Alice Cooper and Blondie is scheduled around around 11.30am on the 25th of April, just 900 metres from where the traditional march by veterans will be. </p> <p>The veteran groups are concerned that the first performances will clash with the memorial march that is set to end at 12:30pm. </p> <p>RSL NSW president Mick Bainbridge has called out the event organisers for the inappropriate timing of the festival. </p> <p>"We all love to have fun and live music is fantastic for Sydney, but Anzac Day is not the day for a music festival," he said.</p> <p>"Anzac Day is a day to think of the sacrifices made by the approximately 120,000 people from NSW who served overseas during World War I, as well as all who have served since.</p> <p>"It is a day for respect and quiet contemplation." </p> <p>Despite reports claiming that the organisers of Pandemonium 2024 have offered to direct a portion of ticket sales to veteran charities, the veteran groups have declared that Anzac Day is "not for sale".</p> <p>"Anzac Day is not for sale," Bainbridge said</p> <p>Although the RSL NSW president said that he understood the value of music for younger people, it shouldn't compromise the day of honour and respect. </p> <p>"If the organiser sincerely wants to support veterans' wellbeing, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how they can donate to organisations, including RSL NSW and RSL LifeCare Veteran Services to do so – without compromising a day of honour and respect."</p> <p>"I love live music and the community it builds. But it has to be at the right time," he added. </p> <p>"We've seen through the Royal Commission's hearings how important it is to protect and honour our community of veterans, and build opportunities to support each other, not tear them down."</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News/ Getty</em></p>

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King Charles rocked by death in the family

<p>King Charles is in mourning after it was confirmed that one of his close relatives has passed away. </p> <p>According to a death notice in the Dundee Courier, the monarch's first cousin once removed, Albemarle Bowes-Lyon, died on October 30th at the age of 83. </p> <p>As well as being the King's cousin, Albemarle was also a nephew of the late Queen Mother, who died in 2002.</p> <p>Albemarle was the brother of Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Strathmore and Mary and Patricia.</p> <p>The publication went on to confirm that a "private funeral" for Albemarle would be held at a later date, which will be a "celebration" of his life.</p> <p>Albemarle was a close relative of several members of the royal family, and was invited to both the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth, and her funeral. </p> <p>However, he did not receive an invitation to King Charles' coronation in May this year. </p> <p>The news of Albemarle's death came as King Charles and Queen Camilla were en route to Kenya for a royal tour. </p> <p>The trip to east Africa is the first time the monarch has traveled to a Commonwealth country since becoming King.</p> <p>During a speech on his first day of a four-day visit, King Charles expressed “greatest sorrow and the deepest regret” for the “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” committed against Kenyans as they sought independence.</p> <p>However, he didn't explicitly apologise for Britain's actions in its former colony, as many Kenyans wanted.</p> <p>Charles at the state banquet hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto said there “can be no excuse” for the “wrongdoings of the past," as he said that addressing them with honesty and openness could “continue to build an ever closer bond in the years ahead.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Cause of death revealed for "Yacht Rock" legend Jimmy Buffett

<p>Iconic American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, renowned for his timeless 1977 hit "Margaritaville," has passed away at the age of 76.</p> <p>In a heartfelt statement posted on his official website, Buffett's family shared the news of his peaceful passing on the night of September 1st, surrounded by his loved ones, music and faithful canine companions.</p> <p>The statement poignantly expressed, "He lived his life like a song until the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many."</p> <p>Recent reports have disclosed that the Yacht Rock icon lost his battle with skin cancer. The announcement of his demise came via his website, while sources close to the artist confirmed the cause of death to TMZ.</p> <p>Tragically, what initially began as a diagnosis of skin cancer ultimately developed into lymphoma. A source divulged, "He lived his life in the sun, literally and figuratively."</p> <p>Buffett entered hospice care the previous Monday, and in his final weeks, he was fortunate to receive a visit from none other than Paul McCartney. Despite his illness, he continued to tour for many years, but concerns about his health arose when he had to postpone concerts in May following a hospitalisation.</p> <p>Jimmy Buffett, epitomising the laid-back "beach bum" culture, held a special place in the hearts of his fans. His journey to stardom began rather humbly, as he was relatively unknown until he penned the iconic hit "Margaritaville" in 1977, which became an anthem for those seeking a carefree, low-key life. This song played a pivotal role in the yacht rock movement, becoming a symbol of a particular state of mind.</p> <p>Buffett once shared, "There was no such place as Margaritaville. It was a made-up place in my mind, basically made up about my experiences in Key West and having to leave Key West and go on the road to work and then come back and spend time by the beach."</p> <p>Expanding the Margaritaville brand worldwide, Buffett ventured into restaurants, authored books, and even ventured into the world of cruise lines. His diverse investments ultimately made him one of the wealthiest musicians globally, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion.</p> <p>Buffett embarked on his music career as a country artist in 1970 with the release of "Down To Earth." Initially, he earned his living as a busker, and while the album didn't make a significant impact, a fateful busking tour with fellow country artist Jerry Jeff Walker in Key West birthed his easygoing "beach bum" persona. Buffett skilfully fused elements of country, rock, calypso, and pop to craft his signature tropical sound.</p> <p>Buffett's artistic output was prolific, with 29 studio albums released up until 2020. However, it was his diverse business ventures that proved to be most lucrative. In 1993, he launched his own record label, followed by his beer company in 2006, the Margaritaville Casino in 2013, the Margaritaville online game in 2012, and the Margaritaville retirement village in 2021. In 2018, Buffett even introduced the Coral Reefer marijuana brand.</p> <p>A legendary musician and astute businessman, Buffett serves as an enduring testament that a career in music can follow a multitude of paths. His signature tune, "Margaritaville," was rightfully inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016, immortalising its cultural and historical significance as the quintessential sound of Key West, Florida and countless unforgettable karaoke nights.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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"Insultingly stupid": Rock legend slams tributes to Sinead O'Connor

<p>Morrissey has taken aim at some "disingenuous" people who have paid tribute to Sinead O'Connor in the hours after her death. </p> <p>The Irish singer was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/sin-ad-o-connor-passes-away-at-just-56" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tragically passed away</a> at the age of 56 on Thursday, after a statement from her family confirmed the devastating news. </p> <p>"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time," the singer's family said in a statement, prompting a wave of homages online from her fans.</p> <p>However, the former frontman of The Smiths has shared a furious note on his website, criticising some of the tributes which he described as "sterile slop". </p> <p>He wrote that he believes people are only praising her work and activism now that she has passed, and the gushing tributes have largely come from people who criticised her career while she was alive. </p> <p>He wrote, “She was dropped by her label after selling 7 million albums for them.”</p> <p>“She had proud vulnerability … and there is a certain music industry hatred for singers who don’t ‘fit in’ (this I know only too well), and they are never praised until death – when, finally, they can’t answer back. The cruel playpen of fame gushes with praise for Sinead today … with the usual moronic labels of 'icon' and 'legend'." </p> <p>“You praise her now ONLY because it is too late. You hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you.”</p> <p>He also blasted others in the wider industry for not giving O’Connor props while she was alive. </p> <p>“The press will label artists as pests because of what they withhold … and they would call Sinead sad, fat, shocking, insane … oh but not today! Music CEOs who had put on their most charming smile as they refused her for their roster are queuing-up to call her a ‘feminist icon’, and 15 minute celebrities and goblins from hell and record labels of artificially aroused diversity are squeezing onto Twitter to twitter their jibber-jabber … when it was YOU who talked Sinead into giving up … because she refused to be labelled, and she was degraded, as those few who move the world are always degraded.”</p> <p>He went on to compare O’Connor to other entertainers who died at a young age, such as Judy Garland, Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse, asking “why is ANYBODY surprised” that they died. </p> <p>“Where do you go when death can be the best outcome?” he asked.</p> <p>He finished with an instruction to those who had offered the “insultingly stupid” and "disingenuous" tributes that O’Connor was an “icon” and a “legend”, saying “Sinead doesn’t need your sterile slop.”</p> <p>Morrissey's rant was met with a mixed response from fans, while other celebrities shared their support of his sentiment. </p> <p>Boy George tweeted his agreeance, shared a photo of himself with Sinead and writing, “Morrissey is both wrong and right. Most people had zero influence over Sinead. She was her own person with her own issues. At time like this you can only offer prayers because we are out of solutions. My mum and I had great chats about Sinead. We all wanted her fixed.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Diehard fans react as iconic superband quits after 52 years of rocking

<p>The Eagles are hitting the road for the final time after 52 years as a band. </p> <p>On Thursday, the iconic US rock band announced The Long Goodbye tour that is set to kick off on September 7th in New York City.</p> <p>In a statement shared with CNN, the <em>Hotel California</em> hitmakers said, "The Eagles have had a miraculous 52-year odyssey, performing for people all over the globe; keeping the music alive in the face of tragic losses, upheavals and setbacks of many kinds."</p> <p>"We know how fortunate we are, and we are truly grateful. Our long run has lasted far longer than any of us ever dreamed. But, everything has its time, and the time has come for us to close the circle."</p> <p>The band concluded their statement by thanking those who have supported their music, saying, "At the end of the day, you are the reason we have been able to carry on for over five decades. This is our swan song, but the music goes on and on.”</p> <p>According to the statement, The Eagles members Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, alongside Vince Gill and Deacon Frey "will perform as many shows in each market as their audience demands."</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/p/CuWrpW3ObCZ/?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/CuWrpW3ObCZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Eagles (@eagles)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Deacon Frey is the son of the late Glenn Frey, who was a founding member and frontman of the band when they began in 1971 before he died in 2015 after a range of health complications. </p> <p>Many were devastated to hear of the band's final tour, with long-time fan of The Eagles Kathryn Packham saying, "I have always loved their music. Great songs with relatable lyrics, fantastic harmonies, and of course the unbelievable guitar riffs from Joe Walsh &amp; exceptional drumming from Don Henley. Their music is timeless."</p> <p>Despite her love for the band, it seems Glenn Frey's legacy lives on as Packham said she would "not go and see them if they were performing for free on the driveway without Glenn."</p> <p>The farewell tour is expected to continue into 2025, with no Oceania dates yet announced. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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“I want to move on”: Rod Stewart announces the end of an era

<p dir="ltr">After more than six decades establishing himself as a legend in the wide world of rock’n’roll, Rod Stewart has announced that he’ll be taking things in a whole new direction. </p> <p dir="ltr">The British music star was chatting to host of <em>BBC Breakfast</em>, Charlie Stayt, when he made the revelation in response to a comment about how “rock stars are performing into incredible ages now.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“I am actually stopping,” Stewart declared, before going on to share that “I’m not retiring, but I want to move on.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He noted that he’d enjoyed “great success” with his album, <em>It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook</em>, and that he’d “just done a swing album with Jools Holland” that is set to release in 2024. </p> <p dir="ltr">“So,” he said, “I want to go in that direction.” </p> <p dir="ltr">The 78 year old had more to say on the matter, offering more in the way of an explanation to fans who may still be struggling to come to terms with his decision when he said, “I just want to leave all the rock’n’roll stuff behind. For a while, maybe.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Everything has to come to an end sooner or later.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Stewart, who was joined by Boy George for the interview ahead of their tour together, also shed some light into his immediate plans after his 2023 tour, telling Stayt that he was “really looking forward to doing something else, especially singing with Jools’ band.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It borders on rock‘n’roll anyway,” he noted, “it’s just not ‘Maggie May’ and ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?’”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">'Everything has to come to an end sooner or later'</p> <p>Singer Rod Stewart has told <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBCBreakfast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBCBreakfast</a> he's giving up rock and roll as he prepares to go on tour with Boy George<a href="https://t.co/Y29oI6E5Pk">https://t.co/Y29oI6E5Pk</a> <a href="https://t.co/odrQmQkOlT">pic.twitter.com/odrQmQkOlT</a></p> <p>— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1667049131867529217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">And while some fans of the singer weren’t immediately onboard with the change of tune, others were supportive, taking to social media to share their well wishes ahead of Stewart’s new venture. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Good for him - I loved the <em>American Songbook</em> album,” a fan wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Something to look forward to- Love them both,” another shared. </p> <p dir="ltr">One user took the opportunity to reflect on Stewart’s career so far, writing, “he put on AMAZING shows!  Saw him first in 1975, and three others before 2010.  He really could blow!!!”</p> <p dir="ltr">And another followed suit, telling the others that “I would HAPPILY hit a Rod Stewart convert just to hear him play his <em>Great American Songbook </em>tracks. Just loved it when he did those tunes. I like all of it! Look forward to the swing album, too! Music!”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: BBC Breakfast / Twitter</em></p>

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Mysterious liquid turns popular rock pool green

<p>A mysterious liquid has turned a popular public rock pool at Cronulla beach fluorescent green.</p> <p>The liquid, believed to be a natural fluorescent dye, fluorescein, was seen pouring into the usually clear waters of the pool on Friday.</p> <p>The dye is often used to help experts track the flow of water to identify any leaks and has low toxicity, which means it is harmless despite the daunting colour.</p> <p>“We believe the discolouration is likely to be fluorescein dye, which is commonly used in plumbing/drain testing and dissipates quickly once diluted,” a spokesperson for the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority said.</p> <p>According to Australian dye manufacturer, Tintex, the dye is also used to “locate leaks in plumbing, tracing pipe locations, detect drain damage and water pathways,” and is odourless and non-toxic to the environment.</p> <p>However, in a safety data sheet, Tintex has also warned about the potential health effects which include eye irritation, skin irritation, irritation of the digestive tract and respiratory tract irritation.</p> <p>Many locals are cautious despite the claim that the dye is mostly harmless.</p> <p>One user wrote on a Facebook page for Cronulla locals that dye was “legal to use in a stormwater drain”.</p> <p>“Doesn’t look good whatever it is,” another responded, while other cautious residents replied that they wouldn’t swim in the area until the dye fully dissipates.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

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Tributes flow for Tina Turner

<p>Tributes from fans and celebs alike are flowing in for rock legend Tina Turner, who has died aged 83.</p> <p>Turner passed away at her home in the town of Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, following years of suffering health issues including cancer, a stroke and kidney failure.</p> <p>Amongst the star-studded tributes, actress Angela Bassett, who played Turner in the film <em>What's Love Got to Do With It</em>, penned a sweet message, with the late David Bowie's estate paying homage as well.</p> <p>The official social media accounts of the late Bowie, who died 2016, shared a lengthy statement pointing out how Bowie will now "see [Turner] in the sky tonight”.</p> <p>"Sad to hear of the passing of Tina Turner, the legendary singer whose career dated back to 1960,” Bowie’s statement began.</p> <p>"Bowie fans will be aware of the duet she recorded with David for the title track of 1984's <em>Tonight</em> LP.”</p> <p>"The Bowie/Iggy Pop penned track was released as a single later that year. On 23rd March, 1985, at a Tina Turner concert at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham in the UK, Bowie performed the song live with Tina along with a section of the Chris Montez hit, Let's Dance, segueing into Bowie's song of the same name. This live duet of Tonight was released as a single becoming a #1 hit in the Netherlands," the statement continued.</p> <p>"We'll finish with some words Tina said to The Guardian newspaper in 2020 that despite having some serious health problems, the last 10 years of her life had embodied her ideal vision of happiness.</p> <p>"'True and lasting happiness comes from having an unshakeable, hopeful spirit that can shine, no matter what,' she said. 'That's what I've achieved, and it is my greatest wish to help others become truly happy as well.’"</p> <p>In a statement obtained by <em>The Hollywood Reporter,</em> Basset, said, "How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world?"</p> <p><em>The Black Panther</em> actress, who starred opposite with Laurence Laurence Fishburne's Ike Turner in the film, continued, "Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion and freedom should look like.”</p> <p>"Her final words to me – for me were, 'You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.' I shall hold these words close to my heart for the rest of my days. I am honoured to have known Tina Turner," she said.</p> <p>"I am humbled to have helped show her to the world," Bassett continued.</p> <p>"So on today, while we mourn the loss of this iconic voice and presence, she gave us more than we could have ever asked. She gave us her whole self. And Tina Turner is a gift that will always be 'simply the best.' Angels, sing thee to thy rest … Queen.”</p> <p>Diana Ross took to Twitter to pay tribute to the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, writing, "Shocked. Saddened. Sending condolences to Tina Turner's family and loved ones. ”</p> <p>Magic Johnson also shared a photo taken with Turner on Twitter.</p> <p>"Rest in peace to one of my favorite artists of all time, the legendary queen of rock n' roll Tina Turner," he wrote.</p> <p>"I've seen her many many times and hands down, she gave one of the best live shows I've ever seen. She always gave you your moneys [sic] worth."</p> <p>Actress Viola David took to Instagram, sharing an image of the late star, alongside the caption, "Iconic. Beautiful. Brilliant. A Survivor. Our first symbol of excellence and unbridled ownership of sexuality!! You were my childhood. Oh man!!! God is getting an angel today!!! Rest well Queen Tina Turner. We will bask in your legacy!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️”</p> <p>Mick Jagger wrote on Twitter, "I'm so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”</p> <p>"We have lost one of the [world's] most exciting and electric performers. A total legend on record and on stage. She was untouchable,” Sir Elton John wrote on Instagram. "Condolences to Erwin and her family.</p> <p>"What a woman, what a life, what a warrior!!!” Singer Alicia Keys wrote on Instagram.</p> <p>"The day I met you Ms Tina, I couldn't believe I was standing in the presence of your greatness!! (Thanks to my big sis [Oprah]!!!)," Keys continued her caption.</p> <p>"I got to celebrate and thank you for all the love you've poured out around u. The songs you sang gave us courage to step out and be our full selves.</p> <p>"You are a fierce force as a woman and a performer! All of these things have been beacons of light for not only me, but all the people around the world finding ourselves and our fearlessness, through our vulnerability!!</p> <p>"Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts beautiful big sister! Rest well! We love and adore you infinitely!”</p> <p>Giorgio Armani also shared a statement on his fashion house’s official Twitter account.</p> <p>"I heard of the passing of Tina Turner with sadness and disbelief: with her incredible energy she seemed eternal. Her music certainly is," his statement began.</p> <p>"I will miss a great friend, whom I have also had the pleasure to dress many times. In life, she was like she was on stage – pure energy. I am deeply saddened.”</p> <p>Author Stephen King wrote on Twitter, "Tina Turner: Simply the best. ”</p> <p>Actor Josh Gad shared on Twitter, "This one hits way too hard. #riptinaturner 🙏🙏🙏💔”</p> <p>Sylvester Stallone wrote a short message alongside a photo with Turner on Instagram, "see you forever Tina Turner ❤️ #tinaturner #slystallone.”</p> <p>Director Paul Feig took to Twitter, writing, "Ugh. This is so sad. She was someone who seemed like we'd have her forever. What a huge huge loss. There will never be another like her. Rest in power, Tina."</p> <p>"RIP Tina Turner. Simply, the best," Piers Morgan wrote on Twitter.</p> <p>Musician Bryan Adams recalled the time he and Turner spent working together in his tribute, shared in a since-deleted Twitter post.</p> <p>"My condolences to Erwin and Tina's family," he wrote. "I'll be forever grateful for the time we spent together on tour, in the studio and as friends.”</p> <p>"Thank you for being the inspiration to millions of people around the world for speaking your truth and giving us your gift of your voice," Adams continued.</p> <p>"It's Only Love and that's all," he concluded, referencing the single the pair released in 1985.</p> <p>Bette Midler posted a heartfelt tribute to her Twitter account.</p> <p>"Our beloved #TinaTurner has died. From #Nutbush to the top, she was an absolutely brilliant performer and inspiration to us all,” she wrote.</p> <p>"May flights of angels sing her to her rest, but if I know Tina, she is singing lead. ”</p> <p>Singer-songwriter Ciara called Turner a "QUEEN, LEGEND, ICON” in a comment underneath an Instagram post, she followed with a tweet.</p> <p>"Heaven has gained an angel," she wrote. "Rest in Paradise Tina Turner. Thank you for the inspiration you gave us all. ”</p> <p>Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood labelled Turner as "a force of nature and a legend” in his tribute.</p> <p>His Tweet concluded, ”Rest in peace, Tina Turner.”</p> <p>"A true legend has passed," actor George Takei wrote on Twitter.</p> <p>"Tina Turner has died at the age of 83. She was our <em>River Deep</em> and our <em>Mountain High</em>, the <em>Private Dancer</em> in our hearts.”</p> <p>"She showed us that love really does has everything to do with it, and that we really did need another hero," he continued. "And she was it. Rest now, Proud Mary. Raise your voice high in the heavens.”</p> <p>Founding member of Black Sabbath, Geezer Butler, also penned a heart-warming tribute for the star on Twitter.</p> <p>"Sad to hear of Tina Turner passing," he wrote. "I saw her on her first major tour, supporting The Rolling Stones at Birmingham Odeon on 1966 & became an instant fan. RIP .”</p> <p>While Actress Sarah Jessica Parker wrote on Instagram, "Simply the best. RIP Ms. Turner. I loved and love you. Thank you. Godspeed. X, SJ.”</p> <p>"Legends never die. They live on in our collective psyche forever. Thank you for enriching our lives, Tina. Rest in power… #tinaturner 1939-2023," actor Cary Elwes wrote on Twitter.</p> <p>Andy Cohen paid homage to the star on Twitter, writing, "SIMPLY THE BEST BEST BEST. WE LOVE YOU TINA ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️”</p> <p>Even NASA shared a tribute for the beloved star.</p> <p>"Simply the best. Music legend Tina Turner sparkled across the stage and into millions of hearts as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," NASA wrote on Twitter, alongside a photo of the stars in the sky.</p> <p>"Her legacy will forever live among the stars."</p> <p><em>Image credit: Twitter</em></p>

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"Who picks a fight with a rock star?" Jimmy Barnes confronts on-road "bully"

<p>Jimmy Barnes' wife Jane has ripped into a truck driver who "bullied" the couple on the road, with the driver attempting to "fight Jimmy on the roadside". </p> <p>Jane Barnes said the incident occurred on Wednesday night in the south Sydney suburb of Botany Bay, when the couple had been driving home from a charity event.</p> <p>In a furious thread on Twitter, Jane detailed the terrifying incident which resulted in the police being called.</p> <p>Jane wrote, "(He) cut us off across our lane and swiped our mirror, wanted to fight Jimmy on the roadside."</p> <p>"Trucks are like weapons, bullies behind the wheel a danger to us all," she wrote, alongside the hashtags #TOLL and #NOtobullies.  </p> <p>Jane then shared a photo of the truck drivers' side profile as he almost came to blows with the rockstar, as well as photos of the truck's license plate and the Barnes' car which shows the drivers' side wing mirror bent out of place. </p> <p>Jane went on to say the truckie had shared his details with the couple and that NSW Police had been called over the altercation. </p> <p>However, she said, officers "couldn't do much" if there were no injuries or damages.</p> <p>Jane's post drew in a wave of attention, with one fan asking, "Who picks a fight with a rock star?"</p> <p>Ms Barnes replied, "Shouldn't matter who it is. This guy was just a pig. Swearing, smug, ignorant, misogynist bully."</p> <p>The musician continued her rant on Instagram, writing, "When you drive a truck you're in charge of a weapon. A bully at the wheel can kill people."</p> <p>Many sent their sympathies to the couple, with some saying the tweet was "poignant" given the increase in accidents on Aussie roads. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

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Rock legend dies at 81

<p>David Crosby, founding member of <em>The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash &amp; Young</em> (CSNY) has died due to a long illness.</p> <p>Jan Dance, his wife of 36 years, confirmed his passing in a statement to <a href="https://variety.com/2023/music/news/david-crosby-dead-dies-byrds-crosby-stills-nash-1235495467/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Variety</em></a>.</p> <p>The statement read: "It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us.</p> <p>“His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly".</p> <p>The family have asked to respect their privacy during this "profound loss".</p> <p>His former CSNY partner Graham Nash, paid tribute to the guitarist through <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnnRbZ4rbRL/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media</a>.</p> <p>He started the post with the caption, "It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed".</p> <p>The former band members had an estranged relationship following a feud with Crosby.</p> <p>Nash acknowledged this in his tribute, he added: "I know people tend to focus on how volatile our relationship has been at times, but what has always mattered to David and me more than anything was the pure joy of the music we created together, the sound we discovered with one another, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many long years".</p> <p>David was fearless in life and in music. He leaves behind a tremendous void as far as sheer personality and talent in this world. He spoke his mind, his heart, and his passion through his beautiful music and leaves an incredible legacy. These are the things that matter most," he continued.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Statement from Graham Nash: <a href="https://t.co/FRmkwNcqCr">pic.twitter.com/FRmkwNcqCr</a></p> <p>— Rob Tannenbaum (@tannenbaumr) <a href="https://twitter.com/tannenbaumr/status/1616208392581746738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>He ended the tribute with: "My heart is truly with his wife, Jan, his son, Django, and all of the people he has touched in this world".</p> <p>Many fans have also taken to social media to pay their tribute.</p> <p>"No, no, no. I am sitting here shaking. Not David Crosby. He was the soundtrack of my life," tweeted one fan.</p> <p>"David Crosby dies at 81. From the Byrds to CSN, CSNY, C&amp;N &amp; his solo work, he was a unique talent... I always though his 'Almost Cut My Hair' defined the hippie movement. May his 'freak flag fly' forever," another tweeted.</p> <p>His death comes as a shock to fans who followed his very active Twitter. Just two days ago, he <a href="https://twitter.com/thedavidcrosby/status/1615681363600080899" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> a joke about heaven: "“I heard the place is overrated… cloudy".</p> <p>Crosby is survived by his wife, his sons Django and James, and his daughters Erika and Donovan.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty, Twitter</em></p>

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"Chris is at rock bottom": Chris Smith releases statement after Christmas party furore

<p>Chris Smith has apologised for his actions towards female colleagues at a work Christmas party, after <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/chris-smith-suspended-after-christmas-party-allegations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegations emerged</a> he acted inappropriately towards staff. </p> <p>The <em>Sky News</em> and 2GB host released a statement apologising for how he behaved, and revealed he has checked himself into a mental health facility. </p> <p>He blamed alcohol addiction and bipolar disorder for his actions: the same excuse the veteran broadcaster used when he was called out for inappropriate conduct at a 2GB Christmas party 13 years ago. </p> <p>Following the allegations of misconduct at this year's Sky News Christmas Party, Smith was suspended by Sky and 2GB, and his nutritionist wife Susie Burrell was seen walking out of their family home. </p> <p>In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Smith apologised for his behaviour and said the incidents at the party did not reflect his behaviour at work. </p> <p>"I am beyond gutted and devastated to know I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party," Smith said. </p> <p>"I apologise profusely to the women I upset. That's not the man I am at work, ever, as they will all attest. They have been so supportive to me and do not deserve such drunken treatment."</p> <p>Smith blamed the incident on bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction, saying, "I have a recurring problem with alcohol... it sends me manic." </p> <p>"I am in a facility receiving professional help to deal conclusively with my abuse of alcohol and solve this once and for all, without qualification… it can and will be done," he said.</p> <p>"I am also terribly upset about humiliating myself with people I respect and admire. I have been blessed to call them close colleagues."</p> <p>"I pride myself on my professionalism and work ethic but I have dropped the ball and embarrassed many people including those I love most - my family. I am very sorry."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Short shift: Fashion week research on how the ’60s and ’70s rocked Australia’s clothing industry

<div class="copy"> <p>It was the dress that shocked a nation and signalled an industrial revolution.</p> <p>When sixties model Jean Shrimpton attended the 1965 Melbourne Cup dressed in a simple white shift hemmed well above the knee – with no gloves or stockings – the outfit immediately sparked scandal.</p> <p>The moment encapsulates a series of cultural, social, economic and technological shifts underway in Australia which led to the unravelling of the local clothing manufacturing industry.</p> <p>It was this iconic photo, depicting nonchalant Shrimpton on the lawns of Flemington Racecourse, which inspired Pauline Hastings PhD research at Monash University into the history of Australia’s textiles and clothing industry from the 1960s on.</p> <p>Hastings is <a href="https://mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/miniskirts-the-unravelling-rag-trade/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">presenting her research</a> as part of Melbourne Fashion Week.</p> <p>A lesser-known detail about ‘that dress’: Shrimpton was sponsored to attend Derby Day by industrial chemical and fossil fuel company Du Pont, to promote the company’s new synthetic fabric, Orlon. </p> <p>Cheap, mostly imported synthetic fabrics (made from fossil fuels) were one of several factors contributing to a major shift in Australian clothing manufacturing and consumption, Hastings says.</p> <p>Hastings says, there is a clear thread linking the rise of synthetic fabrics like Orlon, Dacron, Rayon (… anything ending with an ‘on’), which had a throwaway quality to them, and today’s <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainability/fast-fashion-part-one/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fast fashion addiction</a>. Australia is the second largest consumer of textiles globally, buying on average <a href="https://www.monash.edu/msdi/news-and-events/news/articles/2022/urgent-call-to-reduce-australias-sizeable-fashion-footprint-and-its-impact-on-planetary-and-human-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">56 new items of clothing </a>per person, per year.</p> <p>Post war immigration and the rise of the ‘baby boomers’ led to a greater emphasis on youth culture and individualism. </p> <p>This, together with the rise of advertising and mass marketing helped drive a cultural shift away from the ‘make do and mend’ era where fabrics and clothing were often unpicked and re-sewn into new garments. </p> <p>Hastings says the removal and reduction of tariff protections was another contributing factor to the demise of local manufacturing.</p> <p>Before the post-war era, “everyday clothes weren’t imported. They were manufactured here … made for local consumption,” she says.</p> <p>“Imports on mass were kept out by tariff protection. So, very high tariffs on anything important [which] meant that if they did come in, imports were sort of priced considerably higher in the marketplace than our local product. And our local product was not overly cheap from what I can gather, because it was pretty,  labor intensive and Australian wages at the time were quite high.”</p> <p>Interwoven, these different factors – the commodification of youth culture, the reduction in tariff protections by the Whitlam government, and the rise of new synthetic fabrics – all contributed to the demise of Australia’s local clothing manufacturing industry.</p> <p>Today, 97% of Australia’s clothing is imported.</p> <p>By sharing her research, Hastings says, she hopes we can learn from history.</p> <p>“It’s how culturally we can shift. Because, we did a major shift from the post war era of what I call ‘thrift and making do.’ We did a major shift then to a sort of a ‘purchase everything we can possibly see throwaway society’ when it comes to fashion, in a couple of decades.” </p> <p>She says, history shows, if we really wanted to, we could learn again, to value things, recycle, upcycle and cultivate a culture of sustainability.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=217818&amp;title=Short+shift%3A+Fashion+week+research+on+how+the+%26%238217%3B60s+and+%26%238217%3B70s+rocked+Australia%26%238217%3Bs+clothing+industry" width="1" height="1" /> <!-- End of tracking content syndication --></em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/how-the-60s-rocked-australian-fashion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Petra Stock. </em></p> </div>

Beauty & Style

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Proof that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are our sweetest rock and roll couple

<p dir="ltr">Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman will forever be known as the sweetest rock and roll couple. </p> <p dir="ltr">The loved up couple once again proved that during one of Keith’s shows where Nicole made a surprise appearance on stage.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We love you Nashville,” a smiling Nicole said as Keith embraced her. </p> <p dir="ltr">She then turned to get off stage for her husband to start his show before telling him to “play some music”. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Happy wife, happy life. You guys know what I'm talking about,” Keith responds.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nicole later shared a stunning noir photo of her and Keith with their arms around each other backstage at the show in Nashville. </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/CjeWh7NpWdG/?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/CjeWh7NpWdG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Fans went crazy at the photo, with many thanking the couple for being incredible and sweet during tour. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Nicole you looked amazing last night. I loved your outfit. I waved to you as I was very close to you. You and Keith are such a beautiful blessed couple. Love to you both and your family,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Love you two Nicole and Keith! You guys are so beautiful together!” another commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You two were the sweetest last night - I love seeing a couple still thriving together- gives us all hope,” someone else wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Do you know what I love the most about this photo? It’s the utter love the two of you share — you’re close, you're touching, you’re communicating, you’re supporting, you're in it together. Love it!” another read. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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First Nations’ music festival announced

<p dir="ltr">An Aussie first music festival is set to hit Victoria’s iconic Hanging Rock this November, in what is being described as a “celebration of Blak Excellence''.</p> <p dir="ltr">First &amp; Forever is a brand new day-long festival featuring Australia’s finest First Nations artists to showcase their music talent.</p> <p dir="ltr">The line-up was handpicked by rapper and author Briggs with the help of his friend and Aussie music legend Paul Kelly. </p> <p dir="ltr">The jam-packed line-up features the likes of Jessica Mauboy, Christine Anu, Dan Sultan, Baker Boy, Thelma Plum and many more. </p> <p dir="ltr">First &amp; Forever isn't your typical music festival, with the line-up presented in what's billed as "a dizzying procession of acts interwoven in short, uninterrupted sets."</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/p/CjTu_ehP4bt/?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/CjTu_ehP4bt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by triple j (@triple_j)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">All performances will take place on the single 'Uncle Archie Stage', named in honour of the late Uncle Archie Roach with the blessing of his Foundation.</p> <p dir="ltr">The festival first began as an idea between Briggs and late record label mogul Michael Gudinski. </p> <p dir="ltr">"For years I'd had an idea for a First Nations-led contemporary music festival, something cool and boutique that was really about the music and culture," Briggs told the ABC.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When Gudinski called me about a similar idea he'd had, we found this really collaborative working relationship. We both had a passionate approach to Melbourne, Victorian music, and amplifying Blakfellas' stories. MG got the ball rolling. After he passed, the ball was in my court. I had to take it home."</p> <p dir="ltr">The showcase of Indigenous Australian excellence will take place at the foot of the majestic Hanging Rock on the lands of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples. </p> <p dir="ltr">The traditional custodians of the land have worked with each other and First &amp; Forever to name the location The Gathering Place – a name that "acknowledges the power of Country to build community, communication and an equitable future."</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://firstandforever.com.au/">Tickets</a> for First &amp; Forever are on sale now, with the event kicking off on Sunday November 27th. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

Music

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"Anger resonates through me": AFL rocked by accusations of historical racial abuse

<p><em><strong>Warning: This article contains distressing content which some readers may find confronting.</strong></em></p> <p>A damning report has exposed alleged racism, bullying and abuse within the Hawthorn AFL club, with several players coming forward and sharing their devastating stories of trauma during their time as part of the team.</p> <p>In the report conducted by <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-21/alastair-clarkson-and-chris-fagan-named-in-hawks-review/101452320" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC Sport</a>, coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan were named among a group of AFL leaders for allegedly encouraging an Indigenous player to convince his partner to terminate their pregnancy and then split from her, for the sake of the player's career.</p> <p>The report initially began as an investigation into the club's treatment of Indigenous players, and quickly unearthed a much greater issue within the club.</p> <p>An unidentified player, who was allegedly told to encourage his partner to terminate a pregnancy, claimed it was Clarkson who “leaned over me and demanded that I needed to get rid of my unborn child and my partner”.</p> <p>“I was then manipulated and convinced to remove my SIM card from my phone, so there was no further contact between my family and me,” the footballer told the ABC.</p> <p>“He told me to kill my unborn kid.”</p> <p>The player was then allegedly moved from his home, which he shared with his partner and child, prompting a series of suicide attempts from the player.</p> <p>“They broke me as a man, a footballer and as a family man,” he told the ABC.</p> <p>In a similar instance, another player was allegedly forced to live away from his partner and newborn child for months at a time, which triggered a "mental health crisis" for the recent draftee, who also attempted suicide five times.</p> <p>A third player also came forward against the club, saying Clarkson and Fagan allegedly came to his house at night to relocate him from his pregnant partner, whom he was then unable to contact.</p> <p>When his partner unfortunately miscarried weeks later, he was informed by the coaches at a training session “in a ‘by the way’ kind of comment”.</p> <p>Following the publishing of the damning report, Hawthorn responded to the allegations in a lengthy statement.</p> <p>“The club places the best interests and welfare of our players and staff as our number one priority," the statement read.</p> <p>It went on to say further investigation is required into the historical allegations, and further First Nations training and development programs "should be strengthened".</p> <p>“Given the matters raised are confidential, the club will not provide any further comment at this time,” the statement concludes.</p> <p>The AFL also released a statement, declaring the re-investigation of the claims.</p> <p>“The AFL is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and culturally appropriate environment for all players and staff throughout the industry, ensuring that physical, mental and emotional welfare is a key priority for all in our sport,” it said.</p> <p>“The experiences outlined in the document are extremely serious and require further and full examination."</p> <p>“We are committed to the welfare of all involved. Once we have spoken to those who have shared their experiences, we will be able to provide an update on the next steps in the investigation.”</p> <p>After hearing the findings of the report, sports commentators around Australia chimed in, with Indigenous football media personality Shelley Ware writing “anger resonates through me”.</p> <p>“I will be watching for what happens next for Clarkson, Fagan and Burt closely as I have my wishes,” she posted in a comment online.</p> <p>Australian journalist Alan Sunderland wrote, “The ramifications of this story can and should go far beyond just Hawthorn", while The ABC’s Penny Timms wrote, “This is beyond horrific. Action must be taken against those responsible”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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From crumbling rock art to exposed ancestral remains, climate change is ravaging our precious Indigenous heritage

<p>Climate change is rapidly intensifying. Amid the chaos and damage it wreaks, many precious Indigenous heritage sites in Australia and around the world are being destroyed at an alarming rate.</p> <p>Sea-level rise, flooding, worsening bushfires and other human-caused climate events put many archaeological and heritage sites at risk. Already, culturally significant Indigenous sites have been lost or are gravely threatened.</p> <p>For example, in Northern Australia, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/16/global-heating-is-destroying-rock-art-tens-of-thousands-of-years-old-experts-warn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rock art</a> tens of thousands of years old has been destroyed by cyclones, bushfires and other extreme weather events.</p> <p>And as we outline below, ancestral remains in the Torres Strait were last year almost washed away by king tides and storm surge.</p> <p>These examples of loss are just the beginning, unless we act. By combining Indigenous <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13549839.2015.1036414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Traditional Knowledge</a> with Western scientific approaches, communities can prioritise what heritage to save.</p> <h2>Indigenous heritage on the brink</h2> <p>Indigenous Australians are one of the longest living cultures on Earth. They have maintained their cultural and sacred sites for millennia.</p> <p>In July, Traditional Owners from across Australia attended a <a href="https://drm4heritage.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">workshop</a> on disaster risk management at Flinders University. The participants, who work on Country as cultural heritage managers and rangers, hailed from as far afield as the Torres Strait Islands and Tasmania.</p> <p>Here, three of these Traditional Owners describe cultural heritage losses they’ve witnessed, or fear will occur in the near future.</p> <p><strong>- Enid Tom, Kaurareg Elder and a director of Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation:</strong></p> <p>Coastal erosion and seawater inundation have long threatened the Torres Strait. But now efforts to deal with the problem have taken on new urgency.</p> <p>In February last year, king tides and a storm surge eroded parts of a beach on Muralug (or Prince of Wales) Island. Aboriginal custodians and archaeologists rushed to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-05/ancestral-remains-uncovered-torres-strait-due-to-climate-change/101387964" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one site</a> where a female ancestor was buried. They excavated the skeletal remains and reburied them at a safe location.</p> <p>It was the first time such a site had been excavated at the island. Kaurareg Elders now worry coastal erosion will uncover and potentially destroy more burial sites.</p> <p><strong>- Marcus Lacey, Senior Gumurr Marthakal Indigenous Ranger:</strong></p> <p>The Marthakal Indigenous Protected Area covers remote islands and coastal mainland areas in the Northern Territory’s North Eastern Arnhem Land. It has an average elevation of just one metre above sea level, and is highly vulnerable to climate change-related hazards such as severe tropical cyclones and sea level rise.</p> <p>The area is the last remnant of the ancient <a href="https://users.monash.edu.au/~mcoller/SahulTime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">land bridge</a> joining Australia with Southeast Asia. As such, it can provide valuable <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-42946-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">information</a> about the first colonisation of Australia by First Nations people.</p> <p>It is also an important place for understanding <a href="https://artreview.com/fragmented-histories-the-yolngu-macassan-exchange/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contact history</a> between Aboriginal Australians and the Indonesian Maccassans, dating back <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/language/indonesian/en/article/deep-ties-between-indigenous-australians-and-indonesias-macassans-celebrated-through-song-and-dance/rg6x9g1l4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some 400 years</a>.</p> <p>What’s more, the area provides insights into Australia’s colonial history, such as Indigenous rock art depicting the ships of British navigator Matthew Flinders. Sea level rise and king tides mean this valuable piece of Australia’s history is now being eroded.</p> <p>- Shawnee Gorringe, operations administrator at Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation:</p> <p>On Mithaka land, in remote Queensland, lie important Indigenous heritage sites such as <a href="https://anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/kirrenderri-heart-channel-country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stone circles</a>, fireplaces and examples of traditional First Nations water management infrastructure.</p> <p>But repeated drought risks destroying these sites – a threat compounded by erosion from over-grazing.</p> <p>To help solve these issues, we desperately need Indigenous leadership and participation in decision-making at local, state and federal levels. This is the only way to achieve a sustainable future for environmental and heritage protection.</p> <p>Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation general manager Joshua Gorringe has been invited to the United Nations’ COP27 climate conference in Egypt in November. This is a step in the right direction.</p> <h2>So what now?</h2> <p>The loss of Indigenous heritage to climate change requires <a href="https://www.icomos.org/images/DOCUMENTS/Secretariat/2022/TSP/ADCOMSC_202110_2-1_Trienial_Scientific_Plan_EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immediate action</a>. This should involve rigorous assessment of threatened sites, prioritising those most at risk, and taking steps to mitigate damage.</p> <p>This work should be undertaken not only by scientists, engineers and heritage workers, but first and foremost by the Indigenous communities themselves, using Traditional Knowledge.</p> <p>Last year’s COP26 global climate conference included a <a href="https://www.cultureatcop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate heritage agenda</a>. This allowed global <a href="https://unfccc.int/news/cop26-strengthens-role-of-indigenous-experts-and-stewardship-of-nature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indigenous voices</a> to be heard. But unfortunately, Indigenous heritage is often excluded from discussions about climate change.</p> <p>Addressing this requires doing away with the usual “top down” Western, neo-colonial approach which many Indigenous communities see as exclusive and ineffective. Instead, a “bottom up” approach should be adopted through inclusive and long-term initiatives such as <a href="https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/research_pub/benefits-cfc_0_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caring for Country</a>.</p> <p>This approach should draw on Indigenous knowledge – often passed down <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/edge-of-memory-9781472943262/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">orally</a> – of how to manage risk. This should be combined with Western climate science, as well as the expertise of governments and other organisations.</p> <p>Incorporating Indigenous knowledge into cultural heritage policies and procedures will not just improve heritage protection. It would empower Indigenous communities in the face of the growing climate emergency.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-crumbling-rock-art-to-exposed-ancestral-remains-climate-change-is-ravaging-our-precious-indigenous-heritage-188454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Woman rocked by huge fine wasn't even driving

<p>A woman has copped a fine for over $1,000 and four demerit points for a little-known road rule. </p> <p>Hailey Gillard from Queensland said she was slapped with the fine for not wearing her seatbelt properly while sitting in the passenger seat. </p> <p>She took to TikTok to share the fine with her followers and bring their attention to the seatbelt law. </p> <p>"If you're having a bad day, at least it's not as bad as mine," she said.</p> <p>"I just got fined $1,000 for wearing my seatbelt incorrectly, which my seatbelt was underneath my arm because I was a bit carsick."</p> <p>"So I had to lean over and I got a $1,000 fine."</p> <p>"Ahh life is good...might cry later."</p> <p>According to the Queensland Government, seatbelts must be worn with the belt over your shoulder, running across your chest and be buckled low on your hip.</p> <p>Wearing them any other way could result in the same $1,078 fine and four demerits points- regardless of where you're sitting in the car. </p> <p>In a follow-up video, Hailey warned her followers to wear their seatbelt properly to avoid the hefty fine and to stay safe.</p> <p>"It was a bit of a shock because I was in the passenger seat. As you can see in the photo, my mugshot photo, I still have my seatbelt on but because my arm was over it it's still a fine," she said.</p> <p>"Be really careful on the roads, even if you're wearing a seatbelt, wear it properly because don't do what I did and get a $1000 fine," she said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

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