Search

Famed Aussie cartoonist Michael Leunig dies

Acclaimed Australian cartoonist and writer Michael Leunig has died at the age of 79. His family confirmed the news on Instagram, sharing that he spent his last moments on Thursday, “surrounded by his children, loved ones, and sunflowers”. “The pen has run dry, its ink no longer flowing — yet Mr. Curly and his ducks will remain etched in our hearts, cherished and eternal,” a post on his official Instagram account said. “Michael Leunig passed away peacefully today, in the early hours of December 19, 2024." “During his final days, he was surrounded by his children, loved ones, and sunflowers — accompanied as ever, by his dear old friends, Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDwH8t7z50q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDwH8t7z50q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael Leunig (@leunigstudio)</a> </div> </blockquote> Throughout his stellar career, his artwork featured in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, before he was controversially stood down from The Age in September after 55 years with the publication after some of his cartoons were thought to be too politically sensitive. Cartoonist for The Australian newspaper John Spooner told ABC Radio Melbourne the loss of Leunig felt "pretty huge", adding that working alongside Leunig at The Age in the mid 80s was "a riot of fun". "Leunig was a leader in the sense that he was an experimenter in graphic possibilities in newspapers, you know, like a half page full colour political or social cartoon," Spooner said. "A lot of the people who love The Age don't realise the depth of his contribution to the idea of The Age, which was essentially pluralistic, in other words, both sides of an argument got a run." Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight also paid tribute to Leunig, saying, “It is a great loss, he was referred to as a national treasure and he was.” “As a kid I would buy his books – the famous Penguin Leunig was my great introduction to cartoons. I owe him a debt of gratitude. He had controversies with his cartoons, but I think he is bigger and more profound than cancel culture.” Image credits: Instagram

Caring

Beloved Aussie author dies at age 74

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

Caring

Acclaimed musician dies after cancer diagnosis

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

Caring

Australian broadcasting legend dies at age 78

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

Caring

Dynasty actor dies at age 77

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

Caring

Australia's first supermodel dies at age 87

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

Caring

Hunt for shooter after healthcare executive fatally shot

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

Caring

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

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

Travel Trouble

Father's emotional plea after death of his daughter from methanol poisoning

The grieving father of 19-year-old Bianca Jones, who tragically died after consuming methanol-laced cocktails in Laos, has issued a plea to ensure his daughter’s death was not in vain. Bianca and her friend Holly Bowles had been travelling around south-east Asia on a gap year trip when they consumed the deadly drinks in the party town of Vang Vieng, a popular tourist area about 130km north of Laos capital, Vientiane. Both Bianca and Holly were rushed to seperate hospitals in Thailand, and passed away last week. Speaking publicly for the first time about the tragedy, Bianca’s father Mark Jones, said his daughter’s “lust for life and adventure” had “cruelly been cut short”. “Our daughter was on the trip of a lifetime with one of her best mates,” he said. “This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many. Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.” Following the deaths of the two young women, an outpouring of sympathy flooded in from around Australia including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while hundreds attended a vigil held in the women’s honour in Melbourne on Saturday. Mr Jones thanked Australian government for its support but made a plea to authorities in Laos. “I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Laos government to investigate this to the fullest extent, to make sure this incident doesn’t happen again,” he said. “We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others. Young men and women should be able to travel, create their own life experiences and be safe." “We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.” The Laotian government has promised to bring perpetrators to justice after the mass poisoning that has killed six tourists, including the two Australian women. Image credits: Nine News / Facebook

Travel Trouble

"Alive and well": Fans confused over Dr Harry Cooper death announcement

Dr Harry Cooper and Channel Seven have been forced to clarify that the famous TV vet is alive and kicking after his Wikipedia page stated he had died. According to Cooper's Wiki page, the TV personality died at the age of 80 on November 16th 2024. However, Ben Fordham and his 2GB team have confirmed that this is not the case. "[Dr. Harry] has had a bit of a shock this week, courtesy of something that appeared online," explained Fordham on his popular radio show. "This week we were contacted by a listener, they alerted us to the fact that according to Google and Wikipedia, Dr. Harry Cooper was no longer with us!" Fordham explained that he had done his own investigations of the claims and observed the Wikipedia page in question, which read that "Dr. Harry Cooper OAM, more commonly known as Dr. Harry, an Australian vet and TV personality best known for his media appearances, born February 20, 1943, died November 16, 2024." The unofficial death notice prompted several listeners to reach out to the team at 2GB, asking if they'd heard any news about Dr. Harry's alleged death. "A fan of Dr. Harry Cooper got in touch w us a couple of days ago and said, 'Did you know that Dr. Harry had died?," shared Fordham. "And we all looked at each other and said, 'No?' "And then we got another message, 'Can you confirm that Dr. Harry has passed away?' Again, we were looking online, and he was in New Idea at the start of the year celebrating his 80th birthday." "And the most recent story about Dr. Harry was from September, when he visited a camel farm." In order to confirm once and for all, Fordham reached out to the Seven Network, who provided a statement revealing the good news that, "Harry is alive and well." "After tipping off Seven, the reference to his death has been removed from Wikipedia," Fordham added. "So, its another reminder – you can't believe everything you read." Image credits: Allison Voight/Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

British royal considering moving to Australia

A member of the British royal family is considering relocating to Australian shores after finding love with an Aussie. Lady Louise Windsor, the late Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, found love with Australian student Felix Robert da Silva-Clamp and is reportedly planning to move Down Under for her partner. Lady Windsor is the daughter of King Charles’ youngest brother Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. She and Felix, who attended Melbourne Grammar School from 2017 to 2022, first met at St Andrew’s University in Scotland. Felix is the son of British solicitor, Charles William da Silva-Clamp, while his mother, Kendall Clamp, lives in Melbourne, and holds a master’s degree in epidemiology. Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter joined Nat Barr on Sunrise on Thursday, where she explained that Lady Windsor was interested in taking classes at Macquarie University in Sydney. “Both of their degrees allow for a study abroad semester — Louise at the moment is in her third semester. If she is likely to do a semester of study abroad, it would likely be in her fourth year,” Arbiter said. “She is interested in studying at Macquarie University in Sydney. So, this time next year, you could be welcoming a royal down under.” Felix is also said to have met Lady Windsor’s parents, as Arbiter said, “Certainly in royal circles that’s not a thing until it is quite serious — Felix is only 20 and Lady Louise is 21, so they have a lot of time ahead of them, but it would seem things are going well.” “I think the royals would definitely welcome an Aussie to the royal family.” Image credits: Thomas Krych/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Editorial

Relationships

Fifth death confirmed in Laos poisoning

A young British lawyer has died in hospital after a suspected mass poisoning that has claimed the lives of four others. On Thursday, Melbourne teen Bianca Jones became the fourth person to die from suspected methanol poisoning following the deaths of two Danish women and an American who had all been holidaying in the in the party town of Vang Vieng. Lawyer Simone White, 28, was among a dozen other tourists taken to hospital after visiting the backpacker town, with Thai police confirming her death on Friday morning. In a statement to <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/british-lawyer-simone-white-in-hospital-after-apparent-mass-methanol-poisoning-in-laos-c-16833986" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>, a spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed a death in Laos, saying, “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.” Her friend Bethany Clarke, who was with White on holiday, urged tourists in the region to “avoid all local spirits” after their group of six fell ill. “Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it,” she wrote in a Laos backpacking Facebook group. “Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Jones, 19, in federal parliament on Thursday after news of her death was shared, as her friend Holly Bowles continues to fight for her life in a Bangkok hospital. “This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure,” Albanese said. Image credits: Facebook

Caring

Second Bee Gees member dies within four days

Drummer Byron Dennis, who played a pivotal role in the success of The Bee Gees, has died just days after one of the original band members also <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/original-bee-gees-star-passes-away-aged-78" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away</a>. Touring drummer Dennis Bryon died aged 76 in Nashville on November 14th, just four days before original Bee Gees drummer Colin “Smiley” Petersen. The news of Bryon’s death was confirmed by his former bandmate, Blue Weaver, who performed alongside him in another band before he joined the Bee Gees. “I am lost for words at the moment. Dennis has passed away,” Weaver wrote in a heartfelt social media post. “Dennis has been my friend since we were in our first band together aged 15. His great drumming will always Stay Alive.” Bryon was the group's drummer between 1973 and 1981, and played on some of the Bee Gees’ most iconic disco hits, including Stayin’ Alive and Night Fever. Just days before Dennis's tragic death, the Bee Gees original drummer Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen, as the band confirmed the news of his passing with a post on social media. “It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” the post read. “He enriched our lives and bound our group with love, care and respect." “Not sure how we can go on without his glowing smile and deep friendship. We love you Col. Rest in Peace.” Image credits: Mediapunch/Shutterstock Editorial <p class="css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 1.125rem; line-height: 25px; font-size: 1.125rem; font-family: HeyWow, Montserrat, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; caret-color: #292a33; color: #292a33;">

Caring

Beloved Aussie musician dies days after revealing cancer diagnosis

Australian musician Richard Andrew has tragically died at the age of 58, just seven days after announcing he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Andrew, who has long been a fixture of the Melbourne music scene, passed away on October 30th, with his grieving wife confirming his death on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-nikki-through-tragedy-honouring-richards-legacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page. Andrew's wife, Nicolette Powell, is now faced with mourning the sudden loss of her husband while caring for her mother, who is grappling with a terminal brain tumour. "Nicolette's beloved husband, Richard, a well-known and iconic figure in Melbourne's music scene, recently passed away suddenly from cancer," the GoFundMe page's tribute to Andrew began. "Richard was a talented musician who left his mark in bands like Underground Lovers, Crow and Black Cab as well as his own band Registered Nurse and more recently his solo project RJ Andrew." "He was also the founder of Pharmacy Records. He poured his heart and soul into his music, and his legacy will be felt across Melbourne's music community for years to come." Just one week before his untimely death, Andrew revealed to his fans he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in a social media message shared alongside a photo from his wedding to Powell. "After my last unsuccessful attempt to jump 17 double decker buses – A) this may go someway towards explaining being in a wheelchair and, B) the fact I'm getting married to the beautiful Nicolette Powell, in this photo," he wrote on Facebook. "Alas, although the marriage is definitely true and based on love, the double decker bus is, sadly, not quite the truth. Instead, a few month ago, I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic lung cancer, which has been a billy cart ride down s**t street, for the last little while." Andrew then went on to issue a public farewell to his fans and loved ones. "I am completely reconciled to whatever the future is, however, that future is probably quite limited and I'm in the process of preparing to pop this mortal coil and return to the trees, as it were," he wrote. "I cannot overstate enough what an honour and a privilege it has been to know you all over the last 58 years, and to have lived the most incredible, incredible life." Image credits: Instagram / GoFundMe

Caring

Hospice nurse reveals people's last words before they die

A hospice nurse has revealed the number one thing people say in their final moments before they die. Healthcare expert Julie McFadden, who makes online videos discussing death to help break the taboo around dying, has shared the three most common regrets patients share on their death beds. Speaking to NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan on his podcast, Julie said these final discussions tend to centre around what they've taken for granted. "The first one I hear all the time is that they regret not appreciating their health while they had it," Ms McFadden said, reflecting on her 15 years of working in the health sector. "That's the number one thing people say to me, I wish I would have understood how amazing it is to have a working body." The second regret she often hears is people admitting they "worked too much" and wish they hadn't worked their life away, and rather spent time doing things that brought them joy. Finally, she revealed in the clip shared to Instagram, that many dying patients have regrets about relationships. The nurse explained people either wish they had maintained certain relationships and friendships, or regret holding grudges. Dr Rajan responded to Ms McFadden's insight with a story of a young patient that made him realise we are not 'immortal' and we should not take our life "for granted". In the clip shared with his 1.5million followers he said, "A few years ago when I saw a young woman come in with pancreatitis in her 20s, within three hours this young woman is in the intensive care unit, she's intubated, ventilated, and the next day, she had passed away." "That just made me think wow, I'm in my 30s now, I'm 34, life can just go in a flash. So yes, truly don't take it for granted, we sometimes have this tendency to walk around like we're immortal." Image credits: YouTube

Caring

Original Bee Gees star passes away aged 78

Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen has passed away aged 78. News of his death was posted on the official Facebook page of tribute band Best of the Bee Gees. “It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” they began. “He enriched our lives and bound our group with love, care and respect. “Not sure how we can go on without his glowing smile and deep friendship. We love you Col. Rest in Peace.” Petersen who was one of the original members of Australian band Bee Gees was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, has been credited for contributing to the band's rise to global superstardom. He was the band's first drummer and performed some of their most beloved songs including Massachusetts, To Love Somebody and Words. Petersen attended the same school in Redcliffe, Queensland as bandmates and brothers Barry Robin and Maurice Gibb, where he first developed an interest in music. After graduating, Petersen moved to the UK to break into the film industry, before he joined the Bee Gees in the 60's becoming the first non-Gibb brother to join the group. “There was an understanding that when the Gibbs’ arrived in England, that if the film thing didn’t work out, I’d join their band,” Petersen told Geelong Independent in 2022. “So I became the fourth Bee Gee, and that was obviously a big turning point in my life.” He left the band after the first phase of their career, just before they reached peak stardom in the '70s disco era, due to conflicts with the group's then-manager Robert Stigwood. Petersen moved back to Australia with his family in 1974, and in 2019 he joined the tribute group Best of the Bee Gees. His death comes after Maurice's sudden death in 2003, which prompted the Bee Gees to retire after 45 years. Robin later died in 2012 aged 62, leaving Barry, Vince Melouney and Geoff Bridgford as the last surviving members of the group. Petersen is survived by his ex-wife Joanne Newfield and their sons Jaime, born in 1971, and Ben, born in 1976. Image: Everett Collection/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Queen Camilla "heartbroken" by death of rescue dog

Queen Camilla, who is recovering from a chest infection, has had to make the tough decision of putting her beloved pet dog, Beth, down after she was diagnosed with an untreatable tumour. The news was revealed by Buckingham Palace in a message shared to social media, which read: "A sad farewell to Beth, the Queen's much-loved companion from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire". The 77-year-old royal is said to be "heartbroken" by the loss over the weekend. Beth was rescued by Camilla in 2011, and because she was a rescue, the animal charity was never sure of Beth's age. The royal later adopted another Jack Russell, Bluebell, soon after getting Beth, when she became patron of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2017, taking over from the late Queen Elizabeth II. <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/DCg830XISLD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCg830XISLD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a> </div> </blockquote> Recalling the moment she found Bluebell, the Queen previously told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Along I went to Battersea, and Beth appeared, and she had just been moved from pillar to post and dumped. "We thought it would be nice for her to have a friend. They found [Bluebell] two or three weeks later, wandering about in woods, no hair on her, covered in sores, virtually dead. And they nursed her back to life and her hair grew again. "She's very sweet, but a tiny bit neurotic, shall we say. "The nice thing about dogs is you can sit them down, you could have a nice long conversation, you could be cross, you could be sad and they just sit looking at you, wagging their tail." The two dogs were often by her side at public events and were even featured in an official portrait alongside Camilla. Pictures of her two pups were also embroidered onto the Queen's Coronation gown. Camilla once said of her dogs: "I cannot imagine my life, my home or my sofas without them". Image: Instagram/ The Royal Family

Family & Pets

Masked robbers target Windsor Castle

Two masked men have targeted Windsor Castle and took off with two vehicles that were stored in a barn. The men used a stolen truck to break through a security gate at night and then scaled a two-metre fence to gain entry into the royal grounds. According to reports by The Sun, King Charles and Queen Camilla were not at Windsor at the time, but it is believed Prince William and his family were residing in Adelaide Cottage, part of the Windsor Castle estate. The cottage is five minutes away from where the break-in occurred, and the family are regularly seen using the wrecked gate, the nearest exit to their home. Local police were called to a report of a burglary on Crown Estate land in Windsor, west of London, just before midnight on October 13th. “Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area,” Thames Valley Police told the newspaper. “No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Legal

Dolly Parton struck by family tragedy

Dolly Parton's older brother David Wilburn Parton has passed away at the age of 82. The news was shared by their sister, Stella Parton, on social media. "My brother David Passed away peacefully this morning. It's never easy to say goodbye to a loved one but he got his angel wings and is now at peace," she initially wrote on X, formerly Twitter. She shared another post on Facebook on Friday November 15 (Saturday November 16 in Australia), "It's never easy to lose a loved one. My wonderful brother David Parton passed in the early hours of the morning." The following day, she thanked everyone for their thoughts and prayers in a follow-up post, "Thank you for all your kind thoughts to my family as we continue to grieve the loss of our much loved and cherished oldest brother David." While a specific cause of death has not been revealed, David's obituary, posted online by Farrar Funeral Home in White Pine, Tennessee, confirmed that he passed away at his home. "The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. David McNabney, Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice, his Cornerstone caregiver, Aubrie Smith & caregiver, Robin Schmidt," the obituary read. Dolly has yet to comment on the death. David is the oldest son among Dolly's 11 siblings, which include six brothers and five sisters. Among them, those remaining include Willadeene, 84, Coy, 81, Robert Jr., 76, Stella, Cassie, 73, Frieda, 67, Rachel, 65. Unlike his famous siblings, David stayed out of the spotlight and had a thriving career as a bridge builder superintendent, working on many of the bridges in Tennessee. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kay Parton, as well as three children and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Image: Instagram

Caring

Hospice nurse shares what happens to the body after death

A hospice nurse has revealed the reality of what happens to our bodies in the minutes, hours and days after we die. In her efforts to break down the taboo around conversations about death, Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse from the US, posts candid videos about death and dying to help us be more informed and prepared. In Julie’s latest video, she explains exactly what happens to the human body in the moments, hours and days after someone dies. Nurse Julie said that in the immediate moments after death, the body completely relaxes, beginning the first stage of decomposition, called hypostasis. “All of the things in your body that are holding fluids in, relaxes. That's why death can be messy sometimes.” She clarified that because of how relaxed the body becomes, those who have just died may urinate, have bowel movements or experience bodily fluids coming out of their nose, mouth, ears or eyes. Nurse Julie added, “I like to talk about it so people aren't surprised if that happens - very normal and to be expected sometimes.” This is also when the stage of decomposition called autolysis, or “the self-digestion” stage, occurs and enzymes begin to break down oxygen-deprived tissue, also causing the body temperature to drop. As the body settles in the hours after death, Nurse Julie said the blood will begin to pool downward toward the ground. She said, “If you let someone lie there for long enough - which we do sometimes; you don't have to hurry up and make sure your loved one leaves the house - if you turn them you will notice usually the back of their legs the whole backside of them will look purple or darker that's because all their blood is pulling down.” “Gravity is pulling it down. So they will eventually get a darker colour tone of skin on their backside.” One to two hours after death is also when rigor mortis - or the stiffening of a body’s muscles - sets in and continues for about the next 24 hours Nurse Julie said, “I have seen people become very stiff almost immediately - like a few minutes - after death and other people, their body takes longer.” Additionally, about 12 hours after death, the body will feel cool to the touch. About a day to a day and a half after a person dies, rigor mortis subsides and the body will begin to loosen again, as Nurse Julie said the body's tissues relax and cause the stiffness to break down. By this time, the body is usually in the mortuary, which will prepare the body in whichever way the family has requested, whether it is for burial or cremation. She added, “In a world where people didn't have access to a mortuary or a healthcare system and they just died naturally, our bodies are built to, after death, decompose.” Image credits: Shutterstock / Instagram / YouTube

Body

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Famed Aussie cartoonist Michael Leunig dies

Beloved Aussie author dies at age 74

Acclaimed musician dies after cancer diagnosis

Australian broadcasting legend dies at age 78

Dynasty actor dies at age 77

Australia's first supermodel dies at age 87

Hunt for shooter after healthcare executive fatally shot

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

Father's emotional plea after death of his daughter from methanol poisoning

"Alive and well": Fans confused over Dr Harry Cooper death announcement

British royal considering moving to Australia

Fifth death confirmed in Laos poisoning

Second Bee Gees member dies within four days

Beloved Aussie musician dies days after revealing cancer diagnosis

Hospice nurse reveals people's last words before they die

Original Bee Gees star passes away aged 78

Queen Camilla "heartbroken" by death of rescue dog

Masked robbers target Windsor Castle

Dolly Parton struck by family tragedy

Hospice nurse shares what happens to the body after death

Our Partners