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Mother of baby scalded in park makes sad admission

The mother of baby Luka, who was just nine-months-old when he was attacked by a stranger in a Brisbane park, has made a heartbreaking admission about her son's healing process. Baby Luka and his mother were enjoying the sun in Hanlon Park on August 27th when a stranger approached and poured boiling hot coffee over the baby boy. The nine-month-old was rushed to hospital, while the man accused of the attack remains at large. Luka, now one-year-old suffered serious burns to 60 per cent of his body, including his face, upper body and arms, and has undergone seven operations since the attack. The young boy's mum has now revealed that it may take her son up to one year to fully recover as he heals from the mental, emotional and physical damages from the attack. "In those first few weeks, we had no idea what his future was going to look like, especially because the burns were so significant," she told <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/baby-luka-on-the-road-to-recovery-after-hot-coffee-attack-but-suspect-years-from-day-in-court/news-story/c6dd3c9c8f68d493faba84a655e7cf90" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">The Courier Mail.</a> "He didn't have a bath for, like, a month when he had all the bandages, and when we poured water over his head when we had a bath, he started screaming." Luka's mum said her son was still "wary" around people and had become shy when in a group setting, as opposed to his confidence around others before the incident. The woman went on to say her son's skin had "healed really well" since the synthetic skin grafts; however, his dad explained it would take years for the scars to settle. "We are definitely optimistic at this point, he already looks better than we ever thought," Luka's father said. "Hopefully by the time he becomes a teenager you won't even be able to see the scars anymore." Image credits: 9News / Facebook

Family & Pets

Hero kindergarten teacher remembered at community park vigil

Hundreds of people have gathered in a vigil to honour Eleanor Bryant, the speech pathologist killed by an <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/heroic-kindergarten-teacher-identified-after-horror-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">out-of-control water tanker</a> that crashed into a Victorian kindergarten earlier this week. Friends, colleagues and first responders gathered at Lions Park in Riddells Creek to pay tribute to the mother of two, with flower tributes growing for the heroic kindergarten teacher. Macedon Ranges Shire Council chief executive Bernie O'Sullivan said the vigil aimed to provide connection and support for the grieving community. "Eleanor Bryant was such a beautiful person and her impact and reach [was received] in such a positive way," O'Sullivan said. "It's still really raw and a massive shock to this tight-knit community in Riddells Creek." The mother-of-two has been remembered by her family for her caring and down-to-earth nature. "She was the light of our lives: a cherished mother, wife, daughter and sister, and beloved by all her family and enormous network of friends," they previously said in a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/she-was-the-light-of-our-lives-family-s-tribute-to-hero-kindergarten-teacher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. A three-year-old boy was injured in the crash. The 68-year-old driver of the truck, who was believed to have suffered a medical episode, was taken to hospital but has since been discharged, and no charges have been laid. Images: Nine

Caring

The Voice 2025 coaches line-up leaked

The Voice Australia appears set to have a major cast shake up, following Guy Sebastian's shock <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/guy-sebastian-drops-bombshell-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">departure</a> from the show after six years. An insider told Yahoo Lifestyle that current coaches Kate Miller-Heidke and Adam Lambert are also saying goodbye to the show. Channel Seven is said to be in the final stages of locking their new line-up, which includes former fan favourites like Keith Urban. “The line-up that Channel Seven wants is Keith Urban, Jessica Mauboy, Ronan Keating and LeAnn Rimes,” the source told Yahoo Lifestyle. “They’ve all been on the show before and conversations had started a few months back.” Urban last appeared on the singing competition as coach in 2022, and fans were overjoyed when he appeared as a guest earlier this year. "Keith was asked about returning when he recorded a performance for the grand finale and he sounded open to the idea - as long as it works with his wife Nicole Kidman's plans to be back in Australia at the same time," the insider said. The source also said that US singer Rimes is likely to return as well. "In the lead-up to this year’s finale, LeAnn's management kept talking about the next series and what she plans to do differently," they said. “LeAnn was clear about her ambition to return next year and Channel Seven are keen to have her back after her artist won.” Jessica Mauboy, who was coach for the show from 2021 to 2023, left the series this year to focus on her music and go on tour, but Channel Seven are also keen to welcome her back. “There were always plans to bring Jess back at some point and viewers really missed her contribution this season," the insider said. “The conversation about Jess had been on the cards with or without Guy. It seemed the network was already looking at flipping Kate Miller-Heidke, who seemed a little out of place on the show." As for Ronan Keating, who was last seen on the show in 2016, the source said he was keen to appear on the Australian version of the show again. Channel Seven is expected to officially announce the 2025 lineup for The Voice Australia at their upcoming Upfront event this month. “One thing is for sure The Voice Australia will go on without Guy Sebastian and 2025 looks set to have one of the best line-ups without him." Images: Channel Seven

Fury over black market for disabled parking permits

An investigation has uncovered a rise in the black market for disabled and mobility permits on online classified sites. According to motoring news outlet <a href="https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/outrage-after-disabled-parking-permits-spotted-for-sale-online/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drive</a>, some users around Australia are using Facebook and other social media outlets to sell their unused mobility parking permits to give other drivers unauthorised access to disabled parking spots. The publication unearthed one permit for sale in Sydney was priced at $500 and valid until 2028. The permit was equipped with the holder, photo ID, and a description stating the buyer will get free unmetered parking and that the permit is valid Australia-wide. A spokesperson for Transport NSW told Drive this practice is illegal and carries large fines for both the purchaser and seller, adding that the permit holder is subject to cancellation for misuse. “The sale of mobility parking permits online is illegal, and Transport for NSW urges anyone who is aware of this happening to report it to NSW Police," the spokesperson said. “These permits are reserved only for people with permanent or temporary mobility challenges as assessed by a medical professional." “The regulatory penalty for misuse of a permit is currently a penalty notice of $818 or a maximum court-imposed penalty of $2200 under the Road Transport (General) Regulation 2021. This includes ‘permitting another person to have possession of it’.” A spokesperson for the Department of Social Services Australia went on to stress the importance of not buying a mobility parking permit if you are not legally entitled to one. “Australia’s Disability Strategy recognises that people with disability should be supported to live more accessible and connected lives within their communities, including being able to fully participate in social, recreational, and cultural events," the spokesperson said. “The inappropriate use of accessible parking spaces can negatively impact people with disability.” Image credits: Drive / Facebook

Legal

Missing woman found after 12 days in national park

Missing woman Lovisa 'Kiki' Sjoberg has been found alive after almost two weeks lost in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales. The 48-year-old photographer was last seen driving into the Kosciuszko National Park on October 15th and was reported missing six days later when she failed to return a hire car. After setting up a command post at the Kiandra Courthouse on the Snowy Mountains Hwy, police began an intensive search for the woman immediately. A wide-scale search was conducted involving the Mounted Unit, Dog Unit, SES, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Rural Fire Service, a Surf Life Saving Helicopter and members of the public. On Sunday afternoon, the woman was found injured on the Nungar Creek Trail at Kiandra. She was treated at the scene by paramedics for exposure and what appeared to be a snake bite before being taken to a local hospital in a stable condition. Worried friends of Ms Sjoberg have expressed their relief and joy on Facebook about the news of her discovery, thanking the community for their support. Image credits: NSW Police / llawarra Police Rescue Squad

Caring

Nicole Kidman bids farewell to her mother at intimate funeral

Nicole Kidman has said a tearful goodbye to her beloved mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, during an intimate funeral service held at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Lavender Bay, Sydney. The 57-year-old Oscar winner was supported by her husband, country music star Keith Urban, and their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, as family and close friends gathered to honour Janelle’s life. 84Janelle Kidman, 84, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/nicole-kidman-confirms-heartbreaking-family-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away in early September</a> after a long illness. The family, including Nicole's sister, journalist Antonia Kidman, and Janelle’s eight grandchildren, shared moving tributes at the service. Among them was TV host Lucia Hawley, the eldest of the grandchildren, who gave a heartfelt speech. The service was also attended by a number of notable figures from Australia’s entertainment industry, including actor Russell Crowe, broadcaster Peter Overton, and his wife, television personality Jessica Rowe. The news of her mother's passing reached Nicole while she was in Venice, Italy, for the Venice Film Festival on September 8, where she was being honoured with the Best Actress award for her role in the upcoming thriller Babygirl. Unable to attend the ceremony, director Halina Reijn accepted the award on her behalf and read a touching message from Kidman, in which the actress expressed her grief. “Today, I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after my brave and beautiful mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, had just passed,” Kidman’s statement began. “I’m in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her. She shaped me, she guided me, and she made me. I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina. The collision of life and art is heartbreaking. My heart is broken.” Janelle Kidman’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, but she had reportedly been battling health issues since 2016 when she suffered a suspected heart scare. Her passing comes nearly a decade after the death of her husband, Dr Antony Kidman, who died of a heart attack in Singapore in 2014. Kidman, who divides her time between Nashville, Manhattan, and Australia, remains close to her family despite her international career, often speaking about the pivotal role her mother played in her life and career. Images: 9News / Instagram

Family & Pets

China expert reveals new theory on why man scalded baby in park

An expert on Chinese social issues has shed new light on the potential motive behind the attack on a baby in a Brisbane park. In August, nine-month-old Luka was enjoying Hanlon Park with his mother when the man poured boiling hot coffee on the infant before fleeing the scene. Police identified the attacker as a 33-year-old man from China, who travelled to his home country after the attack, evading capture by police. As many hypothesise about the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/alleged-motive-of-man-who-scalded-baby-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">motive</a> behind the attack, Will Sterzel, a prominent critic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), said the attack follows a trend of similar attacks in China. Sterzel, who lived in China for 14 years but left for America after the CCP criticised his vocalness over his frustration with the government, explained that the man's attack on baby Luka is reflective of his own social life and displeasure with state bureaucracy. "When his latest application for a visa was rejected, he did what so many in China do: lashed out and took revenge on society by attacking a child," Mr Sterzel said. "He even said to his friend that he wanted to take revenge on white people." According to Mr Sterzel, the phenomenon reflects a deep-seated frustration that some Chinese nationals feel about the living conditions under the ruling Communist Party. "What it boils down to at the root of it all is injustice," Mr Sterzel claimed. He went on to explain that China lacks government support - such as mental health services, public funds or charities - for those in situations of misfortune, prompting many people to lash out. "When you're down on your luck the government will not help you in China, there are no social programs and if your family isn't willing to float you you're done for," Mr Sterzel said. "There simply are no mental health facilities or systems in place to deal with mental health. So, when people snap and are at wit's end they have no recourse, they're not allowed to blame the government, they cannot strike or protest or petition or take action." "They have nowhere to turn and so they selfishly lash out at society trying to inflict as much damage as possible and in China children are the most precious and important part of society." Mr Sterzel explained that children in China are faced with a lot of responsibility, and are often forced to be providers for their entire family. "All that the entire family's future rides on how good a job the child gets," Mr Sterzel said. "So, by attacking and murdering young children these disgruntled cowards inflict huge damage to society disrupting the plans and livelihoods of multiple generations. The grandparents can no longer retire, the parents' lives are destroyed and China's already shrinking demographics get smaller." "They have inflicted maximum damage to society." Mr Sterzel stressed that "revenge against society" attacks were not cultural tradition, adding, "This is a problem that's continuing to grow in China and unfortunately get exported abroad." Image credits: Queensland Police / 9News

Legal

$22,000 fine imposed on Waratah thieves

A spate of thefts of one of Australia's most iconic native plants have prompted a furious warning from authorities. More than 20 Waratahs have "disappeared" from the Brisbane Water National Park on the Central Coast alone, according to NSW National Parks, and thieves can risk a potential fine of $22,000 for hacking the bright flower. “It is illegal to pick waratahs or any other plant in any area protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act,” an NPWS spokesperson told Yahoo News. Rangers can issue a $300 on-the-spot fine to those caught illegally picking the flower. “The maximum fine under the Biodiversity Conservation Act is $22,000. NPWS is keen to receive details of anyone illegally picking waratahs.” Over the long weekend, locals in the Blue Mountains have hit out at "selfish" tourists for "ripping" waratahs from their stems, with images of the act posted on social media. “Just went to check on a beautiful double header waratah in local bushland only to find someone, well prepared with their secateurs, has cut it clean off. Beyond disgusted!” environmental conservation organisation Wild Blue Mountains said. “This is just not on. They had been giving joy to everyone who passed them but now they’re gone due to one person’s selfish actions.” Last week, NSW National Parks had installed signage about “helping protect the Waratah” to deter culprits from taking them and they've even painted some of the stems with a “non-toxic blue paint”. “Waratahs need to go through their full lifecycle to produce seeds, so picking them deprives the ecosystem of a new generation of plants,” NSW National Parks said. “These flowers are more than just a pretty face, they also provide nectar for birds and other native animals. Please leave them be so we can all enjoy more of these beautiful flowers in years to come. “If you want to pick something in a national park, pick your nose instead!” Image: NSW National Parks/Instagram

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An unbroken night’s sleep is a myth. Here’s what good sleep looks like

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-reynolds-424346">Amy Reynolds</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/claire-dunbar-1651340">Claire Dunbar</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gorica-micic-187159">Gorica Micic</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hannah-scott-424633">Hannah Scott</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicole-lovato-60684">Nicole Lovato</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> What do you imagine a good night’s sleep to be? Often when people come into our sleep clinic seeking treatment, they share ideas about healthy sleep. Many think when their head hits the pillow, they should fall into a deep and restorative sleep, and emerge after about eight hours feeling refreshed. They’re in good company – many Australians hold <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2014.09.011">the same belief</a>. In reality, healthy sleep is cyclic across the night, as you move in and out of the different stages of sleep, often waking up several times. Some people remember one or more of these awakenings, others do not. Let’s consider what a healthy night’s sleep looks like. <h2>Sleep cycles are a roller-coaster</h2> As an adult, our sleep moves through <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/stages-of-sleep">different cycles</a> and brief awakenings during the night. Sleep cycles last roughly 90 minutes each. We typically start the night with lighter sleep, before moving into deeper sleep stages, and rising again into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – the stage of sleep often linked to vivid dreaming. If sleeping well, we get most of our deep sleep in the first half of the night, with <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/stages-of-sleep#:%7E:text=During%20REM%20sleep%2C%20your%20eyes,from%20acting%20out%20your%20dreams">REM sleep</a> more common in the second half of the night. Adults usually move through five or six sleep cycles in a night, and it is entirely <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2014.09.011">normal</a> to wake up briefly at the end of each one. That means we might be waking up five times during the night. This can increase with older age and still be healthy. If you’re not remembering these awakenings that’s OK – they can be quite brief. <h2>What does getting a ‘good’ sleep actually mean?</h2> You’ll often hear that adults <a href="https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-topics/how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need#:%7E:text=Sleep%20requirements%20stabilise%20in%20early,their%20best%20the%20next%20day">need between seven and nine hours</a> of sleep per night. But good sleep is about more than the number of hours – it’s also about the quality. For most people, sleeping well means being able to fall asleep soon after getting into bed (within around 30 minutes), sleeping without waking up for long periods, and waking feeling rested and ready for the day. You shouldn’t be feeling excessively sleepy during the day, especially if you’re regularly getting at least seven hours of refreshing sleep a night (this is a rough rule of thumb). But are you noticing you’re feeling physically tired, needing to nap regularly and still not feeling refreshed? It may be worthwhile touching base with your general practitioner, as there a range of possible reasons. <h2>Common issues</h2> Sleep disorders are common. Up to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35478719/">25% of adults</a> have insomnia, a sleep disorder where it may be hard to fall or stay asleep, or you may wake earlier in the morning than you’d like. Rates of common sleep disorders such as insomnia and <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631">sleep apnoea</a> – where your breathing can partially or completely stop many times during the night – also increase with age, affecting <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32280974/">20% of early adults</a> and 40% of people in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35082023/">middle age</a>. There are effective treatments, so asking for help is important. Beyond sleep disorders, our sleep can also be disrupted by chronic health conditions – such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0012369218311139">pain</a> – and by <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsr.13075">certain medications</a>. There can also be other reasons we’re not sleeping well. Some of us are woken by children, pets or traffic noise during the night. These “<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07420528.2021.2003375">forced awakenings</a>” mean we may find it harder to get up in the morning, take longer to leave bed and feel less satisfied with our sleep. For some people, night awakenings may have no clear cause. A good way to tell if these awakenings are a problem for you is by thinking about how they affect you. When they cause feelings of frustration or worry, or are impacting how we feel and function during the day, it might be a sign to seek some help. We also may struggle to get up in the morning. This could be for a range of reasons, including not sleeping long enough, going to bed or waking up at irregular times – or even your own <a href="https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-categories/circadian-rhythm-disorders#:%7E:text=The%20circadian%20rhythms%20throughout%20the,regulation%20of%20our%20sleeping%20patterns">internal clock</a>, which can influence the time your body prefers to sleep. If you’re regularly struggling to get up for work or family needs, it can be an indication you may need to seek help. Some of these factors can be explored with a sleep psychologist if they are causing concern. <h2>Can my smart watch help?</h2> It is important to remember sleep-tracking devices can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-024-01016-9">vary in accuracy</a> for looking at the different sleep stages. While they can give a rough estimate, they are not a perfect measure. In-laboratory <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31277862/">polysomnography</a>, or PSG, is the best standard measure to examine your sleep stages. A PSG examines breathing, oxygen saturation, brain waves and heart rate during sleep. Rather than closely examining nightly data (including sleep stages) from a sleep tracker, it may be more helpful to look at the patterns of your sleep (bed and wake times) over time. <a href="https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8356">Understanding your sleep patterns</a> may help identify and adjust behaviours that negatively impact your sleep, such as your bedtime routine and sleeping environment. And if you find viewing your sleep data is making you feel worried about your sleep, this may not be useful for you. Most importantly, if you are concerned it is important to discuss it with your GP who can refer you to the appropriate specialist sleep health provider.<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/238069/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-reynolds-424346">Amy Reynolds</a>, Associate Professor in Clinical Sleep Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/claire-dunbar-1651340">Claire Dunbar</a>, Research Associate, Sleep Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gorica-micic-187159">Gorica Micic</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Clinical Psychologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hannah-scott-424633">Hannah Scott</a>, Research Fellow in Sleep Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicole-lovato-60684">Nicole Lovato</a>, Associate Professor, Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/an-unbroken-nights-sleep-is-a-myth-heres-what-good-sleep-looks-like-238069">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Man accused of scalding baby in park identified

The man accused of pouring scalding hot coffee over a nine-month-old baby in a Brisbane park has finally been identified, after fleeing the country. On August 27th, baby Luka was in Hanlon Park with his mother when a man approached them and poured hot coffee over the infant, leaving him with lifelong injuries. The man then fled the country before he could be identified or detained by police. Now, the man in question has now been identified as a 33-year-old Chinese national who was in Australia on a student visa. He allegedly fled the scene after gravely injuring the child and drove over the state border to Sydney, where he flew out of the country on August 31st. Queensland Police have since put an arrest warrant out for the man for intending to cause grievous bodily harm, which carried a maximum penalty of a life sentence. Police said he had no family or criminal record in Australia and had previously worked in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, with Chinese media reporting that the man was born in Hangzhou, China. “Queensland Police are working with national and international partner agencies to progress this investigation further,” a statement from Queensland Police said. Speaking to 4BC Radio on Thursday morning, Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Andrew Massingham said police were “very much committed” to arresting the man. “Our international search continues for the person that committed that horrendous crime,” he said. “That child will have those injuries for life.” Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton previously revealed the man fled the country just 12 hours after they identified him. “Detectives are devastated that they missed this person by 12 hours. I was deflated, but that deflation quickly turns into determination and resilience to get the job done.” Image credits: 9News / Queensland Police

Caring

"It's just not OK": Parking inspectors under fire for fining innocent drivers

Melbourne drivers are being hit with parking fines despite not doing anything wrong, raising questions about the legitimacy of the infringement notices. Emma Hodgkinson from Essendon told 9News that she was fined for supposedly overstaying in a two-hour parking zone. "I was furious, it's just not OK" she told the publication. Hodkinson had only left her house 40 minutes prior to the time stamp on the fine, and used CCTV footage from her home to prove it. "When I saw the timecode on the footage and I compared it to the time on the ticket I realised I hadn't done anything wrong and it was their mistake," she said. Many other drivers have had similar experiences, with one man from Richmond saying he received a $99 penalty earlier this month, despite having almost an hour left on his Pay Stay app. Another driver was fined by Stonnington Council who said he had parked for more than two hours even though he'd only been there for about 20 minutes. In most of these examples, many other cars in the same area had also been fined. "I was able to prove I was innocent but how are [the other drivers] going to be able to prove that?" Hodgkinson said. Council Watch representative Dean Hurlston said the reason why innocent drivers are being fined could be because council parking inspectors have to hit their quotas. "We know the job of a parking inspector is well paid for good reason," he told 9News. "They definitely have quotas. Councils need money, they're cash strapped. This is a way to gouge and raise revenue." If you've been unfairly fined, it is important to collect as much evidence as possible, including photos and screenshots. Image: Nine News

Legal

"Can you sleep at night?" Frustrated shopper confronts Woolies CEO over price gouging

A frustrated Woolworths shopper has called out the supermarket's CEO in store to demand answers about Woolies' record-breaking profits during the cost of living crisis. Chief executive Amanda Bardwell was walking around a Woolworths store in Wollongong when the heated exchange took place, with the whole thing captured on camera. The customer fired off hard-hitting questions to the CEO and other senior staff members, asking, "What do you have to say to the fact that your company is profiting off price gouging during the cost of living crisis?" Ms Bardwell, looking visibly shocked by the confrontation, replied, "Thank you for reaching out to us, we're doing everything we can to recognise that customers are doing it tough to make sure that they're able to get great prices." The woman didn't accept her answer, firing back, "I really don't believe that. Millions of people in Australia right now have to skip meals in order to survive, while you continue to make big bucks and working class people suffer. Can you sleep at night knowing that?" Ms Bardwell replied, "Our team are doing everything that we can to support our customers. We understand that it is an incredibly difficult time right now." A staff member then intervened, adding, "We have lowered prices and you see that right throughout our store… that's great value for our customers." Ms Bardwell thanked the customer for sharing her views and said Woolworths was doing "everything we can" to keep prices low for customers, before another staff member chimed in to say "It's actually illegal to film people in NSW without permission, with the CEO walking away. Social media users were quick to praise the woman for confronting Miss Bardwell, while sharing their own stories of being stung by hefty supermarket prices. "I'm sick of paying nearly $300 a week on groceries. That's choosing the cheapest products. My fridge still looks half empty when I unpack," one said. "I'm sure Coles and Woolworth management don't have cost of living crisis as they are getting bigger and bigger bonus year after year," a second wrote. Others took aim at one particular comment in the video, pointing out, "'It’s illegal to film in NSW without permission', yet Woolworths has how many cameras in every store? Cameras in people’s faces in self serve on every screen. Did they get our permission?" Another added, "If only their empathy was as big as their prices." Image credits: TikTok

Legal

"Drivers deserve better": Huge win for motorists over parking fines

In a move to stop unsuspecting drivers being hit with unfair parking fines, NSW councils will soon be banned from issuing a fine without a physical ticket. Finance Minister Courtney Houssos will legislate to effectively ban ticketless parking fines after council raked in $155 million in sneaky fines last year. Ms Houssos will introduce legislation later in September, which will require parking rangers to attach an “on-the-spot notification” to a car which gets a fine either in the form of a sticker or a traditional parking ticket. Ticketless parking fines were first introduced under former Premier Gladys Berejiklian in 2020, with councils issuing a whopping 822,310 ticketless parking fines last financial year, up almost 50 per cent from the year before. Ms Houssos said forcing councils to leave a note telling drivers they had been fined, rather than waiting for a fine to come ion the mail weeks later, was a victory for common sense. "No one ever likes to get a parking fine, but the idea you only find out about a fine weeks later doesn’t pass the common sense test,” she said. “Frustration among drivers and community members about the ticketless parking system is high – and that’s fair enough. The ticketless parking fine system was introduced by the previous government without regard for the impact on drivers and families,” she said. NSW Premier Chris Minns also backed the move, saying, “Drivers deserve better than the current system." In certain limited circumstances, rangers will be able to issue a fine without leaving a ticket, but only if they install new-warning signs, which could include areas where there is no phone reception, like national parks, or in timed enclosed car parks. NRMA Spokesman Peter Khoury said the government’s changes will rebuild public confidence, saying, “Ticketless parking fines removed transparency and made it almost impossible for motorists to contest their fine if they felt they had a legitimate case.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Legal

Jackie O breaks down over baby scalded in Brisbane park

Jackie O has broken down live on air while talking to the heartbroken mother whose baby boy was scalded in a Brisbane Park. Baby Luka and his mother were enjoying the sun in Hanlon Park on August 27th when a stranger approached and poured boiling hot coffee over the baby boy. Luka has since undergone three surgeries, while the man accused of the horrific attack has allegedly fled the country, according to police. The grief-stricken mother, who has not been publicly identified, spoke with Kyle and Jackie O on Friday morning and said her infant son will continue to have surgery every four days for the next four weeks at the least, as doctors attempt to repair the nine-month-old’s burns. “After that it's once a week for two weeks. And then it should okay, all going well and everything healing,” she said. “But then after there's scar management stuff as well on top of that.” The mother provided a heartwarming update on Luka’s progress after he was released from hospital on Monday, saying he is “smiling” and “walking”. "He's not letting this - he (the alleged attacker) hasn't taken away my son's soul,” she said. “Like, he is beautiful, and he is strong, and he is brave and resilient. And I'm so lucky to be his mum. I'm just really sad this has happened." Jackie O was visibly moved while talking to the woman, breaking down in tears live on air. The KIISFM host told Luka's mother, "You can't imagine that kind of evil, and your poor bubba, it's so evil." "It makes you so angry because he's just a little innocent boy who never did anything to anyone," she added as she became overwhelmed with emotion. Her co-host Kyle Sandilands also shared his devastation as he admitted he was left in floods of tears when he first heard of Luka's brutal injuries on the news. "In all honesty, I was in tears in the lounge when I saw the story. Everyone understands it's s**t, but when you've got your own child running around you while you're in tears watching the news," he shared. Kyle and Jackie vowed to give $10,000 to the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-lukas-medical-treatments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> set up to help raise funds for Luka's hospital treatment, adding to the $160,000 that has already been donated. With an original target of just $5,000, the mother gushed, "I cannot believe the generosity of the community and you know, it warms my heart and, you know, all the messages and the kindness and yeah, it makes the process a little bit easier." Image credits: KIISFM / 9News

Caring

Miracle update on baby boy scalded in public park

The mother of the nine-month-old boy who was scalded in a Brisbane park has shared a positive update on his condition as he awaits his third surgery. Baby Luka and his mother were enjoying the sun in Hanlon Park on August 27th when a stranger approached and poured boiling hot coffee over the baby boy. The nine-month-old was rushed to hospital, while the man accused of the attack remains at large. On Monday, Luka's mother shared that her son is up and walking again for the first time since the attack ahead of a third surgery that she hoped would deliver “more information about the next steps”. “Luka has been incredibly resilient. He’s up and about, walking and causing chaos. He is such a strong little boy and we are so so proud of him,” she said. The woman also confirmed that Luka suffered serious burns, with those under his neck and chest likely to scar, as the prospect of a skin graft has been raised by doctors. She said she had been "blown away" by the support she and her family had received through a GoFundMe campaign set up to pay for Luka's medical expenses. "This GoFundMe will be able to support Luka with all of his ongoing care needs which is truly a weight lifted off our shoulders," the woman said. “Not only that it will also support myself, my family, and ongoing mental health, given the nature of the event this will be an extremely long journey ahead for us all.” The fundraiser, that had a goal of just $5,000, surpassed $110,000 on Monday. Police earlier described the man they wish to speak to in connection to the attack as between 30-40 years old, of a proportionate build, with tanned skin. He was wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts at the time Luka was burned. Image credits: 9News / Facebook

Caring

"Skippy ain't playing": Urban kangaroo stuns with epic leap

A landscaper has captured the moment a hopping mad kangaroo leapt metres into the air and over a fence. Nathan Xuebsy was at work with his colleagues in the town of Beveridge, 37 kilometres north of Melbourne's CBD, when they were confronted with the bounding kangaroo. The marsupial jumped past their bobcat and into a vacant lot, when the workers opened a gate to the fenced-off area to help let the animal out, but the kangaroo had its own escape plan. The kangaroo jumped onto the fence and then used it to vault metres higher to clear it, stunning Xuebsy, who filmed the whole thing. The trio of workers immediately went to check on the kangaroo, who was uninjured and hopped away unfazed. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9vjuJ1xmbI?si=jUe2vJC_7WiK8Yxo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> "I took a screenshot of the video when the kangaroo was at its highest," Xuebsy said. "I put it on Facebook and said I think I just took the best photo I ever will in my life." The video quickly went viral, raking up thousands of hilarious comments as one person wrote that the roo was going "Straight to the next Olympics", while another added, "Oh, Skippy ain't playing." Another person said, "Poor suburban roo looks like that ain't his first rodeo," while others said the roo was showing off his dance moves with the jump saying "Roo did a better job than RayGun." Image credits: Facebook / Nathan Xuebsy

Family & Pets

New details and pics emerge after baby scalded by stranger in Brisbane park

New photos and details have emerged of the nine-month-old baby who was scalded by a stranger in a park in Brisbane. Police have alleged that a man, between 30 and 40 years old, tipped hot coffee over a baby in Hanlon Park on Wednesday before <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/manhunt-after-stranger-pours-scalding-hot-coffee-on-baby-in-public-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fleeing the scene</a>. On Thursday morning, police released new images of a man they wish to speak to in relation to the alleged assault. Police said the man was of an average build and with tanned skin and was wearing a black hat, glasses, a checkered button-up shirt and shorts at the time of the attack. The plea from police comes after an image of the baby in hospital was released, with the nine-month-old completely wrapped in bandages. After the incident, the baby was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital and has since undergone surgery for burns to his face and chest, reportedly suffering serious burns to 60 per cent of his body including his face, neck, chest and arms. A friend of the baby's mother, Zara Mazza, shared an update with The Project on Wednesday night, recalling how she was sitting down with her own son and looked up to see a man standing above her friend’s nine-month-old baby. <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/C_Nruwavg67/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_Nruwavg67/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a> </div> </blockquote> “This man was standing above him, behind him, and poured a Thermos of hot coffee over him. He just started screaming,” she told the program. Ms Mazza said she tried to chase the man but he was “very fast”, and she tripped while attempting to keep up. “Essentially all I could hear was his mum screaming that it’s hot. ‘It’s hot, it’s hot coffee’, so I ran back and as I ran back picked up my water bottle and dumped it over him,” she said. “I removed him from his mum and we laid him down on the picnic rug and we peeled his clothes away, which revealed the peeling of his skin, his skin had started to blister.” Bystanders reportedly came over with filled water bottles to pour over the baby, before a nurse in training offered up a shower at her nearby apartment so water could constantly be running on him. “Very grateful. The ambulance came really quickly, I think it was within five minutes. Police, too,” Ms Mazza said. “It was chaotic. It happened really quickly.” The baby’s mother is reportedly “really traumatised” after the incident, as Ms Mazza said, “She’s got a lot of anxiety right now. She’s not been able to sleep very well, if at all. So definitely struggling.” “Bub is in a stable condition … they say that he’ll need regular dressing changes under anaesthetic over the next weeks. They don’t know how long, but, yeah. It’s gonna take a while.” Image credits: 7News / Queensland Police

Caring

Manhunt after stranger pours scalding hot coffee on baby in public park

Queensland Police have released footage of the man they believe burned a baby with a scalding hot drink in a public park. On Wednesday, the unknown man approached the family at Hanlon Park in Brisbane and poured hot coffee on the nine-month-old baby boy. He was rushed to the Queensland Children’s Hospital with burns to his face, upper body and arms, with the burns covering 60 per cent of his body. Queensland Police have now released CCTV footage from the area, showing a man running from the park. He appears approximately 30 to 40 years old, with a proportionate build and tanned skin, and was wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts. Anyone who recognises the man has been urged to contact the police with information. An off-duty nurse heard the commotion in the park from the balcony of her apartment, telling <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/footage-of-man-who-burnt-baby-with-hot-drink-at-hanlon-park-in-stones-corner-released-c-15856522" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> she went outside to investigate when she heard screaming. She said she heard the child’s mother yelling “my baby, my baby”. The nurse rushed down to the park to help the boy, taking him to her nearby apartment where he was placed under a cold shower before paramedics arrived. Locals told 7News the attack was “terrible” and they were shocked it had happened in their community. “It’s really scary when you think that we haven’t got a community that looks after our young and vulnerable,” one woman said. Image credits: Queensland Police

Legal

"You are ruining my life": Driver's plea to parking ranger

A desperate motorist has left a note for suspecting parking rangers to beg for leniency over fines. A photo of the note, that quickly went viral, shows the driver asking to not receive any more tickets after already being slapped with three in one week. The note explains the driver's difficult situation, as he asked the rangers to have mercy. "Please stop giving me tickets," the note read. "I already have three this week. I am obviously broke already." "I have ordered my new sticker. It's in the mail. I can't make it get here faster. Have some mercy, you are ruining my life." The note insinuates the other parking fines may have been written up because of an expired registration or damaged licence plate. After the photo of the note went viral, many were shocked that the parking officer wrote up several tickets in the same week. "Usually you wouldn't get the second and third as there's a grace period to go to traffic court to show you did the paperwork to drop the first ticket," one person said. Another driver revealed a similar plight, saying, "I ordered my tags in the mail and it took 34 days to get here." But others weren't as understanding, as one person sarcastically commented, "If only people had an entire year to plan ahead to know when their tags would expire ... oh, wait." Image credits: Facebook / Shutterstock

Legal

Supermoons are boring – here are 5 things in the sky worth your time

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-j-i-brown-113">Michael J. I. Brown</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> A <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/moon/what-is-a-supermoon/">supermoon</a> may sound exciting, but it’s a modest coincidence. As the Moon orbits Earth, its distance from us varies from 357,000 to 407,000 kilometres. When the Moon and the Sun are in almost opposite directions from Earth, we get a full moon. A “supermoon” is a full moon where its position along its orbit is within 10% of its closest approach to Earth. That’s it. This means a supermoon has an apparent diameter that’s 14% larger than the smallest possible full moon. That’s not a lot. You can’t really notice the difference by eye. As an astronomer, I have a problem with supermoons. There are genuine wonders to see in the night sky, so don’t be disappointed by a dull, overhyped supermoon. <h2>When is the best time to view the Moon?</h2> Articles hyping supermoons are easy. ChatGPT can do it. Say it’s the first supermoon since whenever, add some superlatives, and throw in a telephoto lens photo of a full moon with a landmark. Perhaps the supermoon coincides with another otherwise normal full moon, so it can be a “<a href="https://moon.nasa.gov/news/197/super-blue-moons-your-questions-answered/">blue supermoon</a>” or a “<a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/super-worm-moon-how-to-see-the-final-full-moon-of-winter/695656">worm supermoon</a>” or whatever. It’s still just a full moon. If you do want to look at the Moon and it happens to be a supermoon, go for it. But there are better times to admire our only natural satellite, particularly with binoculars or a telescope. The best time to look at the Moon is when its shadows, as seen from Earth, are longest. These long shadows help the craters and mountains stand out from the surrounding plains, so you can appreciate the dramatic landscape of our neighbouring world. The shadows are longest when the Moon appears as a half moon in the night sky. During a full moon or a supermoon the shadows are at their shortest – not nearly as impressive. <h2>Supermoons are a distraction</h2> Have you seen the craters of the Moon, <a href="https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/viewing-saturn-the-planet-rings-and-moons/#:%7E:text=Viewing%20Saturn's%20Rings,the%20ball%20of%20the%20planet.">the rings of Saturn</a>, the clouds of Jupiter or <a href="https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/celestial-objects-to-watch/observing-the-great-orion-nebula/#:%7E:text=First%20locate%20Orion's%20Belt%2C%20which,ll%20find%20the%20Orion%20Nebula.">the Orion nebula</a> with a telescope? They truly are awe-inspiring. Even the most dedicated astronomers return to view them time and time again. <figure class="align-right zoomable"></figure> In fact, astronomers prefer to avoid nights with supermoons and catch up on lost sleep. Full moons flood the night sky with light and make it harder to view more subtle and interesting sights. Want to look at the grand expanse of the Milky Way with the unaided eye? Want to see a meteor shower, comet or aurora? Best done without a damn supermoon. It can be fun to see something truly rare or unusual in the sky. But supermoons don’t qualify for that either. Using the definition I mentioned earlier, there are typically three or four supermoons each year. More restrictive definitions give us one or two supermoons per year. Not only is that not rare, it still just looks like a full moon. There are rarer celestial events that really can inspire. Millions of people across the globe saw <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/how-nasa-tracked-the-most-intense-solar-storm-in-decades/">bright auroras in May 2024</a>, including places where truly spectacular auroras are few and far between. Comets can also be wonderful. Every decade or so, a comet swings into the inner Solar System and produces a bright tail, millions of kilometres long and visible from Earth. Back when I was a student, I saw <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hyakutake">Comet Hyakutake’s bright blue tail</a> stretch across a huge expanse of sky. Sometimes comets fizzle, but when they’re great they are amazing. <h2>Want something impressive? Try an eclipse</h2> Auroras and comets can be fickle, but eclipses are predictable and put on a reliable show. Take total solar eclipses, when the Moon covers the Sun and day turns briefly into night. Thousands travel across the globe to see them. I will be travelling to New South Wales for the <a href="https://eclipse.asa.astronomy.org.au/eclipse-australia-2028/">2028 eclipse</a>. <figure class="align-left zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/613126/original/file-20240813-17-ewfavl.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"> </a></figure> <a href="https://www.space.com/15689-lunar-eclipses.html">Lunar eclipses</a>, when the Moon falls within Earth’s shadow, can be a more accessible eclipse experience, which is visible from your own home <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lunar_eclipses_in_the_21st_century">every few years</a>. During the best lunar eclipses, the Moon turns a dark red as the only light that reaches it comes through Earth’s atmosphere. As an astronomer, I encourage people to look at celestial sights. Go out and see the Moon when it can really impress – during an eclipse or viewed through a telescope. Or enjoy the planets, auroras, comets and meteor showers when there is no Moon at all. But please don’t waste time on supermoons.<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/236416/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-j-i-brown-113">Michael J. I. Brown</a>, Associate Professor in Astronomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/supermoons-are-boring-here-are-5-things-in-the-sky-worth-your-time-236416">original article</a>. </div>

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Supermoons are boring – here are 5 things in the sky worth your time

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