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"It's been terrible": Relief for 102-year-old trapped in unit for over a month

<p>102-year-old Joan Mather had been stuck inside her home at the St Kilda Memorial Hall in Melbourne for 32 days after the lift broke down. and now she's finally free. </p> <p>Mather was trapped inside her third-storey apartment as she is unable to use the stairs due to her age. </p> <p>"It's been terrible. I used to love to go to the doctor," Mather told <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p>"I can't even talk to the doctor. I've got to talk to him or her on the phone.</p> <p>"This is the second time this has happened. When are we going to have a lift which you rely on?"</p> <p>Concerned neighbours have been checking in on the centenarian, who was left "totally isolated" if it weren't for a few visitors who were able to walk up to the top floor. </p> <p>"She's been very lonely," fellow resident Gill said.</p> <p>"For a 102-year-old, Joan is very active.</p> <p>"She's used to coming down for a coffee and maybe a wine, and (she has been) totally isolated now except for people who can walk up to the top floor."</p> <p>Mather was born on June 17, 1922, and served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during WWII, before moving to Australia with her husband in the 50s. </p> <p>A spokesperson for Otis Elevators, who was working on the Memorial Hall issue said:  "We will continue to work closely with the building management to alleviate the flooding issue and return the lift to service as soon as possible." </p> <p>"We apologise for any disruption caused to the residents."</p> <p>The elevator was finally fixed on Thursday afternoon and Mather celebrated with a glass of champagne at St Kilda's Heroes Lounge bar.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine/ A Current Affair</em></p>

Caring

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Accused mushroom killer moved to protected unit over safety fears

<p>Erin Patterson, accused of poisoning three elderly individuals and attempting to murder several others, finds herself secluded within the confines of a protected unit in a Victorian prison. The move, reportedly necessitated by safety concerns, places Patterson away from the general prison population, reflecting the gravity of the allegations against her.</p> <p>According to sources cited by <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-ccok/accused-mushroom-murderer-in-jail-unit-with-pedophile-rapist/news-story/824c4f35c9d9b8f7553af2704836ea82" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Herald Sun</a>, Patterson now resides in the protected wing of the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a correctional facility in Victoria. The decision to relocate her stems from fears that she may face harm from fellow inmates due to the nature of her alleged crimes.</p> <p>The <em>Herald's</em> insider disclosed, "If Erin got out of protection, the girls would hurt her."</p> <p>Allegations of her involvement in the deaths of three elderly individuals have evidently rendered her a target among fellow inmates, necessitating stringent security measures.</p> <p>“She allegedly killed three elderly people," the source continued. “There’s a rule, you don’t touch the elderly and you don’t touch babies so because of that, you go into protection."</p> <p>Patterson stands accused of several crimes, including the murder of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, alongside Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson. Their deaths, following the consumption of a meal containing deadly mushrooms at Patterson's residence in Leongatha, shook the community.</p> <p>Furthermore, Patterson faces charges of attempted murder, notably targeting her ex-husband Simon and Heather Wilkinson's husband Ian, with the alleged attempts spanning over various dates.</p> <p>As Patterson awaits her court appearance scheduled for May, the case continues to captivate public attention. In the coming months, the court will delve deeper into the intricacies of the case, striving to uncover the truth behind the allegations.</p> <p><em>Image: News.com.au</em></p>

Legal

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"A night in hospital and a trip to the burns unit later”: Concerned mum's warning against popular fruit

<p><em><strong>Warning: This article contains images that some readers may find distressing.</strong></em></p> <p>A mother has taken to the internet and shared photos of her son’s severe burns that came as a result of him playing with a popular fruit. “A night in hospital and a trip to the burns unit later.” She began in her Facebook post.</p> <p>Her son Otis was playing happily outside with a lime in the sunshine, but the next day horror ensued.</p> <p>“It wasn’t until the next day that we noticed a rash appeared.” The mother said.</p> <p>The parents had assumed the rash must’ve been an allergic reaction to the lime juice, however, the rash quickly developed into a “horrific burn,” she added.</p> <p>The parents took Otis to the hospital where they were informed their son was suffering from a condition called phytophotodermatitis.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cku5QH2thxE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cku5QH2thxE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tiny Hearts (@tinyheartseducation)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Phytophotodermatitis, more commonly known as margarita burn, is a little-known condition which causes burns to the skin when a chemical called furocoumarin reacts to sunlight.</p> <p>The chemical is found in limes, citrus fruit and some plants.</p> <p>“The small lime he had been innocently playing with - had now burnt his skin horrifically!“ The mum said. “If our story can help raise awareness into phytophotodermatitis at least something good has come out of our horrific experience!”</p> <p>The woman has urged parents to be on the lookout for this little-known skin condition.</p> <p>To minimise the risks of phytophotodermatitis, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Healthline</a> suggests washing hands and other exposed parts of the skin immediately after being outdoors, wearing gloves when gardening, putting on sunscreen before going outdoors and wearing long-sleeved tops and pants in wooded areas.</p> <p><em>Photo credit: Getty</em></p>

Body

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Tina Turner: an immense talent with a voice and back catalogue that unites disparate music lovers

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/freya-jarman-535397">Freya Jarman</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-liverpool-1198">University of Liverpool</a></em></p> <p>On a few rare occasions (often at the end of a night), I’ve confided to my friends that Tina Turner was one of my biggest celebrity crushes. The revelation has usually been met with some surprise, and not unreasonably. Born in 1939, Tina was older than my mother and nearly 40 years older than me.</p> <p>But to me, she was a complete goddess from the moment I first encountered her. I vividly recall a white button-down shirt and figure-hugging blue jeans (probably the Foreign Affair tour of 1990) and an awakening of teenage desire.</p> <p>Turner has died aged 83. Reflecting now on her 50-year-long career, I can see the threads that made her the perfect icon for the young queer feminist I was in the early 90s. She was a strong and resilient woman who escaped the control of abusive men and went on to forge a stronger solo career afterwards.</p> <p>But her music also pushed boundaries of genre in ways that start to defy categories of gender, race and age, thereby changing the way female performers could be thought of.</p> <p>In 1967, Turner was both the first Black artist and woman to appear on the cover of <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-pictures/tina-turner-rolling-stone-covers-916255/">Rolling Stone</a>. She remains the only Black woman to have been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2013, she became the oldest person (at 73) to appear on the <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2013/03/tina-turner-oldest-vogue-cover-model.html">cover of Vogue</a>.</p> <p>Vocally, Turner was raised in the church, Spring Hill Baptist Church in Nutbush, specifically. However, her voice was different from the others she came up alongside.</p> <p>Unlike Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin or Diana Ross, Turner’s voice had a grit and a rasp, qualities that always added an unexpected edge to her early work. It was also a sound that enabled her to move beyond soul and blues in her solo career.</p> <h2>A genre-fluid singer</h2> <p>Turner’s first solo album (in 1974) was country, replete with steel guitars and talk of the bayou. The very next year, she performed the role of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rJGX8uqoL8&amp;ab_channel=StevenPrestidge">Acid Queen</a> in film of The Who’s psychedelic operetta fantasy, Tommy. The role gave its name to an album featuring several notable rock covers by Turner, such as Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love.</p> <p>Famously, she escaped from an abusive relationship with her singing partner Ike Turner, securing the rights to her stage name to her comparative financial detriment in their divorce settlement in 1978. Ike exerted his dominance in plain sight, slipping verbal threats of violence into <a href="https://youtu.be/FqdhfwUd2lk?t=88">a live performance of I’ve Been Loving You Too Long</a> at a concert in Ghana (1971).</p> <p>From the early 1980s, Turner made what has repeatedly been described as one of the most remarkable career comebacks of the century. The chart success of her cover of Al Green’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rFB4nj_GRc&amp;ab_channel=TinaTurner">Let’s Stay Together</a> (1983) came from left of field and the ensuing album, Private Dancer (1984) went platinum five times.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4QnalIHlVc?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Private Dancer represented another musical turn, this time towards the electro-synth pop world inhabited by Heaven 17, whose Rupert Hine and Martyn Ware produced several of the songs.</p> <p>The title song of the album exemplifies the narrative of Tina as a feminist powerhouse. Even 40 years on, the idea of a woman in her mid-40s singing a pop song about sex work is somewhat surprising.</p> <p>It’s not just an allusion to sex work (like, for instance, Blondie’s Call Me). And it’s far from the many songs about female sex workers written and performed by men (take Roxanne by The Police or Killer Queen by Queen for instance).</p> <p>Private Dancer is an explicit and unambiguous declaration of female desire and power in the first person. If anyone were in any doubt that Beyoncé owes a great deal to Turner’s trailblazing, her video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ12_E5R3qc&amp;ab_channel=Beyonc%C3%A9VEVO">Partition</a> is surely evidence, being a direct descendant of Private Dancer with its cage-dancing sex show.</p> <p>Over her 14 solo albums, Turner developed a remarkable capacity to push through boundaries and exist between categories. Along the way, she also changed how a woman in popular music was positioned for consumption. This magic made her fans in all sorts of music listeners.</p> <h2>A musical uniter</h2> <p>Turner’s musical agility allowed her to inhabit contradictory musical spaces simultaneously. For instance, there is the Tina Turner who makes regular appearances on the setlists of DJs at retro club nights, inspiring inebriated patrons to shake their tail feathers in unison.</p> <p>There is an exuberance here that crosses times and identities to bring a crowd together in the ritual of “rolling on the river”. It’s a song that also invites all shades of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLUJz5xrdds&amp;ab_channel=ThatRPDRChannel">drag performance to honour it</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GC5E8ie2pdM?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Then there is the Tina Turner who appears – frequently as the only woman, and perhaps uniquely as a Black woman – on compilations targeted at a predominantly male audience.</p> <p>The world of “dad rock” and “driving anthems” is a stronghold of largely white, male baby boomers. Think Robert Palmer, ZZ Top, The Jam and Whitesnake. There alongside them is Turner with songs like The Best, We Don’t Need Another Hero and Nutbush City Limits.</p> <p>Tina Turner’s capacity to transcend these borders of genre, and with them, borders of race, age, and gender, is what made her the absolute legend that she was. To me, it will also always represent a hybridity that calls to my identity as a queer feminist.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206526/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/freya-jarman-535397">Freya Jarman</a>, Reader in the Department of Music, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-liverpool-1198">University of Liverpool</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tina-turner-an-immense-talent-with-a-voice-and-back-catalogue-that-unites-disparate-music-lovers-206526">original article</a>.</em></p>

Music

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Should I invest in a unit or a house?

<p><em><strong>The first tenet of investment is to get the best possible returns, so let’s look at where the money comes and goes when you’re investing in residential real estate.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Initial cost</strong></p> <p>Units are typically more affordable than houses, so it’s easier for a first-time investor to raise the necessary capital. Houses often have a higher entry pricepoint due to land value. According to the latest Domain Group House Prices Report, the national median house price is $636,315 while units are $476,023. With the surge in Sydney prices, the median price of units in Sydney is now higher than the current median house price in Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.</p> <p><strong>Ongoing expenses</strong></p> <p>Council rates are usually higher on a house and you’ll be required to pay land taxes on an ongoing basis. With a unit or apartment, you will have to account for strata fees quarterly for the life of the investment, including any special levies that may be raised.</p> <p><strong>Maintenance</strong></p> <p>If you own a house, all maintenance issues are your responsibility (unless you have a property manager), whereas the maintenance and care of an apartment building and surrounds is the responsibility of the body corporate.</p> <p><strong>What do you want from your investment?</strong></p> <p>What sort of investor are you? Are you looking for regular long-term income, or do you plan to renovate and ‘flip’ the property as soon as you can?</p> <p>A house generally offers higher capital growth, due to the land component of the property. There’s also more potential for negative gearing. Units, on the other hand, tend to offer higher rental yields so they are more favourable from a cashflow perspective. Their lower pricepoint may allow you to build a diversified property portfolio more quickly.</p> <p>Older units in smaller blocks might offer better value than swanky new apartments in skyscrapers. You’re less likely to pay ongoing levies for amenities such as gyms, concierges and heated swimming pools; your voice will be louder in owners’ corporation meetings. It’s also easier to find new tenants if there aren’t 20 other vacant properties in the same location.</p> <p><strong>Rentability</strong></p> <p>Both houses and units are in demand right now. To optimise your investment, look for places where rental demand is high, such as around universities, transport or lifestyle areas with easy access to schools, parks, cafes, shops or beaches.</p> <p>Ultimately, there are reasons for and against almost any dwelling type. The right investment choice for you will depend on your financial position, risk profile and investment strategy.</p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/advice/unit-or-house-the-better-first-investment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au</span></strong></a>. Republished with permission.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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United in grief: William and Harry join mournful march

<p>Prince Harry and Prince William have walked by the side of their grandmother's coffin in a procession through London, as Queen Elizabeth made her final journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. </p> <p>The brothers were united in their grief as they joined other senior members of the royal family, who were led by King Charles for the procession to see Queen Elizabeth’s coffin lie in state in parliament.</p> <p>While Prince William wore regimental uniform, Prince Harry, no longer a senior working member of the royal family, was dressed in a dark mourning suit.</p> <p>Also not in uniform was Prince Andrew, who walked alongside sister Princess Anne and brother Prince Edward.</p> <p>As the journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall began, guns fired every minute at the nearby Hyde Park, as Big Ben tolled in unison. </p> <p>Mourners were lining the streets to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty's coffin, and to be one of the first in line when the official lying in state period begins. </p> <p>As the senior royals followed the procession, Kate, the Princess of Wales, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Queen Consort Camilla and Sophie of Wessex travelled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster by car.</p> <p>The emotional scenes were reminiscent of those at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, almost 25 years ago to the day, where the young princes again followed in the procession of mourning. </p> <p>“My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television,” Prince Harry once told royal biographer Angela Levin.</p> <p>“No child should lose their mother at such a young age and then have his grief observed by thousands of people.”</p> <p>In the documentary <em>Diana, My Mother</em>, Prince William said, “I remember just feeling completely numb, disorientated, dizzy."</p> <p>“And you keep asking yourself, ‘Why me?’ All the time, ‘Why? What have I done? Why? Why has this happened to us?’”</p> <p>As Queen Elizabeth now rests in Westminster Hall, four days of lying in state will then begin until the funeral on September 19th. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Backbone of our unit": Tributes pour in for Aussie medic killed in Ukraine

<p dir="ltr">A young Aussie medic from Queensland has been killed by Russian artillery fire in the Ukraine, leaving his family mourning the tragic loss of their son.</p> <p dir="ltr">27-year-old Jed William Danahay, from the rural town of East Nanango was killed in Eastern Ukraine on August 24 – with his death confirmed by the Department of Foregin Affairs – while working as a combat medic, assisting frontline troops when they were injured.</p> <p dir="ltr">At the time, Danahay was driving the medical vehicle when he was targeted by Russian forces and subsequently caught in an artillery attack.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family of the victim, his two older brothers and parents, have described his incredible character and desire to help others.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Jed lived his life trying to help other people, in his short time on this earth Jed did more things than most of us will ever do in a lifetime,” the Danahay family said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">They described his adventurous nature, which led him on many journeys around the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Jed died doing what he believed in, helping people who needed it. He was at his heart an optimist and always believed that things should be better.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Jed’s comrades in Ukraine described him as the backbone of their unit, a hero and someone who they could all trust their lives to.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He will be missed dearly by his friends and family.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The family concluded by saying if anyone wants to help, they encourage them to support the Ukrainian people.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: DFAT</em></p>

Caring

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United States returns stolen artefacts to Cambodia

<p dir="ltr">The United States have given back 30 artefacts that were allegedly stolen by a late antiquities dealer, who had been accused of leading a trafficking network that resold objects that were looted from the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">Among the objects that were officially returned to the country was a 10th-century sculpture of the Hindu god Skanda atop a peacock. </p> <p dir="ltr">Deeming the work a “masterpiece,” authorities in New York alleged that the late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford had stolen the sculpture in 1997 and subsequently sold it for $1.5 million.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Skanda sculpture had come from the ancient Khmer capital of Koh Ker, which is also where a 10th-century sculpture of Ganesha that allegedly passed through Latchford’s hands was once located. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Ganesha sculpture was also given back to Cambodia, along with several other artefacts.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the US District Attorney’s office did not place a monetary value on the artefacts, the works returned were of great spiritual and artistic significance. </p> <p dir="ltr">Ricky J. Patel, a special agent with Homeland Security, said in a statement, “These antiquities we returned were ripped from their country. Beyond their extraordinary beauty and craftsmanship, many are sacred artefacts pried from temples and palaces to be smuggled across borders and peddled by those seeking profit, without any regard to the intangible value they have to the people of their homeland.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The artefacts are due to go on display in a museum in Cambodia later this year. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Art

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Stalk choppers unite: Sneaky money-saving trick sparks debate

<p>With the cost of living expenses skyrocketing as the days go by, Aussie shoppers are taking matters into their own hands by finding creative ways to reduce their supermarket spend.</p> <p>However, the latest ploy to pay less for broccoli, which now costs up to $11.90 per kilo in some areas – has left customers divided, with some condemning this questionable "short-cut".</p> <p>Some shoppers have noticed legions of broccoli stalks being dumped on supermarket shelves, and have shared their observations online.</p> <p>The running theory is that some customers are snapping off the florets and leaving the stalk – or stem – behind, as that's the heaviest part. Doing this makes the vegetable lighter and therefore, cheaper at the check-out.</p> <p>By that logic, and the fact most retailers charge produce by weight, not item, people are arguably paying more for the stems that aren't often used.</p> <p>Last week, 2GB producer Jake told host Ben Fordham he recently bought four pieces of broccoli for $15 from Woolworths, but he noticed the stems were longer than usual, meaning fewer broccoli florets.</p> <p>He suggested it was a deliberate attempt by Woolworths to charge customers more for less, but that might not be the case.</p> <p>A Coles shopper in Melbourne named Jenn Shaw said she saw it too and shared a video on TikTok.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@jenn_shaw_/video/7108686164973915393" data-video-id="7108686164973915393"> <section><a title="@jenn_shaw_" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jenn_shaw_" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@jenn_shaw_</a> food prices in <a title="australia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#Australia</a> ... <a title="foodwaste" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foodwaste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#foodwaste</a> <a title="foodprices" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foodprices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#foodprices</a> <a title="kitchenhacks" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/kitchenhacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#kitchenhacks</a> <a title="♬ Taste It - Ikson" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Taste-It-6810180997917722626" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Taste It - Ikson</a></section> </blockquote> <p>In it, she pointed out that "shoppers are leaving stalks on shelves" in a bid to make them cheaper.</p> <p>Dozens of people responded to Shaw's video and admitted to breaking off what they needed, with one person arguing: "every bit helps these days", claiming she saves about $1.50 each time she buys broccoli, just by leaving the stalk.</p> <p>"No disrespect but for that price, I would do the same," admitted another.</p> <p>The original poster argued doing this creates so much waste as the stalks can be cooked and eaten too.</p> <p>In the clip, the Melbourne woman suggested people chop them up and add them to meals the same way you would the florets, and dozens more agreed.</p> <p><strong>Coles and Woolworths speak out</strong></p> <p>After becoming aware of the practice, Coles said it's "disappointing" to see.</p> <p>"It’s disappointing to hear a small number of customers have removed the stalks from broccoli in our stores as the entire vegetable is edible and full of nutritional value”.</p> <p>"We have not changed the specifications we set for our suppliers around the length of broccoli stems," a Woolworths spokesperson said in a statement.</p> <p>They also said the stem of the broccoli plays an important role in keeping the broccoli hydrated and fresh, particularly after being cut.</p> <p>This viral video comes after Coles and Woolworths warned about more price hikes in the coming months due to increased production and manufacturing costs, fuel price hikes and supply chain blockages.</p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Community unites to help long-lost teddy find its way home

<p dir="ltr">A teddy bear, thought to be lost in the outback, has been reunited with his family after their appeal for help went viral online.</p> <p dir="ltr">Godron Wilson had been photographing his son’s ‘Pooh’ bear to keep the family entertained on their 5000-kilometre trip from Bowen, north Queensland, to Perth.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, while snapping a photo of the cute stuffed animal on a fence post along the Barrier Highway near Broken Hill, Mr Wilson was “distracted by flies” and drove off with the family - only to realise hours later that the teddy was more than 150km away.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though he decided against going back to retrieve it, he and his wife Lois took to social media to try and find the bear instead. </p> <p dir="ltr">They posted in several Broken Hill Facebook groups asking if someone had seen or picked up the bear, and what came next shocked them.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their appeals for help quickly spread all over the internet.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was actually quite amazed by the reaction and how many people were following the story,” Mr Wilson told the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-12/lost-teddy-bear-reunited-with-family-after-being-lost-in-outback/101059032" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9e7da5ae-7fff-487c-ffb3-afa4865dd844"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Grazier Mitch Rodgers became one of many interested in the story, and took matters into his own hands.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/bear2.jpg" alt="" width="862" height="575" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Mitch Rodgers found the bear and planned to send him home by mail - until he had a better idea. Image: Mitch Rodgers</em></p> <p dir="ltr">He drove out from Comarto Station near Wilcannia to find the bear - but that’s not where the story ends either.</p> <p dir="ltr">Initially planning to send the bear home by mail, Mr Rodgers and Mr Wilson thought the adventure should continue and decided to find more people who wanted to travel with the bear on its journey home.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Mitch went to great trouble and started to share the story on social media with some great photos,” Mr Wilson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The story then took on a life of its own and if it wasn’t for Mitch it probably wouldn’t have got off the ground like it did.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Wilson said the story even gained fans in Scotland, where he has relatives.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-23951c11-7fff-81a8-5224-348f25c89157"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">He said Pooh travelled 150km to Broken Hill, then visited Silverton before heading south to Mildura, Victoria.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/bear1.jpg" alt="" width="862" height="575" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Mitch Rodgers with Pooh. Image: Mitch Rodgers</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“He then received a lift from a couple to Adelaide and from there flew to Perth,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ll tell you what it took off pretty quick,” Mr Rodgers said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was just good to hear that people were getting a bit of joy out of it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ben Wilson, 24, has had the bear since he was a baby and is still stunned that so many people went to such great lengths to return the teddy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought that was it, and I was never going to get him back,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m grateful for Mitcch, the Broken Hill community along with anyone and everyone who was involved.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When asked if Pooh would be heading out for another adventure anytime soon, Ben said it was “unlikely”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’ll be staying with me until I have my first child and then when he or she gets old enough, I’ll tell them the story of what happened here,” Ben said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Because it’s not something we’re going to forget anytime soon.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-cdeb44a0-7fff-e63c-d7e2-f8f0c8cad160"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Gordon Wilson</em></p>

Caring

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Uniting at our villages

<p>A home is a house in a community where you feel like you can be yourself around respectful, social and like-minded individuals.</p> <p>As we enter the later stages of our life our ability to socialise and connect with the community in our free time expands. At the same time, our friendships have changed. People move away, there is more familial importance and sometimes close friends pass.</p> <p>The community we once flourished in and engaged with is no longer the same. We no longer have direct access to that same community of respectful, social and like-minded individuals.</p> <p>That’s why community and caring are built in at every Uniting NSW/ACT retirement and independent living villages. For over 50 years, Uniting has considered the wants and desires of people entering our retirement villages and what community they want to belong in.</p> <p>Moving into the next phase of your life should be an exciting occasion. Uniting believes that everyone should enjoy the confidence of belonging in the forefront of retirement and independent living community design.</p> <p>Lucette from Mosman was someone who intimately knew this. For over 40 years she was a real estate agent in the Mosman area and whenever someone asked where they should retire, she always said the same thing,</p> <p>“The Garrison by Uniting.”</p> <p>After years of advising others, Lucette was finally looking to downsize and retire from her profession.</p> <p>“I knew I wanted to upsize my lifestyle whilst downsizing at the same time. From the moment I moved into my own apartment at Uniting, I have fallen in love with the lifestyle.”</p> <p><img class="wp-image-52870 size-full" src="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Nancys-farewell_770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="500" /> <em>Uniting villages let you be yourself around respectful, social and like-minded individuals.</em></p> <p>Lucette found the purpose-built apartments to be practical and stylish whilst having plenty of natural light and ventilation, and walls that will allow for the installation of grab rails in the future, if needed. The apartments also include spacious layouts to allow people to entertain guests and to move around easily.</p> <p>Having room for guests was important for Lucette. One of her first projects when joining the village was to ensure that others could enjoy the area as much as she had.</p> <p>It all started one day when the village manager asked her if she could help form and activate a social committee. Could she ever! Lucette has been on a social whirl ever since.</p> <p>“I never realised how many friends I would make!” she says. “As the head of the social committee, I’ve met so many wonderful people doing the most extraordinary things. We’ve taken harbour cruises, had meals, trivia nights, movie afternoons and even chair yoga.”</p> <p>The social committee is now a big staple of the village. Even during the COVID lockdowns they made sure that they stayed connected and checked in with each other.</p> <p>One of the first things they did when restrictions eased was hold a party to farewell the village manager. Nancy has been the village manager at The Garrison for many years and felt like family to the residents. Her presence and sunny disposition brought a spirit of caring throughout the village. The residents wanted to have one last party with Nancy and give her the send-off she deserved before she commences with another wonderful Uniting village in Leichhardt.</p> <p><img class="size-full wp-image-52869" src="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Nancy-and-Lucette_770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="500" /> <em>Nancy, village manager at The Garrison, with Lucette.</em></p> <p>This is just one of the many ways that Lucette has seen her social network expand and cared for. She now says that it is her true home.</p> <p>Lucette also enjoys the freedom that retirement living has given her. She came for the ideal home but now believes she has the ideal lifestyle in her retirement.</p> <p>No longer does she have to worry about mowing the lawns or the letterbox filling up whilst she is away. Uniting’s specialist staff take away the hassle of maintenance for her property and allow her to focus on what truly matters.</p> <p>Like Lucette, residents have the convenience of choosing their comfort zone in the many leisure spaces of a Uniting retirement and independent living village.</p> <p>There are spaces to entertain yourself and to entertain your loved ones, whether that be a communal vegetable garden for the green thumbs, the villages’ dedicated clubroom for trivia and crafts, or the outdoor courtyard perfect for BBQs. The village and its staff want to facilitate your interests and keep you enjoying retirement in style.</p> <p>Our villages are uniquely placed to offer additional opportunities to enhance community life. Our goal is spontaneous opportunities for connection. We always aim to support the creation of as many new friendships and memories as possible.</p> <p>Everyone deserves to discover new passions in the comfort of their home with a community full of respectful, social and like-minded individuals. We want you to retire happily with easy access to a social network, new friends and other supports whenever you want it. Most Uniting villages even have room for any pets you want to bring along.</p> <p>Studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartments are available across NSW and the ACT to accommodate and compliment a thriving retirement lifestyle, wherever you live.</p> <p>Our dream is for our broader communities to grow stronger and build on their solid foundations. To realise this, we want to encourage people from all walks of life to come together and contribute to a diverse and vibrant place for connecting.</p> <p>A Uniting village is the perfect place to find your new home and your new forever friends.</p> <p>Uniting doesn’t just put a roof over your head, it creates a community.</p> <p>In that community, we are Uniting People.</p> <p>Book a tour by calling 1800 864 846 or going to <a rel="noopener" href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N1080016.1907402OVERSIXTY.COM.AU/B26377396.320569577;dc_trk_aid=505626589;dc_trk_cid=156967874;dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;ltd=" target="_blank">uniting.org/villages</a>.</p> <p><strong><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a rel="noopener" href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N1080016.1907402OVERSIXTY.COM.AU/B26377396.320569577;dc_trk_aid=505626589;dc_trk_cid=156967874;dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;ltd=" target="_blank">Uniting</a>.</em></strong></p>

Retirement Life

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World’s richest person, Elon Musk, issues challenge to the United Nations

<p dir="ltr">Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose net worth<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/elon-musk-is-now-three-times-richer-than-warren-buffett-20211102-p5955u" target="_blank">just rose</a><span> </span>by US$24 billion to reach a total of US$335.1 billion, has issued a challenge to the United Nations: prove that money will help solve global hunger, and I will give you that money, more or less.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was in response to a tweet made by David Beasley, director of the UN’s World Food Programme, which itself was a response to the news of Musk’s net worth soaring by<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-25/elon-musk-s-fortune-surges-to-281-billion-on-hertz-order" target="_blank">US$36 billion last week</a><span> </span>after Hertz ordered 100,000 Teslas. The tweet from Beasley reads, “$36 billion in one day - @elonmusk 's net worth increase due to a @Tesla / @Hertz deal. Congratulations, Elon! 1/6 of your one day increase would save 42 million lives that are knocking on famine's door. Unprecedented crisis. Unprecedented wealth. Help!!”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">$36 billion in one day - <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>'s net worth increase due to a <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/Hertz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hertz</a> deal. Congratulations, Elon! 1/6 of your one day increase would save 42 million lives that are knocking on famine's door. Unprecedented crisis. Unprecedented wealth. Help!! <a href="https://t.co/n4hfpl5NRE">https://t.co/n4hfpl5NRE</a></p> — David Beasley (@WFPChief) <a href="https://twitter.com/WFPChief/status/1453681782742818824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Responding to a ‘fact-check’ of Beasley’s claims posted by a Dr. Eli David a few days later, Musk wrote, “If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it.</p> — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1454808104256737289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Beasley responded, explaining that the CNN headline was inaccurate; while $6 billion won’t solve world hunger, it will “prevent geopolitical instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation”. He invited Musk to have a chat, adding, “It isn’t as complicated as Falcon Heavy, but too much at stake to not at least have a conversation.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> With your help we can bring hope, build stability and change the future. <br /><br />Let’s talk: It isn’t as complicated as Falcon Heavy, but too much at stake to not at least have a conversation. I can be on the next flight to you. Throw me out if you don’t like what you hear!</p> — David Beasley (@WFPChief) <a href="https://twitter.com/WFPChief/status/1454885078497103873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Musk is known for firing off off-the-cuff tweets with little forethought or expectation of follow-through, so it’s not clear whether Beasley’s response satisfies his criteria. His response was characteristically brusque: “Please publish your current &amp; proposed spending in detail so people can see exactly where money goes. Sunlight is a wonderful thing.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Please publish your current &amp; proposed spending in detail so people can see exactly where money goes. <br /><br />Sunlight is a wonderful thing.</p> — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1454921466500222977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Beasley invited Musk to meet him anywhere, “Earth or space”, to discuss the issue further and see the work the World Food Programme does. Time will tell whether tackling issues like world hunger is a genuine concern of Musk’s, or whether this was simply another day on Twitter for the tech mogul. It’s worth noting that $6 billion works out to be just over 2% of his current net worth.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Paws up! Six puppies join the NSW Police Dog Unit

<p>Six German Shepherd puppies have joined the elite, and adorable, NSW Police Dog Force Unit to report for duty. </p> <p>Four furry females and two males were born in May to mum Bonnie and dad Vegas, and have each been named by the patients at Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick. </p> <p>The female pups are Carrie, Cali, Carol and Cody, and their brothers are Coops and Charger. </p> <p><span>Superintendent Michael Rochester, Dog and Mounted Commander, said the kids of Sydney Children's </span>Hospital left an important legacy on the Dog Unit by naming their newest recruits.</p> <p><span>"Unfortunately, this year the kids weren't able to meet the pups in person because of the pandemic, but we were very glad we could get them involved virtually," Supt Rochester said in a statement.</span><span></span></p> <p>"If these pups are successful through their training, they'll go on to help the community in many ways."</p> <p>"Our dogs are used to find missing people, assist in pursuits, detect drugs, explosives and other paraphernalia, and have a variety of other specialist functions which make them an invaluable law enforcement capability."</p> <p>The adorable puppies have begun their foundational training, as they are being exposed to new a range of new experiences and environments. </p> <p>The NSW Police force shared the news of the puppies on their Twitter account, along with the backstory to each dog's name. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The NSW Police Force's newest police pups have been named by patients from Sydney Children's Hospital. <br /><br />“I wanted to name the puppy Cody because my best friend’s name is Cody, and dogs are her favourite animal,” said eight-year-old Alice.<a href="https://t.co/9skvOMkOOj">https://t.co/9skvOMkOOj</a> <a href="https://t.co/n7SdeQRTsn">pic.twitter.com/n7SdeQRTsn</a></p> — NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/nswpolice/status/1442652246060060676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>They said on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGOTc2MzguaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">their website</a> that naming the dogs became a wonderful distraction for the kids, who had to spend time in the hospital for various reasons.</p> <p>Eight-year-old Alice chose the name Cody after being inspired by this closest to her. </p> <p>She said, <span>“I wanted to name the puppy Cody because my best friend’s name is Cody, and dogs are her favourite animal.”</span></p> <p><span>Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott welcomed the new furry recruits, thanking those who named them. </span></p> <p>“These pups represent the next generation of the Force’s Police Dog team, one of the most highly-trained and respected in the world,” Mr Elliott said.</p> <p>“I join the children, who named the pups, in following the progress of the C-litter; I know they will achieve great things in the future,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: NSW Police</em></p>

Family & Pets

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How retirement villages are Uniting people

<p>In wisdom, we realise that our confidence comes from a sense of belonging. Being connected to a community is what gives us a sense of belonging. Over time our ability to socialise in our free time expands while our community and neighbourhoods are changing.</p> <p>COVID-19 has had a particularly strong influence on people seeking different needs from home design and also their communities. At Uniting we realise that confidence comes from belonging and sharing memorable moments with like-minded people.</p> <p>That’s why community and caring are built in at every Uniting NSW/ACT retirement village. Moving into the next phase of your life should be an exciting occasion. Uniting believes that everyone should enjoy the confidence of belonging<strong>.</strong></p> <p>One person who knows this intimately is Leonie.</p> <p>Leonie decided to move to Uniting Mayflower Gerringong in 2010 after taking part in a village tour.</p> <p>She had already experienced the village when her father had previously lived there. She jumped at the opportunity and set off to make sure she could become part of the community.</p> <p>“One of the first things I did was set up a veggie patch,” says Leonie. “I was a talker like Dad, so it was a great excuse to have a chat.”</p> <p>Leonie’s veggie patch became her own social sanctuary. Many of Leonie’s good friends now do the gardening together at Mayflower and the veggie patch has become its own community centre.</p> <p>“There is something special about our village,” she says. “There is a spirit of caring, not just among the staff but among all the people who live here.</p> <p>“This is a little village and we all belong to each other. We’re family.”</p> <p>Since joining the village at Gerringong, Leonie has seen her social network expand and sees it as her true home.</p> <p>Leonie also enjoys the freedom that retirement living has given her. No longer does she have to worry about mowing the lawns or the letterbox filling up while she is away. Uniting’s specialist staff take away the hassle of maintenance for her property and allow her to focus on what truly matters.</p> <p>“You don’t realise the friendships and the interdependence you’ll develop when you move in,” Leonie explains. “Every day I am surrounded by things to do with my friends. There are more activities going on than anyone could ever hope to get to!”</p> <p>Uniting has had more than 50 years’ experience to consider each and every detail that makes retirement living more enjoyable. People like Leonie live the Uniting values and ethos. And it can only be a home when you are in a community where you belong.</p> <p>Everyone deserves to discover new passions in the comfort of their home. A community full of respectful, social and like-minded individuals, and their pets should they choose.</p> <p>Uniting wants you to retire happily, with easy access to a social network, new friends and other supports whenever you want it.</p> <p>There are many spaces to explore at your leisure, to entertain yourself and to entertain your loved ones, whether that be communal vegetable garden for the green thumbs, the villages’ dedicated clubroom for trivia and crafts, or the outdoor courtyard perfect for barbecues.</p> <p>A Uniting village is a perfect place to find your new home and your new forever friends.</p> <p>In that community, we are Uniting People.</p> <p>Book a tour by calling 1800 864 846 or go to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N1080016.1907402OVERSIXTY.COM.AU/B26377396.312727685;dc_trk_aid=505567170;dc_trk_cid=157190802;dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;ltd=" target="_blank">uniting.org/retirementliving</a></p> <p><strong><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N1080016.1907402OVERSIXTY.COM.AU/B26377396.312727685;dc_trk_aid=505567170;dc_trk_cid=157190802;dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;ltd=" target="_blank">Uniting</a>.</em></strong></p>

Real Estate

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Two families unite over Christmas balloon

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Christmas came for a second time for two twin sisters, after a stranger more than 100km away found a holiday wish list attached to a balloon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In December, Leticia Flores-Gonzalez had the idea for her two 4-year-olds, Luna and Gianella Gonzalez, to tie their Christmas lists to balloons and set them free above their Kansas home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the difficult year behind them, it was their way of reaching Santa Claus.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Flore-Gonzalez told CNN, “It was important doing something special for my girls because of the hard year we had during the coronavirus pandemic. I wanted them to feel like 2020 was another year spent with mom making beautiful memories.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was never with the purpose someone would find the balloon. I thought it would deflate and would just disappear somewhere in a tree nearby.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But someone with a white beard and a big heart did find one of the balloons.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While hunting deer in Grand Cane, Louisiana in late December, Alvin Bamburg spotted one of the balloons tangled in a tree.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I saw that balloon and God spoke to me. He said, ‘You need to get this, and, second of all, you need to get the trash out of the woods,’” Bamburg told CNN.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When I got it I noticed a folded yellow piece of paper sealed with a red star, and it was a Christmas list from a girl named Luna.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height:280.7692307692308px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840931/christmas-list.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/da6784e762294890ac05a1785dd3872f" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What had Luna asked Santa for? The list included candy, a Spider Man ball, a Frozen doll, a My Little Pony toy, and a puppy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the holidays kept Bamburg and his wife, Lee Ann Leopard Bamburg, busy, the list stayed at the back of their minds.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once the holiday season had wound down, Bamburg shared his discovery with family and friends via a Facebook post in early January.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bamburg wrote, “Would love to know when it was launched. Looks like it traveled over 600 miles. Feel free to share.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So many people shared the post that it was eventually found by Flores-Gonzalez.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When we found out someone actually found Luna’s balloon, we were just in shock,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We couldn’t believe how kind people were; we were overwhelmed with love. That’s what really mattered.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After receiving requests to share Gianella’s list, Flores-Gonzalez did, and both girls received gifts from Bamburg’s family, friends, coworkers, and even old schoolmates.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following months of communication, the two families finally met in-person. The Bamburgs drove six hours to meet Flores-Gonzalez and the twins and gave them one final present.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We had texted, talked, and FaceTimed before we even met, and it was clear we had a connection,” Bamburg said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When we met, it was just like meeting family.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was during the meeting that Bamburg gave the girls a dachshund puppy, fulfilling the last of Luna’s Christmas wishes. Overjoyed, the girls quickly named the pup Max.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over a meal, the families laughed and bonded over shared values.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To us, it isn’t the amount of gifts or the value that the girls are receiving,” Flores-Gonzalez said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s the love they received. It meant the world to us we see their smiles, and the lifelong friendship we have made with Alvin and his wife.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The families will continue meeting too, with their next reunion scheduled for the end of May.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the meantime, Bamburg hopes to inspire others to take a break and makes someone else’s day a little brighter.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There’s so much sadness in the world right now, the world is a freaking mess,” he said. “It’s really not hard to spread kindness, and you can never underestimate the impact even just a smile will have on someone’s day.”</span></p> <p><strong>Image credits: CNN</strong></p>

Caring

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Family tragedy unites rivals Lisa Curry and Tracey Wickham

<p><span>After the loss of Lisa Curry’s daughter Jaimi Kenny on Monday, tributes have flown in to the family.</span><br /><br /><span>A joint statement from Lisa Curry and Grant Kenny revealed their beloved oldest daughter Jaimi had passed away in hospital that morning after a battle with a long-term illness.</span><br /><br /><span>While many across the nation shared their condolences to the family, there was one from a long-time rival that particularly stood out.</span><br /><br /><span>Tracey Wickham and Curry were both swimming stars the 1980s, and won more than 20 international gold medals combined.</span><br /><br /><span>Despite the Aussie duo dominating between the lanes, out of the pool their relationship was far from friendly.</span><br /><br /><span>This was obvious when media caught wind of a frosty moment the two shares ahead of the 1982 Commonwealth Games when Curry slow clapped her rival as she walked out to the pool.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837918/snake-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e95e8d8a81734f4588f289f9d1211eff" /><em>Wickham (left) and Curry (middle)</em><br /><br /><span>But after the tragic announcement of Jaimi’s death, Wickham put their rivalry aside and reached out to Lisa.</span><br /><br /><span>“Lisa, my heart breaks for you and your family,” she wrote on Curry’s Instagram.</span><br /><br /><span>“It’s a tragic time when losing a child. I can’t believe we both have lost our beloved daughters.</span><br /><br /><span>“God bless you and hoping everyone holds you tight. Big hugs … much love. Tracey.”</span><br /><br /><span>Wickham lost her daughter Hannah Ciobo in 2009 after a five-year battle with the rare disease, synovial cancer.</span><br /><br /><span>Hannah, 19, was first diagnosed with synovial sarcoma — a rare and aggressive cancer — in 2004.</span><br /><br /><span>While she did beat it after several operations and rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, it sadly returned for the final time in early 2009.</span></p> <p><span>She died three hours after achieving her final wish — marrying Tom O’Driscoll in a hospital wedding.</span><br /><br /><span>The pair met two years earlier in a cancer ward.</span><br /><br /><span>Wickham said her daughter was in a hospital gown and on oxygen, but was aware of the ceremony.</span><br /><br /><span>The heartbreaking nuptials were attended by 20 family and friends including Hannah’s dad and brother Daniel.</span><br /><br /><span>“There was love in her eyes,” she said.</span><br /><br /><span>“Tom was alone with her, and he saw her slip away.</span><br /><br /><span>“She was too young to die. Hannah was a fighter until the end, just like her mother.</span><br /><br /><span>“She passed away peacefully with family and friends.”</span><br /><br /><span>Curry thanked the outpouring of love after she made the heartbreaking announcement of her daughter’s death.</span></p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFLUI5KDRgA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFLUI5KDRgA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Lisa Curry AO (@lisacurry)</a> on Sep 15, 2020 at 5:10pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>She also issued advice to fellow parents in an Instagram post.</span><br /><br /><span>“Right now, go and give your children the biggest hug and tell them how much you love them, and do that everyday because you’ll never know if it’s the last day,” she wrote.</span><br /><br /><span>Sadly Curry was forced to hit out on social media when a fundraiser was set up by internet scammers.</span><br /><br /><span>“SOME PEOPLE !!! Someone has started a go fund me page on Mark Andrew Tabone FB page … this is NOT US,” Ms Curry wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.</span><br /><br /><span>“It’s also sending friend requests. PLEASE DO NOT OPEN ANYTHING FROM THIS FAKE ACCOUNT.”</span></p>

Family & Pets

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COVID-19 catastrophe imminent in the United States?

<p>“Right now, things are looking really good,” said US President Donald Trump at Sunday’s White House coronavirus briefing.</p> <p>“We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”</p> <p>Some may say he’s optimistic. Others, might call him delusional.</p> <p>The United States is now the undisputed epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. It has recorded 336,830 confirmed cases – more than Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom combined. Its death toll has now passed 10,000.</p> <p>And experts say, the worst is yet to come.</p> <p>“This is going to be the hardest and saddest week of most Americans’ lives, quite frankly,” said Jerome Adams, Trump administration’s Surgeon General.</p> <p>“Buckle down,” said the country’s top expert on infectious diseases, Dr Anthony Fauci. “Because it’s going to be a bad week.”</p> <p>Mr Trump’s overly positive view of the entire situation contradicted what he said less than 24 hours prior, when he admitted there would be “a lot of death”.</p> <p>America, to put it simply, is in a great amount of trouble.</p> <p>For months, it failed to prepare for the outbreak, and now its already flawed health system is nowhere near ready to deal with the coming onslaught.</p> <p><em>The Washington Post<span> </span></em>published a detailed report on the Trump administration’s response to the virus, based on interviews with dozens of sources.</p> <p>According to the report, the government received its first formal notification of the outbreak in China on January 3 – and for 70 “squandered” days after that, did little to prepare.</p> <p>However, China is to blame, as the country repeatedly covered up the threat of the virus until January 20, when it finally admitted human-to-human transmission was happening and made a move to lockdown Wuhan.</p> <p>But not even China can be blamed for the way the US government handled the crisis in the early days.</p> <p>On January 22, the day after the first coronavirus case in the US was discovered, CNBC asked the president whether he was concerned about a pandemic.</p> <p>“No, not at all,” he said.</p> <p>“We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.”</p> <p>That was one of the first comments made which downplayed the severity of the virus.</p> <p>As the pandemic reached a critical tipping point, shortages restricted America to respond properly.</p> <p>There weren’t enough ventilators and protective equipment. This is largely due to the Trump administration’s slow response.</p> <p>A review of federal purchasing contracts by AP shows federal agencies waited until mid-March – not January or February, but March – to start placing bulk orders of N95 masks, ventilators and other equipment needed by frontline health workers.</p> <p>“We basically wasted two months,” said Kathleen Sebelius, health and human services secretary during the Obama administration.</p> <p>The lack of federal stockpile has left states competing with each other to secure the limited amount of equipment on the market.</p> <p>“You now literally will have a company call you up and say, ‘Well, California just outbid you,’” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last week.</p> <p>“It’s like being on eBay with 50 other states, bidding on a ventilator.”</p> <p>Trump recently admitted that a death toll of 100,000-240,000 would represent his administration doing a “very good job”. The next week will tell us how achievable that target is.</p>

International Travel

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Knitters unite to sew pouches for injured wildlife

<p>Knitters around the world are lending their hand to support native wildlife caught up in the Australian bushfires.</p> <p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50951043">More than 6.3 million hectares</a> of bush, forest and parks have been burned in this bushfire season, killing an estimated billion of animals.</p> <p>The Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild said the organisation’s call for volunteers had been met with an outpouring of offers to make pouches, wraps, blankets and beddings for injured and orphaned animals.</p> <p>Since its establishment in April, the guild’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/arfsncrafts/">Facebook group</a> has accumulated more than 160,000 members.</p> <p>“It’s been going crazy,” Belinda Orellana, a founding member of the Queensland-based guild, told <a rel="noopener" href="https://10daily.com.au/news/a200107szpkb/the-world-is-knitting-clothes-for-australias-injured-wildlife-and-darn-the-pics-are-cute-20200107" target="_blank">Reuters</a>.</p> <p>“Our group creates and supplies items to rescue groups and carers around the country who take in and care for the wildlife.”</p> <p>Donations have come in from the United States, Britain, Hong Kong, France and Germany.</p> <p>Volunteer Rachel Sharples told <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/07/australia-wildfires-animals-shelters-knitting">The Guardian</a></em> young marsupials such as kangaroos, koalas, possums and sugar gliders require a pouch to grow up.</p> <p>“Australia has a lot of iconic and lovable animals,” Sharples said.</p> <p>“I think that for people to physically be able to create something, to physically create an item they know an animal will use, resonates with people more so than a cash donation and that is why we have set that up as an option or a way to help.”</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Farfsncrafts%2Fphotos%2Fa.111834340275091%2F134713067987218%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" width="500" height="515" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>Anyone looking to donate their knitting to the guild can find the patterns, instructions and drop-off information <a href="https://www.facebook.com/arfsncrafts/posts/116145636510628?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAK8StJnGcSazCJHhffZ64pp0w915vHMnZNfLY1zUZeyuDMMFm3veo1lGGYsm13oM8TNfcmpk1v-q5taDXBDN5IDO12wMjA0ml4PSu8z0KLannvlBiibLGzwhOyq96hHVVjEM9oXW89YbtSGbhT-lbpN4HlxoGO1CANlkeX0glfJ1tszhxxjoOW2DTlk4D2vDlK1M0Fi0lE9gZQX190HSpHwdpdSR471Zms6ibhh6hQAjjqClRcREJJ7lh9pdpo9kk134Srm1Y6JASzMP_qaFUAEC6G8EP713RsGF8xLgvTIpP-KLWNY218bABMj1IzAwQNph9x0Wjy8mluypU8Qpo&amp;__tn__=-R">here</a>.</p> <p><em>Photo credit: Avalon Llewellyn / Animal Rescue Craft Guild</em></p> <p><em><span>OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw">Vinnie's website</a> to donate.</span></em></p>

Family & Pets

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How music can unite as well as divide us

<p>September 21 is <a href="http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/background.shtml">International Day of Peace</a>, the UN’s annual call for a global ceasefire. This year, in the lead-up, celebrities have curated a <a href="http://www.peaceoneday.org/playlist">Peace Day Playlist</a> available through streaming services. James Morrison, Yoko Ono, Michael Caine, UB40 and others have nominated songs such as Michael Jackson’s Heal the World, Joan Baez’s We Shall Overcome and John Lennon’s Imagine, alongside One, a Peace Day anthem featuring artists from across the African continent. The premise for the playlist is that music “is a unique vehicle to amplify the message of the day, bringing people together in the name of peace.”</p> <p>For many people, such songs have become associated with anti-war protests and notions of freedom, equality and social justice. But just as music can unite us behind a cause, it can also drive us apart. Music must be deployed carefully if we are to really <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlKX-m17C7U">give peace a chance</a>.</p> <p>Music is often called humankind’s “universal language”: an all-embracing and inherently benevolent form of communication. Music can indeed deepen feelings of affinity and social cohesion. But these same qualities can also <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=6HwAAwAAQBAJ&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PA26&amp;dq=cynthia+cohen+music+peacebuilding&amp;ots=drSKRRgpRk&amp;sig=9TR_4s0MC0IwAF0G5YbWpnRcyc4#v=onepage&amp;q=cynthia%20cohen%20music%20peacebuilding&amp;f=false">strengthen divisions</a>.</p> <p>During the 1990s Yugoslav civil wars, for example, Slobodan Milošević’s far-right Serbian regime <a href="http://www.suedosteuropa.uni-graz.at/sites/default/files/publications/SEEU_036_02_Archer-1_published%5b1%5d.pdf">appropriated</a> <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=_iqrCwAAQBAJ&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PP1&amp;dq=turbo-folk+music&amp;ots=fhtd90pnHE&amp;sig=x2JPN7sdBHE7pvy7B1T5P3PJKNE#v=onepage&amp;q=turbo-folk%20music&amp;f=false">turbofolk</a>, a mix of <a href="https://josotl.indiana.edu/index.php/aeer/article/download/330/405">regional folk and electronic European pop music</a>, to promote cultural nationalism for political purposes.</p> <p>Music played in the flute bands of Northern Ireland has similarly strong and contentious associations. Some tunes were so potent that in some parts of the country, whistling a short phrase has <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=99I7xvnA6KIC&amp;pg=PA89&amp;dq=music+and+conflict+northern+ireland&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;redir_esc=y#v=onepage&amp;q=music%20and%20conflict%20northern%20ireland&amp;f=false">resulted in violence</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/product_info.php?products_id=93161">Other research</a> shows some American soldiers used metal and rap music in Iraq to heighten aggressiveness and inspire warlike behaviour. Despite the stereotype of violence and rap and metal music, this is <a href="http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198567424.003.0004">not a result of these music genres</a> per se, but the bonding qualities of music. As we’ve seen, conflict can be just as easily fanned by dance and folk music.</p> <p><strong>What makes music work?</strong></p> <p>We can explain how music brings people together through the lens of <a href="https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?cluster=3837670639352116525&amp;hl=en&amp;as_sdt=2005&amp;sciodt=0,5">empathy</a>. Empathy involves being able to identify other people’s emotional states and respond appropriately. It can also involve the capacity to reflect other people’s emotions back at them. Empathy, therefore, is both knowing and feeling.</p> <p>We can see these same qualities when groups come together around music. <a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/music-of-kindness-playing-together-strengthens-empathy-in-children">Research</a> has shown how making music together can enhance children’s emotional skills such as empathy. <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735612440609">The study</a> looked at musical components that promote empathy such as emotionality (music’s ability to both induce and express emotions); imitation (the repeated patterns of the music itself as well as in the act mimicking other performer’s movements); and synchronisation (exemplified through the sense of a mutually felt pulse).</p> <p>Some researchers have even suggested making music goes beyond empathy, as performers share emotions, intentions and experiences to such a degree that the <a href="https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?hl=en&amp;q=Musical+group+interaction%2C+intersubjectivity+and+merged+subjectivity.+In+D.+Reynolds+%26+M.+Reason+%28Eds.%29%2C+Kinesthetic+empathy+in+creative+and+cultural+practices+&amp;btnG=&amp;as_sdt=1%2C5&amp;as_sdtp=">boundary between them becomes blurred</a>. When singing or humming in unison with a large group of people, for example, it can be difficult to distinguish one’s own voice in the total sound being produced.</p> <p><strong>Healing old wounds</strong></p> <p>Importantly, though, feeling belonging with other people does not automatically mean peace. The key to this is whether music is being used to bond people who <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-empathy-have-limits-72637">already consider themselves to be alike</a>, or whether it connects those who for whatever reason consider each other “different”.</p> <p><a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0305735616680289">Recent findings</a> demonstrate that even brief exposure to music from a particular culture can increase listeners’ positive attitudes towards people from that culture. However, this approach <a href="http://www.musicandartsinaction.net/index.php/maia/article/view/conflicttransformation">has been criticised</a> for emphasising the differences between groups, reinforcing the boundaries the projects aim to dismantle.</p> <p>To avoid hardening the borderlines, some projects have harnessed musical styles that are perceived to be politically or culturally neutral. For example, in modern-day Kosovo <a href="https://www.musicianswithoutborders.org/">Musicians without Borders</a> steer away from popular but divisive turbofolk, connecting youth in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica through <a href="https://www.musicianswithoutborders.org/programs/places/mitrovica-rock-school/overview/">rock music</a>.</p> <p>Rock music provided a <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19401159.2014.988521">similar respite</a> during The Troubles in 1980s Northern Ireland, offering Protestant and Catholic youths somewhere to socialise and enjoy each other’s company, despite political disparities. <a href="https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9781315693699.ch32">Research</a> also shows how sharing lullabies across language groups helps people recognise the universal aspects of human nature.</p> <p>In other places, music can help people confront difference. <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=oMLkUmraBCAC&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PA63&amp;dq=music+and+reconciliation+anne+marie-gray&amp;ots=gMqHkLW5sV&amp;sig=kwUbdk7Y9-QN7pHhb7YG6u6o6JY#v=onepage&amp;q=music%20and%20reconciliation%20anne%20marie-gray&amp;f=false">Scholars have suggested</a> that music from South Africa’s history could provide insight into the experiences of both black and white South Africans before 1994, when the country became an inclusive democracy, ending the final vestiges of apartheid.</p> <p>In South Sudan <a href="http://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/UNIS/article/viewFile/44815/42225">Muonjieng (Dinka) songs</a> have long served as avenues for public truth-telling and disclosure of past violent abuses. With civil war ongoing, these mechanisms for peacebuilding could be significant in the establishment of formalised justice systems.</p> <p>Through his music, John Lennon asks us to “imagine all the people living life in peace.” It is not always as simple as that, but when carefully deployed, music can give us spaces to work towards enacting this peace.<!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samantha-dieckmann-336452"><em>Samantha Dieckmann</em></a><em>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Music, ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722">University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jane-davidson-100007">Jane Davidson</a>, Deputy Director ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722">University of Melbourne</a></em></span></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/giving-peace-a-chance-music-can-drive-us-apart-as-much-as-it-unites-82745">original article</a>.</em></p>

Music

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Why Seattle in the Unites States is worth a stay

<p>Seattle is a city of contrasts. Made famous by the grunge bands of the 1990s and the film Sleepless in Seattle starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, Seattle is built on maritime foundations. In a strange way it seems to exude both old-school charm and modern city know-how. Gourmands rub shoulders with tech heads, museums meet marketplaces and the old fuses with the new. </p> <p>Whether you’re here for a week, or en route to the Canadian ski-fields, you will find plenty to see and do in Seattle. </p> <p>The foodie trail is worth a trawl to get your taste buds tingling. Fresh produce abounds in the Pike Place Markets on the waterfront in downtown Seattle. Wander along the stalls at lunchtime and you will be serenaded by busking musicians. </p> <p>When in Seattle, you have to try deliciously fresh salmon. Pick up a fillet or some smoked salmon at one of the many Pike Place fish-mongers or dine in style at a quaint cafe. If you time it right, you may also witness the famous local tradition of fish-throwing. </p> <p>Across the road you’ll stumble on a hefty queue for the original Starbucks café, which is worth a visit, if only for the historical value. For something sweet, try a homemade treat from one of the First Avenue bakeries. Pop into Beecher’s Handmade Cheese to witness the dairy production process from pail to platter and they will let you do some taste-testing. </p> <p>Start with an Argosy Harbour Cruise tour for information about the history of trade and shipping. The cruise also offers great views from the shipyards. </p> <p>Nearby the Seattle Aquarium has a fabulous exhibition on the life cycle of salmon and introducing puffins, seals and otters. </p> <p>No trip to Seattle would be complete without a visit to the Space Needle. Seattle’s proudest monument, is worth a visit for bird’s eye views over the rooftops and city streets, although the ascent is not very accessible. </p> <p>In the shadow of the Space Needle you’ll find Chihuly Garden and gallery which, showcases the spectacular works of renowned glassblower and sculptor Dave Chihuly. The artist’s works are on display in many famous hotels, including Atlantis in the Bahamas. Inside the gallery,  large-scale long-stemmed flowers are illuminated in the dark exhibition space. Outisde colourful orbs and swirls bring a touch of fun to the garden. The show-stopper is the hanging glass vine on the ceiling of a huge glasshouse. It reflects the natural light beneath the silhouette of the Space Needle.</p> <p>If you’re feeling adventurous, other attractions covered by your City Pass include Pacific Science Centre, the funky Museum of Pop Culture, and the Woodland Park Zoo which is on Seattle’s outskirts. </p> <p>Perry Como and Bobby Sherman famously waxed lyrical about Seattle in their 1950s and 1960s hit singles, crooning that “the hills are the greenest green in Seattle.” A day trip to one of the parks outside the city will offer up excellent hiking trails and in winter great ski spots for the powder hounds. Canada’s Vancouver is also only a 3.5 hour drive from Seattle. If you hire a car in Seattle – it could save you up to a third of the cost of the Canadian equivalent. </p> <p>The beauty of Seattle’s tourist centre is that most sites are accessible on foot. Short walks, a cab or an Uber drive have the city covered – you can use the Monorail system although this is better suited to commuters than sightseers. </p> <p>The weather is characteristically wet and drizzly. It generally remains above zero year-round and reaches its hottest at 18C in July. The rain doesn’t stop people from being out and about so be sure to pack a light rain jacket or poncho. Chat to locals to find out more about the city’s best kept secrets, especially when it comes to up-and-coming cafes or quirky galleries and museums. Seattle’s population of roughly 700,000 are relaxed, approachable and welcoming.</p> <p>After a busy day out and about you won’t be sleepless in Seattle. We recommend a stay at the Mayflower Park Hotel. The cosy, intimate hotel with its grand, old-style interior is located within walking distance to the town centre, and right on the subway line making airport transfers easy. The staff will be calling you by name in no time, testament to the impressive hospitality and enchanting, traditional ambiance. A luxurious Executive Suite with two bathrooms, a sitting room and dining table can be enjoyed for less than $200 US.</p> <p><em>Written by Sophie Cullen. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/settle-in-to-seattle-why-seattle-is-worth-a-stay/">MyDiscoveries.</a> </em></p>

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