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"This is crazy": Teenager goes fishing and emerges a millionaire

A 19-year-old fisherman has reeled in a million-dollar barramundi as part of a years long fishing competition. Keegan Payne, a self proclaimed "mad keen" fisherman, caught the fish that had been tagged as part of a nine year long fishing competition in the Katherine River. When the teenager from the Norther Territory was told that he had taken home the prize, he said he planned to use his winnings to help his parents pay off their home loans. "This is crazy for us, we're a big family, there's eight of us. This is more money than we could ever ask for. This is just great," Payne said. "It means so much. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I'm happy, really happy." "I can buy what I want, maybe help Dad and Mum out with the home loans," he said. Payne was on a fishing trip with family and a friend at the Katherine River when he caught the prized barramundi, and quickly made a call to the hotline for the competition. The organisers confirmed he had caught the million-dollar fish, and invited him and his family to collect the prize. The competition has been running since 2015, but until now, nobody had reeled in one of the million-dollar barramundi. Every season, more than a hundred fish tagged with special markings are released in waterways across the Northern Territory, and while most of the fish are worth $10,000, some are worth the major prize of $1 million. Keegan chose charity partner Cancer Council NT to receive $10,000 from Sportsbet, a sponsor of the competition. NT Major Events Company chief executive Suzana Bishop said organisers were "so happy and excited for Keegan". "We guaranteed a winner this season and we're delighted to see the prize go off," said Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans. Image credits: Million Dollar Fish

Domestic Travel

Teenage boy in custody after stabbing at Sydney church

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after he stormed a church service in Western Sydney and stabbed a bishop and a priest. The Orthodox Christian church service was being live-streamed from the suburb of Wakeley on Monday night and captured the moment Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel's sermon was interrupted by the teen, who allegedly stabbed him several times. Father Isaac Royel was also stabbed, with two parishioners also sustaining injuries as they subdued the teenager until police arrived. The bishop and priest were both taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said the churchgoers did a "fantastic job" trying to calm the scene, but outside the church, an emotional crowd quickly built. NSW Premier Chris Minns chaired an urgent crisis control meeting with leaders from multiple faiths, all agreeing to a call for calm. When police arrived on the scene, the riot officers attempted to forcibly move the crowd away from the church, which led to violence against the officers. Police cars were smashed and two officers were taken to hospital after being injured by members of the crowd who broke into “a number of houses to gain weapons to throw at the police”. The 15-year-old, who was known to police, was arrested once officers gained access to the church and was taken to an undisclosed location for his own safety. Premier Minns later confirmed that the attack is being treated as a terror event, saying Police Commissioner Karen Webb had designated the stabbing a "terror incident" just prior to 2am. Chris Minns urged the community to keep calm and not perpetuate further violence, saying he and religious leaders “endorsed and supported a unanimous condemnation of violence in any form, called for the community to follow first responder and police instructions and called for calm in the community”. “We’re calling on everyone to act with kindness and respect for each other,” he said. The church said Bishop Emmanuel and a senior priest were in a stable condition and also appealed for calm. “We ask for your prayers at this time,” the church said in a statement posted on social media. Image credits: Facebook / Nine News

Legal

“A beautiful soul”: Teenager killed in Aus Day boat crash identified

The teenager killed in a fatal boat crash on Australia Day has been identified, as her heartbroken family remember her as a “beautiful soul”. Darcy Davey-Sutherland was enjoying a day on the water when two tinnies collided near the Gray’s Point boat ramp in Sydney’s Sutherlandshire, where the 16-year-old was critically injured. Paramedics arrived on the scene and transported Darcy to St George’s Hospital, where she later died. The 16-year-old was wearing a lifejacket at the time of the crash, and it is believed onlookers found her face down in the water and performed CPR on the teenager until paramedics arrived. Her father, Michael Davey-Sutherland, said his daughter was "the beacon of light within our family" in both the UK and Australia. "She was about to embark on the most special part of life as she stepped into adulthood," Michael told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-darcy-sutherland-killed-in-grays-point-boat-crash/794e7737-9970-4e41-80b0-4324c4d6db5c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. "Words cannot describe the pain we feel at the moment." Darcy, who was the eldest child and was very close to her two younger brothers, was also fondly remembered by her family and friends online. "I will miss you so much Darc, I feel like I've lost a part of me," one person said. "Will forever love you. You will forever be missed, my beautiful angel, I will never forget our time together," another said. "I pray for your family to find the strength to live with their forever broken heart, keeping your memory alive. Rest beautiful girl," a third added. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/darcy-sutherland">GoFundMe</a> page set up to help the Davey-Sutherland family has already seen more than $40,000 raised in 24 hours. Image credits: 9News / Facebook

News

Teenager arrested after shoving elderly man off pier

A teenager has been arrested after a disgraceful assault on an elderly man, which saw the teen push the man off a pier and into the water. The 79-year-old was walking along the pier at Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula on Sunday night, when he was targeted by a group of three teenagers. Filming the assault, the teenagers laughed as one boy approached the elderly man and shoved him off the pier and into the water below. The teens ran away laughing, and later uploaded the footage of the incident to social media. Mornington Peninsula MP, Chris Crewther slammed the actions of the group and told the Today show that the man was not a strong swimmer and could have drowned if it wasn't for two bystanders who jumped into the water to save him. "It is disgraceful, appalling and cowardly behaviour," he said. "I know that this man is highly shaken and traumatised by the event and fortunately, I understand he wasn't seriously injured, but it would take a while to recover from this mentally and emotionally." A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and unlawful assault over the incident. Crewther confirmed the other two boys involved in the attack are known to police, given that the footage of the shoving was uploaded to their personal social media accounts. "Obviously they were wanting some notoriety and to show their exploits on social media, which has actually got them in trouble now because they've identified themselves," he said. "The Police know who they are and are asking the victim to come forward to give a statement so that these three can be charged to the fullest extent and hopefully they will be punished." Image credits: Instagram

News

Manhunt as two men who fled scene of fatal car crash identified

The young victims of a deadly crash crash have been identified, as police continue their search for two men who fled the scene. Braydan Collier, 13, and Kaine Bell, 14, were killed after a silver Ford sedan slammed into a telegraph pole and a jacaranda tree in Ashcroft, western Sydney, at high speed on Monday, splitting the vehicle in two and throwing one of the young boys from the car. Braydan had just celebrated his 13th birthday on Sunday, the day before he and his best mate would be killed in the horrifying crash. The two men, one of whom was driving the car, abandoned the scene, prompting a major manhunt from police. The men are claimed by police to be Nicholas Thew and Anthony Morris, according to report from <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/braydan-collier-and-kaine-bell-killed-in-horror-ashcroft-crash/news-story/15b23363d37e02c5e2b6fa1839c23869" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a>. Graphic CCTV footage of the accident captured the moment two adult men, who, the publication reports “played surrogate big brother roles” in their lives, pulled themselves from the wreckage of the car, stepped over the boys’ bodies and fled the scene. One of the men could be heard yelling to his fellow front seat passenger “I wanna go home” as they ran, leaving the teenagers behind, who died at the scene. Nicholas Thew’s younger brother Dridyn told The Telegraph his family was horrified by the accident. He said he and his mother had taken the young victims “under their wing”. “Mum’s more worried about the two little boys, she tried to take them under her wing, she took Kaine and Braydan under her wing even though she struggles herself,” he said. “They’re little ones I took under my wing to keep out of trouble, but I haven’t seen them for two days and look where they are now." “My younger brother went around there and identified them. I’m heartbroken.” NSW Police are investigating the crash and the events leading up to it as they hunt for the two men who ran from the wreck, with Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden saying the accident was “clearly avoidable”. “We are looking for that driver to present themself so we can speak to him. We do not know what role, if any, he has played in the crash, but it is certainly an active line of investigation,” he said. He urged the pair who fled the vehicle to come forward, warning: “we will find them”. “They just need to present themselves to a police station, so we can engage with them and they can assist us with the inquiries and work out how this tragic situation unfolded,” Mr McFadden said. Image credits: Nine News

Legal

Teenage NRL player charged with gang murder

A teenage NRL player has been charged with murder over the violent death of an underworld figure in July. Masei Tavui, a 19-year-old West Tigers player, was charged by Liverpool Police on Tuesday afternoon over the death of Dejan “Danny the Serb” Radulovic, who was killed while he was on parole. Police officers arrested the teenager in the early hours of the morning, before executing a search of his home in south-west Sydney. Tavui sat calmly talking to police in handcuffs before being taken away in a paddy wagon. They arrested the 19-year-old before they seized “clothing relevant to their investigation” that was uncovered during the search. “It will undergo further forensic examination,” NSW Police said. Radulovic was killed on July 29th after he was allegedly shot and stabbed in the Sydney suburb of Balmain following an altercation with two men. Officers arrived on the scene to find Mr Radulovic had sustained significant head and torso injuries, with police alleging his wounds were from being bashed and stabbed. He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he later died. An autopsy of the 29-year-old discovered he had also suffered a gunshot wound. “Police have been told Danny Radulovic was injured during an altercation with two men before the pair allegedly fled the scene in a white Jeep,” a NSW Police spokesperson said in a statement. Masei Tavui was refused bail and will face court next week. Image credits: NSW Police

Legal

Human remains found in search for missing teenager

Tasmanian Police have discovered human remains in their search for missing 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee Tatnell. After a huge ground and air search, the remains were found on a bush track at Nabowla, in the north-east of Tasmania. While police have yet to confirm the remains are those of the missing teen, they have notified Shyanne-Lee's parents of the discovery. Shyanne-Lee went missing almost three months ago on April 30th, and was last seen on a main road in Launceston. Northern District Commander Kate Chambers said a crime scene had been declared where the remains were found. "It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm that remains were located late this afternoon during our extensive search. While these have not yet been forensically confirmed, they are believed to be human remains," Chambers said. "We have been in regular contact with Shyanne-Lee's family throughout the investigative process, and have notified them about this latest development." "Our thoughts continue to be with them and Shyanne-Lee's loved ones during this difficult time." Police went on to confirm that no arrests have been made, but declared that the investigation into Shyanne-Lee's disappearance now likely had a “criminal element” as they are “following a specific line of inquiry". Tasmania Police, with the assistance of NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police, SES and community volunteers, launched what’s believed to be Northern Tasmania’s largest police operation on Wednesday in the search for clues as to Shyanne-Lee’s whereabouts. Image credits: Facebook / Tasmania Police

Legal

Teenagers who have positive relationships with their parents tend to have better outcomes as adults

Parenting teenagers can be challenging, but a new study shows that those efforts ultimately pay off. <div class="copy"> When teenagers report higher levels of “parental warmth”,” communication” and time spent together, they are more likely to experience significantly higher general health, optimism and romantic relationships in early adulthood. That’s according to a paper by US paediatricians and social workers <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802677" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in JAMA Network. “The overall pattern of these results suggests strong relationships between adolescents and their mothers and fathers leads to better health and well-being in young adulthood,” <a href="https://www.chop.edu/news/chop-researchers-find-strong-adolescent-parent-relationships-lead-better-long-term-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said the paper’s lead author</a>, Dr Carol Ford from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Efforts to strengthen parent-adolescent relationships may have important long-term health benefits.” Using data from the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, the study followed a cohort of more than 15,000 adolescents aged 12-17 years in 1994-95 through to young adulthood (24-32 years) in 2008-09. The researchers found positive teen-parent relationships were also associated with lower levels of stress, depressive symptoms, nicotine dependence and substance abuse in young adults. The data was gathered by asking secondary-school-aged participants a series of detailed questions about their relationships with each parent, including topics such as warmth, communication, time together, academic expectations, discipline, relationship satisfaction. The aim of the study was to better understand the significance of parent-adolescent relationships for adult health. The study looked at the characteristics of mother-teenager and father-teenager relationships and tried to define what a “warm” relationship is, and what “communication” means. The researchers followed up with the participants once they reached adulthood, to ask about health, mental health, sexual behaviour, substance use and injury. “Adolescents’ perception of parental warmth had the most consistent favourable associations with adult outcomes across domains,” the researchers found. <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=240457&title=Teenagers+who+have+positive+relationships+with+their+parents+tend+to+have+better+outcomes+as+adults" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> </div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/teenagers-positive-relationships-with-parents-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Petra Stock. Images: Getty </div>

Relationships

“Those attackers will be after me. I know they will.”: Horrifying social media trend leaves woman scared to shop alone

A disturbing social media trend is prompting teenagers to attack unsuspecting victims in public while others record the violence. Videos of the attack involving South Australian teenagers were posted in Facebook groups where members are encouraged to continue the violence and upload more footage. In one video, a woman shopping at a Woolworths store is brutally assaulted by a teenage girl as her friend records and encourages the beating. In the video, the teenage girls can be seen strolling into the supermarket before picking a target - Jessica Burke, an unsuspecting shopper who happened to walk in front of the girls with her trolley. “Bash the s*** girl, bash her,” the girl recording says to her friend. The violent attack then begins with the teenager grabbing Ms Burke by the hair; dragging her to her knees. After Burke is on the ground, the teenager proceeds to kick and punch her in the head repeatedly in front of horrified shoppers, including children screaming in fear. To see the harrowing footage in full, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11731143/Woolworths-shopper-bashed-teens-social-media-trend-urges-attack-civilians.html#v-4575687196736504272" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head here</a>. Caution: disturbing footage; viewer discretion advised. The woman suffered injuries to her head but says the psychological effects have been the most painful. “I can't go down to the shops like Woolies, Coles or Big W without someone with me because I'm too scared,” Ms Burke told 9News. "Those attackers will be after me. I know they will.” Several other videos online show the same attacker to be the main offender, assaulting other teenagers in parking lots and in the street. South Australian Police commissioner, Greg Stevens, said people encouraging the violence can also be charged, not just the attacker. “It is an offence to incite an offence,” he said. “If people are actively engaging in an activity that encourages other people to commit a crime then they can be held accountable for that.” Some local residents believe that even though the teenagers are being charged, they are then released on bail. “These days it's just a slap on the wrist and send you on your way,” Ms Burke's partner, Tarquin Gray said. “The system has just gone backwards.” “It is very complex and it is made more complex when it involves young people committing offences,' Mr Stevens said. Image Credit: Getty

Legal

Teenagers who were lost at sea speak about terrifying experience

The four teenagers who were lost at sea after paddling out on inflatable boards at the Mornington Peninsula have spoken about their terrifying experience. Two 18-year-old males, an 18-year-old female and a 19-year-old female from Glen Waverley, were paddling at the beach just off Point Nepean Rd in Rosebud, Victoria when they were swept out to sea. They joined their boards together to ensure no one would be left behind and drifted through the icy night on their journey of more than 30 kilometres. Around 2 am they finally saw some land, arriving at the Australian Defence Force facility on Swan Island. Speaking out since the horrific ordeal, the four teenagers said they never lost hope that they would be eventually found. “We were just trying to stay alive, and we started trying to call out to passing boats,” Rong Shi told 7NEWS. Sally Liu was worried about spending the night floating on a paddleboard and if they would survive the conditions. “I’m thinking ... do we have to stay for the night on this paddleboard and how can we survive?” she said. “I thought maybe it was my last night ... because for myself I am not a good swimmer.” Another survivor, Shi Rui Heng, said she just wanted to go home back to her mother after getting into a fight with her earlier that day. “I was thinking about my mum because we’d had a fight the day before, I just wanted to go home and apologise to her,” she said. “I’ve never been that cold before, it was pretty scary.” Despite their circumstances the four tried to make the best of the situation and appreciated the scenery around them. “There were stars in the sky and there were shiny little fish in the sea ... so it was pretty,” Rui Heng said. The group are truly lucky to be alive after the strong current swept them from Rosebud Beach to Swan Island in the Queenscliff area before they were eventually found. “They’ve gone from here (Rosebud) to where we are straight across Port Phillip Bay ... it’s a fair way,” Acting Inspector Terence Rowlands said. Images: 7News

Travel Trouble

See inside Roger Federer’s teenage bedroom

While Roger Federer’s adult life has been filled with fame and success on and off the tennis court, a throwback photo has revealed that his teenage years were more similar to most of ours than we might expect. A photo of the tennis maestro’s bedroom has been doing the rounds on social media and shows a 17-year-old Federer grinning for the camera with bleach-blond hair, some spots, and wearing a baggy Nike sweatshirt. The future World No. 1’s bedroom walls were covered in posters of his teenage idoles, including Pamela Anderson, and NBA stars Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A 17-year-old Roger Federer with pin-ups of Jordan, Pamela Anderson and a Macedonian flag 🇲🇰 in his bedroom in Basel 😀 <a href="https://t.co/IPEIqzV9sw">pic.twitter.com/IPEIqzV9sw</a> — Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) <a href="https://twitter.com/gigicat7_/status/1584598092065648642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2022</a></blockquote> Other items dotted around his room included what appears to be an Akubra hat, along with the Montenegrin flag, a mini basketball hoop and a collection of trophies. Just five years after the photo was taken, Federer would win his first Major at Wimbledon in 2003. Fans were quick to share their thoughts on the photo, with many sharing lighthearted jokes and commenting on how normal the future star’s room looked. “Lol i like the 90s randomness of it all,” one person shared. “Looks like any normal kids room at the time,” another said. “Really been living up to his two as the blandest white guy on earth since day one,” a third teased. “The GOAT with my country’s flag 😍,” one fan enthused. As for his bleached locks, one fan dubbed it his “Eminem phase”, referencing American rapper’s iconic bleach blond hair which he had during the 1990s and 2000s. Image: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Five teenagers killed in devastating crash

Five teenagers have been killed in a devastating single-vehicle crash in Sydney's southwest. Emergency services were called to the scene along East Parade at the suburb of Buxton just after 8pm on Tuesday following reports a Nissan Navara had lost control and ploughed into a tree. The passengers, three girls, two aged 14 and a 15-year-old, and two boys, aged 15 and 16, all died at the scene. The driver, an 18-year-old man, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Liverpool hospital. Police are investigating the cause of the crash, although they don't believe alcohol was involved. While police are yet to release the identities of the victims, it’s understood they all attended Picton High School. “I’ve been in the police for 38 years and it’s one of the worst accident scenes I’ve ever come across,” Superintendent Paul Fuller said. In a community as small as Buxton where Picton High is the only public high school in the area, Fuller said it’s likely some emergency workers would have recognised the victims. “It’s a horrific scene, and unfortunately some of the first responders would know these kids.” “We had a family liaison officer there from the crash investigation unit who worked with the families trying to identify these children,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham. Wollondilly Shire Mayor Matt Gould called the incident “absolutely horrific” in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning. “Our entire shire has woken up in shock and mourning following the absolutely horrific accident at Buxton overnight,” he wrote. “The loss of so many young lives is just devastating and you can’t put into words the overwhelming loss many in our community are feeling." “Wollondilly always pulls together in tragedy and sadly we need to do it again now.” Image credits: 7News

News

Incredible teenage boy cracks coded coin in hours, but he isn’t the first

Within hours of its release to the general public, a 14-year-old boy had cracked the codes hidden on <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/coins-covered-in-coded-clues-will-test-your-spy-skills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a coin released by an Australian intelligence agency</a> - but some had solved them days earlier, due to an unusual legal rule. A 50-cent coin celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) was released last Thursday containing four levels of codes with hidden messages. But, the puzzles were already being discussed online ten days earlier, with some codes already being solved by August 20. This was due to requirements on the Australian Government to include the characters featured on the coin in legislation, available online, before the coin was made available to purchase on September 1. As well as a celebration of the agency’s history, it’s hoped the coin will act as a kind of recruitment drive and attempt to raise the profile of the ASD among the general public, with the agency planning to recruit another 1,900 people over the next decade as part of a $9.9 billion expansion. Dr Richard Bean, a research fellow at the University of Queensland who solved the coin’s puzzles within two hours of getting his hands on it, said the move was about attracting those interested in a career with the ASD. "The kind of people who would sit down and solve this kind of code on the coin, they're the kind of people the ASD wants to attract — innovative thinkers to solve difficult problems in cryptography in both an offensive and defensive sense," Dr Bean said. "So solving other nation's codes and protecting Australian government communications security. "It's about attracting the right candidates and putting the ASD in their mind, instead of having to go out in traditional recruitment channels." But let’s go back to our teenage whiz kid. Though the Tasmanian boy’s identity hasn’t been revealed, it’s clear he has talent and instinct according to Distinguished Professor Willy Susilo, who also directs the Institute of Cybersecurity and Cryptology at the University of Wollongong. “[What] is very important is actually not about whether you can crack the code or not, [what] is important is the thinking behind it, how to solve this kind of puzzle,” he told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-05/how-to-solve-spy-australian-signals-directorate-50-cent-coin/101405266" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>. “To me, I think to get a person who, especially in this case, is 14 years old, can crack the code within just one or two hours is actually incredible in my opinion. "That really is the kind of skill needed in the Australian Signals Directorate." Image: ASD

Money & Banking

Readers Respond: What is something you liked to do as a teenager that's irrelevant today?

Life really comes at you quickly. One day you’re out laughing with a few mates after work then BAM, you’re retired and have all the time for whatever you want. It got us thinking here in the office, we’re quite a young team and it wasn’t that long ago that we were teenagers. But something that we really liked doing that is irrelevant today is having dial-up internet. Another said she misses playing Snake on a brick Nokia phone. So we decided to get a glimpse into the life of our audience and see what is something you liked to do as a teenager that’s irrelevant today. Check them out below. Deborah Buchanan - Put iridescent posters on my bedroom walls, turn the black UV light on and listen to Iron Butterfly. Shirleyand Trevor Wilson - We would go to a dance in a country hall starting at 8 and finishing at midnight. If anyone wanted to drink alcohol they had to be a certain distance away, not sure how far. The girls would sit around the hall and the boy's stood together at the back of the hall and when the music for dance started they would choose which girl to ask. They would have a ladies choice a couple of times and the girl could go and pick out who she would like to dance with. Jeanette Doherty - Listen to the short wave radio that my brother made whilst I was lying in bed. Got the best reception at night! Margaret Inglis - Go out to clubs and get home at 4am. Now I'm waking at 4am and going to sleep when I get home. Gwen Gibbs - Drive in movies and local dances Friday and Saturday nights, some even had supper. Chris Thomas - Listen to the radio and call in requests that were then put to air. Teresa Hamilton Gross - Write letters to my cousin in Indiana. It was long distance to call on the telephone and very expensive. Pamela Kinloch - Have friends over just to sit around and listen to records. Dianne Parlor - Going to the local milk bar and dancing to the music from the jukebox. Elizabeth Lussetich – Anticipation of everything. No technology so you would bike it in order to talk to a friend. Janette Nelson - Had five pen pals in different countries, loved writing to them and getting letters from them. Share some of your memories over <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oversixtys/posts/pfbid02mYDbDcptJhyUFCHWyFmzHkyWFa1gxyHx7XTbNJKuLCwzUfiDwqtxFv4o1zyWJuR7l" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

Teenage "speed camera warrior" confronted by grouchy "Karen"

Teenage "speed camera warrior" Beau Jackson has been confronted by a disgruntled middle-aged woman as he warned motorists of an upcoming speed camera. The Central Coast local has dedicated his free time to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/i-ve-been-saving-them-heaps-teen-speed-camera-crusader-hailed-a-hero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alerting drivers</a> to hidden speed cameras that can often result in <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/speed-camera-crusader-cops-highly-dubious-fine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hefty fines</a>. While parked on the side of the road with a sign bringing attention to the sneaky cameras, thankful motorists often show their appreciation to Beau by honking their horn. Despite his noble cause, the 17-year-old had his first unpleasant experience with a local, and shared the confrontation on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@scamerasloveme/video/7088872965651172610?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media</a>. Beau filmed the woman, who he dubbed 'Karen' walking away and said from behind the camera, "This lady tried getting me by complaining about the honks - tried getting a photo of my number plate." "It's the first Karen interaction," he laughed, as another passer-by honked their horn. "She tried to take a photo of my number plate - I'm legally parked, there's nothing she can do about it." When speaking to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10753241/Beau-Jackson-teenage-speed-camera-warrior-confronted-grouchy-Karen.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a>, Beau explained the woman lived close to where he was parked, and got sick and tired of the honking noise. "She asked me to move because she was sick of the honking," he said. "I told her I was only parked there because the speed camera van was parked a few metres in front of me." The woman was unfazed about his mission to save locals from spending hundreds of dollars in speeding tickets and continued demanding that he move. When he continually refused, she started taking photos of Mr Jackson and his bike. "So I started taking photos of her," he recalled. "She backed right off when I did that, and then she starting making phone calls." Beau was unsure of who the woman was calling, but explained that as soon as the mobile speed camera took off from the area, so did he. "When they left, I had no reason to be there anymore so I left," he added. As Beau's video of the encounter racked up thousands of views, many people left comments telling the teenager to ignore the haters and keep protecting the community. Image credits: A Current Affair

Travel Trouble

Teenager donates newly-bought car to flood victim

A generous teenager has helped change the life of one of NSW's flood victims by giving him a car. Harry Ledger, a 17-year-old from Kiama, had recently travelled to the flood-affected area of Lismore to help in the mammoth clean up effort from devastating floods. After doing everything he could to help the clean up, Harry decided he wanted to do more than just get his hands dirty. With the help of his family, Harry took the car he recently bought (after saving up for more than two years) and gave it to Dylan: a local who had lost everything in the flood. Natasha Shearer, who helped coordinate Harry’s generous donation, posted about the moment Harry handed over the keys at the weekend. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnshearerlambert%2Fposts%2F10159694343075926&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="809" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> “Dylan was at work at the time and had no idea Harry was about to hand him a car,” Natasha wrote. <div id="ad-slot_out-of-page-mobile_section-index-1_pos-2" data-section-index="1"></div> “Dylan was in shock and really couldn’t believe that someone especially a beautiful young 17-year-old would come and hand over a car like that.” Harry had been saving over the last few years to buy the champagne-coloured Nissan, and decided to give it to the man who had lost his own home and car, and was couch-surfing for a place to stay and getting around on a pushbike. “We brought him out to the car,” Natasha told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-12/teenager-donates-car-to-northern-nsw-flood-victim/100982504" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>. “We told him we had a few things for him in the car and, the next thing, Harry handed him the keys." “He cried, he couldn’t believe it. He was very, very appreciative and in shock.” While the clean-up efforts are continuing in Northern NSW, one local's life is now a little easier. Image credits: Facebook

Caring

Teenager dies after being flung from ride

The last words said by a 14-year-old boy who died before falling from a drop tower amusement park ride have been revealed. Tyre Sampson was enjoying a night out with his family and friends at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida on Thursday when he decided to ride the Orlando Free Fall. Described as the world’s tallest freestanding drop tower at 131 metres, the ride spins around the tower when it’s reached the top before dropping at 120km/h. Tyre hopped onto the ride with his two friends who sat next to him, but he felt something was wrong. “When the ride took off, that’s when he was feeling uncomfortable. He was like ‘this thing is moving,’ you know what I’m saying. And he was like ‘what’s going on?’” Tyre’s father Yarnell Sampson told <a href="https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/father-of-14-year-old-killed-on-the-free-fall-drop-ride-wants-answers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WOFL-TV</a>. Tyre began to freak out and asked his friends to deliver a heartbreaking message to his parents. “And he was explaining to his friends, next to him, ‘I don’t know man, if I don’t make it down safely, can you please tell my mamma and daddy that I love them. “For him to say something like that, he must have felt something.” Horrific footage of the incident was shared to social media, showing a body being flung off the ride just before the ride stopped its descent. Mr Sampson said most of the rides rejected his son because of his height and weight, however the Free Fall staff said they could take him. Tyre stood at almost 2m tall and weighed 154kg, which made his father question why his son was allowed on the ride. "This one particular ride said, ‘We can take you, come on! Get on!’ No one else allowed him to get on the ride, so I’m wondering what happened between now and then that made them say, 'Come on, get this ride’. "This should never happen to anyone else's child ever again, and if I have anything to do with this, it will not happen ever again." Emergency calls made when Tyre fell out of the ride were released describing the horrific situation. “The thing (Orlando Free Fall) went down to drop and, like, when they got closer to the bottom, when it hit the break, the guy fell right out of the seat,” one caller told 911, <a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/03/25/hes-not-breathing-calls-to-911-released-after-teens-deadly-fall-from-orlando-drop-tower/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click Orlando</a> reported. “He’s not responsive. It looks like his arms are broken and his legs,” another called said. “He’s face down, there’s blood everywhere. He’s not breathing. I’ve checked his pulse, there’s no pulse.” Investigations into how Tyre died are continuing with ICON Park releasing a statement offering their condolences to the family. "A tragedy occurred last night at the Orlando FreeFall and our hearts are heavy with sadness. "The owner of the attraction is fully cooperating with authorities and ICON Park is doing everything we can to assist. "The Orlando FreeFall will be closed pending a full investigation. Other businesses at ICON Park are scheduled to be open during their normal business hours." OverSixty has chosen not to share the video due to its graphic nature and out of respect to the family. Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Random act of Kmart kindness found by teenager

A Queensland teenager has shared a heartwarming story of how she found a hidden gift while shopping for Kmart candles. The girl's mum Katherine shared a picture to a Kmart decor Facebook page that showed a $20 note with a note attached that reads, "If you found this, it's yours." "Keep it as a reminder of your abundance! Money is energy and there's an infinite supply available." Katherine added in the post, "Whomever you are who shared your wealth to people, may God bless you and your family." <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/KMART-MONEY-NOTE.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Image credits: Facebook Kmart customers and social media users quickly noticed that the thoughtful gesture came from influencer Isabelle Grace, who shared a photo of her hiding the notes and cash on her Instagram story. The young mum told <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/the-unbelievable-story-behind-one-kmart-shoppers-20-cash-find-in-local-queensland-store-c-5701605" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> that she had placed the four $20 bills around the store with the intention of making someone's day a little brighter. "I did four, I wanted to do five and take out $100. But I needed $20 notes, so ended up getting out $80 so I could do four different notes," she said. "And I went around and hid them in different spots around Kmart and I kind of felt a little bit like a weirdo for some reason, but it was actually lots of fun." Katherine said her teenage daughter will keep the cash and "pay it forward" to pass on the kind gesture. The post on Facebook has racked up thousands of likes, with many commenting about the selfless act from the influencer. "I love random acts of kindness, the domino effect of it is truly so amazing and humbling," one person wrote. "That's a lovely gesture. Hope you found your abundance, I feel it doesn't have to always be money," another added. Image credits: Facebook - Kmart Home Decor & Hacks / Instagram @Isabellegrace

Family & Pets

Teenager allegedly fired for getting vaccinated

Gold Coast teenager Georgia Smith is alleging she was fired from her job at a pizza shop because of her decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Georgia had been working at Ned Kelly’s Pizza in Tweed Heads when she was declared a health risk after receiving her first Pfizer vaccination. According to Georgia, the supposed health risks related to "the spike proteins, if I came into direct contact with them, would spread and go into their bodies." Georgia says she was then told she would not be receiving any shifts. She said of the news, "It still is hard to deal with, I lost a good job, I lost the friends I had in there." Law firm Maurice Blackburn got wind of what happened and reached out to Georgia and her family. Now they’re lodging a complaint on Georgia’s behalf with the Australian Human Rights Commission, alleging that her bosses at Ned Kelly’s Pizza discriminated against her on the basis of disability. As Giri Sivaraman from Maurice Blackburn explained, "The employer imputed a disability to her, they've said that because you're vaccinated you've got a condition and you're a risk to us because of the fact you're shedding particles.” Georgia’s former employers have denied the allegations in a statement posted on Facebook, saying she was fired because the store had been struggling financially, not because she had been vaccinated. The <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2931094840472008&id=1566752006906305&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVX3Ltz6w1LeWscKmaIE8coHlCm9DbGxiMaQf58BZL2dI1qXX9DnqYRiNJUZU29I_HY6iK2si6xMJo_JQwlV6WVG50z34YohTgK6zDZje41IMcKTJ2z6vJq7a8N_uIK-c6gEphd6SgrZhbHVKOFYKYu&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R" target="_blank">statement</a> also details Georgia’s supposed shortcomings, which many people found unnecessary and cruel. One user commented, “Why are you putting down a 16 year old girl on Facebook??? Wow you really have no idea!!” Despite their claim that the decision wasn’t vaccination related, 9 News <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/gold-coast-teenager-fired-over-receiving-vaccine-seeks-legal-action/33ce1d4a-a0c8-48dc-8a89-a1b9c3543af6" target="_blank">reports</a> that Georgia’s former boss has shared anti-vax material on social media during the pandemic. In addition, since sharing her story publicly, Georgia has become the target of anti-vax trolls online. She told Nine, "I've stopped reading all the hateful messages, I don't want to be reading those, it's kind of hurtful.” Mr Sivaraman argued that Georgia's case has far-reaching implications for others experiencing discrimination on the basis of vaccination. "We think it's really important to make accountable an employer that thinks it's ok to sack someone for getting vaccinated," he said. Georgia's mum Jody hopes their case can set an example for others whose employment has been threatened. "We just don't want to see anyone else put in that position," she said. Image: 9News

Legal

"It has to stop": Karl's blunt plea after anti-vaxxers hijack student's death

Karl Stefanovic used his platform on The Today Show to plead with those spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. The TV host discussed the high profile case of Year 12 student Tom van Dijk, who passed away last week after suffering from a cardiac arrest while swimming with his family. Karl went on to say that Tom's school was forced to step in when a flood of social media messages incorrectly linked his untimely death to the COVID-19 vaccine. "He had a cardiac arrest. So what happens? Thousands of faceless keyboard warriors take it upon themselves to seize on his awful death in front of his family, circulating false information, blaming his death on vaccinations," he said. "His school already dealing with grief amongst students was forced to confirm he hadn't even had a vaccination yet." "Imagine the added stress on that poor young man's family...their pain and their tragedy made worse by lies on social media." Karl went on to say the spread of misinformation is dangerous and "it has to stop". Tom van Dijk died on August 21, which was confirmed by his school principal, John Couani, at St Pius X College in Chatswood, Sydney. Couani reiterated Karl Stefanovic's claims about vaccine misinformation, saying he is unsure why the dangerous rumours started in the first place. The misinformation is horrific, there was nothing to do with mental health, this is purely a health issue,” he said. “The school did not force students to be vaccinated — the school is not in a hotspot or local government area of concern, nor was it eligible for the priority vaccination program — we’ve made no statement calling for vaccinations of students.” Image credit: Channel Nine

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Teenager donates newly-bought car to flood victim

Teenager dies after being flung from ride

Random act of Kmart kindness found by teenager

Teenager allegedly fired for getting vaccinated

"It has to stop": Karl's blunt plea after anti-vaxxers hijack student's death

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

"This is crazy": Teenager goes fishing and emerges a millionaire

Teenage boy in custody after stabbing at Sydney church

“A beautiful soul”: Teenager killed in Aus Day boat crash identified

Teenager arrested after shoving elderly man off pier

Manhunt as two men who fled scene of fatal car crash identified

Teenage NRL player charged with gang murder

Human remains found in search for missing teenager

Teenagers who have positive relationships with their parents tend to have better outcomes as adults

“Those attackers will be after me. I know they will.”: Horrifying social media trend leaves woman scared to shop alone

Teenagers who were lost at sea speak about terrifying experience

See inside Roger Federer’s teenage bedroom

Five teenagers killed in devastating crash

Incredible teenage boy cracks coded coin in hours, but he isn’t the first

Readers Respond: What is something you liked to do as a teenager that's irrelevant today?

Teenage "speed camera warrior" confronted by grouchy "Karen"

Teenager donates newly-bought car to flood victim

Teenager dies after being flung from ride

Random act of Kmart kindness found by teenager

Teenager allegedly fired for getting vaccinated

"It has to stop": Karl's blunt plea after anti-vaxxers hijack student's death

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